Bali for One, please

hiya. saw Sari at the hospital this morning in her new room. cozy, but not as cool as the other one. I was dropped off at the airport bus shuttle near Blok M and Sari's mom treated me just like a daughter- picked me out a seat, made sure the driver knew which terminal I was getting off at and finally smothered me with forehead kisses and got off the bus. adorable beyond words.

and oh lord! I almost missed my flight! Air Asia had called out the boarding of the Xpress Line, as their boarding is similar to Southwest Airlines- no assigned seating, but I didn't hear anything else until the last call for the plane. I walked up to someone and they were like, you have to get on that plane. and I did and sat next to a wonderful young woman and her 6 mo baby boy, who was wonderful and giggly during the tripo when he was sleeping and I helped her carry her bags into the airport. she asked about my trip and if I needed a ride to my hotel! so nice. I had told Laila, Sari's cousin to get me at 2:15pm from the airport, but when I got on the plane they announced it was 1.5 hour flight and that would have put me in at 1pm. ok... we landed and Bali is one hour ahead of Jakarta, so Laila was right on time after I got my massive bag (which I fully intend on filling with souvenirs).

I got to the hotel with Laila, who checked in on the room and we are gonna talk tomorrow about plans to do things: I am sunning tomorrow all day. I need a tan. Friday we are gonna go shopping, see a temple near her house and eat at her family's house, as she will be cooking a Balinese meal for another friend of hers. great that someone so nice is here to help me along.

I have never been to Cancun, but Kuta Beach, I think would be just like it. same shacks and stalls with souvenirs and local wares, and yes, my hotel is directly next to a huge shopping mall. I put additional money on my cell phone and had lunch at Stadium, a sports bar that Sari recommended. I had stir fry noodles with chicken and a Lychee Sensation, made with Bali Moon Pineapple Liqueur. delicious. and now I am sitting in the open-air lobby of the hotel, thinking about taking my book outside for a bit (it's 5:20pm and very little sun) and then deciding on a restaurant where I can look presentable. at this moment, I look quite the opposite as I didn't really take a proper shower this morning.

and I almost forgot! I went bungy jumping in Cairns, Australia alone back in 2004 and in Las Vegas with Jenny that following fall and guess what flyer I got my hands on today?? There is a AJ Hackett Bungy location in Bali and I am totally putting to the top of my to-do list this trip.

anywho, gonna run, but my cell number is 081380012133, if anyone cares to call. any Asia calling card will do and you actually get a lot of minutes for $5. hopefully I will be darker skinned tomorrow ;)