#106 Bali :)

#2 First Day in Bali
The first day of our holiday has come to an end. Surprisingly fast! We left Singapore at 8; feeling extremely tired 'cause I only slept for an hour+ due to all the last minute stuff which includes packing!

The flight wasn't that bad but there wasn't any nice movies to catch. Also, I gave the food amiss. We touched down in Bali at 1! Headed straight to the hotel in Ubud - where I'm now - Lunch was at the hotel. Nap time came after before we headed out to the spa!

Dinner from there after, at Casa Luna, totally wonderful! Lime tart was tooooo sour though. But yes, I've finally ordered the right stuff! It's 11pm now, and it's pouring outside. The view is still as awesome! Come to think of it, I think I do like this place, all the walking as well- it gives me a sense of farmiliarity and the homely feeling.

One last thing to add! I think the Balinese are really wonderful people. Despite the language barrier, they still try so hard to make us feel at home, they're always smiling and are all so friendly! Also, they do try their best to understand our English, really sweet people, something Singaporeans should learn from! Okay I guess it's time for bed?

Goodnight!

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The second day at Bali is nearing an end. Time is really zooming past! Woke up early - here the Sun rises so early that when it reaches 7pm Bali time, it'll be like 9pm back home. Basically sets fast too!

We left the hotel at about 9, and headed to Ubud Art for a little while before heading to Batan Waru for breakie. Honestly, having survived on 'bird food' for the past 11 months, I really find it a struggle to adapt to such heavy breakfasts.

After breakfast it was just walking and more walking! We've covered the whole Monkey Forest road in that scorching Sun! You could call it window shopping since everything was just KIV. But yes, I really do enjoy all the walking. Back in SG, everytime I thought about Bali, I'm always reminded of that road and all the walking we do- something relaxing that I enjoy.

We were back in the hotel by 3, having walked ever since 11. The only scary thing about the walking, other than the heat is actually the dogs which are Huge, dirty, fierce. They bark non-stop and I always fear they have Rabis and become afraid that they'll bite me. But yes, we survived the dogs today!

Headed to the pool after. Happiness!! When was the last time I swam this year? August 9. And this is the second time I'm swimming this year. The only difference is that the whole family's swimming with me! Which was really fun! By the time they came into the pool, the pool was empty so we had the whole pool to ourselves! All the way till 530 it was swimming and more swimming despite the heat, heh.

Washed up, read for awhile before heading out for Dinner which was really really fabulous! Japanese food currently the Number One restaurent here at Ubud. The food was really great, the place was beautiful and the people were awesome, as usual.

We just returned home from Maluni. I have quite a crazy schedule for tomorrow but I'm going to spend the night with Kash to check things out and hopefully return safely back to the hotel room tomorrow morning.

No frogs, flies, mosquitoes, insects or dogs attack us please!
Till tomorrow!

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#4 'Ya?'
That's the favourite word of the Balinese, heh. Today was a good day, other then for now when I just feel like crap. So yeah, last night K and I visited the library till about close to 1 in the morning. After, we headed back to the hotel and back to the room for the night.

We woke up at about nine in the morning and I felt totally strange, the phone was ringing away but Kash who was sleeping beside it couldn't pick it up. I shouted for him to, only to see a boy covered till the head with the blankie and two pillows over his head. For a momment I thought he sufocated and died. Ha, but no that didn't happen. Heh. We left out to Casa Luna for coffee and then began our walk. This time from the market direction. Oh and the sun was a total killer today! Badly burnt I guess. We walked till about 1 and then headed to some cafe by the name of Cafe Moka for lunch which was supherbly awesome!!

Oh yeah, before I continue something strange happened at the market. This market always brings about the ugliest side of the Balinese cause they can get pretty fierce and agressive. In this market, everyone sells exactly the same thing which brings about great competition among one another and well, tourists as well. I was walking down the lane, this time a man came dancing towards me with a scarf and placed it around my sweaty shoulder. I froze. K pushed him aside and returned him his scarf and walked. Scary eh?

So we walked down Hanuman street as well, interesting stuff they got there. We walked all the way down, back to Batan Waru before heading back to the hotel.

Read and then headed to the spa! for a wonderful super nice, flower bath. From a Balinese massage to a face and body scrub ending off with the bath. I loved it do much, i had trouble leaving the place!

Dinner was at some random place which was near the hotel. And now we're back in the room. I hope I could call it a day soon. I shall not spoil this entry with unpleasent stuff.

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#5 Kurta!
Yesterday we spent the day out of Ubud, we headed to Kurta which was an hour and a half from Ubud. Kurta's the place for shopping. So that's basically what we did! Shop shop and shopppp! But comparing it with last year we didn't get as many things.

Lunch was fantabulous after a year long wait for Blue Fin! Japanese food, again. While eating, we witnessed another festival which was so grand- cremation. Here in Bali, they're so religious that they have festivals everyday. It was so so so grand, pictures would be one facebook once I get home I guess.

Because we were bored and tired, we left at 430 and arrived back in time to hit the waters! Heh. I love the floats here, they make the whole experience so very relaxing. Pizza Bagus for dinner! Which was after a year, again, heh. But still thumbs up though,

Washed up and it was to Bikini Bottom, heh.


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#6 God of Wonders! (Sunset)

I'm really in so much awe at how wonderful God has created the Earth, it's just so hard to comprehend the beauty, right?

We started off the day, bright and early with breakfast. Sad to say, I've totally given up on having Breakfasts. One of the aims here was to begin my breakfast routine. Sadly, I have totally given that aim up. Their portions are just too huge and not something I consider as breakfast. Fried rice for breakfast?! No breakie for me. Washed up and headed to the outer area of Ubud to view some gallaries before heading for lunch which was such an experience!

We went to the Balinese healing center (Daddy read a novel about her experience there so, there we went) the place was.. Scary. The 'healer' looked dazed and stoned out. I would consider her a 'pontianak'. She kept speaking to Spirits to tell us what's bad in our body. (sorry, but I don't believe a word she says) so anyway, her lunch was totally vegetables and raw good. It just tasted weird. The whole place seemed strange. As usual, the portions were Huge! She seemed to be detoxifying me? With that meal and 3 hand made leaves water. Oh my! As I sat there, I was just thinking about the poor people lacking good and gulping every mouthful without even swallowing! Trust me, when the lady stares, 'Dr Wayan', I totally freeze! Brother and I were just so confused by her ways. We left straight after. Trust me, that was so scary!

Home after for about an hour. Kash went straight to the reception demanding for meat. He was just duper annoyed by the experience at lunch. When I questioned him where he was heading, he replied 'to read peoples palms to tell them what they lack in' I literally fell after hearing that, Ha!

At 3, we left the hotel to be out of Ubud again. This time to the temple at TanaLot. Don't worry it ain't another 'healing' session or whatever else, it was to watch the Sunset!

I tell you, it was totally Breathtaking! I was just msrvelled at how beautiful the sun, sky and sea were. Waves just kept crashing onto us, we stood on rocks. The photographs here are totally lovely. I got a little wet and I was raking a picture when a huge wave arrived. Daddy was so worried I'll be swept by the current he went 'don't move! Just stay thereeee!' my, it was a little funny looking back at it no, ha! After all the photos, we set on that rock and witnessed that Sun set, it was gorgeously great! God of wonders!

Shopped at that area for a little while before heading for dinner, an hours drive back to Ubud and off to Wayan Cafe! The people still remember me and Marvell at how much I've grown in 12 years! They treat me and Kash like special guest. The food was great this time! And we were given complimentary ice-cream, heh. It was an early night after.

You'll find out why tomorrow!
See you!

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#7 God of Wonders! (Sunrise)

I was too tired to actually go and record my thoughts of yesterday, so I'm doing it now, facing the padi fields and holding The Time Traveller's Wife.

We arose at 230 in the morning and made an hours long journey to Mount Batur, a volcano. Upon reaching, it was cool. As in cold. We faced complete darkness. We began to climb the volcano. Honestly, the journey was tough. In the beginning every was rather fine, enough oxygen, straight, sandy paths, lovely. But as we got closer to the summit, it became more and more difficult. The pathway became more rocky, it was sliding rocks, small ones as well as big ones. Soon there was oxygen debt, no place to rest as well as no energy. Through perseverence, we made it to the summit. The Sun was rising just in time. It was beautiful, the mountains opposite, the clear lake and the Sun shining through everything, wow. The clouds slowly began to condense itself.

It reminded ne of life. Or rather 2009. In the beginning it was rather smooth, everything was managable. But when the O's neared, it was no longer the same, the crashing feeling, the sense of hopelessness as well as the sense of giving up. But we were so close to the finish line. This was when I remembered MdmChoo's repeated 'finish strong'. True enough, I've finished 2009 strong, as well as the volcano.

It's not about the destination and how beautiful it is, rather it's about the journey and how you endured. What a morning! We came back, read and at 5, floated in the pool as well. Dinner was Casa Luna, the food wasn't as fantastic though.

Came back, brother sister bond at Cafe and out.
Lalaland after.


Love.