Jetstar to Bali - Grumpy Cat ready to bail

[Pushka]

Well, after many months of being grounded from overseas trips it is time for the great breakout - to Bali on Jetstar!
My new travelling companion (in addition to MrP) is Grumpy Cat and boy is he not happy.



So Bali. I am kidding right? We actually like Bali. The Balinese people are friendly, very spiritual and gentle. It is sadly the tourists who have pretty much spoiled their island along with those who use the island for their own political agenda.

We spoil ourselves and stay at the magnificent Intercontinental on Jimbaran Bay and in the Club area which is excellent value. We have stayed there 3 times now but only twice in the club.

The gardens are magnificent and are not far from the night BBQ's on the beach. Sadly one of our favourites was the one targetted by the backpacker bombs. We decided to return to it last visit (three years ago) - cant let the terrorists win.

Now. Jetstar. I know. But the options for direct flights to Bali from Adelaide are appalling and as its only a week trip, going via Mel/Syd seemed such a waste. Gulp. The flight leaves at 7pm and arrives around 11pm. A long day but only a five hour flight. Decided on a package to get some status credits plus up front seating. Not a full flight as school holidays here dont start til next week. Currently have selected window and aisle with a spare seat in between - reckon MrP's WP status will help it stick? . Big fat no!

The direct flight back to Adelaide is a shocker and it ruins the whole trip as you are basically awake for 24 hours. Flight departs at 1am so you rock up to the airport exhausted at trying to stay awake, then a five hour flight only, and arrive first thing in the morning.

So we are flying to Perth, departing at 8.30am, have a four hour wait in the QP then back to Adelaide on Qantas around 10pm. Much more civilised.

We figure if the volcano plays up and Jetstar stops flying (on way back); as it is early morning then we can hoof it on another airline (SQ) and get home that way.

A taste of the Intercontinental


MrP's favourite sunset

Gamelan players at breakfast time

 

[yohy?!]

nice - love the intercontinental

 

[love_the_life]

Slumming it again I see Pushka
And will Grumpy Cat be joining us on QM2?

 

[Pushka]

Slumming it again I see Pushka
And will Grumpy Cat be joining us on QM2?

Absolutely, unless he goes AWOL in Bali. QM2 much more his style apparently.

Crikeys those pictures are huge! Sorry....

 

[love_the_life]

But how will he fit with all those formal and coughtail dresses you've been buying up?

 

[andy2015]

Jetstar BNE - DPS is fine also. Daytime flight, pay a little extra for emergency exit, a couple of movies on the laptop and its done. I'd nearly even call it good. The return flight is terrible for the same reasons as you mention: 1/10.

 

[sinophile888]

Well, after many months of being grounded from overseas trips.....

I feel your pain.

 

[Pushka]

Grumpy cat not happy yet.



QP is on the wrong side of Immigration. Seriously easy to forget you need to go through Immigration and not expect to wait to hear a boarding call.

Another tip. Jet* bag drop does not mean bag drop when you have checked in online. You need to line up at the checkin counter. As we and everyone else had to do when we queued at bag drop. I think it is a deliberate means of making people look stupid.

Another thing. The id badge name of the Jet* checkin person was different to the name on his lapel. Well, T shirt actually.

 

[Pushka]

Well, I have to say Jet* was perfectly acceptable

The boarding - very orderly and not a scrum. Boarding from the rear rows first. Not a full flight maybe 90%? We purchased the tickets that gave status credits so up front seating. And yes we had a seat in the middle.

A bit happier now, not that you would guess.

View attachment 79925

Because there are no seat pockets there is a lot of space and our knees were a great distance from the seat in front. No recliners which is interesting given arrival was after 2am our time.

We had meals included and I booked chicken cacciatore.

View attachment 79926

With a dash of salt and pepper it was rather nice. You can also buy snacks and alcohol but I stuck with water. Sad hey?

Arrived into Bali into the new (for us) airport. It is huge. I suspect no plane has direct terminal access but all use a bus, that takes a long time. But quickly through immigration. Then waited an hour for luggage. Four or five cases at a time. Sigh.

Finally off to meet the masses at arrivals and spotted our Intercontinental driver. Not quite the black limo mentioned but ok. A nice transport with water, lollies that were impossible to unwrap and no seatbelts. And a huge thunderstorm that flooded the streets immediately.

 

[Pushka]

Woke up this morning after a short sleep to a hot and humid Bali. Then off for a breakfast at one of the four options. Our first breakfast at the original (and last time, only) restaurant. They do it well here.



The best banana smoothies


Japanese complete with sake

 

[Pushka]

And second round





Real bacon here. Bali loves pork. Babi guling (suckling pork) is traditional.



Still here.

 

[Austman]

Woke up this morning after a short sleep to a hot and humid Bali. Then iff for a breakfast at one of the four options. Our first breakfast at the original (and last time, only) restaurant. They do it well here.

An option I liked at IC Bali club level rooms was the, included for no extra cost, room service breakfast option. You can order anything you want from the menu and have it all delivered, complete with a table, to your room. It can be nice, private and relaxing.

 

[Pushka]

A very lazy day after yesterday's long one. Its tough.

Water features abound here. Large koi ponds and swimming pools designed to look like ponds.
Pools







Koi ponds

 

[Pushka]

The lobby area is spectacular. With more ponds




The club lounge here is very British. Club guests have their own pool and where kids are discouraged and if noisey they are asked to quieten down.

Its all very pleasant.

Looking down to the Club lounge from the lobby



Inside the club



The entrance to the Club pool



And the club pool



We didn't realise that all soft drinks (including milk shakes and cappuccino etc) ordered at the pool are free! Must make better use of this tomorrow.

 

[Pushka]

Afternoon Tea. An excellent range of teas and coffees, and bites. Not quite as good as the QM2 love_the_life



The jewellery store has an extensive range of Ceylon sapphires. Dame, when we are in Sri Lanka next year I know exactly what I want. And if I dont find it, then in Dubai. I have a penchant for a sapphire bracelet.



Next, back to the room for the AFL Preliminary final which is on TV. Which gave me a great chance for a nap while MrP occupied.

The coughtail hour is on but we will be late starters. I did bring a bottle of white and rose so we got the alcohol covered while the footy is on.

 

[love_the_life]

Just like you to be checking out shopping Pushka . It all looks rather pleasant I must say.

 

[Pushka]

Last night we had thunderstorms with so much lightening and thunder. We had decided to eat in tonight - we just thought that with school holidays and lots of tourists, and the time of the other terrorist attacks being around the same time that maybe it was prudent. But it rained so much I reckon no one was out and about.

But first it was off to the club for coughtails. And a Cosmopolitan for me and Marguerita for MrP. Delish.



Then a sparkling white for me and 2 Sauvignon Blanc for MrP. We had already had a nice glass each while watching the fantastic AFL match earlier.

The snacks were nice, not stunning. Cheese selection was excellent.

Bucketing with rain we grabbed an umbrella to eat at the casual restaurant. Our favourite sunset and snack bar was washed out!

The restaurant was mostly empty. We were asked if we had booked. Ummm, no and I think the attendant audibly groaned. She looked about (at all the empty tables) and finally 'found' us a table, right next to where we were standing. Lucky.

The meals here are ok not gourmet. I ordered barramundi and MrP ribs. The serves were quite small which surprised us but even so as soon as I saw the food I just knew I didn't need any more. I ate some fish - seemed a little processed and that it was it.

Then it seemed we were inundated with people wishing us a nice meal and we were then given a free desert (one desert, 2 spoons ). Now this is what I think. MrP is a gold ambassador member but I didn't renew until the day we left. Suddenly in their system this popped up but as the resort is booked out for part of our stay they couldnt upgrade us. We did receive the gift, and the fruit basket. So now I think they are going all out to cover that.

After dinner we grabbed the umbrellas and MrP headed off to the beach. I suggested he was being rather silly as lightening was flashing all around us. Can see the headlines now. Stupid tourists and all that.

A shot of the water feature lit up.

 

[Pushka]

So it rained all night. Heavy drenching rain. And lots of mini flooding this morning but it cleared up by 10am ready to build up for the next lot.

The beach this morning with views across to the new airport.

And the other way


Tonight this area will be lit with the well known beach bbq's.


No cough sherlock (heading away from the beach)


And back to the Club resort pool again


(Sorry about dup)

 

[k_sheep]

Enjoying the report, thanks!

My favourite thing about that hotel is they don't secure their wifi Handy when walking along the beach there from my usual villa accommodation. I should stay there next time to "pay them back" ... but I have had coughtails by the pool there before after seafood market dinner.

 

[blackcat20]

Looks like a nice place to stay.