So for about 3,000RP (60c) you could hire someone to fill the space in the taksi or car. Only young people can do it as the older you are the greater risk to the driver - you may plan to mug them. 

What I love about Indonesia is the innovation skills people have for making money. The moment it rains there'll be people offering umbrellas to hold over you while you walk, for a fee. There is an opportunity to make money anywhere.

Frequently, at major intersections, people would walk up and down between cars offering newspapers, bottles of water, food, toys and other items.

Spotted the little island that is off the coast of Java as we flew over. Near Surabaya methinks.

Soon after that we were flying into Bali. I had no idea Bali was as big as this. (Only 5 hours to cross from one side to the other but I had thought it would only take an hour)

We arrived at the airport then hired a driver and car. RP220,000 but the driver didn't really know where he was going (we found out later) and so, after dropping our things at the Mastapa Hotel, we were driven to various lookouts without actually seeing much. A bit like in Bandung!

We went to a lookout that looked over a temple on the edge of a cliff, (though the temple really couldn't be seen too well from where we were. The ocean looked great though.)

We also went to a restaurant. I did a lot of filming of rice paddies on the way.

After that we headed to Garuda Wisnu Kencara. This is a huge statue that looks like it is made of stone but is in fact made from a non corrosive metal. It wasn't quite finished when we saw it but we were told that when it is it will be taller than the Statue of Liberty.

We finally got home around 10.30 and crashed. The hotel we were staying in was a bit of a disaster but there was a special offer so we took it.

With the bombs in October having destroyed the Sari Club and Paddies, there weren't that many tourists, so the 40 room hotel we were in was only 10% filled. Also, the exterior looks great. Garden, fish pond, pool, rest chairs by the pool, warmish water... but inside the hotel - a shower head that squirted water in all directions through its cracked head, tap handles that come off in your hand, lights that blow and short out the local electricity, lamp switches that are faulty, a bad smell from the drain and a few other smaller problems.

All these are ignored, thanks to the wonders of air conditioning. It is very hot and any bit of 'cool' is a relief. The car we took today and the cars we will take over the next couple of days, all have some form of air conditioning which was very necessary in the sweltering tropical heat. Needless to say, we slept well! Mastapa Garden Hotel

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