On Wednesday, August 27th, 2024, our friend Roby dropped us at Tullamarine Airport at 3:15 a.m., and from the moment the plane took off, I knew our holiday had officially begun. The flight was great, but Jetstar surprised me with a meal I would never have ordered—despite their insistence that I had. Their menu had apparently changed, and they gave me whatever they pleased. Vegetarian noodles at 7 a.m.? No thanks!

Getting through customs and passport control at the airport was a breeze, and we had pre-arranged our SIM card with XL Axiata before arriving through TicBali. We easily met up with our driver and headed to Sanur. Typical of Bali’s driving “skills,” I closed my eyes several times during the ride (the drivers are crazy, but thankfully, no road rage), and before I knew it, we arrived at Starling Villas, Sanur. Would I recommend the villa – lovely place, but no. Look elsewhere.

We were greeted by our host Muri and her 4 cats. It felt like heaven—until we discovered the bed was as hard as a rock! Sleeping on the floor might have been more comfortable, but hey, we were in Bali, and that’s what really mattered. The villa was lovely, small, and cosy, and we met a permanent family staying in the other villa, along with their little daughter. Another retired couple that were staying there for 3 months.

We explored Sanur for the first time and found beautiful beaches, fantastic sidewalks, beachfront paths, and wonderful restaurants. Sanur has a slower pace than Seminyak and felt cooler in comparison. It’s an ideal spot for families, with clear waters, no waves for kids’ safety, white sand, and breath taking sunrises.

For five days, we walked, explored other accommodations, ate delicious food, enjoyed amazing massages, Oh The Nest – must visit but book, and met incredible people.

In total, I personally walked 100,635 steps (69.93 km), which is unheard of for me!

On September 1st, we headed to Seminyak, our home base, and returned to Villa Blubambu. We were welcomed by the amazing staff — Gede, Putu, Widia, Yoeman (hope I got their name spelling right), and Matthew, the owner. Villa Blubambu is truly our home away from home in Bali. The beds are super comfortable, the pool is perfect, and the breakfast is just wow. The location is just right: 10 minutes to the beach, five to restaurants and shops, all in a quiet spot. There are only four villas, and over the years, we’ve become friends with many of the guests.

We spent our days walking, swimming, shopping, eating, and relaxing. Of course, we enjoyed nightly foot massages ($13 for 90 minutes) before returning to the villa for a great night’s sleep.

Our friends Sue and Roby joined us on September 4th for their first Bali trip, so sightseeing and shopping were on the agenda. We hit the Art Market area in Legian, shopped along Garlic Lane, and shopped till we almost dropped! We had lunch at Bali Brunch Club and dined at a variety of places. Lemongrass, Gado Gado not as good as it once was, Mozzarella Dhyanapura one of our favourites, Italian Way, Cafe Kami & Dusty Cafe. A highlight was MoonLite Kitchen & Bar on Seminyak (above) Beach, where we indulged in a meal with stunning views — affordable and delicious. We loved it so much, we went twice!

Sue, Roby, Chris & I – 09-09-2024
Seminyak Beach Sunset