Thursday, May 31, 2007

Day 6 in Bali

Surprisingly, a very peaceful night, deep slumber, but still had to wake up at 5+am to catch the 1st boat back to mainland Bali. It was the weekend and we had to be at the "ferry terminal" earlier to secure a seat (even if it was just the open air roof top seat!)

Bade farwell to Nusa Ceningan and here is a nice shot of the mountains on Bali. Also caught some other kids playing while waiting for the boat to depart on video


The boat ride back was alittle bumpier than before, but the sun was kind and i was spared a roasting on my already tender neck and back...
A shot of the Tallest Building in Bali! Built in the days of the Dutch before the locals took control and imposed the "Coconut Height Limit" on all buildings..

Once we arrived to mainland, I was indeed convinced that half the population of Bali spend their weekends on the beach! Check out the Motor-brigade!

The tour bus was awaiting me and my next pick up point was at Ubud to head form my 3 day 2 night Northen Island retreat with Zen Body Holiday. Frankly, I booked it coz they provided a driver and I got to see a few sights which I wanted to see + 2 massages..and 2nights stay. I didn't know where the resort was really, and what kinda standard.

I arrived at my pick up point in Ubud, and Wayan my driver for the day was already there. We headed to Tirta Empul (meaning Holy Spring Water) Temple, one of the most prominent temples near Ubud. As it was a special festival weekend of The God of Knowledge - Saraswati, the temple was absolutely packed with people, hoping to take a holy bath within the temple. Here is a snap shot of it...don't worry, rated PG only..hah

I didn't stay long amongst the masses and we moved on to my first Rice Terrace - the Tegalalong Rice Terrace! Here is just one pic...
Lunch was next and I was brought up to Kintamani area where I could overlook Gunung Batur and its pristine lake...


This was a typical tourist trap, buffet lunch overlooking the volcano and lake....Soon, the restaurant was filled with Japanese boys and girls, Americans, Spanish, Chinese what have you...For that view, priceless :)

It was another 2 hrs drive through to my resort - Gaia Oasis at Tejakula, North at the coast. No cars can travel down to the reception, only motorbikes, so I had to stop some 500m away, call the resort, and a motorbike came out to pick me up. Did the madatory checking in, and when I saw the room, I was blown apart!
It was absolutely divine! A almost see-through villa by the beach, with the sound of waves caressing the shore all through the night! The photos probably don't do much justice...but here goes!
Views from within my room....the beach is just 100 m away!

My Royal Bed...Shiok ah! Got that kinda "protected" feeling when I released the "mosquitoe nets"...


Side "bed" and study table...
The open area just outside my villa, shared kitchen between 2 villas, chill-out area...lovely!


Showering in the open! Check out how low the wall is...haha..


And doing your business in the open too! hwahhaha....


The gardens just outside my room...heavenly...





Lovely sunsets...I'm getting a thrill in taking photos of sunsets...
The night was so peaceful, with waves singing to me as I drifted to dreamland....ahhhh

Monday, May 28, 2007

Day 5 in Bali

Awoke at 515am, not really sleeping much..mosquitoes buzzing and biting away...sianzzz..but happy to leave anyway!

I was driven to Sanur and took this pic just abt 7am...ahhhh..

Gede, my local tour guide was there at 6am to pick me away from mosquito misery! I had signed up for a 1 day 1 night, eco-toursim package with JED and was looking forward to it! Basically a day and night out on an island of bali, away from the maddening crowd of Kuta/Legian/Seminyak and to a little retreat amongst the villages...



Some more views of my boat ride - its local form of transport, and we sat on the top of the boat! no rail guard!!



Gede, checking out our next door boat...any bikini babes perhaps? ahaha...





And we're off!



The yummy snacks and balinese coffee that greeted me on my arrival. Lots of flies tho!






Checked out the drying of seaweed just by the beach!

Close up of the seaweed!








Views of the seaweed farm from land....


The boat ride...and views of the seaweed just below! Water was really shallow...less than 1 m!
Saw the way they cultivated the seaweed, and it seems the season this year is less than ideal, i'm suspecting global warming here! Each season is normally 1-1/1/2 mths long..
Once the seaweed is all dried in the sun (3 days or so), they sell it to the middle man who package it etc and it lands up in faraway lands like Japan, US etc. They're right at the start of the food chain!

Lunch was next then snorkelling! Its been a while since I've swam in clear salt water..haha..and it was really enjoyable! the sun was out and the views interesting enough to "rekindle" my love for scuba diving...:)

Boat ride out to the snorkel site....



Some pics in the waters from my trusty waterproof camera!
















And a video clip of course! check out the neighbouring locals....fierce!


After snorkelling for an hour or so...we headed out to explore the rest of the island on scooter! The island is totally devoid of cars/lorries/trucks simply because the roads can only fit bikes! How wonderful!

While riding up towards a vantage point to see the sun set, I decided to learn how to ride a scooter from Gede, the trusted guide. After 34s of theory class, I was on my way! hahah..

Nearly rode off the cliff I tell you! Right hand abit spastic, could accelerate, but when trying to brake, didn't release the accelerator! Gede was very fast to just sit me behind from then on..haha

Had a good chat with Gede on while waiting for the sun to set..learned alot about Bali, the culture, about how most people spend their $ on religious offerings, how Balinese believe in Ancestors, Spirits alot, how Balinese always miss home when they are overseas because their placenta was buried in the garden once they are born! How bizzare was that? I had to ask Gede to repeat that line, I'm quite sure I didn't get it wrong! Yep, not wrong at all...go google it!

We talked abit about the Japanese girls coming to Bali to "prey" on local men because of their "prowess" in bed. Gede said something quite funny: "We're small, but Strong!" Go figure that out! haha...

Some views from the cliffs...













Not really a sunset shot, but what the heck...the clouds prevented any real sunset shots..


The village kids playing with their little "banana boat"!
Great day! Got back for a well deserved bath, dinner (no flies at night! yay!) and "listening in" to the villages nightly conversations...:)

Had more chatting with Gede and learnt he is number 10 in a family of 10! wow! Really STRONG men here indeed! haha..

No mosquitoes here! that made the day just sweeet....

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Day 4 in Bali


Bf followed by Check Out and stored my pack for the day before heading out for my day of Andrealin Pumping Activities! (or so I thot)

Started of with 4WD buggy riding! Met an Australian couple who were doing 4WD and motobike riding the whole day. I was doing water rafting in the afternoon :)

Nice couple, husband works in an Iron Ore Mine company while wife is a teacher

Water Rafting next! Was paired up with a mother and daughter team from Russia..how exotic! haha

Walking down the flight of stairs to the start point
















Posing at the top

Row Row, row your boat....



Shower Time!
After a rather gentle ride (expected more thrills really!), it was back to Contiki, picked up my stuff, bathed and moved on to the a more "value for $" lodging just for one night. Literally just 400m down the road, I checked in and slept ASAP, had to be up by 6am the next morning for my ec0-toursim trip to the island, Nusa Seningan!

Day 3 in Bali

Hit the road straight after breakfast for horse riding!

Along the 1hr drive to the start point (somewhere further north of Tanah Lot), I decided to film the road and show u a typical Bali rush hour! Check out the number of free-spirited motorbikes around!
(Sorry, having trouble uploading the video - resolving it now ASAP)
Got saddled up quickly and soon on my way....some views and pics - this video quite cock up i realised! lost control of the camera while on the horse!




Just 2 ppl along this empty beach...



Just love the ruggedness of the shoreline...



A temple along the "stroll"



Some nice friendly rice farmers along the way...




Such lovely lunch views...heavenly :)

Surfing in the afternoon yet again. This time, waves not as strong as yesterday, but still a might challenge. In a moment of folly while riding a wave as it came straight on, I managed to smash my face into the board....OUCH! For a moment, I was wondering if my teeth was still intact! Then...tasted blood....oops...luckily nothing broken...here's the "damage"! It was the final day of surfing and I'll be back!

A very depressed looking me...

Simon and me, probably the only person (together with his lovely wife - Sarah-Jane) whom I could click with in my stay at Contiki, coz we were the "oldest" around probably?!?! haha...Still under 35 both of us...or barely (for at least one of us!) Really nice dude, talkative and the way he spoke about Rugby League in Australia, you could see the blood, gore and hear the bones crunching away as he went on and on about the clashe of the titans - NSW vs Victoria! He stays in Newcastle with 40 X 2 km of lovely beach just next door! When I told him Singapore's length is about 42km, he nearly had a cardiac! haha....

Day 2 in Bali

Day 2 started with my Spa pampering session in the morning instead of Surfing - The tide changes every few days and it was scheduled for afternoon classes instead. For my first spa experience in Bali, I decided to go upmarket and went to Prana Spa. High End, lots of moolah...I figured, why not? Working so hard for 3+ yrs...time to pamper myself..haha..

Interesting thing was that the Spa provides a complimentary pick up for clients who are paying more than US$100. I qualified as I was doing 3 treatments, a Foot Shiatsu, a foot massage and shirodarah, costing abt US$150 in all (ex taxes).

The driver picked me up as planned and really, it was only just a 3 min ride away. Interestingly, within 24s of the ride, the driver started telling me the following:
Driver: "Mr Andy, I have a big business" For a moment, I just kept quiet, thinking in my mind....
Andy: "Er, OK..." Then the killer line...
Driver: "Have you heard of MLM?"
Andy:" Yes, I know...why?"
Driver: "I am from Tianshi, biggest MLM in Indonesia"
Andy: "Good....(long pause).....good"

I guess he saw that incredulous look on my face and stopped saying anything after that. We were literally arriving at the spa anyway!

What a way to start the morning! hahaha...

Anyway, a video clip now of the spa...Level 2!


The overall experience was really nice indeed. They let me have a free use of the cold and warm pools and I got my skin all flushed, heating it up and cooling it in the freezing waters. Really SHIOKKKK...Feet Shiatsu on my back was really hard and shirodarah was really dreamy and i came out all dreamy eyed! Not so dreamy while I scrutinized the bill tho!

Got back, was lunch time by then and had a nice Vegetarian Lunch at Zula. Saw some interesting hippie like people pretending to be cool eating vegetarian (well, they looked kinda pretentious, 2 ladies) and subsequently shopping a whole lot of "organic" and healthy stuff.

Afternoon was time to hit the surf AGAIN! Today, the waves were relentessly strong and all of us were exhausted! It was so interesting to learn about the ocean, the waves, channels etc and it make the class more interesting. Surfing is REALLY fun and I told myself, I'm gonna go back to bali and surf again soon! Oh, the abrasions started appearing on my knees and palms too...ouch..

Dinner was some Mongolian themed dinner at Contiki. For a room, bf and dinner is provided everyday, pretty convenient i must say!

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Official Day 1

Woke up bright and early, did my yoga practice and hit the breakfast table at 7am sharp. Was lovely to be the only one here at breakfast so early in the morning..was staying at Contiki - basically a hotel for 18-35yr olds, u can imagine what an obvious mis-match it was for me to be here...haha.. More info on contiki here, as blogged by sparklette. She spent a good 3-4 days there and has more info about the place itself.

ppl were hanging around the pool bar, getting smashed etc..and i didn't even step into the pool! anyway, here's a shot of the entrance and the pool view i had from the room..
















Booked my day trips through the CAPs (or Contiki Action Planners) and went for my first surfing class by 9.30am! It was fun, but sorry, not much pics..only of the beach...















The class by Ripcurl School of Surfing was pretty well-run and Budi (Instructor for the day) spoke very well and gave clear instructions. Within the first hour, we were all up on the board and standing! WOO HOO!

After class ended about lunch time, I grabbed a quick muesli bar before heading for my first "tour" - comprising of Taman Ayun (Royal Temple), Kedaton Monkey Village and Tanah Lot.



Just a quick view of the thousand and one pagodas / temples in bali...truly, its an island of temples, with every village having 3 temples each! There are about 640 temples in bali, so do your maths to see that Bali truly deserves the tag of "Thousand Temple Island"! Thats excluding the royal temples, the family temples etc!

Cute monkeys at Kedaton Monkey Village - loads of monkeys around! I was kinda hesitant to go to a monkey village as i heard of stories of monkeys snatching caps and even spectacles/sunglasses in ransom for food! i checked with the guide and he says not to worry for this particular village, but the Uluwattu one is highly likely!



Check out these kids having so much fun with a python just outside the monkey village!

Right, now listen up u bunch of scardey cats...You grab the tail and u....stop staring and shaking in your pants!!







Finally, some organisation now...









Now SMILE!!!





A little procession as we drove on the narrow 2 lane roads...


















Finally, Tanah Lot in the sunset...a blurry shot here - basically a temple by the coast. The land around the temple was eroded by the sea and its now pretty much stand alone of the coast....

Sunday, May 20, 2007

The Blogging Begins...

apologies apologies....soooooo long no entry, very paiseh..
was trying to figure out a way to blog properly...so i decided, my blog will not just be about photos, and what i did...but hopefully alittle bit of humor, some education and insights...:)

ok, firstly...few things i learnt during my 11 days in Bali...
*Disclaimer - Some I read, some I heard from my local guide, some I observed...so don't take them for the complete truth!*

1) Taxi & Transport (these two words) followed by a questioning tone are the most common words i hear everywhere i walk around! Taxi drivers, car drivers just sitting by the road side, hidden in an alley will just shout it out as i walk by!

2) Dogs are everywhere! Prettly harmless tho...

3) I look like Indonesian Chinese from Jakarta - at least 3 occasions people have looked at me and started conversations in Indonesian with me!

4) MLM is everywhere. Even the driver who fetched me from my resort to the Spa tried to "recruit me"! More details later...this is a good laugh indeed...

5) Riding a scooter ain't as easy as it looks (to me at least!) nearly drove off the road while on a lonely island..hahah..

6) Surfing is pretty darn shackadoos...was gasping for air and looking half dead towards the end of a 2/1/2hr class (and thats with theory/sitting around taking up to 30m-1hr of the time!)

7) Bali is predominantly a Hindu country, 90% actually, which means pork is readily available on the streets! Babi guling (spit roast pig stuffed with balinese spice paste) is one of their delicacies (which unfortunately i missed out on!)

8) Its against the law in Bali to have buildings higher than a coconut tree!

9) When a balinese is born, the placenta is burried in their home's grounds. That is why when Balinese leave Bali, they miss home very much! This was pretty interesting trivia for me...:P

OK, thats it for the intro...will go more in detail tmrw!