taking a grip in Bali: Aug'09

Some time long before August came...
Doug: Kelimutu lake?
Shinta: ok

Some time near August..
Shinta: I have to cancel Kelimutu.
Doug: ok! no worries.

Some time in August..
Shinta: Kelimutu lake still on?
Doug: nope, only Bali.
Shinta: argggghhh...

Some time still in August..
Shinta: ok! Bali.
Doug: ok!

So here I was almost falling a sleep in Terminal 3 - Cengkareng waiting for the flight to Denpasar. The flight departed at 12 am. It's three hour late and I arrived in Denpasar at 2.30 am. Luckily, Doug already booked a room for me in a hostel at Poppies 2. But, I had to cancel my 1 am appointment in Kuta with Ganesh and Elphi. Yup, they were also in Kuta.

Day 1

I spent the morning walking along Kuta beach and reading in a cafe; hanging out with Geq in Denpasar and Sanur at noon; playing with Didi, Puri, Simone and X (I don't remember his name) at Canggu beach and Silq-Seminyak on the afternoon and at night; and accompanying Chris having her midnight supper in Kuta. What a day!

Day 2

After having 10.30 am breakfast with Doug, I spent the next day reading in the same cafe as yesterday near Kuta beach and walking along Legian... remembering yesterday and smiling. This was the 6th time I visit Bali since 2003. Nevertheless, this was the most unique vacation I have in Bali ever. I met all of my friends above in Bali by accident, except for Doug and Geq. It's amusing, but I needed to get away from Kuta, so I booked a biking trip in Ubud. This was also the first time for me using Lonely Planet book for traveling in Bali. The book brought me to my next trip in Ubud.

Day 3

I was already on Perama bus terminal - Legian at 6 am. After arriving in Ubud, I looked for a place to stay by walking and found Nick's homestay still had one available room. The homestay is not too far from Perama bus terminal. Wayan Kontra from Bali Fun and Action (http://www.balicyclingtour.com) picked me up at 9 am along with two British and two Australian for biking trip. Wayan dropped us in Kintamani to have breakfast. It's a traditional breakfast menu and the others expected me to explain about the menu, because I'm the only local among them. Jeez guys, you had met the wrong local since my food knowledge is very limited. Still, I became their food taster :)

The bikes were already waiting right after we finished our breakfast. I didn't use the helmet because it didn't smell good. Kintamani - Ubud biking trip was a great one. The descending road was a heaven as I can feel the wind as I paddle fast. There were paddy field, orange field, people work on handicrafts, people celebrating independence day...woohoo...independence day? Actually, I shoud have joined..nahh I'm in holiday.

Then my heaven changed a little bit as we entered the rocky road with paddy field next to it. Descending on that kind of road with a bike, suddenly I needed my helmet, but I successfuly fell down. Hmmm only light bruises.....I continued the biking still without the helmet. The Australian fell down also. This time was a more serious fall that cause him serious wound. After biking through the paddy field, the road turned into ascending....arrrrghhh my breakfast this morning was not modified for ascending. I wish I ate all of my breakfast. The trip ended with a very delicious lunch at 2 pm.

My biking trip friends were wonderful. We had interesting conversation about gadgets at wars, cangaroo, snake on the beach, Indonesia's culture, and else during the eating time. At night, I watched a dance performance at Ubud Palace. It was beautiful as usual.

Day 4

I really wanted to go for rafting today on Ayung river, but I had my flight back to Jakarta this afternoon. Shit! I only spent my last day in Ubud by walking along monkey forest road, having a foot reflexiology at Kenko, and having lunch at Bebek Bengil. I was at Bebek Bengil for almost two hours thinking over these past months of my live. This is why I suddenly go to Bali...to find out where I'm going to. Having deciding to go for undesirable point A after considering the whole condition, I was ready to be back in Jakarta with a full spirit no matter what. Then my friend called telling me a good news. The implication of that news was that I don't have to go to point A. What??!? That's wonderful because I don't like point A. But, I was in Bali to make peace with myself in accepting being in point A. By the time I had accepted, I got news that I don't have to be in point A. I should have going for rafting :) After saying good-bye and thanks to Doug in Kuta through sms (well, he'll be also in Jakarta next week), I was on the plane back to Jakarta.

Thank you! Like I wrote before... A unique trip :)

srambled in Singapore: Jul'09

Mostly I will be staying one night in Singapore only for transit. But this time was kind of shocking since I had to stay there for a week and it’s for business. I couldn't even bear staying a night in Singapore since I found the country is dull. According to an article in Bloomberg magazine: “Everything in Singapore is so well organized. Everything is so efficient”. Luckily, Lonely Planet saved me from the threatening dullness and turned it into interesting moment to spend. I had my free hour after 5 pm during the week to wander around.

I wandered around with Asti, my colleague. Then, what did we do? Shopping of course. Well technically, Asti did the shoes shopping while I watched her and other shoppers shopping. I am not against shopping binge like this. Instead, I look at shoppers as heroes who helps supporting the economic growth as long as they don't mainly finance it with debt that far beyond their income. Once you are out from a MRT station, you will instantly be surrounded by a mall or a market.


Besides the stores and malls, we also went to Chinatown. Yes, we can shop also in Chinatown. But, that's not the main goal. We went to Singapore’s Hindu temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, which was built in1827. We stayed there for a while to see a ceremony. I did not know what ceremony it was.

Satisfying taking some pictures and seeing the ceremony, we went to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. It’s already night and the temple was closed. Hence, we were only able to take pictures from the outside. But even from the outside, the temple looks striking. I wish I could go inside.

We took a break at Chinatown food street. The atmosphere there was great that could ease our tired feet after short roaming along Chinatown. By the way, what exactly the relation between a place atmosphere and my feet condition? It just great. You could find a lot of foodstall along the street. Everyone seems relaxed. On the way back to Chinatown MRT, we passed Chinatown night market where sellers fill in both side of streets with colourful and attractive traditional goods. However, you could find cheaper goods at Mustofa Center. Overall, Chinatown was a great place to wander around. On the left side, you can find a Hindu temple; on the right side you can find a Buddhist temple; and in beetwen it, you can find Chinesse food and night market. Highly recommended to start walking on the afternoon, but you must notice the opening hour of the temples.

We also went to Singapore flyer on courtesy of our colleagues in the morning. I think it will be better if you take it at night when you can see the city’s lights from above. On the other hand by having it at noon, we were able to see places that were explained in the tape.


We closed our journey (I mean our business trip) by watching Singapore Symphony Orchestra playing Postcards from Heaven at Esplanade Concert Hall. It was beautifully played with Lan Shui as the conductor. We sat on the left side balcon in front so we could see the shifting among the violin players, the bass players and other players. I was speachless listening and seeing the orchestra.

Ok, that’s it all. That’s all the activities for a week?!! Well, since this was actually a business trip, we couldn’t go out every night to keep our fitness during the day. But, I had changed my mind. Singapore can be attractive and challenging also. Scrambled in Singapore? The opposite of well organized in a unique way :)