We were dropped off for the ferry with plenty of time to spare and for the most part, the journey was fine as the sea was calm. Helen stayed outside at the back of the boat. This was a good plan as David tried to sleep through a Westlife karaoke DVD and a seriously violent Sly Stallone movie. Despite all the noise (particularly the wailing from Westlife) he managed to sleep for well over an hour until the waves hitting the side of the boat managed to find their way in through the windows and onto his head. Immigration when we arrived in Indonesia was a particularly hit and miss affair with everyone needing to buy their visa first and then hand over the passports with their receipts whilst the relevant visa was stuck into the passports and validated.
Despite being almost last out of customs, on the latest Oz Bus we were surprised to find a double seat, until we actually sat in it and our legs were dangling over the edge like a fairground ride – note to selves, NOT to suffer that seat again. It was a long trip to our first overnighter (the first of many long days on the bus and boats in Indonesia) but when we arrived we became instant millionaires withdrawing money from the ATM for our stay.
3 comments:
That'll be 3 days in Penang then!!
Mind out for that big volcano in Java - it is set to blow, Jim!!!
Hi Michael
Wrt the volcano, Oz Bus seem to have had a very relaxed attitude to that so far, although they have changed one of the hotels we were advised yesterday.
The FCO website also states the following:-
Indonesia
Still current at: 14 November 2010
Updated: 11 November 2010
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary and Natural Disasters - Volcanoes and Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air travel (flights to and from Jakarta continue to be disrupted). The overall level of the advice has changed; we advise against all but essential travel to Yogyakarta and the exclusion zone around Mount Merapi.
TRAVEL SUMMARY
We advise against all but essential travel to Yogyakarta and the exclusion zone around Mount Merapi volcano. Flights to and from Jakarta continue to be disrupted. Travellers should check with their airline for further information.
On 4 November the exclusion zone around Mount Merapi was extended to 12 miles, following the biggest eruption since the volcano started erupting on 26 October. There have been a number of fatalities and nearby villages have been burned by heat clouds. There has been a marked deterioration in the air quality in Yogyakarta as ash continues to fall on the city. Air travel in the region has been affected, with many flights cancelled. On Tuesday 02 November, Malaysia’s budget airline Air Asia and Singapore’s Silk Air announced the temporary suspension of international flights to Adicsucipto and Adisumarno airports in Yogyakarta and Solo respectively.
Cleary ours is not ESSENTIAL travel and I'm sure Oz Bus are a responsible organisation and we will be advised of further changes today or tomorrow.
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