Chapter 10.1 - Jetset Life and Bureaucracy

8:37 am

I'm sitting in the taxi. Off to the airport. The streets are crowded again. I hope we'll make any progress. Finally, I'm leaving this city. I'll be relieved when I finally arrive at the hotel in Sanur.

And the resolution to what I learned in Da Lat will come tomorrow...

Now I'm curious to see how my overstayed visa will be handled. Let's go

11:43 am

People, the struggle at the airport was real. At first, only one counter was open for check-in. Then I wait for 1 hour to find out that I first have to go to the Immigration Office because of my 1-day overstay. Fortunately, the customs officers were so considerate that they let me leave for free. They told me to please be careful next time not to overstay again. I replied, 'Next time I don't go to the fucking embassy in Germany!' They just laughed out loud. Then back to the check-in counter, lining up again. This time, the lady not only wants to see my Corona vaccination proof but also my outbound ticket from Bali. And she doesn't even realize that my vaccination status has expired... She doesn't even look at the ticket from Bali to Taipei. Pure stupid harassment. My goodness

Then I quickly walked to the gate and treated myself to a bagel and a charcoal bun at Starbucks.

Now I'm waiting for my meal. Once I finish eating, I'll find a seat with more legroom. Ciao

12:10 pm

The meal is like a snack. 160k for that is a bad joke. And on top of that, changing seats is prohibited. The flight attendant doesn't benefit from it, yet she shooes everyone away. Only discount airline staff can be so dumb, right?

An Indian guy is arguing with the crew right now. I think he booked a menu in advance but didn't receive it or he can't pay because the crew doesn't have the right change.

People, if you consider traveling with Vietjet air, spend a little more money and fly with a decent airline.

Currently, I'm glad I bought something at Starbucks. Also, glad I have the 0.5L bottle of water.

I just realized that there aren't even the usual pillows on the seats. Very poor...

10.3.

6:42 am

Local time in Bali is +7h from German time.

People, the resolution of my experience in Da Lat was that Greta, the cloud, wanted to visit me in Bali...

She can't come because her passport is only valid for another 4 months and the entry to Bali requires 6 months. She drove to Frankfurt Airport at midnight. A 7-hour drive. Just to find out there that she packed her suitcase for nothing, sublet her apartment, paid over a thousand euros, canceled her ski vacation with her friend, and was excited.

She can't come.

Once I landed, I searched for Wi-Fi. At first, I was still euphoric and transmitted all the important information to Greta to get through the immigration at Denpasar...

As I started reading her messages and listening to the voice message, my euphoria turned into anger, sadness, and an impending headache.

I called her. Talked to her. She tried everything. Temporary passport? Of course, you can get one, but Bali only lets you in if you also have a visa from the consulate in advance. So no Visa on Arrival.

She had to book a Flixbus and went back to her parents, where she had already spent March.. She has to stay there because her apartment in Berlin is still rented until April.

My story ended that evening at 8:31 pm with a headache and nausea in the bed of the beautiful hotel room that I had booked for both of us. I originally booked it for 10 nights. But since it's a bit too expensive for one person, now only 6 nights.

With 800mg of painkiller in me, I fall asleep.

Currently, I'm just feeling down. Fortunately, the headache is gone now.

Greta was supposed to land at 2:40 pm.

At 3:15 pm, she would have seen me waving to her with a sign as she walked out into the warmth, on which I had painted a big cloud ☁️.

At 4:20 pm, I would have presented her with the gifts from Vietnam at the hotel...

The first few days in Bali are clouded by my emotions. I still don't know how Greta will feel. Yesterday on the phone, she was composed, but that was when she was still in 'survival mode'... I hope when she wakes up at her parents' place today, she won't take it too hard... After all, she has people who love her there.

At this point, my arrival day ends.

I'll do my best to find joy in my journey again. It will take some time before I can laugh again, but it'll happen

😔