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These are the steps we took to extend our tourist visa. I don't advise following them exactly:
1. Book slow boat from Bali to Mataram.
2. Hold on for dear life as late taxi driver pummels down the road to catch boat.
3. Die a little inside as taxi driver runs over small fluffy dog.
4. Climb on cramped but cheap slow boat and console one another ($4USD, 4 hours).
5. Let boyfriend who was up all night watching Man United lose to Real Madrid in Champs League snooze on your lap.
6. Be grateful ref bashing for above mentioned football match has stopped.
7. Disembark slow boat and climb into taxi. Decline drivers hotel recommendations and his offer to drop you at their office to book your next trip.
8. Get kick out of taxi in middle of Mataram in torrential down pour.
9. Accept ride from nice taxi driver to hotel ($1.50).
10. Realise your 2007 Lonely Planet is out of date when cheap Hotel Herta Yoga has been floored and rebuilt into flash complex.
11. Haggle to $10USD each a night and stay there (2 people).
12. Walk eastwards for 10 minutes to find McDonalds.
13. Die a little more inside when you see a week old kitten drenched and without its mummy.
14. Console one another with tasty treats from McDonalds.
15. Wake at 7am and wander 1km westwards, turn right at JL Udayana and find Kantor Imigrasi.
16. Have your visa, arrival card and passport photocopied, or head down the unassuming alley to the right of the building for 5 minutes and find a shop with Photocopy outside (2c each).
17. No flip flops or shorts are allowed, we had both on but distracted the immigration officials with swift movements, big smiles and friendly voices.
18. Pay a three working day ($25USD) or same day processing fee ($40USD).
19. Head back to Hotel Herta Yoga, enjoy your late 12noon check-out then book a one way ticket outta-there at the tourist office next door.
20. Collect passport at 3pm and bask in the success of your mission, vowing to return with contingent from RSPCA.
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