I left Chicago on Wednesday, April 12 and just arrived in Bali many many hours later on Friday, April 14. Here is a recap of my 30+ hour adventure! Things started off rocky after I got to the airport and got my luggage together. I guess I should have tested this out prior but TikTok made it look easy. Let's just say this lollipop look isn't for me and every time I have to travel for the next 6 weeks is going to be rough. Yes, I should have taken a sensible rolling bag but a backpack felt more the "Eat Pray Love" vibe! The 15 hour flight on Korean Air wasn't as bad as I expected despite having to fly economy due to the fact that I am now retired and can't afford a $5,000 first class ticket. The main highlight of the flight was the man/boy (he looked more like a kid but was over 20 years old) didn't pee once for the entire 15 hour flight and didn't drink a single sip of water. He did obsessively put on chapstick because of course he was profusely dehydrated. On my 5th trip to the bathroom the flight attendant told me that due to "volcanic eruptions" I was going to miss my connecting flight to Bali and to see a gate agent when I landed. I thought I misheard her but then when we landed they apologized for the delay due to "volcanos erupting over Russia". When I got off the plane a women was waving a sign around with my name on it with my new travel plane. She was so kind and apologetic that I couldn't even be upset that an additional 10 hours were being added to my day. With my new travel planes I had 5 hours at the Seoul airport. The Seoul airport is true luxury with every luxury store you can think of and top of the line beauty products. I got a fabulous dinner/lunch (honestly no idea what time of day it was at this point) in the lounge and got to meet this robot who picked up all the dirty dishes. ![]() Next I flew to Singapore, which was a 6.5 hour flight. During the flight they served me a meal of salmon, scallops, 1 shrimp and some veggies. I was very nervous to eat this because last time I ate fish out in public I got horrible food poisoning from the Spirt of Navy Pier's flounder, but I was so hungry that I stomached it and so far so good! I was very excited to be flying to Singapore because I was expecting the Singapore Airport you see on the internet. Unfortunately, for me this was the Singapore airport I experienced....a late 90s style convention center vibe. Once I boarded the flight I was happy to learn it was only 2.5 hours to Bali from Singapore. Even though it was a relatively short flight they served breakfast and I had this wonderful potatoes, sausage and beans mix that was seasoned incredibly well! Once I arrived in Bali it was easy breezy to get through customs and then James from my hotel picked me up from the airport. When I arrived at the Laguna I truly felt like a celebrity, everyone knew my name and said they were so happy I finally made it. It felt like they waited up all night for me to arrive. Even though it was only 11AM my room was ready! Which was truly a blessing after all that travel. My room is bigger than our new apartment and I am not sure I should be staying in something so luxurious at the beginning of my trip because it is only downhill from here! After a much needed long nap I headed to the beach and pool for some sun and reading time. I ate an early dinner at the beach restaurant. All the sudden during dinner the ground began to rumble....it was an EARTHQUAKE. Can you believe it? I went all my life without any tectonic plate action and then twice in one 24 hour period! I had a bit of panic because I thought it might cause a tsunami and we all saw the 2012 blockbuster hit The Impossible. To travel over 30 hours to be swallowed up by a tsunami after just 6 hours on the island would have been a HUGE bummer. The locals seemed chill and to be laughing about it so that settled my nerves.
In conclusion, I am here and not even tectonic plates can keep me away!
7 Comments
Josh
4/14/2023 07:14:09 pm
we LOVE a backpacking moment
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Gabby
4/14/2023 07:44:03 pm
Best travel blog I’ve ever read! 10/10! Bravo!
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Kim
4/15/2023 03:54:25 am
Well all the blips are now off your radar, so should be smooth sailing from here!!!
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Ganesh Maharana
4/15/2023 08:37:43 am
Beautiful blog, Avery! Thank you for sharing. Wish you all the best.
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Ingrid Rubin
4/17/2023 03:30:20 am
Enjoy every moment!!
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Dr. Pugsley Bikibi
4/17/2023 09:11:27 am
Please bring back chicken
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