" class="u-show">Bye Northern Ireland, Hello Bali!
Dublin to Doha
The day I have been waiting for has arrived, it’s time to embark on my biggest adventure to date. Everything triple checked one last time, it was time to load up the car and head to Dublin. Squashed in the back of the BMW, an extremely wet and windy morning with Storm Ali making her way through the country, hoping she didn’t effect my departure. The miserable drive down to Dublin got me more excited knowing I was flying away to lots of heat leaving the depressing weather behind.
Arriving in Dublin at 11am, check in didn’t open till 12, bags at the ready I meet this lovely Australian woman, who was heading back home to her family in Perth, after coming to Ireland to see her sick mother. 12pm arrives and check in opens, my main bag was dropped ready for its long transit to Bali. It was then time to say goodbye and off course the tears started to flow. Boarding pass scanned and the glass gate opens, ready to approach security. Turning back round to see four idiots waving goodbye, holding back the tears I proceeded through security with no fuss. Got my bag and phoned my dad to let him and the rest know that I got through security whilst they are sitting in the pouring rain trying to exit the airport.
Into departure, straight to Burger King I went, got myself some lunch in preparation for the flight ahead. Due to leave at 15:20 the flight to Doha was delayed until 17:30 due to adverse weather conditions from Storm Ali and the aircraft having to emergency land in Manchester. Due to the delay, we received a food voucher for 10 euro each. I went and got myself a Chopped Salad Box, that I intended to eat on the plane. If it wasn’t for the Australian girl keeping me right, I’d have had no clue what to do. The flight was then further delayed to 19:30 due to there now being no space for the aircraft to park. Moving to 4 different gates we finally got to the last gate where we saw the aircraft be offloaded.
With the delayed departure, it meant I’d miss my connecting flight from Doha to Denpasar, Bali. This meant the Qatar Airways staff had to re-arrange my flight and book me onto the next available flight whilst I was in transit to Doha. Boarding the plane at 19:30, I got to my seat 30D which was a middle aisle seat, being warmly welcomed by the Qatar Airways staff. Giving me a refreshment towel, that was needed, further to be given complimentary headphones.
After departure I fell asleep immediately, being woken up by staff to see if I wanted dinner. I got a beef and mushroom casserole, which I have to admit was gorgeous, followed by a few pepsi’s. The 7hr flight was a bliss, resulting in landing in a very hot Doha at 05:10.
Doha to Denpasar
Arriving in Doha, extremely tired because sleeping on a plane is not something I’m good at. Wondering whether or not I’ll get a connecting flight, I got off the plane into weather I have never experienced before at 5am. 33 degrees is the type of heat that I would expect midday. Anyhow, going up the escalator with my Australian friend, who’s name I never got, we can see staff holding signs with our connecting flight destinations. We wished each other well because we probably wouldn’t have met again, which we didn’t.
Thankfully gaining a flight 3 hours later, I then proceeded through another security check, with yet again no fuss. Blown away by the standard of the airport, with top brands such as Gucci, Coach, Burberry, Mount Blanc and Tiffany & Co. Dying for a bottle of water I went to one of the shops to get one, then my Sta Travel Cashcard doesn’t work, me thinking the flight delay was the only thing that could have gone wrong. Bought the water eventually after two attempts with the cashcard on my Visa Debit card which I am glad I brought. I then went and sat at my gate hoping there would be no fuss, thankfully none at all.
After phoning and talking to my family, it was time to board my final flight of the journey, the dreaded 10-hour flight. Upon being greeted by more friendly staff, I got my window seat, this time behind the wing of the plane, with an entire row to myself. Greeted yet again with more complimentary goods I watched a couple of DVDs in between sleeping. I watched a new release called “Please Stand By” and “17 Again”. On the flight I was given both breakfast and dinner, breakfast being scrambled eggs and dinner being another beef dish.
A great but long flight landing safely in Denpasar. Bags collected, Immigration was the next big task, queuing for over an hour for someone to look at my passport, when I got through Immigration it was time to hand in my visa, that I hoped to have filled in correctly. Heading then to the taxi area, I was approached by an Asian who brought me into a taxi style depo and took my details off destination and took payment for the journey. He then carried my main bag to the taxi where another guy drove me to my hotel, Champlung Mas in Kuta.
Not being able to see much due to the darkness, I arrived at the hotel and was greeted by the receptionist, who checked my details and guided me to my room, upon arriving in my room and being so overwhelmed with the whole experience I burst into tears and phoned my mum and dad in a blind panic just wanting home because I didn’t know what to expect the following morning. I think I would have been ok if I had arrived in day light as expected prior to my delay, with tiredness being my main problem, I went for a shower to try freshen up.
Showered, changed and into bed, semi comfortable until three lizards crossed the ceiling! What next???
