Day 6 in Sanur

Day 6 we moved from Puri Cendana in Seminyak to Hotel La Taverna in Sanur.
Been really looking forward to arriving in Sanur as we meet up with my husband this afternoon - he's just spent 10 nights away with 3 mates on a surf trip to Rote Island in Timor. They fly back to Denpasar at about 2pm.

After breakfast at Puri Cendana we lay around the pool until checkout time. I asked the fellow on reception to organize some transport for us to Sanur then we we are off to our next destination.

Turning off the main drag of Jl Danau Tamblingan, we drive down a driveway towards our hotel. La Taverna is old world charm. This small family run hotel was one of the first hotels to open in Bali. The architecture I guess is mediterranean with touches of Balinese. Bougainvillea spills down the salmon coloured archway leading into the hotel.
Massive frangipani trees in all different colors & the biggest avocado tree I've ever seen. The kids loved the cute little squirrels that jumped through the trees.

Our family room was in a block of 2, ours being the one upstairs. On the balcony is a lovely big day bed then it's through the little double wooden doors into the main room - duck your head if you are tall!

The pebble floors & bagged cement walls with lots of dimly lit lamps make this room so cosy.

Through another set of double doors, this time even smaller and you're in the bathroom. There's a sunken stone bath with shower. Cute blue & white plates are cemented into the walls.
In the corner is a little shelf with clay bottles of shampoo, conditioner, bath gel & body lotion. Not the usual crappy stuff you get in most hotels that drys your skin out, but lovely quality products that smell of frangipani. Through a third set of tiny wooden doors brings you into the kids room. The beds are smaller in length than regular singles, so would probably not suit children older than about 8. My son said it reminded him of a hobbit's home.

After checking out the room we walked through the lovely grounds and made our way towards the restaurant & pool area. The Isola Restaurant is beachfront and has a huge canopy of trees with a tiny white picket fence overlooking the ocean. Lots of lovely big day beds to chill out on with a cool drink.

The kids take a swim in the pool while I order a Bintang and relax on the sun lounge.
Then I move to the sun beds on the beach while the kids collect coral on the shoreline. The water is calm & warm. Big difference from the crashing waves at Seminyak.
We walk 2 doors up for lunch at the Bonsai Cafe.
I order a prawn salad & it was quite good, they were very generous with the prawns - I got 2!
After lunch the kids watched tv in a big covered pavilion on the huge daybeds. I lay back propped up by the cushions & checked out the Internet.
The free wifi is throughout the hotel, something which I hadn't experienced with our last 2 hotels, being only in the restaurant & pool area.

Late afternoon we receive a txt from my Husband, letting us know the plane will be 30 mins late. Kids are disappointed as they cant wait to see Dad, at least he should be here in time to have dinner with us. Another txt an hr later & he was boarding his plane in Kupang. Another hr later we receive a txt from him....."Back in Kupang. Plane hit a flock of birds & nearly crashed. I'm shit scared"
OMG it must of been terrifying. Apparently the pilot came out white as a sheet upon landing! I didn't tell the kids about the mishap, just told them the plane was yet again delayed.

So off we went to dinner without Dad. We dined at Cinnamon & it was just lovely. I had a really good Nasi Campur & a blue green coloured cocktail called a tsunami that had red bull in it - figured I needed something tom keep me awake!

It would be another 6 hrs before they boarded a new plane. Finally at 11.54pm I get a txt that they had just landed safe in Bali. I couldn't wait for him to arrive at the hotel and give him a big hug!
Needless to say we had trouble getting to sleep our first night in Sanur. I look forward to tomorrow when the kids can see their Dad and we are all together as a family again....


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Location:Hotel La Taverna

Seminyak day 5

Very peaceful having our breakfast by the pool this morning, we always seem to be up & about before most of the other guests. My son is feeling slightly better but still not much appetite.

After breakfast my son went back for a rest & my daughter and I walked around the lovely gardens of Puri Cendana taking photos. She then chased a cat with the longest legs I've ever seen - at first I thought it was a dog!

My daughter finds a frangipani flower & the staff tell us its lucky as it has 6 petals when they only usually have 5. She spends some time looking for more with 6 petals, but does not find any.

Then it's time for a swim in the pool while I relax on a sun bed (that is not me in the background!)

Son has a swim & feels up to going out for a while, so I jump at the chance & off we head to Biku. We arrive at about 12.30 and the place is pretty busy, so we can only get a table outside out the back. It is much nicer & cooler inside, so I would suggest to make a booking if you want a good table.
I ordered the Afternoon High Tea for the kids (I drank the tea) complete with crochet tea cosy & I ordered an appetizer of Samosas. There was a children's high tea also on the menu, but it was smaller, and I think my eyes were bigger than my belly.... I wanted to try some as well. Anyway, we could not eat it all.

On the way back to our hotel we passed Potato Head Beach Club on the other side of the road just down from Biku. I wish I had of known it was so close & I would of packed our swimmers & towels... Another place on my to go to list, probably won't find the time to go now.

Came back & sat around the pool again. Kids wanted a massage each in the little hut beside the pool and this time they both fell alseep on the massage table, leaving me in peace & quiet..... What a perfect idea for a break for me!



After their rest, they wanted to watch some tv in the room, so I locked them in & went to pick up the laundry. On the way I stopped to enquire about a new budget hotel that was almost completed. The rooms are ready to stay in, but the restaurant, bar & pool are not yet ready. It's a really budget chain called Grandmas Hotels & they have a walk in rate of 99,000rp (just under $12) for a room for 2 people.

I also ducked into a little boutique and quickly bought a cute little singlet & a dip dye dress, much better quality than the market buys and only $17 & $20. Finally I have done a little shopping, was getting really bad withdrawal symptoms having not been shopping since day 2!

When I arrived back at Puri Cendana, the kids were keen to check out the beach. So we headed down at about 4.30pm intending to stay and watch the sunset.
We walked along not far & found some bean bags to sit on at La Plancha. I ordered an icy cold Bintang & the kids made 'dribble castles' on the beach.

La Plancha has a great vibe, funky chill out music, icy cold drinks while sitting on bean bags under cute umbrellas. What better way to watch the sunset at Seminyak.
Here's a tip, bring a towel or sarong to throw on the bean bags as they can be a little dusty.

Beach sellers offer their wares, so if you are after something, you can shop in comfort. I didn't find any of them too intrusive.
The kids were excited to buy some fairy floss!

Lots of people watching to be done here, the beach really is the place to be on sunset.

Had a laugh at this dog that walked past. Looked like someone had drawn black dots on it with a marker!

On the way back to the hotel we got to watch some fireworks off in the distance.
For dinner we went to the Delicious Onion as yes it was delicious!

I ordered some starters - the pork gyoza (dumplings) 25,000 & cabbage wraps with minced pork and kaffir lime leaf 35,000.

The kids only wanted French fries and as I couldn't get them to try any of my dishes, once again I was too full to finish my meal. So we took a doggy bag with us & gave to a very appreciative fellow on the way back to the hotel.

What a huge day, time for some zzzzzzzzz.......




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Location:Puri Cendana