Arriving Irish Land

29/12/09 - 30/12/09

Many would say i'm really rich to travel to Europe every year, but, i have a Sterling Pound earner brother that sponsor the major cost of my air ticket. This Europe trip was planned rather last minute, the planning only kick start 2 months ago when we confirmed that we're flying during the new year.. What??? That means i'm spending my New Year in Europe... what more i did not expect is I experienced a snowy new year.

I started to search for best rate tickets 2 months ago, as it is during the biggest western festive, i do expect the tickets to be expensive, but nope, i manage to make a booking during the KLM Europe offer fare.

And the good thing about taking KLM flight is they allowed us to fly to Dublin but returning from Manchester. That save us cost for another Eurolines ride.

Our ticket comes to RM3039 inclusive of tax, and all transfer flight. We'll fly in to Dublin, Ireland and return from Manchester,UK for a 9 days trip. My major traveling expenses is covered and i have to rush out traveling plans for it, not to be forget my Bali trip was just 1 month before i fly off again....

After the Christmas Celebration where Yin & Rolland was back for a reunion, another few days after that, my Brother is flying off to UK for work. My KLM flight to Dublin is schedule on the 29/12/09, My poor BB have to bear with the times he has to be apart from me, but no worry BB, i still do email or call him daily. Since my KLM flight only departs at 11.40pm, Lek send me to work with my Pinkish Benetton luggage, i feel so like Paris Hilton carrying it around.... BB then pick me from work and bring me for a Japanese Dinner as a farewell cum New Year celebration with me. We had our dinner at Rakuzen, SS15,Subang Jaya. BB send me to KLIA and we kissed each other goodbye... At that very moment, i really do wish i can come back quickly... 

I waited for Mum and Lek to arrive and we check in our flight. And then i gave Wai Hong a call to see if he wanted to meet up since he work there. We has a short coffee break at KLIA and then i walked back to KFC to meet up with my family and had a few photoshoot of Lek before he fly off.

My KLM KL0810 from KL to Schippol Amsterdam.

Once we got in the flight, i started to snooze off, after a few hours, we were wake up by the Crew and they serve us meal, My first meal is a Chicken Pasta set serve with Orange Pudding and Salads. To be frank, KLM food is way more acceptable compare to the one serve by Emirates. I asked for a Red Wine and it does make me sleep soundly for the next few hours. Taking a long haul flight which will last us 14 hrs before we can reach to Amsterdam is really no fun. What you can do is to eat, sleep and continue sleeping... In the midst of the flight, maybe we're above the Indian Ocean, we felt very cold in the cabin.. so i have to put on my warm clothing but once awake, its difficult to fall back to sleep... I did watch the entertainment movie and i catch up Night at the Museum 2. KLM has never stingy on serving food and drinks, they serve us super yummy and filling cup noodle and ice cream..

The last few hours after the second meal which i presume is Breakfast (Omelet, Sausage,Hash Browns, Fruits and Yogurt) is the longest waiting hour... you finish with the first 2 movies and feeling too tired for the next one, what you can do is to keep staring at the GPS screen and countdown how long you'll reach.

We at last landed at Schiphol Airport Amsterdam at 5.45am. The temperature is rather cold here even indoor. We have 4 hrs to spend here before our next connecting flight to Dublin. We're told to use the auto kiosk to check in for our next flight and then put on warmer clothing and refresh ourselves in the washroom.Though Schiphol is an Interunational transit hub, but do not expect much from an European airport. There are a few shops scatters at different wing of the airport but they sell the same thing. Not much branded stuff to look at too... spotted a few Burberry and check out the price of Longchamp. However, selected perfume is selling at bargain price which is very worth, but i have enough collection of perfume that can last me for another 3 years...
So, we just walk around, spending every seconds checking out every single thing in the airport...

Me and my Bro at Schiphol.

Mummy posing at Schiphol

The only Christmas Decor in Airport

There's this metal man sculpture at the middle of the Hall...

We tried out our luck playing jackpot machines at the Holland Casino in the Airport... hmmmm... luck is not shinning on me and i lose my €5 bet... hahahaha..i'm cheapskate... i don't play big gamble!!!!

Holland Casino in Airport

At last we finish our 4 hours wait at the Boring airport and we have to continue another 40 minutes flight to Dublin via a smaller flight from Aer Lingus. How clever is that... i wasted 4 hours and why can't they just make us flight straight to Dublin??? Aer Lingus is an budget airline similar to our Air Asia and everything they charge, but in €!!! I do experience severe ear pain during this flight... I dunno why, i feel alright with the pressure change in a large aircraft but not this kind of smaller one....

Aer Lingus KL3153 to Dublin

The runway  is still very slippery for take off and landing and it's really a scaring experience to take a flight on the winter snow covered ground....  When we reach Dublin airport, while queuing to enter the terminal, the staff just open the back entrance and ask us to exit from there... from the warm aircraft we're suddenly expose to the chilling winter weather... we do not have time to put on our full winter gear and we have to run all the way to the terminal.



We spend sometime dressing ourselves up in proper winter clothing and then off to check out from the immigration, we passed through the immigration and then collect our luggage from the conveyor belt.



We bought a 1 Day bus and Luas (The Dublin City Tram) for €7.50, you can take unlimited bus & luas ride for a day using this pass.

The Airlink bus station is just at the exit of the airport. We boarded bus 747 and it takes a 35 Mins drive before you reach to the Central Bus Station, Busaras. We'll need to transit to take Luas to Abbey Street from Busaras to go to our Hotel.

It start to drizzle when we reached to Busaras and the Luas station isn't anything we expect like the London Underground. Its just a booth like a bus stop on the road.. We had some hard time trying to search for the Luas station until i ask for direction from a staff in the bus station. There's a vending machine at every each station for you to purchase your ticket. And you do not need to scan your ticket before you board the Tram...  I guess this only work for the Dubliner, if we ever practise it here, no one will buy the ticket... hahahaha





The Luas and the Station



Spotted Penang Food in Dublin Town.



Abbey Street is one of the highlight shopping street in Dublin and also walking distance to the infamous Temple Street a.k.a Pub Street and Christ Church.Its only 1 station away from Busaras.. Carrying our super big size luggage, especially Lek's, we have to walk for about 8 minutes to reach to Fleet Street Hotel Temple Bar which is located within walking distance to the shopping district, Temple Bar, Christchurch is a bit far though and we can save up transportation cost to Dublin Castle.

I made my hotel booking via Hotelclub and it doesn't make a very big difference if we book for hostel which charge per person. The room only cost us RM205 per night for twin sharing, but we share it for 3 person.

We were given a room at 2nd floor, and luckily they have lift access to every floor unlike our hostel in London last time... that really kill us.

Fleet Street Hotel Entrance



Our Room in Fleet Street Hotel



We were not too used to the sudden cold weather and decided to take a rest and some have warm food in the hotel,so we cook the cup noodle and make hot coffee for ourselves as refreshment... You must be thinking we're some weirdo to bring food to travel, mind you..... Instant cup noodle are rare, super rare in Europe and you could end up paying RM10 for 1...   The hotel is way better compare to the hostel we stayed in London just that this one they do not include breakfast.

After resting for an hour, we geared on our winter clothing and go out for food and tour. I have to wear a Long John underneath, a long sleeve cotton t-shirt, a wool pullover and a winter coat... Of course with scarft, gloves and hat covering myself from the coldness.



We decided to stop by at one of this fast food Restaurant just few doors away call Abrakebabra. The names sound so funny and it reminds me of Kebab. 1 Set consist of a beef burger, fries and a soft drinks only cost us €3.50.

My Beef Burger Set

Mum looks like a smurf



 After the late lunch, we have a short walk in Carrolls. Carrolls is the largest sourvenir chain in Ireland and it has branches everywhere..  The signature sourvenir of Ireland is of course the Shammock, Leprecaun, Irish Sheep, Guinness...


Carrolls Irish Gift Store at Fleet St.



The Irish Sourvenir



I then ursher mum and lek to walk to the Dublin Castle which is about 10 minutes walk away, but we did took a longer time to get there as its drizzling...

Dublin Castle is not up to my expectation like the Windsor Castle and its closed for the public visit on that day, there's no guard at the entrance, we could only snap a few photo from the outside.. 





The Dublin Castle




I only managed to snap a few photos from outside



Mum and Lek are complaining about the chill and Lek decided to go back to the Hotel for a nap while me & mum decided to go to O'Connell Street for shopping.


We spotted this fancy pub at the Pub Street.The Christmas decor is so nice.

Dublin City is very much alike UK, O'Connell streets gathers all the famous shops like Eason (Books & Stationery), Clarks Shoes, Arnotts and our main hit is Penneys (Same as Primark in UK).
The Penneys in O' Connell Street consist of 4 storey divided into women/ men/children/home and the interesting part is, IT IS ON SALE!!!! We spend 2 hours exploring every corner for great bargain..
And my victory is
1) Black Dress - €3
2) Black Skirt - €5 (Comes with Belt)
3) Grey Bling Bling jacket - €5
4) Blue Monster T-shirt - € 2.50
5) Black Suede Jacket - €9
6) Beige winter jacket - €9
7) Green T-Shirt for Howard - €2

When we're done with the shopping, we have to walk back to our hotel in the rain and its so windy till it breaks our umbrella... We have to shade ourselves in the shops along the short journey to walk back.
I then have to scarifice myself to go out in the super chilling weather, i think its only 1-2 deg. to the nearby Subway and bought sandwiches back for dinner as well as some drinking water and breakfast for the next day morning.







Bali Escapade 2009 - Last Day

21/11/09

Today will be our last day in Bali, since our flight back to Kuala Lumpur is schedule at 1.55pm, we just make it a free and easy day for ourselves today...

After the same breakfast like the day before at Yulia Inn, we take a short walk around Yulia Inn. Basically, its just a very small family own hotel with small pool...


The swimming pool just in front of our room

My mum posting with a Fish fountain



Another scupture at Yulia Inn and my new Planet Hollywood T-shirt

We first walk our directions towards the famous bali bombing site at Poppies lane. Kuta area is a famous accomodation spot for those who wanted to have crazy nightlife and endless clubbing... Shops are just beginning to start their business but we do not intend to buy anything... From the hotel, it takes us like almost 15 minutes walk to the bombing site, where it use to be a club call Paddy Pub and experienced a terrorist bomb attack that kill 202 victims in yr 2002. An monument was build as a condolences and remembrance for the deads..Up to day, still many families of the victims fly from their homeland and pray for them.. We see a lot of photos and even birthday cards to the victims were placed at the monument.



The monument



Names of the victim is written on the monument

We visited the biggest Quicksilver store which is next to the bombing site. Spend some time checking out the store and i bought a bermuda pants for BB which is a lot cheaper compare to the Malaysia price. BB so like the pant i bought for him..

We then take a walk to the Kuta Beach and also the surrounding shops... Though its still early, but the weather is still burning hot. Kuta Beach is full of hawkers selling sourvenirs, we approach one lady and mum bought an adult Bali T-shirt for IDR 10K for her friend...  Snap some photos before we have to leave Bali.

Kuta Beach in the morning

                                     

My successful jumping shot after many tries.

Rock Shop of Hard Rock Cafe, The best place to enjoy air con in Kuta

                                    

 

                                                              Giant Surf board in front of Hard Rock Hotel



The surfing Mcdonald is a must for photo taking also...

Just before going back to collect our luggage from the hotel and leave to airport, we stop by at the supermarket in Matahari Mall. Nothing is interesting in Matahari, there's another modern mall call Discovery Mall which gather a lot of shops from International Brands. We bought some local snacks from the market like layer cake, banana crisp and also a snack skin fruits we workers ask me to buy for them...

We did not book Putu transport service today. There're many drivers who appraoch you everywhere on the street. We ask for 1 right in front of our hotel and he quote us IDR 150K to send us to Ngurah Rai Airport. We quickly collected our luggages and check out from Yulia Inn. Please be reminded that you have to keep a cash of IDR 50K per person to pay for the airport tax before you leave.  We spend our waiting time exploring another DFS outlet in the airport.

The details of my total spending is

Air Asia's 0 Fare ticket - RM80 (Return)

Putu's car rental - IDR 800K (RM285 for 3 Days)

Airport Transfer (One way) - IDR 50K (RM18)

Greenfield Ubud Hotel - IDR 100K (RM36)

Yulia Inn Kuta - RM226 (2 Nights)

Spa - IDR150K (RM53)

Tour Fee - Inclusive of Barong Dance Show, entrance fee, Sarong rental & parking - IDR130K (RM46)

Water Sports - USD 10 (RM33.50)

Food - IDR 230K (RM83) Inclusive of all meals, snacks, mineral water.

Shopping -  RM 200

Airport Tax at Ngurah Rai - IDR 150K (RM53)

My total damage is RM831... So, now see why i can travel 3 times a year?!?!

Bali Escape 2009 - Day 3

After a sound sleep at Yulia Inn, we wake up at 7.00am and prepare ourselves for breakfast at the Coffee house. We pass the vouchers to a waitress and were given a choice to choose for noodle or rice, this time i take a rice meal and there are some buffet styles toast, fruits, juice and coffee for you to choose at the counter.

Putu came to pick us up from hotel at sharp 8.00am and drive us to a famous place call Batu Bulan to watch the Barong dance show.The theater is call Sahadewa theater and they pay commission to attract the driver to drive the tourist here... this place is obviously more expensive than price quoted online.

 

Though many forumer quoted that this show is a waste of time but i still think its good to view some cultural dance show since i've already travel so far to Bali...

The show is only started at 9.30am and it cost us IRP 80K.

We were there early and the musician is preparing their instrument. We got ourselves a nice seat and waiting for the show to start..

Snap a photo with a statue at Batubulan before the show start.

The theater is still so empty.

The backstage musician

Barong dance is a dance drama performed at Pura Dalem, a temple for the dead, called Calonnarang.The story goes that Rangda, the mother of Erlangga, the King of Bali in the tenth century, was condemned by Erlangga's father because she practiced black magic. After she became a widow, she summoned all the evil spirits in the jungle, the leaks and the demons, to come after Erlangga. A fight occurred, but she and her black magic troops were too strong that Erlangga had to ask for the help of Barong. Barong came with Erlangga's soldiers, and fight ensued. Rangda casted a spell that made Erlangga soldiers all wanted to kill themselves, pointing their poisoned keris into their own stomachs and chests. Barong casted a spell that turned their body resistant to the sharp keris. At the end, Barong won, and Rangda ran away.

For me, its a funny story instead... Lets see my understanding of the story:

First, a weird looking creature appear, its a Barong... Barong its a lion alike monster... it came out to greet us and decide to do a mix culture performance. It did a Balinese style Lion dance with the help of a monkey man...

After the monkey pissed it off, it decide to scare the villagers... (btw, is it a real good character?)

So, villagers ran away panicky  and Barong is happy with its tricks and it hided somewhere....And then 2 ladies appear, believed to be the servants of some big shot perform a dance to welcome their master.

Out of sudden another creature appear, this time is the Rangda, it got defeated and ran away by a wizard using some vegetables... No weapon, just sayur!!! and he keep yelling : Radu! Radu! ( My indonesian maid told me Radu means ghost in indon).
After Rangda ran away, the big shot came out.

He give command to catch the prince as a serving to the evil Rangda. The poor prince is being tied on the tree waiting to be sacrifice to Rangda.

Then the Rangda appear again, this time is transformed like an upgraded Power rangers.. it turns to be more mighty

Just before he wanted to eat his serving, the Barong comes out again and then they had a big fight, using the leaves again....Rangda got defeated again and raise white flag to surrender and ran away again...

THE END

The shows takes 1 hr and after the show, we proceed to the famous place for water sport.
Putu Drive us to Tanjung Benoa for some watersports.. Tanjung Benoa is where all the 5 stars hotel located stretches along the beach to Nusa Dua. Putu stop us at a complex and he went to rest with the other drivers...
There are many watersports like jet skis, bananaboat, glass bottom boats, parasailing etc etc....

I only wanted to try the parasailing, at first we try to ask the staff there and he quoted me  USD 20 for a round,  i threaten to walk away and he lower the price to USD 10 per game for me... some even get it at USD 7 according to their blog.

Mummy dare not play anything and she's incharged to snap my flying photo... I were ask to put on my flying outfit and given a short brief of some instruction...

i look so clumsy here!!

learning the instruction

Then while waiting for my turn, i've to stand barefooted on the burning hot sands on the beach. The staff hook on the parachute on my flying outfit and i have to run and pull the trigger according to the instruction when the speedboat pull me to fly... within seconds, i'm flying on the skies... at first i was quite panic but after a while i keep on swinging my hand and feet like a happy kid in the air!!! It ended quite fast, after sailing for a big round, the staff give me instruction to pull the trigger for landing... maybe i'm too strength-less and i really got a difficulties to land...

Me flying sky high

Flying further.. I'm on the left!

Jumping shoot! My attempt fail because mum is not fast enough to catch it!

The flying experience is totally fantastic for me and i sooooo love para sailing... and i guess you can't get it so cheap like in Bali here... We both were hungry and couldn't stand the hot heat, we asked Putu to stop us at a small warung along the way out for lunch break...
Its really not easy to find a small warung here as its surrounded by expensive Restaurants...
I can't remember the name of this warung , i ordered a fried noodles and it came out so delicious!!!! Like our Cantonese fried yee mee.. and it only cost IDR 12K

After the lunch, Putu bring us to the GWK Garuda Wisnu Kencana, iits a giant statue of the Hindu God. It charged an entrance fee of IDR 20k per person which we think its too expensive for an unfinished statue... We skipped it and Putu bring us to Dreamland beach.

Dreamland beach is one of the pretties beach in Bali, there's so many visitors here.. we were left here for free and easy activities.. Mum is afraid of the hot burning sun and she keep shading with her umbrella, but i just ignore the UV and jumping around like a happy kids playing at the shore and climbing rocks...

oh yeah!!! i'm playing in the wave...

Footsteps

A note for my BB

Mum's umbrella just potong stim in such nice scenery

After an hr of sun burning (instead of bathing), we walk back to Putu's car in our sweaty body... I change to another clothes i brought cause i wet myself playing with the wave... He then drive us to the infamous Uluwatu cliff.. Uluwatu is best to visit during sunset, but we have to reserve our sunset at Jimbaran..

Pura Uluwatu is located on the cliff top.The entrance fee is IRP 3000 and you need to be properly dressed to enter. Sarongs and sashes can be rented at the entrance.The temple is inhabited by large number of monkeys. Upon entering, the guard will warn that you keep away all the belonging to prevent grip by the monkeys..   Some says that the monkey are trained to grab your belongs and bring it to the local and they'll then sell it back to you expecting some large sum of tips...


We were quite worry of the attack by the monkeys... we walk in a group with a group of Australian girls to keep company and avoiding the monkey to attacks us... We refuse to get a local guide at first but after entering the temple compound, and Indonesian lady holding a long stick join us and she pretend to talk and started to explaining to us... at the end of the trip, she ask a tour tipping from everyone of us... Not cheap!! Our group has at least 8 persons and she's asking for USD 1 each for a 15 minutes walk... she even earns better than me!!!!

A photo of us 2 taken by the Australian girl... My mum keeps away her glasses as well

The temple on the cliff

Snatch thief!!!!

We bought a packet of bananas in case the monkeys chase after us and we're going to throw it to them... at the end of the walk, we just throw it to the resting monkeys there...

Look at its fierce face... it even try to pull the sarung on one aussie girl.... Ganas!

We finish all the tour at around 4 pm and its way too early to catch the sunset at Jimbaran. We request Putu to drive us to the biggest shopping in town, The DFS!!! The DFS mall is a duty free shopping heaven with all sorts of branded stuff. 4 storeys high selling from branded accessories like Gucci, Ferragamo, Burberry etc, to branded cosmetics, expensive jewelry like Cartier.... and it sells liquors, ciggy and chocolates too...
I am so tempted to buy a Burberry packable tote which cost me RM970 here but after a long thought, i gave up buying~!!! i still so miss it now!!!! We stop by the Planet Hollywood shops and got myself a souvenir t-shirts IDR 140k and bought 1 for Howard also at IDR 120K.. Its still cheaper compare to Hard Rock.

The DFS Bali

At Planet Hollywood

My purchases!

Spending almost 2 hrs there window shopping for branded goods and enjoying aircon, we called Putu to pick us up and headed to Jimbaran for our sunset seafood dinner...
Every single driver will try to bring you to the expensive restaurant that give them commission. And of course, we are the one paying for it because its inclusive in our meal.
We insist Putu to bring us to Lia Cafe which is located at the second lot of the seafood restaurant..

The Lia Cafe at the older quarter of the seafood restaurants

We were seated on the beach and i start to look at the variety of seafood range at the kitchen... all fresh and still living... We did not go for the set meal as there's only 2 of us, so we do the ala-carte order.

The Menu

Starter - Some peanut snacks, soup and green salad

Grill big prawns & squid and fried Kangkung

Grill Chicken thight

And fruits

The food taste good yet affordable.. Our beach side meal only cost us IDR 80K. And the sunset scene is really superb.. I snap a series of nice photo for my collection here and even BB is impressed ... kakakaka

Dining by the sea

Favourite! Favourite! Fisherman....

Sun setting..

can see the airport from Jimbaran

sun, moon, sea, sky all gather at one.

After the dinner, we were send back to the Yulia Inn. We paid IDR 800K for Putu's service through out this few days... he ask for another IDR100K extra but we refuse, we only gave him a IDR50K tips... That night we just pack our luggage to leave tomorrow...