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Bali - Honeymoon
  • Katie Ismail
Apr – May 2023

Bali - Honeymoon

A once in a lifetime, honeymoon trip spending 6 nights in Ubud then 6 nights in Seminyak Read more
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  • Trip start
    April 16, 2023
    Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 1 - Manchester to Singapore

    April 16, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    And so we're off, 6am start to get to the airport nice and early. At check in they gave us fast lane access as a honeymoon perk so we were straight through baggage check.
    After a look round the shops and a purchase of a bottle of lemon gin and coffee run we went for some breakfast. I got a mushroom omelette bun from pret a manger and Roy got a chicken sausage sandwich from Archies. We then went for the obligatory airport beer before boarding our flight to Singapore.

    As we boarded we got given earphones, a blanket and a pillow. As people got on we were hoping and praying that no one sat in the seat next to me and in no time they were announcing that all passengers were on board. RESULT! A full row to ourselves.

    The air hostess then came round with a packet of peas and crackers and I got a Wine spritzer and Roy got a tiger beer. Roy was well impressed by the fact there was WiFi on board and he spent no time in signing up.
    Next lunch was served I went for the fish whereas Roy got the Muslim meal which was a lamb curry so he was made up. His came with fruit and mine came with crackers & cheese so we swapped them. We washed them down with a gin & tonic for me and a whisky and coke for Roy.
    Film time - I watched the live action Mulan, followed by Ralph breaks the Internet and Roy watched Babylon.
    I had another gin and Roy went for a Singapore sling!
    There was snacks on board so we went for a packet of mixed nuts each and a packet of crisps. I wasn't hungry so I kept mine to takeaway but Roy had the munchies.
    We werent even halfway through the flight yet! The airhostess came round and asked us to put our window blinds down as we were entering "nighttime"
    We ordered another drink and I watched Mindcage while Roy watched some live football.
    After this I was all filmed out so I put on some Taylor swift, lay down along the two seats and had a nap.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Singapore Changi Airport

    April 17, 2023 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    At 6am Singapore time I was woken up by the air hostess with the breakfast service. Roy got a Muslim meal of shashuka & I got a mushroom omelete with sausage and spinach which was lovely. I washed it down with a coffee but Roy got his last beer. They handed out dental kits so we could have a freshen up which was a nice touch.

    In no time we landed in Singapore airport. It was AMAZING. There were three different types of beautiful gardens that you could walk round. Much nicer to get your steps in than Manchester Airport! The airport was filled with designer shops and was immaculate. There was even a 7 eleven which brought back fond memories of my time in America with Dad.

    While Roy looked around the shops I had a cheeky little pokemon, unluckily there was a new region specific pokemon but it was in another terminal so I couldn't reach it. We went for a full explore and found that you could pay to use a swimming pool on the roof of the airport which I imagine would be so cool.

    3 hours passed in no time and we were boarding our flight to Bali. The difference between scoot airlines and Singapore airlones was astronomical. The chairs were tiny and uncomfortable and there was no TV screens or freebies. I accidentally stole a women's window seat (I thought it was ours) luckily she said she preferred an aisle seat anyway so I got some really good views of Singapore and into Bali.

    An hour and a half in we were surprised when the air hostess said we get a free meal because we'd booked through Singapore Airlines. It was a chicken soy with veg & rice and you got a coke or water with it. For afters you got choc ice-cream but they had run out so me and Roy shared it and they gave us a free packet of cookies instead so it worked out in our favour!

    In no time we were landing down in Bali. We went through the airport, where Roy got a sim card because he can't be without Internet for more than five minutes and we headed outside to meet our driver and go to our villa    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 2 - Arrival at Ubud Village hotel

    April 17, 2023 in Indonesia

    Our first impression of Bali was green beauty everywhere. They celebrate their gods and spirituality everywhere. There's temples, shrines and offerings everywhere you look and many statues and momuments.

    After a long flight, I fell asleep for the last half hour of the drive waking up when we arrived in Ubud. As we turned down the street to the entrance we were initially worried because how could the beautiful pictures we saw be on the edge of this broken road. But once we got up into reception we were in awe.

    The staff were so friendly and welcoming, bowing to us and offering us a refreshing drink that tasted like a mocktail mojito. The views blew us away. As far as you could see was plush greenery, rice fields and a beautiful pool. It was better than any of the photos. The manager then explained to us that they'd upgraded us to a bigger villa and drove us down to it. WOW. Opening our door to a welcome home Gallal & Katie was special and then there was the villa. The pool was gorgeous and blue surrounded by greenery so we're completely secluded. The bed had rose petals as an honeymoon treat along with petals in the outdoor bath. It was next level luxury with his and hers sinks, ponds all round and king size bed.

    After checking in with home we then decided to walk into town to get some waters and mixers for a drink. We were so surprised that ubud town was right on our doorstep. The roads were so busy filled with mopeds, bikes and cars, it felt like a world removed from our tranquil villa. We had a walk up the street taking it all in but we were tired. So we grabbed some drinks and headed back.

    We decided to order room service which was a completely new experience for me as I'm usually too tight to pay! But here we ordered a steak & potato dish for Roy and I had a chicken quesidalla with chips and it worked out around £20 bargain.

    For the novel experience we both then had a bath outside. But I had to add a lot more hot water for my bath! It was a great memory to have. Then finally bed time. Though it was only early at home my body was ready for a sleep so after reading the bedtime story they provided I fell into a lovely deep sleep.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 3 - Ubud Village

    April 18, 2023 in Indonesia

    Roy got up early and went to the gym but I slept right in until 9am! We got up and dressed and headed to breakfast. This was served upstairs in the restaurant and we were amazed that it was made fresh to order and three courses! For starters I went for fresh fruit and Roy decided to try the Balinese rice pudding which was pretty nice. Then we shared a beautiful bread basket full of fresh pastries that were still warm. I ordered a Balinese coffee which was very strong and Roy a cappuccino. I tried an ubud fresh juice but didn't like it (tasted like vegetables) and Roy had a tangerine juice. For mains I had a vegan acai bowl with mango sorbet which was so refreshing and Roy had poached eggs & chicken sausages.

    With a full tummy we went back to our Villa to have a chill for a few hours. Mum had bought us beds for the pool which were a godsend in the 30 degree heat. I did some quizzes but Roy soon got restless so we decided to walk into ubud village.
    We headed up the road and then took a turn towards the monkey forests. The roads were as busy as ever but the locals are lovely and stop for you when crossing the road. The shops were full of trinkets, souvenirs, clothes and bags. It was great.

    We then walked past the entrance to the monkey Forest when I shouted Roy watch out. Right next to him was a monkey! They come right out into the street and were hanging off the telephone wires too. We even videoed one stealing a drink and drinking out of the cup! That was enough monkey business for us and saved us monkey from entering the park.
    We carried on the main road til we got to ubud Palace. We took a few pics then decided to head back. Luckily the sister hotel is close to here and it has a free shuttle bus to our hotel. So we headed to a supermarket got a gallon of water, 3 cans of coke zero, 3 cans of tonic, some seaweed, some crisps and six beers (for £10!) and headed back.

    After another relax by the pool we then went to afternoon tea which was amazing. The dried banana with peanut butter satay was my favourite part. We couldn't believe it was complementary!

    We then came back to the villa had a quick shower and change and headed back out to the village. This time we walked a different route taking in all the sites. It was Roy's choice for tea and he picked a highly recommended Indian called Pasona lounge. It was upstairs in a cute little restaurant.

    Roy really wanted a bottle of wine but we soon found out all wine on the island is very expensive it cost us 500k which is about £27. In comparison our starter of chicken pakora, mains of lamb madras and rice and chicken tikka naan tacos only came to £20! The food was absolutely gorgeous my tacos were to die for. Service was a little strange as they brought out my main while we were still eating the starter and then Roy's didn't come until 15 mins later. Over here service charge is automatically added so at least we didn't have to worry about tipping. With all the notes being large amounts e.g. 100,000, 50,000 and 10,000 etc. Its very confusing with all the 0s especially after a drink!

    We then started the 20 min walk home but Roy's shoe was rubbing so I used the old trick of putting a tissue in his sock so he didn't insist on a taxi instead.

    Once we got back and starting getting ready for bed I kept hearing a funny noise so after some investigating I found a little frog on our windowledge. Luckily though I didn't have to do any kissing because id already found my frog... I mean my prince - my husband Roy    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 4 - Ubud Market

    April 19, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 31 °C

    We started the day off with another beautiful breakfast with a view. We both had bagels (me with bacon and Roy with chicken). It was good but I had to take the guacamole & salsa off as it was very garlicky. The bread basket was as good as ever, I'm in love with their cinammon swirls with homemade papaya jam.

    We settled into our routine of a few hours chill and sunbathe in our villa. We both started our jack reacher books which was cute. I have a feeling I might complete mine before Roy though!

    At lunch time Roy had his cold lamb curry leftovers from last night's tea (ew) and I had some crisps and some snake fruit which wasn't very pleasant.

    Then we got dressed and headed to the Ubud markets. It was bustling but the great thing is no one is hastling you to buy anything or trying to force you into the shops. Roy did some haggling and got me a pair of elephant trousers for £2.67 and a gorgeous dress for about £5. We also got 5 magnets and 10 flower hair clips for the clips for about £3. Things are so cheap here.

    When walking round we noticed that the traffic had been stopped. Further up we saw why. There was a massive parade to give thanks to the temple. It was so great to see more of their culture. Balinese people are so spiritual and respectful. Even when you buy something from the market traders they say thank you, you give me good luck. Everyone is so polite it's lovely. The little girls were waving at all us westerners taking photos.

    After lots of walking around we were ready for a drink so stopped at a bar next to ubud Palace for a happy hour BOGOF cocktail. We went for frozen coconut mojito. It looked so cool but tasted like vegetables. We were thirsty though so we drank it all and for £5 we couldn't complain.

    Roy's WhatsApp had stopped working so he was fixated on that for a while and kept trying to find a shop to fix him. But unfortunately no luck.

    It was my choice for tea so we headed back towards our hotel down to bebek bengal aka dirty duck. It's world famous for their crispy duck and we can confirm it lived up to it's reputation. First the setting was stunning, we're still constantly amazed by how unassuming a place can look from outside then you get in and there's koi fish ponds, mini waterfalls and huge statues, this time of breastfeeding monkey (bit weird but looked kinda cool). They had tables were you can get traditionally sat on cushions so we went for that table as it reminded Roy of Yemen.
    We both ordered a bintang which is their local beer and they brought over some nuts. For starters we shared chicken wings and for mains Roy went for deep fried crispy duck with sweet chilli sauce and I went for duck fried rice which came with a fried egg & shrimp crackers. It was amazing. Some of the best duck I've ever had. Just a shame they didn't do pancakes and hoi sin sauce! We still can't get over the pricing here, to say this is one of the top rated restaurants in all of Ubud it only cost just over £20 for everything!

    We ambled back to the villa where Roy finally found a shop that fixed his WhatsApp (while his not very happy wife stood outside for 15 mins like a spare part) so he was happy and they didn't charge him either. While I waited I got a Google alert saying 21.00 reminder put bins out, I was very confused until I then saw the bin truck ten mins later. It must be an alert for all those in ubud which is very cool and something that would be useful for many back in the UK! When we got back to the villa we had received a complimentary happy honeymoon cake which was a nice touch. Roy didn't fancy any of it so I demolished the whole thing in bed!
    I then recorded Roy reading today's bedtime story given by the hotel so the girls could have it as their bedroom story too ❤️    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 5 - Mason Elephant Sanctuary

    April 20, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 26 °C

    We woke up this morning to heavy rain bouncing off the ground and raining through the roof. By the time we were half way through breakfast the rain stopped and the sun came out causing steam to come off the rooves as the rain evaporated.

    Today Roy organised for us to go to the Mason Elephant Sanctuary. We decided to just get a lift from the hotel which was pricy at 200K but at least we knew we'd get there.

    Arriving at the park there was all sorts of options but I didn't feel comfortable going for the elephant rides or climbing on elephant in the water for pictures as I have read things how it's not ethical or good for the elephants. Overall it was a bittersweet experience. It was lovely to feed the 3 year old elephant and get hugged by the mummy elephant. You can feel the power in their trucks and the hair on them is really coarse but they were really gentle with everyone.

    It was sad though to see the trainers in the water pinching the elephants skins so it would do tricks for those riding them in the water. There was also signs explaining that the law in Asia is that no elephant is allowed to roam free unattended so when their trainers weren't there they were all chained up. The park wasn't very big and I've seen zoos with better enclosures for night time.

    But I had to keep reminding myself they had a better life here than they did in the elephant farms they were rescued from in Sumatra. Also if people like me didn't go to the sanctuary and the money stopped coming in then there would be no way they could upkeep the elephants and they would be killed. I hope the laws in Asia come more lax so they get more freedom. I also hope more people do research and go just to feed and see the elephants rather than ride them.

    We were done with the park in a couple of hours so we then hired a grab car and went to Creyta.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 5 - Cretya Ubud

    April 20, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    I was sceptical about Cretya at first when Roy was telling me about it in the Grab Car. He sold it as a three tier swimming pool where all the Instagrammers go which isn't really my scene.

    However once we paid out 50k each (about £2.60) to get in I was more than pleasantly surprised.

    On the entrance you can decide to head to the pool or explore first. We chose the explore option. First you're shown the coffee making process in which animals that look like raccoons eat whole coffee beans, ferment them in their stomachs and then poo them out. The poo is the cleaned and the coffee bean peeled dried and then roasted... And voila coffee. We declined trying any!

    Next we hit the rice fields view, it was beautiful. Lush green grass, gorilla faced caves, bird statues and high rise swings. The queue and price for the swings was unreasonable for us so we just spent out time exploring and taking in the spectacular views.

    Once we made it up and checked out the pool (which was full of instragram people) we decided to pass on the swimming and get some food instead.

    For a popular place like that the food was really reasonably priced! It took us a while to find a table but we did eventually get one with a lovely view. We ordered beef pepperoni pizza and a cheeseburger with two beers and shared it. It came to around £20 Inc tip. Bargain.

    We then ordered another grab car and got it to drop us at Ubud Palace as Roy wanted to visit a shoe shop. However he didn't buy anything (shocking I know) so we wandered back towards our hotel looking for a spa.

    After two places being fully booked we found one right across from our hotel. We both went for an 1 hr Balinese massage. It was heaven. However my peace was disturbed by Roy's snores as he slept for over half of it! Next Roy wanted a pedicure I'd never fancied one before as I'm embarrassed of my feet but I decided to go for it too as I'd never meet these people again. It was really great, she smoothed over my nails and feet and I even got them nail polished. It was ridiculously cheap to say we'd been there in two hours so I gave them a big tip to make it up to £20 for the both of us.

    It was now nearly 9pm and we were hungry for a little something. I just wanted to try a spicy chicken noodle pot that all the shops sell so I bought that for a cost of 38p. Roy looked at a few places but couldn't find anything he wanted so we ended up back at the hotel room and he ordered steak and chips. I added some steamed veg too. It made us laugh how each end of the expense spectrum our food choices was.

    Laura had sent us a cute video of the girls eating the wedding cake which was a nice thing to watch in bed before a good night's sleep.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 6 - Main pool & Ubud explore

    April 21, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    This morning after breakfast we decided to go down to the main pool and pretend to be models.

    Roy got his go pro out and we took lots of videos and pics. The problem is next to him I looked so white! For some reason I'm not tanning here like I usually do in Egypt or morocco Ive got red patches and the rest is still white. All I can think is it's the humidity difference.

    The big joy this morning was that my watch which had been in constant reboot mode for the past two days had started working normally again. Which is such a relief, I've missed having it.

    After a morning round the pool we headed out to Ubud center again. Roy went for a beard trim and we found more market stalls that we hadn't seen before. We got some more trinkets and I got another dress. Roy made friends with the cutest little baby girl and she had him wrapped around her finger as he ended paying way over the odds for some pencils.

    We then went for a happy hour at Anumana only 110k (£5.60) there was another mini parade going on which was good to see. The cocktails were nice if a little strong! The bar was joined onto a hotel and in the bad was a lovely pool area but it was full of drunken westerners so I'm glad we're at the tranquil ubud village spa instead.

    We saw more shrines, it's so picturesque everywhere you go. It's beautiful. Earlier in the day Roy had spotted this cafe called Nomad that did a club sandwich so we went back there and he got that (with no bacon). We shared chicken spring rolls which were amazing and not greasy at all with a gorgeous sweet chilli sauce. I had chicken satay skewers & rice which was so good. Again the food was really cheap. The most expensive thing was Roy's whiskey and coke which cost £7 which was more than 1 meal.

    After this we wandered back down towards our hotel when we saw live music was about to begin in a shisha bar. Perfect for Friday night so we went in, I ordered a San Miguel light and Roy went for a couple of bintangs. The band were really good playing some rocky songs that we all new and loved. We got a blueberry shisha pipe too. It was a good night    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 7 - Villa chill

    April 22, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    It was an early start this morning because we had to be at reception for 7am for a two hour complimentary tour of rice fields in which we were to meet farmers. I had ten mosquito bites so I wore my new elephant pants Roy got for £2.68 in a market in Ubud.

    We were joined on the walk by a couple of Northamptonshire and a couple from Wales who now lived in Australia. They were really nice and it was good to talk to some English people's and share each others experiences of Bali. The australian guy was well impressed when we said we lived in Morecambe as he's a huge Tyson Fury fan and couldn't believe we get to see him jogging down the prom regularly.

    After a fifteen minute drive we started off on our walk. It was beautiful scenery and we saw many rice fields. It was a bit disappointing that we didn't get to speak to any farmers or walk through the fields themselves, but our guide was knowledgeable and told us how they harvest the rice three times a year and that a full field of rice only feeds a small community for 3 weeks. We got picked up at the other end of the track which Roy was happy about but I would've loved to loop round.

    Once we got back to the hotel we headed straight for breakfast as our stomachs were growling. The menu was a repeat of the first day but it we enjoyed it so much we got the same again. This time with iced lattes which were so refreshing.

    After we headed back to the villa and make the most of our private pool. Roy had me take lots of videos of him just being a general prat to make his friends and Ariana laugh.
    At 4pm we headed down to afternoon tea. It was different from last time but just as good. The cinammon apple pie was to die for.

    Next was the moment I'd been looking forward to all day - a video call with Mum and Dad. It was so good to chat to them and I took them round a little tour of the place. I loved sharing it all with them and getting them to see live action footage. There's so many times on the holiday when both me and Roy have said I wish they were here to see this they'd love it.

    It was then time to shower, change and head out for the evening. It was my choice for tea and I chose Pundi Pundi because it had a mix of balinese, Asian and grill. The cocktails were 2 for 1 so I tried the balinese cocktails made with arak. They were nice and refreshing. We got a starter of spring rolls which were nice but not as good as last night. I then got a chicken pad Thai which was lovely and Roy had a beef traditional curry & rice. The restaurant was stunning too.

    Liverpool were playing so we headed down past the monkey Forest (which was spooky in the dark as we kept thinking a monkey could fall on our heads) and went to a place called CP Lounge.

    They had live music but the band was so bad. However they had a huge screen with Liverpool on and they sold shisha so Roy was happy. We got a shisha mix but after a few puffs I got lightheaded. Ten minutes later Roy felt the same, it must've been a stronger blend but I was paranoid it had something else in it. While Roy watched the football I happily people watched and played pokemon.

    Roy tried to convince me to get a taxi back as it was 12am but I needed the walk to clear my head. In no time we were back at the hotel alarms set early as we'd ordered a floating breakfast for 8.30am    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 8 - Ubud to Seminyak

    April 23, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    What a way to say goodbye to Ubud with a floating breakfast. For a cost of £10 it was well worth it for the treat and the pics/videos. We only got the floating tray for 45 mins because we booked last minute but we were happy enough. Even if Roy made me pose for 1000 photos and then take 1001 of him!

    We ate the rest of the breakfast at the table and then packed up. Roy went to collect pants he'd put into a tailors as I did the final checks then we headed down to reception for 11.45am. We paid the final bill which worked out at just over £50. Not bad for 2x steaks, 1x quesidalla, 1x steamed veg, 30 min taxi and today's floating breakfast.

    On the ride to Seminyak Roy shared stories of Yemen culture with our transfer guide before falling asleep for the last half an hour. As we came into Seminyak you could immediately notice the difference between here and Ubud. It's a definite tourist trap with Aussie & English bars everywhere. The streets are dirtier and there's tacky shops everywhere.

    First impression of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel though was lovely and we checked in while sampling their iced peach tea. Our room wasn't ready yet so we sat at the pool bar, played bingo (not as good as Yo-Yos in Morocco) and had some free popcorn. Soon 3pm came and we got into our room, but we couldn't unpack because it was for one night only as they were giving us a free upgrade tomorrow.

    The room had a lovely card and cake in and the floor had a heart in flower petals. All very romantic. We scoffed the cake and then headed out to explore. After 30 min walk along the beach we ventured inland to get a beer. These came with some free warm crisps which were great especially the purple ones. It was Sunday morning back at home so we gave mum & dad a quick video call to check in and have a laugh and joke with them

    We headed back to the beach which had filled up with Balinese and tourists alike. We walked hand in hand down the beach watching the sun set. Unfortunately there was a bit of cloud so we didn't get see the end of the sunset but it was still a magical moment watching all the locals kids flying their kites while the day ended.

    After a quick change at the hotel we headed back out for tea. At this point is was 8pm and I was starving, we headed 30 min walk away to Seminyak market square where the main hustle and bustle was. We found a bar with live music and more importantly for Roy buffalo chicken wings. I had a beef hotdog and chips, dad bet me I couldn't finish me but I ate every mouthful and washed it down with two beers. All this walking around has got my metabolism on overdrive.

    On the walk back I noticed a cool, intruiging bar so we headed in for a nosy. The style was a bit like a speakeasy mixed with jungle mixed with steampunk. It was so unique. Roy had a mess about on the piano in one of the little side rooms and then we headed back (drinks were a little pricey for us)

    Overall while we miss the beauty of Ubud, it's good to see more of the island    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 9 - Courtyard by Mariott

    April 24, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The breakfast in this place was an experience in itself. You could get your typical things fruit, yogurt, cereal, bread, full English, omelette, into your more posh French toast, pastries, pancakes and waffles. And then it got a bit more out there.. With an ice cream station. And then it got so weird with a section full of curries, fried rice's, stir fries, prawn crackers, naan breads and fish. It was breakfast, lunch & dinner all in one!

    Roy naturally had to try a bit of the curry but it was a bit too early in the morning for me so I had fruit with yogurt & granola. Followed by a mini bagel with boiled egg and of course a deidre donut. We then took an iced coffee & an iced tea to go.

    Probably not the best idea but we headed out to explore the shops and go to the flea market in the hottest part of the day (11-2pm) by the time we got to the flea market Roy had a bit of a funny turn so we had a sit down and got him a sugary drink. He was back to himself in no time.

    Around the market I bought some cute little traditional wrap dresses for the girls and Roy bought some Bali bintang 'stubbies' holders. By this time we were sweating like mad so we walked back to the hotel for a swim.

    I played bingo again while Roy laid by the pool. Unfortunately I didn't win. I then sat by the poolside, feet cooling off in the pool and read some of my book. I looked up at one point and then saw the guy laying right across the pool was ready the exact same book! The killing floor by Lee child. What are the chances!!

    3pm came round signally what Roy had been waiting for... Cocktail happy hour. He was gutted they weren't serving banana ones as advertised but instead he went for a mango frozen daiquiri and I went for a strawberry daiquiri. They were delish. They were more expensive than any other one we've bought this holiday but it was worth it to order it at the swim up bar and drink in it in the pool. We then helped ourselves to the free popcorn and Roy had a go at making candyfloss.

    We'd been recommend this beach club party place to go to - Mr potato head. It had a sunset bar which was supposed to have great views. We moved into our new hotel room and then started to head out. Until Roy realised his phone was nearly dead so we had to wait another 20 mins for it charge. As it was then a 35 min walk to the beach bar by the time we got there we missed sunset and only saw the last few purple sky moments, which nethertheless was very pretty
    Roy took lots of videos of the pool party surroundings to show his mates back home.

    It was my turn to pick tea so I'd chosen the highest rated Chinese restaurant in Seminyak. It was called Happy chappy Chinese and had a lovely outside swimming pool and garden - something you'd never expect in a Chinese back home!

    We ordered peking suck bao buns which were nice but didn't taste as good as itsu's. At least they made Roy laugh as they looked like boobies. We also had salt & pepper crispy chicken which was one of the best I've ever had. For main we shared the beef sizzling Cantonese sauce with vegetable rice. The beef was like steak but perfectly tender. The prices in Seminyak weren't as cheap as Ubud but at £32 with 4 beers it was still cheaper than at home.

    We decided to have an early night and was back for the hotel for 10.30 we put on the news for a catch up & had a decaf coffee (thanks mum) while we unpacked, ready for a new day tomorrow    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 10 - Denpasar shopping

    April 25, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    After breakfast, where they had real heinz type baked beans!, we got a grab car to Denpasar. There was a Nike outlet shop there that Roy wanted to check out.

    The shop itself wasn't that great, with similar prices at our outlet stores back home. So we headed up the main street which was full of tech shop after tech shop. Roy wanted some new oppo earbuds to match his phone so we went in lots of tech shops but all of them were too expensive so he had a search on Facebook marketplace and arranged to buy some off a guy later on for only £12.50.

    The sun was bearing down on us so we went into a Dunkin donuts to sort a plan of action. I had an iced cappucino, Roy had a frozen cappucino with cream and we shared a lemon donut. It was amazing but I dread to think of the calories.

    We found there was a shopping mall about 20 min walk away so we headed there. First shop in was a watch repair shop so Roy managed to get a new waterproof battery for his Gucci watch. This shopping place was more up Roy's street. He was gutted because he found a pair of Nike trainers for £80 where they're £300 back home but they didn't have any in his size. He did managed to buy a couple of sports tops for £4 each so he was happy he finally bought something!
    My finger had started playing up, stinging like mad so I got it checked out by a chemist and got given some antibiotic cream.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 10 - Finns Beach bar

    April 25, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    At 5pm we got a Grab car to Finns Beach bar to watch the sunset. You can drink on the street & in cars etc here (well we think you can as you see loads of people doing it) so we grabbed a bintang for the ride. Roy had seen pictures and videos of the all day pool party and wanted videos to show all his mates.

    Once we arrived we took a full tour of the place, naturally Roy just had to get a pic by the VIP sign! Only the best for Mr Ismail. He then enquired about the price of the Beds by the sea but at a minimum spend of 1.5 million (£180) all the way up to 6 million, I managed to convince him it wasnt worth it just for a picture!

    As the sun set we got some lovely pics then headed to a table to grab some food. I got a chicken quinoa bowl, Roy got an Indian chicken skewer & nachos and we got a bowl of chips to share. The portion sizes were quite small but the food was lovely and for the type of place we were in prices weren't too bad.

    7pm to 9pm was happy hour - 2 for 1 on selected cocktails so first drink of a whisky sour. By now the dance floor had started filling up and the singer was in full swing. I was itching to dance. Roy not being much of a dancer stood by the edge of the dance floor taking videos & calling his mates while I danced. I felt much safer knowing he was just by the edge. I soon got some confidence and he went off to get us another drink a mojito this time & he found a table spare in the VIP bar (of course). I flitted back & forth to the dance floor. It was an entirely new experience to be on a dance floor surrounded by people in bikinis! The floor kept getting wet as the poor staff tried their best to keep squeeging it.

    At 8.45 Roy dipped to the bar to get us our final cocktail while I danced with some aussie girls. I always love the experience of girls looking out for each other. They had seen I was dancing on my own and welcomed me with no issues. Us girls have to stick together. Once we finished our final cocktail we got a grab car back to the main strip in Seminyak as I wasn't paying the prices in there anymore!

    We went into our fave bar from last night - The GOAT and ordered two beers. There was a fab band on singing all songs I knew so I had a good dance while two aussie guys chatted with Roy. One was an Everton fan so there was a bit of friendly rivalry banter back and forth.

    We then headed to our final bar of the night - the champagne red carpet bar. I had a glass of prosecco & Roy had a beer. They came round with shots of water which I was very grateful for and downed 3. Roy sent mum a video pretending that I was doing alcoholic shots but as Bob would say I'm too much of a lightweight for that!

    The staff came round with vegetable gyozas which were nice and creme bulee which we declined. The toilets were a novel experience they were upstairs in a lingerie shop which had a secret panel that opened onto a toilet. Very strange.

    Just before midnight we stumbled home after a thoroughly good night    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 11 - Kuta

    April 26, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    After a heavy night we decided to have a lazy morning by the pool. I joined in on aqua fit while Roy chilled on a pool bean bag. The sun can get very intense so there was plenty of time spent in and out of the pool.

    At 2pm we went to play bingo and I won a line! My prize was a bottle of bintang but I couldn't quite face it yet so in our fridge it went. We got up to the room, showered and then both had an hour and a half nap. It was my first nap of the hol (Roy's 27th) so I must've needed it.

    It was choice for tea tonight and there was no question about it. We were getting a McDonald's. So we got a grab car and headed down to Kuta. In the car ride we finally got chance to look through all our wedding photos. It made us quite emotional to be reminded of such a special day. There were some really lovely pics and what was most important to us is that all our family and friends looked happy, proud and like they were having the best time. I know there's memories of that day that will stay with me forever.

    At the moment in Bali there's a national holiday so traffic is super busy everywhere. We got sick of waiting in the jam and decided to get out and walk. We headed straight to Kuta beach to watch the sunset. While we've not seen a completely cloud-free sunset, theyve still been all beautiful and make me a bit home-sick for Morecambe bay. Though one things for sure, the temperature is a lot warmer here, even at night time it's still in the 20s!

    Once the sun had set we headed to McDonald's, as always in any McDonald's in any part of the world it was busy. We queued for the electronic ordering which is an absolute godsend when you change the language to English. I order a chicken sharebox (all to myself yes) which consisted of 5 chicken fingers, 6 spicy chicken balls and fries. I then added a pot of sweetcorn. I wish that uk McDonald's gave that option, I know two little girls who would be ordering it every time! Roy when for a boring big mac meal but then added 4 soy garlic chicken wings. He wasnt overly impressed with them. One thing we have noticed over here is that it is so hard to get zero sugar drinks, even the McDonald's didn't do them! Weve only been able to find cans of coke zero in shops, they don't do it in large bottles or any other kind of drinks.

    After McDonald's we headed to the boardwalk shopping centre - Roy was in his element again with all sorts of sport wear & designer shops. However he didn't buy anything which was a shock! The shopping centers round here are beautiful too with lovely light displays and ponds filled with fish.

    We took a long walk home to explore the place and check out all the market/trinket shops. Though you don't get hassled to go into shops one thing you constantly here is 'bike, bike, you want ride' or 'yes taxi boss man' or 'massage'. After 40 mins walking Roy was getting tired so we decided to stop and get a 30 min neck, shoulder & back massage. It was the best massage we've ever had. The woman cracked my back in 4 different places and really worked on my shoulders, telling me I had lots of knots. (I'm a tense, stressed gal) It was great and at only £3.50 each who can complain!

    The massage gave us the energy to walk the other 20 mins. I've been proud of Roy this holiday, seeing as I don't have my dad as my walking buddy, he's been filling in and walking everywhere with me. Doing an average of 18,000 a day. I doubt it will last when we get back to the UK though!    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 12 - Beach

    April 27, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    After breakfast we got the shuttle bus down to our private area of beach. The roads to the beach are very narrow with scooters darting through in all directions. Roy was sat up front and had to pull the drivers mirrors in and guide him through. (he told me to make sure I put that bit in so everyone knows what a vital role he played haha)

    The beds at the beach were on decking which was much more up my street as I hate sand. So Roy left me happily reading my book while he went and played about in the sea with his Go-Pro. We've been so busy this holiday I haven't had chance to properly read so it was nice to get a few hours doing so.

    By 2pm Roy was ready to go so we headed back to up the hotel stopping along the way at a shop to get some crisps, some coke zero and change another £300. We spent the last couple of hours of sun by the pool. I finished my book sat by the poolside with my legs cooling off. Absolute bliss.

    It was Roy's pick for tea and he wanted to head back to Kuta to buy a pair of trainers and a Nike top he'd seen yesterday. Instead of sitting in traffic we opted for the 45mim walk along the beach instead. Along the way we found a little market and got two dresses for Jessica & Lucy for £4. Bargain.

    Parts of the beaches are dirty, with litter piled up. It's sad because you can tell its the tourists that have made it like that because the Balinese are so respectful and attune with nature. There's plenty of stray dogs about on the beach, all different breeds, but even they are looked after by the locals. With most of them in good condition. You hardly see any cats about, not like Greece or Morocco.

    After a little bit of shopping, Roy picked out a Punjabi Indian for tea on the main strip in Kuta. It was nice to eat outside and watch the world go by. The food itself was average and the service was a bit slow and poor. Not what we've been used to round here.

    We started the walk home, retracing our steps from yesterday because Roy wanted a full body massage. I didn't fancy one tonight, after only having one yesterday so while he did that I went to an Aussie bar down the street.

    I treated myself to a frozen strawberry Margharita, logged onto the WiFi and played Pokemon go. I'd just put a lure on when two Aussie guys came over to talk to me. I told them I was waiting for my husband (which gave me a little smile to say that to someone for the first time!). They were in their late 50s and were just looking out for me. They were a little drunk so just rambled on about their life and where they're from. The whole time I was thinking about my lure wishing they'd go away. Finally they left but by that time my 30 min lure had expired. Gutted.

    Roy then wandered back, disappointed because his massage wasn't as good as yesterday and we headed home.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 13 - Big night out

    April 28, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We had a quick hour down at the beach in the morning, but it soon clouded over so we spent the next couple of hours trailing round Seminyak taking in all the sites and checking out the shops. Roy found something that he took great pleasure in but unfortunately it wouldn't fit in his suitcase home.

    All this walking is thirsty walk so we stopped for a quick iced tea beer but was actually really nice & refreshing. It's still crazy to us that you can go into a mini mart, buy a beer, they'll open it right there for you if you ask and then you can sit on the chairs outside and drink it!

    We planned on making tonight our last big night. (Didn't want to risk it on Saturday night in case our stomachs went for the Sunday flight home). So naturally this meant that Roy wanted a beard trim. After watching him get his done, I thought why not get my hair cut as its half the price as at home and last time I got it cut was November!

    The girls in the hairdressers were a little broken with their English but they understood what I wanted - a trim, layers and shaping. It was strange here how the owner washed my hair then got one of the girls to cut it, usually it's the other way round in the UK. The girl was very through, taking her time, and she was asking if she could take pictures & videos too. I got it curled at the end and all together it cost £14 Inc tip. Bargain! While I was getting my hair done, Roy got jealous so decided to go next door and get a fade on his hair. We both looked tip-top.

    We barely got to the end of the road when we felt the splatter of rain. Oh no! We ran to the nearest place to shelter - a burger king. We shared a meal and watched the downpour. The heavens had well and truly opened. Luckily after 20 mins it calmed down and we managed to walk back home without getting soaked.

    When we got in I poured myself a Gin ready for the night but Roy was a little tired and so went for a nap. It was my choice for tea so my plan was to walk down to the beach for a drink and watch the sunset then head out for a steak. However Roy slept right through until 5.50 and sunset was 6.15 so no chance of that.

    We got dressed into our matching outfits (green leaf dress & shirt), poured a gin & tonic into a plastic bottle for the walk into Seminyak strip. The first place I'd chosen for steak was fully booked until 9pm but as Roy would say it would be dangerous to make me wait that long as I become angry when hungry.

    I'd checked out another place a further 5 min walk that looked good so we headed there. At 130k (£7.50) for a steak, sauce & two sides we couldn't go wrong. Especially with the setting of a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city. I got a striploin steak which unfortunately was a fatty & tough but the parsley mash was to die for and bbq and corn on the cob is always a win for me. Roy had the ribeye which he said was soft & tender. We both had a glass of wine which was reasonable for over here (£3.50 a glass).

    We headed back up the strip to our favourite place - The GOAT Seminyak. We had a few beers while the band played, they got everybody up on chairs dancing and singing it was a fab atmosphere. After a couple of hours there we moved onto the oldy-worldy club we'd checked out the other day.

    As it was a Friday, you had to pay to go in. Or should I say Roy did. It was 100k (£5.50) for men but they get a free drink. While as women get in free. You see this offer quite a bit here which I don't think is a little seedy. Roy got a rum & coke to make the most out of his free drink and I got a beer. We wandered around and then hit the dance floor. They were playing all English songs that I knew but the best part is Roy stayed and danced with me the entire time. I was so happy and he actually enjoyed himself!

    By 12.15am we were ready to go so started the 30 min walk back to the hotel. Roy really fancied a pizza but they don't really have takeaways open so instead we went on the Grab app and ordered a spicy pizza to the hotel. It arrived 5 mins after we did and it was bloody gorgeous. One of the best pizzas we've ever had (though things always do taste better after a drink). We ate it on the bed with a bottle of water each while watching BBC news. We're not as hardcore as we'd like to think haha.    Read more

  • Katie IsmailBali - HoneymoonTraveler

    Day 14 - Canggu

    April 29, 2023 in Indonesia ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Despite a late night we were up early again and down to breakfast for 9.30am. All this walking is making us constantly hungry!

    After breakfast we packed up all our dirty washing and took it to the local laundry shop. While she wasn't the cheapest we'd seen she was the nearest and she said she'd deliver it back us, washed, ironed, pressed & bagged by 5pm for £17 so we went for it.

    I'd seen online about a market in Canggu and how the town is supposed to be a relaxed village surfing atmosphere. I suggested it to Roy and he was up for it but to my surprise he wanted to start walking it! We'd not walked the beach that far in that direction so it was a new experience. One cool think about the beach is that there are loads of tiny crabs not bigger than a finger nail that create perfectly sized holes in the sand. As you're walking they dodge your feet and scurry straight into their little holes. It's super cute.

    Once we passed Seminyak beach onto where the big party beach clubs are, you could see an immediate difference. The beach was much dirtier with rubbish everywhere, including an inexplicable amount of empty toothpastes. At some points of the beach, water from the town came down and we're 90% sure it was full of sewage. At one point we had to pass through this water that went knee deep. We tried not to think about it.

    We got to Finns Beach Club, stopped off for the loo and a wash. Then went to a local cafe, I had a lychee iced tea (id give it a 6/10) and Roy had a coke zero. We looked on the map and we were still 37 mins away from Canggu after already walking an hour and ten so we thought F that, let's order a grab car. However after 3 attempts and 15 mins of waiting, no one wanted to accept our ride so we had no choice but to walk.

    I started getting worried as it was my plan for the day out and I didn't want Roy to be disappointed. Luckily halfway to the walk to Canggu we passed a premium fake designer shop. Roy was in his element and bought a Gucci shirt, he even took the guys WhatsApp number as he said he can ship to England. As we neared Canggu we were back to the Bali we loved, greenery and rice fields. There were beautiful offerings to the gods on all the streets and incence lit for good karma.

    We got to the market, which was like a Boho chic, art and handcraft stall. Roy got a bracelet made with Roystons on for when he's at the chill & grill. It only cost £1. After all that walking we were ready for lunch so we stopped at the Pit-Stop. The burgers were unreal and for £3 each so worth it!

    As much as we have enjoyed the walking there was no chance in hell we were walking the 1 hr 42 minutes back. On the 4th attempt of trying we finally got a grab car back. At this point it had started to rain too so we were lucky! Roy did his usual and snored most of ride back. I still can't get over how cheap Grab cars are, it only cost £3.70, I dread what a trip like that in traffic like there was would be at home!

    When we got back to the hotel our laundry had arrived. We were well happy with it. Easy to pack and it's great knowing we don't have the hassle of that when we get home!

    I made myself a cuppa and Roy had another hour nap. When he woke it up it was absolutely hammering it down. Raining the heaviest we've seen it here with loud thunder too. We wanted to wait the rain out so it was a great excuse to give mum & dad a video call. (Hi Dad!!) as always it was so nice to speak to them even though we couldn't show them much.

    It was Roy's choice for tea and he wanted to walk into Kuta. The rain had made the pavements quite slippy so we were both walking like we'd shit ourselves in an effort not to fall. There was loads of bat's out tonight which was cool to see and luckily it didn't rain again the entire evening.

    Roy picked Hard Rock Cafe for his meal choice and ordered buffalo chicken tenders & chips. I wanted a last taste of Indonesian food so I ordered their main meal - Nasi Goreng which is prawn fried rice, egg and chicken satay skewers. It was lush. We also shared an onion ring tower. I had snuck in some gin because I wanted to use up the duty free I'd bought so I ordered a tonic water and mission impossible style poured it in.

    After food, we went and did our last bit of present shopping getting stuff for Isaac and Ariana. We passed a gnarly surfer and I couldn't resist getting a pic for dad 🤙

    Halfway on the walk home we gave up. We done over 12 miles and our feet were hurting so for £1.25 we ordered a grab car back to the hotel for our last night's sleep.    Read more

    Trip end
    May 1, 2023
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