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Bali, Arriving at Desa Visesa

After 35 hours of travel, including Uber to LAX, LAX time, Flight to China, layover in China, flight to Bali, wait for cab and an hour and a half drive to Ubud, we were pooped!

We arrived in the airport at 8am in the morning.  It was a pretty view of the ocean as we flew in.  P was excited to see land as she knew we were close to our destination.

The airport was nicely decorated for the upcoming Hindu holiday.   Immigration was pretty easy.  When we collected our luggage we found our driver. Well, we thought he was our driver,  he was the guy who worked for the company we hired and he was waiting for our driver to come.   So we waited with him by the curb while our driver got to the airport.

One thing was immediately apparent upon going outside, the humidity.  For me, it was being back in Michigan on a summer day.   We immediately wanted to start shedding our clothes which were heavier due to flying cold planes.

Our driver, was a young guy.  Not a big talker but we found out it would take about an hour and a half to drive to Ubud where our resort was.  The road to Ubud was two lanes.   With one lane going one way and the other going the opposite.  Traffic is much like LA, bumper to bumper.   We didn't mind because we are used to LA traffic but P was done for. After all that traffic she just wanted to get to the hotel.   She was tired basically and after 15 minutes of complaining she zonked out.

When we arrived we immediately noticed the beauty and the largeness of our resort, Desa Visesa.   We found the resort on Expedia and it looked really nice to us.  When we purchased our airline tickets we received 40% of a hotel so we booked 11 nights with Desa Visesa.  We figured there was so much to do in Ubud which was family friendly we would just stay there the whole time. But upon arriving and talking to people we found out most people only stay 2-3 nights as they hop around Bali.

For staying at a place 11 nights there wasn't a shortage of things to do.    From the moment we stepped out of the car from the airport we were greeted with things to do.

The very first thing we did was check-in the resort.   They had a huge lobby area and after a welcome ceremony which involved us sitting in big chairs suited for a King and getting rice placed on our foreheads, we were asked to sit at one of six different seating areas.   There a woman took us through all the ammenities.  She gave us a mobile phone so we could order room service, book massages, or ask for more toiletries.  Since we arrived so early in the morning and the people in our room were late in leaving it took a while to get into our villa.   But that was okay, we were on vacation time and vacation time has no schedule so we bumped around the resort which wasn't so bad...with all the amazing views!


These tree like structures are everywhere. A lot in the airport and then we saw periodically. I need to find out what these are. — in Bali, Indonesia.

It’s good to go try something new. This sign said what I was feeling when we drove past it.



Are we there yet? She did really good for someone her age. But the last hour and half car ride to our resort was tough. Luckily she fell asleep. The traffic here is just as bad as in LA. But they only have 2 lanes. The hard part was the many many motorbikes weaving in and out.



The welcome blessing at our resort involved water and rice. Penny said I got the most rice on my head. — in Bali, Indonesia.



When you arrived they asked you to sit in these chairs and then they “threw” water on each side of your face and place the rice on your forehead and given fliers for your hair and special 3 color bracket for the Dec 26 holy day. Each color representing a different energy within us. — in Bali, Indonesia.



We made it!! Took part in a blessing ceremony upon arrival and hung with the lobby musicians who gave Penny tips on how to play their “ piano.” I kid you not this guy taught her how to play “Colors of the wind”...I swear Disney follows us everywhere! ðŸ˜‰
While we checked in P took interest in the instrument these guys were playing. He invited P over and taught her his music. He said he learned how to play this from his dad when he was 6. He said his dad and brother are also musicians. He said P picked up his instructions well. She found her version of “C” and went to town. — in Bali, Indonesia.


 


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