Wandering Spud: B A L I
Honeymoon Series- 5 of 5
BALI
We wanted the final part of our honeymoon to be the relaxing bit, with less rushing around and more relaxing by the pool. We were trying to pick between Fiji, the Cooke Islands and Bali but ultimately we decided to stay in Bali for 6 nights/7 days and we saved the best hotel for last.
THE LEGIAN HOTEL [5*]
The Legian (pronounced leh-schee-en) Hotel was out of this world beautiful. They should be very proud of the amazing staff that they have assembled, so attentive. Everywhere we went we were greeted 'hello Mr. and Mrs. Andrew' even by staff we hadn't met yet. Every need was anticipated; we got the same bed by the pool every day because the pool staff cared to reserve it for us, when the sun was too much the parasol was already being set up, we were asked about afternoon tea by the pool just as we were starting to get peckish and the massages in the sunbeds were insane.
Literally paradise, it is Bali at its absolute best.
Our Room
We were given a complimentary upgrade to a Deluxe suite and it was seriously bigger then our old apartment. Luxury is not strong enough a word; when we arrived there was a chocolate cake and a bottle of Louis Roederer waiting for us, as well as a dedicated butler service, a four poster bed and a bath full of Frangipani flowers. The best part was the view from the balcony, simply breathtaking.
The Facilities
Everything about the hotel was perfect; the served complimentary Afternoon Tea from 3/4pm every day, they offered morning yoga at 8am, Mark had the opportunity to surf and massages were offered by the pool never mind the vast range of spa treatments. I had the most wonderful two hour back massage. I even wanted a cocktail in a coconut and the fantastic staff went and got it for me. On our first night we attended the chefs barbeque and, omg, I love food and I swear when I die, this will be my heaven. The food was delicious.
This hotel was paradise and we didn't want to leave.
MASON ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
This was genuinely one of the best days of my life. One of the main reasons we had picked Bali over the Cooke Islands was for these beautiful creatures, but we did a lot of research about elephants sanctuaries and visiting a haven where the elephants were treated well. It would have broken my heart if we had visited somewhere where the elephants were mistreated and I don't think I could have left without being arrested.
We decided to visit the Mason Elephant Park & Lodge as it was a sanctuary for the elephants in Ubud, roughly in the middle of Bali. So we got a private car ride for 2 hours to get there and it was just magical. The first elephant we saw was a baby and he ran straight up to us. He was in his enclosure but I just turned to Mark and said 'I don't care I have to hug him'.
We did go for an elephant ride and we were talking to the 'elephant driver' about if it was okay and if Petrie (the elephant) was okay. He said that she loved it and that she was very well taken care of. He even joked that Petrie was his first wife as they'd been a team for 17 years and his actual wife only 15 years. The love he has for Petrie was so apparent and each elephant was beautifully treated. It was the most precious experience and we will go back one day.
OUT AND ABOUT
As I've said we didn't really leave the luxury of the Legian but when we did we went to coffee shops of course; two we'd recommend are the Fat Turtle and Drifters Surf Cafe. Mark particularly loved the latter. Also have you ever really been to Seminyak if you don't go to Potato Head? It was pretty awesome as well.
TIPS
Tipping- in Bali a good tip is 20p and a really generous tip is £1. one fricking pound. Bring loads of change and tip generously.
Money for Visas at airport- we knew we need money for the way into Bali (I think about $60 maybe) but we didn't realise we needed it to go home as well! At least there is an ATM at the airport
GET YOUR HOLIDAY INJECTIONS- and that included the rabies injections for us and they were £150 which we hadn't anticipated 2 or 3 months out from the wedding and give yourself plenty of time to get them as well. Injections don't normally bother me but these ones hurt and my arm hurt a couple of days after as well.
Only drink bottled water and carry it with you at all times.
We were very obviously tourists as we were so pale and that meant we were talked to a lot on the street which is fine and part of the experience but we were walking back from the Fat Turtle Coffee Shop to our hotel and we were about half way there when something weird happened. It was a 10 minute walk at least and this scooter pulled up in front of us and said 'my friends I see you've come from The Fat Turtle...' and he tried to sell us passes to something. We politely declined and went on our way but it was only when we got home to NI that Mark told me that we must have been being watched because the scooter guy came from the other direction so how could he know where we had come from. That really creeped me out and I'm glad Mark had only said to me when we got home. Mark is very good with 'total situational awareness' as he calls it and I'm more about getting wrapped up in the adventure of it. Both are very important, so have your wits about you kids.
