A first gentle day in Bali

We arrived Bali on Sunday afternoon. Malaysian Airlines were simply excellent and made our journey with heaps of luggage as pleasant as it could possibly be. We have a mountain of luggage because Kate is moving house from Tajikistan to East Timor. When checked in at Delhi on Saturday evening, we had 120 kilos of luggage with an allowance of only 60 kilos. The official did everything he posisbly could to help us by allowing us to take one extra bag as hand luggage and then discounting several times until at last Kate only had to pay for 20 kilos excess. We sweated our way to the departure lounge and bought little paper cups of milky spiced tea, and slowly recovered from the stress. Zaria my grand daughter aged 2.75 years old has been finding the hot weather and moving about stressful and generally throws a hissy fit whenever she gets tired. Once aboard, she and Kate tucked up on some empty seats at the back of the aircraft and I kept vigil over Freya aged 3 months - she selpt in a Bassinet for most of the journey waking a couple of times for a quick drink at the milk bar.

In Bali we got through every thing at the airport easily. You get a visa on arrival on payment of US $25 for a month or US $ 10 for a week. We noticed that there is a departure tax of about UK $ 10 -12. We swept up to the hotel in two taxis - one full of luggage and one full of people. Kumala Pantai Hotel is really lovely right beside the beach, and with beautiful shady rooms with their little patios. We have a room on the ground floor looking out at tropical trees, and near to a water feature full of large goldfish, which has proved a major attraction for Zaria. Kate and I traumatised after what seemed like endless travel with enormous luggage and two little babies, got oursleves into the room, and ordered three ice cold beers which we split between us and knocked off in a flash. Later we had a gentle stroll aloing the beach here the nighlife was getting going - fire jugglers, drummers and all the usual stuff that you also see in Goa. We paddled on the edge of the enormous breakers and enjoyed the last golden glimmers of the sunset. Back in our room we got ready for bed, with cool showers and a little food. Then a long, magic night, as the rain whispered and pattered in the trees and thunder rumbled gently in ther background. How I love tropical rain. It always fills me with nostalgia. Next day everyone of us slept through to 09.00 a.m. Bali time.