Bali Escapade 2009 - Day 1

This post is so outdated, it's supposed to be happened in Nov 2009 and i only start to write about it after my Ireland & Cambodia trip... and now Hong Kong trip is coming next week....

Due to the Padang's earthquake that happened a month before my actual trip, i do worry about traveling to Indonesia, especially Bali with a live volcano... and i too found out about a minor 5+ magnitude quake in Bali.Our initial plan was to cancel Bali since we got the ticket at Air Asia free seat promo. It only cost RM80/ person for return ticket. Even hotels booking i drag it to last minute.. But luckily we change our mind, because its really a place worth to go for its rich Hinduism culture, fantastic Balinese food, superb scenery and the beaches.

I did some plans earlier but most of the booking comes last minute.... Its not easy to cover Bali in a 4 days 3 nights and i did a lot of homework from reading the Bali traveling treads from Low Yat Forum. Now it has becoming my travel handbook... trust me, real time traveler experience, especially their recommendations and comment really helps... Thanks to all the travel kakis in LYN.

Day 1 (18/11/09)
Our flight to Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar , Bali departs from LCCT at 9.30am, means we gotta be at airport at 7.30, since Lek is still in Malaysia at that time, sending us to airport is never a problem... In our sleepy face, me & mum off to LCCT airport and do the usual check in, waiting for departure...  I got a window seat and as usual, pre ordered my Pak Nasser's Nasi Lemak Combo.

Flight to Ngurah Rai Airport Bali took us 3 hrs. After a smooth landing, we reach to the Balinese land at 12.30... After some ding dong ding dongs... passed through custom, collect luggage and spend some time to mingle around in the duty free shop.. oooohh... they have DFS there!!!

Once we got out from the airport, my Prebooked driver was waiting for me outside...

As many of the bloggers and travelers would recommend, many travel to Bali would book a driver to drive them around.. arranging tour with local agent means you're ready to be slaughter!

My driver name is call Putu, for my 3 days journey through Bali Island, we agree upon a price of IDR800,000, equivalent to RM285. Of course our transport cost would be higher as compare to a bigger group. Putu is driving a Toyota Avanza, which is pretty common in Bali...  Putu is quite quiet, he did not really talk a lot to me & mum, of course did not much of explanations about places also... But he is very honest for not trying to bring us to places where he can earn more commission by sending tourist over..

Bali, as many of you've known, its very famous among the beaches, sea sports, unique Balinese Hindu culture and arts & crafts. Frankly speaking, you see more tourist than more local at anywhere...

Our first day are planned for activities at Ubud, a town located at the middle of Bali island. Ubud town has gather culture, comfort, nature and inspiration. Ubud is surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali -- scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, cheap accommodation and unique luxury hotels.

Since its at the noon hours, we requested Putu to bring us to one of the most famous eateries in Ubud, Ibu Oka's Babi Guling. Many of you may be misunderstood that Indonesian are mostly Muslim, but in Bali, the majority are Hindus, so pork menu are pretty common in Bali. It took us about 1 1/2 hours to reach to Ubud from airport, the actual mileage is not that far, but small roads takes up the traveling time.

Ibu Oka Babi Guling is one of the must try if you happen to travel to Bali.. Its so famous that they started as a warung but now they have 2 branches in Ubud town.. Putu bring us to the old Ibu Oka.

Babi guling is the Balinese version of roast pig, its marinated with various spices and roast to crisp. Its different from the Chinese version of roast pork where Babi Guling skin is very thin and roast to crisp. The Restaurant is not very spacious and very pack with tourist. Unlike typical tourist class restaurant, no one guide you for a seat, so we just walk to any empty table and seat down. After quite some time, the busy waiter at last come to our attention and place order for us. We order a Nasi with Babi Guling Special which cost us IDR 25,000 and a Teh Botol cost IDR 5000.

Our meal comes with a few pieces of marinated Babi Guling. The skin of the pork is very crispy and less lard. Topping with their special sauce for the Bali Guling and served together with some spicy fried mix bean, i think its call onde onde and their super ass burning hot sambal... Overall, i like the taste of the dishes and especially match with a bottle of ice cold Teh Botol (Bottled Teh O) in the hot weather..



Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka

Address :  Jl Tegal Sari No: 2, Ubud

Tel : (0361) 976345

 

After the sumptuous lunch, Putu pick us from the Restaurant and send us to check in the hotel. After some surveys and recommendations, i've book Greenfield Ubud as our accommodation in Ubud. Putu wasn't familiar with the location of Greenfield and we had a tough time looking for it... My bad for not taking down the address...

The rest of the day we decided to relax and go for a Spa session and we call it off for Putu's service. 

Greenfield Ubud is a family operated chalet surrounded by natures and rice fields. Green Field and its neighbor, Tegal Sari also running on similar concept where the villas are surrounded by paddy fields are very favor by any class of tourist, to avoid disappointment, you'll need to book your room few months earlier.

I do make the reservation early to secure a room, for the price you paid for, its definitely worth for the impeccable service, superb scenaries that can take up half your day to explore and taking photos, and one of the highlight is the salt water swimming pool for you to energize yourself...

The little fish pond just in front of our Bale Pudak Room

Secret Garden

Green green paddy field

Since its next to Tegal Sari, We accidentally walk into its garden

To the Tegal Sari Spa

Lotus pond

 

Accidentally swim at the Tegal Sari pool also

This is the actual salt water pool... really nice!!!!

I booked the Bale Pudak Room, located at the ground floor and facing the garden. The room per night only cost us IDR 200,000  which inclusive of breakfast too. Accommodation in Bali can be quite cheap compare to the Malaysian standard, for this price, i have a spacious twin room with a nice balcony in the midst of the nature.

My Bale Pudak Room on the ground floor

Our twin room

My room 106

Balcony in the Garden

Green Field Bungalows

Address : Pengosekan St. Ubud - Bali Indonesia

Tel : +62 361 975798

website : www.greenfieldubud.com

 

We spend our afternoon exploring the garden, taking photos and also have a nice relaxing swim in the salt water pool. And then we prepare ourselves for our Spa treatment at Sang Spa.

Spa is one of the must do things in Bali also as its been known for its quality and a cheaper price comparing to our standard. Following suggestions from other travel mate, i choose the Spa Spa located in Ubud Town. 

Sang Spa provide pick up service for their guest from any hotel in Ubud. We're pick up by them and send us to the spa. Though the exterior of Sang Spa is not too well decorated and located in the end of a small lane, but the masseur really provide high quality blissful spa treatments that make you feel heal at both mind and body.

We choose the 2 hrs and 15 mins Body Scrub & mask package which start with an hour traditional Balinese massage, following by an exfoliating rice powder scrub to knock off dead skin cells and wind down with a natural cooling yogurt mask  to restore the PH. Lastly, you can pamper yourself in a super comfortable floral bath. This whole package only cost us IDR 150,000 which is equivalent to only RM55....

In our SPA treatment room.

The Sang Spa

Address : Jl. Jembawan 296 Ubud Bali

Tel : (0361)8631816

Open daily 0900 - 2100

After a good spa, we indulged ourselves in one of the most famous restaurant in Ubud. The Bebek Bengil.

Bebek Bengil meaning Dirty Duck in Bahasa Indonesia. Why its name such? of course there's a story behind it. One tropical monsoon morning, when the restaurant was very close to being finished  a flock of ducks from the rice field across the road  ran quacking and squawking into the restaurant and across the floor and tables. They left muddy webbed footprints all over the place. They were the first guests - those dirty ducks! and thus, its name The Dirty Duck Diners.

Bebek Bengil is consider a high class dinning venue in Ubud, the interior is very well decorated with the Balinese wood carving table & chairs, spacious garden and rice field scenery, and some private verandas for group dining. 

The signature dish is of course the Dirty Duck, its a smoke duck in special sauce and it requires booking 1 day before. We're more favor to the fried stuck thus we order a  Bebek Bengil Crispy duck.  

 

Its half a portion of duck marinated with herb and spice and deep fried it to crisp. The set comes with a fresh green salads and sauteed potatoes. It cost IDR 67,000 which is not cheap in the Bali dining standard.

 We share this duck dish and order another fried rice with Satay for sharing.

 

The Indonesian satay  is close t our local one, just that they do not serve with peanut spicy sauce. It cost IDR 36,000.

Our dinner comes to a total of IDR 140,000 inclusive of drinks & taxes. Of course paying for these price, we do not miss the chance to snap some nice photos from the well decorated place. But because we only come for the dine after the night fall, if we could catch the sunset here, its will even more beautiful...

 

 Bebek Bengil - Dirty Duck Diner

Address : Hanoman Street, Padang Tegal, Ubud Bali

Tel : (62-361) 975 489

After the dinner, as Ubud town is quite dark, we do not plan to loiter around  and since its a walking distance to our hotel, we just get some drinking water from the convenience store and walk back for a rest.

FFK

Seriously， i'm going to ramble about people who loves to ffk (In Cantonese : Fong Fei Kei (放飞机）； meaning break appointment).

I should be consider unlucky enough to have so many people like these surrounding me. And these people do not deserve to be forgive, because they did it for more than 1 time to me...

First, there's Mr. PL.. A well educated professional. The worst ever ffk he has ever done to me is : He dated me out for a yum cha session at night and offer himself to pick me up from my house. After all final confirmation, i changed and waiting for him, he can be disappear to no where, leaving me waiting at home till i fall asleep.......... And worse still, he lost contact with me for a while hoping that i totally forgot about it, never come back with an apology and pretending as if nothing has happened and trying to make false arrangement to ask me out again....

Then Mr. SK... An even more frequent ffker... He's always aggressive to try to date me out and in the end did not make it... Recently, during our msn conversation, he's always trying to make arrangement to have a drink with me when he's back to KL for his business trip. (Obviously this moron doesn't work here). He's asked if i can pick him from his hotel because he's not good at KL direction and then then i can choose a place for drink, and he even set a date, asking me what time will i pick him from hotel. Of course i am not too keen on his invitation because of his previous bad ffk record, and guess what... on the day itself, he ffk again, without even calling me....

lastly, Mr. KN. Called me a day before and ask if i can go out for a drink the next day after work, and set the venue.Based on his ffk record, i do not quite trust him.And i even tease him that i'll call him before going just in case he wants to ffk again.... Once bitten by a snake, you'll be scare of rope forever.. Just before i off work and go for the drink with him, i called him, he still pretend to be pretty caring to me asking if i'm fine with bad traffic to go to Damansara, later he reveal that he's actually in Kelana Jaya.... Okay, fine! I offer to go to KJ instead of Damansara because it save us hassle to caught in traffic especially in fasting month... Guess what, he told me in some embarrass tone that he actually dated another friend to meet in Kelana Jaya...... I'm almost reaching to a boiling point when i heard this...

To all these rotten brats that always like to ffk, why can't you just tell if you want to cancel the appointment?

Or do you think its your pride to make a girl waiting for you endlessly? I'm gonna banned you guys forever... You morons!

Lazy weekend

A man-less weekend... What did i do?

I spend my Friday to catch up with friend for dinner... I had some wonderful & innovative pasta at Pasta de Gohan @ Sunway Pyramid. Ordered an Octopus Pasta with Ocha Sauce, after 1and half months... people still yet to forgot about Paul the Octopus.. The moment i order it, my friend immediately joke about it... ?!?!?!

Turn into an impulsive shopaholic lately.. All thanks to the Singapore Great Sale & Malaysia Mega Sale... Have bought some tops, numerous number of shoes, dresses from Singapore, do it again at Cotton On yesterday. Bought a Red Dress & a black flat, all because its cheap.(At least cheaper)..
Today, trying to avoid from shopping, I go out for a Dim Sum brunch with my bff, we went to Damansara uptown for dim sum.. Our surroundings are either families or couples... How pathetic we 2 man-less woman today... After the meal, get home and catch up with my HK Drama,  and now, sending my mum to Taipan for her Birthday Complimentary massage package from the Credit Card. Thinking that i can avoid spending, but i got it all wrong, just after i park my car, my mum pointed to me a seductive shop having sale!!!!!! OMG! The little black book boutique - Store wide for RM29.90 only!!! How can i resist??? So, i leave the shop with some harvest~ I bought a working pants & a white ruffle sleeveless top... Isssshhhhh... i love and hate sale!

Now sitting in Old Taste cafe writing my blog, see a group of students from High school, guess what, they're so spoil brat, they are either playing with their I phones/ BB... and when they leave, each of them are driving their own car.... gosh!!! how come they are so lucky? While i have to pay for my own car installment???
I guess i really have to avoid to spend again, so I'll hide at home and finish my drama series...

Tomorrow will be my family day, gotta bring my family for mummy & Howard birthday celebration at Tai Thong, Tropicana City Mall.. I'll just avoid to bring cash and my Plastic out so i can control my shopping....

1 vacation 2 heavens - Part II - Cyberview Lodge, Cyberjaya

We leaving PD and drive to Cyberjaya for our next heaven - Cyberview Lodge. BB found this and we both thought this is a really good place to relax, just that why are we not aware of this wonderful place??
Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa is a 5 star boutique hotel,a veritable paradise set on 28.8 acre of award-winning landscaped gardens, featuring world-class quality of service and unparalleled Malaysian hospitality. Surrounded by towering palm trees, lush foliage, splendid tropical gardens, and meandering paths, the resort effortlessly blends rustic charm and with its state-of-the-art comforts in all its seventy-four lovely chalets, suites and bungalows.
The compound of this resort is really big and they have the luxury to filled it with spacious individual chalet units, unlimited view of landscape garden and ponds... While waiting for BB to check in, i were lead to the lobby for a welcome drink, they serve chill mint & lemongrass drink together with warm towel for you to refresh yourself. Albeit located in the cyber pulse city of M'sia, the interior design of Cyberview lodge is richly decorated with the malay traditional teak wood crafted furnitures.
 
Next to the lobby there's a passage way lead to a xing zhu restaurant which is wellknown for chinese style wedding banquet. BB took a rest too after check in our details and we are then allowed to drive our car and park outside our own chalet. We were given a lake side view chalet, meaning our balcony are a private lake facing.Once entering our junior suite,  we feel like we're in our own sophisticated home. The suite is skillfully decorated with wooden furnitures but yet providing you the modern comfort.The spacious chalet is equip with a pantry, adjoins bathroom with a cosy bath tub, dining area, a gorgeous four poster bed, and a high speed pc for you to connect to the web.
 
 Spacious, elegant and refined tropical ambience, the lovely suites feature a tastefully decorated living area and a magnificent patio that provide you a serenade greens of the nature.

As usual like our previous vacations, i'll make a cup of nice coffee for BB & myself and we enjoy it at our balcony overlooking the greens~

 Besides the brilliant thought of equip the room with cyber amenities, they are thoughtful enough for the kiddo or kiddo wannabe like me..

"A colourful fighting fish named "Beta" as your companion"
BB suggest to talk a walk around this resort, Yay! Exiting exploration awaiting us. No doubt of them claiming themselves a landscape award winning resort, every bits of resort have been decor with lush green plants, ponds, man-made river to make give you the "back to nature" feeling albeit its situated in the middle of the cyber city of malaysia. One looking for a refeshing breakway from bustling city should definitely be recommended to the Cyberview Lodge.
Let the photos do the talking.

3 Free Form Pool with Jacuzzi & waterfall.. Amazing huh?
 
How about reading a book on the hammock blend into the voice of nature?
The resort compound is huge and it takes us quite a while to explore it.. But walking in a no stress nature path, enjoying every single bits of nature sound & scene doesn't even gulp up our energy. There are lots of facilities for the guest, a three free form pool with jacuzzis, a posh Sembunyi Spa, Fitness centre & sauna & a kids corner.
After a walk, we decided to have our afternoon tea at the Atap Lounge, besides some snacks, we're too entertained by a live band playing tradional instrument.. We both chilled out with freezy cold drinks and reading our favourite mag.

My meal - Strawberry ice blended & chicken pie.

BB's beer & burger.. why the filling served separate from the burger? My fav! curly fries!!
After meal, we went back to our little nest for a good rest~ An staff knock on our door and gave me a suprise! She bring me these... My companion! Cybear! Aw!! So sweet~~
 
Waking up from the afternoon nap, we beginning to search through the net for getting ourself a movie date & dinner. We decided to go to the nearest. The Alamanda Putrajaya. Actually i have no idea where is these mall located exactly, but with the help of gps, its easy to find~ Ohhh... we accidently drove to the Minister's office.. hehe.. first time visiting it~!
We took our dinner at a steamboat restaurant called Johnny's. First time taking steamboat with BB.. keke.. We then collect our ticket for our movie date. Terminator.. Its not my kind of movie, but BB likes it. I didn't even watch the first few epi before this. After the movie, we took a walk around the mall, to be frank, for a person who always wander around mega malls like One U, Pavillion & Mid Valley, this mall is consider rather boring for me, more like a neighbourhood mall... But we explore some surfing outfit shop to look for BB's quicksilver pants.. He pretend to angry with me for not letting him to buy it at Kuantan~ SORRY BB!
oooohhh... something terrible happens before we leave the mall, BB wants to go out to replenish his drug (Ciggy of course) while i go to the wash room, i kinda realise there are a group of Chinese students looking at me, when i go to the washroom, there's one of them follow, but he goes into the gents. When i came out from the ladies, i saw this guy exposing his private part and began rubbing it and show it to me!!!!!! EWWWWWWWW!!!! This pervert! i quickly ran back to BB and told him the story, while walking back to the carpark, i still saw this pervert smilling at me from the escalator~ yucks~!!! disgusting to max! Nightmare!
I quickly forgot about the unpleasent experience when me reach to the resort and BB suggest to go for a drink. We took sometime to look for this Tree House Bar in the resort. The resort is really quite at night, i think people came here for relaxation, thats why there are not too keen of night entertainment. The bar was run by a friendly Indian guy, he and BB have a great chat... BB is super friendly, he even talks to strangers in a lift. The Pub isn't too happening, we 2 are the first and last guest. We spend a few hours in the Tree House pub until we're real tired and decided to go back for a rest.
 The next morning, we got up from bed reluctantly and goes for a late buffet breakfast at Bistro Casata.. It looks like an arabian house in Alladdins. This mark then end of our vacation and we have to back to the reality! work next day!

Bistro Casata

Dengue Diary

I were infected with dengue at end of March this year.... chamzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I started off with a fever when i start to drive back form Tesco after an usual sunday grocery... What worse is that day i got stuck in a  massive jam in Kota Damansara.And i need to cancel a dinner appointment with a friend due to my bad headache.. Fall asleep right away once i reach home and took the pills...  At the midnight, even though i turn off the air con & fan, i still feel super duper cold as if it hits right into my bone...
The next morning, i really can't wake up and make myself to work, and i gotta drag myself up in the afternoon to see doctor. Its just a normal consultation and nobody did suspect i were infected with dengue..

I were given normal fever pills and antibiotics. My 2nd half of my day was alright, i am fit to do any activity and the fever faded, but it comes back again in the evening and stretchhhhhhh all the way to the next morning.

I spend my 2 days going through these and "rajinly" eat all the medicines doctor given to me...  On the 3rd day morning, as i abscene from work for so many days, though i still have a mild fever, but i force myself for a shower to at least feel fresher to work. My appetite was really bad, even plain water makes me feel like puking! So, i skiped the breakfast, thinking that i can get a malt drink in the office later... struggle with my dizziness to drive a 30km to work, I reached to work in extremely tired and unwell condition.. Forcefully sitting at my place and do some outstanding works, reply to colleagues greeting in the mildest tone (Only semut can hear).. After about an hr in office, my boss at last couldn't stand my sick face and he force me to go home. As the doctor's advice on my first consultation, i have to go for a blood test if my fever condition doesn't improve after 2 days.

Since i'm already in Kota Kemuning, i went to clinic Alam Medic for another consultation, I were so scare of the blood test and i beg BB to company me. BB of course put down all his work and company me for another consultation and going through the blood test process with me... My waiting for my turn is endlessly long and i'm so nervous. After so many years since my last blood test, i think it should be 10 years ago since i done it in Singapore.. As expected, i need to do a blood test to check if i'm dengue infected. Doctor Gina used a strapband to tie my arm, and used a needle to take some blood speciment from me! Its painful 1000xxx.. Doctor suspected that i'm seriously under dehydration and she wants me to do a urine test. I drank 2 glasses of water in the clinic and waited anxiously to pee. Doctor told me if i'm proven to be dehydrated, i have to go for drips...sooooooooo scared!!!!

I waited for more than an hr to have my urine specimen.. As expected, my dehydration level is so high. I tried so hard to negotiate with the doctor for not putting drips for me and promise i'll keep drinking water when i reach home... But doctor stand so firm and insist to put the IV drip for me... Soooooo scare, this is the first time in my life time i have to put on a drip..  Worst still! i just did blood test an hr ago.. now i have to be poke by needle again~ owwwwww... faint!

Doctor tried to poke the needle to the back of my palm to connect to the drips later... The first attemp fail!!! My first poke on the lelf back palm hits my bones and doctor slumberly take it out and poke on my right back palm~! one word to describe - "pain to infinity"!!!!!!! I was left on the bed alone weakly with my painful wounds. On and off i sms and talk to bb.. In between, i have to carry the rack with drips around when i need to go to the loo... some movement cause the presurre change and blood back flow from my veins to the tube~!! It scare the hell out of my, i thought my blood is going to drain just like that... A long 2 hrs of drips is over and i'm obviously look less weak. Doctor allowed me to go home for a rest and the next day to go back again for another full blood count.

Some brief info about dengue, one gets it, the first symptom will be fever, when the fever fades, the blood plaletes in the blood will be dropping.. My reading 104 at the first day.. A normal person should have 150 and above! So, i'm allow not to admit to hospital... Really thank god! I'll never ever want to be admit to hospital. I was advise to drink 100 Plus.. I tell you, i drink until i'm scare of 100 plus even after 4 months now.

Everyday i have to goes back for blood test for the following 3 days and each day the plaletes count is dropping.. Everyone is worry for me and me too worrying that i can't be recover in time to go to cambodia.. Both my hand are full of bruises and needle mark thanks to the blood test! And my weight has drastically drop from 50Kg to 46kg.. i left bones only!

I do being told of a lot of folk prescription from everyone from everywhere. Doctor said 100 Plus, some say crab soups, some say coconut drink, some say corn husk and some say american ginseng soup, and i take all just hopping that i can get well soon so that i do not have to be admited to Hospital. Well, at that time i really prepare for the worst!

On the Saturday of the same week, i went for my blood test again, this time, its not Doctor Gina on duty,  this doctor took my blood and in the evening, i got a call from clinic and told me to collect a refer letter to be admit to hospital since my condition is not improving. How can it be???? I physically are recovered, i can eat and live as usual, not even feeling weak anymore. Under no choice, even me trying to negotiate with this Doctor to observe me for another day... she refuse and insist me to go to hospital! wtf! I packed my stuff and ready to stay a night at SJMC. I can still remember that day was the Earth hour day, of course they do not shut down all electricity in SJMC, but they do their support by shutting down the lobby lights. Everywhere is dark including my feeling~ because i'm going to be admited to hospital soon ever since i were born!

I had a great wait at the emergency wad at SJMC, about an hr plus to reach my turn... guess what! another blood test~ But this blood test worth the pain, because reading shows that my plaletes count has increase, i refuse to stay a night in hospital and i'm allowed to go home.. Knowing the blood count numbers is increasing, everyone feels much more relief, it means my condition is stable and improving. Anyway, i were suggest to come back for a final check on the next monday.

The Monday checking is a real ripped off from SJMC, i were refer to a transmitted desease specialist call Dr. Anita. Guess what, after 2 hrs wait for her, she see through my blood count result from the previous day, then she tell me :"ok, you're recovered." and i were being charge RM150 for telling me i'm recovered~! wtf!
There goes my 7 days of dengue experience, and after 2 days, i flew to Cambodia alone~! Weeeeeee! Thank you Dr. Gina, and thank you to anyone who take care of me at that time~

After 4 months on today, my antibody used up and being strike by a flu again~ :(