Travel is a Wonderful Thing

Kusnadi Hotel. Legian

pjandc — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:19:00 GMT

Kadek picked us up about Midday on Wednesday and we bade the staff at Bayshore goodbye and headed for Kusnadi Hotel in Legian.

Back into the hustle and bustle of cars, people and noise. Kadek weaved and dodged as we made our way back into the bustle.

Kusnadi is on Rum Jungle Road and is great for positioning for shopping but a little to noisy and busy for me.The hotel itself seems to be full of regulars and very basic in my opinion. It is clean and the air con works well but I do not think I will be back. In saying this it is a very good price and does appeal to a target audience. The weather has been very humid with rain at night for the last 2 days. The shopkeepers have been saying it has been very quiet lately and they are hoping for a pick up over June/July. Legian does seem to have become grubbier since our last visit and building has increased. Poor Bali! I do hope it doesn't get drowned in progress.

Places to eat and get really good food have increased dramatically and vie for customers. Good pricing is the result.

Overall still a fantastic place to visit with something for everyone combined with pricing to match.

Of course we will come again ( and again ) perhaps straying back to Candi Dasa or afield where it is a bit quieter and leave just enough time to do our shopping in the hustle and bustle.

Til Next time.

Relaxed at Candi Dasa

pjandc — Tue, 24 May 2016 18:11:00 GMT

The days have blended nicely as we draw close to our final day at Bayshore Villas. The weather has been very hot with a downpour of rain overnight a couple of times. It was wet and gray yesterday but by mid morning it was back to beautiful skies.

The villa we were in was very nice, tucked at the back of a set of 6 looking across the lawn out to the ocean. The staff are exceptionally friendly and eager to assist. We watched one guy scale up a palm that I estimate was at least 4 stories high with no harness, just a machete hanging out of his pocket and fortune on his side. In the top of the palm he walked around chopping away the dead fronds and sending them to earth. Then the coconuts started to rain down with a thud. Down he came and with job done he cut a few coconuts for drinking for the audience and he was off to the next one.

Restaurants are very nice here and the few that were recommended by John that we tried are very good. Loaf is a little coffee shop just up from Bayshore and is owned and run by 2 Aussie guys which makes great coffee, sandwiches, pies and cakes. It can be said I frequented the place a few times.

It has been very restful here as with not much to do I have read, eaten, drank and swum. it is not a big place with 9 villas of varying size and 7 Bungalows. The grounds are beautifully maintained along with the pools. The Restaurant serves good food at a reasonable price. All in all a terrific stay that I would definately do again.

Bayshore Villas. Candi Dasa

pjandc — Sat, 21 May 2016 19:20:00 GMT

Wowee. This is the best way to sum up the pace difference between Seminyak and Candi Dasa. Bayshore Villas is quite small and very quiet. We are in a villa in a set of 6 and it is very nice. All are separate and intimate but share a common lawned area and pool overlooking the ocean.

The complex is sprawled over beautifully kept lawns and gardens with a main pool in the centre as well as villa pools and a restaurant which does have lovely meals and breakfasts.

Our villa is 1 bedroom with 2 bathrooms, lounge area which includes a table and chairs as well as a small kitchenette. Bathrooms are outside which I love. The staff are friendly and always there with a smile. Nothing is too hard and they are up for a chat when approached. People staying here are very chatty and they tell us that it is very easygoing here hence their continual return for holidays.

Not a whole heap to do here other than relax, swim and soak up the peace and tranquility that it provides. ( Listeneing to the waves crash on the breakwater as I write )

Photos: Bayshore Villa/Candi Dasa

pjandc — Sat, 21 May 2016 18:46:00 GMT

Seminyak

pjandc — Fri, 20 May 2016 23:11:00 GMT

Although fairly busy for us the locals said it's quiet. The Villa is a haven to return to after being out shopping or eating. Splash into the pool, grab a drink and all is well with the world.

The days have flown by as we tramped the streets of Seminyak and Legian. Biku for High Tea was a fantastic experience for the princely sum of $12.00 per head. Off to Potato Head for sunset drinks. Bloody hell they rob you blind there but all the young ones go to be seen and spend like there is no tomorrow. Walked the beach to the hotel "W" Sparce, pristine place where once again the place to be seen. Ferrari cars lined up like schoolkids waiting to go into class! Ginger Moon was the place for dinner. Very nice. A slow walk back to the Villa.

We had seen a lot of different areas and restaurants over the past few days which was terrific. Ketut bid us goodbye and we headed off to drop Karl and Jan at Ubud then we headed off to Candi Dasa where we will prop for the next 5 days and chill.Bayshore Villas is quiet and small right on the beach on the edge of town.

bali 2016

pjandc — Wed, 18 May 2016 15:05:00 GMT

Back in Bali for another easy holiday with Jan and Karl. We are at Esha Villa for the next 5 days in Seminyak before Celeste and I head off to Candi Dasa and Karl and Jan go to Ubud.

Already we have travelled a fair bit and been to Sanur, Benoa Beach for Turtle Island, Kuta for glasses Tanalot and then Echo Beach to watch a fantastic sunset while drinking Bintangs and Mojito's.

Eating places already have been hit. La Luciolla, Bo and Bun and Nirvana.

The weather is hot and humid and the building goes on relentlessly. I do hope that Bali does not turn into a Gold Coast. For now Bye.

Photos: Bali 2016

pjandc — Wed, 18 May 2016 13:21:00 GMT

Celestes European reflection 2015

pjandc — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:03:00 GMT

While relaxing on our final day in Kuala Lumpur I decided to throw some thoughts together regarding our outstanding six week journey.
Firstly Turkey. What can I say but remarkable. For nearly three weeks we were introduced to some of the most diverse geography and culture. The proud Turks who we always found friendly and obliging. The wows here were many but the four day Gulet cruise on the Mediterranean and the hot air ballooning in Cappadocia were the two standouts. We were very disappointed to leave Turkey.
On to Venice which is as quintessential as I imagined. Gondola rides and excellent gelati. A magical place.
We hired a vehicle in Milan to get us around for two and a half weeks. The Renault Traffic van was very comfortable. Although the combination of the extra wide van and driving on the wrong side of the road had its challenges.
Lake Como was beautiful and I especially liked Bellagio.
On to Switzerland and WOW! WOW! WOW!. More than I ever imagined. So glad we sucked up the cost......cos Switzerland is expensive!
A stop at Mullhouse France for the National Automobile Museum......not for me.
Rothenburg was delightful. Fairytale like as is the Romantic Road. Well worth the visit.
Next stop Fussen at the other end of the Romantic Road. Unfortunatly the weather had begun to change at this point in our journey.
Kufstein in Austria once again was beautiful with amazing scenery but the weather didn't allow us to do all we had anticipated.
German and Austrian border crossings became a nightmare with road blocks causing up to 1.5 hour delays. We think it was due to refugee checks.
Having four days in K.L. has given us all time to catch up on sleep...cos travel is tiring, a small price to pay I know.
So much of this wonderful journey has been added to by my travel companions.
Kerry who tirelessly researches.
Andrew Papparazzi who does manage to get some amazing shots.
Katrina whos food blog often didn't go the way she had anticipated cos she ate the food before photographing it!!
Alain who was always on the hunt for a good coffee.
Finally my nearest and dearest, Peter. Thank you once again for sharing in another wonderful travel adventure.

Homeward Bound

pjandc — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:54:00 GMT

The kickback time in Kuala Lumpur has been ideal to readjust our time clocks and sleep away the jet lag. K.L. is very vibrant after dark and pumps until the wee hours of the morning. Shopping and walking in the morning has been the way to go as it isn't as busy as the afternoons when everyone wakes up from the night before.
Heading home to our normal life with family, friends and work will be good as I/We are missing the family but in saying that we have had a great time with Kerry, Andrew, Katrina and Alain seeing fantastic countries and sights and meeting new friends.
All in all a rewarding experience and lifelong memories.
Until next time. :)

A Day in K.L

pjandc — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 02:19:00 GMT

Great Hotel. Slept like a log. Alain and Katrina slept so well they nearly missed breakfast. Celeste and I headed for the market precinct while the others did their thing. Quiet in the mornings with few people and traders slow to open. Night time is buzzing though. A few hours at the shops and we had burnt out. We went to the Pavillion, an upmarket shopping complex that had every name under the sun represented. Once finished we had a coffee and back to the hotel for a swim and relax.

The afternoon bought with it a storm complete with thunder and lightening. Dinner was put on hold til 7 to make sure lousy weather was gone. Evening to K.L. tower for the view was waste as the cost to go up tower was ridiculous. Jumped another cab and headed for the Sky Bar at Traders Hotel. 34 floors up with a drink in hand blew the towers away. View was well worth the price of a drink. Dinner was back along eat street. Slow walk home to bed.

Kuala Lumpur

pjandc — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 02:11:00 GMT

Packed and ready for the trip to Milan was a bit sad but the weather had set in and was good for travelling, overcast, misty and cool.
It was a 5 hour trip and the scenery was amazing as we passed from Austria, into Italy. The mountains with their snowy peaks to the ruggedness of the Italian Dolomite mountains and the green plains of Germany. Tolls, tolls and more tolls as we passed through one country to the next. The Italians were worst as we seemed to stop frequently to pay a toll.
Airport hotel in Milan for the night was excellent. We went for price and locality and very happy with our choice. Dinner at a local restaurant then bed.
Dropped off the beast at Europcar with not too much of an issue other than me going round and round for a bit. Check in for the flight to Dubai, 2 hour layover then back on and head for Kuala Lumpur. All up it is 18 hours.
Arrived Kuala Lumpur in the morning, caught a cab to the Invito Hotel which will be our home for 4 nights. Back to hot weather again. The hotel is very well appointed and comfortable. A nap in the afternoon saw us refreshed and ready to explore. Down to eat street which was close to us for dinner. The later it gets the busier it gets. Public holiday today so a lot of shops closed today. A walk after dinner saw us caught in the rain but still warm and muggy.

Photos: kuala Lumpur

pjandc — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 02:00:00 GMT

Obersalzberg

pjandc — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 05:41:00 GMT

Cold, wet and drizzly with overcast skies and low cloud cover. Sounds good? The weather finally caught up with us. Today was the day we were going to do the Grossglockner high alpine road but with -3 and snowing we decided against it.
We headed out of town for "Eagles Nest", Hitlers retreat about a 2 hour drive from kufstein. On the way we were stopped by police at a checkpoint. He stuck his head in,smiled and we were through. On the other side though a full on traffic block had the traffic blocked back for Kilometres. Poor buggers!
Arriving at Obersalzberg where you get the bus to "Eagles Nest" it was cold, drizzly and visibility was low. Decision made that you would not get any form of view or satisfaction so we abandoned the idea. There was however a learning centre here that also encased the Bunker that Hitler had built. A museum that traced Hitler from his youth to his suicide. It was in some ways morbid and confronting but it did not colour it up and therefore I think a good learning establishment. The bunker itself was huge and it ran for 6Klm and covered 22000square metres. Not all of this is public.
Lunch then back down the mountain. Alain had driven up but Katrina jumped in the seat and off we went. It was good fun as the heckling and advice from the back seat flowed for a while. Kerry had jumped in the other seat and became co-pilot. The weather had not lifted until well down the mountain. Onto the freeway and BAM!! we were caught in the same traffic jam that we had looked at in the morning. 1.5 hours we were caught in the damn roadblock. Worried that they might do a licence check resulted in Katrina relinquishing the drivers seat. Got to the front and waved through. Crazy.
Dinner at the restaurant from last night was another great meal. Early night as we are up early tomorrow for Milan.

Kufstein

pjandc — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 06:34:00 GMT

Kufstein the target for today. Quick breakfast then into the van. Damn! the carpark barrier would not let us out. After a regroup and the final attention of the carpark attendant we were off.
Roads full of trucks but once again the right hand lane was at a crawl with trucks but the other lanes pretty well running. After about 1 hour we left Germany and entered Austria. It felt like the countryside immediatly changed like the leaves turning golden and brown do as seasons change. Hills and mountains reaching skyward with the towns and villages in the valley below.
Once again roadworks coming into town made navigating difficult. Gavinshka going "turn right" road barrier saying "No entry". Eventually with a bit of leg work we found our hotel the Auracher Lochl. Family run hotel down a small alleyway just inside "Old Town". Built in 1409 it's right on the river. It is in the historic alleyway called Romerhofgasse which is renowned for its wine bars.
Settled in and car parked it was a short walk to the Kufstein Fortress. Set imposingly looking over Kufstein it can be accessed by covered walkway or cable car. Built over many years starting in 1205. A very imposing and impressive battlement that over the years has changed hands but kept growing.
Very cool today and the breeze is cold and cutting with grey skies and only the occasional glimpse of blue.
Dinner was across the laneway at a restaurant owned by our hotel. Absolutley fantastic. Celeste and I had a Tyrolean tasting plate that was enough to feed a small army. Others had Ribs and Schnitzel. Great meals by all accounts. Kerry ordered a Souffle, what a piece of art it was. Huge and yummy. 4 people had a go and still it didn't get finished.
Rolled across the road to our hotel.

Photos: Kufstein

pjandc — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 03:03:00 GMT