Bali, Indonesia – 27-30 March 2014

I have to say getting a taxi on a Thursday afternoon is streets ahead of trying to get a taxi on a Friday afternoon.......must remember this! After another crazy day at work I lock my computer and walk out on Thursday, March 27, at 4.30pm. I'm off to Bali for a long weekend. I know it's hard to believe but I still have carry over vacation days to use from last year and it's use (before 31 March) or lose - no thanks I'll use!

After a nice and quick taxi ride and check-in I'm heading straight to the lounge. A drink is needed!!! Even though it's only been 4 days (at work and yes without alcohol) it's been a looong week.

After downing two Aperol spritz it's time to head to the gate with a quick stop at duty free. Need to get myself sorted for my 3 days off doing absolutely nothing!

Shortly after our departure time the pilot makes an announcement advising a mountain on the island of Java, Indonesia has just spewed out volcanic ash and head office in Melbourne has advised we have to wait here until they give clearance and there is a possibility we might not be going. Bloody hell - a little scary. After a quick Google search (and a phone call to my trusty corporate security guy at work) I can't find anything on the news so thinking it can't be too severe. Thankfully it's not too much longer until the pilot announces we have been given the all clear. I can now breathe a sigh of relief.

On arrival into Bali we are put onto busses to take us a short distance to the airport - never can understand this when it would be quicker to walk. The first thing that strucks me is the fact the part of the airport I'm in is basically brand new. I then continue walking and wonder where I am, the whole place is new! Nice and easy through immigration, thanks APEC card, then after clearing customs find a man holding a sign with my hotel name - perfect! Not easy though to get to him, through duty free (where they are having a 10% off sale as it's new....) and round another counter, past and through the "taxi drivers" and we are reunited. He tells me the airport was built last year, makes sense given there are parts that are still under construction. We have a small wait before the car arrives - he's very sweet chatting to me the whole way then waits until we drive off. A lovely greeting after the pain I went through booking the hotel!

After a quick trip we arrive at the hotel, I'm immediately greeted with a cold towel and put on a golf cart to take me to the lobby. I was more than happy to walk but was told no because it's upstairs. Ok off we go.

Check-in is painless - everyone is being super friendly and nice. I'm wondering if it's because of the prior issue with booking or just because that's how they are. After being told I've been upgraded to an aqua studio room I do my best not to scream in excitement, instead nod my head, smile and say thankful. The excitement piece can come later. Then I remembered I'd booked a room type with an upgrade (if available)......

I'm able to walk to my room which is nice - on walking in I'm amazed at the size, wholly smoke you could fit a small country in here, then in the bathroom an army. Shame I'm not here for longer!!! In what's becoming normal fashion for me I'm given a tour of my room before being left alone. Loving the direct access to the pool - this though will need to wait to tomorrow, sleep is needed.

Friday morning I wake super early but force myself to go back to sleep. It's great not having to get up to an alarm. After a leisurely breakfast, sunscreen is put on then I'm straight to the pool with my book. Man it's hot! It's not long before I'm in the water. And for the next few hours am in out in out. This is the life.

Mid afternoon I decide to head to the gym and run 5 km's - this is to help with the blue cheese and wine I'll be drinking in a few hours. After a late lunch it's back to the water I head; this time entering from my room. Such a nice wee luxury :)


I spend a couple of hours chilling on my balcony over wine, blue cheese and YouTube - a great way to waste an hour or three.

As I'd been for a small walk after lunch outside of the hotel I decide there is no need to leave again for dinner; I enjoy dinner and a delicious cocktail before returning to my room to watch a movie. Another great day on holiday!

Saturday morning after a sleep in (heaven!) I head to breakfast then resume yesterday’s position by the pool with a book - ground hog day for me. Such a shame I'm not here for longer than 3 nights.

It's another hot hot day so after a few hours I return to my balcony to continue reading - love dipping into the pool when hot. It's the heat that's making me hot not the vino I've been consuming.....

Shortly after sunset I head to the roof top bar for a cocktail; immediately I'm kicking myself I didn't get here sooner - the view is amazing! I decide on a pepper mojito before going onto the trio of mojito's (raspberry, coconut and mango). All absolutely delicious.

It's earth hour tonight and I'm very pleased to see the hotel is taking part. Eating in the dark is no problem - choosing what to eat was a tad difficult.

Sunday morning I wake early, always seems to happen on my last day. After breakfast I retire to my balcony to enjoy the last of my break away.
I've had a lovely 3 nights (which feel like it's been much longer) and would definitely return. Shame my return flight back isn't a couple of hours later!

I ended up sharing a taxi to the airport with a lady (another hotel guest) as my taxi didn't turn up. Definitely a huge bonus staying close to the airport, you don't need to leave as early. Check-in is super easy. With the upgraded airport comes a fee of course - having paid that I join a long line to clear immigration. Clearly no need to add more counters when the lines keep getting longer......

As I discover very quickly the immigration line was practice for the crazy long line to use the bathroom and even longer line to get into my gate. All seems a bit too much but hey ho.

Singapore here I come......for about 3 weeks that is :)

Bintan, Indonesia – 21-23 March 2014 – Sarah’s and Phen’s Birthday

Woo hoo a weekend away! This time I'm off to Bintan to celebrate two friends’ birthdays.
In typical Friday afternoon rush hour in Singapore it starts to rain and of course not a taxi around.....I have purposely booked an 8pm ferry (on Friday, March 21, 2014) so did have time on my hands.

After a slow crawl I finally arrive at the ferry terminal - very glad that it was wet and I didn't arrive any earlier as it's not exactly exciting.  On check-in I'm told there are still seats in Emerald Class and I would like to upgrade; sure why not. Means a seat upstairs, more space, a drink and being able to leave the boat first once we dock.

On boarding I'm amazed that the boat is moving so much, hoping that once we depart it will calm down a bit. Unfortunately that isn't the case, after 20 minutes the rolling starts - all that goes through my head is it's a one hour journey it's a one hour journey.

On arrival into Bintan I'm very glad I upgraded as it means I can get off the boat first - yah dry land. Thankfully I have two nights here before I have to get back onto the boat!

Getting through immigration is painless with my APEC card, after my bags go through security (not sure what I could have added to them, other than duty free, since I left the ferry terminal in Singapore??!) I'm free and into Bintan.  My hotel has free transportation to and from the ferry pier, saves me the hassle of working out how to get a taxi.

After check-in I meet up with Sarah and Isabel for a couple of hours; sitting outside with the beautiful ocean breeze and next to no noise is heaven. Shame I'm just here for 2 nights.

Saturday morning I wake early, I hadn't closed my wooden blinds properly. It probably was good as I wanted to go for a run before meeting the others for breakfast at 9.30am.  Must remember to close them correctly tonight!

Eeks what was I thinking - it's crazy hilly here!!! At least now I'm ready for the day.

The rest of the group arrived while I was out running – they have 5 hours to wait until their check-in, drinking by the poolbar while they waited made perfect sense.

I was slightly more sensible, after breakfast I waited to the big hand said 12.

What could be a better way to escape the heat than taking a nice cool dip in the pool with chilled drinks in our hands? Between the 10 of us we had 2 bottles of Grey Goose, 3 Veuves, a bottle of Tequila, Gin, and 3 bottles of wine? We were well stocked up on booze, but I was mildly horrified to think we would consume all that alcohol over the course of the day! (Hello coconut water and Panadol tonight!)
Feeling lucky we wouldn't be caught, we smuggled most of our alcohol to the poor bar. Over the next few hours, we ordered rounds of lemonades and tonic waters and poured our booze in our lemonades in the corner. Not exactly the most elegant way to make a drink but we were saving hundreds of dollars! It may sound silly, but due to the incredibly high prices of alcoholic drinks at the resort, it was a brilliant plan. A fair few pina colada’s were also ordered!! We were also extremely lucky the barman at the pool was a kind and patient man, he pretty much turned a blind eye to what was happening and only asked we paid corkage for 3 bottles for $90. Bargain! After hours of drinking in the hot sun, it was a miracle we all made it to the poolside bbq at 6:30. We were all abit wrecked and tired from the poolside fun but the food at the meat station picked everyone back up! After devouring kilos of lamb chops and satay sticks, we were again ready for more debauchery - it was time to pop open the bubbly!
We had smuggled the bottles of Veuve into dinner, keeping it hidden under the table. Before we knew it, we all emptied our water glasses and replaced it with champagne....well done to us for getting away with it!

Sunday morning after a wee sleep in its time to get up and head to breakfast. I'm taking the 3.30pm boat back to Singapore so still have a few hours to relax.

Today is basically all blue sky, I'm so pleased yesterday wasn't like this otherwise I know I would be red red red.

Special thanks to Phen for being a guest writer for this blog.