Bali, Indonesia – 29 September to 2 October 2023

My Grab (I’m in Singapore) arrives promptly at 3.45pm on Friday 29 September 2023 – Bali, Indonesia here I come!

(I arrived in Singapore last night for a day in the office, then will be in the office Tue-Fri next week. Monday is a public holiday in Hong Kong).

It’s an easy ride to the airport. On arrival at Terminal 4 there are lots of people around.

I had already checked in online, but for whatever reason still needed to go through the process to check in again to get my bag tag. Hey ho! I have lots of time so no problem.

As I’m flying Air Asia I have no lounge access….now rethinking my decision but it’s a tad too late for that. I’m in no rush, so of course immigration and security take no time at all. Always the way!

My stay at the airport just got longer – Air Asia sent an email advising there is a delay of just over an hour. Why oh why wasn’t this said when I had to recheck-in??! Very poor! Thank goodness for my phone to pass the time.

After a while I realise there is another flight to Bali with Air Asia. I head to the gate to try my luck to get on it. I had previously tried chatting with an agent via the IM system on their website but that failed due to a system error.

The agent was quite rude and was making out that it’s my fault the flight is delayed and if I wanted to change my flight I should have done it 48 hours in advance. Ooh my, I just can’t!

At 7pm, 5 minutes after the scheduled departure time I check the status….we are delayed another 10 minutes.

Finally at 8.03pm the boarding starts. Every time I feel like booking a non One World airline I MUST think back to this time. Don’t want a repeat!

8.31pm we push back from the gate - let’s hope and pray it’s a quick flight as it’s packed (like sardines!) and I’m surrounded by children and adults behaving like children.

We thud into Bali airport at 11.09pm. Let’s hope it’s quick and easy getting through immigration.

We come to a stop not long after landing - I soon realize why, we are getting into buses to the terminal.

When I enter immigration hall I head straight to the APEC line (which is much shorter) – I’m so so pleased my clearance came through on my APEC card. Ye ha!

There are people for Africa at the baggage carousels! On the plane they announced we needed to complete an arrival card. Once I had worked out where my bag was going to come off, I went in search of the QR code to complete the details.

Form completed, print screen taken. There is no movement on this baggage carousel – time to work out where I’m supposed to be.

Bag arrives and I’m off to join the line to show my completed QR code to be able to enter Bali.

It’s a bit of a zig zag to get out of the passenger only part of the airport. It’s been a while since I’ve been here and I couldn’t recall how the airport is so decide to hold off booking a Grab until I’m out in the big wide world of Bali.

Grab booked – the fun begins with the slow traffic. There are so many people around!! My driver comes looking for me which was nice. He seemed frustrated with the traffic and had just parked.

It’s an easy 25 minute drive to the hotel.

Check-in is super painful!! I’ll will be speaking with the manager tomorrow – really not a good start to a holiday (and it’s not like this hotel is cheap). Long story short the room I booked isn’t available, yet they confirmed it a couple of days ago.

I finally walk into the room just before 1am. Sleep is needed but I feel wide awake.

I wake at 6.40am on Saturday 30 September – far too early to be getting up since I was still awake at 2am. Thankfully I go back to sleep, waking again at 9.18am feeling like I’ve been run over by a bus. Coffee is needed!

I somehow manage to take the back entrance into the restaurant for breakfast, whoops. I ask a staff member where the entrance is so I can get a table.  He informs me they are full. Strange as right in front of us there are 3 tables that are empty. As I walk towards the reception another staff member near me jumps in to help. Within seconds I’m sitting down and ordering coffee.

There are so many people around!! Really hope it’s just because it’s peak breakfast time. I will not be coming this late tomorrow, that’s for sure!

Before I spy the juice area I see two baristas, perfect I’m going to get a double espresso to go with my flat white!

Breakfast is a slow affair – I have two things to do today. Sit by the pool (reading and swimming) and see about moving rooms. Soooo there is no rush!

The front desk employee informs me they have the room I booked for me, perfect. I want to ask why I wasn’t given one last night, especially when I googled the availability last night and there were two rooms available, but decide there is no point. I’m told to come back at 1pm, unless I hear from them before then.

Off to the pool I head!

 

I’m in and out of the water and into my book. Really should have brought two books. Next time.

I don’t hear from the reception, so head there and am given my new keys.  It’s an easy move given I didn’t unpack.

Back to the pool – swimming and reading.

Late afternoon I decide to head back to my room and the terrace area.

I enjoyed a pizza and martini (very random) at Prego, the Italian restaurant in the Hotel.

Sunday 1 October I wake just after 6.30am, this time feeling like I’ve slept well.

It’s been a while since I’ve exercised and always find being on holiday helps me kick start it again. So Nusa Dua streets here I come!!!

 

 

 

 

Super stoked – I ran for 30 minutes. Unsure if I’ll be able to walk tomorrow but that is tomorrow’s problem. Right now, water and coffee are needed.

Breakfast is a slow affair – perfect start to the day!

I spend the majority of the day at the pool, swimming, reading and relaxing. This is the life.

Mid-afternoon I decide it’s time for lunch – although it’s so late it might be a combination of lunch and dinner. Let’s see.

 

Lunch is more like a snack. What is advertised isn’t what comes out but it was tasty.

I have a bit more time at the pool relaxing before heading to my room to do the same. Next relaxing holiday I must bring more than 1 book.

Feeling a bit peckish I decide to head to the sports bar for something to eat. Nothing to write home about but it fills a gap (and I haven’t had to leave the hotel).

Monday 2 October I wake just after 6.30am, while I do want to be awake early this morning it would be nice to have had a sleep in one day! And Saturday morning doesn’t count given I was still awake at 2am.

For my run I decide to head to the path along the beach. The sun is out in full force and it’s not even 7.15am! Definitely hotter running along the beach than it was yesterday on the streets.

I manage to run 0.25 km more than I did yesterday, in the same time, so I’m super pleased!! Now I need to cool down.

I’m at breakfast and there are still lots of people around!  Thankfully it’s easy to get a table and coffee.

I have a good 2 hours at the pool before heading back to the room to shower and pack.

Leaving the hotel for the airport proves extremely troublesome. For love or money I couldn’t get a Grab. After a good 25 minutes of trying I give up and under sufferance arrange a hotel car. This of course doesn’t go smoothly. The hotel absolutely needs to do better on their check-in and check-out process!!!

Thankfully there is no traffic so it’s a quick trip to the airport. On arrival I follow the signs to the check-in counters to be greeted with “Delay Technical”. Of course…..why they didn’t notify us is beyond me.

The queue to check-in is slow and the Wi-Fi is patchy. I have nowhere else to be though so just go along with it all.

Security is another long line which stops and starts. It’s always interesting watching other people and what they do at security.

The APEC / diplomatic line makes up for it though as it’s nice and short.

I head straight to the area where the lounges are. I’m not holding out hope but need to at least try my luck.

It’s a no unfortunately as I’m not flying business class with Jet Star. Pretty sure there isn’t business class seats in my plane. Time will tell.

The couple behind me (who had also been behind me in the APEC line) were told no as well, right time for us all to walk away. In the short space of time we get chatting, they tell me they can take me into the premier plaza lounge which is basically next door. Awesome!

We end up having close to 2 hours in there. Nice to be able to sit and relax a bit.

3.45pm and it appears everyone is on the plane. Let’s get the door closed and up in the air.

14 minutes later we pull back from the gate. Singapore here we come! Now if only I could get the rude people next to me to turn off the sound on their phones…..seriously what is wrong with people???! They have no concern for anyone but themselves.

Bali, you have been great!  (well not arriving and departing)

Tokyo, Japan – 8-10 September 2023

Around 5pm on Friday 8 September 2023 I decide this week has been long enough and start to say my goodbyes to everyone. I flew up to Tokyo on Monday and have been in the Tokyo office for 4 days. 

Thankfully when I leave the office the rain has basically stopped. My shoes are still wet from this morning’s mission to get to work! Hong Kong has had black rain (rain fall exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour) today, so I can’t be complaining to much about the Tokyo rain. 

I walk to Lou and Suzanne’s hotel which is super close to where I’ve been staying this week.

We enjoy wine in their big (for Japan standards) hotel room before heading out for dinner.

After having a quick look in the supermarket it’s time for dinner.

First stop if gyoza and beer. It’s the same place I had been to already this week so thankfully didn’t have to spend time working out how the ordering works.

We then head upstairs to another place I’d been to this week.

Yakitori, beer and wine are ordered.

 

It’s just as delicious as I remember!

After saying goodbye, I head back to my hotel to get my bag before ordering an Uber. I had thought about taking the train but it’s late, wet and I’m tired. Plus it would mean having to change trains followed by a walk to the hotel. No thanks!

The hotel is buzzing when I arrive! I’ll save my welcome drink to tomorrow. Sleep is needed.

My alarm wakes me on Saturday 9 September - more sleep is definitely needed! But I have a city to explore.

Breakfast is a relatively slow affair. Lots of coffee!

The first thing I notice when leaving the hotel is there are traffic employees at every crossing to assist people. I definitely didn’t see this during the week and don’t recall this from my previous visits

It’s a short walk to the JR / subway station where I follow the instructions the hotel gave me to get to the subway.

Ticket purchased (must get more cash out…) and within a couple of minutes I’m jumping on the train. Brilliant! I had been told it’s a direct train to Shibuya, as the train was on the platform when I arrived I didn’t have time to check so just jumped on. Let’s see. Fingers crossed!

The further away we get the more I’m getting nervous. Hey ho. It’s all an experience. Finally they announce Shibuya is the next stop. So yes I’m on the right train.

I really didn’t have a fixed location – other than seeing the Hachiko Memorial Statue again and of course the famous Shibuya crossing.

 

I continue to wander the streets around Shibuya crossing.

Looking at the map I realise I can walk to Meiji Shrine.

I join the small like outside The Muji Store, it’s a couple of minutes wait before the doors open at 11am.

Caffeine is needed! And fast. I see a sign saying Shark Coffee, that will do.

Feeling a little more energized it’s time to continue my walking. I head toward Yoyogi Park.

After seeing what appears to be a Chinese Festival (think food stalls, people wearing traditional outfits and tents advertising all things Chinese) I continue wandering. 

With the low clouds it's a misty feeling when I walk between the trees.

I continue to follow the signs, and crowds, to Meiji Shrine.

 

As I get close to the Meiji Shrine entrance I see two guys in front of me pick up speed. Looking around I spy why – I believe a wedding. I do the same.

As the wedding party and guests disappear I wander around the Meiji shrine.  I have visited in my previous visits but I always love coming back.

 

 

I continue my walking in the direction of Shinjuku. At times being on the side / back streets, seeing more of everyday life.

 

Thankfully I had done some research in the week on how I get back to my hotel. Now it’s a matter of locating the train line I need to be on.

In the end I find a service center and ask them. Nice and easy!

As soon as I get on the platform for the train back to the hotel it’s blue sky and sunshine. Of course! For now, I need to relax.

Ye ha, a seat and a/c! My Apple Watch tells me I’ve walked 9.73km so far. No wonder my feet need a break.

One thing that has struck me is how many Starbucks stores there are. I don’t remember this from my previous visits.

Before heading back to the hotel I decide to get some lunch. And where to go??! In the end I pick up a couple of things from the supermarket.

Early evening I head to the bar for my welcome drink.

I had high hopes of heading back to Shinjuku for drinks / dinner but decide to stay local instead.

A lady comes to my table to ask if she can join, yes absolutely. Nealie is in Tokyo for work as well and moved to this hotel this morning – so similar!  We decide to go to dinner together.  

I had researched two places nearby for dinner – we decide on the steak place.

Based on google maps it should be less than 5 minutes walk away.  We end up walking past then coming back.  Good to burn off a few calories I guess.

Along the way we passed a hotel after my name.

We get seats at the bar – great for watching the chef and what the other guests around us were eating! The menu is in Japanese, thank goodness for google translate.  One of the staff could speak some English (much more than we can speak Japanese).  We decide to go with the 7 course chef’s menu.

 

 

 

 

The food was amazing!!  And great to be able to share it with someone.  Nealie and her family love to travel so I’m hoping our paths will cross again.

 

I wake before my alarm on Sunday 10 September.  Last night Nealie and I had decided to meet downstairs for breakfast at 9.30am before heading off to visit Senso-ji.

Google informs me the subway we need to take (then change) leaves from the same platform that I was on yesterday, makes it nice and easy.

On arrival into Asakusa Station it’s very clear we are not the only ones with the same idea to visit Senso-ji. Add the heat into the mix and it’s not the nicest.

We follow the crowds to Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest Temple. 

It was so unbelievable hot!!  Where possible we walk in the shade. 

 

 

To the left of Senso-ji is a set of Japanese gardens - this means shade.  Off we go!

 

 

We head to the inside of Senso-ji.

 

 

 

We both decide we had seen more than enough and trace our steps back to the subway to take us back to the hotel. 

As soon as I walk into the hotel the a/c hits us. Amazing! And so so needed. It’s far too hot to be out and about exploring today!!!  Such a shame as Tokyo is an exceptional city. 

We enjoy a cold drink before I head up to my room.

I had sorted out all my things earlier so packing only took a few minutes. Check out even quicker as I paid on arrival.

I decide to walk through the shopping center to get to the JR station….purely for a dose of a/c! Before I left the hotel my weather app was telling me it feels like 36 degrees C. Far too hot to be out and about!!!

Having already purchasing my ticket I went straight through the turnstiles and to the track.

The 12.44pm train arrives right on time, as expected in Japan.

Everything goes just as I was told this morning for the trains – nice and easy! Nealie is likely to do the same route on Wednesday so I’ve also been taking side notes to send to her.

The security line at Haneda airport was a completely different story. Ridiculous long! I actually don’t think I’ve been in anything as long before. Everyone seems to be flying out today!

Finally it’s my turn for security (25 minutes it took). My Passport is scanned first, then I join another line to have my bags scanned. For whatever reason laptops and tablets don’t need to be taken out of our bags. So strange (and annoying) how every single airport is different!

It’s a quick line to “leave Japan” (go through immigration), then I’m heading straight to the lounge. Which gets my exercise minutes on my watch up. It will be good to sit down and cool off!!

Sayonara Tokyo, Domo arigatogozaimasu!