The trip to Bali was over water, but never out of sight of land: Sumatra or Java with Borneo on the other side of the strait. The green volcanic mountains soared up into the clouds surrounded by the blue Java Sea. I seemed to be gliding along in a Hollywood film of adventure in a tropical paradise. The broken clouds made for a never ending kaleidoscope of visual impressions, green tropical mountains, white beaches, surf breaking on reefs. My mind wandered back to childhood movies I had seen, the original Disney 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, South Pacific, and Robinson Crusoe. The scene outside the cockpit could have been from any of those movies.
I was in a dreamy mood as I dropped down under the cloud level and approached the airport on Bali. The landing was normal and I parked in the transit area. The day was hot, but there was a breeze coming from the ocean which made it seem cooler than it was. Bali is known for its tropical beaches and romantic resorts. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there for the beaches. I stretched as I stood aside and watched the gas truck fill the plane.
The truth was, I was kind of tired even though the hop had only been three hours. I realized that I had been flying non-stop without a break every day since leaving Iceland, not counting the days on the carrier and that hadn’t been restful. I was tired.
After the plane was prepped, I hopped a taxi to a beach side hotel and checked in. I changed into shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and thongs, and joined the tourists down in the beach bar. I sat back in the shade and watched the women parade around in next to nothing, while sipping some fruity drink that also packed a bit of a wallop.
I had lunch sitting at the same table and spent more of the afternoon sitting and doing exactly nothing useful, other than admiring the beautiful scenery with my feet propped up on a chair. I guess there is some use in that. About two or so, I wandered up to my room, took a shower and fell asleep on the bed expecting to take a quick nap.
I woke up at eight. Surprised, I threw water on my face and headed down to the lobby. I had dinner in the restaurant, open to the beach. A cool evening breeze made the tropical evening enjoyable. It was everything you imagine when you think of that dream vacation, except I didn’t have a girl with me.
I fell asleep after dinner and woke with the first light. I stretched feeling truly relaxed for the first time since Iceland. A day of doing nothing had been the elixir the body and mind needed.
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Copyright Rod O'Steele © 2008