Before I knew it my ears were popping because we were coming into land. Looking out of the window I saw volcanoes peeping above the clouds and once through the clouds I could see lots of beaches :o) I was excited! Welcome to Indonesia :o)

As you come in to land on Bali it feels as if you are going into the ocean as the run way is purpose built and juts off the island quite a long way - I was pleased when we touched tarmac! In the airport, we got our bags, withdrew some Rupiah and headed to the domestic airline stands to see if we could get a flight to the island of Flores. We were out of luck for today but managed to secure one, after a long time waiting, for tomorrow morning at 10am to Labuan Bajo on the Island of Flores. It took ages for the man to process the booking but we were rewarded (after handing over the cash obviously!) with our ticket!

It was then time to decide what to do for tonight. We were given a quote for a hotel room near the airport but it was way out of our price range so we decided to head into Kuta to find a room. We were told it was 55,000 Rupiah for a taxi but deciding this was too much we walked away where a lone taxi driver quoted us 100,000 Rupiah! We knew he was trying to rip us off so we went back to the first office where the price had gone up to 60,000 Rupiah. I told him I would pay 55,000 only and after pointing on a map where we wanted dropping off this was agreed!

It was a slow drive the short distance to Kuta due to the sheer volume of cars and motorbikes on the roads. We eventually arrived at Poppies Gang (a Gang is a small alley way/street), got our packs on and started the room search. The gangs here are like a maze, so as we wandered around asking room prices (which were all too high!) we felt a little stir crazy. We thought Bali was cheap?? We finally got a basic and rather dirty room for 160,000 Rupiah (about 11 pounds 50!) - I was not a happy bunny!

We left our bags and went back out wandering around the gangs and eventually down to the beach. The beach is big but not as nice as I'd imagined especially compared with those of Thailand, and it was absolutely packed. I have never seen so many people on a beach especially as it was about 6.30pm. We were also hassled a lot as we tried to relax for massages, ice-creams and souvenirs.

We watched the sun set and then headed to a night market for some food. It was a little out of the tourist area and because of this we only saw one other westerner! We had a veritable feast for a bargain price, so it seems that the rooms are expensive but the food is cheap! Good news for foodies like us!

We walked back to the room through Kuta. It is very touristy and extremely busy - plain and simply a holiday resort. I can see why people like to be on holiday here and maybe we will relax here for a few days when we pass back through Bali but I think I would prefer someone a little quieter!

Back in the dingy room, we tried to get our heads down ready for the adventure to really begin tomorrow!

We were awake bright and early again this morning - I was exhausted! I took a very brief cold shower before trying to check out. I say trying because the night receptionist was asleep on a mattress behind the desk so I just left the key on the shelf hoping he found it when he woke up.

We headed out onto the main road to hail a taxi. Once we'd agreed a price we hopped in learning that the taxi driver could have given Louis Hamilton a run for his money so we were at the airport over an hour before we needed to be (the F1 taxi driver was not the only person to blame - Neil has this knack of making sure we are AT LEAST an hour early for everything!). So we spent this time doing what we do best, sat on our bags and watched the world go by.

It was soon time for us to check in so we headed over to the correct desk where after a long wait we checked in, happily avoiding an expected overweight charge for our bags. We paid the departure tax and went up to the waiting area. There seems to be a departure tax from every Island in Indonesia - no idea why?? Anyways we got some breakfast and then waited and waited some more. Our flight was delayed by an hour and a half so my famous patience was severely tested especially as they don't tell you anything! It just felt like waiting in vain!

Finally our flight was called and we got on the shuttle bus to the plane. The shuttle bus then did a comedy loop back around as it had forgotten one of the passengers - he had tried to get on the wrong flight - hilarious! My laughter soon subsided as our plane came into view - it was tiny! There were literally about 30 seats, 2 airhostesses and the wheels came out from under the wings - I was petrified!

As we were boarding the plane an Indonesian man took a shine to me asking my name, age and where I was from, telling me he had defiantly seen me in Kuta before. He was going home to see his family in Flores. Chat up lines are the same world over even with my husband stood next to me! So funny! Once in our seats on the plane I noticed a man next to us shaking, he had his hood up and got up and down a few times. He seemed shifty to me and I was certain he was a terrorist! I think with the panic of the tiny plane I just worked myself up, and then once I was thinking we were going to die I informed Neil of my assumptions. I felt terrible when he took a turn for the worse during the flight. He simply had a really bad fever and was very unwell! (Is is wrong that I was secretly relieved!!??)

As it happens it was a really smooth flight, more like a pleasure flight as I enjoyed watching the islands pass below tracing them in my Lonely Planet - we must have been flying fairly low as I spotted the Gili Islands, Lombok, Sumbawa, Rinca, Komodo and eventually Flores. It was stunning clear day so I could see the beaches on the islands as well as volcanoes jutting above the clouds! Beautiful!

We were both excited as we came into land on the Island of Flores.

Missing everyone lots and lots! Lots of kisses being sent all the way home! xxxxx