The Resort Bali

Fisherman at sunrise over Sanur Beach in Bali
Only one of us saw this

This is the Bali you imagine

Sunrise

Pool waterfall

The Hyatt Resort on Sanur Beach in Bali looks just like what you always pictured Bali to be.  The grounds were manicured lushness.  Two pools overlooked the sandy beach.  Deck chairs and umbrellas were lined up along the shore for us.  Local fishing boats bobbed on their tethers just offshore.  Best of all, everyday, that sun shone.  Sanur beach is much quieter and less touristy than Kuta and it was an easy walk along the beachfront, or into the shopping zone.  No one approached us to sell us anything.

Hotel gardens

Where is my beverage boy?

Sun, sand, surf, Kindle (missing the beverage boy)

Beverage boy out snorkeling

Our favourite pool

We opted for the club room-this is such a great deal because breakfast and happy hour (beverages and snacks) are included.  During happy hour on our first night we met two couples, one from California and the other from Ottawa but working for our Federal Government in India.  We had a great time together and closed out the club room two nights in a row.

One glass too many?

Breakfast

Monitor lizard-he was in the water beside our breakfast table

Live entertainment

Bali is an expensive island.  There is an entry visa charge of $40 cdn per person to enter the island and another $17 per person to get off it.  Plus the 21% tax on everything.  It was time to move on and we thought Phuket, back in Thailand would be a good destination.  We didn't have a way to get there or a hotel once we arrived but Air Asia had a good website.  We jumped online and booked a flight ($115) and found a good hotel.  Air Asia offers mystery hotels-these are 5 star properties at 3 star rates but they don't tell you the exact location until you book and pay.  We signed up for one at Kata Beach in Phuket.  We reasoned that we don't know enough about the area to make a solid choice about a hotel so why not take a chance?  Al said he can book a bad hotel on his own, and at least this way if the hotel is bad he can blame Air Asia. 

Our 3 1/2 hour flight to Phuket was uneventful-which is how we like it.  However, the downside of every airport seems to be the airport taxi procedure.  There is none.  Scams abound, right in front of security and police officials. 
Taxis are often not metered, and you must haggle with the driver for an amount and a distance you're not sure of, at a time when your wits are slow.  You've just landed after a flight, you're tired, hungry, hot, and your math conversion skills on the local currency are not sharp.  For example, a taxi in Bali cost 300 000 rupiahs.  That sounds astronomical.  In Thailand, it costs 500 baht for a taxi.  Still sounds high.  The rupiahs exchange at 100 000 equals $1.14 and 100 baht equals $3.40.  Lots to comprehend as you exit an airport, lugging your baggage and being verbally propositioned by a throng of taxi drivers. 
In Phuket's airport there was a mini bus kiosk with prices listed for various destinations.  Luckily, we saw that on our way to find a metered taxi.  The cost for us to take a mini bus would be 180 baht per person.  Immediately upon us leaving the relative security of the airport, a taxi driver held up a laminated chart of his prices. He charged 1 800 baht per person.  Ten times the amount.  He was counting on us travellers not realizing that he had added a zero.
Despite the fact that there was a sign saying, "metered taxi", they didn't exist.  Taxi drivers wanted 500 baht to take us to the hotel.  We opted for the mini bus.  These vans wait until they are full and then they leave.  You get to see all the other hotels where the other people are staying.  Our hotel was the last drop off.  Our hotel was also the best of the bus.
 

Local Balinese man fishing off the beach

Local fishing boats along the beach