Bali

Bugged by work commitment and super-tight deadline, it's the first time I ever wished I could cancel my trip days before my departure...

Of course, I went ahead with my travel plans due to the confirmed flight tickets and reserved accomodation with my lap top.

Day 1: 14 Jun (Sat)

4am - woke up to prepare for the 7am flight

9am (1hr time difference) - Landed at Jakarta

9am to 12.30pm - transit due to flight delay

(good opportunity to catch up on my work at the lounge)

12.30pm - Depart for Bali

3.30pm - Reached Bali

4pm - Picked up by our friendly Driver, Sun

(one whole day of travelling!)

5pm - Uluwatu Temple by the cliff to catch sunset

Keep a lookout for those Monkeys!

6.30pm - SPA, Mandi Lulur at Rph 200,000 each for 2hrs

9pm - Seafood Dinner at Jimbarang Bay

10.30pm - Check-in at Novetel Nusa Dua

10.30pm to 12pm - Work

Our Spacious room at Novetel, Nusa Dua

Day 2: 15 Jun (Sun)

8.30am - Depart from Hotel Lobby

9am - Barong & Rangda dance

Note: On the way to Ubud, you might want to drop by the Silver & gold shops, or request to visit the batik shops to witness the batik making process.

12pm - ***Babi Kuling lunch at Warung Ibu Ota, Ubud

Highly recommended and I believe it'll be one of the best meals you can get in Ubud at crazy price. Where else can you get roast suckling pig at abtS$5 in Singapore?!! Balinese-style roasted pig~ Address: Jl Suweta (Just opposite Ubud Palace)

Operating hours: 11am - 4pm

Recommended: Nasi+Babi Guling Pisah @ 35,000

(for 10,000 more compared to "spesial" set, you get another slice of the famous crispy roast babi skin, and some suasages)

Total Cost for 2 with drinks: Rph 80,000

DO remember to drop by the market nearby to browse through the locally-crafted wares, art pieces and the cultural air.

1pm - Tegallalang for beatiful terraced-rice fields

1.30pm - Pura Taman Saraswati (Ubud Water Palace)

Jl Raya Ubud

2pm - Stop by Garden for free-sampling of the locally-made coffee (with a nice view of lush vegetation and valley)

2.30pm - Danau Batur (Lake Batur), Kintamani

3.30pm - A visit to Sun & Komar's village at Susut

Enjoyable walk through their rice padi field with Komar's dogs

5pm - Looking for cheap Spa in Ubud area

Failed, as most affordable Spa outlets are fully booked.

One highly recommneded SPA which we regretted not booking earlier: Zen SPA

Address: Jl. Hanoman - Ubud - Bali - Indonesia.

Phone: 0361-970976

http://www.zenbalispa.com/

Mandi Lulur - Floral Bath 1h 45 min at Rph 115,000 ONLY!!

6pm - Dinner at Bebek Bengil Restaurant (Dirty Duck Diner), Ubud

Address: Padang Tegal, Ubud. (near Monkey Forest Road)

Recommended dish: Crispy duck (First stewed in local spices and then deep fried) Deliciously crispy and yet not oily at all.

Total Cost for 2 including 1 Appetiser, 1 soup, 1 dessert to share and 2 Specialty drinks: Abt Rph 320,000 (S$50)

9pm - Reach Hotel

9 to 12pm - Bath and back to work...

Day 3: 16 Jun (Mon)

9am - Check-out and depart from Hotel Lobby

10.15am to 11am - Purah Tanah Lot

One of the most-photographed temple in Bali and it's not difficult to see why when you see the temple perching on a tower of rock along the shoreline. Very crowded with tourist, especially during sunset.

You can actually walk over to the temple at low tide, but only local balinese people are allowed to enter.

12pm - Lunch at tourist-class restaurant with Gorgeous view of padi field terrace

1.50pm - Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, Danau Bratan area

Hindu-Buddhist Temple dedicated to the goddess of waters (Dewi Danu). One of the more photogenic temple, which is surrounded by Lake Danu with a cloudy mountain as backdrop

3pm - Taman Ayun

A Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village, Mengwi sub district, Badung regency.

4.30pm - Kuta Beach

The place which most people associated with when you mention Bali. Highly commercialised, crowded with tourist, hawkers, sufers wannabes and congested traffic.

Despite the crowd, we stopped by Kuta due to its proximity to Denpasar Airport (10mins away).

5pm - Dinner at Poppie Restaurant set amid lush Garden setting.

Address: Poppies Gang 1 (Street 1)

Cost for 2: Abt Rph 250,000 (including Drinks, Dessert to share)

620pm - Depart for Airport

8pm - Home Sweet Home

Central Java ~ Heritage & Nature Tour

Day 1 - May 17 Singapore/Solo

Arrival at Solo via Silkair

Itinerary
- Solo City Tour
- Mangkunegaran Palace
- Radya Pustaka Museum

- Batik Istana
- Flea Market

Lunch @ Rasa Mirasa (see pic below)

A Nice Local restaurant
JL. Raya Solo Kartasura KM 8

Tel: (0271) 714280
Pabelan, Sukoharjo
Cost: Rupiah 129,500 (Drinks - Cola & young Coconut, Grilled fish-Gurami Bakar, 1/2 Ayam Bakar, Kangkung Sambal Tempe, Nasi Putih, including the local guide & driver's lunch)

- Scenic drive through lovely mountainous, countryside road between Merabu and Merapi Volcanoe
- Ketep Pass to view Merapi Volcano at 1400 meter above sea level
- Check-in Berg View Hotel @ abt 5pm

Accomodation
Berg View Hotel
Jl. Raya Blabak - Sawangan Km. 02 Kec. Mungkid Kab. Magelang
Tel: 62-293-782 237
e-mail: pta@idola.net.id

Fantastic view of Merabu and Merabi in the background of the paddy field.
Spacious and clean room, and huge bathroom

Beatifully landscape with a water-view dining experience

Radya Pustaka Museum was founded on October 28th, 1890. A small museum housed in an exotic old building, showing collections of Wayang Kulit (leather puppet), topeng (mask), gamelan (Javanese music instruments), Royal Barge figure heads and some Hindu sculptures. I didn't quite enjoy it as the exhibit wasn't very well maintained and museum is really small.

Pura Mangkunegara II is a Royal Palace built and completed in 1866. The current prince still stays in the palace. Coming from city, and having been to so many palace in the european countries, Mangkunegara is not very special and not very nicely-maintained. I think can skip this and visit the better-maintained Sultan Palace in Jogyakarta.

The most memorable experience at Ketep Pass was the light snack of freshly-grilled corn at the little shred by the hillside overlooking the vegetable crops. By the time we finish the Audio visual about Mt Merapi at Ketep Pass, the surrounding were slowly covered with thickened mist, so we can't really see Merapi from the viewing stand.


Day 2 - May 18 Dieng Plateau/Boroburdur

Itinerary
- Sunrise (5.15am) and Breakfast @ Pool terrace
- Dieng Plateau
- Boroburdur at sunset

Accomodation
Manohara Hotel just right besides Boroburdur Temple
What I like most about this hotel is it's proximity to Boroburdur Temple, and it's free pass for entrance to Boroburdur for sunrise.

Sunrise @ Berg View Hotel Pool terrace

~ Merabu & Merpi Volcano in the background

"Dieng" in Sanskrit language means hill of heaven. It is located on 2,000 meters height above sea level in a fertile highland of Wonosobo and Banjarnegara Regency.

The drive to Dieng Plateau was beautiful. The endless terraced hills with bountiful vegetable crops was a visual treat to city dewllers like myself. The misty cool air slowly covered the whole terrace as the sun rises up higher the sky. Mysterious and enchanting, though not so good for taking pictures.

A few stops were made at Dieng Plateau area to look at the active crater Sikidang, followed by the mysterious beauty of Telaga Warna(Lake Warna) and the Anjuna Complex (Old Hindu temples).

Telaga Warna is a lake within a broad, low-relief cone of Dieng volcano (2,565 M) in the the volcano complex of Dieng Plateau. You can smell the strong sulphorous air at certain parts along the parameters of the lake, and see bubbles rising up the shallow edge of the lake or pot holes at the side of the lake.

Lake Warna ("multi color lake")

cause by the plankton and vegetation in the sulphurous waters

Here's our friendly driver and local guide

Candi Puntadewa, one of the 5 candi in Anjuna Complex

Boroburdur at Dusk ~ the magical hours

Day 3 -May 19 Boroburdur/Jogjakarta

Itinerary
- Gather at 4.30am from Hotel lobby for special entrance ticket to Boroburdur @ sunrise
- Breakfast buffet @ hotel
- 7.30am Depart hotel
- Pawon, Mendut temples
- Bebeng Lava tour
- Prambanan Temple

- Lunch @ Kali Opak Resto: Riverside Resto
Tel: 08122986927
Tourist class Restaurant by riverside and natuaral landscape

- Jogja citytour: Silver home industries
- Check-in @ Jayakarta Hotel
JL. Laksda Adisucipto Km 8. Yogyakarta 55283

- Dinner @ Pura Wisata Open Air Theatre, followed by Ramayana Dance performance

Boroburdur sunrise: We didn't manage to catch the beautiful sunrise that we see so often in the travel magazines... not because we overslept, but due to the heavy mist and overcast skies.... We caught a glimpse of the shy "salted (egg) york"; after a tiring dash up the long flight of stairs up to the highest ground of the temple for a better view, the sun quietly hid behind the thick blanket of clouds...

Boroburdur Sunrise... the failed attempt

Mediatation @ Boroburdur to a better future~

Kali Opak Resto - Riverside Resto

Have tea at the Gazebo by the river; or take a stroll down to the riverside

Otherwise, just enjoy a meal by the riverside view

The visit to Prambanan Temple is worth it, despite the scorching heat under the noon sun. It was built around 850 CE by either Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty, or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya Dynasty. The temple was damaged during the earthquake in Java in 2006. Although the site has re-opened for visitors, the immediate surroundings of the Hindu temples remain off-limits for safety reasons.

Silver home industries - regretted not buying at least one piece of silver earnings. The silver accessories were individually handcrafted - exquisite and unique.

Ramayana Ballet is definitely worth your money. Interesting performance with a story adopted from Hindu epic, but the story differs slightly due to the adaptation to the Javanese culture. Definitely worth your time and money if you have not watch it before. We watched it at Pura Wisata Open Air Theatre, Jalan Brigjen Katamso, which performs every night from 8 – 9.30 pm. We also had the dinner buffet served prior to the performance. I must say the dinner is not very nice. Not even the grilled satay!

Other than Pura Wisata theatre, the other more famous location to watch this Javanese ballet is at Ramayana Open Air Theatre, with Prambanan Temple as the backdrop, and this ballet is performed on moonlight in May to Octover from 7.30 – 9.30 pm. But need to check the schedule to ensure if you want to catch the full condensed episode.

Day 4 - May 20 Jogja/Solo

Itinerary
- Breakfast buffet @ hotel
- Depart Hotel @ 7am
- Scenic drive to Solo Airport
- Reach airport @ 8.40am
- Depart @ 955am

Nice scenery on our drive to Airport

~ Home Sweet Home ~

Bintan Getaway

Check out our Room, right on top of the little hill. I thought it'll be cool, but the view was blocked by the lush shrubs growing right in front of our little hut..or rather half a little hut. When I opened the door, I was even shocked. 2 beds and a long dirty-looking couch, stacked with 2 huge cushions with yellowish taints. "Could THAT be my bed....?!!!"

Fangster laughed. "Yes..looks like it... You were the last to confirmed, so you go tto have it.."
"Sob, sob..." "But I paid for my equal share..!! Look! "My Bed" looks like it's gg to collapse anytime!", I shierked pointing at the slanting wooden legs of the dirty-looking couch.

After all the drama and shock, we consoled ourselves that at least we got hot shower, and air-conditionng in the room. We finally got changed and went to check with the receptionist about the 3rd bed that we paid for.

Trying to Look excited after all that drama..

Room 45, hope after the takeover by Nirwana, they will do something abt the conditions of the rooms at Mana Mana..

Day 1 - was quite tiring with all the travelling on the bus, paddling and exploring the resorts in Bintan. We checked out Nirwana which is just besides Nirwana Garden (previously known as "Mana Mana"). Thereafter, we went to Bolei Bolei market and then to the reservoir for some kayaking. But in the end, we did the paddle boat only. Though it's only a reservoir, it's a really huge one, with lot's of current due to the strong wind. Boy, I was wrong when I thought the paddle boat was easy... it really work out your thighs!

The guys at the reservoir were really nice as they tried to entertain us as we were waiting for the next shutter-bus that take us to Bintan Lagoon Resort. They showed us the little enclosures with some deers. Offer to take us for a boat ride (motor-boat) for free. They even brought out their hand-made fishing rod and morsels of squid for us to do some fishing. Haha.. but there's no luck, I don't think the freshwater fish eat sotong.

Bintang Lagoon Resort looks really good. A spacious resorts, with a nice beach for surfing (strong waves) and nice pool to chill. We made a mental note to come here next time if we ever comes to Bintan again.

We ended up the night with a nice dinner at Bolei Bolei Market. Spend above $50 and you get a free private transport back to your resort. Nice deal - easy to hit $50 for 3. Food was not bad, but be cautious of the french bean-lookalike when you order Tom Yam soup! I think I save my friends when I sunk my teeth into the juicy looking french bean. Arghhh..! It's a super, duper potent chilli padi! When you thought red means more spicy. I think that's the most spicy chilli-padi I ever tasted. I spent quite awhile to relieve my "fried" tongue.

Day 2 - Was really nice. It's supposed to be a chill and lounge around day for us. Been looking forward to this part of the program, think it's the highlight of the trip.

We chill around at Mana Mana's beach and then move over to Nirwana's infinity pool to soak in the jacuzzi and pool..

We discovered that lunch at Mana Mana is in fact better than Nirwana, though it's cheaper. And the beach at Mana Mana definitely looks more inviting... So, for the beach, go to Mana Mana - if you're not particular about the rooms.

Check out the beautiful beach at Mana Mana!

Woo hoo... Looks like a really good place to lounge around...

But, of course we didnt on our 1st day - We did some paddling at the reservoir. Haha... do you remember how your parents would go dating and take this kind of paddle boat? So retro right? I think there're no more paddle boat in Singapore now.

Having great Fun at Nirwana's infinity pool.

Admiring the beautiful beach at Mana Mana for the last time ...

A Wonderful getaway trip for a weekend! Easy on my pocket, yet you go the great beach package!