Chasing the perfect Fuji shot

[drron]

From there the clouds took over but cleared as we approached the first Indonesian island of Nusa Penids.

 

[Seat0B]

Some great photos in these posts @drron

 

[drron]

So a short interlude from the pictures with the comings and goings in the Cabin. Having no IFE or wifi you could pay attention to what others were doing. Behind me there were a young couple, their young daughter and a tiny baby. At one stage dad was changing the baby whilst kneeling on the floor. He kept banging into my seat. Thjen he took the old nappy and was going to dispose it in the front loo. The FA said no you won't go down the back. He complained that there was a line down the back so she said well you better go and line up. She did let people from the first 3 or 4 rows of Y into the front loo but any one from further back got turned around.
however the oven in the front galley wasn't working so the J meals were heated down the back and she went down and collected the first batch. Some Y pax noticed and a few did get to use the front loo. That was duly noted so someone else brought up the rest. And whilst the J pax were eating no one past row 2 was allowed through the J cabin.

The FA is going to Japan with her partner and 2 children in May so we had a few chats about that and a few recommendations made. Turned out she loves wisteria and May is peak wisteria viewing time so she will google places to go. She did ask about speaking Japanese so give a few easy helpful suggestions which included Google translate which she was quite appreciative of. Naturally she is flying to HND via CNS. great mirth when one of the few photos from Japan was of the VA checkin line at HND.

Then there were the row 1 pax. 3 of them were in a group and worked for an accounting firm. The 4th fellow in 1D was by himself but when the others found out he was an accountant as well (some accountancy conference in Bali? ) they all got on well. When Mr 1D mentioned the firm he worked for Mr 1A said wasn't that the firm Chrisopher Skase's accountant worked for. Indeed it was.

 

[drron]

Now back to the Pictorial. We arrived 20 minutes early.
The first sight of Bali.






And over the port which was on the other side.





And landing.

 

[drron]

And into the terminal.










The last time we flew into DPS the terminal was basically a big shed. Certainly a vast improvement.
A long walk to Immigration as is usual for us. E gates to the left with hardly a person there and long lines to the right to pay for the VOA. Although I didn't find it easy because of a clunky website and requiring the photo of your passport to be a JPG file the first time and a pdf the second time which is off putting for a tech dinosaur it is certainly worth it. Straight through Immigration and then Customs with the print out of the QR code,
However then had to wait for the carousel to start and our bag was in the second half to come out. So much for priority baggage.
Funny that today VA sent me a survey. They won't like some of the answers.

Then out to get our transport. Did 2 rounds of the s crum of people holding up signs and couldn't see our name. The confirmation said meet in the arrivals hall so I went back inside. Apparently the fellow turned up very soon after I went back. The only excitement on the journey was the rabbit warren of a parking garage and the stupidity of bike riders. no wonder you hear of accidents and that no travel insurance will cover them.

next the IC Jimbaran Bay,

 

[drron]

So to the Intercontinental. We got what appears to be the usual upgrade to a room on 2 floors with the bed upstairs. But it is comfortable. Two separate showers and a standalone bath which also has a hand held shower. Should be acceptable to even the fussiest guest. I'm using the bath as the shower floors are marble and way too slippery for me.
So the bathrooms. First downstairs and then upstairs.








And the downstairs room.




Our little gift.


And the view.

 

[drron]

We were told we had access to the Singaraja lounge and went there first. not impressive so we asked where the Club IC was and went there. Obviously at checkin they hadn't got the lounge pass into the system. Showed it to them and everything OK. An impressive area,good selection of food, very friendly staff but not as well trained as in Bangkok. First the menu for drinks and the nightly canapes.








The canapes.


There was also a buffet selection.

 

[drron]

The buffet continued.













For wines Mrsdrron had a French Sav Blanc and I decided to try an Indonesian cab Sav. It wasn't bad so I kept drinking it.


The garden lights on the way back to the room.


It had been a long day so we fell into bed at ~ 8pm local time and woke up at 0830. That was 1030 QLD time. A very relaxing sleep.

 

[drron]

Wandered down to the lounge about0930. here is the breakfast menu.








And to the buffet part 1.

 

[drron]

Buffet part 2.










For our hot dish Mrsdrron had the avocado toast and I eggs Benedict with salmon.




Both were very nice.

 

[drron]

After breakfast we had a stroll around the property.


The fish were obviously used to being fed.


The beach wasn't much with quite a bit of rubbish.






I don't think this sign acheived much.


A lot of the sun lounges had towels but no people. And only 2 people where on the beach.
There was a wedding on later that day.

 

[drron]

Then past their Convention centre.

 

[Flyfrequently]

So tomorrow we are off on our next adventure. Well it has been 7 weeks at home. We start with a first for us. Our first VA international flight even if it is just a 737 to Bali and not even a lounge for us J pax. We are in Row 2 of J and have that little feeling my choice of meal will be unavailable when they get to me. We have our Evisas and Customs QR code so hopefully an easy exit through DPS. Transfer booked and 3 nights at the IC Jimbaran Bay. We will interrupt the stay to go and have lunch with a couple we have been corresponding with for some time. They are on the Silversea World Cruise on the Silver Shadow and will be in port on St. Patricks Day. The next day it is back to the port and board the Silver Muse to cruise back to Japan then circumnavigate Honshu for Cherry Blossom time

We will be joined for that second segment by my sister and her partner - a retired Geology Professor. great bloke though.
After the cruise a couple of days in Yokohama and then 4 nights in Fujikawaguchiko. Said to be the best time of year for an unobstructed view of Fuji. The Fuji Shibazakura Festival will be on while we are there.

And to finish off a few days in Bangkok and then Sydney to catch up with Family.

On board with you @drron 🛳
Enjoy!

 

[Pushka]

So to the Intercontinental. We got what appears to be the usual upgrade to a room on 2 floors with the bed upstairs. But it is comfortable. Two separate showers and a standalone bath which also has a hand held shower. Should be acceptable to even the fussiest guest. I'm using the bath as the shower floors are marble and way too slippery for me.
So the bathrooms. First downstairs and then upstairs.
View attachment 374473

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And the downstairs room.
View attachment 374474

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Our little gift.
View attachment 374472

And the view.
View attachment 374476

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Yep. Thats the usual. When the 7 earthquake hit because they are at the highest level we figured we wouldn't need to go downstairs to evacuate because they'd then direct us up here. Those banisters sure do rattle during a quake.

 

[drron]

Later that afternoon I went for another walk. Down to the beach but turned right rather than left.




But lots of rubbish on the beach side of the tree.




And a view across to the airport.








The hotel villas. A long way from the facilities.

 

[drron]

And behind the villas a veggie garden.










And back out into the hotel grounds.

 

[drron]

Then I wandered outside the hotel grounds. Not that much.




Reasonable prices at the Turkish restaurant. Put $A in place of the K and a decimal point in front of the last number and you have the Aussie price.


Then I went into a large convenience store. Very clean and a good range of food and drink. lovely fruit. I nearly bought some mangosteens.


I did buy a cold pomegranate juice. Ticket said 18500 so I handed over a 20000 note and got 5000 change.
I then went outside to drink my juice. they had a few tables and chairs out the front. whilst I was drinking A woman came up and sat down beside me. Asked where I was from then asked where I was staying. I said the IC and she replied that is an expensive place. I have no money but I can make you happy. Time for me to leave and retreat back into the hotel grounds.

 

[drron]

The last of my walk.

 

[turtlemichael]

Glad you got to have lunch with Michele and Bill. They were our bosom buddies on SS WC 2019 and we stay in touch.

 

[drron]

Glad you got to have lunch with Michele and Bill. They were our bosom buddies on SS WC 2019 and we stay in touch.

Yes it was a very enjoyable afternoon.