THE BALEKA.
On each trip in recent years we have taken the cheapest package deal that we could find (Well, the cheapest package that Golden Bali could find - - - - What will we do now they're gone?), then often gone somewhere new for a few days, then stayed with friends in Seminyak for a couple of days but always finished our holiday in 'jam karet' time at the Balihai Resort in Tuban.
The Baleka main car park entrance, off Jl Werkudara, on the left and the open front of the restaurant facing the street on the right.
This year the Baleka Beach Resort (pron. BaliKARRR by the locals and taxi drivers) in the heart of Legian, with entrances off both Jl Padma Utara and Jl Werkudara, was offering 2 for 1 deals on accommodation for June only. Just what we were after but it may have been a little bit of a mistake as things turned out. For a good review of this hotel have a look at fellow Adelaidian Colleen's report on Mic's site. It's a long address so a copy-and-paste of the following into your browser will be the best and easiest way to go.
http://micbali.proboards21.com/index.cgi?board=leg&action=display&thread=1059377313
There are several other comments about the hotel at the same address also. The only change I would make to Colleen's comments is that there was no internet facility at the hotel when we were there but there was an internet shop just out the 'back' entrance and less than 100 metres to the left, just past the wonderful little La Monde restaurant. This shop was open from 7.30 am to 10.30 pm.
The restaurant from the car park and the reception desk which is to the left of the car park.
The 'little mistake' we may have made is that the good offer seems to have filled up the hotel and by the time we got there (with our full load of luggage) there were only the very small rooms left, those with little storage and even less space to move around. Still we are not in our hotel rooms very much in these early days of our holidays and we survived without too much drama. Given a choice at any time in the future I think we would prefer to return to the Sinar Bali which is just around the corner from the Baleka.
Our (smaller) half of the 2-unit bungalow. The bathroom tiling ensured that you didn't' linger too long.
Out in both Wekudara and Padma Utara there is great shopping (Solomon Silver2 for example) and great eating - the La Monde I mentioned above and also the Flying Piano and Yutz's Place in Werkudara all offered great food, the latter two perhaps as good as it gets in Bali although the ambience wasn't up to Lamak in Ubud or Ku de Ta for example. One morning I counted 17 places in these two streets selling beads and cheap jewellery - and I didn't walk the whole of either street. There are little lanes that will take you through and between various properties and let you out on the beachfront not far from the Legian Beach Life Guard tower and Sammi and Sussi's beach bar for Bali Travel Forumites and others.
The nice pool with a pool bar and snack bar at the Padma Utara end of the property. The lumbung at the end of the pool stored tables and chairs, not rice as is traditional for these buildings.
Out the Padma Utara entrance by the way, and down to the corner on the left, just next to the Fairy Shop, there are two shops that sell shoes and handbags. Called R 2 U ('Ready to Use'). Herself reckons that these two, sort of wholesale places, are a bargain hunters delight, even for Bali, and they think She's the best thing since sliced bread I reckon. For deserted blokes I can suggest 'Nice Buns' Just across the road for great pastries to pass the time away.
Opposite the restaurant a typical Balinese shop and home complex was under construction.
Apart from a morning 'down-tools-for-Chupa-Chups' the work was speedy and from only a floor slab with ground floor brickwork when we arrived it progressed to the third level and roof tiling in just the two weeks we were there.
When the roof level was reached I couldn't throw Chupa Chups high enough so they lowered the bucket for me to put their allocation into. They didn't reckon on the guy with the two-blue shirt who grabbed the bucket as it passed the first floor on the way up and got more than his share.
I got very excited on one of my early morning
walks around the side streets and lanes. Usually you hear the whine of
motorbikes increasing as they approach you from behind and fade away into the
distance as they pass you. On this morning I heard a motorbike approach me from
the rear and slow down to a very slow, 'put - put - put' as it drew level. "You
want transport to my place maybe mister?" was the soft and very feminine query.
I turned and declined as graciously as I could and I think there was a visible
sign of relief as my visage faced the young lass just before she sped
away.
Not once did this happen but twice - both on the same morning!
I just had to hurry back home and tell Herself. I'm not sure She believed me and
asked if they were wearing thick glasses.
Most un-charitable I thought.
Like most, if not all, hotels in Bali the Baleka has well tended gardens. These are just two of the varieties you can find.
There were also three young ladies who spent
their days reclining languidly on their motorbikes opposite the La Monde
Restaurant, offering massages to wandering males. We became passing
acquaintances over the two weeks of our stay and I would throw them Chupa Chups
across the street to save their young legs the crossing. We developed a regular
banter which went along the lines of;
'Massage Papa?'
'No, too old. I think you keeel me!'
'No Papa I be very gentle and my frens hold you too.'
'How about candy instead?'
'Ho-kay.'
I think we both felt better with this deal.
THE BALIHAI.
I always like the Balihai beach but on calm days at mid-tide it is superb.
The flowers are a collection of frangipanni from the gardens. The one in the middle is what we call a frangipanni at home. The one above is known in Bali as a yellow or golden Frangipanni, the bottom one is the giant variety, the one on the left is the coral or scarlet version and the others are shades of pink, some with a very yellow tinge.
The Balihai pools at night. I can remember times when there would be hoards of kids in there at 8pm and the pool bar (picture right) would be busy with their parents socialising.
The links below will take you to some photos of other parts of our holiday.
Not all will be ready and active straight away but they will evolve as July rolls in to August and so on.
The pillow case run to the NEGARA ORPHANAGE.
Stuff we took, the flight and the airport taxi fare board.
The orphanage for children with handicaps, Panti Asuhan Kesa Yanikang Papa in Gianyar.
Friends including the girls on the beach, little Kadek, the feet and fingers, driver Made and family including the newly-weds, waitresses and food, and of course the old boat builder of Jimbaran Bay.
Silver jewellery and bead shops, Handbags, woodcarving and leather.
Rice and the Subak Museum at Tabanan.
Pura Luhur Batu Karu, north of Tabanan.
Food, glorious food.
Kintamani and the crater and lake of Mount Batur.
Kites and batik quilts, tea/coffee/spices plantation.
Back to the 2006 contents page, 'The Year of the Pillow Cases'?
Right back to our home page for the shoppers Cheat Sheet, the first visit to the Negara Orphanage, a long Bali story (the 2003 'Rushed Trip'), the details about Bali's peoples, rices, religion and culture or history or things to do and see in Ubud as well as many others.
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