Getting it down pat – at Raja Ampat

[Daver6]

No.

that good huh?

 

[JohnM]

that good huh?

As you know, we were in J. Food was dreadful and no booze.

It got us to where we wanted to go without cramming into whY.

That's about the best I can say for it.

 

[VPS]

Thanks for the TR - not my cup of tea but interesting

 

[Daver6]

Thanks for the TR - not my cup of tea but interesting

@JohnM made me out to be worse than I really am

 

[VPS]

@JohnM made me out to be worse than I really am

it's a pretty big decision to make which of you is the least innocent.

 

[JohnM]

@JohnM made me out to be worse than I really am

Would I do that?

 

[VPS]

Would I do that?

YMSTBICPC

 

[Daver6]

Winding it back for my version of events now that I'm home.

We booked max bundles on Jetstar. Seemed like a no brainer given we needed to check bags. This earnt us QF SC/points some food on board and open seat selection. The only extra leg room seats available to us were the second row of exit row seats. Legroom was great but those seats don't recline

Using PP membership we had access to the Aspire Lounge at T1. Perfect of some lunch and a pre-departure bevvy.



Oodles of legroom, but the lack of recline was annoying. Could have been worse though. I pre-orded a ham and cheese sandwich. It was pretty soggy and average at best.



We arrived at DPS early evening Friday and weren't flying till 8am on Sunday. We booked a couple of nights at the airport Novotel. Easy enough to walk to. Booked base room and upgraded to the next level. Same room, better furniture and maybe a robe as well too. Mentioned on the booking it was our wedding anniversary trip. There was a welcome plate of sweet things left in the fridge. They also brought up another platter.



Saturday was a full day of lazing around the hotel. Breakfast was passable. We used the gym, had a swim and a massage. There's a rooftop outdoor bar with great airport views. The executive lounge has decent airport views too.

 

[Daver6]

The next morning we had an early start. GA checkin at DPS domestic was painless and very quickly through security and into the Blue Sky Premier lounge thanks to PP again. Surprisingly a very good lounge. Exellent selection of breakfast items, including a chocolate fountain. Toilets were modern and spotless. Probably the best lounge in all to DPS terminals.



GA flight was on a special livery aircraft. Flight was a bit over 3 hours with a proper meal service. Food was acceptable. We had pre-arranged a car from the hotel to pick us up in SOQ for $20. In a Grab would have been around $6 but for dealing with the unknown, it was money well spent. Hotel was less than 5 minutes from the airport.



We checked in and ran into @JohnM and PJM who had just sat down to lunch. We dined with them before heading to our room. It rained before we went for a little walk around town. Figured out where the laundry shop was which we'd utilise after the boat. Dinner at Marina Star restaurant with some of the group. Excellent seafood and cold beer. Some folks who will remain nameless thought they'd try the wine on offer. Turns out they paid $100 for a bottle of warm rubbish! Fools. My Bintang was perfect.



About 30 metres from out hotel was a mosque with the loudspeakers. There were also plenty of chickens and roosters around. I wisely went to sleep with my ear plugs in. I had no need to be called to prayer before 5am

 

[Daver6]

Now a dump of pictures from the boat....

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

 

[Daver6]

 

[VPS]

Superb photos

 

[Geoffa]

Cold bottle of Jura. Means I don't have to share it

There is wine to purchase onboard. Lets see what its like. However, I suspect it will be plenty of cold beers and G&Ts (just to fend of malaria of course)

We were on a liveaboard last year and their wine supply consisted of 2 bottles of moscato. Fortunately, we took a fair bit of our own

 

[VPS]

We were on a liveaboard last year and their wine supply consisted of 2 bottles of moscato. Fortunately, we took a fair bit of our own

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