Landed in Melbourne about 7:00, had to get off and reboard the plane about an hour later for the flight to Sydney, which left about 8:15. Got to Sydney about 9:30.
Collected my backpack from the baggage claim, checked-in to Australia, took the train to the Pink House hostel and got a bed. Had a shower, then I got my mobile out, and plugged it in to send Courtney a TXT, but it didn't work! I tried a bunch of outlets around the building, it wouldn't come on! And I didn't have Courtney's mobile number, so couldn't call her on a pay phone. I took my phone back to the shop where I bought it, they asked me how long it has been since I used it, I told them 5 or 6 weeks, and they told me I'd probably have to leave it plugged in for a while, the battery goes into a sleep mode when it hasn't been used for a while, and it might have to be plugged in for a while before I'll even get anything in the screen.
Went back to the hostel, and plugged it in, chatted with a girl in my room that's from Vancouver. She used to work up in the Yukon. Checked on my phone, and it's alive! YAY. Had three voice messages from Courtney, I called her, and we made a lunch date at Gloria Jeans at 2:00.
At 2:00, met her at Gloria Jeans, we went to a small place for something to eat, then to New Zealand Naturals for ice cream, caught up, and talked about our plans.
Shortly after 3:00, she went back to work, I hit the Greyhound office for their bus pass prices, then CounrtyRail for their backpacker rail pass prices. Back to King Cross, used internet, Kristin was online, so chatted with her. She cut her hair really short and coloured it red. She thinks it's too red, and may have to dye it more darker. Totally blew me away!
Back to the hostel, trying to decide what to do. Court will be 1.5 to 2 weeks before she's ready to travel, so should I go to Melbourne and travel around there for a while, then back to Sydney and pick up Court? Or should I go up to Byron Bay now and hang out with Kristin and Louisa? And Court can catch up later? Should we get a bus pass or a train pass? Too many decisions!!!!
Sat around, reading, whatever, and to bed about 9:30.
Monday, November 03, 2003
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Heading Back to Oz (boohoo!)
Up at 8:00, first time in a long time I didn't have to wake up to my alarm!
BTW, it's Rhamadan, Muslim month of fasting. It started last Monday.
Bathed, down for breakfast, packed, then went to the internet for half an hour, back to the hotel, checked out and paid.
Bus came at 10:20, got to the ferry terminal about 11:00, had a Sprite and Fanta Orange at a stall while one of the guys played the guitar.
Got on the ferry about 11:25. It left at noon.
About 3:30, the ferry stopped, near Bali, it had to wait for another ferry to leave the terminal.
While we were waiting, the Indonesian version of Family Feud was on the tube.
We finally docked about 5:15.
I got on the Perama bus, and had to wait 15 minutes for the Perama boat, which was just coming in, which had five more tourists.
We drove to Ubud to drop off a few people, then to the airport in Kuta about 8:00, the bus dropped be off, I hit McDonalds for supper, then checked my baggage, and bought a bunch of postcards. It'd damn hard to find non-Bali postcards in Bali!!! I searched, and found a few. Good thing, I didn't want just Bali postcards, because BALI SUCKS!!! Compared to Flores and Lombok anyway.
Boarded the plane about 9:45 and took off.
On the plane, the audio for the movies wasn't working for most of the seats, and they were showing Freaky Friday, I wanted to see it (or hear it, would be a better term).
Slept so much and so good last night, I didn't sleep on the plane.
I like boiled eggs from old lady's in the street!
BTW, it's Rhamadan, Muslim month of fasting. It started last Monday.
Bathed, down for breakfast, packed, then went to the internet for half an hour, back to the hotel, checked out and paid.
Bus came at 10:20, got to the ferry terminal about 11:00, had a Sprite and Fanta Orange at a stall while one of the guys played the guitar.
Got on the ferry about 11:25. It left at noon.
About 3:30, the ferry stopped, near Bali, it had to wait for another ferry to leave the terminal.
While we were waiting, the Indonesian version of Family Feud was on the tube.
We finally docked about 5:15.
I got on the Perama bus, and had to wait 15 minutes for the Perama boat, which was just coming in, which had five more tourists.
We drove to Ubud to drop off a few people, then to the airport in Kuta about 8:00, the bus dropped be off, I hit McDonalds for supper, then checked my baggage, and bought a bunch of postcards. It'd damn hard to find non-Bali postcards in Bali!!! I searched, and found a few. Good thing, I didn't want just Bali postcards, because BALI SUCKS!!! Compared to Flores and Lombok anyway.
Boarded the plane about 9:45 and took off.
On the plane, the audio for the movies wasn't working for most of the seats, and they were showing Freaky Friday, I wanted to see it (or hear it, would be a better term).
Slept so much and so good last night, I didn't sleep on the plane.
I like boiled eggs from old lady's in the street!
Saturday, November 01, 2003
Refund Grief!
About 2:15AM (I think), the bus stopped at a restaurant for "supper". Got to Sumbawa->Lombok ferry about 4:30, and got to Lombok about 6:00, then to Mataram about 9:00. Bemo'd it to the Shanti Puri hotel, bathed, had breakfast, then walked to the internet to check my e-maio. I had 50 new e-mails, most from a very worried mother. When 3 days goes by and she doesn't hear from me, she starts getting sick. It was almost a week before I sent her an e-mail! Spent more than an hour reading and replying. Then to McDonalds for lunch.
Then walked to the Perams tourist office and booked their shuttle from Mataram to the airport on Bali. They tell me I'll get to the airport about 7:15 or 7:30 Sunday evening, perfect, my flight leaves at 10:15.
Then walked all the way to the beach end of town, to find the office of the shuttle ticket I have that was no good. It doesn't exist!!! Just a bunch of boarded up buildings, like an area of town 40 years after it's heyday!
The long trek (took me an hour in blistering heat, sweating crazily) totally wore me out (and then I had to walk back), and I had no desire to spend the rest of the day trying to track them down all over the huge city. 190,000 rupiah is only about $30CDN, so it's not that much in the overall grand scheme of things.
Walked back to the hotel. HOT!!!
Back to the room about 3:00, slept for a couple of hours, when I woke up at 5:00, I was in a daze, and thought it was 5:00AM, I was so out of it. Took me a few minutes to realize it was only Saturday afternoon, 5:00PM! It was pouring rain out. Start of the rainy season, I think, it's been getting cloudier and more rain in the past week or so.
Went back to the internet at 6:00, updated all my journals, more than two hours. Over to KFC for supper in the Mataram Mall (a few stores down from McDonalds) , then back to the hotel, wrote in journal.
My feet were killing me from all the walking today.
To bed about 9:00.
Then walked to the Perams tourist office and booked their shuttle from Mataram to the airport on Bali. They tell me I'll get to the airport about 7:15 or 7:30 Sunday evening, perfect, my flight leaves at 10:15.
Then walked all the way to the beach end of town, to find the office of the shuttle ticket I have that was no good. It doesn't exist!!! Just a bunch of boarded up buildings, like an area of town 40 years after it's heyday!
The long trek (took me an hour in blistering heat, sweating crazily) totally wore me out (and then I had to walk back), and I had no desire to spend the rest of the day trying to track them down all over the huge city. 190,000 rupiah is only about $30CDN, so it's not that much in the overall grand scheme of things.
Walked back to the hotel. HOT!!!
Back to the room about 3:00, slept for a couple of hours, when I woke up at 5:00, I was in a daze, and thought it was 5:00AM, I was so out of it. Took me a few minutes to realize it was only Saturday afternoon, 5:00PM! It was pouring rain out. Start of the rainy season, I think, it's been getting cloudier and more rain in the past week or so.
Went back to the internet at 6:00, updated all my journals, more than two hours. Over to KFC for supper in the Mataram Mall (a few stores down from McDonalds) , then back to the hotel, wrote in journal.
My feet were killing me from all the walking today.
To bed about 9:00.
Friday, October 31, 2003
Halloween! (Well, not for me.)
Woke up about 5:00AM because of a rooster. It sounded like it was sitting outside my window, cocking.
Laid in bed until about 6:30, got up, got dressed, went outside and sure enough, a rooster tied to the balcony of the bungalow next to mine. Why??? Why would the bungalow operators tie a rooster up to one of the bungalows?
I went downstairs for breakfast, and on my way back up to my room, as I was walking past the rooster, it got scared and started freaking out, and a naked chick, holding a bath towel in front of her, opened the door. I asked her if that was her rooster, and she said it was. I wasn't quite exactly sure what to say to a nake chick with a rooster, so I just said, "Why do you have a rooster?". She grinned and simply replied, "Why not?" What could I say...I shrugged my shoulders and went to my room to pack. When I left, she was sitting outside, clothed now, unfortunately, holding the rooster. She got it at a market, she named it, what sounded like "carcrash", which is the Hungarian word for rooster, so I assume she's Hungarian. She travels with it, it's her alarm clock, wakes her up for the sunrise. Bizarre!
Paid for my room, walked to the ferry dock, the gateman asked for my ticket and wanted 300 rupiah for the harbour tax. He looked at my ticket and it was no good, and I had to buy a new ticket from the there to Mataram, and he told me I could go to the office of the company of my other ticket and get a refund. The new ticket was 125,000, but all I had to my name was 120,000, so got it for that price. I got on the ferry with absolutely no money. Guess there's no worry about getting robbed. I still think this ticket business is a scam, to bring business to the travel agents in Labuan Bajo, but what can I do?
Assuming I can get a redund for my other ticket, it works better this way anyway. I arrive in Mataram tomorrow morning, about 7:00, and I can spend the whole day there, getting my refund, using the way cheap internet, organize a shuttle for Sunday to Bali. I'll spend the night in Mataram.
Got in the ferry, and it has a sattelite dish. When I got on, they were showing an english movie (not sure what), after we started moving, they changed it to an Indonesian channel. Throughout the eight hour ride, kept flipping between English and Indonesian channels.
It's a big ferry, and, once again, I'm the only tourist on board.
Goit to Sape about 4:45, and took a crap public bus to Bima, then from there, on an A/C bus to Mataram.
At Bima, found someone who would exchange some rupiah for $2US I had laying around, so I could at least buy some water and snacks.
Bus left at 7:15, I'm the only tourist, once again.
Laid in bed until about 6:30, got up, got dressed, went outside and sure enough, a rooster tied to the balcony of the bungalow next to mine. Why??? Why would the bungalow operators tie a rooster up to one of the bungalows?
I went downstairs for breakfast, and on my way back up to my room, as I was walking past the rooster, it got scared and started freaking out, and a naked chick, holding a bath towel in front of her, opened the door. I asked her if that was her rooster, and she said it was. I wasn't quite exactly sure what to say to a nake chick with a rooster, so I just said, "Why do you have a rooster?". She grinned and simply replied, "Why not?" What could I say...I shrugged my shoulders and went to my room to pack. When I left, she was sitting outside, clothed now, unfortunately, holding the rooster. She got it at a market, she named it, what sounded like "carcrash", which is the Hungarian word for rooster, so I assume she's Hungarian. She travels with it, it's her alarm clock, wakes her up for the sunrise. Bizarre!
Paid for my room, walked to the ferry dock, the gateman asked for my ticket and wanted 300 rupiah for the harbour tax. He looked at my ticket and it was no good, and I had to buy a new ticket from the there to Mataram, and he told me I could go to the office of the company of my other ticket and get a refund. The new ticket was 125,000, but all I had to my name was 120,000, so got it for that price. I got on the ferry with absolutely no money. Guess there's no worry about getting robbed. I still think this ticket business is a scam, to bring business to the travel agents in Labuan Bajo, but what can I do?
Assuming I can get a redund for my other ticket, it works better this way anyway. I arrive in Mataram tomorrow morning, about 7:00, and I can spend the whole day there, getting my refund, using the way cheap internet, organize a shuttle for Sunday to Bali. I'll spend the night in Mataram.
Got in the ferry, and it has a sattelite dish. When I got on, they were showing an english movie (not sure what), after we started moving, they changed it to an Indonesian channel. Throughout the eight hour ride, kept flipping between English and Indonesian channels.
It's a big ferry, and, once again, I'm the only tourist on board.
Goit to Sape about 4:45, and took a crap public bus to Bima, then from there, on an A/C bus to Mataram.
At Bima, found someone who would exchange some rupiah for $2US I had laying around, so I could at least buy some water and snacks.
Bus left at 7:15, I'm the only tourist, once again.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
Ticket Trouble!
Up at 5:45, had breakfast, and five of us got on the bus at 6:15. The other four got off at Ruteng. Hardly anyone on the bus this morning. Just me and one other passenger for much of the last few hours.
Near Labuan Bajo, the bus stopped at a petrol station, and a guy started talking to me through the window, asked to see my ticket out of here. I showed it to him, and he said I'll have troubles tomorrow, probably. Something about that company doesn't pay the ferry service so the ferry won't accept that ticket or some such thing. He said lots of tourists that by return tickets in Lombok have the problem.
Got to Labuan Bajo about 4:00, checked in to the Gardena Bungalows. They recognized me, gave me the same price as before (35,000). At Gardena, the bungalow dude asked me where I got my return ticket, I told him in Lombok, he rolled his eyes, and remarked that I can try to get on the ferry tomorrow.
So, I went up to my room and wrote in my journal. Walked around downtown, ran into two Swedish girls I had met at Keli Mutu, they were looking for a room, so I walked with them for a bit, then back the other way, then back to my bungalow and had supper, beef hot plate, it was excellent. Sat with a Swedish couple that travelled an overland route from Sweden, through Russian, Mongolia, China, and Laos to get here.
Up to my room and to bed.
Lots of churches in Flores, because it's mostly Catholic on this island.
Near Labuan Bajo, the bus stopped at a petrol station, and a guy started talking to me through the window, asked to see my ticket out of here. I showed it to him, and he said I'll have troubles tomorrow, probably. Something about that company doesn't pay the ferry service so the ferry won't accept that ticket or some such thing. He said lots of tourists that by return tickets in Lombok have the problem.
Got to Labuan Bajo about 4:00, checked in to the Gardena Bungalows. They recognized me, gave me the same price as before (35,000). At Gardena, the bungalow dude asked me where I got my return ticket, I told him in Lombok, he rolled his eyes, and remarked that I can try to get on the ferry tomorrow.
So, I went up to my room and wrote in my journal. Walked around downtown, ran into two Swedish girls I had met at Keli Mutu, they were looking for a room, so I walked with them for a bit, then back the other way, then back to my bungalow and had supper, beef hot plate, it was excellent. Sat with a Swedish couple that travelled an overland route from Sweden, through Russian, Mongolia, China, and Laos to get here.
Up to my room and to bed.
Lots of churches in Flores, because it's mostly Catholic on this island.
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
Red Lakes and Hot Springs
Up at 6:30, had breakfast about 7:15, then to the internet. Crap! It keeps disconnecting and having to redial, and SLOW, and myrealbox.com is down. I did manage to send an e-mail to parents and Courtney and Kristin with my canada.com account, letting everyone now I was still alive. I then called Air Paradise International and got my flight back to Sydney changed to Sunday night, Nov. 2.
Back to the hotel, Max, our guide had picked up two others for the tour. They're also staying at our hotel. Darcel and Cindy from Saskatoon! Darcel is a police officer in Saskatoon and knows cops in Moose Jaw. He asked if I knew Rick McKenna (I do), so he had me send an e-mail to Rick, making a joke remark, saying that Darcel wants to know if Rick is still queer. It's a small world!
Left on our trip at 9:00, went to Wawomudha Red Lakes, four blood-red lakes created by an eruption on Jan. 7, 2001. Way cool!! This was better than the three-coloured lakes, I thought.
Along the way, he showed us vanilla vines, clove trees, and where they get cinnamon from (the bark of a tree!), and cocoa and coffee.
Then to two traditional villages, Bena, a touristy one, and Luba, a non-touristy one. Yawn.
Then to town for a traditional lunch at Max's sisters' house. Quite tasty. Then to the hot springs near Soa. WOW! Very nice! so clean and clear, way better than the gross hot water springs on Mount Rinjani. I brought my shampoo and soap and bathed, it was nice and relaxing.
We got back to the hotel about 7:15, paid Max, then I booked the bus back to Labuan Bajo for tomorrow morning. The other four booked a bus to Ruteng.
The five of us then went to Borobudur Restaurant for breakfast, then back to the room about 10:00 and to bed.
Back to the hotel, Max, our guide had picked up two others for the tour. They're also staying at our hotel. Darcel and Cindy from Saskatoon! Darcel is a police officer in Saskatoon and knows cops in Moose Jaw. He asked if I knew Rick McKenna (I do), so he had me send an e-mail to Rick, making a joke remark, saying that Darcel wants to know if Rick is still queer. It's a small world!
Left on our trip at 9:00, went to Wawomudha Red Lakes, four blood-red lakes created by an eruption on Jan. 7, 2001. Way cool!! This was better than the three-coloured lakes, I thought.
Along the way, he showed us vanilla vines, clove trees, and where they get cinnamon from (the bark of a tree!), and cocoa and coffee.
Then to two traditional villages, Bena, a touristy one, and Luba, a non-touristy one. Yawn.
Then to town for a traditional lunch at Max's sisters' house. Quite tasty. Then to the hot springs near Soa. WOW! Very nice! so clean and clear, way better than the gross hot water springs on Mount Rinjani. I brought my shampoo and soap and bathed, it was nice and relaxing.
We got back to the hotel about 7:15, paid Max, then I booked the bus back to Labuan Bajo for tomorrow morning. The other four booked a bus to Ruteng.
The five of us then went to Borobudur Restaurant for breakfast, then back to the room about 10:00 and to bed.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Keli Mutu - Three Coloured Lakes
Up at 3:30, and waited for the bemo to pick me up at 4:00. Ilse and Martin went yesterday, and they were the only tourists on the bemo. There were about 15 tourists on my bemo!
Got to the parking lot about 4:45, then it was a short 10-15 hike to the viewing platform.
The first lake is black, the second an incredible turqouise blue with green streaks, the third is black.
I hung around while the sun rose, then about 6:40, walked back to the parking lot, stopping at the first lake lookout to see if the sun shining on it would change it's colour. With sunlight, the lake was what I'd call diahrea brown (Martin called it chocolate brown). Only the third, black lake had any transparency to it.
Back to the parking lot, and the bemo took me (all the other tourists walked back) back to the bungalows. I didn't walk back, because I was afraid of missing my bus to Bajawa. It's a 2.5-4 hour walk back.
Went to the local market behind the bungalows with a group of students from Ende staying at our bungalows. We watched a medicine man doing "things". He made a piece of crumpled up newspaper start on fire by itself.
Back to my room about 8:40 to pack, collect my laundry (30,000 rupiah), etc. Laundry was hand washed, and still kind of smells.
Waited for the bus
Bus came shortly after 11:00. I was surprised we actually had seats! We had paid extra to have three seats reserved for us, and sure enough, we got them! We then picked up two more tourists back on the road, then told two tourists we were too full, then picked up two more tourists.
Ride was uneventful. Bought a boiled egg from an old lady through the window of the bus at one stop. Ilse and Martin thought I was buying a raw egg, and couldn't figure out why in the world I'd be buying a raw egg.
Got to Bajawa about 5:10, dropped off at the hotel where we asked to me left at (Hotel Korina, where I wanted to go the first time I was here), and they were full. Checked out the hotel across the street, full. Walked to another hotel. Full. So, back to the hotel I stayed at the other night, and they recognized me, and they had rooms. He gave me a single room for 50,000. Martin and Ilse stayed here too, paying only 65,000 for a double.
Martin, Ilse and me booked a tour to the red lakes, traditional villages and the hot springs for tomorrow, with Max, 100,000/person. Max needs five people, so he's going to try to find two more.
We found out there's a political party conference going on in Bajawa, that's why all the hotels are full. Also heard about the political fighting in Bali, between two parties, stone throwing and stuff, four people killed.
Three of us went to Lukas Restaurant for supper. Back to room about 8:30 and to bed.
Got to the parking lot about 4:45, then it was a short 10-15 hike to the viewing platform.
The first lake is black, the second an incredible turqouise blue with green streaks, the third is black.
I hung around while the sun rose, then about 6:40, walked back to the parking lot, stopping at the first lake lookout to see if the sun shining on it would change it's colour. With sunlight, the lake was what I'd call diahrea brown (Martin called it chocolate brown). Only the third, black lake had any transparency to it.
Back to the parking lot, and the bemo took me (all the other tourists walked back) back to the bungalows. I didn't walk back, because I was afraid of missing my bus to Bajawa. It's a 2.5-4 hour walk back.
Went to the local market behind the bungalows with a group of students from Ende staying at our bungalows. We watched a medicine man doing "things". He made a piece of crumpled up newspaper start on fire by itself.
Back to my room about 8:40 to pack, collect my laundry (30,000 rupiah), etc. Laundry was hand washed, and still kind of smells.
Waited for the bus
Bus came shortly after 11:00. I was surprised we actually had seats! We had paid extra to have three seats reserved for us, and sure enough, we got them! We then picked up two more tourists back on the road, then told two tourists we were too full, then picked up two more tourists.
Ride was uneventful. Bought a boiled egg from an old lady through the window of the bus at one stop. Ilse and Martin thought I was buying a raw egg, and couldn't figure out why in the world I'd be buying a raw egg.
Got to Bajawa about 5:10, dropped off at the hotel where we asked to me left at (Hotel Korina, where I wanted to go the first time I was here), and they were full. Checked out the hotel across the street, full. Walked to another hotel. Full. So, back to the hotel I stayed at the other night, and they recognized me, and they had rooms. He gave me a single room for 50,000. Martin and Ilse stayed here too, paying only 65,000 for a double.
Martin, Ilse and me booked a tour to the red lakes, traditional villages and the hot springs for tomorrow, with Max, 100,000/person. Max needs five people, so he's going to try to find two more.
We found out there's a political party conference going on in Bajawa, that's why all the hotels are full. Also heard about the political fighting in Bali, between two parties, stone throwing and stuff, four people killed.
Three of us went to Lukas Restaurant for supper. Back to room about 8:30 and to bed.
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