Day 18 - Vietnam to Bali

Awake earlier than we would have liked - sleep in would have been great :( After breakfast, packed most of our things, then walked over to the market to kill about an hour and a half.

I finally bought a conical hat - I think it will be much cooler for gardening than the cloth one that fits so closely to my head. Checked out the laquerware, some is very nice, but not convinced we would hang it or use it once home. Looked at t-shirts for me again, but all the nice ones have really short sleeves that don't go with tuckshop lady arms!! Errol visited his favorite ladies again and bought another of the Tommy shirts - they are good value for what they are. Bought a couple of small gifts, then back to the hotel.

Packed our new purchases. Gave mini koalas to the cleaning staff for our floor, and they were thrilled. Checked out. Driver was waiting - out to airport. No problems checking in, but couldn't check our bags right through to Denpasar.

Flight to Singapore was uneventful. But had to collect our luggage and transfer it ourselves. This meant going through immigration, then had to transfer to terminal 1. Checking departure boards, our flight was not listed ...... Oh no!! Found Jetstar, it's okay, the flight is to Perth, with a stopover in Denpasar. Booked in, luggage done, through security with over an hour and a half to spare. Visited Starbucks (having withdrawal symptoms since China!), unlikely that we will get anything on the plane unless we are prepared to pay for it, and we don't arrive till after 9pm. Tried again to publish blog from yesterday, still won't go.

Flight was uneventful, around 3 1/2 hours. Into Denpasar, fixed our 'pay on arrival' visa, then through to collect luggage. There was an ATM nearby, ao Errol took the opportunity to make a withdrawal. Now here is the biggest warning for first time visitors to Bali - DON'T let the porters take your bags for you. There are heaps of porters lurking around the baggage carousel, and the mi ute you claim hour bag they rush in to help, without asking. With our 2 suitcases and 2 carry on bags, we suddenly found ourselves surrounded by 4 porters. Looking around, they seemed tobe everywhere, I guessed they were just a friendly welcoming service. They took our bags through customs, and around the corner, then immediately stopped and demanded money. One of the red ones each - one of them said. We had just arrived,it was late at night, our minds were still working in Dong. It cost us $50 to have our bags taken, not a good first impression of Bali.

Out the front,we were met by Paul, our guide, who took us over to the car, and we were off on the hour drive up to Ubud. Checked in, the staff seem very friendly and obliging. We were escorted down to our room on the edge of the rice paddies, but just a step or two from the front door, I fell, twisting my other ankle badly, and did a serious face plant. My glasses pushed into my cheek, and teeth went into my lip - it's not a good look! The staff rushed around getting ice and Betadine, and asking if I wanted a doctor, but I am sure it is all just superficial. It's just that I had been doing so well on my left ankle, and now I have injured the other :(

Had a shower, and took a tablet to make sure I slept.