BALI

KINTAMANI. Active volcano in the back ground. Shakira, Shakiel, Irfan and Zarif in clowning action.

Finally the day I have been waiting for....our trip to Bali! It has been a while since we went for a family trip. To me this activity is quite important because it's the time you bond or catch up latest gossips with your siblings and parents. Since I have one sibling and now one remaining parent so this trip to Bali means a lot to me. I will as much participate in any or better be all future trips with Sheri and Mom.

I still feel a sense of regret I did not join the last family trip to Melaka last year December. Abah was still around back then. Well, to me Melaka is already like a kampung as every raya we will go back to Mak Datin's house (hubby's aunt). So at the time, a trip to Melaka did not interest me. How would I know that it will be the last family trip for Abah. Kalau I tahu definitely I akan pergi sekali. Memang I sedih sangat bila mengenangkannya.

Anyway, this trip to Bali was a last minute decision. Sheri handled all the air ticket and ground arrangements. Thanks Sheri. I should also thank her in her Facebook. Did that just a few moments ago.

My first trip to Bali was in 1998 then 2003. So since this is my third trip I hope I will be able to do more of shopping than sight seeing. Now that I have kids my aim is to buy tonnes of clothes for them. I heard kids clothes are cheap.

Naturally, I was very excited for the kids. Ye la, this is their maiden flight and I imagine they will be out of control when board the plane. Roaming around cannot sit still. Jumping all over and suddenly realized they were already in the cockpit! BUT it was all just my imagination.....Surprisingly, they were well behaved and slept throughout most of the journey. All they wanted to know is "Bila nak mandi di swimming pool?". Hah!! Everyday that question will pop out.

Arrived Bali and we were met by Kusuma. He will be our tour guide during our entire stay in Bali. After the introduction we were transported directly to ASTON BALI Hotel in Tanjong Benoa. A relax hotel I should put it. Why....entah? Memang relax sangat rasanya and menenangkan. You don't see yuppies or hippies, backpackers etc... basically we were among the younger generation as hotel guests. Yup mostly those staying here are senior citizens. And I like it. Tak riuh atau bising.

We were brought to our rooms and I prepared instant noodles for all. By 4:30 pm we were ready waiting for Kusuma who will take us to Uluwatu. There, we saw the Kechack Dance at sunset. The view was awesome!

Kechak Dance.

Uluwatu at sunset.

Back at the hotel, our room is cozy and next to Sheri's. Mom's room was about 5 doors away. At night Shakira get to sleep with Mima and the final night Shakiel had the privilege of accompanying his grandmother to bed.

We went to a few interesting places and we enjoyed shopping at Matahari Mall and Bali Collections. At Bali Collections ada SOGO and it is quite expansive. Most people don't get to shop at local Malls since it's not part of the usual travel itinerary. Instead of the usual temple visits we requested Kusuma to take us to the Mall. I get to shop clothes for the kids. Quality was good and for 7 pieces of clothes I spent RM67. There were discount like at 2nd purchase you get 50% off.

Then I went to Oshkosh B'gosh and spent RM314 for 6 pieces of denim jeans and t-shirts. My GOD terngaga I dengar. Kalau kat MAlaysia....One piece of denim jeans cost about RM130++. I was very satisfied with my purchases. And finally, I get to buy CD's (not available in Malaysia)for about RPH50,000 a piece - 2 each of Maliq n d'essentials and Tompi. That's it...I must be the happiest person on earth at the time.

Another day, we stopped at the silver jewelery factory/shop and each of us bought souvenirs. I bought a dragonfly earrings that cost me RPH420,000. Not bad and I terus pakai. So excitednya.

When we got to Tanah Lot, we were magnetized at a hand wood carving shop. Mom, Sheri and myself each bought 2 pieces of wood carvings. Fridge magnet is a must for souvenirs. Hubby did an Apache hand drawn tattoo on his arm. Looks cool with the Apache head picture T-shirt he was wearing. I also bought a few T-shirts.

Mima and her grandchildren.

Kusuma and the kids.

Cousins striking a pose.

Shakiel got very attached to Kusuma.

This time we were thinking more of ourselves rather than what to get for friends and relatives back home. Kadang2 bila travel overseas kita selalu ingat nak beli buah tangan untuk sedara but not this time.

It is not complete a trip to Bali without going to the spa. Since we did not want to lay down for 2 hours for the usual full body massage, we pampered ourselves with foot and head massage only. Head massages is for relaxing our mind after thinking all the money we have spent and foot massage for the long walks browsing and shopping. Hahaha!

Dinner by the Jimbaran Beach was nice though the food was a bit cold and stale. The beach quartet performers would come from table to table and play your choice of tune. The huge waves bang the shore in the background was a big plus. The kids had a ball playing with sand. Of course lepas tu kena marah sebab kasut and seluar penuh dengan pasir. Merata-rata bersepah pasir dalam bilik air bila sampai ke bilik hotel!

Of course the kids enjoyed the swimming pool and Ayah spent whatever free time available in the pool with Shakira and Shakiel.

Other places of interest that we went were Kintamani and Turtle Island.

Finally the last day, since our flight back to Malaysia was 7 pm, the hotel management agreed to allow us extend our stay until 4 pm. We found a small Nasi Padang food stall not far from our hotel and had lunch. Makan bagai nak rak...macam dah lama tak jumpa nasi. Eeeee!

At the airport we still had time to shop at the duty free and I took the opportunity to finish up whatever Rupiah cash I had in hand. By mid night we we already home.

I enjoyed the trip and I hope all did. Do I wanna go back again to Bali? HELL YEAH! This time more shopping......