My husband Geoff and I where having our first holiday on our own without the girls for 20 years
going over to Bali to meet friends one having his 50th in Bali.

Got picked up from the bus charter we use in Waikiki and flew out of Perth Airport with Garuda on time 9am flight, plane was full near flown by Garuda before the last time we where in Bali was 2004 and Air Paradise.

At the gate at departures they gave out for first class passengers to go through and then people with young children to get in line first, well this woman came rushing and pushing straight in front of people with their little ones, her husband had to rush after her as she had the passports etc, and guess what she had no children just wanted to be first on !

Seemed to be very squash together, thank goodness only 3hrs flight. I had the noodles and Geoff had the rubber omelette which he did not eat and looking around no one else did either. Hubby had the window seat and next to me was a woman who must have tried out every single perfume at duty free she reeked of it, glad to get of the plane for some fresh air.

Touch down was a bit bumpy, we where the only plane to land, and of course we picked the wrong queue and where the last two people out our luggage still going round and round on the carousel. Straight out to the Taxi service 30,000 to Rama Beach Hotel Tuban.

Arrived at the hotel quickly, no welcome drink oh well, filled in all the paperwork, asked about the vouchers that we where supposed to get on arrival after much demanding we got the free meal voucher and voucher booklet, she definitely did not want to hand it over, and the friends that came out the week after had the same trouble, took them a week to get them, they stayed in the villas.

We had a superior room 280 this is our first time to this hotel was at Bali Rani last time which we loved, but our friends always stay here so then we could all be together when they all arrived on the 15th .

Checked out the room seemed ok, took out all the drink from the mini bar and found it was not working so they replaced it for us, straight over the road and stocked up on Bintangs
and San Miguel.

Had a wonder around the resort, most of the people staying there were German, Dutch and Japanese.

As we had not been this far up Tuban decided to see about walking to Diane’s as I needed to get some shorts etc, we came out the hotel and turned right and walked along
the smell was really bad, there was a section that looked like it was for everyone to
dumb their rubbish food etc, and we saw a few people in there savaging for food scraps so sad. It took us 20 mins to get there.

Had a beer at the Green Gardens Hotel.
Walked back the other way which was straight up to the roundabout and turn right, rubbish on the pavement really smelled awful in the heat and the pile just got bigger everyday.

We decided to eat at the hotel tonight feeling tired being up since 4am, the food was nice but after two spoonfuls I had to make a made dash to our room, poor hubby was left sitting on his own, tried with all my might clenching my butt cheeks for all their worth, I forgot about the small step and fell hitting my head on the door, and the time I got into the bathroom it was not good, will not go into graphic details I am sure you can imagine. Managed to clean myself up and go back to the restaurant and tell hubby that I would not be joining him and dashed back to the room, can only put this down to Garuda’s noodles.

Took inner health tablets a few months before coming to Bali and while I was there
and took travelan tablets before each meal and did not get sick (except did not think to take one on the plane !)

Also could not believe it took Vitamin B before and while I was there and also sprayed with Arrid in the red can with deet and did not get bitten husband did not take vitamin B and got bitten quiet a bit, so yes I think it works really well, as I normally get smothered in bites.

Found the air con was making a racket, called housekeeping straight away the man came with his step ladder and Polystyrene tile which he broke up and fitted all around the unit, which seemed to cure it.

Breakfast, this must have been the worse hotel breakfast we have had, potatoes, noodles, rice, and sausages were stone cold every day yuk, was meant to have American breakfast every day, no bacon unless you wanted to pay for it (did not bother). I know I will have an omelette asked for cheese and ham omelette, no ham, no cheese only tomato and onion right !! Lots of people smoking at breakfast which was horrible.

Discovery Mall this was just starting to be built when in Bali in 2004. Of course as soon as you get out of the bus the blokes are waiting for you “I am not selling anything it is free” my hubby ran up the stairs the bloke was yelling you are going to fast I cannot catch you !!Starbucks for refreshments and the lovely smell from Bread Talk so yummy. Brought some DVD’s from both of the shops in there, my girls had given me a very long list.

The Mini Bar which I think is opposite The Santika Beach Hotel, this became our regular stop, the boss and bar staff very friendly, use to have a good chat, had a meal there one night which was not bad.

Some places where we ate, did not have one bad meal whilst we where there

Garis Garis which was a great meal it is opposite Rani Hotel
Yutz in Legion lovely steak
Mini Bar
Bubba Gumps, Geoff had ribs said they where the best we went twice, great atmosphere
Daddys - Had a couple of breakfasts there (Rama Beach should go down there and take note) also had a evening meal and it was lovely.
Stadium
Febris
SA Café - Opposite Rama Beach Hotel - I had chicken it was huge; Geoff said it looked like I had road runner on my plate.
KIN KHAO - Tuban


Once our other friends arrived on 15th and on 19th which was Grahame’s 50th so 25 of us we went on the Bali Hai dinner cruise, it was great the food was very good the meat so was tender,
we all had a ball. We would definitely recommend going.

At Kuta Markets near the beach we saw this poor bloke with his family he walked onto the beach and was surrounded in seconds, he just kept laughing and trying to get away from them.

On our last morning we walked down to Daddy’s for our last breakfast, which was
lovely, I asked to see the chef so I could also tip her as well as the waitress, she was a bit taken back to have a visitor in her in kitchen and was really grateful.

Brought the usual watches, DVD’s, CD’s took the price list of the forum with us, got most of our clothes off of Diane, she introduced us to her son as she was pregnant last time we saw her.

Would definitely go back to Bali Rani when we go again. Our friends who recommended Rama Beach Hotel said that they all would not stay there again either.

As always the Balinese very friendly and they kept asking us when are the Aussies coming back.

Back at work now and feel like another holiday already.

Sorry if I have waffled on.

A great read, sounds like you had a lovely time.

I'm interested to know why you took Travelan before meals, I've not heard of using it for other than motion sickness.

You take travelan before meals to help prevent Bali belly and it certainly worked. You can buy them in Priceline on their website it says
"Travelan is the only medically and scientifically proven product, which is readily available from pharmacy / drug stores, that significantly reduces the risk of contracting the medical condition known as Travellers' Diarrhoea (TD). Tourista, Bali belly, Delhi belly, Gastro,"

The Steaks @ Yutz are the best I have ever had in Bali.