Woke up an hour late this AM after the Houts/Skogland wedding. Had to go home and shower to get the hairspray out of my hair. Made it to the airport by 1230. Completed self check-in United, got through security no issues in 40 minutes and grabbed a greasy sbarro cheese pizza.
Plane was delayed by 30 minutes. Which leaves 30 minutes to find the next gate in houstan. Boarded with seat 18C (window). Yup. Tiny aircraft! One solo seat and a double seat. Luckily my pack fit in the overhead compartment so I don't have to wait for gate checked bags. Sat next to a navy man who was just home visiting family and headed back to middle of nowhere mississippi. I passed out 30 minutes in and didn't wake up until the bumpy cross through the cloud layer so we can land. Exited the plane found my way to the terminal and restroom picked up subway and got my passport verified just before boarding started.
Next time you'll here from me! Ill be in 90 degree nicaragua :-)
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Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Asia day 14--singapore/transit to Manila
Woke up by 8am. Showered-- oh, I didn't mention, we don't have a shower in the bathroom. There's just a shower head and the hole bathroom is the shower. I also didn't mention, our hotel is in the redlight district of singapore, atleast there were a ton of short skirts and tons of makeup standing guard along our street the night before.
Packed and checked our bags by 930. We are headed to sentosa. An island south of singapore. we stopped at a little cafe and had deep fried eggs over white rice. Scrambled eggs with tomatoes. And Guava juice (just about as good as in Brazil Rachel!!). Then we hopped the train to harbor front where we spotted the cablecars to the island. 29S$ each (about 20$) we went up the mountain got our free juice drink. Then went onto Sentosa. Oh, did I mention the cable car is a giant sauna flying through the air. Ugh. Sweaty. Deboarded on sentosa, an island with amusement park like attractions, an universal studios and beaches. Walked past the merlion and to the beaches. It was like 100 and humid. Hot hot hot. Then made our way back to the cable car. Bought watches in the mall and made it back to our hotel by 230 to get our bags, and make it to the airport by 345 for our 550 flight to manila. Had to hop a bus to the budget terminal. Checked our bags. Made it through customs okay and got first row seats. Lots of legroom. Slept the entire way.
Landed 10 minutes late in manila where our couchsurfer dave was going to pick us up. Got through customs no problem. Had to wait for our bags as we were the first ones off the plane. After waiting a little bit we found our way to passenger pickup and found dave. He drove us out to dinner. Had some pork chunks, tuna, shrimp white rice, and san miquel. Then we drove around a little bit before he dropped us off at our hotel. He was picking us up in the am for some more driving around manila before we depart. We actually scored at this hotel. Nice rooms. Free wifi. 46$.
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Packed and checked our bags by 930. We are headed to sentosa. An island south of singapore. we stopped at a little cafe and had deep fried eggs over white rice. Scrambled eggs with tomatoes. And Guava juice (just about as good as in Brazil Rachel!!). Then we hopped the train to harbor front where we spotted the cablecars to the island. 29S$ each (about 20$) we went up the mountain got our free juice drink. Then went onto Sentosa. Oh, did I mention the cable car is a giant sauna flying through the air. Ugh. Sweaty. Deboarded on sentosa, an island with amusement park like attractions, an universal studios and beaches. Walked past the merlion and to the beaches. It was like 100 and humid. Hot hot hot. Then made our way back to the cable car. Bought watches in the mall and made it back to our hotel by 230 to get our bags, and make it to the airport by 345 for our 550 flight to manila. Had to hop a bus to the budget terminal. Checked our bags. Made it through customs okay and got first row seats. Lots of legroom. Slept the entire way.
Landed 10 minutes late in manila where our couchsurfer dave was going to pick us up. Got through customs no problem. Had to wait for our bags as we were the first ones off the plane. After waiting a little bit we found our way to passenger pickup and found dave. He drove us out to dinner. Had some pork chunks, tuna, shrimp white rice, and san miquel. Then we drove around a little bit before he dropped us off at our hotel. He was picking us up in the am for some more driving around manila before we depart. We actually scored at this hotel. Nice rooms. Free wifi. 46$.
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Asia day 13- transit to singapore
Our wake up call came 15 minutes early. 315 am instead of 330am. Showered with a gecko. Got downstairs by 4am. Got our breakfast but our driver was 10 minutes late. Got to the airport by 420 to find out we need to pay an additional 150,000 rupiah a piece to get through customs. Had to go to the atm again and get $$. Boarded our plane, and passed out.
Arrived in singapore about 1130 am. Got through customs and headed to our hotel. It was right off the train station about 6 blks. In the ghetto yet again. Was unsure if we would have a host so we booked our hotel room last minute for 40$. This came with free wifi. Sat in the room trying to figure out what to do about our night in manila and our night in tokyo. Booked a night in manila at a 3star manila grand opera hotel for 45$ and decided we are just going to sleep in the haneda airport as the public transport doesn't operate in tokyo early enough in the am for us and the hotels around the airport are like 200$ a night.
I also looked up things to do in singapore. China town little india, orchard st, and clarke area. So with our daypacks, mom and I set out in the 100 degree weather and walked the entire singapore island. First stop was ensalade area, walked along the river. Quite pretty. Got our bearings (or I got my bearings and mom follows) and headed to chinatown. Got some really cheap silk stuff. Then we headed to orchard street. The shopping district of singapore. Loads of shops. Not impressed with the prices. Next we went to little india. Lots of yellow gold jewelry shops. Didn't buy anything. By now it was 7pm and mom was hot, sweaty, tired and not feeling well. So we headed to clarke area along the river. Found a pub had some nachos and watched the river boats pass. Then head home. We repacked all of our bags to assure we can still carry on transpacifico. I have 80% of clothes in my bag. And a new bag with all the crap we bought. Then went to bed.
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Arrived in singapore about 1130 am. Got through customs and headed to our hotel. It was right off the train station about 6 blks. In the ghetto yet again. Was unsure if we would have a host so we booked our hotel room last minute for 40$. This came with free wifi. Sat in the room trying to figure out what to do about our night in manila and our night in tokyo. Booked a night in manila at a 3star manila grand opera hotel for 45$ and decided we are just going to sleep in the haneda airport as the public transport doesn't operate in tokyo early enough in the am for us and the hotels around the airport are like 200$ a night.
I also looked up things to do in singapore. China town little india, orchard st, and clarke area. So with our daypacks, mom and I set out in the 100 degree weather and walked the entire singapore island. First stop was ensalade area, walked along the river. Quite pretty. Got our bearings (or I got my bearings and mom follows) and headed to chinatown. Got some really cheap silk stuff. Then we headed to orchard street. The shopping district of singapore. Loads of shops. Not impressed with the prices. Next we went to little india. Lots of yellow gold jewelry shops. Didn't buy anything. By now it was 7pm and mom was hot, sweaty, tired and not feeling well. So we headed to clarke area along the river. Found a pub had some nachos and watched the river boats pass. Then head home. We repacked all of our bags to assure we can still carry on transpacifico. I have 80% of clothes in my bag. And a new bag with all the crap we bought. Then went to bed.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Asia day 12- Bali.
Woke up at 7am to shower and eat hotel breakfast before our driver narko picks us up at 830 to go to ubod and the volcano kintamani on the north side of the island. Breakfast was the only good thing about the hotel. Made to order omelets, pancakes, pastries, coco krispies even. Ate and at 830 went out to our driver.
Narko was waiting and we started out on our voyage. Stopped about a half hour out at a bastik and weaving place. We were greeted with money hungry indonesians. The bastik is painted fabric. And they had two weaving machines fully operating. We looked around the shop and left. Mom bought 6$ flip flops.
Next stop was a handmade silver company. Silver is imported and they melt it with copper to make stronger and then design it. Prices here were way too expensive, especially for 92.5% sterling silver. We asked to see more and narko brought us to a similar shop down some back road. Again greeted with money hungry indonesians, but prices were much cheaper. 30$ for a really nice handmade ring and 40$ for two pairs of dangly earrings. Next stop was a hand wood carving joint. The stuff here was super cool. Ended up spending 60$ but got a couple hand carved signs, a gift for bryson and a couple other surprises. after wood carving joint was a professional painting gallery. I fell in love with one artist who paints in blues purples whites and blacks. There was a huge 5x6 ft painting dude started the bidding at 350us$. No way. Poor college kid, and I'm not sure if there is a wall big enough in my new house to hold it. Same painter had done a 3ftx6 ft painting which would fit perfect above a couch or bed. Again, bidding started at 350us$, but me being a poor college kid ended up talking him down to 105us$ for a new original abstract awesome painting. Don't ask the painter. I have no idea. But its a really nice piece. Hopefully I can carry it on the plane lol.
Now that we've spent way too much $$ We stopped at a 900 year old temple. Pretty sweet that its still standing. In order to enter we had to wrap a surong around us to cover our knees. After about 20 minutes here we headed to the volcano before the fog sets in. But first ATM and gas. The ATM was out of cash (second time its happened to me this trip. Once in chaing mai as I was trying to pay the driver for our professional photos from ziplining). Found a second one. And as narko was filling up, I walked down the street and found a lightshade place. Bought a blue and metal light shade for 7us$. Then we were off to the volcano.
Have I mentioned about how indonesian drivers drive? Its a race track with the gaps filled in with motor bikes. No speed limit, always a horn letting people know where they are. Its common practice to just ride along the center of a lane. All while driving stick shift which is super jerky.
Paid the 25000 rupiah to see the volcano. Got hassled into a side kiosk. Bargaining is everything. Lori sucks at bargaining. I originally picked out 2 sundresses and a wrap and lori had picked out 2 shirts. The lady told her 2 for 150,000 (15us$) and mom was just like okay. I told the ladys 100,000 (10$) for everything. They laughed. Then we ended up getting moms 2 shirts for 100,000 and I left the other dresses while we ate outside at a buffet with a clear line of site to the volcano. There were still black lava fields visible from the last eruption 150 years ago. People predict it blows every 200 years. Well see how that goes. The buffet was nice. Rice noodles freshfruit. Meats in sauces. Vegetable soup. All for 10us$. Ordered fruit juices and returned 4 times through the buffet line (gotta make it count right). Then Narko found us and took pictures with the volcano in the background. We used the dumpy balinese bathroom (no flushing toilet paper here) and snuck out a back way to the van.
Next stop--rice patty fields built in the side of a mountain. Sure enough as narko was pulling out the lady with the dresses and wrap found us and continued to hassle us as we pulled out. Too bad she didn't take the offer while it was on the table. 10,000 rupiah to stop and take pictures of the rice patty fields. Some people were working in some down the way. The ones in the mountain had just been picked but they were still quite impressive. Along back to the car we stopped at some shops. Found mosaic coasters but that seller didn't have the color I wanted. Set of six coasters for 5$. Meh I could do better. Everyone wanted us to stop in their shops. Didn't buy anything here. We were headed into ubod to stop at a wooden necklace store. She also had my coasters which would go perfect with the new painting I got. But she wanted 50 cents a piece. I found some cool coconut necklaces which I bought a half dozen (1.50$ a piece) of plus the set of 6 mosaic coasters for 10$. Mom picked out 5 huge necklaces and I talked her from 13.0$ to 10$. Not as impressive negotiation as the painting. But she did not want to budge. She sold them to us that cheap for luck.
We then told narko we had seen (and spent enough). It was 530pm already and we had an hour and half to get back to kuta. Again racecar driver Narko drove through shoulders weaved in and out of traffic and was always the first off the line at stoplights. Got back to kuta about 730. Gave narko 80 us$ for the day. Which includes gas and everything.
Dropped our stuff off in our room and set out for balineese massages with our 100,000 rupiah (10$) first place wouldn't negotiate. Second place was willing to do an hour balineese massage and a manicure for mom for 100,000 (published at 125,000) but there was a half hour wait. Continued a little further and found a place that was ready now and would do it for the cash we had. The massage was awesome. I liked it better than the thai massage. She worked the knots out of my shoulders and removed the stress from my back. Definitely worth the 5$.
We then went to the hotel restaurant we ate at yesterday for the free wifi and had beverages and appetizers. We ordered calamari first and as my email pulled up realized I needed to run and grab my ipod to sign a few more documents for ricardo/my house. Put in an order for chicken satay. Its like kabobs but just meat no veggies. As the waiter kept refilling my glass I reminded him he would have to carry me home (haha). He was all about it. I ran and grabbed my ipod and returned before the appetizers were up. Signed the documents and resent them and finished off our beverages before turning in for the night. Of course we had to pack our bags and determine how to get everything to fit. The pictures from bangkok fit in a bag we got in chaingmai along with my pink puma bag (megan/steph I did bring that bag with me again despite all my complaints! Ha). Packed the lampshad amongst clothes in my duffle and zipped it all up as we passed out for 4 hours before our wake up call.
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Asia Day 11- transit to Bali
Our plane landed in Bangkok at 1230AM. Grabbed our luggage and started looking for departures. Our flight to Bali leaves at 615 AM. No use getting a hotel. So after finding the AirAsia checkin counter, we printed off our boarding passes and laid down on a bench. Andrea blew up her pink fuzzy neck pillow and grabbed her awesome easttern china airlines blanket she forgot to give back after the Tokyo/Hong Kong flight and passed out with an alarm set for 345AM. No idea what mom did, but she kept waking me up Freaking out. Andrea andrea- I have to go to the bathroom--okay go to the bathroom!. Andrea andrea -theres someone at the airasia desk! Ugh. So I only got about an hour of sleep. At 330 we hopped in line for airasia to check our bags and head through security to our gate. Passed by a BK and Auntie Annies pretzel shops which were open. Put our stuff down near the gate, andrea went and got a breakfast pretzel and sat on one of the free computers and checked email and chatted on facebook. Boarded the plane at 545 found our seats and passed out.
Landed in Bali 3 hours later. Paid 25us$ for a bali visa and found our driver to our hotel. Along the way he sold us he and his car for the rest of the night for 50us$. He would bring us to beach activity, a temple on a hill, and dinner on the beach for sunset. We had nothing planned sounds good. Got our room, no wifi at our hotel-- its a 4 star hotel, u think they would offer free wifi. Also, the elevator was broken so we had to carry our stuff up. No hand towels in our room. And they canceled our bali massage. Showered and met our driver downstairs. He brought us to lunch across the way with free wifi so I could email our host in singapore. Then we went to apollo water sports. 70us$ got us a glass bottom boat and a triple to turtle island where we could hold actual sea turtles. They were huge!! Quite awesome. However, I feel like everyone is out for our money here. Tip yur guide, by yur boat driver a drink, buy a souvenir. Ugh.
Next we went to the temple on a hill. Reminded me of cliffs of mohr. Temple high on the cliff overlooking the ocean. Pretty sweet. We only had 30 minutes there because we had to get to jambarin for sunset. Got to the beach restaurant after sunset but it was still pretty. We literally were at a table in the sand at the beach. Andrea ordered a 700gram red snapper and lori had a seafood salad. The fish came out whole and bony. Gross. Topped the rice with a spicy bbq and ate that. Then our driver brought us to a really expensive spa (65us$/2hours). We said no. Bring us back to our hotel. So we were dropped off at 815pm and Narko, our driver was 50$ richer.
After running down to our spa--which no one was present we walked the strip outside our hotel looking for a spa. Nothing we could find so we decided to call it a night. Narko was picking us up at 830am for a drive to udob and the volcano in the AM.
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