Travel journay: 13 Feb, Bali day 3

Today we are heading to north east Bali! First stop, the driver brought us to watch Barong dance! Surprisingly it was IDR 80,000 per person.

at its entrance into the state, a baby girl starts screaming and kicking and cried her lung out =.=

Barong Dance is a play about Barong, the ancient creature, symbol of goodness and Rangda, the ancient creature which symbolize Evil.

barong side elevation

barong's backside!

At the starts, it shows Barong, a lion like creature (something like Chinese Lion in Lion dance) playing by itself in the jungle, and then a monkey come and play with him.

The story was divided into few chapter (we was given the script at the entrance). It was about Rangda manipulated a Goddess called Dewi Kunti and made her agrees to sacrifice her son, Sadewa.

the bodyguards of Sadewa

the bodyguards of Sadewa are..helpless...

jreng jreng..mr. Shiva came to rescue!

But little did Rangda know- Shiva came to bless the captured Sadewa with the give of immortality. No matter how Rangda tried, he couldn’t killed Sadewa. In the end, he give up and instead asked for Sadewa help to free him so that he could goes to heaven. Sadewa agrees and so Rangda went to heaven.

mr. Rangda. dont you just think of Bleach characters seeing the white mask and long nails?

And then came another former follower of Rangda, named Kalika, asked for Sadewa to send her to Heaven too. But Sadewa refused and so she turns herself into Babi Hutan and attacked Sadewa. Not giving up, after defeated as Babi Hutan, she turns into Bird, but still Sadewa overpowered her. At last she turns herself into Rangda, and her power overwhelmed Sadewa so He turns himself into Barong.

Because of their equal power, the fight goes on and on and to be believed, still going on.

That is one of the core beliefs in Bali Hinduism that everything is about balance. Not only to favor the good or bright side, but also the dark side. This is part of why there’s offerings laid on the floor every morning by Balinese, as offerings to those on the below. And also this is shown in the black-white checkered cloth motif, that mostly could be found wrapped around statute at the temple, the black and white is almost similar to the meaning of ying and yang. All about balance.

The uncle driver told me sometimes there’s yellow as well, in that case these three colors are to symbolize Bhrama, Visnu, Shiva. (err..i forgotten whose color is which hehehe)

After the 45min play, we went to have lunch at the famous Babi Guling ibu oka at ubud. It was repeated all over the places in internet blogs and travel guide so I was curious.

Oh my, the meat is truly tender, but if it is to compare with Manado babi putar, this one falls behind. The skin was hard as rock, and the side dish somewhat taste abit off.

spotted! abused chicks :( there's neon green and yellow too~

The Ubud road is full with sculptures shops, what a feast for the eye!

The driver bring us to Monkey forest, and we were greeted by lots monkeys around the entrance.

Monkey eating food, monkey running here and there, monkey tried to open someone’s backpack, and also! Monkey making love! Hahahahaha seriously!

Afterwards, we went to Pura Gunung Kawi. There’s a spring in the compoound, and the pools water was so clear like crystal. (okay..bit greenish coz all the algae around it)

And then heavy rains poured down but we were already safe inside the car- off to next spot! Thanks God!

And then we arrived at viewing point for Mount Batur and Batur lake. It was still raining and the view was closed by mist and cloud. It is something like Cameron highland’s Boh tea café, but older version. We ordered tea and waited. The wind was cold and refreshing. Finally the sky cleared up! Nice view!

mount and lake batur, just nice after the rain. such a cool weather!

spotted! fruit stalls on the road! bah..they are expensive.. =.=

And finally at last, dad wanted to visit Buddhist temple for praying for the next day would be the new year.

*** Babi Guling ibu Oka, branch 2. ubud.

Travel Journal: 12 Feb, Bali day 2

nikki hotel

So we rent a car for one day, which cost IDR 400,000 including the petrol. The driver was recommended by dad’s friend. First of all he got the hotel wrong, and we wasted almost 45min.

Apparently when we told him Hotel Nikki, he thought it was the Nikki Square. It is owned by the same owner, and the Nikki Square is a more famous and larger one located at the main road, so he got it wrong.

the small prayer compound inside the parking lot at the hotel. inside there's statue and they replace new offerings every day.

Our first stop is at Tanah Lot! Because today we had to pick up my mom and bro from the airport, so I choose to wander around the southern part which is nearer to the airport.

After we paid our ticket, dad and I walked in the area. There are small lanes of small shops, and then we reached the Tanah Lot compound. In the same area located also the Batu bolong temple. wew! we saw a family taking picture with a big snake! all four of them trying to balance themselves with the snake on their shoulder like a scarf. what a fatty snake it was!

that's Batu bolong! The sun was shining extremely hot, but it doesn’t stop us for taking pictures

the offerings that you can found almost every where at the floor, right in front of the shops! i almost stepped onto one! phew! they have different design, but mostly i saw there's flower petals, few colored or white rice.

Afterwards we went to get lunch, and I ate a very delicious sup buntut

Then, we went to Nusa Dua. It is an area for all high class hotels. We went to visit Nikko hotel, owned by the son of the previous president. Dad went there before with his friend, and he said the hotel is awesome. It is indeed awesome!

And then I remembered the famous wedding chapel which is also at Nusa dua. So we went in also to Conrad hotel.

Amazing place, amazing weather, it is just perfect. The chapel stands as if it is sitting in the sea.

And then we headed to airport. Afterwards we went to have seafood dinner at Jimbaran beach, with the setting sun.

Travel journal: 11 feb, to Bali

Finally holiday is here! I was rather worried I couldn’t wake up for the morning flight but then the worries itself woke me up hehehe.

The taxi uncle asked whether I am heading back to hometown. I said I am off to holiday at Bali.

‘Bali? Oh ic! My youngest daughter is going to Bali too with her boyfriend and his family for this Chinese new year.’

dear tree that whisper courage to me everytime i saw it

Everything went smooth and I arrived at airport early, and l even get the window seat. Air asia now decide the seats for its passenger instead of letting them choose themselves like previously. I feel it is much better this way, to avoid people streaming into the line like mad trying to grab seats like there’s not enough for everyone. And another surprise, they provide water and mini peanut snacks now!

the sad thing is, none of my pictures justify how excited and happy i am to see the clouds! the clouds! so amazing! i am not sure why, but i really like those cotton candy looking cloud!

if only i could run and jump around the cloud! pilot! let me out!

my favourite blue sky, my favourite pretty cloud, my favourite blue sea!

Dad waited me up at the Ngurah Rai airport, for my 2.5 hours flight arrived slightly later than his. but it turns out to be a longer wait for him because of the stupid immigration. There are lots counters open for ‘Arrival on Visa’ but only one open for ‘Indonesian’ and the line was filled with MALAYSIAN! Zzzzzzz!

And then we headed to my dad’s friend’s hotel at Denpasar, the capital of Bali. It’s is almost an hour from the airport, and surprisingly far from any tourist attraction places.

And to our dismay, the hotel itself is far from eatery or shops as well.

We took a rest and came out later on for dinner. The taxi driver drove us to eat Ayam Betutu. It is sort of boiled chicken with herbs and spices. Nice stuff! We got half chicken for only IDR 30000, and also we tried Tipah Kuah Bali for IDR 20000. it is a ketupat served with few little dishes and a bowl of santan gravy. Something I had never tried before.

tipah kuah, is a lontong with vegies, meat. egg, and satay around it

ayam betutu (what's left of it :p)

Afterwards the driver was smart to drive us to a souvenir shops KRISNA, it is one huge shops selling not only snacks but also paintings, t-shirts, batik, accessories, and even slippers and small2 items.

And the most interesting part is, they are cheap! Truly reasonable priced.

And I found what I had been dreaming of, the big strawhat! And it’s only for IDR 33,000!

And so in the first day I had cleared some –must-by- list for friends- how nice!

** Air Asia ticket bought on 19 nov, two ways from Singapore to Bali cost SGD 338,

(Fare 137, airport tax 28, luggage for return 4, convenience fee 10)

** Dinner at Ayan Betutu Asli Gilimanuk, jln Merdeka no.5 Denpasar, Bali. T: 0361- 263464

.

** Krisna - oleh oleh khas Bali. Jln. Nusa Indah no.77 Denpasar.

** Hotel Nikki, Jln Gatot Subroto IV no.18 Denpasar Bali, T: 0361-412888 F 0361-412333

lately: bizzare dream

another weird thing happened.

err, i dreamed of an old friend, miss.L, whom im not close with and we share different group of friends. we hardly talk to each other except lately one or two comments on facebook.

and then i dreamed of her.

and so because it was so vivid and i remembered everything she told me the moment i woke up, so i msg her on fb for fun.

in my dream she told me there's 4 guys proposed to her and finally she had made her choice, choose her ring and will set to marry next year.

then she told me that all guys name. but which i only remember the last name (the one that she had choosen) coz it was one of our ex-senior.

then then! you know what!

she said, it's true there's 4 guys chasing after her and she hadn't reply anybody. then!! i told her our ex-senior name, and she said, he truly is one of them! hahahahaha, and when she asked about the other 3, i said in my dream after you told me, i went 'oh, i dont know any of them' so i cant remember. and she said, it is! the 3 of them are her friends at ausie so i dont know them.

bizzare. bizzare. hahahaha ^______________^

is this a joke?

heylo! long time no update hehe~

yesterday i saw the most bizarre things i had ever seen in my 2 years stay at singapore or maybe, my life?

oh well,

i was rushing down escalator at little india mrt station - going to my tuition when i saw from a far two bodies lying down at the centre of the mrt corridor, surrounded by policemen. what a sight! my heart dropped few centimeters!

it was around 6.30, time for most of us knock off, hurried home or wherever we are going off to- so in that kind of messy setting where lots of people walking and peeking and stopping and wondering. i too, slowed down to look at who was lying down there.

to my very berry surprise, there were two bodies there, not just one. and few young looking policemen squating there, looking confused -to me- about what to do.

because you know why?

the two bodies are totally not common, because they are toddlers! little kids around 2-3 years old i belief!! and they are westerners! little blonde hair fellow, lying down at the cold stone walkway!

i was so shock!!!! what's going on here?!

to my relief..i heard the policeman said, 'hey..you cant sleep hereeeeee'

and the baby rubbing her (or his?) eyes, looking sleepy whiew other policemen (more than 5 of them there) squating around her. and another baby sleeping around 2 meters away.

they were sleeping right at the middle of the 5 meters stone walkway, right AT THE MIDDLE OKAY? and it looks like the best bed you could ever tried in your life.

omg. so bizarre! simply bizarre!!

i bet those policemen were confused too! after all training to handle boom or terrorism, i wonder if they had ever imagine encountering such things? lost babies - found sleeping in the middle of MRT walkway?!

for a moment, i thought, could i be some part of JUST for LAUGH GAGS laugh asia version? but there's police there! oh

play! : cooking mama

interesting mini game! cooking mama- mama kills animals

the game graphics reminds me of gloomy bear~
bear-napped from flickr