30.5 travelling hours and I'm in Bali

The flight to Amsterdam was short.  KLM has a new chef, and they are really proud of him.  The salad was very good and the dessert - sour apple with vanilla custard - well, that was yummy.  I looked around to see if anyone wasn't going to eat theirs, but everyone did.  I always thinks it's a bit amazing that they can do edible food - they just choose not to for the most part.

24 from leaving the house, and I land in Singapore.  The whole flight was fairly painless, which surprised me as I was sitting at the airport feeling very tired and wondering how I was going to do it, considering I really hadn't even gotten started.  I slept most of the way over - a good 7 hours; I couldn't decide whether this was a good thing or a bad thing - never really flew this direction for this length of time.

Singapore airport was easy - and hard - I didn't have my boarding card for Bali.  So I went to the transfer desk.  There were 14 people behind desk, but only one was working.  The sign said business travellers could check in at the lounge, so I went to the lounge.  After signing in and having a long conversation, I was told that no you have to check in at the transfer desk, so back I went.  It took the gal 15 minutes to get my boarding card, and by the time she handed it to me, there was a long line and very annoyed people behind me.  

Bali airport was a zoo - seriously did you think I was going to say anything else?  A guy grabbed me and all my paperwork and took me over to another guy that had a list with my name on it - special visa/customs exeditor.  The first guy then leaves with all my paperwork and $40 - I felt sick and curious at this turn of events, but then I watched him jump the visa line and go into the booth, change my US dollars and get me a visa.  Then he came back with a big smile, handed me everything and went off to find someone else to help.

After collecting my bag, I headed outside; passing the guy I sat next to for 15 hours trying to explain to the customs official why he had a giant envelope full of money.  Waiting for me outside was Oka who grabbed my bag and took me to a waiting van with cold water, cold air and a cold towel.  Then he proceeded to tell me a bunch of stuff I have no chance of remembering.  

An hour and a half later, we were in Ubud at the Monkey Forest.  Oka got me checked in and said you okay now, see you tomorrow.  I was okay now - my room was cool and there were many strange noises to be heard.  I drank my first Bali Hai, took a bath in my indoor/outdoor bathtub, and was off to bed.