Все было хорошо))) Everything was fine)))

The time for rest we chose rainy - January. It rained every day, although I won’t say that it annoyed and stressed us, because the rains were short and fast, often came at night, in the evening, and sometimes they didn’t exist at all. Despite this, there were enough tourists in Bali, there were a lot of Russians, I would give the second place in terms of attendance to the Chinese, and then the Europeans and Australians. By the way, the last ones here are only 4 hours away, so they like to relax here. It took us a long time to get to the paradise island from Ukraine: to Kyiv - 4 hours by car, then by plane to Frankfurt 2.5 hours, the waiting time for the next flight was 5 hours, then the way to Singapore - 10 hours, and after a 2 hour stay at the Singapore airport - 3 hour flight to Bali.
I want to pay tribute to Lufthansa airlines - everything is very civilized, polite and beautiful ... They fed well, offered a wide range of drinks, including spirits, blankets and built-in TVs in the back of the chair, where there were even 5 films in Russian. At Bali airport you can buy a visa for $35. just like they did it to me in the agency - a second of business. Suitcases were not wooled or checked from anyone, alcohol was not taken away, as I read about it in the reviews of travelers, I was probably lucky. In Bali, we were met by a guide with transport and taken to the hotel, it took about half an hour. They settled us quickly, the room is good, spacious. There was one Russian-language channel and free internet everywhere. The Melia Bali hotel is located in a park area, very beautifully decorated, well-groomed, constantly swept, washed and decorated with fresh flowers. There are several pools, restaurants and bars on the territory.
In the evenings, there is live music and singing in the lobby, and in the early evening, local musicians play and dance Indonesian dancers right next to the reception at the entrance to the hotel. At the entrance to the restaurant for breakfast, you will also be greeted by a local musician. The staff constantly smiles good-naturedly, folds their arms and bows, everyone greets them without exception, wherever tourists they come across ... The constant tides forced us to swim according to the schedule, but this did not bother us. We had a bay, so we could not see the turbulence of the waves and the noise of the ocean near the hotel. Algae endured a little, but they were immediately cleaned up and buried, and they were in small quantities in the water, so there was no impression of dirty water. (I write all this in detail so that people who read the reports of others do not make hasty conclusions about the hotel and the rest.

Many spoke very negatively about the low tides, a piece of mold found in the bathroom (they weren’t even too lazy to take a picture of it and put it in the report), about the monotonous and boring breakfasts, high prices in hotel restaurants, mosquito baiting in the evenings on the territory. I think whoever wants to look at everything in a black light will do so, but I really liked everything. Souvenirs can be bought right on the beach - locals walk all day long back and forth along the beach and offer you hairpins, paintings, jewelry, pareos, knitted dresses, dishes - you need to bargain. (100 US dollars = 9.500, 000 rupees))), yes, in millions, it’s better to change in a bank). Right there on the beach they offer various excursion programs with a Russian-speaking guide (a guide with a car costs 30-40 dollars for the whole day, you only pay for the entrance tickets yourself).
We chose a tour of the island of Bali: we went to the Batur volcano, however, we were not lucky - it rained and there was heavy fog, so we didn’t go to the volcano, we had lunch with a view of the foggy volcano))). The guide did not take us to the Besakih temple - he said that there are a lot of bad people and tourists are offended by him (I think, judging by the reviews I read, he meant imposing his guide in the temple, who does not speak Russian and you had to pay for it Otherwise, people were prevented from watching the temple. ) The guide took us to the village temple, led us into it, seated us in the shade and popularly told everything and answered all the questions. The precipitate was that I did not see Besakih, but the energy from the holy places was received, so there was a feeling of satisfaction. A light residue was left by the fact that they want to “dissolve tourists” everywhere, the guide brought us to a woodworking workshop (the prices are exorbitant, I’ll say right away: the mask that I liked cost $ 80.
, but then they themselves considered it for 60 dollars. and I think that it was far from the limit of discounts))). A jewelry factory and, again, a store near it: the products are very beautiful, but ... for that kind of money you can buy very good gold jewelry in our house))). Batik factory - a very beautiful assortment, prices are fixed and bargaining is not appropriate. The guide was entitled to a percentage of our purchases, so our guide was completely sour at the end, because we didn’t buy much. And on the way we saw a lot of villages where they also sell batik and wooden jewelry and the prices there are not at all cosmic. We looked at rice plantations - there are shops with souvenirs, near which, again, the guide stopped us. They showed how coffee, fruits and other plants grow, there is also a tasting of coffee drinks, teas and a shop with goods. Bought lemongrass tea, Sudanese rose and Mochachino coffee.
At home, they found that there is more sugar in the pack than anything else, so the pack is designed for only a few cups. Branded coffee "luwak" did not make the proper impression on me, although I do not consider myself an avid connoisseur and coffee lover, I drank better coffee. We visited the park of birds and reptiles - this is really a class, it brought a lot of pleasure, we took a lot of beautiful photos, we took parrots, a jaguana and even a monitor lizard for not a lot of money. On the same trip, I agreed with a guide about a trip to the island of Java (the cost is $ 210, my husband is not a fan of outdoor activities, so he preferred the beach and let me go alone))). In Java, I was met by another guide with a driver and they took me to all the sights all day long.

The guide from the island of Java spoke Russian worse than Balinese, but I really respect their zeal for mastering our difficult language))), before the trip I read materials on the Internet about the objects that I would see, and it was easy for him with me))). We arrived at the Prambanan temple in the morning, so I managed to see it without witnesses, excellent photos came out, in which there are no 5-6 people of Chinese origin))). We also looked at the park, Sheva temple and other temples. The Borbodur temple, of course, is not in vain called the eighth wonder of the world, it really amazes the imagination, and even more surprising that after the earthquake it could be completely dismantled and restored. The program included lunch at a restaurant. There was still time before my plane, and I was kindly taken to the local mall, from where I had to leave at the appointed time. Along the way, the island is not as safe and calm as Bali, so the guide never left my side.
Prices on the island of Java - surprised ... very pleasant and good quality textiles. Souvenirs and batik are cheaper than in Bali.
On Epiphany - my husband's birthday, ordered dinner on the coast of Jimbaran (I read a lot about this in the reviews). They promised that the fish menu for two would cost about $50, but in fact, when we were brought there, it was cheaper than $70. there was nothing on the menu. The restaurant is more like an eatery, not very clean. The day was very cloudy, it rained all day, but the sun still came out going to bed, the rain stopped and everyone began to take pictures at sunset. Unpleasantly struck by the piles of garbage carried out by the ocean and the untidiness of the beach. Served fish-rice soup-puree. Then half of the grilled lobster, squid, spinach, grilled shrimp, mussels and grilled fish. All the seafood served was not salted, then I was told that it is not customary for them to salt (!! !
), I don’t understand this ... that’s why I didn’t like it, we didn’t finish eating many dishes. They brought the bill - $ 100 (we also took two glasses of white wine and fresh) + 20% for service)))) - these are their rules ((((.
Almost next to our hotel there was a shopping center with many shops and restaurants, so the quality of cooking there is an order of magnitude higher, and prices are lower ... We chose the Laguna restaurant, there, by the way, there was no extra charge for service and 160-180 rupees could be good have dinner together. By the way, I have never come across good cocktails, very little alcohol is poured, it is almost inaudible, the ice melts quickly, so you can only drink half a glass for pleasure, then + water))) (the same in the hotel). Freshies are not bad.
An unpleasant moment that blurred the rest and the impression of Bali is the departure from the airport, where you have to pay 15 dollars per nose (transport fee!! ! ), although 35 dollars have already been paid for the visa. from a person.

You also have to pay for luggage back and forth, and it doesn’t matter that you don’t have an overload - two suitcases of 15 kg each cost us 50 euros (import - 440 rupees for two, so you can’t leave the country “aground”) . I decided to spend the rest of their money (about $ 4) on some trinket for duty-free, I was shocked by the prices. I decided to buy a can of beer for $ 3, but the exchange rate was such that the can just came out $ 4)))), even I was kindly treated with indulgence and "forgave" 1 thousand rupees. And yet, at the airport, right in the lobby on a bench, she killed three cockroaches, as a result, they carried their bags to the middle of the hall, so as not to bring home stowaways, unwanted passengers. They value their duty-free alcohol at exorbitant prices of world brands, for example, they want $15 for a 300 ml liquor.
In general, I liked the rest, but now, honestly, I will say that I liked Thailand more for its simplicity, the absence of any surprises and pitfalls, everything was frankly simplified and did not bother me ... In principle, I would put a rest in the Dominican Republic before staying in Bali, there was also a complete feeling of paradise ... but all this is purely my opinion!
Maybe someone will find the review-report too boring and overly detailed, don’t blame me, just reading the reviews of others I am always grateful for the description of the little things, prices, personal opinions, it’s still better to learn from the mistakes of others and spread the straw in advance))). The trip was interesting, colorful and unforgettable, and I wish you the same! ! !