Day 31: The long travel day
Trip Start
Jun 01, 2011
1
34
Trip End
Jul 04, 2011
Singapore, Singapore
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sue and Evie checked in at 10:30 but Tom and Tyler couldn't as the check in counter wasn't open yet for their flight. After checking in, we all set off for the Ramada Bingtang Bali a 15 minute taxi ride from the airport for lunch and some pool time. Unfortunately, the lunch took forever to arrive and Sue and Evie had to take theirs to go and endure a nerve wracking drive back to the airport. Meanwhile, the boys stuffed themselves on an expensive ($8.00 main courses vs. $4.00 out of the big resorts) but large and tasty lunch. Then we helped ourselves to some towels and splashed in the huge freshwater pool (the pool on the island was clorinated saltwater we later confirmed). By 1:45 they were in a taxi and by 3:00 they were through security and watching the planes taking off.
The Bali shopping never stops and the terminal is one large shopping mall. Tom asked about a Hawaiian shirt like his for Tyler "150,000", "ok", "how much you want?"
After going through another set of security they were ready to board. Tyler continued to perfect meeting people and after asking a collection of 20 something travelers (two danish girls and 2 Thai boys) found himself playing "Do-re-me" on a Ukele. Needless to say he was a hit.
Thwarted in his attempts to visit the pilot, Tyler was rewarded with a Toy Story sticker book. A short 4 hours later, they landed in Bangkok at C6, strolled down the long walkway through the transit passenger checkpoint (those mini-luggage carts are awesome for transporting small children!), and after checking the monitor for their 11:30PM (4 hours after arriving), walked past 12 million duty free shops, and arrived...back at gate C6.
At 8:15 Bangkok time (9:15p Bali time), Tyler agreed to put on a pair of eye patches and slept on some cushioned chairs until boarding time. Quickly in our seats, Tyler was back asleep after dinner until landing in Osaka at 7am (6am Bali time). Cumulative sleep: Tyler - 7, Tom - 3.
Meanwhile, the girls were having their own adventure. After dashing from the pool they easily navigated the 15 minute cab ride as their was no typical traffic jam and they arrived with extra time and extra cash. 50,000 rupees to be precise. "Evie, let's go to the Circle K.". Inexplicably Circle K is the dominant mini-market in Bali and is a sure fire source for cold beer, a freeze full office cream, and a passable toilet.
Evie, armed with $5.00 and a store full of candy, was like, well a kid in a candy store!! They shared a $2.00 last Magnum bar and the rest was spent on caramels, mentos, etc. With a little help rom the cashier they managed to spent every last cent before breezing through a line free passport check they arrived with 30 minutes to spare.
They boarded their 75% full, brand new Singapore Airlines flight complete with giant in seat screens playing sesame street for Evie and Jennifer Aniston movies for Sue. Thee kids meal came in a take home lunch box and the flight attendant let Evie choose her toy from a catalog and the only problem was the flight was too short as a mere 2 hours later, they were touching down in Singapore.
We have a handful of friends who live in Singapore and Tim K. was hosting them in his bachelor pad. With the luggage checked through to SFO, they grabbed their roller bags and hopped in a visa-taking cab and were off to Tim's. It was 4:30 and Tim was just returning from one Singapore's famous never-empty champagne brunches with some mutual friends, so rather than settle in they immediately got I another cab and zipped to the hotel, bathing suits in hand. Asia is just one pool to the next. By 5:30 Evie was swimming and Sue was noshing poolside.
After a quick dinner at a Singapore noodle house, Evie was in bed by 8:30. After some catching up, Sue was in bed by 11 ready for the next day's 20 hours of travel.
