Early in our stay we decided to once again visit the Bird and Reptile Park. The Tour Desk at Garden View tried to get us to change our minds and visit the zoo, but as we had previously visited the Bird Park and were impressed and as most on the forum had recommended the Park we stuck with our plans. The Bird Park is as beautiful as ever. Wonderful displays of birds. The kids went through the walk in avairies numerous times and fell in love with many of the birds. The photo opportunity where you and the kids get to hold colourful big parrots is amazing.I loved sitting having a drink watching the flamigo's. We went throught the reptile park afterwards, we all enjoyed seeing the range of snakes they have but wonder if it was actually worth the entrance price. 3 years ago they had a huge python in the handling area. We were dissapointed to see it no longer there. A lady at the hotel was telling us the parks are not making money and may have to close, I have no idea if this correct or not.
After the bird park we went across to Ubud. We did the usual visit to the Monkey Forest. It was around lunchtime and there were big crowds of tourists. A lot of the monkeys were rather cranky. People still tried to touch them and got scratched. We certainly had to keep an eye on the children. They absolutely loved the antics of the monkeys and their babies.
Afterwards we had lunch at Cahawa Dewata overlooking the Ayung River. We got there about 2pm so it wasn't at all crowded. We had a table overlooking the river. Ordered a glass of wine and sat back and took in this amazing view once more. We stayed at this hotel many years ago and loved the spectacular views. My husband has made a photo of the view into our desktop picture. The meal was delicious and reasonably priced. We didn't have the buffet meal. We almost didn't get to this restaurant as the driver took us to another that was near some rice paddies, but we decided to venture on and locate Cahawa Dewata, which was quite easy despite it being over 10years since we were last there. There are shops all along the road from Ubud to the hotel where once it had been just rice fields.
I was amazed at how much construction is happenning and has happenned over the past three years. There seems to be more building going on than ever before.
We made our first ever venture out to Jimbaran Bay for dinner and loved it so much we went again 2 nights later. We were really unsure about going as like so many others I've read so many varying reports.
Well, we arrived early, walked along the beach, watched the boats go out, talked to the waiters trying to get you to eat in there rest then walked along the road and looked at what they all had on offer and at what prices. We ended up eating at "White Sands" which Slab recomended ages ago on the forum(a big thank you for this Slab). We found the fish fresh, reasonably priced etc etc, and they had 1/2 bottles of wine from "Wine of The Gods" A totally relaxing spot to eat, the kids wandered around near the restaurant, talked to the waitresses , helped light candles and had the best 2 nights out they had in Bali. We did too!! (We got a driver from near the hotel on both occassions 55,000)
A driver I had taking me to Denpasar talked to me about Jimbaran Bay etc and said that if he or other drivers take their tourists to Sharkies they get 35% of the meal cost given to them as commission. I don't know if this is 100% true or not.
Another find from the forum was "Annies" on Double 6. I went looking along this road for sarongs and found her shop. She is the last sarong shop.She has large batik sarongs in the most beatiful designs I have seen, 20,000. I didn't see the same sarongs elswhere. If you like sarongs this is the place to go.
If anyone would like to ask specific questions, prices or whatever please ask. I did loads of the usual shopping, clothes, DVDS, wood etc and had the usual great holiday I always have.