Arrival in Bali -- sans baggage

I arrived in Bali around 3pm on December 28th, endured the nearly 1-hour customs process (things don't move very quickly here...) and finally made it to baggage claim.  I watched the carrousels for nearly an hour, in vain.  No bag.  After having made friends with one of the porters (who has several friends involved in transport in Bali and Lombok), I was VIP-ed ahead of many other poor travelers sans baggage, direct to the manager of the lost and found, who, after another hour or so, promised me that I would get my bag tomorrow.

3 hours after my flight landed, I found my (very) bored driver that the hotel sent and we began the slow drive to Kuta in rush-hour traffic.  By the time we arrived, I was feeling pretty frantic and a bit stir crazy, so I took myself on a walk to buy some things I knew I would need in the meantime (e.g., shampoo, conditioner, another t-shirt!).  Walking the streets of Kuta was terrific -- I positively love the energy of the city.

if there's ever a place to lose your belongings as you start a month-long holiday, Kuta is it!

I arrived back at the hotel in time for Jen's driver to be leaving to pick her up at the airport and because I had made such good friends with him (it's amazing what a $5USD can do...), he let me come along for the journey.  A pleading look about my lost bag got me through security at the airport so that I could wait for Jen in baggage claim (and make another stop by the lost and found to look say hi to my new friends).  Jen arrived safely from Singapore and was mightly surprised to see me.  Very fortunately, her bag arrived with no trouble and we were whisked away by the waiting driver back to the hotel.

I was relieved to get into bed that night -- after over 30 hours of traveling with no bed in sight!

Next morning was a race to "rebuild my bag".  I cringed walking past the cheap cheap stands (who wouldn't be able to give me a receipt for the insurance!) and we spent the day in expensive tourist shops, buying me new shirts and dresses and skirts.  It was fun -- mostly.  Except for the fact that I believed I would never see my bag again... but if there's ever a place to lose your belongings as you start a month-long holiday, Kuta is it!  It took most of the day, but we got it done -- and all packed into a super (and apparently waterproof) "Bali" branded bag!

We even had time to book our transport the next morning for Gili Meno...  :)