We stayed at my nan's place the night before the flight so that we would be closer to the airport and my uncle was dropping us off. He had to go to work so he dropped us off an hour earlier than we needed to be there, but it was better than paying $80-$100 for a cab ride!
As I said in my lead up, the excitement of our first over seas trip had gone due to the circumstances of the previous 48 hours, my husband just kept saying over and over again, 'do you really think we should be going?'. I tried to sound as confident as possible, but the reality of standing at an almost deserted check in counter did have me wondering myself.
We were interviewed by a lady from the Herald Sun, asking us all the same questions we had asked ourselves, then just when we thought we couldn't be any more depressed, a Air Paradise staff member came and asked the lady in the line behind us if she was Balinese. The lady was here for an Indonesian festival and had cut her trip short as she had family members who were injured. The AP check in girls then started to cry, as did the Balinese lady.......and guess who was next, even my very macho hubby had tears in his eyes. Great start!!!
Anyway we finally boarded our flight all be it a little flat, left on time, but sadly the flight wasn't even half full. But on a brighter note, we all got at least 2 or 4 seats to stretch out on!
Arrived Denpasaar, and the sadness immediately left, replaced with excitement, paid our Voa and were out the other side of the airport in under an hour from the time we stepped off the plane.
Oh yeah nearly forgot, in all my organising and coaching of my husband in what to do and not do. I kept telling him, the first thing is DO NOT LET THE PORTERS TOUCH OUR LUGGAGE!!!
Well, you know what happened don't you, I could just feel everyone watching and having a secret laugh at the newbies. A Porter picks up our bags and I said where ok well take our own bags thanks, when my husband butts in all flustered and says 'leave em alone their just trying to help you,' I protested several more times when my husband was getting more annoyed at me. (How dare I be so ungrateful, they are just airport staff helping us out!) Well I had that 'I told you so smart ass look on my face when they walked him directly to the money changers, and he's saying 'why are they taking me here?' LOL I told him I knew everything, I did feel a little smug and pleased with myself..... Yes I can be a bit nasty LOL.
Well you guys are right! That first hot hit of Bali air is amazing! We had hotel transfers included, being first timers just to take some stress out of it for us. We were spending the first 6 nights at Villa Rumah Manis in Seminyak. I can not tell you how happy I was with this place. The staff are amazing and our first impressions of Bali were based purely on this hotel. We were taken to our little villa, the walk to the room is cobbled, and did have a few loose stones which someone as 'unco' as me had to be a little careful of. But it is lined with Frangipani trees, my new favourite tree! The smell of frangipanis and incense everyday was intoxicating!
It has a very private courtyard with your own plunge pool and outside bathroom. I didn't think I would be a fan of the outside shower and toilet, but I didn't use the one inside once! The room was lovely with a tv and fridge both upstairs and downstairs. It had a double bed downstairs and a huge 4 poster with mozzie net upstairs. The only negative thing I could say was that it was a little dark, but really wasn't a big deal.
As we were exhausted after a very early morning we decided to just eat at the restaurant. Lovely relaxed atmosphere beside the pool. The meal was lovely, Steve had Nasi Goreng and I was very boring and had a Magherita pizza, we both had 'several' cocktails, $4 ozzie for a cocktail! I am in heaven! Can't remember how much our total was, but it was bloody cheap!
Sorry my JBR moves so slowly, but today was my first day back at work, and I am very slow..... and depressed!
Next instalment, 6 days in Seminyak, Tailors, White water rafting, Cycling. That's the plan anyway!
Trace xx