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We got in to Mo Chit bus station in Bangkok at 5.30am. Apart from that one overnight sleeper bus, this was a bad sleep for a bus and I didn't really feel like I got much sleep at all which wasn't good! It was still dark and we didn't recognise where we had got dropped off. We walked around aimlessly for a while, nearly sure that we were definitely at Mo Chit but doubting it after a while. We asked people for directions but still seemed to keep walking in and out of alleys, through a massive market. We knew Mo Chit had a market outside but didn't think it was this big. There was also a massive area for different buses and coaches to drop off/pick up, which we hadn't seen before. It took us quite a while, but we eventually came to the main building for the bus station thank god!!
Once inside the station it was okay as we knew it and felt safe so we had breakfast from the 7/11 and freshened up. We found out at the information desk how much a taxi to the airport should cost so when we went outside to try get one, we knew who was trying to rob us. We found a taxi who was willing to put the metre on and take us to the airport. He asked if we wanted to go the highway route- we didn't have a clue what he was talking about or what the difference was, so we agreed. We had to pay for tolls on route, but that route was quicker (45min) and still worked out to be about 500 baht, which is what we expected to pay.
We got to the airport with loads of time. After going through the normal check in stuff we got on the plane. It was a fairly small plane (not a big commercial jet). It felt a bit like Jet 2 or something. We got food and drink included but they only offered you drinks twice. Nath had wine but I was so knackered and felt ill, I couldn't face it. It was a 2 hour flight but we were a little delayed setting off so we only had half an hour to get to the gate for our connecting flight in Kuala Lumper once we got off the plane. Kuala lumper looked very green and the airport was right in the rainforest, which was interesting!
The second plane with Malaysian airlines was delayed too. They had no rush about them at all to set off, but the delay didn't end up being that long. The second plane was nicer- about the same size but newer than the first. It had screens in the back of each chair so we could watch films. We were given a very questionable chicken sandwich and a drink on this flight and I opted for beer along with Nath this time! This flight was about 3 hours long.
Both of the flights were a bit rocky and we had some turbulence, but nothing too bad. I think it was worrying for us and others probably because we were nervous about Malaysian airline, as awful as that is. Everything was totally fine though and we landed in Bali about half 6 at night, just as it was getting dark. We had to pay for a visa on arrival when we got to the airport which was $35 each, and you also have to pay 200,000 (£10- £1 is about 20,000 rupiah) exit fee when you leave! Robbery or what! We are only staying 10 days! Everything was straight forward at this side too and we were through in no time to get our bags. The security was pretty tight here, and at Kuala Lumper, but I only ever see that as a good thing!
We didn't really know what was going on when we got out to the exit and loads of drivers were approaching us, all claiming to be the only taxi you could use. We already knew that there was one taxi company for the airport that charged more, but there wasn't no fixed price like we had read. They tried quoting us a silly amount- a lot more than we knew it should be so we just kept walking out of the airport, not knowing where we were going. One guy, who didn't have the same uniform as the airport taxis wouldn't leave us alone and kept following us. We ended up getting his price down, but still not to what it should have been but you don't have too much if you just want to get a taxi. Nobody would ever put the metre on either. This guy didn't even have a metre and didn't work for a company. In Bali I think there are a lot of people who work for themselves but have licences to pick up tourist. We made sure we checked his badge and licence before we set off in his non-taxi looking car.
We got dropped at our accommodation fine and the staff we there to help and check us in straight away. The hotel was very new and modern and our room was very nice! We had a comfy bed, a fridge and even a shower with a window screen! Not too shabby for £10 each a night! I still didn't feel too well from the flight, but started to feel worse at the hotel so we just had food in restaurant downstairs as it was getting late and we didn't have a clue what was around. We just took a walk to the bottom of the street and then back again! We both had Indonesian food at the restaurant, which seemed similar to thai- noddles and rice, just different ingredients and spices. It would have been lovely food if I could eat much and didn't feel so ill like I was going to throw up any minute. We were both knackered as well from 2 days of travelling and that's not a good combination- it's very good at making you grumpy and snappy, which isn't like me at all!! After getting showered and sorted I pretty much passed out with exhaustion while Nath stayed up and watched a film.
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