I fb-ed about me needing a new hobby last weekend and I did actually gave a serious thought about it. Some of the quirky responses I’ve gotten ranges from fishing to arranging flowers. lol

There’s something good about keeping a blog, to note and log those worth doing so. I spent Saturday afternoon rummaging the old archives, reliving retro thoughts, events and antics. It was amusing to read and realizes how impactful and perception changing these happenings could be. And photographs were the main catalyst to get all the reaction going. So much like the cliché saying how it conveys a thousand words. Mediocre proficiency, but I guess I am still in love with capturing what I feels worthy of that click on the shutter. That bulky machine of mine still sits in the sack after I got back from Bali.

I bet the historical city has a lot to offer.

Work is currently adjective-less. 🙂

When I Wasn’t Surfing

I caught the famous barong dance at Batu Bulan as the first stop, the day I ventured out of Kuta. It was a showcase of local myth and culture with flamboyantly exaggerated  apparel. A few kids cried at first glance.

Clad in red sarong, I went to one of the few temples open for public visitation. The Hindu temple in Bali is one of its kind, with slight resemblance to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The rituals and religious procession looks interesting from the description board, I wish I could catch a live ceremony.

I had lunch overlooking Mount Batur at Kintamani with the company of 2 gorgeous Brazilian who shared the same 4wd vehicle as me, going around Bali. Best meal in Bali! 😛

I finally saw, smelt and almost drank kopi luwak, the proclaimed world’s most expensive coffee. The owner of the plantations was proud to say we speak the same language when her fellow countrymen in Jakarta were burning Jalur Gemilang and hurling feces at the Malaysian Embassy.

I went to Tanah Lot for sunset. I found a  grassy spot towards the end of the sunset terrace, away from the crowd and annoying restaurant owner peddling drinks. It was a breezy evening accompanied by the sound of waves and picturesque silhouette of Tanah Lot temple against the orange hue.

I stopped by the bomb memorial in the town of Kuta, just before grabbing a cup of coffee and leaving for the airport. The monument was erected on the site of the destroyed Paddy’s club on Legian St. as a memory of the deceased from the terrorist bombing in 2002.

When I wasn’t surfing, I saw a fair bit of Bali. I shall be back for more surf, adventure, underwater galore and babi guling!

Sun, Sea, Surf

I flew to Bali a day after I got back from Taiwan. Things got even more intense than the travel itinerary when I almost missed the check-in time. I sprint towards the counter only to be told that there is a 45 minutes delay.

Bali airport wasn’t grandeur but security was tight. I headed straight to the backpackers den in Kuta right after clearing the checks and it took me 2 freaking hours to find a place with empty beds. Snoozed off just before midnight as the party street came alive with speaker box and rowdy crowd.

 

Surf and beach wear store,  international coffee and ice cream chain.

The coolest surfer around.

I spent 4 out of 6 days in Bali surfing, gotten myself a second roast after the trip to Kenting, and certainly enjoyed the thrill of waves riding. Oh, and lots of clumsy fall too. 😛

Yet another solo trip logged.

Formosa Rendezvous

I kicked off awesome August after dully July with a grad trip to Taiwan. 10 of us, 10 days of shopping, sun, sea, food and more food!

 

Our nest in Taipei

RaoHe night market

On the way to break fast, day 02

JiuFen

Xi Men Ding

Rice vermicelli with pork intestine

 

Kaohsiung city at night

Formosa Boulevard

Hostel at Kenting

Kenting National Park

Sun Moon Lake

Sunset at Ita Thao, Sun Moon Lake

Smelliest chou tou fu that we had

Ching Jing Farm

If only the sky was blue. Still, we had lots of fun 3000 meters above sea level

Reflection of Taipei 101

Bo Pi Liao street, Manka

Dan Jiang Senior High School

Dan Shui Sunset

Shi Lin Night Market

National Palace Museum

Fong Da Coffee and little Taiwanese treats at Xi Men Ding

And the best of the whole trip:

 

Great travel mates! =)

Halong Bay

A backdated memo of a trip that was.

Halong Bay was one of the few last places I’ve been during the trip in June. It was an impromptu decision because my initial plan of a longer stay in Sapa foiled due unavailable accommodation.

A day trip started with a mini bus ride to Halong City, 170km away from Hanoi. The junk boat sailed off the pier at about 10am, cruising into the bay and the limestones archipelago.

and it wasn’t as impressive as I thought it would be.

 

The bay being labeled as one of the best of its kind, but I thought Langkawi geosites were better. No?

I stayed another day in Hanoi, before a long day of flying and waiting and flying. 3pm flight from Hanoi to HCMC, a 4 hours transit, then another flight from HCMC to Singapore which marked the end of trip.

Something I love about a getaway is that it sucked me away from reality, and in the midst of denial, physiological senses seemed to be at its best, absorbing essence of every nook and corner. Like what they say, ‘you are a snail, rucksack is your home, carry-n-go.’ 🙂