Friday, December 20, 2013

USA & Canada - Our Grand Adventure Begins!!! 18/12/2013

Bali - our first leg!



Well, this is the beginning or the Ahearn's Grand Adventure - 5 weeks travelling around the USA & Canada.

Today was the last day of the school year - and very emotional I might add.  Happy when the final siren went this afternoon meaning I was officially on holidays.  Yeah!!!


Flight to Bali was just after 8pm.  Magical Trevor picked us up from home and dropped us at the airport.  All checked in, a quick feed of Red Rooster (becoming somewhat of a tradition) and then into the departure lounge.


Flight was with AirAsia.  We landed at about 11.30pm in the new International Airport.  How impressive it is - absolutely huge, but what a major let down that in this beautiful new airport they have simply transferred the same slow/inefficient visa/immigration/customs services.


The lines through immigration were ridiculous, which were nothing compared to the customs line.  Two lines servicing all arrivals, and ALL bags had to placed through the scanner/xray.  


The whole process probably took an hour and a half.  

When we got out of the airport it was probably about 1am.  Heading left to catch a taxi only to be told the usual 50 000Rp fare to Kuta was now 100 000Rp due to the time of the arrival - first time that has ever happened to us, and then the taxi driver wanted us to pay more for having bags - yeah right!!!! Not gunna happen!!!

Arrived at our home-away-from-home in Bali - La Walon, Poppies 1, Kuta.  




Room was prebooked, ($50/night including breakfast) so they were expecting us.  Even though our room was on the 3rd floor (it is the room just to the right of the top of the pool gazebo) it was really big and they had put an extra bed in the room for Kash (even though I slept in it - better night's sleep that way).  


Very thirsty, so Col and I headed over to the 24hour 7/11 to get some cold drinks, then back to the hotel for a much needed sleep.


Loving our holiday already :)