About 12 months ago I started envying all of the regular travellers to Bali who book their flights and jet off to beautiful Bali within a matter of months. In fact, my last trip, I myself booked and flew within a few weeks. Not this time!!
This trip is a major family event. Parents, kids, grandparents and aunts and uncles are engaging in this (long winded) but very well planned trek!
The vacation was first mentioned in January 2010. A budget was prepared, and savings started one week later.. and since then it has been a marathon of planning.
Of course, you can only plan for so much... I fully expect that the 2yr old will drink the bath water and get Bali Belly, the 14yr old is going to forget his mosquito repellent and end up contracting Dengue Fever. My mother and elderly aunt cannot walk, so they are both going to end up falling into a drain, or tripping into traffic, and my elderly uncle has a very sensitive stomach, so he's likely to eat something that sends him into hospital. Hubby dearest and I will be talked into attending a time-share meeting, will be bowled over by how good it all sounds, and will sign up for something we really can't afford. Oh and we will all contract Legionnaires Disease.
Of course, packing will be a breeze. After 15 months of saying 'we'll buy it in Bali.' The little Master has only 2 pair of shorts that fit, shirts are all threadbare and I'll be cutting holes in his shoes this afternoon so his toes can stretch out. As for my older son, he has stretched like a piece of taffy this year and his jeans now reach to his knees... that's okay I assured him, as he waved them in front of me while begging for new clothes, he can use them as shorts! Denim shorts are 'in' at the moment aren't they?
That being said, we have brand new suitcases to pack it all into! Auntie will pack far too much but will only wear her blue striped shirt, Uncle will pack his favourite shorts with all the holes, and will wonder why he keeps losing money out of the pockets, mums will hold more medication than clothes (we'll tie bells to the handle to mask the rattle) and hubby will ask me where his clothes are when he forgets to pack any for himself. This is going to be a great holiday!! Haha!
So, with only 10.5 days to go, I today booked the taxi to take us to the airport. Thats it... the planning and booking is all done. Now I just have to wait until we have scheduled in 'Relaxing' on our holiday itinerary (no kidding!!), and all will be good with the world!
Thanks for everyone's help with our planning to date. I'll be sure to share our holiday adventures with you. :)
BaliDaze