WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN (2-11/2/09)

MONDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

We got on the MRT early enabling us to make it to Changi Airport with plenty of time to spare. Our next stop was Bali, Indonesia. Hopefully we would be able to sit by the pool or on the beach and do nothing else. After a reasonably good flight (That’s about the best I can hope for, I’m still an extremely nervous flyer.) we arrived in Denpasar, the Balinese capital. We were greeted by a torrential downpour, not what I was expecting on the tropical island.
A short taxi ride and we arrived at the hotel in Legian beach; we were to be here for a week. The first room we were given had no internet signal and was at a separate complex to the restaurant and swimming pool, so we asked to move. This wasn’t a problem for the staff and they moved us immediately. The porter was very helpful with the bags, and with moving rooms without any fuss we thought that this was going to be a nice friendly hotel. We had a couple of drinks and went to get a few things from the 7-11(still open 24hours.)and went to bed early for a change, ready for a day on the beach.

TUESDAY 3RD FEBRUARY

Woke up to late and so we missed breakfast, instead we planned to go out and grab a bite to eat. This wasn’t possible as it was still belting it down outside. The rain lasted for about five hours so we ended up staying in the hotel room and watching a film or two.
Around 16:00p.m we eventually got out and went to check out the local sights and sounds. There weren’t many places open and there was hardly anyone about. The rain returned less than two hours after it had stopped so we went back to the room.
The evening was spent having a few drinks and watching a covers band at the hotel. They were ok; I’ve seen a lot worse, most of them now take up the UK top 40. Off to bed, hopefully the weather will get better tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRURY

It’s still raining. There are less people about and the room is starting to smell like backed-up drains. We had to stay in because there is nothing to do. Went for some tea and saw another good covers band. That’s it.

THURSDAY 5TH FEBRUARY

I got up at 04:00a.m to watch Liverpool lose to the ‘Dirty Toffees’ in the English F.A Cup. It went to extra time so I didn’t get back to sleep until 07:00a.m.
I woke up again at 10:00a.m and there was a nice surprise waiting outside: the sun had come out to play. About time, it had been raining solid for 3 days and the smell in the room was becoming worse. We went to check out the beach. It wasn’t a nice experience; because of the storms all the crap from the sea had washed up on the beach making it hard to even walk across. The only people who were about were the dedicated surfers, even though the sun was shining and it was by all accounts a very pleasant day. Instead we went for a swim in the hotel pool. This was a refreshing change from the four walls of our room.
In the evening, and after me putting a lot of pressure on Louise, we went out and had a couple of drinks. This turned into a few more and then about 01:00a.m it was home time because I was a little drunk.

FRIDAY 6TH FEBRUARY

I woke up with a rotten head this morning, I didn’t think I was that drunk. It must be all the chemicals in the Bintang lager. The rain has returned, worse than before. Because Louise feels as crap as I do we stayed in and watched Australia. I’m not the biggest fan of mega-budget blockbusters, I can take or leave Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and I thought Baz Luhrman’s version of Romeo and Juliet was shit. However this movie is awesome, the effects, the story, the location and the acting make it two and half hours well spent. All is forgiven Baz.
There was not much else doing apart from eating and a bit of interweb surfing. The rain’s starting to get on my nerves now, and the room smells even more. Although it’s pissing down outside, the humidity is high and the air-con hasn’t worked since Wednesday. We’re having to make do with a fan that’s blowing hot air around. I want to leave this hotel and go somewhere else. The staff aren’t bothered about us as we’ve paid for the room upfront.

SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY

The rain is still coming down. However it’s Saturday and that means a nice restaurant and a night on the town. * Although we’re travelling for a year and everyday is like a weekend when it comes to partying and going out on the town, we’re on a budget. In any case Saturday night is still Saturday night wherever you are. *
We went to a really nice restaurant for tea and then spent the next 8 hours getting slashed up. This wasn’t the best idea as I was supposed to take it steady as I wanted to watch Liverpool at 01:30a.m. I didn’t last, as anybody who knows me will testify, if I don’t leave when I’ve had too much to drink I WILL fall to sleep either where I’m sat or on the toilet.

SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY

Ow! My head hurts. Last night I’ve said something wrong to Louise and now she won’t talk to me. I need to eat and get some fluids in me.
As it was still raining I spent most of the afternoon sat in the pub watching the ODI between Aus and NZ. I was surrounded by Aussies so hopefully they’ll lose; I never want them to win cricket matches, the same goes for SA and India. It’s not because I’m racist, it’s because deep down I know they’re all better teams than England and sport fans are a fickle bunch.
I went back to the room to see if Louise would talk to me. After a lot of shouting on Louise’s part and apologising on mine, we finally sorted things. For my behaviour last night I was dispatched to buy KFC as punishment.

MONDAY 9TH FEBRUARY

Hooray! We get to leave this crappy hotel and go to what looks like a nicer one (on the interweb anyway) in Kuta. No apologies about the smell or the air-con not working. We didn’t even get any help with our bags.
The new hotel was very picturesque. There was a nice garden with a bar and the pool looked in decent condition. The room was very large, the air-con wasn’t the greatest but at least it worked to some degree. We had a little area to prepare food and a good fridge. There was only one English spoken channel on the TV, so hopefully the rain stays off and we don’t have to watch it.
We went to do a bit of shopping, it saves a fair bit of money if you’re staying somewhere for more than a couple days and you have the option of making yourself a snack. I tried to get an adapter for the plugs; the bloke wanted US$10. Ram it; I’ll do without for a bit longer.
I spent some of the afternoon having a bit of a swim and relaxing. It didn’t last too long though because low and behold it rained a bit more. This weather is really starting to piss me off. The evening involved getting food and then going back to the room to watch Yes Man, the new Jim Carrey Film. It is funny in parts, could be better.

TUESDAY 10th FEBRUARY

Not much happening. It’s STILL raining. We had to change rooms due to an invasion of ants. We stayed in and played LEGO® Indiana Jones on the PC. This is what my dream holiday has come down to; sitting in a crappy hotel room playing a game aimed at 5-15 year olds.

WEDNESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY

Fuck me! It rained so hard and for so long last night that the ceiling caved in. Now I want to leave this island. The staff at this hotel give less of shit than the previous hotel. With realising this we went to the airport and booked the next flight out of Bali. We’re going to visit a volcano tomorrow morning, and then we get a plane to Sydney, Australia via Singapore (for the third time this trip.).