Bali Fashion Week

Bali is raising on the fashion industry. I saw lately there are so many new boutique around Kuta and Seminyak area. One of my friend is just graduate from Fashion Design school and she is now entitled for the title Fashion Designer. Since she my best friend and often we hang out together, I could understand a little bit about fashion industry.

She design mostly for resort wear or beach wear. Yes, because we are on the beach area and her background is the same with me, tourism industry, therefore she choose to design resort wear.

During Bali Fashion Week, we are participating by watching the show and the exhibition… hehehe… maybe it is not participating only watching..
For my eyes I saw the costume was weird. They make clothes out of garbage, bottles, etc.. I was thinking who’s gonna wear that creepy clothes.. While my friends saw the design based on the detail and the art, she said that this is a free expression of the designer… Well ok, for me it is still weird.

She enjoyed watching the clothes and the design while I enjoy watching the models and my surrounding. The models are young and some of the male models are handsome, this I enjoyed much! LOL… There are lots of people watching. From their style, I understand that most of them are from outside Bali, a local tourist. Maybe they are participating in the fashion industry, maybe they are a fashion schools student from Jakarta or Bandung, or maybe just coming to watch the show. I can see it from the way they dress and put lots of make up in their pretty face. So far I know, Balinese don’t really put complete make up in their face except during ceremony. Balinese loves to keep their face natural or maybe because in Bali are so hot, if they put too much make up, they’ll be sweating and their make up will be melting..

We watched the fashion on the street along the way to Kuta beach. This is about the same as Kuta Karnival but are focusing only on the fashion. Some young street dancer also joined in this carnival and show up their talent. The busy street along Kuta Beach become a catwalk for the models to show up the colorful and attractive costume.

I got a chance to take picture with some of the models with their costume…

Martapura, The City of Diamond.

All my friends said, when I am about to go to Kalimantan, don’t forget bring a souvenir from there. I asked what they want me to bring. most of them said: Diamond!
Helloo… Excuse me diamond are expensive..

My husband take me to Martapura that day. We went to the central of Diamond and precious stone in this city. My mother going crazy when she saw there are so many shops selling many kinds of precious stone and they’re cheap too. I know nothing about precious stone nor diamond. I thought that they’re just a colorful stone. The one that I saw there looks like fake. But it is not. The truth is the fake stone looks like the real one. That is why, people who knows nothing about precious stone are not aware of the fake or the real one. Just like me..

My mother starting busy choosing and bargaining some precious stone for herself, for my father, for this, for that and for souvenir. The price for one set precious stone is started as low as Rp. 30.000. I think that is cheap. Because, even the fake bracelet with fake stone priced higher than that in Bali. Me and my husband are just looking around while moms busy with the stone. I saw my mother tested all the stone with the testing machine that she borrowed from the seller. Yes that is important, to know if the stones are real one.

My mother asked me if I want to buy a diamond for my pendant, I said no. I already have the fake one for my white gold necklace. She insist to buy me one. After a long bargain and testing and asking for the clarity, carat, etc.. She ended up with one medium sized diamond in a triangle pendant. I kinda like it too.. So when I asked about the price, the seller said he already gave a huge discount plus guarantee certificate to my mother. Well now I know that Diamonds are girl’s best friend. I never have a diamond before, but when I wear it, I feel like it just fits me well. It’s sparkling on my neck. I thank my mother for the diamond and she said ok! She asked me to consider it as my wedding gift..
Oh my glad, I am so delighted!

Floating Market

I have already put this place on my agenda as a must see! I know that Kalimantan is very famous for its floating market. I saw it a lot on TV. We went very early in the morning because the market only opens in the morning. It’s about 6 am, I woke up in the rush knowing that I am quiet late to visit the market.

We went there by traditional motorboat named “klotok”. It look the same as “ jukung” in Bali. Only different name. The river name is Barito, one of the most famous river in Kalimantan. I know that this river is huge but I don’t know that it is as wide as the sea. I saw lots of big ship taking lots of wood logs. The journey took about 15 minutes to reach to the floating market. It is actually can take only 10 minutes if the motorboat is not having a problem. The motor is stopped, I don’t know, by something in the water. It took five minutes to fix it and the current of the river took us backward.

I saw the floating market full of another smaller and bigger “klotok” The seller yelled offering their goods and the buyer paddle their boat from one seller to another. Me and my mom are excited. We saw a “klotok” full of traditional cakes. Some other “klotok” are surround it while buying cakes and enjoy it with a hot coffee or tea. The seller gave us a stick with a small hook on the other edge. While I am confuse what is it for? He told me that I can use that to pick the cake I like from his boat. Oh..that is interesting.. I pick one cake that looks delicious with that stick and ordered a glass of hot tea to accompany.

I sat in the front of the boat enjoying my tea and my cake. There is no cold wind, eventhough it is early in the morning.. The sun is already risen up but still not hot yet. My mom, my mother in law and my aunty in law sat in the middle of the boat enjoying their cakes and hot tea while chatting. My husband are busy photographing everything he saw

Some local tourist like me passing by and smiled (I know they are tourist, because thay bring camera and their face is just as excited as we are). I smiled back and waive my hand. They waived back to me too. I am glad to know that Indonesian people are still friendly. Smile is a polite manner to say hello.

My eyes catch a small café on the boat. It says” Soto Banjar”. Well that food is also on my list for must eat!. So I told my husband that we have to go to that Café Boat after looking around. The floating market is so busy, just as busy as common traditional market in Bali, except we are on the water not on the ground.. We bought some bananas, my mother in law said it’s for the monkey we will visit on the way back.

We have our breakfast at the Café Boat. I feel dizzy because this Café is keep on rocking. I could not enjoy the food so much because of the boat swinging. I think I got seasick, oh no, it’s riversick. I finished my meal fast and back to our “klotok”. I feel more comfortable here.

As my mother in law said before that we will visit monkeys. I was wondering where is that. We passed a small land in the middle of the river. It is looks like a small island raised above the water. The boat stopped there, and closer… I saw lots of monkeys, maybe hundreds of them. They are occupying the island. We throw the bananas from our boat and immediately they began to catch it. The monkeys are friendly so we step into the ground and gave the bananas to them.

On the way back, it’s about 8 am. The floating market was quiet. Only few boats around. I am wondering how wide is this river. My husband said it’s about one kilometers. He said he will bring me to see the bridge across this river. The name is Barito bridge. The same name as the river itself.

Banjarmasin Traditional Wedding Costumes.

Well..well..well..
I really have no time to write on my wedding day because I am just too busy with my wedding plus busy exploring the city.. I don’t know what to say. The traditional wedding costumes is just very different from my place. I am wearing so many flowers that have strong scent, from Jasmine, rose, cananga. Plus my head is so heavy with all these flower.
The thing that interest me is the flower bouquet. It is just really different from others. It is made of Jasmine and roses and some leaves, it doesn’t look like a hand bouquet.
I am just too exhausted. The reception start from morning till evening. I changed my dress 3 times and still have to smile to all the guests.

When the time is up. I am so glad that I want to put all the flowers that crown my head. I am glad to be the queen of the day. I just now realize that it is hard to be the queen, especially on the dress, make up and the hair do..

Banjarmasin, Here I come!

I am going to Kalimantan.. Hooray!!
It’s been so long since the last time I am traveling to visit another new place in Indonesia. This time I am going to Kalimantan, Banjarmasin exactly. Me and my husband are going to have our wedding reception there because most of his family and relatives are there. This is my second reception after the one we did in Lombok, my hometown.

The journey begin with Mandala Airlines from Denpasar to Surabaya. The plane is new and all the interior are still shiny. It only took 35 minutes to reach Surabaya airport. From above I saw Surabaya is full with buildings and factories. The land are red, unlike Bali which is green from the above. We passed Krakatau mountain. It looks so beautiful from the above, I can’t imagine how bad the damage it cause when last time this mountain blow up.

We met my mother at Surabaya Airport. She arrives from Lombok and then together we take Lion Air to go to Banjarmasin. Nothing special with this flight except the plane is old and we sat on the back of the plane and I can hear the sound of the machine which makes me worries, just in case the sound is getting slower then there must be something happen with the machine. Thank God we arrived safely at Banjarmasin Airport.

My first impression of the city is hot, even hotter than Bali, I think. The sun is hot and the wind is hot, plus lack of trees on the road.. There are lots or river I saw on the road and wooden house are everywhere. I can’t wait to explore this place more but I have to wait till the day after tomorrow because tomorrow is my wedding reception..

Shopping at Art Market

What else would you do when you are on holiday beside of relaxing? according to my inappropriate and random survey to my friends and some of my guests they would say shopping (well, okay most of them are women).

So because I live in a place that Mr. Joger say “ Every Day is Sunday in Bali” that’s mean I am enjoying everyday holiday, it is so unfair that I only recommend my guests to do shopping here and here and there, but me myself only ever pay a visit to that place but not shopping. I know everything about bargain, and morning price but seldom practicing my bargaining skill.

Last night my cousins who lived in Kalimantan asked me to buy some things that she forgot to buy while in Bali. I started my shopping experience with a list longer than my monthly shopping list. I feel a little excited because I can spend money and do shopping without losing my money (off course it’s her money). I went to Sukawati Art market, which is the center of all souvenirs from Bali.

I went there in the morning, because in the morning you can bargain to the very basic price you can get. Most of the seller here are Balinese, and Balinese believe that first customer will bring a good luck for the whole day, never reject the first customer.

My first search is for bags, some colorfull bags made of natural leaf. I started to ask the seller, actually in Indonesian, but I’ll translate it:

Me: Excuse me, Madam how much is this bag?
Seller: Oh that bag is cheap, only Rp. 75.000 (about USD 8)
Me: What, that is not cheap, still expensive. What about Rp. 30.000
Seller: No, Madam, you can bargain but that is too cheap. Have a look for yourself first and pick your favorite one with a reasonable price.
Me: Oh yes, I like this one. And Rp. 30.000 is reasonable price for me
Seller: Allright. I’ll give you the best deal Rp. 50.000. This is morning price already.
Me: Oh That is still expensive. If I can’t get Rp. 30.000 I’ll look for another store. (I started to leave)
Seller: Allright I’ll give you more discount. Rp. 45.000 and this is very cheap price. I cannot go any lower that this and you will not find it anywhere in other store that give you this price.
Me: My budget is only Rp. 30.000 madam. I have no more money.
Seller: Am sorry, Rp. 30.000 is too cheap, allright let’s make Rp. 40.000 and this is final price, please, I don’t take any profit for you
Me: Ok, let’s make it Rp. 35.000 and we make a deal
Seller: No, Rp. 40.000
Me: (Leave the stall)
After 5 meters from the stall
Seller: Ok Madam, I’ll give it to you, This is such a very cheap price and you could not compare to another store, which colour would you take?
Me: (with big smile). Thank you, I’ll take the pink one and it’s Rp. 35.000 right?
Seller: Yes madam, you are very lucky today.

After taking the money from me, she pat the money to all the goods that she display in her store and say “ Garus, Garus, Garus!”

That is the story, Garus means hope the goods will be bought by someone else and there will be lots of people buying in her store.

My Shopping journey continued. I bought lots of colorful beach sandals at Rp. 9.000 each, some bracelet and necklace, beach sarongs and colorful kids clothes.

After 3 hours nonstop, I feel tired and hungry. My car is full of shopping stuff and I think I have bought all that is on the list plus one or two extra cute things that I could not resist to buy. The sun are getting hotter. So I decided to stop and go back home…
Today is a good day!

Life On The Beach

I saw this beach everyday when I am working. I am just so glad that I’ve work in such a beautiful place in Bali and more lucky, my desk is facing to the beach. I saw many things happen on the beach, beside the big waves and the beautiful sunsets.

When I work in the morning shift, I saw some tourist enjoy the horse riding on the beach, which makes my guests want to try it too, as it looks so enjoyable and romantic. Also there will be some people jogging or walk with their dogs, it just seems like their dogs are so happy playing with water and sands.

In the afternoon there will be surfers who enjoy the waves so much and playing with them, trying some new tricks and new skills of surfing. Some guest lay down on the beach sunbathing, reading, listening music or sleeping.

When I am working in the afternoon shift, I love seeing to the sunsets, sometimes it just sooo… beautiful, the sun sets in the water and spread orange and red colours in the sky, sometimes clouds just blocks the sunsets. I saw many tourist walking on the beach stopping to enjoy the view. I don’t know what are in their mind, while they are stopping, but I’m sure they admire the beauty of the view.

On Sunday, the beach will be very busy. Lots of people play soccer on the beach, they laugh, they fall and they have fun. Families bring their kids to play in the water or build a sand castle which doesnt look like a castle. Colorful frisbees are swinging and flying around. I love to see these activities from my desk. Sometimes I got so jealous and wanted to join the fun in the beach, so if my off day fall on Sunday, I never miss the beach in the afternoon, playing frisbee or just walking around.

At night the beach is more quiet, no people passing by. The beach are dark but I can see the shining light from far away. It’s the lights from the fishermans on their traditional boats, looking for fishes to sell the next day. I know where they come from. I saw some fishing village in Jimbaran area and also in Canggu. The fishermans go fishing at night and come back early morning with fresh fish to sell. One night I saw no lights in the ocean and was wondering are the fishermans don’t go fishing tonight?. My colleagues told me that fishing is forbidden in full moon when the waters are not so friendly and the current and the waves are too strong. I am glad they don’t go. It could be dangerous for them.

Pre Wedding Picture at Dreamland

Dreamland is another beautiful beach in Bali. This beach is a dream beach for surfers because of it's waves and it is hidden by a high rocks and cliffs. Because of its location, not many people come to this beach but now this beach becomes very popular and started to have many people comes to visit and enjoy the beauty.


Me and my boyfriend decided to make our pre wedding picture in dreamland. the concept is casual, beach style. We choose to take the shoot early in the morning where it is not too hot and still not too many people on the beach. We are not models therefore we are a litle shy in taking pictures....


These are the photos:

My Favorite Road,

There are a lot of new road now in Kuta area, it is to detour the traffic to avoid traffic jam especially at the main area in Kuta. Well its work. I mostly like to use the sunset road or Marlboro road to go to any main area in Kuta and Denpasar to avoid the traffic. But from most of the road I passed, my favorite is a road to Airport, why that road.. maybe it is because there are so many shady trees, or the road are wide..I don’t know..everytime I passed that road it is always remind me of something. It is like a melancholy feeling of people who are sad to leave and people who are excited to come. There are not too many cars and motorbike passing eventhough airport are always busy. The road are short so you will not have that melancholy feeling for long when you reach again the very busy traffic in By Pass..

Bowling in Kuta Paradiso

This place should be a good place to hang out plus doing some sport for my lazy muscle. And it is fun because not only it is a place for bowling but also for pool table..They have ladies night too..only Rp. 10.000 and ladies can play till drop (well they close at 2 a.m) I am now practicing a lot..bcoz everytime I bowl the ball doesnt seem to go straight forward to the pin, people keep saying that bowling need patience, well I turn too emotional when my ball didn’t hit the pins.
I will wrote again once I become a good bowler, so that I can tell you how fun it is to bowling..