Getting back to Bali

My visa ‘agent’ returned to the McDonalds, across from the Orchard Hotel, just after 4pm. It was funny, as there were all these geeky looking white guys, just like myself, sitting around by themselves, sipping a Coke or tea. We all stick out like sore thumbs, nervously waiting for our passports and hoping there haven’t been any screw ups.

When Mr. Wahab arrived I pounced, grabbed by passport and was out on the street, heading for the airport. Basically I had 2 options, take a taxi or subway (SMRT). The taxi would be around $35, the SMRT $2.50. My plane was leaving at 5.55pm, so I figured I could make it no worries.

My $17 refund on the tax for the camera, might have to be sacrificed if I was late. So anyway the rush hour was just kicking in, and I had to walk a way’s to get to the subway station. After changing trains and getting pretty close to the airport, I was 2 stops away from Changi, sitting there with all the other folks going to the airport, the time, 5.20pm. Inside the airport I took the ‘skytrain’ to Terminal 1 and got to the Garuda desk. The guy checked me in and said “The plane boards in 1 minute.” I made the plane no worries and actually saw some other expats on visa runs. No chance to cash in my tax refund, but saved on the taxi fare.