Hi Gram!
I made it. I’m here. I landed in Bali, Indonesia on Sunday. I’ve been planning this trip for about a year. I’ve had lots of other mini-adventures leading up to it. I’ve read reviews of what to pack, how to dress, what to see, how to act, what NOT to do, what to expect…. I’ve talked with friends about the adventures we’re going to have together, I’ve told family and friends about my plans and dreams and hopes. I’ve bragged about my chance to reach my goals and live out a dream I’ve had since I was a teenager. I feel like I should pinch myself because now I’m living the dream I’ve had for so long.

I left Chicago on Friday night. My friend JaNette drove me to O’Hare and I navigated, for the first time in a very long time, terminal 5 – the international terminal. It was late at night so the pre-check line was closed. That meant that I didn’t have to take off my shoes but I did have to remove all of my electronics from my bag. I hadn’t planned for that, so it was a matter of digging my laptop and kindle and some other things from the bottom of my bag to place into the bins. I kept setting off the metal detector and we couldn’t figure out why, which led me to slowly undress, try again, take off another item, try again, maybe it’s the belt, try again… The final straw was either my belt or my passport, both of which I’ve carried through before, but I finally got through to re-assemble my bags. A short walk later, I arrived at my gate. I was a few hours early, but that didn’t bother me one bit. I had my audiobook playing through my headphones and I settled into my seat to wait for the gate attendant to arrive.

Once he arrived, I walked up to get my boarding pass and check in. Luckily I saw a sign somewhere or was flagged in the app or something and knew that I had to check in even though I had checked in online and had a digital boarding pass. The gentleman was very friendly and helpful with the check in process, but warned me that I was going to have to check my carryon bag. I told him that it was within the size limits, and I’d read the airline’s policies but he insisted that I would get flagged when I reached my connecting flight in Taipei so I’d better check it there. I reluctantly handed over the bag, then realized that checking it meant that I my load was lightened. I turned a negative into a positive, knowing that I wouldn’t have to carry it through the rest of O’Hare, onto the plane, grab it when I was de-planing, carry it through the Taipei airport, onto another plane, and through the Bali airport. Of course, once we boarded and I reached my seat, I saw that the overhead bin above my seat was empty except for my personal item and there were some passengers with bags that were bigger and heavier than mine, but whatever. They had to carry them, not me!

I settled into my seat, situated my pillow and blanket, got my kindle and headphones and personal items arranged in the pocket in front of me, building my nest and cuddling in for the next 15 hours. I was really glad that I’d chosen an aisle seat in the center row, about 2/3 of the way back. With only 3 seats in the center row, I had a 50/50 chance that my seatmate in the center would go the other way when she needed to use the restroom or stretch her legs. It turns out that she was with the person in the other aisle, so she always made them move when she had to get up, leaving me with no interruptions. I dozed off a little once we took off and woke up to the flight attendants nearly at my seat serving our meals. An hour had passed, I felt refreshed from a nap, and now I got to eat real food with real silverware! So far, this flight was going well. After dinner and clearing my tray, I spent the next few hours alternating between my audiobook, walking, watching a movie, stretching, reading my kindle, and using the restroom. Oh yeah, and napping. Before I knew it, the lights were coming back up and breakfast was being served. In the blink of an eye, 13 hours had passed and we would be landing soon. Breakfast was just as good as dinner had been – scrambled eggs, some fruit, yogurt, and a croissant – and in no time we were landing and taxiing to the gate.

This next part was something I had been looking forward to for a few months. Like a kid that gets more excited with the box than the toy that came inside, I gathered my things, exited the plane, and soaked in the surroundings while I figured out where the lounge was! I’ve had lounge access through my credit cards for a while now, but I’ve only flown domestic with no layovers. I haven’t been able to use the lounges that I’ve heard so much about. Even at O’Hare, when I had a few hours between security and departure, the lounge had closed just as I got to the airport. But now, in Taipei, I was finally going to see what this lounge life was all about! Full disclosure – it’s just a set of rooms with chairs more comfortable than typical airport furniture, some charging stations for your electronics, and a small buffet of hors d’oeuvres. I think they had some magazines one could download and there was a tv playing either golf or tennis. That’s not how I saw it, though! I walked up to the host and showed her my membership card with a smile, then she welcomed me to this exclusive (it’s not that exclusive) living room for the fancy flyers. I poured myself a drink (soda water), fixed myself a small tray of finger food (some crackers), and made my way to the room farthest from the entrance and noise. I found a comfortable seat, pulled up a footrest, and plugged in my headphones, watch, and phone to recharge their batteries in preparation for the next leg of the flight. I pulled out my kindle, and slouched into the chair to pass my time in style.

Once my electronics were charged most of the way, I put everything away, eager to try some of this really fancy food that they’d prepared just for me. Only a little adventurous, I chose some items for my plate that looked somewhat familiar, such as edamame, fried rice, french fries, and some sort of stringed vegetable that looked a little like cole slaw. I asked the server behind the counter for some of the pork and noodle soup, grabbed a pair of chopsticks, and headed for a table. Such simple foods, small quantities, but I can’t tell you how happy and fancy it made me feel. I ate my way through what I’d chosen while I listened to a podcast on my noise canceling headphones, grinning ear to ear, before I decided to use up a little of my remaining time to walk around the airport and get the blood pumping.

I passed all kinds of shops, wondering who does their shopping at the airport? You could buy all sorts of things practical for the selective flying passenger, such as luggage (for the person who wears everything they own to get through security but realizes that might be a little warm), a television (in case you have nothing to watch when you reach your destination, but no time to buy it once you’ve already gone through customs and immigration), or jewelry (for the ball you’ll be headed to straight from the airport). There was a food court with all sorts of restaurants (for the pleebs without lounge access), and surprisingly lots of art exhibits, informational kiosks, and nooks where you could spend your time between flights (again, for the poor unfortunate souls with no way to access the lounge). It was a good walk, got the blood moving as I spoke with my manager about one of my properties (does that make this whole trip a business expense?).

After some time, I headed to the gate to wait for my next flight. I was impressed that even the gates here felt exclusive. Each gate had a theme, and you walked through a door and down some stairs to access the gate area. An employee checked your passport and ticket to make sure you belonged at this gate, then someone else checked your credentials again to make sure you had the right to pass from the gate onto the plane. I probably got to the gate earlier than I needed to, but I didn’t know what to expect and I certainly didn’t want to be late and be prevented from boarding.

Board, though, I did and soon the flight was under way. I was impressed that even on this shorter 5 hour flight, we were served drinks, a snack mix, and a full lunch. I watched another movie (although I slept through much of it), listened to my book some more, and counted down the minutes as this flight felt like it lasted longer than the first. I had my eyes closed, my eye mask blocking out the light, zoned out and paying attention to the narrator engulf me in the universe of the audiobook for the last bit of the flight. We landed uneventfully a couple minutes late – well, I say “uneventfully” but as I mentioned, I was listening to my audiobook and not paying attention so it scared the crap out of me when we touched down. Of course I played it cool. Nobody could tell by my actions, although I did turn to my seat mate and say “holy crap! I didn’t know we were that close to landing and it scared the crap of me!” Real cool…

Navigating the airport wasn’t bad. I just followed the herd, shuffling from immigration to customs to baggage handling to a second customs screening (now with X-ray!). By the time I found my driver, Putu, he had been there for two hours waiting for me. I felt bad at first, but I did the math and he seems to have gotten to the airport just before I landed. I would think that he’d know I had to get through immigration and customs and all that, so he arrived way too early. I was also tired and cranky so I just sort of let it slide after apologizing once. We exited the airport and I got to experience the hectic foreign traffic with my own eyes. They drive on the left over here, and the lanes are merely a suggestion. We were often three or four vehicles spanning a two lane road, with scooters weaving in and out between cars.

People constantly honked their horns, a way of saying “hey I’m here, don’t weave just yet”. After some time soaking all of that in, I tried to resist napping on the drive to my lodging, but I nodded off a few times. We pulled up near my lodging, met the airbnb host, and she showed me to my guesthouse. I said goodbye and carried in my bags, got settled in, then realized how hungry I was. The sun sets earlier here than I’m used to, so I was a little unsettled wandering down the dark narrow lane as I headed to a busy road for some food and people watching. I found a cute little warung (roadside food stand) where I ordered a dish of rice and chicken and vegetables, then sat and soaked in all the people and activity around me. I was finally here! The days ahead were loaded with possibility and hope. I headed home, belly full, and took a shower so I could crawl between the sheets, squeaky clean.