Hello everybody peeps. Hope you are all well, and enjoying wherever you are, whatever you are doing and whomever you are with.
So, it begins, my 5th trip to this most addictive of destinations, some do daft drugs, some do alcohol, I do travel, and in particular Bali
My wonderful wife had spent most of Friday night cleaning what the cleaners had done, and pointing out to me all the things that they hadn't..why can't anyone do what they are supposed to do properly, it's so annoying ! She started again at 5am Saturday morning, and had done one of her famous tick lists for me to follow. I do this with gusto and my usual delibrate application.Failure results in another "one of those looks" , a severe beating with a mop handle, or solitary confinement for a number of months...so...
our sojourn commences with an on-time taxi pick up from our home at Brisbane Cruise Ship terminal, (I'll do one of these cruises one day, I swear I will !), off we go down the vastly improved Airport Drive , and along what must be, the easiest drive to any airport in a capital City within our great Nation.Jetstar JQ81 left Brisbane after final calls for 3 passengers went unanswered, I can only think they got lost, had a row with a wedding planner, or had been knee capped by Baldie. Whatever the reason, it's still a shame to see people miss flights.
A very uneventful flight to Darwin landed on time, and we again took advantage of the free shuttle to Darwin International resort to grab some bar snacks and a chill before return for the onward trip to Denpasar. Again on time. We spent quite a while in duty free deciding on which particular litre of alcohol to take with us. I decided on a cheap bottle of Slate bourbon ($13) and Mrs W took her customary bottle of Bailey's. On our trip , we had Mrs W ..my wonderful , adorable step children, ( I guess they will still be reading), and my stepsons girlfriend , who is quite simply a delightful, beautiful young lady. So , no German backpacker sitting by me this time, so no offer of a 5 mile high club, or extra European relations, so I settled back in row 13 (fire exit row) with my Sven Hassel novel, and contemplated that at least I did have a bit of Swedish in my lap. On this leg of the journey, a guy called Corey, a portrait artist, building a place in Ubud, sat with us, and we enjoyed some great conversation on the Bali. I took the opportunity to pick his brains about buying land, building a property, and all the hiccoughs along the way that always seem to complicate matters. We all enjoyed the wonders of cup noodles, M & M's , egg and mayo sandwiches and my must have Earl Grey. Although HP sauce was absent, it wasn't a bad effort from the Jetstar cabin crew, who noticed my aura and persona from teh front of the plane, and engaged with some bartering for their goods. Funnily enough, my charm fails, and I have to pay their fixed price. I mean, why can't they enter into the spirit, and, when asked for $34.50, and I offered $12... why couldn't they join in ? Miss Stern hostie was having none of it, and took my $50 note with glee.
Landing in Denpasar almost 1/2 hour early ( how the heck can that happen?), we alighted our seats, rummaged the overhead lockers and veritably sprinted for the VOA counter. after all , you hear so many (contrived?) horror stories about ever growing queues and the necessity for this shonky VIPVOA that you feel compelled to all become Usain Bolt. However, and , to be honest, totally expectedly, teh so called giant queues had gone AWOL, and we were through in a record 15 -20 minutes...10 of that was me waiting behind some pillock who wanted to pay for his VOA with some sort of Sheckel or Rouble tyoe stuff. In the end, and after much animation, he proffered a different currency and was on his way. I get my own back on him, by swiftly and gazellesquely negotiating the immigration queue of 5 people to meet up with the other 4 people in my party. I flick back my air, and with a quick Apa Kabar, a smile, charm, and Teremah Khasi we are past Mr Grumpy, who to be fair , was bopping to Queen ( English rock bands rule), and stamped our passports with aplomb
As we were early, Wayan was nowhere in sight, and I almost felt like I should go round immigration again to try and find a queue to eat up some time. However, still none to be seen, it really is a mysterious thing...the lack of a queue. 4 minutes later our driver Wayan, and the owner of our Villa, are there to greet us. I kiss her on both cheeks, as Wharfie likes to do it the continental way ( excited girls?) and she will catch up with us at some stage. As our eyes met, I knew my Hermes eau de toilette , ( class stuff only for me), had made its indelible mark upon her senses. I just know she will become a good friend.
Off we go through the usual hectic scene at the airport carpark, along Sunset Road, and off to Seminyak and Kerobakan. Wayan skilfully avoids some crazy scooter people and takes the torrential rain in his stride. We soon arrive at Umalas, and decide that as we are all a bit peckish that we would drive back up the street to a local Warung and purchase 40 satays and 3 serves of rice. 30,000 rp later , and we are back at the Villa enjoying some banter with Wayan and some delicious food. The kids then tell me they would like to go out and buy some Simpai sim cards, and do a bit of snack shopping at a local supermarket ! I have a Bintang to celebrate my arrival, and I am soon undressing in my bedroom , and reveal a six pack .....of Bintang..that needs to go in the fridge. The troops are off to bed, I have to stay up until 1.30am to see my glorious (hah!) Wolverhampton Wanderers take on the inglorious Man Utd. Of course, the inevitable defeat unfolds because Wharfie the jinx is watching, and watching through often closing eyelids, I can't wait for the ref to blow for full time
A 1-0 defeat , another loss, and onwards to relegation... ho -hum.. I'm in Bali ..and I don't really care.. I turn in at 3.40am, and hope for , what remains of, a good night's sleep..
In my next episode.. will be our Sunday.. and the arrival of the other 6 of our holiday group... oh..exchange rate was 8310, weather 31deg, and a bit of rain... xxx