PART ONE - LONE TRAVELER - BALI (28 JAN - 1 FEB 2010)

DAY ONE - 28 Jan 2010 (Thursday)

6.30 am took a cab from my house and went to KL Sentral. Took a bus to LCCT and finished checked in by 7.50 am. Ate breakfast at Marry Brown. The flight to Denpasar took off exactly at 9.00 am, reaching Nugrah Rai International Airport at 12.00 pm. Unlike in Jakarta, there is no time difference between KL and Bali so there is no need to do time adjusting. From the airport, I took a Bluebird cab to Tune Hotel, Kuta (the local pronounce it as Tun) and since I arrived early (check in time is 3.00pm), I left my bag there for a nominal fee of Rp7,000 and walked towards Kuta town since the hotel is just a walking distance to the Kuta area.

Bali is not an unfamiliar place for me. I was here in 2008, also staying in Kuta area and so I know the way around here quite well. Feeling hungry I had my lunch in KFC knowing that most of the fast food chains such as KFC, McDonald, Pizza Hut, A & W are 'halal'. Nonetheless, don't expect the menu will be the same as in Malaysia. All menu do have local foods such as rice and soups in it. The taste? varies depend on your taste bud.

Went back to Tune Hotel and did my check-in. For such a small sum, the hotel is just perfect for me. It offer all the basic things splendidly.

Affordable and comfortable plus good location

After taking a small nap, I went out to Kuta area but now exploring the beach and the international shops nearby. As usual, the beach here were full of people from all over the world. Kuta itself is the the busiest place in Bali.

Not my fav beach, but it has its nice ambiance...

Strolling by the beach, I reached Hard Rock Cafe nearby and bought two T-Shirts. One for myself and the other for my friend. One down, two to go....yup things to buy as per requested by friends and colleagues. Next, I entered a Croc shop and bought myself a Croc sandal. Buying the sandal was the best decision since I will be doing lotsa of walking during my visit here. My next destination was to the small shops near the beach in which there are rows and rows of shops selling pirated DVDs and CDs at an amazing low price.

What to do next? Spa off course. Bali is famous for its spa. There are so many spa ranging from a small size to huge ones all over Bali, even one in the air port. Insomuch, the prices for any spa treatments are so cheap to compare to any other places. So, upon a friend recommendation, I entered SMART, a spa near KFC. There were so many packages to choose. I chose hot stone aromatherapy massage followed by facial treatment knowing very well, hot stone massage is quiet expensive in KL. The 1.5 hr massage was a bliss and I love it very much. While getting ready for the stone, the male masseur then covered me up with a batik sarong, rolled the prayer mat and did his 'asar' prayer next to me. Bali is 99% Hindus and seeing a devoted Muslim was a pleasant surprise. Silently, he then proceeded to do the hot stone treatment to my body. Afterward, the facial treatment was done by a female therapist. I must confessed, not unfamiliar with facial treatments, the such of Leonard Drakes and others in KL, this was the best facial treatment so far for me. Normally in KL, the therapist will leave during the face steaming or while waiting for the mask to dry, here, during those two activities, she will massage your head, hands and upper body meaning for 1 hour, she will not leave you alone and you will be pampered non stop....pure bliss...

The middle shop is Smart SPA

Afterward, I walked alongside the street in Kuta area again and stopped by at a Minang food court near Centro, one of the biggest Mall in Bali. It was drizzling on and off in Kuta. While having my dinner there, I had a chat with the owner of the shop named Pak Indra who came from Padang a month ago to Bali. Upon his suggestion, I agreed to appoint his brother as my tour agent who has being doing the business for 12 years here on Saturday. Having been to most tourist places here from my earlier trip such as Kintamani Volcano, Ubud Rice Terrace, Bedugul, Tanah Lot, seafood at Jimbaran and watching the Barongan and Kecak Dances, now, I intend to go Pura Besakih and Uluwatu, two places I have yet to discover.

Next, I stopped by at an Internet cafe near the Minang food court. There were too many foreigners (the local called them as 'bule') inside, most of them were from Australian boys and girls. After awhile, I left and walked again to Kuta beach and then walked straight back to the hotel to rest.

Tomorrow will be my shopping day as Saturday will be my touring day....

LONE TRAVELER - BALI (28 JAN - 1 FEB, 2010)

Yup..there was me on top of a cliff...what was I doing there??? the story will yet to be unfold...I just got back, let me unpacked, unwind and I will tell all in my next post....OK?

ROSES

Blossom, my darling blossom
be a rose of roses unchidden
and purposeless
a rose for rosiness only
without ulterior motive
for me it is more than enough
if the flower unclose

D.H Lawrence.

SENILITY PRAYER

GRANT ME THE SENILITY TO FORGET THE PEOPLE

I NEVER LIKE ANYWAY,

THE GOOD FORTUNE TO RUN INTO THE ONE'S I DO,

AND

THE EYESIGHT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE

HAPPY 55TH BIRTHDAY, DEAREST SIS...

10.1.2010 was my sis's birthday...her 55th..and we all (except her oldest daughter) celebrated her birthday at Outback Steakhouse in Bukit Bintang...

My sis and me

The main course, after the appetizers....

My present for my dear sis.....

One for the family .....

Still lovey dovey after years of marriage, happy birthday sis...lots of love

After the celebration, I rushed back home to get ready for AJL 2009....the crowd in Stadium Putra was overwhelming....I agreed to most comments that this was one of the best AJL to date despite many young entries and less mega stars (such as Anuar Zain, Jaclyn Victors or even Dato's Siti to name a few) contenders...One thing I like about TV3 is that, they really do know how to handle mega shows like this in such a professionally manner due to their vast experience in the business comparing to Astro's half baked and horrible concerts... On the other hand, the only set back will be the long advertisements...but in AJL 24, TV3 was smart enough to bring Nabil, Angah and the girl from Raja Lawak whom I can't recall her name in between breaks and their antiques brought the house down....

Are you happy with the result?...Honestly, "Pergi" might not be the favourite for the nite..but many agreed Aizat will win in one of the top categories but not that particular song... the winning is to me too sentimental psychically and mentally and down rite controversial too (taking into account Fatimah Abu Bakar was one of the juries...yeah a long shot to spark an issue that is).... Best song? ermm.. Many wanted Bunkface to win too.. I think they did sound great..... Yuna...she was also one of the favourite that nite...my wild imagination was this, once the competition was over, you can see Stacy pulling her wild hairdo and screaming out loud " I was sweating like Hell, dancing like a lunatic and what do I get??? Nothingggggggg.."..uurwghhhhh... and then Yuna passed by and with her smirk and wicked smile said out loud "Even my ear piece dropped in my 'tudung' and I can't hear the monitor, I can still win, honey and I don't have to scream at all..."... Anyways.. kudos to TV3 for the nice show. My only complaint, do print the tickets according to the seats, you moron...

At the main entrance of Stadium Putra...

ACTIVITIES IN DECEMBER - PART 2

A few other activities during this festive month.

1) THE HOST

The tag line "Science fiction for people who don't like science fiction" is rather catchy for me..

I have finished reading this book by Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight Trilogy. Unlike any vampire and werewolf, the author explores a science fiction with romance in this book. Here, the earth has been overrun by an alien species called Souls which invade human bodies and erase personalities. A soul name Wanderer (or Wanda as the human called her later) was implanted in a human (Melanie Stryder). Inhibiting human mind and body is new to Wanda and soon she finds out Melanie is not willing to give up to Wanda, refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. Later, Wanda find herself driven to reconnect with Melanie's old life, her vision of her human brother and lover, Jared who is in hiding and jeng jeng jeng.....well I won't tell more of the stories since I was made to know that The Host will soon be getting into a movie and will be directed by Andrew Niccol of the Gattaca fame.. but what I like most in this book is the conflict between two men i.e one loving an alien and the other loving the host which share the same human body... kinda interesting don't you think..this story coming from a writer who made a vampire and a werewolf falling over a girl... And talking about Eclipse, tentatively it will be shown world wide on the 30 June, 2010....

2) TWELVE ROOMS WITH A VIEW

Is the book I am reading now. Theresa Rebeck is a master story teller with all the right ingredient for a fantastic novel and I love her instantly. Here, Tina Finn, the main character, heard about her inheritance of a huge luxury apartment overlooking Central Park during her mother's newly-dug grave. Being a girl who is living in a trailer park, this will her dream for a better change but all this turn topsy turvy when her half brothers, left out of the inheritance think that she has no right to the apartment and they want her out by any means necessary..not only the brothers but other tenants have their own agenda for the house too and the story will go on how she must be prepared to fight to the end to keep it..yup the part that I have not encountered yet but soon..so much anxiety waiting for this Wednesday (will be on leave) where then I can snug in and finish reading the book....

3) Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant.

Intended to watch "Sherlock Holmes" on a last minute unscheduled activities last Thursday in Mid Valley but I cannot secure a good seat. A and I watched this movie instead. It is based on a book series by Darren Shan and it focuses on the fantasy adventures of a teenager and his best friend who discover a travelling freak show (creatures such as snakeboy, wolfman, bearded lady, monkey woman etc) who later was turn into a vampire himself. Then, he found out about a war between vampires and their enemy counterparts but later unknowingly breaks the 200 year old truce.... I found this movie very interesting, fast moving, perfect CGI, plenty of action and humor too...the unhappy part was that, the movie does not end here meaning more sequels will come thereafter...which means another painful waiting period again... arghhh...

Enjoyable movie...go see it

While in Mid Valley also, I bought a watch. After all this years of wearing watches given to me as present for my birthdays from my special ones, the time has come for me to buy one for my own. I have no intention to buy the watch at this time since I intend to buy it during my actual bonus payment scheduled in April or May next year but because of YES...yup.. the Year End Sales, I can't resist buying the watch earlier using my interim bonus with full knowledge that I am going to Bali this end January...nangis jap... nonetheless I am happy with the watch. Its a Victorinox Swiss Army Active with Sapphire Cyrstal Glass and with a 3 years warranty... with this purchase, I have to postpone buying a new couch or sofa as per listed in the budget items for this year..hehe

Last Saturday, A and I also went to Aquaria. Because of the holiday, we expected a long que to buy the tickets. As as solution, A and I decided to take turn queueing and eating at Kenny Rogers there..I will show our pictures there in my later post. We then have dinner at Quan's, with Panzer, Amri and Leo, starting with appetiser, main course, ice cream for dessert and coffee afterwards, our main discussion inter alia was our planning for a small gathering on the upcoming new year's eve....

HERE AND THERE IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009

Two weeks ago, on a Sunday A and I decided to eat fish curry head but the shop that we were looking for was closed (near Public Bank at Kampung Attap) and after roaming around aimlessly, I saw a restaurant in Muzium Negara and decided to give it a try . At 4.00 pm, there were not much food left except curry mee/laksa and rojak. Too hungry to complaint, we ate in silent. Its has been awhile since I have been here, awhile means ages ago, the last if I am not mistaken was during my study years in ITM, i.e being a chaperon to my distant cousins from Saudi Arabia who cannot speak BM and little bit of English... After the late lunch, I persuaded A to take the tour to the whole muzium and to an exhibition which interest me i.e an exhibition from the 'orang asli' called 'Magis Belantara'.

At the entrance of the exhibition

Nope, 'he' did not invite me in...hehe

Yup, the shaman, err .. not him, but at the back...

Ermm..not the Magis Belantara but other sections..memories....

Always the curious one...

Last Saturday, my mother called and asked me to drive her back to Muar...together with A, we reached Muar by 2.00 pm. After eating the infamous 'mee bandung' , A and I went to Tanjung Agas and we were surprised that HotFM was having its last Night Jam Concert for 2009 there... It was one of the biggest concert sponsored by Streamyx and after watching the concert, we left for KL after the concert ended at 12.00am.

Still early, ronda-ronda dulus..

The stage at the back...Ate rojak, keropok lekor and buttered corn, delicious..

The concert started. Pasha, and his band, UNGU among the fav artiste that night

Datok Siti Nurhaliza belted 3 songs, one with all the HotFM DJs as her backup dancers

SOFAZ were to me the best vocal performance for the nite..

Other artistes performing were Alya, Akim, AXL, Sixth Sense, Ahli Fikir, One Nation Emcee and the worse performance of all were from Liana Jasmy..girl you need to go back to learn how to sing or else stick only to acting...

Other than that nothing much except watching movies such as Princess and the Frog which I highly recommended together with AVATAR..yup the Navi's world was actually the highlight of the whole movie... irregardless any dummies can really associate the animals in that world with ours such as dogs, horses, rhinos or birds....yet the technique was magnificiant (espcially you watch it in 3D)... the story so-so, the battle too long...my verdict...a movie that I will watch again with HD DVD. Off course you cant really compared this to TITANIC, the only movie that I watched 4 times in the cinema....Nonetheless AVATAR really has a deep meaning actually...the phrase "I SEE YOU" means something inside you that counts in whatever persona your outer layer would be... Again, if James Cameron said that this is his original story, I beg to differ. The story has a combination of Pocahontas and the animation of Battle For Terra, with regards to greedy invasion, betrayal of your own kind with the right course and love entwined so on and so forth...

By the way..a special thanks to Is for last Saturday's BBQ nite at his house, thanks to Leo, Amri and Panzer for the thang to BBQed, I prepared for the homemade dessert, and drinks and Azrul brought his homemade curry puffs... Shah and Sharul too... We had a blast....the fire crakers of the Ponggol devotees add glamour to our affairs hehe..