su·per·cil·i·ous·ness

An interesting day - of course the highlight has to be arriving in Denpasar and heading on out to the Bali InterContinental Resort to what was a way way way over the top room with far too many people serving me along the way - but I guess that is how it is here these days (I'm far too uncomfortable with the subservience thing). 

I left the last of my packing far too late, indeed I was quite rushed by the time that Lorinda came to pick me up to drive me to the station (so I didn't have to lug my backpack a couple of kilometres and then change trains). I arrived at the CityRail station just in time to catch the train before the one I had planned and was soon at Sydney Airport. Interestingly, even though I was very early for the flight - I was 149th passenger to check-in. I wandered on up to the Qantas Club and then read the news and did my emails until boarding time. I grabbed myself some water and chocolate to sustain myself on the budget Jetstar flight and then headed to the gate.

The flight itself was interesting enough. I had put a couple of movies on my iPod to keep myself entertained, but I only watched one and then spent the rest of the time being fairly dozey (except when the mainscreen was showing an episode of Top Gear that I had never seen). For $7+taxes for a flight from Sydney to Bali you cannot complain about the level of service - which was attentive to those who wanted it.

On arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport, I came down the escalators to be greeted by greeters from the hotel who proceeded to buy my visa, get me through immigration and then through customs and quarantine without any interference. I think if you wanted to smuggle something into Indonesia then staying at the InterContinental would be the way to go. They don't even give you a second look. I got a complimentary transfer to the hotel (complete with search to look for bombs under the car) and found the whole check-in process just a little over the top (not just a little - it was scary). I think I had about 8 people welcome me and provide some kind of service before I even made it to the room. Once there I looked for something to eat - as next time I fly JQ I will pack a little more in the way of snacks!

Once fed I just read some news and soon I will head off to bed.

I was interested to read today that Peter Debnam has announced that he will be building recycling plants into his water policy and this water would be going back into the drinking supply - not just for industry as is the case with the ALP plan.  As he says, this now means that voters in NSW can vote for desalination or recycling when they go to the polls - and if this was the only issue under consideration then I know which way I would be falling. The desalination plant is just a disaster unless it becomes much more of a green venture.

All of this at a time when there is actually a rise in the dam levels. In Sydney you rarely here this kind of news, but that is exactly what has happened this week, with the dam back up to 37% as a result of rain actually falling in the catchment area and not just on the coast. This extra 3% is only eight weeks supply however.

You have to love the fact that the Australian tourism industry is now relying on American Chopper to drive tourist numbers! Paul, Paulie and Mikey Teutul started filming in Sydney yesterday for a new series that will feature action in Sydney, Coffs Harbour and the outback. Apparently they are going to check out a cane toad race in Airlie Beach, ride around Uluru and visit King's Creek Station near Alice Springs. Should bring the tourists rolling in.