Franglo

This was my first solo trip to the other side of the world. I had never been on a plane for more than 8 hours, and I was terrified of how my body would react.

As a woman in this chapter of our lives, it sometimes feels like our bodies betray us. I was once cool, calm, and collected, but now I suffer from bouts of anxiety. You never know when this will happen and need to control everything.

A few days before we left, I realized I needed a visa to go to Bali, and I started panicking. I had paid the visitor tax a month early, so how did I miss the visa requirement?

A bit of research showed that I could get a visa on arrival, which was not a big deal. However, I was still petrified I would be turned away after all this planning and investment. I tried unsuccessfully to get an expedited visa before the trip to check the box, but I needed help to get the online forms to cooperate.

The day before my flight, I went to check in, but it asked me for my visa number and would not let me check-in. I had to see the agent in the morning. I began to panic; what if they didn’t let me on the plane? How would I resolve this quickly? My tour starts on Sunday. Tuesday night, I did not get a lot of sleep.

I made my spouse come with me in the morning to help check me in and keep my anxiety at bay. There were no issues at all; the agent was lovely and even upgraded me to a better seat on my Montreal to Vancouver leg of the trip.

As he walked me to the gate, he reminded me that this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and I should relax, take it all in, and enjoy every moment. He kissed me goodbye, told me he loved me, and the adventure began.

I like to arrive at the airport early and grab breakfast; once I am at the airport and on the other side of the gates, I relax. I have done Montreal to Vancouver, a five-hour, uneventful flight, many times.

I grab another meal in Vancouver; I know I will be on an international flight, but I want to know when they will feed us.

Vancouver to Seoul: I could upgrade to the premium economy for this segment because it was on sale. I got into my spot and settled into our eleven-hour flight. First on the agenda is lunch, a snack, and then dinner. I learned that on long flights, you are fed well.

Seoul to Bali: This was my first time in an Asian airport, and it felt more like a luxury shopping mall. I had to change terminals, which required me to ask for directions to find the shuttle to the other terminal. The airport was beautiful, and little robots were cleaning the floor. I had just enough time to brush my teeth and use some cleansing clothes to feel a bit more human before the last leg of my journey.

Seoul to Bali: This was my first time on Korean Airlines, and I spent another seven hours in the air and ate more food.

For those who do not know, I am gluten-free. So, in twenty-two hours, I was served so many similar GF chicken dishes that I thought I would grow feathers.

A little after midnight, my plane touched down in Bali along with what seemed like half of Australia. The immigration hall was large and unorganized, and the on-arrival visa line was insane. I suspected it would take another hour or two to reach my hotel.

After 30 hours of travel and very little sleep, I was not the sharpest tool in the shed. One of the security personnel helped me with the QR code Visa process, allowing me to complete and pay online to avoid the line. I was smart and booked a hotel at the airport to check in and get to my room by 1 am.

There is a 12-hour time difference between Bali and Montreal. I checked in with my other half and crawled into bed. Landing in the middle of the night allowed my body to adjust quickly; I went to bed and woke up around 9 am.