Playdate at Lollipop's

Last week-end we met up with a few mummies and kiddies at Lollipop's in Seminyak. It is an indoor/outdoor playground with lots of activities for the small and bigger kids. Bibs (3yrs old) had a tremendous time, Bobsy (13 months) had a good time because he just gets on with stuff, but if you only have a small one, I don't really think that's the place to go.

Lollipop's is located on Sunset Road, on the last stretch before you drive into Seminyak. It is quite big so you can't really miss it and I think most taxi drivers know it anyway.

so what can the kiddies do... there are trampolines, slides, a smaller toddler area, fishing, climbing and a quite big outdoor wet area. This is the kind of place to take your children to use some energy! The parents can have a drink and a little something to eat in the cafe. There is a no food/drinks-from-the-outside policy, but they don't sell milk which is a bit of a problem if you have a huge milk drinker like I do; fortunately there is a small convenience store next door where it is possible to get some.

the indoor area...

Bobsy exploring the area

Bungee jumping for over 5s

The cafe is located inside, so it is possible to kind of keep an eye on the children as they fool around. They have a selection of drinks - coffee, shakes, juices - and also a quite extensive food menu with Indonesian favorites and western options available as well. prices range from 8.5k for a bottle of water and the food around 30k. 

The cafe

Outdoors... there is this little fishing area - Bibs here walks around trying to catch a little goldfish. Now I don't think the fish like it very much, but the kids obviously love it. You get to keep the fishies if you want - we decided to release ours.

What more outside. around the pond there is a climbing frame, they have helmets and other security stuff so the bigger children can climb in all safety.

and finally, the wet area - a very shallow area where the children can run around, under showers of water and other features. Then some slides and other fun things. Be aware! the buckets fill with water and they empty quite violently - we got soaking wet!

So how much does it cost? you can find all about their membership on the website. On non schooldays it costs 110k for over 2 year olds and on schooldays it's 90k; between 1 and 2 is 50k and parents/guardians is always 25k. under ones get in for free. I find the price okay if you decide on staying the whole day, but I wouldn't go there just for a couple of hours. Oh! and you need socks for the kids and parents get these very fancy (euh not!) flip flops...

lunch @ Waroeng Bonita, Seminyak

not far from home, there is a warung, with a lovely garden and some very good food. a warung (or waroeng) is a family owned business like a restaurant, a cafe or a small shop. 

the food was really yummy, the service slow - it wasn't busy, but i suspect it's because they do make a lot from scratch when ordered. so they are kind of excused.

 

to the food... the mie goreng had this awesome taste of hot wok, which is almost impossible to get at home! the Indonesian chicken curry was mild and the potatoes were melting in the mouth - the kiddies loved it. Bobs and i had fried fish, it was succulent! all for idr 230k and worth every penny, or rupiah i should say.

Bob's fried fish

sweet and sour fried fish

mie goreng

indonesian chicken curry 

small flea market in Seminyak

not far from the entrance to the Oberoi and Seminayk square there is a small market with mostly clothes, a few handicrafts, a little jewelry. obviously you need to bargain, when you ask for a price most tend to be 250K. but they do go down, a lot. i was also told that the prices tend to be higher during high season (july-august and Aussie school holidays) than the rest of the year and of course it is Semyniak and i don't think it helps on the prices either.

we went there midday and it was really quiet. it is open every day.

there is another small market with the same kind of stalls on Seminyak square.

depending on how well you bargain and what type it is, a dress will be anywhere in between idr 60K and 200K i guess - most of the stalls sell the same things so i think it's good to look around and make competition work it's magic.

kiddies afternoon @ el parque

my friend A. took us (Bibs, Bobsy & myself) to El Parque this afternoon - a lovely kids/family restaurant in Semyniak. this is exactly the type of place that I was longing for in Amman.

located in the backstreets of Seminyak, the place has a lovely atmosphere and plenty of stuff to keep the kiddies busy... entrance fee is 60k and it's open from 8am to 10pm. they also organise parties and extra activities some days after school. you can find lots of info on their facebook page and here is their website.

the staff is very nice and are helping you to look after the kids if needed while parents can sit and have a nice lunch, a cup of coffee or some refreshing juices. they have a no-nanny policy, it's all about family time.

the gardens are really nice to play in. Bibs was sooo happy to be on the swing and of course to play in the small sand pit (even though since we arrived she has been on the beach every day. she can simply not get enough).

Bibs had a panini with homemade fries (forgot the pic) which was nice (idr 35K++) - the menu is quite extensive with lots of different foods on there - including a couple of purees for the smaller ones.

Bibs and Bobsy also enjoyed the indoor play area... with toys. they haven't seen many of those since we arrived as we are still waiting for our shipment.

when we left they called us a taxi and and took us back to the door. there is also a small shop that i have to explore next time.

and then this is what we came home to. Bobs really has some surprises up his sleeves. i don't need to say that the kids are thrilled. i don't mind as long as i don't have to clean the thing!...

from Petitenget to Seminyak square

walking in Amman wasn't an easy job. walking in Seminyak isn't either. the only difference is that here the roads take you somewhere: to a shop, to a cafe, to a restaurant or to the beach! in Amman, i could walk in my neighbourhood and apart from my little corner shop there was nothing to look at! so yes i have to brave the cars and the scooters and the beeping taxis - but at least i walk into a shop, buy a dress or have a coffee on the way.

and here are a few pics of my first walk into Seminyak...

bought a dress there

bikes and petrol in an Absolut bottle! everywhere in Bali... big drinkers of Absolut?

love this little alley - full of authentic Balinese houses

 

a little bookshop - exchange, sell, buy

a hidden temple

my first walk on the beach

we have mostly been spending our days at the pool and recovering from the jet lag... however a couple of days ago we took a stroll on the beach here in Semyniak. Bibs absolutely loved it - Bobsy was just enjoying himself in the pushchair, listening to the waves and having the wind in his face.

no swimming here, but the sea is absolutely beautiful.

view of the beach 

...but surfing yes! beginners out for a lesson

even the crabs are artists in Bali

the tides are huge here, which make the beach an amazing place to walk late afternoons

Bibs enjoying herself playing with the sand

Bibs doing yoga - my first mission is to find her a yoga teacher. she is in the right place i believe