Hello From Bali!

Hello from Bali, I finally made it!  The flight over here was blessedly uneventful.  I have a confession; I am officially addicted to business class.  Before you judge, let me explain why.  Besides the roomier seats and better food, there are other things that make it worth every penny.  You get a fast pass so you get to bypass all the lines! I saved myself at least an hour at check in and security.  That may not sound like a big deal but when you’re traveling, tired, in a new city, you can use all the help you can get.  Plus, by using SkyScanner, an app you can download to your smartphone for free, I got the ticket for half price, which would have been a good deal even for economy.  On the flight, we had real Brie and crackers for an appetizer and Mediterranean style lamb meatballs which looked like they came out of a real restaurant!  No hint of anything airplan-ey.  They had tablets which we could watch movies on so I amused myself with “Saving Mr. Banks” and before I knew it, we were there!  Best flight I’ve had in years (on Virgin Australia, by the way).

I got into Denpasar and hustled to the front of the line.  Customs was easy, I just gave them the paperwork and they waved me through.  Phew!  I found my driver and off we went.  Right away he asked me “are you nervous about the traffic?”  I said “I’ve been to India so I’m ready for anything!”  And it turns out I was right.  The traffic was unusual by Western standards but nothing compared to Chennai.  Although I do have to say, no ride in Asia is complete without some serious games of road chicken and this one did not disappoint.  As it turns out, the passing lane here is also the lane with oncoming traffic, in other words there is no center turn lane.  If you want to pass someone, you beep them to let them know to slow down, then move into the other (oncoming traffic) lane, pass them and get back into your lane.  We did this about once every two minutes.  After a couple of hair raising close calls, I just quit watching and looked out the side window.  This was a source of endless fascination, all the shops and temples and people going about their business.  There is a lot that happens right out in the open so driving through is not boring.  After about an hour, we got out of the city and into the rice fields and more rural settings.  It was beautiful, just like the pictures you see in the travel books.  There were a ton of dogs running around and they didn’t seem to care that there were cars on the road.  They would just walk wherever they pleased and we had to swerve around them or wait for them to move. . We finally got to the Elephant Safari Park and Lodge and there they were; elephants everywhere!  It was so surreal and everything happened so fast!  The driver dropped me off at reception, another guy took my bag, another guy showed up at my side with a fruit drink in his hand.  The lady was telling me all about my itinerary but at this point I was too overwhelmed to understand her.  They took me to my room and told me the elephant chauffeur would be by at 6:30 to take me to dinner.  There was this deafening screeching that started about that time and I thought it might be birds.  I asked and they said it was cicadas. At 6:30 all the elephants came down the path between the lodges and picked up everyone for dinner.  That was so cool!  The cottages are set with the door at elephant height so when they come to get you, you just step out your door and on to the elephant’s back. Dinner was great; I had my first taste of traditional Indonesian fried rice, satay chicken, and some sort of breaded fish.  I don't know what, but it was good!   The next morning was go go go again, breakfast at 7, elephant bathing with a hose and brushes, then the big deal, “swimming” with the elephants. It was kind of scary, those elephants are so big!  I’m not scared of them but the handler didn’t line up the elephant very close to the side and told me to “jump on” the elephant’s back!  Eeek!  I thought I was going to fall.  And then I sat too high, right on her shoulders which move a lot!  Finally I slid down to her neck right behind the handler which was much better.  The handler told me to hang on to him but I was twice his size and afraid I would fall and take him with me!  But I had to trust him so I did and fortunately we had no mishaps.  He dipped us down into the water which, by the way, was filled with elephant poop and pee and little fish and God knows what else, and had the elephant rear up and a bunch of stuff while the other guy took photos.  I kept looking the wrong way because I forgot about the photographer.  I went back to the room to take a shower and scrub the heck out of my swimsuit and sarong then went back out.  I went on a ride through the jungle on another elephant which was really nice.  The weather was nice and cool and it was mostly shaded so I really enjoyed it.  Much like a trail ride horseback only bigger and with a trunk!   The whole experience was so incredible.  I have been fortunate to be able to visit many nice places in my life but this one takes the cake!  I was in heaven the whole time I was there, hanging out with elephants every day in this breathtaking park.  I am so fortunate to have had that experience.