We, that is 'I' had been planning this trip since December. We had originally planned to go to Thailand, then the tsunami hit so we changed our plans to Bali.
As I had researched a lot about Thailand and knew very little about Bali I went and brought a Bali guide book. (As you will notice, I can be a little obsessive compulsive about planning! LOL) Anyway, on one of the first pages that I read, it had a listing of helpful websites. It listed the BTF as a good humoured informative forum. Needless to say I haven't read another page of the book, I've been too busy reading the BTF!
Saturday I was embarrassingly excited. With only 2 more sleeps to go to our dream holiday. I was confident I had planned absolutely everything imaginable. I had scoured the forum for months, cut and paste all the critical information, where to shop, tailors, drivers, places to visit, money info, Di's do's and Don'ts, DonRon's price guide, there was nothing that I didn't know about Bali, and I had certainly taken out the worry of anything unexpected happening!
I should have realised that as much as I like to think I am in control of every situation, I am just a mere mortal, and there is always going to be both greater and more evil powers in this amazing world of ours than me.
As the saying goes 'what a difference a day makes'. Saturday night I was at my brother's house to say goodbye. I had my 'Bali folder' with me that my sister in law was pouring over and repeatedly saying how jealous she was of our trip.
We left at about 9.30pm, we were almost home when my brother called us on the mobile to tell us a bomb had gone off in Kuta. I had had so many jokes about bombs and drugs in the lead up that I thought he was joking, sadly he was not.
So began a night sitting at my computer flicking between the BTF and Bali Bliss chat. If it wasn't for these two sights I would have gone insane. No news on the Tv or radio frustrated the hell out of me, as I know it did many others.
I only had an hour and a half sleep that night, only this time it was not from excitement and imagining what Bali would look and smell like. It was thoughts of the poor victims and families and images in my head of the last Bali Bombing. The contacts I had made through the forum, Putu, our driver, Hgie, with his DVD's, where they ok? What about there families? What will this do to Bali? Will anyone still go? Will we still go?.........
Well after talking to everyone and convincing my husband that we should go, we were off.....
Sorry for the long 'lead up' but it is this lead up story that set the tone of our trip. It was to be a very different one to what I had planned. But I have since learnt that the unexpected usually offers the most amazing and memorable experiences.
To be continued
TraceXX