We are here!

We arrived a little over a week ago but it feels like a month!

Our journey here was longer than expected.  I was so proud that we got to the airport on time and with mostly everything done.  I have a history of not doing so well in this department.  Sure there were tornados and bad storms but these days don’t planes fly in all weather?  The answer is no.  Our flight was delayed 6 hours, which meant we missed our flight to Qatar because eastbound flights were not delayed.  Normally missing flights due to weather is no big deal but apparently Qatar Airways doesn’t care why you miss the flight. They were not wiling to honor our tickets.  Oh the drama.  This all unfolded in the Jet Blue terminal and the people were so awesome trying to help us. One man in particular, Walter, went above and beyond by calling inside lines, getting us a hotel room and following up.   What I learned from this experience is you can pay for luggage, buy food or even service but you cannot buy kindness.  Walter is a kind soul- THANK YOU WALTER AND JET BLUE.   It took 24 hours and a significant amount of money to rebook our tickets.  The good news is we got to lounge in the Holiday Inn watching Bugs Bunny reruns and swimming in the pool for 3 days. 

Watching TV

yum free dessert.  (crying mothers get lots of 'help')

passing time.  thanks Penny.  We made a TON on the trip.

When we did return to the Burlington Airport everyone remembered us and we got first class treatment.  They even let us be the very first on the plane!  

Here we go again.  with everything we will have for a YEAR.

Wow did it feel good to start the journey.  We arrived at JFK with 6+ hours to spare. Got to go through security again.  Already the lines were forming at Qatar even though no one was at the desk.  I figured best to follow along.  2 guys were in our line that seemed to be regular travelers.  We talked with them the next few hours.  They claimed to be international businessmen but they were in line with us and don’t businessmen travel business class?  After we divulge the purpose of our journey they opened up a bit.  Turns out they travel to countries and remove mines and bullets so people wont hurt themselves.  Hmmm not really international businessmen… They had worked for different NGOs making the world a better place.  They told us how to get around Qatar airport, which is, has and will be under construction for years.  Fascinating the people you meet traveling and we hadn’t even left the US.

 

JFK to Qatar was 12 hours.  International airlines are brilliant they feed you constantly and everyone has a TV for movies and games.  We all slept on and off.   We managed to navigate the airport and security again.  Then an 8-hour break in Qatar.  The people watching was fascinating.  People from all over the Middle East fly through this hub. The boys had lots of questions about dress and the mosque.  Some women were in full burkas.  Harmon and Finn were impressed that there were “women ninjas”! Luckily this was said quietly…

Qatar airport

 

Finally onto the last plane Qatar to Singapore 9 hours.  At Singapore we had to get off the plane walk through security  again and get back on the same plane for the last 3 hours.   And finally back in Bali!  One of our homes on this planet.  

We went to a house in a traditional compound.  This means 2 rooms with 2 beds and a small kitchen built as a part of a group of other homes.  Lots of animals, help and people around known to westerners as chaos with no privacy.  I loved it as did the boys.  The kids melted right in and introduced Legos to the kids.  At the moment iphoto won't let me upload these pics so here are the boys playing at the river... 

beautiful

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caught some garbage! yum

reading by the river