Bali Nature & Shopping

We are still going strong for Day 3 of our Bali trip 2012. :) We woke up earlier than yesterday at 7am and were at the restaurant for our breakfast at 7.30am lol. The best breakfast dish is definitely the omelette. 

Us at the restaurant, having our breakfast

We set off for our day trip at 9am sharp. First stop was Krisna Oleh Oleh Bali. Shopping! Haha. :P My girls and I bought snacks and souvenirs for our friends and ourselves. We were mindful of our luggage space so we didn't overbuy although we were tempted to as the prices were really reasonable and cheap lol. 
After Krisna, we went off to Bedugul which was close to 1.5 hours drive away from Seminyak. Just before 12pm, we arrived at our second stop: Lake Beratan to see the Ulun Danu temple or better known as the Temple on the Lake. The temperature, like in Kintamani (Mt Batur, Lake Batur), was a lot cooler and walking around was really comfortable and no sweat, literally lol. :P 

We proceeded to the twin lakes - Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan. The view of the lakes and the green mountain was breathtaking. 

The bigger twin of the Twin Lakes - Lake Buyan

Us with Lake Buyan in the background

The smaller twin - Lake Tamblingan

Us with Lake Tamblingan in the background

It was 1.30pm when we got back down to Pacung area. We went to Labhagga for lunch. It was buffet lunch (IDR 80,000 for adult and 40,000 for child). Again, the variety not extensive but the food was warm and tastier than the other buffet place at Mt Batur. The view of the rice terraces from the restaurant was fantastic. I would recommend this place for lunch if around the Bedugul area. 

We started out from Pacung for our second last stop of the day - Tanah Lot Temple. We managed to get to Tanah Lot under an hour lol. It was 3.30pm and we decided that we would not stay for the sunset as it was like 2-3 hours' wait. We told our guide to come back for us at 5pm. Even though it was only 3.30pm and far from sunset, the place was crowded. We quickly got our photos and went for shade lol. We browsed in some of the oleh oleh shops at Tanah Lot, more for the air-con than to buy stuff haha. :P Thank goodness, our guide came earlier and we were off to Tanjung Benoa for dinner.

Tanah Lot Temple in the midst of the sea during high tide

The drive to Tanjung Benoa took about an hour and we were the second patrons to arrive at Bambu Bali I for dinner at 6pm. :) We ordered the Balinese Rijsttafel (IDR 450,000) for two - soup: clear chicken soup; mains: tuna salad; pork, chicken, seafood sate; shredded chicken with chilli and tomato; minced duck in banana leaf; pork in sweet soy sauce; chicken curry*; seafood curry*; grilled fish fillet; two vegetable dishes; two types of rice; dessert: Balinese kuehs (cakes); Glutinous Rice Flour Dumplings in Palm Sugar Sauce; Green Bean pudding; mixed fruits. The girls were ordered a Nasi Goreng (IDR90,000) to share which came with chicken sate. We were very stuffed by the end of our delicious dinner. :) The price is a little on the high side but it was worth it. :P

The table decoration, not including the crackers :)

Us at Bambu Bali I

The Balinese Rijsttafel - soup and main dishes

The Balinese Rijsttafel - desserts

Nasi Goreng with chicken sate

We finally arrived back at our villa just past 8.30pm. It was a long but exciting day for us. Tomorrow will be a break for us, free and easy. Probably doing some shopping lol. Maybe a spa treatment too haha. :P 

Bali Art & Nature

It is Day 2 of our 3-generation of women/girls' trip to Bali. The sky was overcast which made the day cooler for us but I was worried about rain/ thunderstorm. We were very lucky that it didn't rain at all despite the overcast sky throughout the day. 

We had our buffet breakfast at the restaurant at 8am and most tables were Westerners except for one - Japanese. We were the only other Asian table. Guess Desamuda Village is more popular with Westerers lol. The buffet spread was quite limited but the Egg station was good. At 9am, we set off for our day trip with our driver and guide, Susila. 

First stop was the Ubud Art Villages of batik weaving, gold and silver, and woodcarving. The processes of making batik, silver and woodcarving were explained at the respective villages. We didn't buy anything from the villages as we felt they were much too commercialised and expensive. 

My mother and the girls at the silversmith village

Our monkey found her monkey friend lol

Second stop was Ubud Royal Palace and Ubud Market. We took a quick look around the palace before crossing the road to the Ubud Market. My mother bought a few pieces of batik and the girls bought souvenirs for their classmates. It was such a chore bargaining. :S Both my mother and I were really bad at it and we thought our father should be here instead. He is the bargain king in the family lol. I didn't get anything and I felt so empty lol :P 

Ubud Royal Palace

Ubud Royal Palace

Ubud Market - stall selling wood carvings

Pretty wooden plates at Ubud Market

Art pieces at Ubud Market

Third stop was Mount Batur and Lake Batur. We had our buffet lunch (pretty late at 2pm) at Suling Bali, Mt Batur. The restaurant faced Mt Batur which was pretty cool and the climate was also much cooler on Mt Batur. The buffet spread was not extensive or fantastic but served its purpose in filling hungry stomachs.  However, as it was overcast, Mt Batur and Lake Batur were not very clear. :( 

Lake Batur

Mt Batur and Lake Batur 

Us with Lake Batur in the background

Fourth stop was Alam Bali, a coffee plantation. The girls were both excited and disgusted to know how coffee luwak was produced lol. We were given a sampler of the different teas and coffee to taste and we were enticed to buy a 500g pack of lemon tea by its delicious taste from the shop lol. 

The making of coffee luwak

The sampler (from left to right) - cocoa, coffee ginseng, ginger tea, lemon tea and bali coffee

Marieann and I outside the shop (see the big bag of lemon tea in my hand?! lol) 

Fifth stop was Tegallalang Rice Terrace. The girls were amazed to see and know how rice is grown. I am really glad that the girls are learning new knowledge on this Bali trip. :) 

Sixth stop was our crispy duck dinner at Laka Leke. I wanted to try this restaurant which had quite a high rating on Tripadvisor. We arrived at the restaurant at 5.30pm. As we only had lunch at 2+pm, we ordered just two dishes to share. We shared a Famous Crispy Duck (IDR 83,500), a Spaghetti A La Funghi (IDR 45,000) and a Tom Yum Kun (IDR 43,500). The duck was really delicious, I thought it was better than Dirty Duck's lol. We took a couple of photos at the lovely green rice terrace which were in the restaurant's backyard. :)  

At the entrance of Laka Leke

At 6.30pm, our drive and guide sent us back to Seminyak which was 1.5 hours journey from Ubud. We arrived back at Desamuda Village at 8pm. We had a long tiring day and were really glad to be home lol. Tomorrow is another day, full of fun for the girls I hope lol. 

Bali, We are On The Way/ We are Already There!

Updated 10 June, 10.27pm

When you read this post, my mother, my girls and I are either on our way to Bali or already in Bali, depending on what time you read this post lol. Our flight to Bali is at 10.35am and we would arrive in Bali around 1.30pm. By the time we are settled in our villa accommodation, it should be 3pm+. We were all awake by 7am. We got to the airport around 8.20am and by 8.45am, we were through customs and had our breakfast. :) Our boarding time is at 10.05am which leaves us with lots of time to shop/browse around lol.

Our flight was delayed in taking off, only at 11.05am. :( But we managed to get into Bali only 5 minutes later than ETA 1.30pm! Going through customs was a breeze and our airport transfer was there waiting for us at the arrival hall. We arrived at Desamuda Village where we would be staying for the next few days around 2.30pm. Unfortunately our 2-bedroom pool villa was not ready yet so they gave us a 1-bedroom deluxe pool villa to rest while they prepared our villa. I managed to get a nap lol. :P By 4pm, we moved into our villa. :)

Grandmother and grandkids at reception lobby

Grandmother and grandkids resting in big, cosy bed at the temp villa

Juliane at the entrance to Reception and the in-house restaurant, The Rice Table

The first pool, near the reception and the restaurant

One of the resident cats at Desamuda Village (the kids were thrilled!)

The entrance of our 2-bedroom pool villa (yes it is two storey too lol)

The open concept dining area from the entrance (night view)

The living room on the ground floor (night view) (door to dining area on the left hand side, not seen in photo)

The master bedroom (night view, entrance from living room on the left hand side, not seen in photo)

The master bedroom bathroom I (day view)

The master bedroom bathroom II (day view)

The second bedroom upstairs (day view)

The seating area and dresser of second bedroom (day view)

The semi-open bathroom of second bedroom I (night view, can see the stars when showering!!) Lol

The semi-open bathroom of second bedroom II (night view)

The pool!! (the kids have been dying to swim in it lol)

At 4+pm, we ventured out to get a late lunch/ early dinner. Having done some research before going to Bali, I brought my mother and my girls to Made's Warung which was only a 5-10 minutes walk away. However, we only arrived half an hour later because my mother got side-tracked by the lovely shops along the way lol. :P I ordered a Nasi Campur (IDR 40,000), my mother a Curried Crab (IDR 68,000), Julaine a Sate Chicken (IDR 35,000) and Marieann a Spaghetti Carbonara (IDR 60,000). My nasi campur was really spicy. :( My mother and the girls loved their dishes.

After dinner, we continued walking down Jalan Seminyak lol. The sun set really fast and we were deceived into thinking it was much later than it really was. When we returned to our villa, we discovered it was not even 6.30pm yet! Oh well, we should have a nice quiet evening as we would going sight-seeing for the next two days with a private guide/ driver. I will try to upload the photos if I am not too tired at the end of tomorrow lol. :)

Xbox Kinect

A good friend invited my kids over to their place play Xbox Kinect. It is really timely because I have been thinking about Xbox Kinect as a source of exercise for the kids. The kids hardly do any kind of exercise at home. Their only source of exercise is their PE lessons in school. I am very worried that they are becoming overweight, especially when they have the fat genes from their father's side of the family. :( The girls really enjoyed themselves playing with the Xbox Kinect, especially Dance Central lol. Hmm... I am seriously considering getting it but I have to make sure it will not distract the girls from their studies.

Ready for Bali?

Almost lol. We are in the midst of packing for our all-girls trip to Bali this coming Sunday. We will have one check-in luggage of 15kg and two hand-carry luggage of 10kg each. Everything should be packed by tomorrow. :)

2012

2012 represents the year we are currently in. 2012 is also the number of posts that I have posted on this blog since I started it. This post is my 2012th post. :P

Kids at Work II

Brought the kids to work again. My workplace is now relatively quiet as most researchers are on leave. :)

Glee 3: Props

Quite a touching episode about Puck and Coach Beiste. 

I Won't Give Up (uploaded by GleeFullPerformances)

Because You Loved Me (uploaded by GleeOnFox)

Mean (uploaded by GleeFullPerformances)


Flashdance What A Feeling (uploaded by GleeOnFox)

What Disney Vacation Should I Go On?

Since I am in a holiday mood, I did this Blogthing quiz and got this result. I have been to Disneyland. So what's next?

You Should Go to Disneyland

The best days of your life tend to unfold spontaneously, with no planning. You like to go with the flow. You are impulsive to the point of being a daredevil. You love to feel a big rush. There is no adventure too great or small for you. You take on every challenge. You would enjoy doing every single thing at Disneyland. The park is small enough to make all your dreams come true in one day!

What Disney Vacation Should You Go On?

Can't Wait

By this time next Sunday, my mother, my girls and I would be on a plane to Bali. It is the first time that 3 generations of women would be going on holiday together. Wonder how it is going to turn out! Lol. I am looking forward to this Bali trip because it is a belated Mother's Day present to my mother, it is a reward for Marieann for her exam results, it is a promise made to Juliane and finally, it is a gift to myself for completing my Phd. :)

Naive

A former classmate and I met up for dinner and we tried out Naive at Katong. It is a vegetarian restaurant. But I assured you, the vegetarian food is as tasty and as filling as any non-vegetarian food! We only ordered two dishes - Cheeky Monkey (monkeyhead mushroom with oats and curry leaves) and Mango tofu cake (crispy tofu with mango sauce) and a plate of olive brown rice to share. We were struggling to finish everything because the food was really filling and delicious despite being vegetarian food. Another plus point about the food - NO MSG!! :) We also ordered drinks - Shanghai Rose (cooling tea with rosehip) and Yuzu Tea with our meal. Both were really nice and not too sweet. :) 

After dinner, we had to walk around the area to digest our food lol. It is the first time that I am in the Katong area on foot. I marvelled at the number of restaurants and eateries I see all over the place in the 30 minutes' walk I had! Before we headed back home, I bought two cupcakes - LOVE and Over the Rainbow for the girls and some kueh and bak chang (rice dumpling) from Kim Choo Kueh Chang, a Peranakan restaurant. :) I must come back to Katong more often for the food! :) 

Kids At Work

As promised, I brought the girls to work. There are now four empty workstations around me and they were very glad to have a workstation each. They said they felt like an adult lol. :P They settled down in no time and started doing their homework. I am very surprised lol. They do feel very comfortable at my workplace. I will bring them back again but not everyday as I do not want my other colleagues to feel uncomfortable with the presence of children in the office.