Journey to the East

October 2

After many years of not stepping foot in the town of Bentong, we took a trip to visit my Khaw Foo, who was re-posted back to oversee the Lee plantations in that district a few months back. Travelling on the Karak Highway, the scenic landscape was a soothing treat for eyes that daily saw heavy streams of cars on highways twice a day. Layers of mountains in green-blue hues as far as the eye could see - the Titiwangsa range that separates the town from the much congested and polluted city of KL. One could even smell the grass and trees in the air. Ah, so refreshing and I had missed the smell of greens, like those in Taiping. Would these still be around in the next 10 or 20 years? Would urbanisation wipe these away?

Typical of a chinese family, we nursed our stomach the moment we reached. Khaw Foo had earlier booked a table at Qin Han Lou for lunch and a lavish one we had. Among its signature dishes were the fish paste noodles in soup with superior chinese wine and fresh steamed fish balls that were amazingly springy and tasty. We had steamed pomfret that was so fresh that its flesh was sweet and crunchy. The most expensive dish was probably the stewed deer tendon with water terrapin flaps. The other dishes were yong tau foo that were served rather differently from those in KL, stir-fried spinach with anchovies, sliced pork in black pepper-mustard sauce, and fried tung fun, (glass noodles) with prawns, onions, eggs and chillies that was eaten wrapped in fresh chinese lettuce.

Contrary to the Buddhist monk, Zuanzang's pilgrimage to India to obtain Sutra, the Buddhist religious texts in one of the greatest classical novels in Chinese literature, Journey to the West, we were lured to the East by the delicious food. Now, weren't we religious? :P

The Godly Allure

August 6

My cousin, Maggie sent an instant message over MSN in the evening, exhilarated having booked herself and friend, Candy a good deal for her holiday trip next year to Bali, for the second time. Her trip to the Island of Gods last year included couple of places that Adrian and I did not manage to cover when we were there for our honeymoon in 2006.

Tempted to join her, I was quite sure I would not be able to get two weeks off from work. Lucky for her, Nyepi falls on 26 March 2009, a day before departing the island on her would be 13-day trip. Nyepi, primarily a Hindu holiday, is observed by all Balinese, including non-Hindu residents, out of respect for fellow citizens. The day would begin at 6 a.m. and end 6 a.m. the next day. A day reserved for self-reflection, all residents would go into silence, fasting and meditation. All forms of activities would be prohibited and businesses would be closed, including the island's only airport. Lights would be turned off and residents disallowed to go onto streets or beaches. Even tourists would not be of exceptions. Only life threatening emergencies would be attended to.

We covered most of the hotspots on our five-day holiday - Kuta, Ubud, Sukawati, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Tanah Lot and Kintamani. Our itinerary begun with dinner at Made's Warung, which came highly recommended. Located slightly further from Kuta Square, it served great Balinese and Indonesian dishes (then I was not into taking pictures of food, plus we were hungry, which explains why there were no pictures).

Captivating masterpieces in Dewa Putu Waris, Studio of Artist Painting in Desa Batuan.

The seven mile in diametre and sixty feet deep Mount Batur, the active volcano up in Kintamani (and no, the volcano was not phewing smoke in case you are wondering).

Paddy fields along the hills on way down from Kintamani.

Sunset at Jimbaran. Plenty of seafood restaurants along the Jimbaran beach where tourists would be seated on the beach and feast on their dinners at exorbitant prices.

Our second day dinner was at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co in Kuta, located opposite Bali Garden, the hotel where we stayed.

One of the many shops along the streets in Legian that sold colourful, assorted bead accessories.

Breathtaking seaview in Nusa Dua, where water sports prevailed. The curious me went for water-skiing and parasailing.

Tanah Lot, where one of of Bali's important sea temples is located atop a huge rock, and would be surrounded by seawaters during high tide.

The hotel garden where we stayed was a picture of absolute peace and tranquility.

We had a two-hour spa treatment at the Balquisse Spa in Jimbaran before we departed. Flipping through the album after so long, it would certainly be a treat to return to the island. A stay at a boutique resort would indeed be a luxury.