*** Warning – PHOTO HEAVY POST***
If you follow my Instagram you will know that I have spent a few weeks swanning around Bali and Singapore in November 2023.
On The Way to The Airport
I had the most amazing 18 days in tropical paradise with my bestie, Boo and 10 other wonderful plus size ladies from all over the World, led by the lovely Kirsty who runs the trips.
At LHR
So, just what did we do whilst in such a beautiful place?
Well, to start with we flew from Heathrow to Singapore which was a total of 15 hours. Up till now, the longest I have ever flown is 10 hours, so the addition of another 5 hours on top seemed like an easy thing. However, I can tell you that it really wasn’t.
Our Route
The airline staff were wonderful; dressed in beautiful sarongs and fitted tops, they were immaculate in their presentation AND behaviours. They attended to every guest wonderfully and made sure that we had everything that we needed.
Settling in for the Flight
Two meals, snacks, drinks, films and a few snoozes later and we landed in Singapore for a 1 hour layover. Special assistance took me from the airplane to a waiting area near the departure gate and told us that we would be collected closer to our leaving time.
Breakfast…
And so we waited. And waited.
And waited.
Waiting at Singapore
The gate was getting busy and people were being taken through. But special assistance was nowhere to be seen. We spoke to the gate staff and they had no idea what was going on either.
More Food
With only 20 minutes to go before take off, I was heading into anxiety central when we saw a special assistance member of staff. However she was not there for me!
The Last Leg
Thankfully though, she was able to radio through to the department and get urgent assistance for me. We boarded the plane for the 2 hour 30 minute flight and breathed a sigh of relief.
Indonesia here we come!
We landed late in the evening and were taken off the plane relatively quickly. Waiting for our suitcases, a porter dressed in traditional Balinese garb approached us and offered assistance. Given that I was in an electric wheelchair, it seemed like a good idea so we took him up on his offer.
So Excited!
Boo had ordered a taxi via their local app called ‘Grab’ and we headed outside to wait for the driver.
Our Overnight Accommodation
That was when the heat hit us!
What a Majestic Bed
It was late evening and the temperature was still over 30 degrees. We headed for our first accommodation which was just for one night before meeting up with all the rest of the party.
Brilliant Bathroom
Walking through a small wooden door, we were greeted by wonderful Balinese smiles from the reception staff. We were quickly given the keys to the individual bungalows that we had hired for the night. Huge ceilinged wooden structures with huge rustic beds draped in mosquito netting.
Idyllic
Heaven!
Hitting The Water
There was also a wonderful infinity pool opposite and I wasted no time in pulling on my bikini and hitting the water.
Off To The Fire Dance
Boo had arranged for Kirsty, herself and I to go to a traditional Kecak Fire Dance on the first evening at the stunning Uluwatu temple.
The Chanting Starts
This was something that we were eager to watch and I can honestly say we were not disappointed.
Balinese Dancing
Traditional garbed dancers told tales of gods, kidnap, monkeys and fire. All accompanied by the rhythmic chanting of around 50 Balinese men.
Bright and Beautiful
The word ‘Cak’ is chanted/shouted repeated in waves of sound which becomes almost hypnotic.
The Story Begins…
Masked dancers then tell the story of the Ramayana. This includes incarnations of Lord Shiva in the form of a white monkey called Hanuman who climbs up poles, leaps about and ends up being tied up to be burnt alive.
The Old Man
The whole show was amazing; the dancing was magical and the use of fire in the performance was captivating. The ‘Cak’ got very loud at points as you can imagine 50 odd men chanting would do.
Monkey Man
We loved the whole performance and it was certainly a perfect end to the first day in Bali.
Blazing Bright
The next morning we woke to a plethora of messages from the group of ladies that had also arrived during the course of the evening whilst we were out.
They had also booked their own rooms at the same place and a breakfast date was made around the private pool at one of the villas.
Their Private Pool
Now Boo and I had already eaten but arranged to go and visit shortly.
That was when we first met some of our companions for the next ten days, laughing and splashing around in their bikinis.
What a great start!
Rock On!
We had arranged to all go for lunch at a place recommended by the tour arranger, Kirsty. The venue called Penny Lane was easily reached by taxi and was a stunning place!
Pretty Penny Lane
In fact, it was so stunning and there were lots of beautiful people posing, using selfie sticks and small ring lights to get the best shots possible.
The food was also beautiful and very tasty!
Not Very Indonesian But VERY tasty
A few of us dived in and finished off with a great freakshake which filled us all completely up.
Bloody Lush!
During the course of the meal it was decided to contact our hotel and arrange for a couple of taxis to go and collect all our belongings and take them to the hotel where we would spend the first half of our holiday.
Outside Glamour
This was an inspired idea as otherwise it meant going back in direction to the hotel for around 20 minutes before heading again in the direction of Penny Lane before passing it and travelling for another 25 minutes.
Freakshake TIme!
It made total sense to get the cases sent straight there whilst we ate, then arriving all together after we had finished at Penny Lane.
Beautiful Surroundings
Now, I haven’t already mentioned it, but Bali was exceptionally cheap for transport. A taxi ride of around 20 minutes cost less than £3.50 in sterling, so it wasn’t going to break the bank to get the cases sent forward.
We arrived at our new hotel and to start off with it seemed a little salubrious.
About to go in…
The road down to our lodgings was a little worrying; half built, leftover ‘rocks’ and gravel at the sides and a very bumpy hump to get down onto the actual road.
The Reception
All of the taxis that we used during the 5 days of our stay struggled with getting over the hump.
I have to admit to being a little concerned at this point. We had travelled thousands of miles and it looked like we were staying on a building site!
The Corridor to our Rooms
Thankfully this turned out to be incorrect when we arrived at the door of our ‘hotel’.
WOW!
Well, I say hotel loosely. It was actually so much more than a hotel
Indoors… yet Outdoors
Checking in at the reception we were welcomed by wonderful smiling faces. Our luggage had already been taken to our rooms, so now we were given the keys and asked to follow one of the staff to our ‘room’.
Mum looking down on me
She took us down a beautiful corridor that was someone outside, yet inside too. We arrived at huge wooden double doors which we were ushered through.
Kitchen/Lounge
Into paradise!
This was no mere room. The only way I can describe it is as our own private two storey villa with private pool.
Posh Pad
Walking into the open pool area, there were two sun loungers and a small table. The pool area was set amongst trees and floral bushes and completely outdoors.
Well Equipped Kitchen
To the left of the pool was a separate annex which housed the lounge and kitchen. We were shown into here first and I saw a beautiful mural on the wall.
Dressing Area
A large butterfly was one of the focal points and this literally reduced me to tears. Mum had an affinity for butterflies and it was almost as if she was sending me a message.
My Bedroom
The hostess was concerned at first that there was a problem, but I explained it was due to happy tears. She smiled and led us off to the other rooms.
Spacious!
My room was to the right of the pool; a huge double bed in a huge room. Set at one side was another door leading into the bathroom. This also housed a surprise.
Magic Mirror
Walking inside I could see a massive shower on the left, toilet on the right and a massive sink and mirror affair right in front of the door. The surprise was around the sink/mirror arrangement.
Outdoor Bathing
A large roll top bath sat pointing at an opening which had a bamboo shade that could be pulled down for privacy, but when rolled up showed the bottom end of the pool.
Huge Shower
Basically you could lie in the bath whilst talking to someone at the bottom end of the pool.
View from the bath
Oh and the whole bathroom was outside!
Outdoors Bathing
Boo’s room was upstairs and had the same arrangement; huge bedroom going into the bathroom. This was ‘open air’ in that there was an open wall which could look down onto my bath, there was a roof.
Standing at the edge of the Bathroom
Opposite her room, based on top of the kitchen/lounge area was a large sun deck with double sunbeds with canopies.
It truly was paradise.
Hitting the Pool
We unpacked quickly and got into the swimwear. It was roasting hot and the pool was so inviting.
Living the Life
The group had decided to spend a couple of hours relaxing and getting settled into their own rooms, which seemed like a good idea. Swimming, snoozing and then getting ready for our first evening meal altogether.
Posing at the Pool
This was at Mils Kitchen, which specialises in Indonesian cooking.
Huge Menu
I went with the Nasi Campur, a selection of Balinese food including grilled tiger prawn, chicken satay, garlic rice, tempe and peanut ragout, charcoal beef oxtail and crackers.
Delicious!
It was absolutely delicious. full of flavour and with a little kick too.
I added a Polemo mocktail; Fresh local orange, elderflower and grapefruit. That was pretty good too!
So Fresh!
Heading back to the hotel after our sumptuous meal, the heat had dropped a little but it was still around 30′ degrees so there was only one thing to do really.
Yep.
Skinny dip time!
Dipping!
Till the next day of my adventure
SPSG xxx