T5. DISTINCTIVE BARONGAN, SUKAWATI, JIMBARAN in ONE DAY

We contacted a car rental company after getting suggestion from our friends who have toured Bali few weeks earlier.  In Bali, you can't rent a car without driver, this applies to most Indonesian cities and tourists area, if not all.  We were happy with the service of Pak BAGUS's driver who is reliable, considerate, and not meddling too much into our sight-seeing plan. 

If interested, you can contact: Bagus Paramitha, email: [mailto:gelo82181@yahoo.com]

We got an MPV for Rp350,000 per day.  This includes everything: mpv, driver, fuel, toll, parking fee..........and we offered to buy lunch for him, but he declined......

Nice mpv.  Where are you Pak Budi.

BARONGAN DANCE

We originally plan to go to a Barongan dance at Batubulan, but Pak Budi (the driver) suggested KUTA area Barongan dance. Now, is that considered meddling into our plan?  No.....that's called suggestion.  I can always decline if I want to.  According to him, Batubulan is still far, we might not reach on time for the dance.

Now what....we are too early. 

So I take the photos of chairs, on our left and right...huhu

The lighter moment

As the crowd swelled, the performance begins.  The masks and costumes can sometime seem so intimidating, but not for long.  After a while, when they become more friendly, they even throw some jokes. 

Hello......my name is Mr B.  

The duel

And everything ends well.

Most of the time we can't understand what are being said.  It's in Bali language.  We were excited at the beginning, but after a while, sort of tired and looking forward to the ending.  According to Pak Budi, the Barongan dance is too commercialised nowadays, even though the story line is very much the same, the contents seem to be modernised.  They even use English vulgar words in their performance.  Maybe that's what people want.

What is better than having a nice meal.

SUKAWATI

No I didn't say 'sukahati'......I just said the next place to go in Bali should be Sukawati.  I know you like shopping, besides eating and followed last by sight-seeing.  And I know you dislike paying...hehehe. Sukawati is the place to shop.  It is a town at the centre of Bali, about 20 km north-east of Kuta.

Is this Sukawati? ... Sukahati lah what you want to call

A normal Bali' gate

Sukawati is quite crowded with tourists but I managed to get my turn to take photo at the famous gate around Agung temple. 

Welcome...if you dare

So decorative with gong and all

And we finally meet our long lost friend, Mr STARBUCK

Slightly different meaning

JIMBARAN beach

What is Bali without beach, so we end the tiring day on the beach, facing the sunset.  Jimbaran beach is the best place to sit back and enjoy dinner and watching the sun set.  You don't have to do any booking cause there are many restaurants along the beach.

So many restaurants

.......with full view of the sea....

We choose the centre stage................

 Foods are plenty, and delicious.

 What more could you ask for........

Everybody eats

Nice way to end day 2 at BALI

T4. WALK AROUND KUTA BEACH

As usual, every planned trip must have a concise Itinerary. 

The rate for buying rupiah at that time was at 0.0319 RM per 100 IDR.  I even come up with excel file on the exchange rate hunting.

Do you realise that there is always a long queue at the lower ground floor around the centre court of Mid Valley Megamall in KL? What are they after?  Ever wonder?

Exactly.....they are queuing up for a reasonably 'good' money exchange rate.

I have checked with their webpage before paying them a visit, so you can also shop around for an acceptable rate as well at

 http://www.moneymaster.com.my/

Try comparing exchange rates from few money changers.

We are happy enough with their rates so we bought Rupiah and become instant millionaire.... that cost us only RM300.
We then celebrate for being a millionaire........... our own way.

Dinner to celebrate....Up in the Sky

KUTA BEACH

Day 2 started slowly and we had our breakfast the fast way..that is fast food way.  All KFC in BALI are certified halal outlet, and they even have a certificate to proof that.  That ease our anxiety a little.

STARBUCK still closed.  But there are still more coming.

Morning walk, or just standing.

Morning guard.

Where is the giant wave?  Am I at the wrong place?

Morning walk along the KUTA beach is fulfilling.  The traffic is still at ease, the temperature still not extremely hot, but shops are still closed.

The wording sometime seem understandable.

How can I forget my boss........

T3. LAST MINUTE SHOP AT SEOUL

DONGDAEMUN MARKET

This place is popular because of its big Shopping Mall and Market.  Quite a weird combination but most of all, the market was only partially open, many shops were closed....or was it b'cos we were there too early, again? By the way, we were there on Sunday.

Route: Line 1 or 4, Dongdaemun Station, Exit #9

Many shops were closed.......

CHEONGGYECHEON  STREAM
Somehow,  few steps from the Dongdaemun Shopping Mall, we were surprised to see a shallow stream right in the middle of Seoul and you will not believe how clean and clear the water is.  Is this a stream or what?

Can't imagine how long it's gonna take our Klang river to be this clean.  Can anybody bet on this?  20 years? What? Did you say 100 years?

Look how clear the water is.

INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Finally, its time to say bye bye to Korea, for now [believe it or not, we are coming back for more in December].  There was another parade taking place in the airport itself.  What celebration could this be. We just imagine they are celebrating our departure......how come?  And finally, I manage to find one decent photo of myself, not the one with the sword though.

Spot the writer.........

 

And we took a long walk back to the waiting plane.

T2. ITAEWON's MASJID

ITAEWON
Another must-go place for tourist is Itaewon.  Plenty of option for food lovers, many foreign goods can be found here.
Route: Line 6 Itaewon Stn. Exit 3.

What is that car doing on the roof?  Give me a breaakkkkk.....

Yes many food options here but we end up with STARBUCK.  According to my wife (STARBUCK fanatic), that donut (pic below) cannot be found in Malaysia's STARBUCK.   STARBUCK Malaysia please take note!!

STARBUCK interior....any different?

What you call this donut? 

Quite a unique building I suppose.  Also a restaurant.

Itaewon........Where is the crowd?

It's probably not the right time to be here rather early.  Heard this place is completely change at night with local and foreigners spend their extra dollars.  We have this place for our own at least this particular part of Itaewon.

I prefer KEBAB

There is 'something' about this kebab that I bought from that kebab stall near Itaewon subway exit.  O yes delicious indeed, but that night my stomach had a hard time 'recognizing' the food and it decided to throw the food out ....you know what I mean.  O mann, my wife was so thrill seeing me suffer cause I seldom reject any food.  Sorry kebab, we are from different world.

The Itaewon mosque...it's beautiful

We managed to perform Zohor in this beautiful mosque.  There are many halal shops around the mosque area, and that includes the kebab I mentioned just now.

MYEONGDONG

This is the place to really shop.  Myeongdong is considered as 'modern' shopping area.  This is where we spend most of our RM, besides Namdaemun la. Remember bags I mentioned previously?  Yes my wife also look for them, but I forgot to take photos, I was in a shopping-craze mood as well....hehe

Route: Metro Line 4, get off at Myeongdong Station

Myeongdong.....now you see the crowd

And more crowd

Plus LOTTE shopping mall (Plenty in SEOUL)

And we shop till nite time

And we walk