OnionHead's Colorful Life: 05/2009

Saturday

Bali trip - Day 1

It was on the purpose of celebrating the graduation from my vet study that I went Bali for a trip from 10 May to 15 May 2009 with 8 other coursemates and 1 mum of one of them.

The flight tickets offered by AirAsia we've managed to buy were really cheap (RM5.40 one way, which made it RM10.80 a return one, after tax and insurance was about RM118). SO it saved us alot that we can spend more budget on shopping!

The group of 10
Leaving from Malaysia at LCCT KLIA in the evening

Arrival at Bali at night.

The baskin robbins outside the Bali Airport looked very ancient, haha.

We had our 1st meal at this restaurant. Unforgettable 1, as the 1st meal cost us an unreasonably high price. Plz DO NOT visit this restaurant! They suck tourists' blood!

All restaurants that sell nasi padang look like this from the outside

More than 12 types of dishes will be placed on the table, after you finish the meal only they will charge you on the dishes that you've eaten, those that were not eaten will not be counted.

There were fish curry, chicken curry, rendang beef, brinjals, tofu, fried potato cake, sambal prawns and etc. They were all very hot and spicy, numbing my tougue and lips... T_T

This fried Kampung Chicken cost us Rp 120k! A piece of fried tofu can cost Rp 20k!! So you could imagine how unreasonable the price was. And following that dinner, we were very cautious about where to dine-in in Bali. Only choose those shops with price listed on Menu.

Hotel Harmony Seminyak, located at Seminyak.

This is the hotel where we stayed for 2 nights, the 1st and the 2nd. There are also branch of this hotel at other location.

It is a very stylish and modern hotel, well furnished, simple plus zen.

The lobby, a computer with internet available there for use.

Swiming pool in the middle surrounded by rooms at perimeter.

It is not a very big hotel, it is always very quiet, as there were no many rooms as well.

The double bedroom we had, it was clean, comfortable and with plasma TV!

The bathroom.

Bali trip - Day 2

8.30am after having breakfast in the hotel, we went to watch the the Bali traditional dance performance - Barong and Kris Dance.

The Barong dance represents an eternal fight between good and evil spirit. Barong represents a good spirit in an animal form, and Rangda represents an evil spirit in a monster form.

First the dance started with music over tone. There were 2 girl dancers representing the servants of Rangda, looking for the servants of Dewi Kunti who are on the way to meet their Patih (prime minister).

The servants of Dewi Kunti come. Once of the servants of the Rangda changes into a witch enters both servants to make them angry. They meet their Patih and go together to Dewi Kunti.

Dewi Kunti and her son, Sedewa come up. Dewi Kunti has promised the Rangda to sacrifice Sadewa.

A witch appears and possesses Dewi Kunti. She becomes angry and orders the Patih to bring Sadewa into the forest. The Patih is also possessed by a witch so he does not have Pity on Sadewa.

Sadewa is then taken into a forest and tied up on tree.

Unknown by Rangda, Siwa, the God appear and gives Sadewa immortality.

The rangda appears, ready to kill Sadewa and eats him up but Sadewa is still alive.

She then surrenders and asks him to redeem herself, Sadewa agrees and kills the Rangda. The Rangda goes into heaven...

One of the servants of Rangda called Kalika comes up before Sadewa and asks him to redeem herself too, Sadewa refuses. Kalika gets angry, and change herself into a boar and fight Sadewa. The Boar was defeated and changes into a bird but defeated again. At last she changes herself into a Rangda, Sadewa could not kill her.

Sadewa meditates and changes himself into a Barong. Still the Rangda is too powerful and the fight is neverending.

Followers of the Barong appear and help him fight Rangda.

These are the musical instruments used for the play.

the traditional instrument.

Posing with the girl dancer.

Pagoda like this one can be seen all around Bali.

Roosters kept for fighting contest are very beautiful.

Each basket contains a rooster.

The rooster's leg was tied up to prevent it fled away.

A very nice looking home-brand petrol station in Bali.

THe entrance of DREAMLAND - Pecatu Indah Resort, which was formerly owned by Sukarno's son.

The beach at dreamland. This recreation area is still new and under construction, not many tourists here.

pants are all wet by the waves, changing pants in the sarong!

This is the Uluwatu Hindu Temple, located on cliff southern of Bali Island. There will be Kecak Performance (another traditional dance of Bali) at nights. It is also a good place for sunset viewing.

The guide who led us through Uluwatu temple without attacking by monkeys residing around there.

She is good at bargaining price, so are we. =P

All visitors must wear sarongs to cover up the lower part of the body to show respect to the Gods.

The temple at cliff top.

It's Lunch TIME!!!

Ayam betutu (roasted chicken) is one of the famous delicacies in Bali. Many local restaurants serve it.

I think they are using Kampung Chicken, the meat was tough...

A very spicy chicken curry in the middle, and some kind of leaves boiled and serve with sambal.

Satay lilit (BBQ chicken rolled around bamboo sticks) - well, it tastes funny.

TANAH LOT TEMPLE - which is placed on the huge rocks surrounded by the sea. The place where we watch sunset of the day.

The market at Tanah Lot, rows of stalls selling various local handicrafts and merchandises. This place sells the cheapest stuff I can get throughout my whole Bali trip!