Jbr 1..The trip to/from Bali
8th November was a lovely warm day in Perth, which made choosing a travelling outfit so much easier, start as we mean to go on, shorts and t-shirts for the next 17 days! Garuda flight was ahead of schedule getting into Bali, the movie was non-existent, as the earphone console didn't work, and the food was excellent. Visa On Arrival was too easy, handing over $60.00 didn't quite cut it for 2, an extra $5.00 sealed the deal and we came away with a few rupiahs, no scams here. I was pulled up in customs for carrying donations, how he knew I don't know, must have been those giveaway blue/red/white stripey bags. I was told to have a good suitcase next time or pay duty???Garuda did take our entire luggage through to the hold, saves having to use the overhead lockers; I really didn't need anything on the plane for 3 ½ hours.
Outside to the warm and the smells and where is our driver? A quick phone call and he pulls up as we speak to him, yes we were just that little bit early, caught him on the hop! After hugs and kisses and loading up the van it was straight to our hotel.
My sister Lena travelled with me spending the first 10 days at the Green Garden Hotel and then she stayed on for another 3 days with me at the Peninsula Beach Resort, I managed another 4 days on my own, although your never on your own in Bali.
My trip back with Garuda again had excellent food, the movie 'Ant Bully' was OK and my travelling neighbour, the wife of a well to do business name in Perth was lovely to chat to.
I had paid $100.00 as did my sister to extend our stays, we fronted up at the Garuda office in the Kuta Paradiso Hotel, a quick search was done and our seats picked out! My sister got No. 1 window for her return trip and I got No. 5, my flight actually had business class up front, my neighbour having missed out on business class where they normally travel as the trip was a spur of the moment decision! Well worth heading into the office to confirm your flights because you can choose your seats ahead of check-in.
I was a little overweight in the luggage area but was Ok'd to put it on, could not put my carry-on luggage on though. I paid 100,000Rupiah to go to the lounge, well worth it too, as people have said, free internet, drinks both alcoholic and non, food such as nasi-goreng, cakes, sandwiches, soup, salad and fruit. They had a microwave too so that you could really heat the food up instead of it being just warm as the Balinese like! The chairs were comfortable and massage was available at a small charge. It was quite a walk from my departure gate, though you can't really gauge this unless you know exactly where your gate is and the lounge. The lounge I was in, was down the escalator by gate 9, I boarded at gate 2!