The smok'n trip to Bali

[drron]

Here you go

https://www.viator.com/tours/Ubud/bali-rafting-with-pickup/d5467-52474P3

We did this in July. A few years ago.

I have done that and my raft overturned. Turned out 3 or 4 couldn’t swim.

 

[Pushka]

I have done that and my raft overturned. Turned out 3 or 4 couldn’t swim.

Yep. Damn tourists do that kind of thing. We could swim. We hit rocks on the bottom. Low water levels. Lotsa rapids.

 

[RooFlyer]

Food at the restaurant is very good. Mix of western and local styles and reasonably priced.

Lunch yesterday seared tuna and side of spring rolls



Dinner menu - there is also a more casual "all day dining" one. Divide by 10 to get A$.



I had a pre dinner drink of



... of course at the bar - which has an unfortunately placed villa in front, blocking the view



For dinner, two appetizers only, roasted beet salad ( not pictured) and prawn salad


There was then local dancing exhibition, which interested me not a but, so I retired and watched the evening light ( sun sets behind me)

 

[RooFlyer]

Woke this morning at 5:30, courtesy of the guy in the villa behind and above me talking to the folks back home in the States from his balcony. . I appeared in my night attire and asked him to tone it down a bit. He apologised later with good grace at breakfast.

Generally the villa and environs are very peaceful, which are was exactly what I was wanting. A few dogs barking here and there and a lot of roosters crowing at dawn and throughout the day but it’s all very fine. Cicardia type things of course. Occasional motorcycle from the ridge top across the valley. I think I have four different types of creatures in the roof of my villa, a couple of birds and I think a couple of types of geckos.

Not much of a Sunrise



Breakfast of their style of poached eggs



Now some general views around the place.

 

[RooFlyer]

Going to be a another day of do little today. I mustn’t make a habit of this.

A few pics from around the pool. Ladies are still working on the decking boards but no power sander today. Of course first there are ( some of!) the steps







More or less a panorama in the next two shots. You can see how narrow and steep the property is.

 

[RooFlyer]

Getting back to arrival at DPS. Experience mostly as described by @Pushka in another thread.

I was really worried when in flight I saw the fleet of aircraft descending on DPS from Oz - the Jetstar flight had overtaken ours and we were the orange one in this cluster.



But even though I arrived in the arrivals hall about the middle of our plane load, (presumably the last of the five aircraft to land) there was little crowding in the arrivals hall at either the VOA payment lines and area and the immigration area.

The special lanes for 60+, disabled and families and also crew were operating on the far left of immigration. Isn’t it annoying though when two immigration agents sitting next to each other stop processing as they have a chat or someone comes into the booth and chats with them.

As I mentioned before, the wheelchair service continued right outside to the car. However, just as we reached where the drivers with signs are, something fell from above and hit me on the arm. It was an expired bird! About the size of a sparrow, quite dead. I guess everything falls off its perch eventually.

While on the theme of immigration, any tips for departure proceedures?

i’m flying back with Jetstar to Brisbane, HLO. I’ve checked in online, got my BP and there’s been no mention of having to front up at check in as well, for a passport check. I had to do this in Adelaide on departure.

I remember seeing somewhere, where, on JQ business Max fare I’ll be able to use a lounge in DPS. I’ll have to look it up again, but does that sound right?

Any other tips for boarding and flying on Jetstar international? I'm in row 1, B788.

 

[Daver6]

DPS lounges will make the HBA one look good. Set your expectations as such. They tend to be up a level and on the warm side. Pretty sure the one Priority Pass got me into didn't include alcohol.

 

[Pushka]

Could have stayed at the beach area and chilled out and - no steps.

Getting back to arrival at DPS. Experience mostly as described by @Pushka in another thread.

I was really worried when in flight I saw the fleet of aircraft descending on DPS from Oz - the Jetstar flight had overtaken ours and we were the orange one in this cluster.

View attachment 351219

But even though I arrived in the arrivals hall about the middle of our plane load, (presumably the last of the five aircraft to land) there was little crowding in the arrivals hall at either the VOA payment lines and area and the immigration area.

The special lanes for 60+, disabled and families and also crew were operating on the far left of immigration. Isn’t it annoying though when two immigration agents sitting next to each other stop processing as they have a chat or someone comes into the booth and chats with them.

As I mentioned before, the wheelchair service continued right outside to the car. However, just as we reached where the drivers with signs are, something fell from above and hit me on the arm. It was an expired bird! About the size of a sparrow, quite dead. I guess everything falls off its perch eventually.

While on the theme of immigration, any tips for departure proceedures?

i’m flying back with Jetstar to Brisbane, HLO. I’ve checked in online, got my BP and there’s been no mention of having to front up at check in as well, for a passport check. I had to do this in Adelaide on departure.

I remember seeing somewhere, where, on JQ business Max fare I’ll be able to use a lounge in DPS. I’ll have to look it up again, but does that sound right?

Any other tips for boarding and flying on Jetstar international? I'm in row 1, B788.

departure is pretty easy. Just crowded. Luggage scan at entrance. Line up at Jetstar counter, passport check (can't remember it so must have been ok) walk through the multitude of shops. The lounges are on the upper level. To be honest, if it's the lounge we've been in, don't. It's horrible. We ended up walking through to the last of the cafes, found a quiet seat in one near where the gate lounges are, and sat on a drink for a couple of hours and people watched. Your bags will be manually searched again before getting into the gate lounge.

 

[RooFlyer]

Could have stayed at the beach area and chilled out and - no steps.

Could’ve stayed at the beach, 200 m from my place and saved megabucks

thanks for the departure advice. Interestingly, no mention of having to front up at JQ counter for Passport check in all the emails they sent me.

On the way out, Qantas checked me in online but witheld the boarding pass until I front at the counter for passport. JQ has given me an electronic boarding pass.

 

[Pushka]

Could’ve stayed at the beach, 200 m from my place and saved megabucks

thanks for the departure advice. Interestingly, no mention of having to front up at JQ counter for Passport check in all the emails they sent me.

On the way out, Qantas checked me in online but witheld the boarding pass until I front at the counter for passport. JQ has given me an electronic boarding pass.

I'm betting weather has been pretty rank down HBA was this weekend. In Vic they even had to move the motocycle GP. JQ counter is for luggage. We couldn't get our BP online for some reason. Anyways once through the luggage check and hand luggage checks it's easy. Much easier than in.

 

[cgichard]

No handrails on any of those steep steps? Be very careful, especially if still feeling sub-par.

 

[RooFlyer]

We couldn't get our BP online for some reason. Anyways once through the luggage check and hand luggage checks it's easy. Much easier than in.

i’ve been having a close trawl through the Jetstar international departures pages and (with due respect to my much appreciated Bali oracle ) it seems that if I have a mobile boarding pass I can do what they call "straight to gate.".

I do remember now when checking in online that it asked me to enter my passport details and I got some green tick after I submitted that, so I think that covers it.

Anyway, been having a light lunch, then back to the pool.

 

[RooFlyer]

No handrails on any of those steep steps? Be very careful, especially if still feeling sub-par.

Thanks, no hand rails, but there are very good rubber grips on most of the steps so that’s not too bad and there is the fine ivy-covered wall to hang onto if you need it.




Heart rhythm medication kicking in more now, so I think I’m over that issue.

Memo to self. Don’t leave room key on lunch table and only discover it when you reach the door of your villa then have to hoof it back up and back down again.

 

[Pushka]

i’ve been having a close trawl through the Jetstar international departures pages and (with due respect to my much appreciated Bali oracle ) it seems that if I have a mobile boarding pass I can do what they call "straight to gate.".

I do remember now when checking in online that it asked me to enter my passport details and I got some green tick after I submitted that, so I think that covers it.

Anyway, been having a light lunch, then back to the pool.

View attachment 351227

The straight to gate makes sense with no checkin luggage.

 

[VPS]

Thanks, no hand rails, but there are very good rubber grips on on every step so that’s not too bad and there is the fine ivy-covered wall to hang onto if you need it.

View attachment 351230


Heart rhythm medication kicking in more now, so I think I’m over that issue.

Memo to self. Don’t leave room key on lunch table and only discover it when you reach the door of your villa then have to hoof it back up and back down again.

I don't like steps with no hand rails now - what I find really odd even in the stairs in my block, some days I go up and down and don't use the hand rails and other days I like to hang on - would love to know what makes one day different to the rest

 

[RooFlyer]

This has been going for 30 mins now, several point sources.

 

[TheRealTMA]

This has been going for 30 mins now, several point sources.

bloody cicadas

Welcome to qld summers.

 

[Pushka]

This has been going for 30 mins now, several point sources.

bloody cicadas

Maybe monkeys...

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to qld summers.

Its so constant and unchanging I thought it might be an alarm!

 

[SYD]

Its so constant and unchanging I thought it might be an alarm!

Sounds like it.