Well what a week we had! Having been banished from the land of smiles for the past 18 months due to my husband's treatment regime we were very eager to return at our earliest opportunity.
TEO ( representing 'The Evil One' as my husband was nicknamed by his step sons...cause he is the least evil person on earth) two close friends and I boarded the Garuda flight from Perth on Friday 30 October for the short flight to Bali. Garuda is great.. though the food in economy still not flash...but this really is of no consequence as Bali is only 3 hours 45 minutes away!
This is the second trip for our friends with the last being their honeymoon 24 years ago! Up until 18 months ago we were travelling over twice a year February and September for two weeks of R& R each time.
Arrive at Ngurah Rai airport right on schedule. TEO and friends go through VOA and I make my way to the APEC, crew and diplomatic desk to the right of VOA desks - I have a APEC card. I am the only one in line and I taken through the area and asked to wait on the other side while the clerk hurries off with my passport and card to the VOA clerks... has my visa stamped and entered and then returns to me ---all of 2 minutes later.
During my short wait I watch as VIP VOA service staff whisk their clients through the same procedure, except they get to wait in a side room which I assume is air conditioned.
Then it is off to the xray screening and baggage carousel.
I have bags off and waiting for our crew by the time they are processed and we walk through customs and out into the Bali humidity. There waiting for us with a broad smile and cold bintangs is our driver Scooby Doo.
After a stop at the exchange and then Hardy's for Simpati phone cards x 2 and the essentials from the supermarket we arrive at Besakih Beach Resort Sanur to an almost overwhelming welcome from the Besakih staff... who we have missed very much.
We are given one of the stand alone rooms at the rear of the property... our favourite... and friends are right opposite in one of the bungalow rooms. Absolutely perfect..
Within 10 minutes we are in the almost bath water temperature pool - cold bintangs and lime juices in hand and lunch ordered. We are home!
About the pool... I actually love the fact that the water is quite warm... as it is not so shocking to the body...and if we every want to cool down a little more there is always the lower second pool to dip into. This is always a few degrees cooler due to the waterfall and the water aeration and depth.
The next few days fly by in a cloud of relaxation. Good food... Bonsai the first night for seafood and that Beach dining experience, Gazebo, Picadilly, Aladdin, Massimos... we weren't travelling far and the food was fantastic. Massages on the beach and generally wind down was the order of the day. With great poolside chat and people we were relaxed and ready for our first excursions on day 4.
Kuta for the girls with TEO in tow and White Water Rafting for the adventure man of the group.