New Adventure : Bali Day 1

Posted by Fico , Monday, April 21, 2008 6:04 PM

Jambi Airport

As i wait for my flight to Jakarta, i don't even know what i feel. Happy, anxious, scared, jumpy..
I just check in to Batavia flight at 12.00 noon. And the flight was late (not new thing in Jambi i guess).
The waiting room is full of people, some that i know (i see two of my neighbor about to visit her daughter in Jakarta). I just sat in corner with my MP3 on my ear, but its not turned on.. just don't want to start a lame conversation with strangers. I did this sometimes.. heheh..
The plane was late for 20 minutes. As i board.. i choose the seat near window at wing side. Next to me is two guys at age 30-35 y/o. I still don't want to start a conversation.. so i still plug my MP3 player on my ears and put my shade on, sleep after take few shoot through the plane window.
Window seat, 3 rows back from the emergency exit is my fave seat, you could see the wing, and i think the best seat to take pictures.
I arrive at Jakarta at 13.30 i think. I still have few hours before air asia let me boarding. I put my huge back pack at the luggage trolley and start to roll out side the departure area. Looking for good place to eat lunch box that my mom push me to bring since Jambi had serious flight delay sometimes.
I don't feel like i want to stay outside the waiting room, the weather is hot, and its just too crowded !! as i went to Air Asia office i saw a sign said Rumah Makan Padang" and it had mushalla (praying place) its a good place to get some sleep.
I had less sleep since yesterday is my last day at work and i arrive at home last night at 7.15 pm straight from office with more bumpy road than last month (price for work in jungle). I had to re-pack my things last night and find there's several missing items that i can't find. I had to ask my sister to buy again, and borrow my brother in-law camera as well.

Jakarta Airport

Back to cengkareng (Soekarno-Hatta) again.
I went inside to check-in counter for Air Asia but the counter still empty. So i went back to Air Asia ticketing office, they said i could check in at 5 pm. And its still 1.45 pm.. so i look around the busy check-in areas, found corner next Air Asia counter, and sit on my trolley start to open my lunch box.

My Luggage

I only eat half of my lunch when the guy next to me start to talk with me. He is working for PT Semen Bosowa in Maros Sulawesi. He is with his friend on the way back to Sulawesi with Air Asia flight too. But his flight at 6 pm. His name is Faisal, and he gave me his card.
I like to travel by my self because it seemed that people tend to "want to know" you if you were seemed alone. Well its good. We talk until like hours !!
Until it was 5 pm and i had to check in and they were gone. Good guys !
I check my luggage in, good, no 11 kg's on my sight. I went upstair still have 2 hours to kill.
I check my gmail account on my cellphone no words from my "travel buddy" Peter (i'll explain this "details"on my next post).
I got my self a pack of panadol pills, i just afraid i'll get some flu cause less rest and i start to sneeze.. none like flu while traveling !
I went to waiting room, but the room is just too chill. I want to sit outside but then there's this bule guy sitting and read a book. So i went to the alley between gates and sit. And when i put my MP3 on and start to read my book "Why man don't listen and woman can't read maps" a woman try to read my book title. And at the end she talk and introduce me with her friends. They were in Jakarta for a health drink product seminar, they were from North Sumatra.
She depart and leave me after few minutes talking.
I ask the counter what time the flight will boarding, the air asia guy said it will be at 7 pm. Its close enough, so i sit on the waiting room for gate A7, in front of a guy read to some travel books and loud ipod.
He stare, i see, he bow, thats what happened for next 20 minutes. Not mind he is checking me out tho.. hehehehehe.. still no string attached and i am single mingle.. he is not bad at all, and had good smile.
But sure.. as i read.. vacation "fling" is the worse.. mostly wont end up in serious relationship.
I feel good when the waiting room is started to filled with several people, and speak in different languages.. english.. mandarin.. some korean and japanese...
Time to boarding... there's mix couple, i love to see their daughter... pretty !


What's funny about Air Asia is you had to really fast to get your seat !
When every body almost run to the front stair to plane instead of doing that i run to the back door stairs. I think thats a good way to get to my "fave seat" since i know the alley on the plane would be stuck from people getting their seat from front and put their luggage on the top of their seat, took times before you really sit on your seat.
And.. i am right !! none following me.. and i got my seat !
And more lucky.. none sit next to me, and i got all 3 seat by my self !! hahahahahaha !!! i am so lucky !


So 2 hours flight i sit with my leg stretched to the next 3 seat next to me !
Lots of other passenger see me.. and i know.. they were jealous ! me and my long feet get rest so good that i slept until almost landing ! i smile when i sleep !
The plane is landing nearly 11.30 pm Bali time. I did not change my watch because i think it would be easier for me to count time if i want to call back home.
My tummy is upside down... see outside its dark.. must be look so worried.
I look around the luggage claim place.. theres a girl with same smile and short of happy-worry smile just like me.. i start conversation "first time to bali?" and she said "yes!!" and then we talk abit until i see my luggage comes out. She then said i could share transport with them if i want to, then i said i had a friend pick me up--maybe, i am not really sure he will show up.. well he did say he will.. but then.. maybe i am not so sure, but i thank them.
I walk out and see.. Peter is there (my travel buddy).. we.. never see each other almost 2 years, just know each other by mails and chat..so this is the very first time i ever see the "real" person (weird but its happened) and my Bali adventure is started i guess...
We went outside the airport.. but on the parking lot there's a taxi cab stop, and its blue bird. We're lucky. Then we went to poppies lane 2 for hostels. The taxi fare is cost us about Rp 30-es thousand (i forgot the exact amount), but sure its lots cheaper than if we go from the taxi ticket from the airport arrival place which is 60-90 thousand rupiahs.
I already call kedin's inn two days before, but then they said the room is fully booked.. i am up for new plan. Its midnight and last 4-5 hostels that we check are full ! its not even peak season ! i am obviously very tired. With my 11 kgs back pack walk around poppies 2 is not that easy as its quite busy small/narrow streets with people, cars, and motorcycle passing you over and over. We finally went to smaller street or "gang" and find a hostel there.
We stay at "Bali Cottage" for Rp 50.000 per night incl. breakfast. Not exactly accommodation that i want, but we're just staying for a night, and the room is fairly clean tho (but i'm not so sure if they change the bed sheet). I mean the bath room is clean, and my friend not complain things.. we're good for tonight.

Bali plan part 2

Posted by Fico , Saturday, April 5, 2008 7:01 PM

Bummer !
Air Asia just sent me msgs few days ago and said my flight will be moved at 8 pm ! thats means i would arrive in Bali near midnight !
All the plan walking with my backpack with sunset from airport to guest house are doomed !!
I also post mail to backpacker group in yahoo to ask whats the possibility for me to arrive at Bali that time by my self and first timers (ouch ouch!)
But most of them say no worries and said i should had no problem getting taxi from out side airport. I could get taxi from the airport but it will cost me more.. hehe.. its worth as a night stay on budget guest house !
From the airport it would cost me Rp 60,000 to Rp 90,000 fare from airport to Poppies area. But from outside airport could cost me as much Rp 20, 000 only !
Another thing is.. i also browse few part of Bali that i want to see then i see this east of Bali with tranquil beach, i want to stay there ! its in Amed area. And the guest house not that bad ! i will probably stay there longer than my stay at poppies.

The Plan again

Posted by Fico , Friday, February 8, 2008 5:09 PM

After thinking for several times, i decide to get air asia ticket to go to Bali at April 21, 2008, and stay there until April 3o, 2008.
I never been to Bali before.
At 1998 i did decide to take the invitation from one of Bali University to be their students with scholarship. I won two scholarship, one to Lampung for Communication Science and another one is at Udayana Bali for Tourism.
My mom threat me that she will never ever visit me if i choose Bali. So i choose Lampung. And during 5 years untl my graduation she only went there twice, first to drive me there, and seconde when i got to ICU for malaria extremely high fever (41 C) that doctors said could kill me (yes they did said so).
I ever planned to backpack during my university to Bali, both at the same time when the bombing happened.
So, i haven't been there before....

After i booked the flight at January 20, 2008. I browse and reads things about Bali. I've made plans where to stay, what to do, where to eat, transportation, etc.

I am planning to stay at Kuta, Ubud, Bedugul, and Lovina.
This are the hotels that i might stay in Kuta:
1. Kedins Inn, Poppies lane 1
2. Ayu Beach Inn, Poppies Lane 1
3. AP Inn, Poppies Lane 1
4. Kuta Inn, Poppies Lane 2
5. Masa Inn, Poppies Lane 2

In Ubud I haven't had any plan yet. But been browsing this Guest house called "Teba House" and "Rumah Kunang-Kunang" or the firefly guest house. Like the scenic places like this two... and the price its quite reasonable with the view just like that.


I havent had much info's about the other places that i want to visit. But for sure, just lying at beach not sitting infront of my computer is a huge progress in relaxation. See sunsets, sunrise or stars... ohhhhh.. it even made me smiling now.

But i think i already got some hostels names to think about in Lovina and Bedugul area. Not a big worry since i dont have to think about language difference and i already got my self a Bali map !

I might will meet an old friend there, or new one. This is what i love about travelling.

I'll keep posted up the plan...