The moment we stepped out of Denpasar Airport yesterday afternoon I was immediately grateful for recent spate of hot, humid weather back home.
Except for an air-conditioned six-hour flight, we were pretty much ready for the wall of thick, heavy air with which our bodies were slammed.
And as the hotel driver ducked and weaved the Tarago through the back streets of Kuta, beeping his way past street stalls, laundries, clothing stores, Balinese home ware outlets, spare blocks of land, the odd cow or six and plenty of half-built homes and holiday villas, I had everything crossed that the accommodation I’d booked four months ago vaguely resembled the internet photos. {The New York apartment *incident* is still too fresh!}
We’re not staying in the most luxurious accommodation on offer in Seminyak and we’re not on the beach but for this pool-less family of five it took all of three minutes from the time we stepped through the high-gated compound of our three-bedroom villa for everyone to high-tail it into our pool.
Our own pool. That’s right, we don’t have to share. Or lay our towels out at dawn to grab a sun bed. No, it’s ours to jump into at any time.
In fact, that’s what the rest of them are doing right now while I write. We’re back from dinner {I may have indulged in the first of many lychee martinis} and a couple of games of pool at The Deck.
As you do.
Today our driver for the week arrives so we can start exploring this island. I cannot wait to get stuck in.
… there may be shopping involved. I’d like to say this is because I listened to everyone and packed lightly. But I’d be telling a big, fat lie.
Unless, of course, by lightly you mean the weight of each item. Then I’m winning … singly, kaftans don’t weigh very much. There just may be a lot of them 
Editor’s note: I’m on holidays this week with my family. I’ll be popping in here most days with postcards from Bali. Regular Styling You programming will resume next week.
Want more? 13 tips for travelling for travelling to Bali if you’re a newbie
