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The airline gods were smiling on me for this flight, as I noticed that once boarding was over, there was no one sitting in the middle seat next to me. That meant I had more room to stretch out (a definite bonus for someone who’s 6 feet, 4 inches tall), and it helped that the regular economy seat pitch was also about 34 inches, which rivals what you’ll find in some extras. does -Legroom seats on US carriers.

My favorite part of the flight was the food. My first meal was a Korean staple, bibimbap. It was very tasty and, dare I say, even beats some of the versions I’ve had on the ground, although the portion was small.

The second meal I was served was a chicken and rice dish, and while it was good (if overly sauced), it didn’t rival the flavor of the bibimbap.

Between eating, nodding off, and watching a few movies, 12 hours flew by, and before I knew it, I was in “The Land of the Morning Calm,” as South Korea is sometimes known. My only gripe with this flight was the lack of inflight Wi-Fi, but I must admit it was nice to be disconnected for a few hours.

Once I got off the plane, I went through the incredibly efficient immigration process and headed to my hotel, the Sheraton Grand Incheon, for a good night’s rest before my next big flight.

Flight 3: Medium distance flight from Seoul to Bali

The next morning, I went back to the airport to check in for my Garuda Indonesia flight to Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) on Bali. I was more than excited because Bali has always been on my bucket list.

At check in, I was offered an upgrade to business class for just $217, which I considered a steal for a nearly seven-hour flight. I jumped at the offer, but as soon as I tried to buy it, the Garuda rep told me they couldn’t sell it anymore. Despite the disappointment, I was pleasantly surprised on board to find that I had an entire row of four seats to myself on the Airbus A330 that was taking me to Bali.

We were served two meals during the 6 hour, 50 minute flight. The first was another bibimbap dish that was good but not as tasty as the Korean air. The other was just an average tuna sandwich.

This flight had Wi-Fi, but it wasn’t working properly, unfortunately, so I couldn’t take advantage of my long day flight to research my next destinations. Plus, the service was exemplary — warm and kind but efficient — and made me even more excited to visit Bali.

We landed in the evening and, although everything had gone like clockwork so far and all my flights had been pleasant, I was thrilled to learn that I wouldn’t have to set foot on another plane for five days.

On my second day, I went to Tanah Lot Temple, a temple and monument overlooking the sea. Despite the downpour, the views were definitely worth it, and others shared my sentiment, as it was full of tourists.

On my third day, unfortunately, I came down with food poisoning. I was down for the count for the next two days, which derailed my plans to go to Uluwatu, a popular beachfront area where I had hoped to visit Sawaya Beach Club, which I had read.

On my last day in Bali, I traveled to Ubud, known for nature, adventure and wellness activities. I stopped by the lush Tagalang Rice Terraces and the Tegenugan Falls, one of the most breathtaking cascades I have ever seen.

After that, I stopped at Omma Dayclub, which has reasonably priced food and drinks and is nestled in the trees above the falls.

If you live on the coast and want to visit Ubud, I would suggest getting a hotel near the city for a couple of nights instead. Traffic on Bali can be very heavy and busy, meaning the journey from Seminyak to Ubud can take over two hours, even though it’s only around 20 miles. More intrepid travelers can also consider renting a motorbike or scooter instead, as it can cut down on travel time.

I personally loved venturing out of the more developed areas and exploring some of the more rural regions of the island, where you can still find cute little villages and quiet temples.

I also found it easier to keep cash on hand rather than count on being able to pay for things with a credit card, since many places I visited didn’t accept cards, or had prohibitively high minimum spending requirements. I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to increase my earnings, as most of the money was spent on food and transportation, which I would have paid for with my Chase Sapphire Preferred® card.

The bottom line

So far, my trip is going well and I’m feeling great despite the huge distances and many time zones I’ve already traveled. I had been looking forward to visiting Bali for a long time, and despite some rainy weather the island certainly did not disappoint. It’s just beautiful, and the people I met were so kind. Next time, though, I plan to visit during a sunny time of year.

Next, it’s on to Vietnam, the so-called “Land of the Blue Dragon” for more adventures, so stay tuned for part 2 next week!