Anita & I spent 42 wonderful days in Bali arriving home 11th June.
First a little about us. I'm 46, Anita's 44. We met almost 4 years ago when my son was going out with her daughter (they're no longer together). In 2001 I was going to Bali for the first time, with a work mate who pulled out, so I decided to go alone. Anita & I used to walk our dogs together every morning & Bali was all I'd been talking about. I had researched extensively from the forum. She sold her motorbike & came with me. 1st trip 10 days. So begins our love affair with Bali.
When we arrived home Anita left her husband & we became soul mates. Over the next 2 years Anita had folded up her driving instructing business & joined the police force. When she came out of the academy she moved into my house with me & my 2 children. Her children stayed with their father but spend a great deal of time with us.
In 2003 we went to Bali for the 2nd time & spent 24 glorious days, travelling around. We even bussed into Java for 2 days visiting Mt Bromo.
This year we had planned on going to Vietnam but when word broke out about the chicken flu I hopped on to the Bali travel forum & read a JBR where Tegal Sari had been mentioned. I looked at their website & that was it. I showed Anita & as we'd had a very stressful year decided Bali would be more relaxing.
We bought a yearly ticket from Air Paradise, a special Melb to Denpasar $769 (I think) + $81 tax. We went through Flight Centre who arranged 60 day visas & health insurance. We then studied the Bali travel forum & counted down the weeks.
I apologise now if I offend anyone. This was our holiday & we know it wouldn't appeal to everyone . Not everyone has the same views, likes or dislikes. We like (as you will see) good food, nice wine, walking, swimming & good company. Anita & I needed to relax. We've had a few unpleasant episodes over the last 12 months. We had 42 days, no accommodation paid for & a budget of $166 per day between us. Everyone said 'What will you do in Bali for 42 days?' & most said we wouldn't be able to stay under budget.
Finally the 1st May arrived. Woke at 5am, rain was pouring down. Caught a taxi, train & the Skybus to Tullamarine. The backpacks weighed in at 13kg each. After a champagne breakfast it was time to board. The 277 seats on the plane were full. A very smooth flight, plenty to eat, the 3 glasses of Yellowtail wine delicious.
Arrived in Denpasar on time, straight through immigration as we already had our visas.
We had to wait for the luggage to come out. No offers of help from the porters who were sitting around. No chalk mark on my backpack, Phew! No question about the 2ltr wine cask inside. We each had 2 bottles of wine in our daypacks which we were questioned about but allowed through.
We had prebooked our 1st 4 nights over the internet at Tegal Sari in Ubud & arranged for an airport pick up. Outside the airport we waited a few minutes for Nyorman, our driver from Tegal Sari.