Busy Fun Bali

Getting There!

BS is the tour master. He has been our tour master in other destinations too, including Bangkok and Jakarta.

BS is a very resourceful and proactive banker. Because of him we seldom travel via Air Asia. We pay less (in most cases) than Air Asia yet still enjoy KLIA rather than the I-have-to-walk-on-the-tarmac-to-get-to-the-air craft-air port. Don’t forget the meals onboard and the extra luggage allocation (especially) we get out of this non-budget airline!

Besides, with our Platinum credit cards, we still enjoy the Premium Lounge at KLIA, free of charge! You cannot get better deal than that!

As usual, we stock up our supplies before boarding the pesawat heading towards Bandara Ngurah Rai, Den Pasar.

The route towards Bali became darker as night approached. The sky was beautiful when you can see one side of the earth was still bright and the other was dark. It’s like traveling through a transition of day to night and it’s beautiful!

Lucky, I had my pocket camera with me.

It is quite deceiving to call it Bali holidays because throughout the 5 days we were strictly within our very own holiday comfort zones of Legian and Seminyak – nothing beyond.

The plan to watch Kecak dance after sunset in Uluwatu didn’t materialized. The idea evaporated into thin air because we had so much fun – back to back – hardly time to relax.

A well deserve holiday with close friends. It has been proven several time this bunch of friends can travel together without any problem.

Sehati dan sekata, di mana jua.

The recent trip was my 3^rd trip to Bali. I did the whole cultural and photography activities in my previous trips so this one was rather light and easy.

I don’t get it when people say it’s hard to get good food in Bali. Bali has a variety of restaurants serve local to international cuisines.

Demo Sana Demo Sini Comment

beautiful children of Myanmar

Some one commented on my recent Demo Sana Demo Sini posting.

I welcome his or her opinion.

This is my response to share:

dear anonymous:

correction, it is NOT quite easy for me to say what I said. I am not a politician - far from it, really. But I have seen political divides not only in my beloved country Malaysia, but also my beloved state Terengganu and sad to express here even in my own family - to a certain extend.

I hope to elaborate my points, hopefully in my future posting.

Think! Even our Kemerdekaan Malaysia dicapai bukan dengan hujung pedang malah dengan tinta (pena). Saya cuma harapkan agar rakyat Malaysia tak kira apa bangsa sekali pun menangani keadaan dengan kebijaksanaan, bukan melalui emosi atau hanya membabi buta mengikut puak puak tertentu yang suka menghasut untuk kepentingan politik masing masing.

I do not agree with ISA 100%. As I said, I am ALL for a refined version of it. But WE NEED ISA. Please realize countries such as Singapore, the US and even the UK has (almost) the same act. They just DON'T call it ISA. I doubt all those people who participated in the demo realize that. Kita ramai yang suka sangat terikut ikut berdasarkan sentimen.

As a rakyat, I am very concerned about the future of my country, tanah tumpah darah ku. I have seen with my own eyes what happened in other countries and I personally talked to the people in the respective countries.

Look back! In the 70's the Philippines had the most canggih airport in the region. Look at what happened to it now under the pretext of freedom of speech? They are rich in minerals, their soil is fertile and he land is beautiful.

H.O.W.E.V.E.R,

poverty is rampant.

Also look back at Myanmar. They had very good universities and intellectuals before, and the country is still rich with minerals. I was there observing beautiful people and children. But they are just poor and I don't think they will be able to change their life to even get affordable basic primary education. I was depressed almost cried when I saw and play around with the beautiful children and photographed their happy faces even though they have to look for their own food. I have seen this with my own eyes.

We already achieved what we have achieved so far. It is NOT perfect, but we have to admit the fact that we have got some formula right. Please do not underestimate how our Indian, Chinese and Malay forefathers who fought and developed and united this country. I am very scared if we fail to realize this because the price that we have to pay is way too expensive than what we can even imagine.

Having said that, it is true non of my family members have been or are affected by ISA. I am sorry if any of your family member is / was affected by it.

Salam.

M

side note:

my (extended) family political divide.

I am not sure whether I have written about this before, but here it goes.

Not that long ago while celebrating Hari Raya kat kampung at my brother's house - a strong BN supporter.

I noticed some of the members from my sister-in-law's familty (strong PAS supporters) visited us di pagi Raya. I noticed they just drank some drinks and didn't eat anything else from the hidangan hari raya.

I, as curious as ever, asked my sister-in-law - kenapa dia orang tak makan hidangan kita (of course in Terengganu lingo and intonation lah)

Apparently, to them especially daging served by BN people are not halal for them to eat.

This is from the same Malay race, satu keluarga, satu kampung, hari raya lagi.

Think my friends!

Think!

Pura Quotes - 01

I want to start collecting Ku We's quote from his Facebook.

Mainly rooted to deep culture and heritage of Terengganu.

Like this one:

recalled d day he got most unkind cut, walking in procession wearing most gorgeous Kain Lepas Besar Songket covering his torso and lower part to be taken off not to be wet before a cold shower. Ceremonial place on top the bananas trunk where the Mudin did d magic trick look up all gone in second. Crying in pain Sakit2 the elder said sikit saja semut gigit, between my thigh a tray of wood ash a traditional antiseptic

Rolling down from Genting Peres, I had to stop and shot this.

The first time I saw it was minutes before that while I was painfully hammering the pedals about 300 meter from the summit.

At the very same time when I felt (yup, psychology) like I almost hit the wall for all my muscles could tolerate no more. Lactic acid was like fine needles in my muscles.



However, (it’s all in the mind) I was convinced that there was a carrot at the peak and to get it, I cannot afford to do anything else but riding – just before I glided 15km downhill.



I felt like an eagle flying, gliding, flirting with max speed.

I felt liberated.

I felt like a kid again.

I felt like out of this world.

I felt like I want to live another day and ride and ride.

22km of HELL

Due to peer pressure, I registered for Adidas King of the Road run in Shah Alam. Thanks to BB!

After my World Rainforest Music Festival in Kuching my workload increased tremendously. At the same time, social obligations – dinners and parties invitations keep on pouring in. They all ate my fitness and training time.

I have not done 22km in my life before this.

Since BB “forced” me to register, he even picked me up at 5.15am to run this marathon.

I barely completed the run. When I arrived, van MILO pun dah tutup kedai. I didn’t even get the medals, only paper certificate.

I was ill prepared and the run was really painful. I am glad I completed it nevertheless and still suffering – limping.

Just another day, my feet should be ok, soon.

Next: Singapore (half) Marathon. (I hope)

breakfast @ teluk chempedak

Demo Sini Demo Sana - Ape Citer!

Tak ada makna nya!

Some of my friends didn’t even know there was a demo when they got stuck in KL jam recently.

I wonder why the oppositions are making such a big deal in organizing a demo. I certainly understand ISA is a big issue but at the same time it is NOT the ONLY issue we have to tackle in this complex plural society.

Belum apa apa lagi nak abolish ini lah, nak abolish itu lah.

Perlu ke? I mean, perlu sekarang ke?

I am not certain how many thousands of people took it to the streets recently but there are a lot more who were at home, at work, cycling, camping enjoying life in Malaysia and abroad.

I am not pro BN 100%. I do see their (major) flaw.

T.E.T.A.P.I.

The oppositions have to do more than using their supporters (including children) to the streets to prove a (whatever) point, or to gain their (selfish?) political leverage.

Why don’t they concentrate on running Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan smoothly with more development that the previous government had done. Show us you can do a better job in all socio-economic aspects.

Please do not underestimate what a great job our (Indian, Chinese and Malay) forefathers had done to get where we are now. The oppositions can talk because talk is DIRT CHEAP! Ada yang dah dua kali tak meet datelines kononnya nak jadi PM etc.

Itu lah pasal!

Please lah!

As at now, I am not convinced they can. Not yet!

Once proven, they don’t even have to campaign,

Aku akan pangkah parti tu in the next General Election.

Do some reading lah. Kat negara negara lain yang “maju” pun ada jugak the same act, cuma they don’t call it ISA.

I am NOT (at all) ashamed to admit that I am pro (more refined) ISA. Put those bastards yang suka sangat menghasut rakyat yang kurang pandai into the lockups.

Menyusahkan aje! Aku nak pergi shopping pun susah!

Sheesh!

KAKIKU

Zaki and Sabrina, well actually Sabrina and Zaki wedding reception last night.

I still cannot classify the reception. The bride and groom are Malays. But the reception is NOT Malay at all – except for people who displayed their precious collection of songket. The rest are very simple, no frills and practical.

I asked the sister, who’s idea was it to have such a cool simple wedding.

“My mom!”

“You are blessed!” – I said.

Even cooler coz they have a disposable camera on every table, like the one in FRIENDS. The difference is this ones are LOMOs.

I snapped more than 50% of the films.

Each time I snapped the cam I couldn’t help but to look at the back of the Lomo.

Duh!