In Reply to: Lets get some Funny stories and memories posted by mandy bunbury on Wednesday, 15. November 2006 at 15:32 Bali Time:
well over a decade ago, my husband was in the Australian Navy. He was a electronics technician. We were going to Bali on a belated honeymoon. An Australian Navy Patrol Boat was in Benoa Harbour with a broken radar. Hubby (at that time being a good Naval bloke) volunteered "us" to take the new component of the radar to Bali and oh yes, he would fit it! then the fun started. we had to have a special letter saying that the "bits" couldnt be xrayed. The security people at the airport didnt really believe us, called someone else down who did a "visual inspection" and let us board the plane. The "part" had to fly as hand luggage.
When we landed in Bali, the bag was searched and once again we produced the letter, got lots of strange looks, but eventually we were on our way.
Got to the hotel, dropped our luggage off at the room and immediately went to a Bemo to go to Benoa to find the Navy Patrol Boat. Unfortunately the driver didnt speak much english and we thought we told him where to take us. He took us to the Bali Hai, no no not this one, we said, we need navy ship goes "bang bang" we made the sound and motioned like a canon...or so we thought. Ok we go around again through the boom gate and back to the Bali Hai again, same story. We told the driver again where we wanted to go, and went back to the Bali Hai again! Eventually we found (at the boom gate) an official who knew what we were talking about. "ah yes Australian Navy boat, over there, you must pay harbour fees" ???? I just want to go to the boat, regardless we parted with rupiah and went to the navy ship where (in true australian navy form) no one knew we were coming. All the crew were off drinking except for 3 people. So, hubby fitted the radar, and yes it worked. Now, I was imagining this would be a quick visit and I would soon be having a cocktail and starting my honeymoon, having a wonderfully exotic meal. How wrong I was. The Officer of the day then said that the ships bus would be back soon and would take us back to Kuta (thank you) but did I want to have dinner on the Patrol boat? he offered to cook me steak and chips! not happy jan.
Finally got to Kuta , stated the honeymoon and now we can laugh about it. Even more remarkably, hubby and I are still married, but at least he left the Navy (eventually)