JBR Part 1
Woke up at 3.00 am even though we did not need to be up until nine o'clock, was just too excited to sleep. Called taxi and went to the airport anyway, surely will get a better seat if we are the first there - husband and kids aren't too impressed, but hey, it's holiday time after all so why would we want to be in bed sleeping?
Feck, 40 people already in front of us at the airport. Plastic wrap man not even here yet, this could be a disaster, bound to be a drug smuggler wanting to shove a couple of kilos of hash in my suitcase - happens all the time. Poor Schapelle.
Finally, two hours and at the front of the queue. Unbelievable, they tell me the seats are already allocated months ago. Oh well, only a seven hour flight, row 16 will have to do. Luggage is just under the allowance but fine as have tons of stuff for charity, I wonder if the orphans will be ok with size 18 resort wear? Sure to be a few chubby ones.
OK, three hours until the flight, can't find hubby anywhere. Bookshop or bar? I'll check the bookshop first. Nope, not there. Where the hell are the kids? Unbelievable, only 2 hours and 55 minutes until the flight leaves. Find husband in Pub. He's acting funny, almost like he's trying to hide from me. Round him up, find the kids and make it to the gate with just an hour to spare. Must get on first.
Flight was boring. Nothing much to report. They had food and drink on the plane. Can't remember what. The plane flew in the air and landed on a runway at the airport. I wonder how they stay in the air being so big?
Got off the plane. Wow it's really hot. Hot hot hot. Can't believe how hot it is. Wonder if it will be this hot for a whole week. Have to go through the whole VOA thing. Now, I'm sure I read it on the forum several thousand times, queue - twenty five dollars - queue - stamp - done. What would I have done if I didn't know! Best start the stopwatch, everyone will want to know exactly how many minutes I waited. 42 minutes and 30 seconds. Let's call it 42. No, 43. Yes, 43 minutes at VOA. Make a note in case I forget.
OK everyone, hold on to your suitcases really tight. Don't look anyone in the eye. Don't let anyone touch your bag. Don't speak to anyone. Head down. Look like a local.
Damn, must have walked right past the person who was supposed to pick us up. Have been here two hours and can't find anyone. Desperately tried to remember the best sequence to get a taxi but couldn't. Wow, saw an internet café at the airport. Logged in and found the instructions for getting a taxi. Left a quick message for all my forum friends. Got taxi to hotel. Phew, travel out of the way. Time to relax.
Hotel is great. Get put in room 603, the presidential suite. Sure we requested 306. Kids are in 604, a smaller suite but still very nice. Our room is lovely, huge bed, balcony, looking at the sea. But it's not room 306. Down to reception, two hours later after I sat on the floor and refused to budge they move all four of us to 306. HA, cheating bastards thought they would try to swindle me. Admittedly the room is a lot smaller than the two we previously had but this room gets the afternoon sun between 3.30 and 3.45 pm and is far less of a distance to breakfast.
Time to change money. Still four hours of sun left so need to make the most of it. First down to the money changer at the end of the street, the rate seems ok, I think. Chap seems a bit sneaky, he has beady eyes. Decide to try elsewhere. Walk about a kilometer to Poppies One, or is it Poppies Two? Can't remember where that good money changer is. Mmmm, rate here seems the same as the first place. There was a good place in Legian I think, jump in a taxi for the ten minute trip. Walk up and down but the rates seem much the same. Don't want to get tricked here so I ask a few people what commission they charge and if they have government approved scales, they all look at me a bit funny but I'm confident and stare right back. Not comfortable about traveling all the way back once the money changer knows I have cash so decide to go back to the hotel in Kuta. Christ, I now only have high denomination Australian dollars. Start to walk. And walk. And walk. Finally find the hotel. Thankfully it's only just got dark and am not too sunburnt. Go back to first money changer and change $100.
Hubby and kids are starving. We get a taxi, not so sure now if I should only get the Blue Lark or the Purple Pelican taxis. Damn. Down to the internet café to check. Quick note to forum friends. Tell them what a great time we are having.
Blue Pelican taxis only from now on!!! Straight to Pizza Hut. NOOOO, everyone back in the Blue Pelican, back to hotel, quick quick. Right, two travelan, one herbal pill and a litre (or was it a capful?) of raspberry juice each, back in Blue Pelican and to Pizza Hut. Amazing food and only 30,000 rupees for four of us! WOW. YUM YUM!! AMAZING!!!!!!! Sadly the food was ruined by a stray cat which did a poo on Hubby's Stuffed Crust Super Supreme. Never mind. Kids loved it. Must remember to come back here. Will write it down. P.I.Z.Z.A H.U.T.
...ok, day one out the way... to be continued.