Escape to Bali

We went to Bali for the first time on the 7th of August 2008. It was actually our first honeymoon since we've been married. Ili and Bana came along coz we thought that lagi ramai lagi best...first day kat sane tak jalan banyak sangat coz when we arrived, it was already in the afternoon. So we checked in. But mase nak check in tu we took some time to actually check in coz at first we arrived at the wrong hotel. It's actually the same hotel but different area. Our hotel was supposed to be at Tanjong benoa but the supir mistakenly sent us to Novotel Nusa Dua. Luckily the right hotel was just 3 km away. Later our supir Pak Ali, brought us to Jimbaran for a dinner by the beach. We had the most romantic dinner ever! while we were having dinner, with the whole indian ocean view during sunset, we were serenaded by the local kugiran. Dear God! it was the most beautiful feeling ever... I have never been so blessed! it was such a blissful night.

This was the view from our table. The food was mmmm.... ok laaa... not so great. But the view! we had the front row seat to the greatest show on earth... the sunset. Later that night we watched some local girls perform a classical dance. It was kinda scarry tho.

The Band performed 2 songs. One english song U're beautiful by James Blunt and another a local song Kenagan terindah by Samson.

the dancers.

A vendor jual jagung bakar

First half of the second day was more educational. We took a trip to another beach via a glass bottom boat to see the sea creatures and other animals and giant rodents. It was fun playing and touching those animals. It was kinda like a petting zoo. Except the pets are enormous and lives a hundred year.

my new scarf

look how huge the bat is!

Later the girls got mani and pedi

while the boys enjoyed a massage...

Later that day we went to Villa Kayumanis to celebrate the wedding of Malique and Melissa. The whole purpose of this trip is actually for Fuzz to spin at their wedding party. My gosh the wedding was romantic and very intimate. They had an ijab kabul ceremony held at their private villa with only the closest family available. I guess Malique went with only one Lafaz since the ceremony was pretty brief. We weren't allowed to be at the villa to witness the ceremony but we were fortunate enough to witnessed the other ceremony. The couple add a little twist to their normal "batal air sembahyang" ceremony. They actually had a beautifully done exchanging of vows and rings ceremony by the beach. So...it was kinda different from a typical malay ceremony...but who cares? the most important part of the wedding was done lawfully and legally kalau nak ikut hukum syariah. I love the couple's walk along the aisle... it was accompanied by the song Somewhere over the rainbvow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and the walkway way covered with frangipani. When that happened, i almost cried. Melissa was so beautiful. She was this goddess like figure walking down the aisle, glowing and beeming with joy. Later that evening, we continue the reception indoor and afterwards a party at the loft above the reception area.

Walking down the aisle of frangipani

the couple exchanging vows

Glowing bride

Melissa showing her respect to her husband

U may kiss the bride..

Friends of malique and Melissa

Cutting the Wedding cake.

The third day we went to several places. First we traveled for three hours into the kampung area. we had lunch at a restaurant in Kintamani which has a picturesque view of Mount Batur, one of the many active volcanos in Indonesia. The only thing that we loathe was the ever bugging persistent local businessmen. They follow us like a hungry puppy everywhere! they even end up in some of our photos. Before that we interupted our journey for a cultural entertainment with a performance of the Barongan show. After Kintamani, we went to shop for paintings and souvenirs. It was a hell of a bargain! And for the finale, we went to Uluwatu to visit the monkey temple. It was during a sunset so we got to experience the Bali sunset again but at a very different setting. They have Kecak dance performance held at the temple everyday at dusk.

Ili and I

Mount Batur, Kintamani, Bali

Uluwatu

One of the most beautiful sunset i've ever seen

We went back to KL the morning after. Right after we arrived at home, Fuzz's workaholic nature automatically kicked in. He started working on the vacation video. Overall, we had fun at Bali and will visit it again definitely! for those who have trouble with their partners, i recommend u to escape to Bali. There's this vibe there which could rekindle troubled relationships. Maybe something in their water or something.