Hi all, here now sitting in a fabulous villa sippping on a bintang while i type this. Arrived saturday night after a 1.45 minute flight delay with jetstar. Appears they live up to their reputation. It felt like a 10 hour flight but only 6 from Melbourne. Thank god I ordered video on demand to occupy my 9 year old. Arrived and I have never seen the airport so quiet so I dont think the VIP VOA was really worth it but who cant plan on arriving so late. And with a very tired kid it probably did save us some time. Straight through immigration around the back door with with our VIP VOA assistant who told me he worked there at the airport police and obviously this is his part timer. Had to wait about 10 minutes for our bag then straight through customs. I mean he just walked us straight through, the customs guy didnt even look at us. Took us to the taxi rank and Off to Discovery Kartika. (taxi 45,000) Big hotel. Very nice but far to big for my liking. We were on the 4th floor which is a pain when you have a kid who wants to go to the pool all the time and forgets things. I was shocked at the prices there, a Bintang and coke by the pool was 75,00rp. Breakfast were great, the usual buffet style and the staff very friendly. Choose Kartika for location only .Tried to get into Dynasty for my daughter but they were booked out. I wanted to be near Waterbom and Centro to do a couple of days of kid things before we came to the Villa.
Current info - exchange rate the last three days at Kodak was 7,900 . Weather hot hot hot and humid. Doesnt seem as busy as last time but the locals say it is. Maybe it is too hot out on the streets during the day and they come out late at night.