All began very well. The moment the safety blurb began I clambered from my middle seat to the unocupied three seater in front and settled in very happily. The flight was turbulance free and we arrived half an hour ahead of schedule. We were discombobulated upon entering the arrivals hall as signage vanished and after stumbling from one unidentified queue to another worked up the courage to bravely go where nobody else was…ePassport gates. We were released.

Time to face the heat and humidity. Our driver appeared and we were whisked away in an airconditioned car to our destination…Puri Santrian Resort, twenty minutes through the chaotic buzz of a zillion scooters, trucks and cars negotiating a flexible set of road rules, towards Sanur.

Things were going swimmingly. The resort was a tropical wonderland, the afternoon heat had eased, the pools looked so inviting and then I hit a wall. Well not so much of a wall as a plinth upon which was one of the hundred or so Hindi statues scattered around the resort. I kicked it and the spirit within was a vengeful one and kicked me back!! I thought I might loose the toenail or at least broken my toe. Blood poured out and the injury confirmed that there would be no water activities for me for a while! I have to say I have a new appreciation for alcohol. It has proved to be my saviour!

Our party was complete when Sue and Tony’s daughter, Surinder and her friend Lynda joined us later in the evening. They had flown just a couple of hours from Darwin.

Despite my heinous situation we were still able to indulge in great food, terrific cheap cocktails and a variety of ‘wellness activities’. Even ‘don’t touch me Deb’ had a go at a head and shoulders massage. It was nice!

Resort two and we head for Candidasa. It’s Bali. There seems to be other compulsory activities- visit batik factory, watch woodcaving and go through shop and visit silver workshop and showroom where you can purchase overpriced jewellery. Of course I did. I love silver jewellery. John did the bartering. I really cannot do haggling. This is one area I’m black or white – I’ll pay the price or I won’t. There are plenty of fish in the sea and I never NEED something that has to be negotiated.

On recommendation we decide to have lunch at the Pita Maha Resort and Spa. Fixed securely to the face of the ravine atop cascading villas and pools the resort commands a spectacular view over the tropical landscape. The food was impressive but when nature stormed onto the scene splashing the sky with lightning chorused with impressive percussion we gaped in wonder. A round of applause for such majesty!!!

Our driver and guide were so incredibly patient and forgiving. Thousands of questions, only two road rage incidences and hours late we arrived at our destination. Small, secluded and very personal our beach front accommodation for the next four nights would show us a different facet of Bali.