The smok'n trip to Bali

[RooFlyer]

I've never had an urge to visit Bali, although reports of holidays there have become nicer and nicer since I've followed AFFers TRs to there. I don't like beach or 'do nothing but laze about' holidays, reckoning that I can do that at home. However some friends said they were going to do a Luxury Escape trip there, up in the mountains and would I like to come along? They are rusted on Qantas flyers rolleyes, so I started looking at options, and quickly found that QF run B737s to Bali, and the returns are all overnight.# That's a hard no. Virgin has some day returns. Garuda? Would like to try them, but friends say no.

# Since announced some A330s later this year.

It is at this point of planning that, looking back, I must ask myself, what was I smoking at the time?

We agreed to fly Qantas to DPS from Melbourne and timed it so I could attend our annual AFF Rockford lunch in the Barossa (already booked). I thought I could visit my sister in Brisbane on the way back. Hmmm... options ..... keep looking ..... Ummmm - JetStar?!!?

A month ago, what I had found I had booked was:

HBA-SYD-ADL on VA, economy, revenue. I'm not really a believer in the AFF maxim "why fly direct when you can connect", so I don't know why I booked this routing. I've already requalified for VA Plat. I must have been smoking something at the time.

Then ADL-MEL-DPS on QF in J, revenue. When checking a month ago, I found that not only was ADL-MEL a Dash-8 (hand luggage restrictions - I was going HLO) but I was in economy!! I must have been toking on something very strong to accept that at the time. I think there was a very cheap fare and I thought it was a good idea at the time. I later changed my flight, getting J in a B737 and paying $200 change fee - which I duly declared in the travel mistakes thread.

DPS-BNE in JQ, business Max fare. Jetstar from Bali. What could possibly go wrong? Flighty app tells me it arrives in BNE late nearly 70% of the time, and more than 45 mins late 26% of the time.

BNE-SYD-HBA on VA rewards, economy max.

So this is what it looks like



In Bali, its a 3 night LE package at Nandini Jungle by Hanging Gardens - north of Ubud, hopefully away from the madding crowds.

Discover Luxury Bali Jungle Resort

A dramatic hideaway nestled in the heart of the Payangan rainforest, Nandini Jungle by Hanging Gardens is a destination that blends with natural surroundings.

www.nandinibali.com

Looks nice enough. I'm taking a book and my swimming togs.

 

[Pushka]

I've never had an urge to visit Bali, although reports of holidays there have become nicer and nicer since I've followed AFFers TRs to there. I don't like beach or 'do nothing but laze about' holidays, reckoning that I can do that at home. However some friends said they were going to do a Luxury Escape trip there, up in the mountains and would I like to come along? They are rusted on Qantas flyers rolleyes, so I started looking at options, and quickly found that QF run B737s to Bali, and the returns are all overnight. That's a hard no. Virgin has some day returns. Garuda? Would like to try them, but friends say no.

It is at this point of planning that, looking back, I must ask myself, what was I smoking at the time?

We agreed to fly Qantas to DPS from Melbourne and timed it so I could attend our annual AFF Rockford lunch in the Barossa (already booked). I thought I could visit my sister in Brisbane on the way back. Hmmm... options ..... keep looking ..... Ummmm - JetStar?!!?

A month ago, what I had found I had booked was:

HBA-SYD-ADL on VA, economy, revenue. I'm not really a believer in the AFF maxim "why fly direct when you can connect", so I don't know why I booked this routing. I've already requalified for VA Plat. I must have been smoking something at the time.

Then ADL-MEL-DPS on QF in J, revenue. When checking a month ago, I found that not only was ADL-MEL a Dash-8 (hand luggage restrictions - I was going HLO) but I was in economy!! I must have been toking on something very strong to accept that at the time. I think there was a very cheap fare and I thought it was a good idea at the time. I later changed my flight, getting J in a B737 and paying $200 change fee - which I duly declared in the travel mistakes thread.

DPS-BNE in JQ, business Max fare. Jetstar from Bali. What could possibly go wrong? Flighty app tells me it arrives in BNE late nearly 70% of the time, and more than 45 mins late 26% of the time.

BNE-SYD-HBA on VA rewards, economy max.

So this is what it looks like

View attachment 350749

In Bali, its a 3 night LE package at Nandini Jungle by Hanging Gardens - north of Ubud, hopefully away from the madding crowds.

Discover Luxury Bali Jungle Resort

A dramatic hideaway nestled in the heart of the Payangan rainforest, Nandini Jungle by Hanging Gardens is a destination that blends with natural surroundings.

www.nandinibali.com

Looks nice enough. I'm taking a book and my swimming togs.

Just don't accept any old offer to smoke the stuff in Bali in case it's a set up .

 

[RooFlyer]

Departed Hobart this morning, a lovely spring day, made more charming by navigating the HBA cattle runs:



Everything looks OK from Flighty



anf the flight plan has been filed



I made a cheeky 'upgrade me' bid two days before and it came through, so I'm in J on this first leg, and had a very nice corn fritters and goats cheese.



Currently at the VA lounge in SYD, awaiting flight to ADL. For once its not crowded.

 

[Quickstatus]

2 leafs?

VA should go to 4 leafs to upstage the other mob.

 

[RooFlyer]

Uneventful flight across to Adelaide, and generously picked up by @CaptJCool .

Taxiing at SYD from Flighty



We pushed back a few minutes early and arrived in Adelaide about 20 minutes early.

Digs for two nights is the Grosvenor Hotel on North Terrace. The last time I stayed here was in 1982 when I was making my way across to the west to start my first job.

I don’t think it’s changed much since then and another example of me possibly inhaling something when I decided to make the booking here.

 

[VPS]

Uneventful flight across to Adelaide, and generously picked up by @CaptJCool .

Taxiing at SYD from Flighty

View attachment 350776

We pushed back a few minutes early and arrived in Adelaide about 20 minutes early.

Digs for two nights is the Grosvenor Hotel on North Terrace. The last time I stayed here was in 1982 when I was making my way across to the west to start my first job.

I don’t think it’s changed much since then and another example of me possibly inhaling something when I decided to make the booking here.

View attachment 350775
View attachment 350774
View attachment 350773

The room looks a lot better than in 1982 though - it's always been a bit dire but a good location

 

[Pushka]

Uneventful flight across to Adelaide, and generously picked up by @CaptJCool .

Taxiing at SYD from Flighty

View attachment 350776

We pushed back a few minutes early and arrived in Adelaide about 20 minutes early.

Digs for two nights is the Grosvenor Hotel on North Terrace. The last time I stayed here was in 1982 when I was making my way across to the west to start my first job.

I don’t think it’s changed much since then and another example of me possibly inhaling something when I decided to make the booking here.

View attachment 350775
View attachment 350774
View attachment 350773

They look like old rattler air conditioners.

 

[RooFlyer]

They look like old rattler air conditioners.

Yes, and it is indeed rattling. Central air conditioning on full bore not having much effect with a room facing the afternoon sun. Currently waiting to see if they can move me.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Currently waiting to see if they can move me.

To Hilton?

 

[RooFlyer]

To Hilton?

No. Apparently that was an upgrade to a 'suite'. I said I was happy to go with the room level booked. This



Aircon not noisy, as it doesn't work but room on the reverse side, so not hot.

 

[SYD]

Departed Hobart this morning, a lovely spring day, made more charming by navigating the HBA cattle runs:

Installed for NZ flights?…. (ok, I’ll show myself to the door).

2 leafs?

VA should go to 4 leafs to upstage the other mob.

But no Luke Mangan inspired dressing…

Digs for two nights is the Grosvenor Hotel on North Terrace. The last time I stayed here was in 1982 when I was making my way across to the west to start my first job.

Does it still have an Ibis wing?

 

[RooFlyer]

Does it still have an Ibis wing?

I think this is the Ibis wing of the Playford next door. I said to someone at dinner tonight that it’s worse than any of the Ibis I’ve been in.

 

[RooFlyer]

Dinner with 11 other AFFers tonight. Penegal was, of course, a late appearance. BYO and this was part of the haul



I was knackered and retired early. Can't handle the pace any more.

 

[Quickstatus]

Smoking and drinking. Is this bad?

 

[RooFlyer]

The main reason for coming to Adelaide was to attend Buzz and my annual Rockford lunch. We started this about 10 years ago when we took advantage of our ability to ask three guests each to attend the lunch. Over the years, the guestlist has remained mainly the same, but we’ve had some newcomers and some occasional attendees. For a few years we actually had a second lunch with a different guestlist. This year we welcomed newcomer @billbro

As usual, Buzz organised the date and the transport and eight of us headed off from the Hilton Adelaide at 10:30 this morning for a leisurely trip to the Barossa.

Again, as usual, we started at noon with a lovely glass of Rockford Sparkling black Shiraz, and canapés in a tasting room, known as The Kennel, for reasons that escape me (well, I guess the pictures on the wall might be a giveaway). Our hosts doing a sterling job pouring the Sparkling Black Shiraz



Then we moved to the dining room and found our menus. Looks adequate. There used to be 16 around the table, but currently there is 12, so we had the majority of the places. All of the veggies and fruit come from Rockford’s own garden on site.



Second course ( after the canapes), the trout (I’ll let you follow along the wines from the menu above).



Fat coughs (no, not talking about some of the diners)



Pork belly, which most on the table regarded as the best they have ever had



Beef pie and sirloin



Dessert Panna Cotta


And then, as per tradition, we repaired to the Stonewaller room to taste the full range of Rockford wines.





it was a tough gig! Our bus arrived at 5 pm, and we decanted ourselves onto it, and had a rapid trip back to the city, where several had a plane to catch that evening. How did you go. @penegal ?

 

[henleybeach]

The main reason for coming to Adelaide was to attend Buzz and my annual Rockford lunch. We started this about 10 years ago when we took advantage of our ability to ask three guests each to attend the lunch. Over the years, the guestlist has remained mainly the same, but we’ve had some newcomers and some occasional attendees. For a few years we actually had a second lunch with a different guestlist. This year we welcomed newcomer @billbro

As usual, Buzz organised the date and the transport and eight of us headed off from the Hilton Adelaide at 10:30 this morning for a leisurely trip to the Barossa.

Again, as usual, we started at noon with a lovely glass of Rockford Sparkling black Shiraz, and canapés in a tasting room, known as The Kennel, for reasons that escape me (well, I guess the pictures on the wall might be a giveaway). Our hosts doing a sterling job pouring the Sparkling Black Shiraz

View attachment 350858

Then we moved to the dining room and found our menus. Looks adequate. There used to be 16 around the table, but currently there is 12, so we had the majority of the places. All of the veggies and fruit come from Rockford’s own garden on site.

View attachment 350859

Second course ( after the canapes), the trout (I’ll let you follow along the wines from the menu above).

View attachment 350860

Fat coughs (no, not talking about some of the diners)

View attachment 350861

Pork belly, which most on the table regarded as the best they have ever had

View attachment 350862

Beef pie and sirloin

View attachment 350864

Dessert Panna Cotta

View attachment 350865
And then, as per tradition, we repaired to the Stonewaller room to taste the full range of Rockford wines.

View attachment 350866

View attachment 350867

it was a tough gig! Our bus arrived at 5 pm, and we decanted ourselves onto it, and had a rapid trip back to the city, where several had a plane to catch that evening. How did you go. @penegal ?

Looks like a great day as usual. My first time in 4 years I didn’t come !
Great stuff guys

 

[RooFlyer]

Checked out of the Grosvenor in Adelaide this morning with a 25% discount applied by the lovely duty manager who looked after my second change of rooms yesterday. You could only ever call this a basic hotel - it’s very dated and as I found, a lot of malfunctioning equipment. But I must say the staff were very good at trying to get me just a basic functioning room.

I looked up and I originally I booked at $180 a night for 2 nights. For last night, my second night, the same room was being priced on the Accor app at about $310, just under the very much more upmarket Playford next door at $330.

Uber to the airport and I had to front up at check-in to show Passport and and then be able to get my boarding passes. Sure enough, my 1A on Melbourne to Denpasar had been changed and I’m now in 3C. Once again, we find that early selection means nothing, likely with lazy P1s or Chairmans lounge people deciding they would like my selected seat, on the day. Oh well, row four behind has plenty of legroom so they won’t mind me reclining into them for 6 hours or so.

 

[RooFlyer]

QF678 ADL-MEL uneventful arrived at 11:20am; walk straight to international terminal, quick security and then to SmartGate.

My experience there, and with immigration is described here. Very odd, new enforcement apparently. ANyway, cleared that hurdle and arrived at the Qantas First Lounge and offered a spa treatment. Last one I had of those wasn't good, but since I had about 6 hours to kill, I accepted. Head, shoulders and scalp, very good using lotion/oil, except the person did my scalp after the rest, resulting in somewhat greasy hair, necessitating a shower. But as I said, I had time to kill.

Had some lunch (NOT S&P squid) - green pea soup and prawns in pastry shell and generally watched the world go by. A few laps of the terminal.





At last ... getting ready to board.

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, that was potentially embarrassing. I checked the departure board and headed for the gate a little bit before boarding started. That’s odd - everyone’s wearing JetStar uniforms and the crew is just going aboard.

Wrong gate, wrong flight! The JQ and QF flights to DPS are consecutive on the board. So I scoot to the other side of the departure area and am waiting for boarding.

Ummmm.... can I make a little observation? The demographics of the JQ departure lounge and the QF departure lounge are rather different. i’ll be with the other mob on the way back.

 

[Pushka]

well that was potentially embarrassing. I checked the departure board and headed for the gate a little bit before boarding started. That’s odd - everyone’s wearing JetStar uniforms and the crew is just going aboard.

Wrong gate, wrong flight! The JQ and QF flights to DPS are consecutive on the board. So I scoot to the other side of the departure area and am waiting for boarding.

Ummmm.... can I make a little observation? The demographics of the JQ departure lounge and the QF departure lounge are rather different. i’ll be with the other mob on the way back.

Ummm. I did exactly THE SAME THING. In August. They were calling us we cut it so fine. I posted about it on the Travel Mistakes thread. This makes me feel so much better and will tell husband who was scoffing at my error.

Here is my tale.