Now I'm going to write about the flights to Bali.
First of all I had to get from Carnarvon to Perth...this flight was just bub and I. It's only 2 hours and it went really well. He didn't sleep but he was happy as long as he was amused.
We flew Garuda to Bali. The flight was at 9am on Friday 14th March. We all (mum, sis, niece and nephew) met each other at the airport at 6:30am. Checking in was quick and easy, I checked my pram in and was able to borrow an airport pram. Everything went well, we had breakfast and ordered our duty free for the way home. Got through Immigration no dramas and all my liquids (bottles/medication for 'just in case' all went through not a problem.
We were a bit late boarding but were up in the air by about 9:20am. They brought around colouring in packs for the 2 older kids and a little toiletry bag with a nappy, change mat, wipes and a small toy duck for bub. Very cute and handy.
We were served some kind of noodle dish which I thought was horrible but Mum enjoyed it. The kids were brought out a kids meal which was a hash brown, baked beans and something else, along with yoghurt, fruit and a fruitbox.
I had requested an infant meal for bub, but he was brought out the same meal as the kids. Well...lets say he liked the yoghurt.
We found the staff to be totally disorganised. They didn't take bub's tray away when they brought out my meal so had to juggle a baby along with 2 trays. I pressed the button for assistance but was ignored twice so gave up. My niece ended up taking bub so I could manage a bit better.
Anyway, it was time for a nappy change. Still no one had taken the trays away and I was on the window and Mum and nephew were next to me. So our little 3 seater row had 3 people, 4 trays plus a baby. I needed to get out to change this nappy. Press the buzzer, still no body. Press it again, nope still ignored. So we start stacking trays higher and higher and I finally get out only to be trapped by the trolleys that take up the whole aisle. I'd just get past 1 but have another 2 to get through. Never mind we got to the bathroom.
The way back was another nightmare. About 30 mins later I finally got back to my seat.
Anyway after about 3 hours and 20 minutes we arrived it Bali. Hooray we were off that plane.
Getting through all the paperwork was quick and easy. I paid the visa on arrival in Australian $$. I handed over $100 AUD and was given back 320,000RP. It all happened so fast I wouldn't know if I was ripped off or whatever. Anyway all was good, collected all the luggage and were transported to the hotel by their shuttlebus. We made it!
The flight home was much more pleasant. Saturday 22nd March departing Denpasar at 12:45. The flight attendants were 100 times friendlier and bub was given jars of baby food. The kids meals were yummy, spaghetti and meatballs with a few other things. The kids weren't given any colouring in books this time, nor were we given the toiletry bag.
Everything went well until about 15 minutes before landing. Bub woke up screaming. He screamed and screamed and nothing I could do would console him. He wouldn't take the boob, bottle, biscuit...NOTHING. He even screamed the whole way out of the plane until we reached the terminal. I put him in an airport stroller and everything was fine after that. Must have been his ears? My sister madly got him some panadol in our desperate plea for him to stop screaming whilst coming into land. Poor little man.
Picked up the duty free and got through the place before you collect your luggage. Collected all the luggage quickly and I went through customs with just bub and I while the others waited for all their luggage.
My card said that I was over in alcohol, I had 2x1L bottles, 1x250ml bottle and I also had a can of Bintang in my case for hubby. I also had some lollies and biscuits etc. They didn't even ask to open my case, it went straight through the x-ray machine and I was out of there within 2 minutes. Nice!
More to come!