Belated JBR. Is it inappropriate to ask others to shop?

Hello to all!

Firstly I%26#39;d like to thank everyone here for the information I gained before going to Bali. Everything I planned for my trip with my daughter in early March was found here. All I needed to do was search or watch the posts for the last few months. Could I recommend to anyone new that before posting they try a search first in the forum? You will probably find the answer to your question before even asking!

Accommodation in Legian at the Kumala Pantai on Y block on level 3 met all expectations. The room was clean and had a lovely balcony overlooking the pool. The included buffet breakfasts were great. It was great being able to walk up and ask for an omelette made with any ingredients I wanted while I waited. There was much more to chose from as well from fresh fruit, nasi or mee goreng, cereals, juice, etc.

I went for a walk each morning along the scooter road up to the left of the hotel and it was quite peaceful at 6.30 AM.

Went to Discovery Mall and spent a couple of hours there looking through the fixed price shops there. There is a huge section on the ground floor and other big stores on the upper levels full of local handicrafts, jewellery, clothing, etc. Also went to Geneva Handicrafts for more of the same the next day. If you like shopping without pressure from salespeople, I can highly recommend both of these places.

Taxis are cheap and I always looked out for a Bluebird Taxi or Taksi as they use their meters. The drivers were always courteous and most grateful for their tip.

I only stayed 2 nights in Legian, leaving my daughter to party on for a little longer while I moved on to Ubud at Saren Indah for 5 nights. This was more to my liking - I loved walking along the rural back roads in the morning - seeing the children so neatly dressed walking to school, some carrying their brooms. Once they arrived some were sweeping before start of school. Walking down the narrow road to Nyuh Kuning from the Saren Indah Hotel each day, even though the road was in bad disrepair, it was amazing to see how neat everything was beside it. I think about how many dogs there were everywhere but it was only once I saw a lump of dog poo the whole time I walked around Ubud or Legian. Everyone seemed to be up and already busy at 6.30 AM in Ubud - tidying up or on their way to work or school.

The Saren Indah is virtually next door to the monkey forest - to get to the base of Monkey Forest Rd you need to walk along the scooter path skirting the monkey forest for about 5 minutes (definitely not recommended after dark). The hotel has a complimentary pick-up/drop-off service anywhere in central Ubud from 9 AM to 10 PM if people don%26#39;t feel like walking. I made use of it one day when it started teeming one afternoon!

The accommodation at Saren Indah is clean and the staff are are friendly and helpful. I stayed in an superior view upstairs room. The balcony overlooks what used to be rice paddies but are now just overgrown with other vegetation - still nice to look at though. The best view is unfortunately from the bathroom window. To the right of the entrance is the Laka Leke restaurant and not too far down to the left is the Chili Cafe - both have good reasonably priced food.

For those interested in cooking classes, I found a brochure at hotel reception for one at Cafe Bali. I found it to be really good value at 150,000 RP compared to the 250,000 RP or more charged by others. The usual market tour is included and then the food preparation is hands-on rather than just standing and watching.

We had Eddy Kus as our driver - he was punctual, polite and we learnt so much about Bali through our conversations.

Now, my question - would it be inappropriate of me to ask someone else from Melbourne going to Bali to buy a patchwork quilt for me? I bought one myself at the Ubud market but I%26#39;d really like another one as I won%26#39;t have the opportunity to go back to Bali for at least another year. There are always things you regret not buying after you get back but not worth the air fare just to go back and get them!

Thanks, Renata

Belated JBR. Is it inappropriate to ask others to shop?

Hi Renata, I loved the conversational style of your JBR, really enjoyed reading it. The schoolkids doing the sweeping put us to shame don%26#39;t they? I%26#39;ve suggested this to friends who have kids, and they sadly can%26#39;t drag their kids away from the Playstation.

I don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s inappropriate to ask another Melbournite to bring another quilt back for you, if someone if willing to do so. If not, it%26#39;s always a good excuse to nag hubby to take you back to Bali. You could argue that your current one doesn%26#39;t quite match your decor, so you either get one from Bali that does, or he spends his evenings and weekend decorating your house.

Happy you found TA useful, and I completely agree about using the Search facility, although TA isn%26#39;t the friendliest of sites to navigate around.

Where%26#39;s Geneva Handicrafts?

Belated JBR. Is it inappropriate to ask others to shop?

noodleboy i thought you would have been to geneva! it is located at JL Raya No 100 Kerobokan. downstairs is furniture so go up stairs. all fixed prices. they even push your shopping trolley for you!

wrenmelb thanks for writing about your trip. i hope someone helps you get your quilt. if not Eddy would always get it for you. he is a great guy. apart from being a driver he also sources goods and arranges packing and freight for both small items and full containers. the postal service from bali is reliable. trouble is you would have to transfer money which costs about $35 - $40AUD per transfer. maybe you could plan another trip!

Nope, that%26#39;s why I wanted to know where it is, so that I can steer Mrs Noodles clear of it. How many sarongs, shell necklaces, and flip flops does one person need (this is a rhetorical question, because the answer appears to be ';You can never have enough';).

sounds like mrs noodles and myself would get on beautifully. a girl can never have enough shoes.

Perhaps women should swap shoes then? After all, they only appear to be worn once or twice then thrown into the back of the wardrobe. Might be more environmentally friendly.

Renata, even if my very best friend asked me to bring back a quilt I would be finding a nice way to refuse.

1. It takes up too much room.

2. I may choose a design they hate.

3. I have better things to do on MY holiday.

:) I don%26#39;t mind bring back little things but a quilt ,,, nooooooo.

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions. Your%26#39;re right Linda52, and I guess it really doesn%26#39;t make much difference to clarify that I actually meant a quilt cover - it%26#39;s still a rather bulky item in anyone%26#39;s luggage! I think you might know the ones I mean - there%26#39;s many of them hanging out over the balconies from the top floor of the Ubud market - colourful patchwork batik ones.

Yes, I%26#39;m already thinking of returning next year so I%26#39;ll start planning my shopping list!

Thank you so much for your JBR, it was great to read and I%26#39;m so glad you enjoyed your trip.

Have you thought about looking for the quilt cover you want on the internet? I haven%26#39;t seen them at Geneva (who have a web site for sales) but there are other internet sales companies that may have them available.

I now have images of Noodles blocking the Geneva website so that Mrs Noodles can%26#39;t get access to it.....

Oh, and it may amuse you to know Noodles, that I hate, Hate, hate, shopping for shoes and bags and jewelery. Now alcohol and food, there%26#39;s a different story.

Sweeping is the national pastime here, the Indonesian Government are thinking of applying for it to be included as a new sport in next Olympics..

Great report! - but yes agree with the others better to start saving for your next trip if you want that patchwork cover! - did you know that Air Asia are flying from Melbourne to KL (KL to Bali is not expensive on Air Asia either) They have a special at the moment for later in the year where the fares are only 250 AUD one way incl tax..

The quilts are a bit ';moreish'; aren%26#39;t they? We had some nieces come and stay with us and they loved the ones on their beds - so much so that they sent their mum to join us on our next trip so she could get some!! I will be getting another one from Ubud in September.

We will be walking in your footsteps, first the KP and then the Saren Indah. We have a deluxe room booked at SI, have you any idea of the difference? Do you know if the SI offers village/ricefield walks or did you see any brochures advertising them? Thanks.