Back in Bali!

Hooray for good things. I am back in Bali after a 12 hour flight from London to KL and a 3 hour flight to Denpasar. It feels awesome to be here, better than I was hoping for. Whenever I revisit, a place my feelings can change dramatically. The first several times I came to Bali I was on a high, but there were a couple of times when the weather wasn’t so great, I got hit with stick up artists and requests for money, making the whole place feel not entirely wonderful. Add that to the grey cement in Seminyak, and I have been a bit dissappointed.

This time was way different. Coming from the English summer, and some scorching temperatures, I thought I was acclimatized to summer. Arriving in Bali turned that several notches up. The humidity is double and the amount of greenery, the plants and the color of everyday life is jumping out at me.

I hope this continues, I feel like a first time tourist, carefully stepping over the canang (offerings on the ground). Everyone I have met today have been cool and many people have smiled and said hello.

My day (as far as this session of being awake) started at Heathrow in London, a big busy, run down airport where people are treated like cattle. I was actually quite relaxed after sorting out all the nonsense with my ticket. At the check in desk, I presented my new e-ticket from Garuda, only to be told Malaysia Airways doesn’t take e-tickets. Back in the frying pan. Some frantic waiting at Malaysia’s desk and calling Garuda’s
London office got it straightened out, and after a brief question and answer session at the check in about my passport, visa and work status, I was on the plane.

Using VOA today was extremely painless. They have this thing down and the immigration processing took roughly 10 minutes from the time I hit the back of the line to the time I walked through. Right now Bali is feeling like the ‘Island of the Gods’.