I would leave my snakes alone for 9 days, but I have their temps and my room temps well regulated. When I go away for a week or so, I don't feed the week before I leave. I'd rather them miss a meal or two than have them make a big mess and be stuck laying in it for a few days to a week.
As far as the travel being too much stress for the snake, I wouldn't worry about it that much. Balls are much tougher and more resilient than most give them credit for. Vendors bring them to and from shows, sometimes traveling long distances, and they seem to do fine.
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