ONE WORD - BALI

Bali – Day 1

Any trip, as usual started off with excited. Bali for sure is exciting for me because it marked my first step into Indonesia, and Bali is one of the places on the globe that I told myself that I would visit, especially after watching and reading “Eat Pray Love”.

Well, unlike the book however, I’m not really here to seek ‘love’ but rather to indulge into the colours and cultures while relaxing.

Day one was not easy for me because I was unlucky enough to catch a flu bug 2 days before the trip. So I was basically praying hard and trying to maintain a ‘healthy’ body temperature by feeding myself with enough panadols and water.

The flight was not particularly pleasant, although I must admit how lucky I was to be seated next to a really sweet couple from Switzerland. Seeing both of them locking hands while watching movies melted my heart (excuse me for being such a nosy plane passenger). Although the rough air-ride, I was lucky that I survived the flight (imagine 3 hours of real torture due to nose-block and sinus). The stewardesses were not particularly helpful; I clearly looked desperate enough to die for water and yet, they somehow ‘disregarded’ me and took their own sweet time serving other food. Even the couple next to me felt annoyed with her service that they helped me call for their attention, which was also disregarded until I ‘died’ sitting due to the drought. (Okay, over dramatizing, but seriously, I was NOT in the best condition, with nose block and sore throat attacking me at the same time)

Once the plane leveled with the ground, my heart sang “Hallelujah”….seriously, “LAND!!!” and I could breathe with two nostrils again. By the time we reached the airport, my stomach signaled for food. Seriously, if you know me well enough, if my stomach signals for food, you know, I am desperately hungry. This is because, I SELDOM SAY I AM HUNGRY.

Finding a taxi without being cheated is also another challenge but I always leave these ‘hard’ work to others hahaha. Okay, I am evil, but heard of too many cooks spoil the soup? Ya…exactly! Once we got a cab, we rolled to Tune Hotel where I literally just dumped my luggage and went out to scout for food. Remember the signal from the stomach?

Most of the stuff nearby were pretty pricy but we found a great place for ‘penyet’ styled cooking which was pretty cheap. The servings were not huge, but it silent my stomach and I got back to the hotel a happy girl.

Our first meal in Bali - Penyets! :) 

Day one ended with a bath with no body shampoo (because I realized when I’m half naked that my liquids are at my friend’s suitcase, dang!). Brushed my teeth and forced myself to bed, anticipating the next day. To be honest, I really did not sleep well I guess because I was just tooooooooooooooo excited and my brain was filled with activities.

I guess my brain fully rested once the clock struck around 4am…zzzz….

Bali - DAY 2 & 3

“RINGGGGGG!!!!”

A tiny hand reaches out for the phone alarm. Small eyes saw the time “7.30 am”.

Awww that’s just great! Barely have enough sleep and it’s time to pop up.

My mind straightaway suggested to my body that I should skip breakfast and continue to snooze for another 10 mins.

10 minutes later…

Dang!! Have to force myself up. It’s pathetic how lazy and fat my bump is, even during vacations. But yes, I managed to drag myself to the bathroom which is literally, less than 30 centimeters away (hahaha that’s how small Tune Hotel is).

In merely 20 minutes, I washed up, took a warm bath and was up and about in the lobby waiting for the rest of the gang. Not a morning person, I accidentally made my infamous ‘sulky’ face (where I will pout my mouth just for fun at my colleagues) I have every morning in the office. Dang! When my friend asked me “Why are you sulking?”, I immediately remember how one of my colleagues asked me the same question once. Dang! I kinda miss work!

Bali adventure day 2 & 3 were fantastic.

We went to all the famous tourist spots and there were all amazing. I shall sum up everything I vividly remember about Bali in a few sections.

Sunsets:

I understand now why people choose Bali for a romantic getaway because seriously, what can be more romantic than watching the sunset with your partner.

But the sunsets are amazingly breathtaking and it’s so beautiful that I don’t even mind watching the sunsets myself.

The sunset that I love the most is the one I saw at Uluwatu Temple and by Kuta Beach. The sunset in Jimbaran, to be honest is overrated. It was beautiful, but I guess not really worth paying for (if we were to have our seafood there).

Monkeys

My quiet contemplation time by the sunset at Uluwatu was seriously disruption by one naughty and violent monkey who literally steals and rapes. Hahahaha.

I found a great spot with a great view to enjoy my sunset and suddenly I heard screaming and the next thing I know I saw a monkey holding a cap and bearing his fangs, showing off to the crowd. Then he climbed on another monkey and literally raped her. Seriously, that is one of the MOST DISGUSTING THING I’ve ever seen in my life.

We discovered a new sense of fear that day – monkeys. They have the ability to do a lot of scary things and the last thing I want is my bag to be snatched by a monkey. Because then, you can only blame yourself for being dumber than a monkey. I was really protective of my bag and my phone especially, but I still managed to capture a few awesome sunset shots with the phone camera. Awesome!

Lesson learned: Monkeys are scary and we scratched out “Monkey Forest” from our list of tourist destination planned for the next day.

Jammed, narrow and winding roads

Seriously, if you think Malaysia traffic is bad….try Bali.

Drivers are “forced” to drive recklessly due to the road conditions. Imagine literally overtaking other cars in a narrow and winding road. NOT COOL! In Malaysia, that would have been a great way to die.

And any driver driving like how our driver drove in Malaysia would have been ‘honked’ till the next century. It was a scary ride at first but I somehow got used to it after 3 hours. The people there are so understanding, that they willingly make way for your car and they are ‘actually ok with drivers overtaking them with all sorts of driving and maneuvering techniques,  

Oh did I mention these narrow lanes are also friggin’ dark and scary. In Malaysia, these lanes would be a definite ‘no-no’ for ladies like me at night. So I admit that I was pretty scared while walking through those lanes because I was really worried that someone would just snatch my bag. Nevertheless, I guess the people in Bali are a bit more ‘controlled’ and the place is definitely much safer in a sense.

Food (Bakso, nasi padang, nasi campur, babi guling)

Pig/Pork Roll a.k.a. Babi Guling

Bakso

I wasn’t crazy about the food in Bali although they tasted good. I guess again, it’s my personal preference – I’m too westernized when it comes to food and I tend not to dig food that comes with rice.


Thus, I really love the delicious Pork Chop and Tuna Steak I had on the 2nd night. Too amazing. :)

Nasi campur was really good although from the looks of it , you probably won’t think so. However, I particularly enjoy the Bakso (because it reminds me a lot of my favourite beef noodles back in Malaysia). I did not eat much of those though, because I sort of promised myself to not eat beef for 6 months after I lost my second phone in the month of August. Which will lead me to my next story on Day 4…I lost my phone, AGAIN!

Bali – Day 4 & 5

On the morning of Day 4, I woke up excited about my massage but things took a turn after my visit to the money changer. I remember taking out my phone to calculate the rates and when the dude was not willing to change my RM 60 into Rupiahs, I remember sliding my phone and then….

Before I knew it, I lost my second phone in the month of August 2011. The first one was an iPhone!

So my massage wasn’t that great because my mind was too troubled with the fact that I’ve once again disappoint myself and everyone by losing my phone. Nevertheless, the masseuse was really good and the massage would be even more comfortable if  not because I can’t relax my mind.

At the spa

Towards night, I guess my mind was obsessed about going online because I wanted to share with the world back home about how sad I was. And of course, check emails!

We found McCafe, seriously the most awesome place to hang out in Kuta. I just love sitting on one of those seats facing the sea, and just going through my emails. The best work experience ever!

So Day 5 was dedicated to McCafe, online and the beach. Seriously, the best way to relax is to really just sit by the beach and DO NOTHING, but just accompanied by some good music blasting from my headphones. Or maybe exchange few short conversations with your friends. That is life man! I could live there forever. Everything I need is there – internet, music, the beach, hot dudes…ya…all checked!

I'm so going back to Bali again next year (or maybe the next haha, depending on my financial capabilities).

The place is too beautiful and amazing to not visit again. 

There were good and bad memories during this trip but I'm pretty sure that after the years, I'll only remember all the good :)


The trip back to Malaysia was awesome because it was a blur, mainly because I slept through the whole journey. Life was awesome then.


Til the next Update! :)


ps: Will try to be more hardworking


With lotsa Love
TammyC

LITERALLY ON THE ROAD TO MALACCA

1st of May, and it was a long weekend because we had an extra Labour Day holiday.

My friend, King Kong and I planned the trip 2 weeks back I think but as the day draws closer, I was sooooo friggin' tired that I suggested that we call it off! Two days of rest can do A LOT in terms of energy replenishing.

But I'm glad that King Kong got angry with me (because she wanted to try her layered cake) and 'forced' me to get my lazy butt off the bed and do something exciting.

So that beautiful morning, I chirped up and embraced the highway towards Malacca.

The journey towards Malacca saw me chiming along the rhythms of my favourite songs, and not forgetting my infamous driving dances that can be pretty embarrassing for those around me, but I've learned to say "who cares" haha. I just love to drive and move my body at the same time.

All went on smoothly until we hit a jam at the exit towards Malacca.

Dang! Our fears that Malacca would be jam-packed on public holidays had just materialised. So the Kong and I were stuck at the exit, all the way to the toll. The traffic condition continued to be a spoil-sport after the toll as we were moving at the speed of a turtle, and my hyper-activeness and dance moves died after 30 minutes in the jam. Way to go!

After crawling our way towards town, I gave up driving and suggested we park our car in the outskirts of town instead. At that point, I have faith that I can walk faster than cars, yes, I am SUPERWOMAN. And I was right.

King Kong and I 'dumped' the car on an empty land somewhere in the middle of nowhere and we snapped photos of the surrounding shop lots so that we can find the car (or at least, someone else can find it) later.

This was where we parked

Then we put our feet to work.

Walking as swiftly as superwoman, we glide across the sides of the road, passing by all the cars that are lining up on the road. 

I was busy snapping pictures of the town along the way, while King Kong was the tour guide who was frantically searching for Jonker Street so that we can have our much anticipated Laksa for lunch. I feel bad because King Kong is always the one doing all the hard work, while I practically don't care about finding my way because...oh well, I am always the kind who likes to go wherever the wind takes me haha. So in Malacca, I just go wherever the Kong takes me. :)

But Kong is good...she found Jonker Street after she asked directions from a dude who she described as "has a decent and trustworthy look".

Jonker Street!

I've heard loads about it but it's been years since I visited Malacca and to be honest, I have the vaguest memories on how the city looks like. So there I was, in the middle of Jonker Street, looking for Laksa. I saw a line of hungry people in front of the Chicken Rice balls shop....I'm too hungry to wait so I bid farewell to the rice balls and headed straight behind King Kong to the Laksa shop, excitingly anticipating the sweet and sour spicy taste of one of my favourite local delights. In my mind, I kept thinking that "THIS LAKSA HAD BETTER BE THE BEST AND AWESOMEST ONE I'VE TASTED BECAUSE I'D LITERALLY WALKED MILES FOR IT!"

The line for The Chicken Rice Balls

As we walk towards the shop, it started drizzling. 

King Kong volunteered to line up for the Laksa, while I am in-charged of sauna-ing myself inside the shop and find a table. 

So if there's a split-screen to describe this screen, you'd see King Kong lining up in the rain, with a dude holding an umbrella and chatting with her, while I'm inside standing up, playing Angry Birds, while waiting for a family to finish up their meals so that I can grab their table.

Timing was awesome because once my butt touches the chair, I saw King Kong with two bowls of Laksa, walking in.

AWESOME!

We chowed down the noodles and I bought us cendol! 

So was the Laksa worth the extra mile? Yes!

After our Laksa, we headed to our next stop - Nadeje Cake House for the layered cake that Kong had been craving and basically, it was Kong's main reason for the trip.

We got a bit lost at first, trying to locate the shop and it was victory for us when we managed to find it. But our spirits were hampered once again when we understand from the shop that their cakes are all sold out and there were more than 50 people waiting for more cakes. 

Disappointed and tired, the almost dead King Kong and I proceeded to leave when another miracle happened. THE CAKES ARRIVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once again, we quickly get ourselves in line for a taste of this infamous layered cake. The two girls in front of me had this exaggerated  review of the cakes...telling each other how great the cakes are and how they can finish one whole cake by themselves. "Excuse me?"

I hear myself saying once again "THIS LAYERED CAKE HAD BETTER BE THE BEST AND AWESOMEST ONE I'VE TASTED BECAUSE I'D LITERALLY WALKED EXTRA MILES TO SEARCH FOR IT!

So it was finally us at the counter purchasing the cakes and although there were limited cakes to go around, we got ourselves two slices - one chocolate and one original.

The shop was so packed that we had to eat the cake somewhere else and so we went to Starbucks so that I could have my Frappuccino to go with the cake. Starbucks was also packed with homo sapiens, but I guess it was a lot better than the cake house. At least I could breathe there. In a couple of minutes, we found ourselves a spot and enjoyed a short tea break before we tried to figure out how to get back to our cars.

The layered cake was really good and I guess I know why people are crazy over it. But if you ask me, I would not go through THAT MUCH just for the cake. It wasn't overrated, but I guess I am just not the type who would swim through a river full of crocodiles just to get a taste of sweet.

Yes, the cakes were good. But make sure you pre-order it so that you don't end up lining up like us fools haha...

At around 6pm, we started mapping our way back to our car. If we were iPhones, I guess our energy level would be around 18%, so we decided to scrap off the idea of WALKING BACK TOWARDS THE CAR. But the challenge was getting a cab because there was none who would stop to greet us, let alone pick us up and ferry us back to our starting point. So we dragged ourselves to the nearest hotel and asked if they could help get us a cab. The nice hotel staffs contacted the taxi service but told us that the taxi driver is stuck in a jam and so we would need to wait.

I seized the opportunity to take a quick nap at the hotel lobby. Yep, I am not sure if I should be impressed with myself or not, but I realised that since I started working, I have developed the ability to sleep under whatever circumstances, and basically it doesn't really matter where I am.

So I told Kong to wake me up once the cab is here and so as I doze off, she busied herself with her iPhone. When the cab came, we hopped on it and we were lucky to find the car safe and sound. :)

King Kong did not waste any time during my nap as she was busy editing a photo of me sleeping on her iPhone. What the heck!

The journey to Malacca ended on a high for me I had a blast although it was tiring. 

No regrets at all! I'm so glad I went because the trip is another great addition to the journey I called my life. :)

"Trippin'" with one of your good buddies is always the best!

P/S:

It's been TWO MONTHS!

TWO WHOLE MONTHS since I last contributed in this space of mind.

What the heck! 

Life has been awesome and crappy at the same time.

Trying to let my passion flow through my veins again, I did some traveling and I'm so excited that I finally have time to write about my trips. :)

Next up: Singapore trip!

With Lotsa Love,

TammyC