Bali Bound

Friday was a partial day culminating to my very long and tedious trip to Ubud, Bali. The plan was to meet Sarah at her office at 3p, have her office driver take us to the airport, fly 1 1/2 hrs to Bali, and have the guesthouse driver drive us to Ubud. Simple enough. However, 2:30p Friday afternoon rolled around and their was no driver at my office, or taxi available to take me. I suggested someone take me on their motorbike but there was no one available. Finally, and running out of time, one of the security guards hailed a motorbike "taxi" for me and I spent 20 grimy minutes, speeding through the hectic traffic and pollution of Jakarta to Sarah's office. 1 1/2 hrs later we were at the airport where the plane was first delayed but after we sat down for a quick dinner, there was an announcement that we were actually boarding. Throwing dinner into a take-out box, and hurrying back through security, we figured out which gate to use and boarded. Upon arriving an hour late in Bali, and meeting our driver, his car wouldn't start. It died once on the way to Ubud but finally by 11p we made it to our guesthouse - where the driver requested more money because our flight was late and the guesthouse requested more for the room because the ceiling fan didn't work and we had a/c instead. Not the best way to start a "relaxing" vacation but we were at least happy to have arrived.