Its taken me a week to finally get on site to post my first JBR. The weather here in Perth damn cold our max not even reaching Bali's min temp.
Been to Bali many times but first time since VOA introduced. Well that was very interesting. Almost last to depart from our Qantas plane as seated at back. Entered terminal and caught up in huge line. Two other planes had arrived one from Japan and one soon after ours from Melb. The line took forever. I think major language problem with Japanese. Of course just like the shopping lanes at supermarket took the wrong one. Well by the time our six member family collected baggage from carousel, not many bags left we were bombarded by porters. My husband tries to avoid them but I think they get you through customs quicker. What I wasn't expecting was 5 of them for our five bags. We didn't have a chance. I needed to buy voucher for two taxis so of I go. Of course I paid the porters, all five of them, and proceeded to taxi counter. Got our vouchers for taxis and headed in the direction I was told. Next a voice said taxi voucher and of course I gave it too him and followed. Five more porters grabbed our bags and took us to taxis. They honestly were like vulchers. Half heading in one direction and the other a different direction. My husband went one way with half family and I the other. We didn't know who had what. It was awful. It didn't help that my husband didn't want anything to do with them in the first place. Of course the hands were out again. I was really angry and felt used as I had no idea that the guy asking for my taxi voucher was a porter.
$10A later, yes that's right, we were on our way to hotel and the reality that we were finally in Bali. The flight was great with Qantas. Left on time, arrived 15minutes early and the best landing I have ever experienced and I have flown many times. Arrived at hotel through peak hour traffic, horrendous, almost 2 hours after landing. Checking in also took awhile so by the time we unpacked we decided to eat at hotel at a Cafe near the pool. Security was tough at the Hard Rock where we were staying so much so that at dinner I had a black hand bag which I put on ground next to my chair. A few minutes later security came over picked up my bag grabbed an extra chair and placed my bag on the chair next to me. Everyone just looked at each other with amazement. Either something was in the wind or they got use to seeing us around over the next few days because this happened for about 3 days then stopped.The porters didn't help with my first night in Bali cause my husband wouldn't let me live it down but we did get straight through customs. Actually he only opened one passport and didn't even check the rest. Bit slack I thought but proved me right. Part two to follow shortly.