We boarded the 11:45 fast boat and it left on time. No tagged bags, just luggage lobbed into a heap by the stern. No briefing. No air con. The cabin was warm and stayed that way. The sea was kind, so the run itself was quick enough; a few bumps, salt on the windows, and Bali coming up ahead.
The port… that hit like a wall of heat and noise. Our pre-booked taxi was nowhere. We checked at the desk and were told to call the Gili Air office to “confirm”. The call would not connect. The desk there said no our problem, despite being the same company we called again, same result no connection. The staff were very dismissive, and over it all came the constant chorus of “Taxi! Taxi!” while the kids clung to the bags. It was infuriating!
We waited some time. Ali asked again saying we paid your company… then out of no where a driver wandered over and called our name, he said he’d been in the loo. Maybe he had been (I don’t think he had). He looked half-asleep. Either way, doors opened, bags in, and at last we rolled out of the port..
In the end Ubud rescued the day. We reached the villa, slid the gate, and the pool did the reset we needed. Kids straight in, shoulders down, and the hot, messy crossing faded to background noise. We arrived a little late, very relieved, and finally felt like we were in Bali.
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