After 17hrs in the air and the debacle that was “your luggage is here, oh no it’s not, oh yes it is”, we landed in Manchester.
First stop, luggage claim to see where our bags are now, “err no we don’t recognise that claim reference that is an Emirates specific number”, “you are in the UK and need a UK reference now”, “so your claim date starts from today not when it was lost.“
“So does that mean you know where our luggage is”, “well yes of course, it’s in an airport”, “which one”, “oh we don’t know that!“
“How do we get it back”, “have you tried calling Dubai or Bali airport to see if it’s there”, “isn’t that your job as a lost luggage officer”, “no, not really. Next Customer!“
It started great this morning – perfect breakfast at the hotel, lovely gym workout followed by a dip in the pool and then a wonderful lunch with the friendly Viceroy staff getting us all checked out and ready to depart.
A decent car drive back – it’s a long way with lots of traffic but we made it.
And then there’s the Emirates check in desk……
We handed over passports and our luggage vouchers with the lost luggage report as these need to be transferred to get another flight. Then the fun began:
Ah Mr Fogg, your luggage is here in the arrivals hall!
Eh? We’ve been waiting to be told it’s here for a week!
It’s someone’s but not ours
Did you not get our Emirates emails sir?
Er NO!
Ah well, we just need to take you downstairs to arrivals to collect the cases, confirm they are yours and then take them through customs so you can come back here to check them in
Needless to say we were quite excited! Albeit a little annoyed that we’ve been waiting for them all holiday.
So off we trek, following Mrs Emirates junior through the back doors of the airport down to arrivals and to the lost luggage desk where we started when we arrived. After queuing for a time (plenty of people still also reporting lost luggage then), the arrivals lost luggage lady at the counter said – oh it’s not here, it’s still in Dubai we think. But I guess you can walk to the top of arrivals and check our room full of bags.
Another trek only to confirm no cases. Cue long winded explanation from lost luggage lady saying they don’t know where the cases are. no one can explain why they sent us down to arrivals though.
So that’s another 40 mins wasted.
Only to then be told Mrs Emirates junior cannot take us back through and up to departures – no, we’ve got to take ourselves through arrivals customs declaration (but we’ve been here for a week), bag security checks for arriving passengers (deep breaths…) and then into the arrivals hall to be bombarded by taxi drivers offering us a lift to start our lovely holiday in Bali. But we’ve NOT JUST ARRIVED!!!!!
It’s at this point that divorce becomes entirely possible as tempers fray a bit.
So, back through arrivals, up to departures to see the Emirates check in desk to go through the whole rigmarole again.
No they could not explain why they thought the cases were here, no they don’t know where they are. Then the corker…..
Go see lost luggage when you arrive at Manchester as they need to file a report.
We like good food and the Viceroy has a Michelin restaurant called Aperitif, where there apparently is a dress code of posh and no trainers/ flip flops (good job all our good clobber is in another country then).
Wearing the best of what we had available off we popped to the poshest of posh on Bali. The restaurant is 1920s themed inside with an open kitchen so you can see it all happening.
The service is second to none (especially when dignatories rack up here in their Ferrari or Porsche). Waiters to seat you, waiters to place napkins on your lap, a cart that comes round to make a cocktail in front of you. This is quite something.
We got a freebie to try a 7 course tasting menu, the only thing you pay for is the wine, so “wine not” push out the boat and have a 7 course wine flight to accompany the food (it’s only 1,000,000 Rp each).
The food and service were spectacular and as ever Mrs Fogg looked a million (Rp) in her thrift shop dress.
Today we had an early start with a tour arranged through our hotel. We had a private driver called Gama who has been at the hotel since it opened 20 years ago and he took us around the local area for the morning.
What a fabulous trip. We’d asked to see some specific places but left it up to Gama to decide how best to do this.
First stop was Purah Puseh Batuan Hindu temple at just after 8am this morning before most tourists got up. It was so tranquil. All villages have their own temples that the villagers maintain together. They also have their own family temples at home. It is respectful to cover your legs when visiting so we were shown how to wrap our sarongs for our visit. There is a lady way and a man way.
The Balinese Hindi faith is a little different to the Indian Hindu – different names for their gods although there are similarities. The Balinese believe very much in reincarnation and a balance between good and evil. In Bali you cannot sell your homes as these belong to your ancestors so homes stay in families for ever. If a family has no dependents then the home is offered to another young couple on condition they then take over the ancestors and maintain and pass on the home to their future families.
All temples have statues guarding them. Looking a little like gargoyles these are gods guarding the temple and the ancestors. Festivals and worship follow rituals and the moon – with at least a special event every six months with offerings, dancing, singing and blessings.
On then to see wood carving in action at a local gallery where we were shown the different wood types. We were very taken with one of the local woods – from the Hibiscus plant. It’s a very strong wood and two tone colours. There were some VERY expensive pieces and our hosts told us all about the process for carving.
Next stop was a local waterfall and more Koi Carp. In 1942 Bali was under the control of the Japanese, until they lost the Second World War in 1945 and Bali became an independent country. The Japanese introduced Koi Carp and they have become very popular.
On then to a coffee plantation to sample locally produced teas and Bali coffee including one of the worlds most expensive coffees – Luwak coffee which has coffee beans eaten off the plants by Luwaks who then poo them out. The poo is collected by hand, the beans separated from the other poo’d substances (fruit) washed them dried then ground. Luwak coffee is higher in protein and lower in caffeine than other coffees and a very smooth taste. We got to sample all the different teas and coffees in beautiful surroundings.
Our final stop was Tegalalang Rice Terrace, popular for all those Instagrammers who want to pose on a big swing while wearing a hired long flowing brightly coloured dress. Not withstanding the posing and pouting people, this is a UNESCO heritage site with terraces of rice fields that have been in use for centuries and is owned by all the villagers. It’s beautiful and breathtaking with many steps!
Hurrah reunited at last, well us 2 cases anyway and we now have protection at least, although Fido here has pee’d on me twice now, no idea what your clothes will smell like.
I know we are in an airport somewhere, but not a clue. I told the other case that after this, mummy and daddy won’t want to take us on holiday again, my brother started weeping, so I guess this is what is known as “emotional baggage”.
Oh boy. Breakfast is fascinating for people watching. Maybe we are just old now but what’s the fascination with perfectly posed photos and getting the right hair/outfit/handbag/pose?
While enjoying our breakfast this morning we’ve been unable to avoid watching fashionista girl and her Botox mum rearrange fruit on their plates, pose their hair, glasses and furniture to take those perfect shots to post for their followers.
Boyfriend was clearly not photogenic enough this morning as they sent him packing so they could get the perfect shot.
Oh and the carefully positioned wad of fruit on their plates – perfect for Insta but clearly too calorific to eat.
How sad.
So we thought we’d join their posing fun. Here’s a lovely photo of us for all our followers – yes all three of you, or was that four?
Oh my god, I’m F F F F Freezing, I’m turning blue with the cold mummy, why do the Emirates airline keeps sending me to places like this, I was given to this rather nice UPS delivery man who was going to try and get me to you, but couldn’t find Bali and instead brought me to Alaska!!
I wouldn’t mind but I have a big label attached to me with my owners name and address on it. I haven’t heard from my brother case, so no idea where he is.
The Emirates people put a sticker on me saying “Not Lost, Just in Transit”, don’t know what that means.
At this rate I will have to pull out some clothes to warm up. Hee hee if I put a pair of panties on, would that make me a briefcase (sorry luggage humour).
I somehow fear if my mummy and daddy try suing the airline over losing me and my brother that it will be thrown out, why? Because the judge will rule they have no case, sorry!
When I was sat with all the other cases in Dubai, I got chatting to a case belonging to a German man, apparently he always packs sausages to take with him on holiday. I did ask whether these explode inside due to pressure, but he did say this was only in a “wurst case scenario”
I’m very taken with Bali and its people. It’s an incredibly friendly place with a very chilled out vibe. The Balinese are very spiritual and we’ve learnt that every family has at least one shrine at their home, many have multiple shrines.
They respect many gods and spirits and the shrines reflect both good and evil gods. They honour both and treat each equally – especially to keep the evil ones happy so they don’t bring bad luck or do bad things.
Ubud is full of tourists and shops (like most tourist places) but as you wander the Main Street navigating cars, mopeds, people and holes in the pavements then you see many little doors to shrines and fascinating stone carvings of strange gremlins and creatures.
Might have to come back – a week is not long enough
Royal palace top right and bottom right is locals heading to a spiritual event following the full moonShrine doorways
Dear Mummy & Daddy, a nice man in Dubai loaded me onto a plane to Singapore, I believe my brother went off to the caribbean.
Singapore was really pretty, I saw the gardens and also had a ticket for Universal Studios in Santosa (those rides are awesome). I spent 3 days here and was set to join you in Bali (I hear it’s really nice), but the lovely people at Emirates sent me on to somewhere in France, don’t know where, but I will email when I find out.
Anyway, I have a booking at the Hotel Du Nord tonight, apparently Emirates keep giving me the hotel vouchers and meal vouchers they don’t give to you.
Hope you are having a good time without me, good thing is I have some nice dresses to wear with the French people around.
Next stop apparently I am being whisked away to Patagonia to meet up with you, really don’t think Emirates read your itinerary properly. Love you lots and see you soon, your suitcase (well one of them).
