0 days until departure - First stop: Singapore!

So I've been thinking the whole time about how to describe this explosion of emotions between anticipation, excitement, nervousness and a little bit of sadness... and then I finally gave up. After my mom and my two sisters brought me to the airport (I love you!), I am now sitting on the airplane with my 'Flight Mode!' playlist in my ear and the laptop in front of me. Thanks to my amazing friends, I am packed with good luck charms, souvenirs, loving messages, and even a surprise gift from my sister. Now it's time to take off, the starting shot has been fired and in a few hours (or maybe a few more!) I will be sitting in Singapore at the airport. I'm curious how I will get through the 12-hour flight and then the additional 7-hour layover in Singapore before heading to Bali. Currently, I don't see any advantages of traveling solo (only couples around me!) and what's even worse, every other person looks like a typical Instagram travel influencer. Let's see if after 8 weeks I will also look like that when I tell you about the incredible things I've experienced and maybe have fallen even more in love with the world! If yes, then please don't hold it against me :P

Update - off to Bali - finally!

I made it, both sitting on my butt for 12 hours, doing spontaneous stretches in the bathroom because my feet fell asleep (perfect if you're short!), as well as arriving in Singapore in tropical temperatures. After a walk through the Sunflower Garden at night and an overpriced dinner, I nodded off for a few hours on a lounge chair before it was almost time for boarding the next flight. Quickly got a 15-minute massage on the massage chair for my legs and boom, I'm back on the plane. Just 3 more hours until I reach Bali, I can do it!

Update - here I am, Bali!

When I arrived in Bali, I was first perplexed. What did I read again about the taxi service at the airport? And the many men offering to carry your bags? Numb, I followed the first tourist in the hope that they also wanted a taxi, but instead, we ended up in the parking garage and by that time a young man had followed me, his name was barely pronounceable and he was 27 years old - as I later found out. He asked where I wanted to go and after declining 5 times, I finally said 'Kuta' and he promised to take me there for the equivalent of 6 euros. So we walked to the scooter, with the big backpack between my legs, and off we went. With a slightly queasy feeling in my stomach - but then with even more pride in myself and my courage - he dropped me off at my accommodation. Checked into the room (which looked much nicer in the pictures!), took a fresh shower, and then headed to the beach. Saw the first sunrise in Bali - (check!) and if my stomach hadn't grumbled, I would have stayed there forever.

But I walked to the minimarket, got myself a prepaid sim card, and sat down in a beautiful restaurant for the actual end of the day. So beautiful that I thought I was in a movie!

Back at the accommodation, I asked for a cheap scooter because I wanted to be mobile from tomorrow on. And as luck would have it, the employee knew someone who wanted to help me. So now I have rented a scooter for 11 days, including a helmet and everything. The only downside is that I found out that my credit card doesn't want to give me cash at the ATM. So I just sent an email to my bank and hope that this was the only little sour note for the day.

Tomorrow the first real excursion starts, Tannah Lot here I come!