DonTopaz

Fantastic report, sounds like a terrific time & terrific driver. One of the things that amazed me about Bali is how everyone seemed to be an artisan of one type or another.

Don't worry about the poor lighting. When not traveling solo, I've found that my travel partners approved of my appearance in inverse relation to the amount of available roomlight.

BillT

Bob:
If you liked Nasi Goreng did you know its easy to make at home? We make it about every two weeks. All you need is the Nasi Goreng spice packet and some cooked rice, pork, green onions and eggs. Now the native version might be served a bit different. If you would like to make it at home and can't find the nNsi Goreng packet at your store let me know and I'll send you some.

ekscrunchy

So how big is the pool? I need to know this crucial piece of information if I am ever to plan a return to Ubud.

thursdaysd

BTW eks - what did you do about swimming on the Pandaw cruise? The river?

susncrg

Thanks Bob. Just stumbled across your post and will print it out. We're back to Bali again in Sept. and because of your report we'll have new places to visit with Putu. We're staying at Kajane again, so I hope it's just the facade that's fading and not our room! No matter, can't beat the private pool. Hope the rest of your trip goes just as well and gives us other things to try.

Kristina

Bob- Just wanted to say I'm enjoying following along. I have a feeling Ubud has changes a lot since we were there in 1998. Still, it was one of our favorite stops and I'd love to go back someday.

Gpanda

The staff at the Alam Shanti are about to be set free when Bob begins to wander around the island. You can hear their collective sigh of relief.

As faithful readers may remember, "Pulling a Kimball" consists of driving up to the front of a long line in an adjacent lane and then cutting in at the last moment. On the two lane byways of Bali, one shudders to think of his Bobness behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. If he kkeps it down to one traffic altercation, the people of Bali will be getting off lightly.

EKS, do I not remember you swimming a ile in a tiny pool last summer? What do you care about the size of a pool? wet and not cooled. that's sufficient. Plus, stop wasting time reading other posts and get back to your trip report!

Bokhara2

Thoroughly enjoying your trip, Bob & Karen. Would love to ditch cold & wet Sydney for Bali today.

rhkkmk

thanks for the encouragement... eks-- the pools at alam shanti are both perfect for laps...the newer one being a bit longer.. you would be pleased..

K went to look at a room at kajane and was very disappointed.. i did not look.. she tends to be the less critical of this duo btw..

Hanuman

but.. is the water chilled to eks's liking?

rhkkmk

Monday (cont)

we hung out at AS for the AM, having a very leisurely breakfast on our front porch... we finished the packing, took showers (the best shower of the trip---huge room and strong water flow)... we liked this room, slightly cheaper at $115++.... beside the building is a small kitchen with a stocked apartment sized fridge, an eating table and a single gas burner... we did not use.. room is very comfortable and ante rooms are large and totally enclosed... a/c was good...
we still prefer the gangga room best with its semi-private pool..

at 11:30 we checked out and put our stuff in our rental car...we had rented a small susukki jeep for the rest of the trip---self-drive---$12.50 a day... it was delivered to AS about 11AM...

we took the shuttle into town for lunch and ate again at ary's warung... we both had the special chicken sandwich...K had a lemon squash...i had a pineapple smoothie, plus we had ice waters...for dessert we sharred a way too rich chocolate sponge cake with a moulton center and vanilla bean ice cream.... the shuttle picked us up.

so now it was time to self drive... in all honesty i was a bit nervous--- roads are very narrow, other drivers a bit unpredictable, and lots of other variables...

i had to drive right up monkey forrest to main street and then in heavy traffic for about a 1/2 hour... K had the map and we only made one wrong turn... after about 45 minutes we had the nearest i have ever come to a head on collision... another SUV was passing a car in my lane coming down a hill and around a corner... we came within feet of each other... my wheels locked and left some rubber... he sped off..

the rest of the trip east was fine... eventually we arrived at the ocean and passed through Candessa (sp) and arrived at the Tirka water palace. we parked and karen sought out the hotel (5 rooms only) within the water park----Tirta Ay Resort... they sent two men to get our luggage... the small resort overlooks the entire water park which was built by the last king in 1948 in a traditional style and is all sourced by gravity from local springs... you can swim in the pools of water if you wish... this AM there are about 10 kids doing so and having a blast...

we have the pool villa which overlooks a nice medium sized pool. the room is a standard hotel size with an enclosed bathroom, a nice seating area with a 2 seat comfortable love seat, and there is a front porch with a table and 2 very comfortable wicker lounge chairs with pads...

thus far we have met a nice german family and two 30ish french women...

the staff is very friendly... we have a special rate at $100/nite including continental breakfast.. we are very pleased here and will stay for 5 nights, which is probably too long.... i can see the ocean about a 1/2 mile away from the restaurant where i am sitting...

our villa and pool is away from the general public and very private...

we had a nice dinner at 7 in the restaurant... the menu is quite extensive---must all be frozen... only 3 tables for dinner..


Tuesday

slept well... fantastic a/c in our unit... sat on porch from about 6:15 AM---unusual for me... breakfast was adequate and good.. heavy bread toast which i prefer...

K has yet to try the "poop" coffee..

i have spent the morning on the computer... excellent wi-fi... K went for a walk around the gardens and pools with their gurguling waters... and now she is in our pool where i will go shortly before lunch...

we may spend the whole day here just relaxing and reading... dinner here tonight at 7... i reserved a table with the best view...

bookchick

Sounds wonderful! (I cannot and will not blame Karen for not trying "the poop coffee! Some coffee place here got a shipment of those beans right around the new year and I could not believe how expensive they were. Then I realized they traveled "a lot" before arriving here!)

Well, while 5 days seems like a long time, the point is to relax, refresh, rejuvenate. When you come back, you'll be a whole new person, and will interact so well with the Panda that you'll utterly dumbfound him. He'll think you've "come over" to his way of thinking, when, in fact, you'll be just very effectively f***ing with his mind...I think that'll be great!

It suddenly got very hot here yesterday so reading about the pools was delightful. (It also reminded me of Villa 'Este outside of Rome.) Please keep the report coming!

Thank you and kisses to you and K.

BC

Gpanda

Only one traffic mishap, but it's early. We know more are to follow. One wonders whether the pool and villa are private or do the nother guests go out of their way to avoid the Needhamite. It's not like he snuck in. The parade of managerial staff escorting him to their room would have alerted everyone.

Plus, are gurguling waters put out by Gargoyles? How else could he have arrived at such a spelling?

rhkkmk

he has no mind, even before the operation... he does everything from rote

Smeagol

Bob
Your trip report is making me want to return to Bali... sigh so many places not enough time off/money!

tengohambre

Oh my, they have rented a car? A small car? To drive up, down and around the very small roads of Bali? Quick, someone really has to alert the local population . . . .

Please tell us you signed up for that extra loss damage waiver they offered.

Have fun, it sounds great. When do we hear about you and Karen entering into some local kite flying competition?

ekscrunchy

I need dimensions of the pool, especially the length! Not enough to say it is "ok for laps." Maybe your laps are different than mine!!!!

Hanuman: I already know that the water is NOT chilled, as Bob said it was not so "refreshing." Later he said it was "refreshing" so perhaps I do need more info, now that I reflect on these contradictions.

And Hanuman: Pack your bags. As you know, one of the top men from our fellow agency, CTU, has now gone missing. Prepare to step in at a moment's notice. My only question is this: Can you follow in the footsteps of JACK????????????????

filmwill

Really surprised to hear about Kajane. To each their own, though. Our room was beautiful and the service was probably the best we've received in all of SE Asia so far.

Gpanda

At the suggestion of Tengohambre, we are starting a collection for the Bob Defense Fund. His driving for several days on Bali can only have one result, bad. He will have to interface with the authorities. It's not a coincidence that Bali and bail have the same letters. Consequently, we should plan for the inevitable. I will have to fly to Bali to get his sorry self freed from incarceration. Treatment takes a break tomorrow, so I'll be available.

bookchick

Here's my worst nightmare: I'm in an auto incident overseas and Gpanda flies in to come to my "rescue". Just put me into a Turkish prison now. I've read Midnight Express, so I know exactly what to expect. It won't be pleasant, but the mental image of Gpanda, in his suspenders, appearing in court on my "behalf" and showing the judiciary his "muscle trick" makes me want to take a Vicodin the size of Nevada.

BC