Cathy's Bali Tips Jul 2010

Cathy’s Bali tips Jul 2010Eating and drinkingLaksmana Rd, Seminyak- Ultimo – Italian, (duck ravioli $4/Lobster main $15. Fantastic frozen margaritas)- Chandi – Chef from Nobu New York, owns this restaurant and lives 6 months ayear in Bali. His wife is the set designer for MTV so the décor is fantastic- Rumours – casual dining with live music nightly- Trattoria – informal pizza’s, pastas, salads, very good prices.- Champagne Bar – great cocktails and they bring around free tapas throughoutthe evening. Known for amazing Oyster concoctions- Ku De Ta – open air, quite expensive by Bali standards but fantastic outlook andfood. Live DJ or music from 5pm. THE hip place to go for dining and drinking.Watch the sun go down sipping cocktails on the daybeds. Ph 736969- Breeze – open air, beachfront at The Samaya Resort and Villas. Beautifuloutlook, dining right by the beach, very romantic. Ph 731149

Petitenget Rd, Seminyak- Hu’U – open air dining by a swimming pool and grassed area. Great for predinner drinks sitting on large white satin flat beanbags in the garden surroundedby fairy lights. Truly magical and amazing food. Try the Foi Gras and themushroom salad – to die for. PH 736443- Living Room – fantastic interior and lovely garden, turns into a chic club atmidnight.PH 735735- Sarong – East Asian cuisine. Like sitting in a beautiful house with no walls withlong drapes and staff waiting on your every wish. Gets quite busy so maybe bookahead. Ph 737809- La Lucciola – beachfront, Italian set in a gorgeous house with the front cut off itso you can see the view. Lie on their lounges by the pool all day if you wish, solong as you keep ordering drinks.- Metis – French food featuring true Fois Gras meals. Beautiful and extremely richfood, a reall foodies paradise. Not cheap but has a gorgeous outlook over the ricepaddies and a lovely lounge area for pre-dinner drinks. Same people who used tohave Café Warisan which is now closed.- Grind and Grocer – lovely café with deli food take away or eat in. Just offLaksmana Rd, near Seminyak Square. Great coffee!Kunti St, Seminyak- Bali Deli – fantastic for Western food and supplies, great filled rolls, wine, dips,roast chickens, cheeses etc.

Some special places to go.- Bvlgari Resort – Uluwatu – go here just for a sunset cocktail or dinner for a superromantic evening. This resort is stunning and set up on the cliffs of Uluwatu. Somethingtruly worth experiencing.Spa’ingBalinese specialties not to be missed;Mandi LurLur – first start with a 1 hour oil massage followed by a body scrub,yoghurt wrap and finish with a rose petal bath. 2 hour treatment. Average price $20Cream hair bath – don’t you love someone washing your hair? Well this is evenbetter! Start with a 45 minute scalp massage with a heavy cream treatment followedby a hair steamer. The therapist will massage your neck and arms whilst you steamand then they wash and blow dry your hair. Even have it straightened as part of theprice at Body Works. Average price $15- Body Works – Laksmana Rd. Lovely décor and private rooms. Very clean andfriendly with well priced treatments. Try their special 1 hour Body Works BlissMassage with 2 people working in tandem! They also have a infra red spa whichis not all steamy so easier to stay in longer. Manicures and Pedicures here areexcellent. Facials include steaming and removal of blackheads and they’ll eventidy up your eyebrows as part of the price, if needed. Treaments sold in Rupeahprices from $10-$30 an hour. Juice bar on site. Ph 733317

- Cool Spa and Salon, Jl, Kayu Cendana, Seminyak, just near Grind and Grocer.Cheaper than Body Works but still nicely set out. Massages for about $15 for anhour and sold in Rupeah.- The Samaya Spa – At the Samaya Resort and Villas. Trylu equisite surrounds.Have treatments with an ocean view as the sun sets. Starts off with a ginger tea,change into your robe and slippers then a foot scrub before your treatment evenstarts! Prices in US dollars, 1 hour starts from US$45. ph731149- Well Being Spa – Petitenget Rd, smaller spa than Bodyworks and not as highend surroundings but still clean and lovely. Prices are cheaper and sold inRupeah. Treatments start with a giner tea and cold face cloth. Manicure $10 andvery good.ph 737823- Prana Spa – at The Villas Seminyak. This spa is designed in an Indian style andvery exotic. Of the highest standard and the hote oil treatment is a must.Treatments sold in US dollars starting from $40 for an hour. PH 730840- Dala Spa – at Villa De Daun, off Legian St in Kuta, call them for a free pickupon 756276. Voted Best New Spa in the Asia Spa & Wellness Festival 2007 andBest Boutique Hotel Spa in Spa Asia Crystal Awards 2008. Stunning décor andsuper romantic rooms for 2. Treatments in US dollars, US$49 for an hourmassage. Ph 750643- There are literally hundreds of small spas dotted everywhere. You can get amanicure for $5 and a massage for $8 if you are happy with clean but averagesurroundings. If like me, you want at least a massage every day along withanother treatment, then the smaller places can do just fine to keep the cost down.Suggested routine of spa treatments.- on arrival go and have a massage and a cream hair bath to set things straight rightfrom the start.- The next day get your nails and feet done. They are excellent at getting that deadskin off your feet and now you are ready to put those things on and go shopping- Have a massage at least every other day if you can and why not throw in either afacial or a body scrub too

- The day you leave allow time for your final manicure and pedicure, facial andcream hair bath. If you don’t have a late checkout at your hotel and you don’thave a shower to go back to before flying, also have a massage and a shower atthe salon. This means your body and hair are washed and you are relaxed readyto go home.Healer/masseuse – natural healing massage therapist.- Mr Putu Sudiartana – 100,000Rp ($12) for 1 hour of 150,000Rph ($18)for 1.5hours., He is a traditional Balinese healer. He will give you an amazing massageand works on the kinks until they are gone. He is situated behind the Apotik(pharmacy called Med Mart & Pharmacy) next door to the Bintang Supermarket,on Jalan Seminyak no 19. ph for an appointment 081 338 527 069. Ask to bookin with Putu.ShoppingThe further North you travel along Jalan Legian/Jalan Seminyak the better the qualityand the less hassled you get from the sellers.- Geneva Warehouse – Kerobokan Rd . If you are wanting little nick nacks,stocking fillers, homewares or local souvenirs start the trip with a visit here. It isa 3 story building with 1 level of wooden furniture and 2 levels of “stuff”. Fromcushion covers to candle holders to kids pencil cases, this is where most of thelittle shops around town buy their products from so why not get it at the localcheap price yourself. Get a trolly and trawl the aisles for hours.- Laksmana Road. Designer boutiques with fantastic fashion. Shoes, bags,clothes. Buy Religion clothes here at a quarter of the price in Australia. The DVDshops on this road are reliable. Always ask to see the movie on the TV before youbuy to be sure it’s ok. Buy 10 get 3 free, and each one is 10,000Rh which is aboutA$1.10. Also, Joy jewelry shop is a must!- Seminyak Square – high end fashion, deli and supermarket, great book store anda few restaurants and bars. Great Sunday market with fashion, homewares andtrinkets

- Kerobokan Rd – walk from Laksmana Rd going North and this road hasfurniture, cushions, great artwork, all sorts of interesting homewares.- Seminyak Rd/Legian Rd – this is where it all started and there are thousands ofshops selling everything from fashion to beads to homewares and everything elsein between. Most is very good quality and there are streets leading off this roadfull of even more shops.- Animale – this is a French label with shops on Jalan Seminyak near BintangSupermarket, or there is also one in Kartika Plaza. They sell amazing modernjewellery, hangbags, shoes, belts, clothes. Very affordable and beautiful.- Apotik – these are chemists and beauty and health products along withprescription drugs can be bought over the counter at a fraction of the cost ofAustralian prices- Discovery Mall at Kartika Plaza – Tuban – high end, air conditioned shoppingplaza with Marks and Spencer, Fendi, Chloe etc.- Kuta Square – Brand name shops like Crocodile and Levi jeans. Very goodbargains on jeans and label clothing. Matahari Shopping Centre is here with greatbargains on shoes, bags, and souvenirs. You can even sit with your legs in a fishtank whilst little fish nibble off your dead skin, only 100,000 RP ($12)- Carrefour shopping centre, Sunset Rd. This has a huge supermarket upstairswhere you can stock up on snacks, drinks, alcohol ($10 a bottle of vodka)cigarettes ($14 a carton of Dunhill) and anything else you might need. Get a taxithere at the start of your trip and stock up.- Ubud – the town about an hour from the beach set in the hills amongst the ricepaddies moves at a slower pace but still has great food and shopping. Try the 2story covered market on the main road into town for everything you can think of,clothes, jewelry, homewares, wooded articles and even antiques. The silver ispoor quality but cheap and not necessarily any worse than the silver jewelry youbuy at the famous Celuk village known for it’s silver. Barter hard, start at half ofwhat you would like to pay and work your way back up. Always smile and havea laugh and a joke with the seller , the longer you play the game and the happier

and friendlier you are the better the price you’ll get. A gruff approach will onlyhurt your efforts. Great homewares shops can be found on Monkey Forest Rd.One that I loved is called Calico Home. Very affordable homewares and jewellry.- Cooking Schools– Ubud – Bumi bali on Monkey Forest Rd, www.bumifood.com– Seminyak – Sate Bali, opposite the Samaya Villas, 22A Jalan Laksmana. Ifthere is 4 people in the class it costs A$46 from 9.30am to 1.30pm- Drivers – We hired a driver for 4 hours for 200,000Rp which is about $25. Hetook us wherever we wanted to go and was happy to stop and start as we wished.He took care of all our shopping for us and knew where to take us for whateverwe were looking for. You can easily arrange this with people calling out“Transport” from the side of the road or we used Agung Pratama and his phnumber is 0361 730622. He will come to wherever you are and is very reliable.- Beach bartering – the little ladies and boys on the beach can be fun to sit withand while away some shopping time. Get great bargains on costume jewelry(from $1 a bracelet), Sarongs (20,000 RP - $3), silk scarfs (30,000RP - $4.50),kites, wooden articles, sunglasses, watches (from $7, get them to change thebattery for you). Again the longer you chat and barter with them and the more funyou have, the better the deal but don’t start the process unless you are in it to buy.If you start bartering and agree on a price and then don’t buy, they are not happyand will follow you all the way up the beach.- Tailor –Kuta area - Liza and Janenco, Poppy Lane II, Kuta. Reputable tailor that can whip upa fully lined 3 piece suit in 48 hours. Approx cost $80. Leather jackets from $100Seminyak area – “Tidy International Tailor” – Jalan kayu Aya 8, Oberoi (opposite theLegian Hotel) ph (0361) 736603 or mobile ph 081 7349120

Ipong is the person to speak to. He will measure you and help you choose your fabric.He will come to your hotel for fittings, even if you are all the way up at Ubud. He iswell priced and can arrange freight to Australia if need be. Very quick and is happy tomake changes no matter how often you ask. I had gorgeous silk pillow cases made for$15 and he copied a satin crepe dress I no longer fit into for $60, fully lined and theright size!- Art work is very cheap and they can roll it up for easy transport. Very goodabstract artwork can be found in Seminyak and Ubud.- Freight – if you go a bit crazy and end up with more than your 20kg allowanceto return home, there are many freight companies you can book locally, on everystreet. Approx cost is US$200 for a cubic metre. I have used CV Amertha inUbud at Jalan Raya just down and across the road from the big Ubud market. Ph0361 973121- DVD’s – if you buy from a shop, they will usually be honest and say if the copyis 100% or not. Always ask to see the DVD played to check before you buy.NEVER buy from the guys on the road as these wont be good quality. GoodDVD shops will sell them for 10,000 Rp each and buy 10 get 3 free. So long asyou don’t bring multiple copies of the same movie Australian customs wontworry about pirate DVD’s. The one I go to that is very reliable is called BaliVision DVD at 88 Laksmana St.- Wooden articles – Australian customs will be looking for boarer holes. Check thewood before you buy and if you see any suspicious bug looking holes, don’t buy it. Youcan’t bring back anything with straw or any space a small bug could crawl into. Ifcustoms is unsure, they will either charge you to have the article fumigated and returnedto you after a few weeks or tell you to throw it in the bin.Jeweller – I have used Andreas Kuhn, a Scandinavian expat who has a small boutiquethat will make jewelry to order or fix anything that is broken or needs resizing and isextremely cheap. To fix a ring that the pearl had fallen out of only cost $7!!He is down a small side street off Jalan Petitenget, at PT Bask bali, Jalan Cendrawasih,ph 0361 731611

Silver jewellry – There is a very cheap new silver shop on Jalan Kayu Aya (the newname for Laksmana – it is known as both) called Long John Silver- very cheap, handmade jewellry with semi precious gem stones. Mpyok is his name and also does madeto order ph 0361 8563192 or email long_moyok@yahoo.comActivities- Waterbom Park – Waterslide centre in Tuban. Great for the kids- Umalas Stables – horseriding along the beach from Umalas towards Seminyakand Legian. Good western horses and very safe. Gorgeous to do at sunset. Ph731402- Elephant Safari Park Taro– Be picked up and taken to Ubud for a day of riverrafting past stunning cliffs and 5 star resorts, followed by a sumptuous buffetlunch and then ride an elephant through the jungle. Hotel return usually included.Be careful to use this company as some others mis-treat the elephants. Ph 721480- Bali Safari and Marine Park – a fantastic animal park, where you can pat babytigers, meet a baby elephant and have a day full of family fun. Very well kept andclean zoo.- Tanah Lot – Hindu Temple that you can walk out to a low tide but is surroundedby water when the tide comes in. A favourite place to watch the sunset and havedinner at one of the quaint cliff top restaurants. Lots of bargain market styleshopping surrounding and very busy on weekends. About a 30 minute drive northof Kuta depending on traffic.- Nusa Dua – white sandy beaches and safe calm snorkeling. This side is wherethe water sports are held as there is no surf. 5 star resorts make most of thebeaches private but there are parts the public can go to for free. Nicer beachesthan Kuta side.

- Uluwatu temple and surrounding surf breaks – this has always been a surfmecca but luxury resorts and villas have started dominate the area. Great drive toget away from the hustle and bustle but there can be a rocky climb down to thesand and surf. Padang Padang Beach has small local warungs (restaurants) thatwill cook you up a fried rice and give you a massage whilst relaxing before orafter a surf. The water is calm enough to swim here and there is great snorkelingand even some beach shopping for little dresses, boardshorts or sarongs. Goingrate for a Sarong is 20,000RP, - A$3.- Kintami Volcano – day trip from the beach. You can sometimes still see smalleruptions and there are often small tremors felt in Ubud from the sysmic activity.Some restaurants overlooking the crater and many sellers will accost you as youarrive, selling everything from sarongs to kites. You can get a bargain if you wantto barter hard.- Nusa Lembongan, - island off the East Coast of Bali, known for it’s great surf,snorkelling and laid back lifestyle. No cars, no shopping and beach covered indrying seaweed; the local economy, but very cheap and a surfers paradise. Takesabout 45 minutes by fast boat. You can visit on a Bali Hai Day Cruise, or stayovernight in anything from 5 star villas to $5 beach bungalows with fan and coldwater.- The Gili Islands – These are 3 little islands off Lombok, called Meno, Air andTrewangan. 3 little pieces of heaven with perfect white sand beaches, shellsforever, azure blue water, brilliant snorkeling and diving and classy bars andrestaurants right on the waters edge. We can arrange it all for you. You will becollected from your hotel at 6.30am, 1 hour coach ride North to Padang BaiHarbour, then a 35 minute fast boat ride and you are in paradise by 10am.Accommodation ranges from $10 a night in a basic, traditional guest house to$80 a night for a gorgeous resort called Scalleywags, renowned for its fantasticorganic food and lovely air conditioned rooms and brilliant outdoor bathrooms, toVilla Ombak which has freestanding 2 story villas and a large communal poolwith swim up bar.No motorized water sports, only horsedrawn cart, walking or you can hirebicycles for about $6 a day. You can ride around the island in about 1.5 hrs.

Some helpful hints;When you arrive in Bali you will walk up to the counter and get a visa. You needUS$25 cash. Take US cash for the exact amount if you can, otherwise if you pay inAustralian cash, you get change at a shocking exchange rate.Alternatively, let us pre-book you an “Express Arrival Assistance” Rather thanwaiting in queues of up to 2 hours in the non-air conditioned immigration hall, you willbe met before immigration and quickly escorted through the crew exit to wait for yourluggage whilst an official gets your visa and passport stamped. Well worth the $50 perperson fee, trust me! You still need the US$25 cash for the visa.Once you have passed immigration and customs you will pass by some moneyexchange places. They all sell at the same rate and they are the most trustworthy at apretty good rate so get at least $200 cash changed into Rupeah. This is the limit coveredby Covermore travel insurance so if you get robbed you can claim it. Anymore than thatis riskyAs you walk along the sidewalk, you will be called to enter shops, rather than getannoyed just smile and say hello and keep walking unless you want to go in. Don’t let itget to you, it’s just their way. Or reply “Tidak Teramcasi” this means “no, thank you”You will also repeatedly get asked “taxi?” or “transport?”. If you don’t want one justreply “Jalan Jalan”. This means “ I am walking”.Be careful changing money. Always use a bank or a place that only exchanges money.Small stall holders or shops that display and show an unusually high exchange rate areonly doing so because they will rip you off and they are very good at it.Wine is very expensive in Bali, a bottle of Australian wine at the super market will costyou $40, so if you like a sav blanc in the evening, bring it as your duty free allowance.Which is 1L of alcohol per person..

When you leave, you need 150,000 Rupeah cash for the departure tax. Best to put thisin with your passport as soon as you arrive so you don’t over spend and forget.Finally, once you have passed through immigration and are in departures, you will finda multitude of shops and restaurants to keep you entertained. Some of the restaurantsallow smoking or there are designated smoking rooms. You can get massages, eat sushi,shop or maybe go one of the lounges.BALI AIRPORT LOUNGES:There are 3 (pay to enter) airport lounges available at Ngurah Rai Airport terminal.All 3 lounges are accessed from the 2nd floor departures areas.Once you pay your departure tax and go thru immigration you will be accosted by severalemployees from these establishments inviting you to come to their lounge.WHERE TO FIND THE LOUNGES:THE DEWA LOUNGELOCATION: Next to Gate 7 R/H side (walk-in 2nd floor & upstairs 3rd floor)ENTRY PRICE: 100,000RpPHOTOS & MORE INFO HERE: http://www.loungeguide.net/wiki/u/Category:IndonesiaDewa Is a twin lounge with walk-in area on 2nd floor a non-smoking lounge and upstairs asmoking lounge. As well as computer internet it also has free Wi-Fi for your own laptop use(get a password from the reception desk).PRADA LOUNGELOCATION: Opposite Gate 6 L/H side (downstairs 1st floor)ENTRY PRICE: 150,000RpPHOTOS & MORE INFO HERE: http://www.hai-bali.com/details_prada_lounge.php?id=1Prada usually ask 150,000 at the door but I’ve always bluffed it for 100,000 threatening tocross the floor and go to Dewi. It is on the opposite side from Dewa/Dewi in between gates6&7 in other words you walk past the Prada on your left to get to Dewa/Dewi which is onthe right. Prada is a downstairs lounge and therefore has no views. It has a glassed insmokers room area inside the main lounge. There is Wi-Fi available but it’s not free.PREMIER LOUNGELOCATION: Near Gate 2 (upstairs on 3rd floor)ENTRY PRICE: 250,000RpMORE INFO HERE: http://www.loungeguide.net/wiki/u/Category:IndonesiaThe Premier Lounge is a tad more upmarket with the furnishings, has a better range ofalcohol spirits and finger food but its more than double the price of the other two.Computers for internet available but very slow. There is no Wi-Fi available. This lounge canget a bit crowded at time because most major airlines for their business class passengerswho get free entry via voucher at check-in.

WHAT IS OFFERED:All are similar in offerings: Tea, Coffee, softdrinks, juices, (Premier probably better forselection of spirits), Dewa has Bintang on tap and some spirits. Price entitles you to showerand toilet facilities, internet use (some with Wi-Fi), TV and comfortable lounges in airconditionedcomfort while you wait for your flight.

RATINGS:VALUE RATING: Q. Which one is better value ? A. Toss a coin.Value for money the Dewa Lounge I think wins out with a pleasant atmosphere, nice decorand a great view over the airport and the ocean from the upstairs lounge to pass the timeaway.WATCHING YOUR FLIGHT STATUS:All lounges record your boarding pass info at time of entry and "should" inform you whenyour flight is about to board (however don’t simply rely on that happening)keep an eye onthe time yourself. If you have a laptop computer with Wi-Fi you can keep track of yourflight status here: http://www.baliairport.com/flight-status-arrivals-departures