Arrived back to sunny, but a decidedly cooler, Sydney on Sunday 31 July. This JBR was going to be a bit of a daily account, but I got over taking notes on day three, so it is now going to be a summary of what we did and major events.
We left on 16 July from Sydney on the 9.15am flight, two of us and two first timers (sister-in-law and her boyfriend) actually, they had never been out of the country before. They were staying for the first of our two weeks, it was going to be an interesting holiday.
The flight over
Took off not that much later than expected (probably 20mins), plane only 2/3 full. Told after take off that unfortunately the entertainment system isn't working and won't be for the whole flight 'thank you for your understanding', well it isn't as if we can get off because we don't understand. About an hour in, the screens came down, we had a picture, no sound. A bit more of playing around (I hope not by the pilot - he's meant to be flying the plane) we have sound, through the cabin, but not through the headsets. Get excited, at least we have something to watch, then the movie stops, about 10 mins later it starts again. In the end, didn't bother watching the movie at all.
Service was OK, not great, drinks trolley twice (Bintang very warm) after the two runs with the drinks trolley it was a matter of going to the galley for more drinks (or buzzing for them if you didn't feel like the walk).
During our meal the captain informs us that in about two hours he is going to turn on the seatbelt sign and it will be on for a while as there is clear air turbulence ahead - great, I hate turbulence, for the next two hours I am waiting in anticipation. Seat belt sign came on, here goes, well it was a bit of an anticlimax, the flight ended up being pretty smooth. Personally I think it was the flight attendants telling the pilot they wanted a break for a while (trust me they do this, my sister is a flight attendant, and when they want to eat their dinner the pilot will ask if they want the seatbelt sign turned on).
Now for the first timers on the flight, well the 6+ hours was starting to where thin with them, I'm excited, and they are not happy, all I could think was this had better not be a sign of the week to come. I don't think they appreciated me saying that if they think this is bad try flying to England - just trying to be positive J.
Best landing I have ever experienced, hardly could tell we touched the ground.
Arrivals
Not an issue what so ever with VOA, not a person in front of us, straight through and paid Aussie dollars. Handed over the receipt got the visa in the passport, again no problems.
The big wait was on for the luggage, and we waited, and waited. The first timers were hanging for a cigarette, many trips to the smoking room. And we waited and waited for the luggage. Their's came out, so my husband in all his wisdom thought it would be funny to send them out into the throng on their own, I panicked thinking we would lose them, plus I wanted to see their reaction. And we waited and waited still for our bags, I started saying to myself 'don't look worried, try to look normal' I didn't want to look worried that my bags were looking like they were either:
a. going to be last off the plane
b. a very attractive set in some little Balinese household
c. never made it onto the plane in the first place or
d. the dreaded white crosses were all over it and I would be taken to the special room.
Luckily, our luggage did eventually arrive and we were straight through then off to find the AWOL travelling companions.
We were hit by the smell, the heat and the noise all at once. 'No we don't need transport, yes we have Bali on any budget tags, but we are OK' then I heard - 'Sharrron, Sharrron' it was Made's wife, she was so excited to see us, got a big hug from her the kids and Made, they seemed more excited to see us then we were to see them (and being on holidays of course). Now after slogging myself away at the gym for 6 months and feeling that I have done the best I can, I felt pretty good, Made's wife tells me that I have a big bum. Instant deflation!!. But wait no, it was a compliment, she thinks I look good, glad to have cleared that up, I can now eat for the next two weeks and can put the running gear away.
We found the other two (having a cigarette of course - ok guess the non-smoker of the group) and we were off.
The drive to the Hotel
This was very amusing, I was in the very back of the van watching the two going, 'oh my god, look at all of the bikes, all the cars, wow look at that, look out - are we going to hit them' and we were only about five mins from the airport.
The Hotel
We stayed at Hotel Santika Beach, what a beautiful place. This is my third time there, the check in is quick, never a problem. The room I requested, I received, got a nice welcome back home letter from the General Manager and a fruit platter. Now who can complain about that? The first timers were also more than impressed with the hotel and it's surrounds. Going back there was like going home, it feels like we haven't left and I was very excited about the next two weeks.
The pool in the superior room area on the first day wasn't open, they were conducting ‘maintenance' more like draining the thing. Wasn't too keen on going to the pool that is housed up the front where the Deluxe rooms were so I persevered in the sun and watched the water empty out. Double checked that night that my pool would be ready the next day, they said maybe the day after. It was ready the next day so no formal complaint to the government about the injustice of my pool not being made available were necessary.
In my next JBR I'll go through our adventures.