Bali Baby! A Play in 3 Acts, Act 1

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ACT 1 - Everything Fallen into its Puzzle Place.

How, Mary and I asked ourselves for the first 2 days, did we end up in Bali, Indonesia? Not 2 days prior we had be seating in her room in Shenzhen, China without passports, without plans, without hope for any excitment beyond another bowl of rice for the next 7 days. But luck happened in a big way. Here is how it started. Miracelously, Mary and I both got our passports and new, multi-entry visa's (the problem before was not leaving china, but being able to get back in). Mary didn't think she would get hers, so we pretty much thought we would spend the week trying on clothes and shoes that were too small. But alas, the travel god came through the we could officially play the spin the globe game and see where our finger landed. I guess, while I had my back turned, it landed on Bali, Indonesia.....or Mary found a good package for flight and hotel, not sure. Either way, Bali was on our minds. It turned out that you need more than 2 days to book a package, so the first plan failed, but a full day of nothing to do led to some serious internet seaching. Most flights out of China were allready booked, because the whole chinese population, at least it felt like it, would be on vacation. So we used both our college educationed brains (thanks MOM/DAD!) and realized what we needed was not a chinese airline, but an indonesian airline....where everyone is NOT on holiday. It kinda of worked like a charm. It took about 30 phone calls and a 75% guarantee we could get a flight out to Bali the next day. But that was enough. We figured if we couldn't get the flight, then we would just "hang out" in Hong Kong. A not half-bad plan B.

The catch was we had to get to the Travel agency by 1pm and then to the HK airport by 3 to catch our 3:50 direct flight to Bali. We had officially become members of the "Amazing Race: Asia Edition." We had a vague idea of were the travel agency was, but no real map and directions to the airport from a place we would be nowhere near. So needless to say, we were feeling pretty good about our odds.

We made it to the travel agency in time, and even though mary was starting to feel sick (maybe of me?) we pushed forwarded and managed to win last place in boarding our flight. The flight was smooth, the food was good enough, we arrived in Bali without a hitch. Changed our money and thought we had hit the lottery, only to soon find out that everyone in Bali has hit the lottery. 1 dollar equals about 9,000 Rupiahs. Let me tell you, it goes fast. We found an amazing hotel, with a nice bar and great location. Our beds were comfy, the tv had an MTV station and breakfast would be included the next morning......We feel asleep to visions of sugar plums.

On day 2, we became even more invicnible. We fueled up on much needed toast, jelly, somewhat realler coffee, and omeletes. It was like popeye had been finally given a 24 oz. can of spinach. We walked out of breakfast with our muscles buldging. We checked out the beach, the surfers, and the shops, upon shops, and shops. We hit the beach again, I got completely burnt, but that didn't affect me. We meet some Australians, with whom the resturant manager took us all to the dance club and danced the night away to justin and beyonce'. The day was filled with good food, good english, and good toilets.....what more could a girl from china ask for.

maybe a reality check.....

intermission...

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Photos

Oh Yea!
Does this need a caption?

Mary succumbs to Travel
And this was just the middle of our day of travel...luckily she got better. I was about to leave her and pick up a cute chinese man to go with me.... :)

Feeling much better
Our first night at the hotel bar...first of many. I believe they were calling us Norm and Cliff, by the end of the week, because EVERYONE knew our name!

Heaven
After months and months of "fat people shops", finally a country that opens all with large welcome arms

Where should we go, Where should we go?
Starbucks, something familiar to help us sort out how to get to Bali.

REAL breakfast
Yep! That's right....I am holding a piece of toast, with strawberry jam over a plate that contains an ACTUAL omelete!

Fast Friends
You speak english....You are my new friend.

Our Hotel
I stole this pic. from the internet. I don't know any of the people in the pictures

Mom! I'm finally rich
so many 0000's, its hard not to spend, spend, spend

Bali, BABY!
We made the plane, ate some airplane grub and dozed off to daydream what the next week would hold.

Comments

[Mom]

I am so happy for you that you had a wonderful time (even at the nightclub)!

[anonymous]

Amanda - YOU ARE AMAZING! Your commentary makes me feel like I am there with you I'll take the cute boy on your left...). You should write. It's so satisfying to know someone is enjoying life to the fullest instead of simply getting by as most of us do. Thanks for sharing. You go girl. You're my hero. Kolette