A note to remember

Today is my last day of working, I'm moving to another hotel fo a better career (hopefully). It's really sad leaving my workplace now. Some colleagues is not only colleagues but become my best friends. Too many sweet things happened at this place and too many good memories. I tried hard to keep my eyes dry, not to cry. I hate crying on farewell. Easier for me if on my last day I saw everybody is happy. A good friend of mine wrote me this note in facebook. This note is really a sweet one...

"Not a good bye only see you later"

Mon at 9:03pm

by Indira Maheswari

I can’t really explain what is my feeling today; happy, sad, upset, and lonely. I would then realize it is a recipe of life but I knew something is missing from my life.

At 10.00 a.m. in our French class, Ngakan Cole was very nice, brought me a plastic of ‘Tempe Goreng’ coz he knows I am always hungry in the morning and will eat anything in the class.

At 12:00 p.m. Andy brought me a bar of Toblerone, my favourite, to my office, just becoz I was standby at the hotel when we had staff party at Waterbom yesterday.

I was too happy to notice that tomorrow will be the last working day of my little pinky angel “Utary”. As our lives will always change, I try so hard to accept that you will be part of the other team. Just wanna share how I am so proud to be your friend and having you as one of our vigorous team member.



You were the one I could count on, in good times and bad times. All the times, we had together; rafting, yakiniku, fun walk, thousands times pizza party, it was amazing. Hopefully these memories will stay there in your mind forever and looking forward to share another time again.

It’s not the end. Gotta keep it stronger, come whatever we will still be friends 4ever. I trust we have a better time than most can dream of, better than the best, whatever tears at us, whatever holds us down, “WE WILL MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT’S AROUND"


Congratulations and all the best for your new challenge, my dear Utary.

Christina Aguilera (I Turn to You):

“For a shield from the storm, for a friend, for a love to keep me safe and warm...I turn to you. For the strength to be strong, for the will to carry on...for everything you do, for everything thats true, I turn to you."
 
 

more photos here

Jimbaran Seafood Experience

I have been to Jimbaran to eat grilled seafood many times. Still until today the fresh seafood restaurants in Jimbaran thrilled me whenever somebody invite me for dinner there. Yeah I can’t eat there often because the food is quite expensive for me and I can’t afford it to eat there as often as I want. Only on special ocassion and this night is a special occasion because my sister in law from Kalimantan came for visit and we recommend her to try Jimbaran seafood.

We went to this café in Jimbaran, I already forgot the name because there are so many Cafes there and I think they are all the same. All of them serve fresh seafood in the same way. We choose the table in front close to the water so we will have an uninterupted ocean view, eventhough it is already dark and we can’t really see the ocean but the lights from the Fisherman’s boat and from the hotels and restaurant around the shore looked fantastic.

We ordered a package consist of a fish, crab, shrimp, scallop and squid per person. When the food arrived, I really can’t wait to eat the crab but I saved it for the last. All of the seafood is grilled with Balinese spices that makes it smells so tempting. The grilled shrimp is so soft inside with a litle spicy and the fish taste soo good I eat it until only the bones left. Half of my food finished and I already feel full in my stomach but I can’t stop eating because I don’t want to regret that I did not finished this delicious meals so I continue by eating my crab. You know how difficult it is to eat crab but I enjoy every meat of it.

My brother in law ordered more scallops and another 2 lobster for us, which I am not sure if all of us can finish it. But when the lobster arrived nobody want to miss it and it’s gone in second. Everybody said now they’re really full and could not take anymore food. The waiter offered fruits as a dessert but no one wants to eat it.

We went home tired after a full day tour and a big feast in Jimbaran but everybody is asatisfied. My brother in law said that the mood with the beach view and eat on the sand is really fit in the seafoods taste and the songs played by the local musician.

Well I can’t wait for another special occasion to eat in Jimbaran again..

Cycling Trip to Ubud

I like Ubud and visit it a lot especially during my off day. Visiting Ubud too many times makes me wonder what else can we do beside just walking around. So my freelance guide friend, invite me to go with him for a cycling trip to Ubud and he promised that he will bring us to see the other side of Ubud..

Yeah well, I visited almost all five star hotels in Ubud and knew that they do have the stunning view to the valley, hills or to the river. So what else could be the other side of Ubud?

We started in the morning by rent the bike first. There were 4 of us including the my guide friend. The bike rental normally is Rp. 50.000 per day but we bargain alot and we got Rp. 20.000 per bike for that day. I am so proud of my friend who can bargain that much.

I choose a small yellow bike with a basket in the front to put all my things: water, jackets, camera and one of my friend put his raincoat on my basket (he said just in case it’s rain so he doesn’t want to get wet).

We started from Ubud art market and went along the busy road which is not too busy because it’s still early. A group of elementary school children with Balinese costume walked along the road with us. They went across the street to the temple near the river. We followed them, not to the temple but down to the river. The road is a bit slippery and children running along the narrow lane makes it difficult to control the bike.

After passing all those children we have to take our bike climb up through the step. I already complained for the step because my bike is quite heavy. But as we reach to the top, I was stunned with the spectacular view. We were on the hill where we can see all the hotels along the main road in Ubud. Apparently this hill is the view from that hotels.

This hills was covered with the high grass and some trees. The pathways were already built crossing the hills. My friend said that this is Sobek’s trekking path. So I hope Sobek don’t mind that we were using their path. My friend said it’s ok. It does not belong to them.

We met some expat walked with their dogs and also some others passed by with their bike, just like us. Other than that is just silence and the sound of the wind touching the grass, the sound of the nature…

We cycle very slow in that path until we reach the end of the hills. There were some workers building a new villa. We stopped for a while imagining that the villa will have a stunning view to the hills.

We passed the village and the ricefield. Some farmers were sitting down and have a rest after planting lots of rice. It seems life are simple here, but I don’t know maybe for us who enjoy the view, yes it is seems simple. Maybe for the farmers it is not simple at all. They have to work hard planting rice and took care of the rice, harvest it later and sell it cheap. What if there was a storm that destroys the rice or what if some bugs eat most of their rice. They will have nothing to eat and their family will struggle with the need.. But I am sure the farmer live a happy life and the harvest will bring them lots of rice to sell..

Enough about rice, when we reach the end of the village, we took a shortcut back again to the centre of Ubud. None of us want to take the offer to continue the trip to taro village which is quite far as we are already exhausted.

We met some other people, who use bike for their daily life. Some kids wento to school with their bike. We met a “Bakso” (meatball) seller who had their cart on the back of the bike, I am sure it’s heavy but the seller never give up promoting his “Bakso” with the unique sound of his bell. The smell of the meatball broth rise in the air made me feel hungry.

As we reach Ubud central again, rain suddenly fell. We stopped at the nearest circle K convenience store and bought some drinks and snacks while waiting for the rain to stop.
It’s fun watching all the people passing by through the rain. Some tourist use a colorfull umbrella, some don’t care about the rain and let themselves wet. Some motorbike driver use the raincoat to pick up their kids from school and few people took shelter at the hall.

Rain quickly stopped, so we continue our trip to return the bike. We use motorbike from denpasar to Ubud so we keep our motorbike parked in front of the shops near the bike rental. After returning the bike, my friend got panick as he couldn’t find his motorbike key. The shopkeeper, a young boy came and gave him his motorbike key and explained that he found the key hanging on his motorbike so he took it to save it. After thanking him for his kindness, my guide friend said “ That’s the difference between Ubud and Kuta, here people are still honest. If you hang your key in your motorbike in Kuta and left it, surely your motorbike will be quickly gone”

I thought maybe it’s true…

A Visit To Elephant Safari Park

Yesterday I got invitation from Bali adventure Tour who managed the Elephant safari Park at Taro Village in Ubud to attend the launching of their new package of Safari Under The Star.

Since I never visited the Elephant Park before, I was so excited to finally see it with my own eyes the real park which I ussualy recommend to my guests to visit. All the information I have before are only from their brochure.

The journey took about one and half hours drive from Seminyak to Taro village. However the view along the way is stunning, The countryside in Ubud reflect the real Balinese life and it seems like untouchable by the busy and touristy life in Kuta and Seminyak. Who would wonder that there are somebody who build heaven for elephants in this beautiful forest.

When we get there, I just cant wait to see more of the park instead of just sitting and waiting for other party to come. So I asked the staff if I can take a short walk along in the park and get closer to the elephants. The friendly staff offered if I would consider ride the elephants to show me around the park. Well off course I said yes.

Off we went for an elephant ride which is quite scary at first because I thought I would fell off to the ground. The elephant, named Tagor are very calm and I happen to know that he was an artist too. I saw his paintings at the souvenir shop inside the park. I saw lots of elephant in the park, eating some grass. They looked happy and friendly. It seems like they are taken care so well here.

Late in the evening, Mr. & Mrs. Mason the founder of the park invited us to see the elephant show and try the Elephant safari under the star. There isn’t stars that night because its rainy. So we use a raincoat and an umbrella to see the jungle at night riding the elephants. This time I ride with Miki, another beautiful elephant who can’t stand to pick some leaves along the way to the jungle.

The experience with the elephants was fantastic and I enjoyed it so much. This time I got more information and experience it myself then with no doubt I can explain it better if my guests asks about Elephant Safari.

Later that night when I already in the comfort of my bed and it is still rain outside, I wondered about Tagor and Miki and the other elephants who plays in the water, aw… I already missed them..

This is our picture with Tagor.. He looked very happy...

The trip to Workplace

Since my house now is quite far from my workplace, I now can enjoy the journey that took about 20 minutes motorbike riding. I just noticed that there is a shortcut from my house to the road near the hotel I’ve worked. The shortcut is much more quiter than the main road where I ussually pass.

On the main road, I have to pass 5 traffic lights, now I can avoid all the traffic light by using the shortcut.

The other thing that is so special about this shortcut is I have to pass the small road in a village and there are a beautiful view of the ricefield along the way. I saw some beautiful villa build among the ricefield. I enjoy most of my trip to work especially when I have to work in the morning shift, I can see sunrise from the distance... Bali dogs I saw along the way looks happy and I’m sure they have a good life with their master.



Its now summer in Bali, almost all flower are ready to bloom. The bougenville are everywhere. Blooming so colorfull. I can smell the dew from the grass and from the ricefield. Eventhough It is hard for me to wake up early in the morning, thinking about the journey and beautiful things I can see on the way to work could lift up my spirit to wake up.. (Still I need an alarm..)


The only things I don’t enjoy is if I have to work afternoon shift and get back home at 11 pm. The road is dark and there is only minimum lights from houses along the way. Plus the Bali dogs that are nice in the morning loves to bark in the evening when they see someone passing. Therefore my only option is using the main road with all the traffic lights....

Finally, My Own Dream House.

I wrote in my blog before about the house of my dream which is inspired by my friend’s house near the lake as you can read here. I always wanted a small house in a quiet area not far from the town and have beautiful view of nature.

Well the house is not exactly as I wanted but closer. Me and my husband bought the house half finished and have to refurbish it on our own. It was a terrible days finishing the house. Stessfull because of the rise in price for the material. Finally it is finished and we can move to this house eventhough the garden and the garage is not finished yet..

These days, I am so busy decorating my small house and of course gardening. Now I love shopping for home appliances, decoration and plants for my garden. Yesterday I just finished planting the grass in my front yard..

In my block I only have 4 neighbours and full view to the ricefield. I hope this area will not growing fast as the other area did. People buy the land and build houses and there will be no more ricefield. I like the ricefield just in front of my house, the sound of the chirping birds in the morning and frogs singing at night, so calming..