1/18 – Bali, 3 days after leaving AVL

Up and at ‘em early today. Jet lag is beginning. We couldn’t sleep past 4am, so we got up, leisurely have our coffee, then just left the hotel early, a little before 6am, for Terminal 2. This time, we walked all the way over to the terminal – might as well get some exercise this morning – then breezed through immigration (LOVE this new electronic system) and were in the lounge in no time. Even though we are getting breakfast on the plane, this is the lounge with great food, so we just had to sample what was there (gyoza, shumai, dumplings + croissants and waffle pieces). Yummy.

Left the lounge for the gate, breezed through security (so nice having security right at the gate), then a very easy 2 1/2 hour flight. Again, we ordered Book the Cook – Ed with Nasi Lemak, me with the egg omelet and veal sausages (which was on the normal menu). Ed’s was good – more like lunch than breakfast! Mine was not the best – probably should have gone with the pancakes, but we already had so much in the lounge, I really didn’t need anything more. Although I must say the croissant was really good.

Upon arrival, we breezed through Indonesian immigration – once again, everything was done online in advance. We have QR codes, all electronic – poof – we were done! The bags came out quickly, and we were through customs and looking for our driver, Nyoman, in the arrival area. Nyoman was right there waiting and we were in the car and at our Sanur villa home in no time.

It’s a great place – on this narrow little lane – there are 3 villas total back here, each behind a big double door gate and super quiet in the middle of a bustling suburb of Denpasar. Great little pool out front with a Balinese bed, a lovely living space – big living and dining room, neat window running the length of the back wall over the kitchen, looking out into the back yard filled with bamboo and Birds of Paradise flowers. A separate bedroom with an old fashioned canopy bed and sliding doors out to the pool. The bathroom, as normal here, is basically outside – the shower opens out to the backyard with a great rainfall shower head.

This will be a great place to stay for our week here on the island.

After getting organized a bit, we head out into the little lane with our ultimate destination the grocery store, but also to explore our immediate area. We pass by the Old Brick Warung, where we plan to eat tonight, as well as the Clubhouse restaurant, with this great sign out front.

The grocery store is combination grocery and clothes and souvenirs – but today we are focused on the food and beer and wine. Supplies stocked, we head back to the villa for the pool – this will be an every day event to cool off after hot wanderings – before heading back out onto the lane for dinner.

We decided to go early to Old Brick, a little after 6p, which turns out to be prescient. When we arrived to the cute little restaurant, there were only 2 other tables occupied – by the time we got our food there wasn’t a seat in the house! The place is adorable, with a great staff, and music beginning at 7 every night. Might have to come back for that. Tonight, we’ll be done and gone before they begin, which is fine with us. We just want food and then to hang out and hit the hay.

The food here was traditional Indonesian, and we dug into some excellent spring rolls, Gado Gado (oh, I so missed that peanut sauce and vegetable concoction!) and Mie Goreng Ayam. All were excellent, and along with the beer and wine, we were happy, sated, and ready to head home as the cacophony of Aussie voices rose and rose.

A quick walk back down the narrow lane (that’s a 2-way motor vehicle street, btw) to the traditional gates that mark the entrance to our Villa lane, into the courtyard, and we are home.