January 11, 2017 Wednesday
Yea, yippee, I am finally on my way to Singapore today. It felt like forever since I booked the trip. I woke up this morning with a head cold. UGH, I rarely get sick so this really is not fun and of all days to feel bad. My friend Tammy came over and picked me up to take me to the Lancaster train going to New York. Our first stop is CVS for medicine. Tammy knows me and made the comment that it was so unusual for me to be feeling bad. We stop to have breakfast before dropping me off at the station. It only took 3 hours on the train to New York Penn Station. The ride was actually nice since I could just relax and enjoy the ride.
Once I got off the train, I thought to myself, good luck finding my way to the next train! I thought this would be easy since I looked it up on the internet yesterday so that I had some idea of which train to take, but no, this is such a big place and I am unsure of where to go. Good thing that I have plenty of time to figure out how to get to JFK. I do remember that I have to get the train to Jamaica Station. Some lady comes up to me and asks me where I am going and if she can help me. I thought she was part of the station so I tell her what I am trying to do and she walks me to the LIRR. I say thanks and then it comes: Asking for money for her kids. I am such a sucker that I give her $5.00 even though she asks for $20. I laughed and told her that I am going to meet my daughter and she will be getting most of my money! Anyway, I really didn’t mind to much giving her money. At least she helped me out and wasn’t just standing with a sign. I hop on the train from Penn Station to Jamaica station and then get the Air Train to the airport. Simple once I got going.
I am way early, so I just hang around waiting for the Qatar airline check in to open so that I can check my two bags. One bag is clothes and the other one is gifts for Shannon and Shail. I am so excited to give my fun gifts to the kids. After I check my bags in, I head through security and find a place to get some dinner. I end up at this restaurant with really awesome servers who are happy and energetic and they engage with me about where I am going. I tried having a conversation with a guy on my left but after a one word answer to my question and back to his phone, I let it go. A girl comes in and sits next to me and I overhear her tell the bartender that she has 5 hours to go. I turn to her and ask her about the 5 hours and she tells me that her flight to Italy was delayed and she has all this time to waste. Her dad meets up with her and I had a lovely conversation with them about their upcoming trip to Italy.
Time to get on the plane. I have a window seat and there is no one sitting in the middle so that I can stretch out a little on this long 8 hour flight. Luckily, there is plenty to do. Almost as soon as we get up to cruising altitude, the flight attendants come around with our first meal. I watch a few movies and an hour before we land we get another meal. I did get to take a few naps but I guess I am just too excited to sleep. We land safely in Doha, Qatar for a 3 hour layover. It does feel good to get off the plane and I just end up walking the airport and then heading back to board for the next 13 hour flight. Unfortunately, this flight is full and I also picked a window seat and try my best to nap. Again we get a meal as soon as we are at cruising altitude, drinks along the way and another meal, more drinks and a closing meal just before landing at 9am. With a 13 hour difference in time, I missed Thursday and it is now Friday morning!
January 13, 2017 Friday
It feels so good to be off the plane. Customs was a breeze and I walk out to the airport and within 5 minutes Shannon and Shail are there. She runs up behind me and gives me a huge hug with her enthusiastic “MOM”. I never get tired of that. It feels so good to see her and Shail and give lots of big hugs. I am so happy to be here with them and in the warm tropical climate. We Uber to their apartment and settle in.
I have to take a little nap and afterwards in the afternoon Shannon and I take a little walk around. She takes me to this lovely park. It feels good to be out walking and feeling the warmth of the air. The best part is being able to wear shorts and flip flops in January!
After a delicious dinner prepared by the kids we head out to start this wonderful adventure. Our first stop on this fabulous tour is hopping on the MRT and taking it to Bay Side.
Selfie at the start of our adventure.
Once there, we take the elevator up to the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Walking out onto the observation deck is like traveling to the best tropical location, with the warm breeze flowing softly across my body and being able to have a birds eye view out onto Singapore. This hotel is an architecture marvel, designed by renowned architect, Moshe Safdie. The three iconic hotel towers are one of the most complex buildings ever built. On top of the three towers rests what appears to be a cruise ship.
Seriously, how gorgeous is this?
There is an elevated infinity swimming pool with a vanishing edge. It looks like the water just goes over the edge of the hotel.
The view is breathtaking and we can practically see all of Singapore.
Out into the wonderful warm evening and across the bay to the park. Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 250 acres of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir.
Reclaimed land: Over the past half-century, the city-state has added onto its total area by a whopping 22% percent, not by taking over land in neighboring countries, but by adding onto the island using earth obtained from quarries, the seabed, and rock purchased from other jurisdictions, and then dumping that rock and earth onto the surrounding seabed until new islands and adjuncts are formed.
One problem with this is that buildings on reclaimed land are not required to be earthquake-proofed, which may cause issues especially if the sea sand used to build much of this reclaimed land should liquefy in an earthquake.
After land is being reclaimed, it is left undisturbed for several years to allow for the landfill to settle before development of the land begins. This is when an open country habitat would usually take over. The sediment used in the reclamation would have brought in seeds, fruits and other propagation material, leading to the growth of a plant community. Other dispersal agents such as animals and wind would also contribute to the growth. As the plants begin to grow, providing food and shelter, animals will also begin to make use of the habitat. Some animals that colonize such reclaimed habitats include birds, frogs and toads, land hermit crabs and lizards.
The park houses many wonderful gardens and plants including man made structures called Supertrees.
The Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens' landscape with heights that range between 82 ft and 160 ft. They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens.
The Supertrees are home to many unique and exotic plants. They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees – photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy which can be used for some of the functions of the Supertrees, such as lighting, just like how trees photosynthesize; and collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, exactly like how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Supertrees also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the conservatories' cooling systems.
There is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens.
At night, the Supertrees come alive with a light and music show called the OCBC Garden Rhapsody. We finished out the evening with this stunning show.
Shannon and me on the bridge at bayside.
Night view of Gardens by the Bay
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January 14, 2017 Saturday
I got up around 8 and decided to take a stroll around the area.
Shannon and Shail made breakfast and I left them to work while
I went out exploring.
I was in search of a great coffee shop but that didn’t happen.
I made sure to take a picture of the street sign at the intersection of their road
just in case I somehow lost my way.
About 3 blocks away I walked into a little area that had about 5 different food shops in it. Later on I came to learn that these areas are called Hawker Centres.
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Hawker Centre
A hawker centre or cooked food centre is an open-air complex in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Riau Islands housing many stalls that sell a variety of inexpensive food. They are typically found in city centres, near public housing estates or transport hubs.
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I enjoyed an ice tea from one of them but I wasn’t ready to partake in any food at this time. I was a little skeptical about eating from one of these places. The food seemed to be just lying out in the open under a small window. I wanted to check with Shannon and Shail to see if they were safe and ok to eat from.
I continued walking down the street looking at all the different shops and places. I walked about 45 minutes and then turned around and came back. Even though I vowed to only eat from authentic restaurants from Singapore, I broke down and went into a McDonalds knowing that I would be able to get a good breakfast sandwich. This was the one and only time that I cheated on my vow.
This was a sign that was posted on the wall which says what should be said everywhere we go.
I got back to the apartment and relaxed a little before we headed out to walk to the Quays for some dinner.
The Quays are a very busy spot with plenty of restaurants, music venues and shops. We were planning on listening to some Jazz, but it wasn’t starting until later and we ended up just having dinner and then heading back to the apartment.
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1. Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay is a historical riverside quay in Singapore, located within the Singapore River Planning Area. The quay is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River and Boat Quay. Clarke Quay was named after Sir Andrew Clarke, Singapore's second Governor and Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1873 to 1875, who played a key role in positioning Singapore as the main port for the Malay states of Perak, Selangor and Sungei Ujong.
2. Boat Quay is a historical quay in Singapore which is situated upstream from the mouth of the Singapore River on its southern bank.
It was the busiest part of the old Port of Singapore, handling three quarters of all shipping business during the 1860s. Because the south of the river here resembles the belly of a carp, which according to Chinese belief is where wealth and prosperity lay, many shop houses were built, crowded into the area.
Though serving aquatic trade is no longer Boat Quay's primary role, the shop houses on it have been carefully conserved and now house various bars, pubs and restaurants. Therefore, Boat Quay's social-economic role in the city has shifted away from that of trade and maritime commerce, and now leans towards more of a role accommodated for tourism and aesthetics for the commercial zone of which encloses the Singapore River. It is the soft front to the composolitian banking and financial sectors lying immediately behind it.
Boat Quay is also the name of the road along the quay, which has since been converted into a pedestrian mall.
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January 15, 2017 Sunday
We are headed to MacRitchie Reservoir for a hike and the ever popular TreeTop Walk. The MacRitchie Trails are a 20-kilometre network of trails and boardwalks winding through the forest around the MacRitchie Reservoir.
The TreeTop Walk (TTW) is a 250-metre suspension bridge that connects the two highest points in MacRitchie , that brings you through the different stages of a mature secondary forest. The first of its kind in Singapore and in the region, this free-standing suspension bridge connects the two highest points (Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang) in MacRitchie and offers a bird's eye view of the community of plants and animals that live in the forest canopy. The total length of the walkway is about 250 m and its height from the forest floor varies, with the highest point at 25 m. This is home to the critically endangered Branded Leaf Monkey that you see in the pictures.
Besides providing another avenue for nature recreation for Singaporeans, the TTW also plays an important role in forest canopy research, an area many researchers were not able to get into because of lack of access. This bridge helps to facilitate surveys and plant identification work and further the understanding of how forest ecosystems work.
The distance to the entrance of the TreeTop Walk is approximately 4.5 km (1.5 - 2 hr walk) from MacRitchie Reservoir with a round trip including the TreeTop Walk is about 7 km to 10 km (3-5 hrs depending on your walking pace).
The monkeys are playing all along the trail and there are signs warning about them. Don’t look them in the eye, don’t reach for them, keep cell phones and glasses away from their little hands and just be careful because they will steal your stuff. We stopped at the ranger station to get some water and take a break. I got out a snack bar and wasn’t paying too much attention to my surroundings. Another hiker that was there watching, came up to me and told me that a monkey was right behind me just about to steal my bar.
Walking along the trail was so very enjoyable. There were stairs to climb and trails that were lined with some of the most beautiful flowers and plants.
Walking to the bridge was mostly an uphill walk.
This bridge was a beautiful sight to cross. Seeing the monkeys climbing all along the bridge, at first I was a little nervous because of all the warning signs, however once I realized that they were not aggressive, I could relax and enjoy watching them. They were so adorable climbing up and around the trees and the bridge.
The view from the bridge was so expansive that you could see for miles. After crossing the bridge we climbed more stairs.
View from the bridge
Monkey Rules: Keep all food hidden, don't look them in the eye, don't reach for them, keep small children close, don't chase them, don't run because they will chase you, watch out for cell phones and glasses, they will steal them!
These boardwalks and stairs are continuously being built along the trails of the park to allow visitors to enjoy the forest with minimal impact to the forest floor.
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This monkey looks like he is on his way to
get me - not so, he us just passing through!
I was so enthralled with the fact that we had to continue to do more uphill climbing, but then we finally got to the top where there was a lookout tower. This was called the Jelutong Tower. We made it all the way up here, so of course we had to go up. Shannon and Shail made a bee line for the stairs while I slowly made my way up stopping to take a breather at each of the 7 landings.
We climbed and climbed around and around the spiral stairway and finally made it to the top. The slow and steady climb was so worth the view and the wonderful breeze that was blowing helped cool us off a little.
We could see all the way over to Malaysia. Shail knew what we were seeing so that was enlightening. You can just see the ocean in the top of the picture and just beyond that is Malaysia.
The Central Catchment Nature Reserve and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve once formed a continuous forest. That all changed when the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) was constructed in 1986, separating the nature reserves into two fragments.
The Eco-Link@BKE, completed in 2013, now connects the two reserves once again to facilitate animal movements and the dispersal of forest plant seeds. It is projected to improve the ecological connectivity of the two nature reserves
Shaped like an hourglass, the Eco-Link@BKE is Singapore’s latest effort in promoting conservation and the first overhead ecological corridor in the region.
To prevent genetic isolation of fragmented flora and fauna populations, the bridge would encourage the interaction of wildlife by facilitating movement between the once separated forests and effectively expand habitat, mating and foraging ranges of flora and fauna.
Then down, down back around the spiral and we walked back down to the entrance of the park where we got the bus for a much needed sit down rest back to the apartment. S&S cooked another wonderful meal and we watched some TV.
January 16, 2017 Monday
Shannon had scheduled a yoga session at 8am this morning, so I got up and went along. Not to do yoga, but just to be out and about. I took a walk around the area while she was in yoga and then we had breakfast and hopped on the MRT and took it to Haw Par Villa. This was listed as one of the top things to do while in Singapore so off we go.
Haw Par Villa is a theme park located in Singapore. The park contains over 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese mythology, folklore, legends, history, and illustrations of various aspects of Confucianism.
The park, originally called Tiger Balm Gardens, was built in 1937 by the Burmese-Chinese brothers Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par, the developers of Tiger Balm, as a venue for teaching traditional Chinese values. They moved their business from Burma to Singapore in 1926 and purchased the site in 1935.
In 1986 the International Theme Parks Pte Ltd, announced an investment of $30 million to modernise the themed park. This company was a joint venture formed by Fraser & Neave and Times Publishing, and had invested on the latest animatronics and technology to enhance the attractions in hope to create an 'oriental Disneyland', a theme park meeting Western technology with Eastern mythology.
In 1988, the Singapore Tourism Board took charge of the Tiger Balm Gardens and renamed it "Haw Par Villa Dragon World". The Haw Par in the park's name is based on the Aw brothers' personal names—Haw and Par, which mean "tiger" and "leopard" respectively. The dioramas and statues were restored, while plays, acrobatic displays and puppet shows were organized and held there.
The management imposed entrance fees but the high fees discouraged visitors, so the management incurred a loss of S$31.5 million over 10 years and was forced to provide free entry in 1998. In March 2001, the Singapore Tourism Board renamed it "Tiger Balm Gardens".
Here are just some of the interesting statues and dioramas that we saw during our time in the park.
Make your own conclusions!
The best known attraction in Haw Par Villa is the Ten Courts of Hell, which features gruesome depictions of Hell in Chinese mythology and Buddhism. This attraction used to be set inside a 60-metre long tail of a Chinese dragon as a water ride, but the dragon has been demolished, so the attraction is now covered by grey stone walls and it is now a walk through.
Description of this attraction from the internet: Diyu is the realm of the dead or "hell" in Chinese mythology. It is loosely based on a combination of the Buddhist concept of Naraka, traditional Chinese beliefs about the afterlife and a variety of popular expansions and reinterpretations of these two traditions.
It is typically depicted as a subterranean maze with various levels and chambers, to which souls are taken after death to atone for the sins they committed when they were alive. Each court deals with a different aspect of atonement and different punishments; most legends claim that sinners are subjected to gruesome tortures until their "deaths", after which they are restored to their original state for the torture to be repeated.
According to ideas from Taoism, Buddhism and traditional Chinese folk religion, Diyu is a purgatory that serves to punish and renew spirits in preparation for reincarnation.
All will go to Diyu after death but the period of time one spends in Diyu is not indefinite – it depends on the severity of the sins one committed. After receiving due punishment, one will eventually be sent for reincarnation. In the meantime, souls pass from stage to stage at Yama's decision.
The Ox-Headed (right) and Horse-Faced (left) Hell Guards stand guard at the entrance to the "Ten Courts of Hell" attraction in Haw Par Villa, Singapore
This is what Hell looks like:
The first gate: You are judged by King Qinguang according to the deeds of your past life. There is a golden bridge to paradise, and presumably reincarnation.
The second court: For deposit stealers, incompetent physicians and matchmakers, you get beatings and starvation, dropping in a volcano and made to swim in a river of lava, and subjection to extreme cold.
For gossip, tongue pierced. For stealing, kneeling on steel granules.
The third court: For ungrateful people, those who have been disrespectful to elders, and those who have escaped from prison, their hearts are dug out. Drug traffickers and addicts, tomb robbers, and those who encourage crime and civil unrest, find here that they are tied to a copper pillar and grilled.
The fourth court: Drowning in a torrential river, kneeling on bamboo spikes (general sins), lips split (breaking promises), hands sawn off (stealing).
The fifth court: For those who have plotted or committed crimes for money (including murder), or if they were a money lender charging exorbitant rates, or for cruelty to animals and friends, they get the mountain of knives.
The sixth court: A tree of knives, for those who cheat, curse, or abduct. And for the misuse of books, for possessing pornographic material, breaking written rules or wasting food, abusing animals, they are sawn in half.
The seventh court: Torn apart by dogs for rebelling against authority; tongue pulled out for spreading false rumours; a pot of boiling water for using drugs and causing quarrels.
The eighth court: For committing crimes against Confucianism and operating houses for immoral purposes, crushing under carriage wheels, slicing, disembowelment, lightning strikes, the cutting off of limbs and tongues.
The ninth court: Head and arms chopped off for robbery, murder or rape; those who neglect the elderly and the very young will be crushed under boulders. For smuggling and arson, attack by snakes, bees; being tortured. For writing or painting erotic literature: flattening between two planks, head crushed with an iron ring.
The tenth court: The final judgement, and the decision of rebirth, by the President.
Do I know who the President and King Qinguang are? I do not. Am I petrified of them? Of course not.
The point of these hell's is to make you scared of yourself!
Haw Par Villa is said to be haunted. People have heard screams from the Courts of Hell at night as the souls in there go through the courts. It doesn't really surprise me considering what we have seen in the villa.
This was one of the most if not the most strangest attraction that I have ever seen. The Ten courts of hell was the most macabre display of what will happen to you when you die if you have ever done anything wrong. According to the boards, everyone would be subjected to at least one of these punishments. Shannon and I laughed at the horror of it. The rest of the park was a depiction of various Chinese statues and scenes. At the time we were there, workers were cleaning up the area and it looked like they were trying to restore the park back to its glory whatever that was.
January 17, 2017 Tuesday
Again, Shannon had yoga scheduled for 8am and I went along for the ride. Our plan for the day was to go to the botanical garden afterward. The yoga studio was located in a section of Chinatown. I walked around looking at all the preparations for Chinese New Year. It looked like it would be a great celebration. More about that later.
After yoga we hopped on the MRT and get off at the station to the Botanical Gardens.
This is one of the most beautiful and awe inspiring areas. It was founded in 1859 by an agri-horticultural society and showcases the most spectacular tropical flora set in a stunning landscape.
Overall, there is more than 10,000 species of flora spread out over its 183 acres of land.
The gardens host a small tropical rain forest which is older than the gardens themselves.
Singapore Botanic Gardens' Rain Forest is one of the oldest remnants of primary rain forests in Singapore.
The 15 acre rain forest is home to 314 species of flora and gives an indication of the
wonderful richness of tropical plants.
This Rain Forest is a national treasure not only for its rich biodiversity,
but also because it is part of the original site of the Botanic Gardens founded in 1859.
More than 80% of its plant species are rare or endangered not only in the Gardens but also in Singapore. Hence it is critical that these species
are conserved within one of the last remaining primary forests of Singapore.
Here is just a sample of some of the beautiful plants that can be seen along the garden paths.
You can just see the top of the Orchard Cool house
A few images and sights along the beautiful trails.
This is a reflexology path.
It felt so good on our feet.
The main garden is free to enter with a small $5.00 fee to go into the National Orchid Garden garden, which we absolutely had to do.
The National Orchid Garden boasts the world’s largest orchid display with over 60,000 plants and orchids.
Inside the orchid garden there is the “cool house” which tries to recreate the environment of a tropical highland forest and showcases orchids that are normally only found in the tropical highland areas. There are more than 3,000 species of orchids in this part of the gardens.
Here is just a sampling of the beautiful orchids within the Orchid Garden.
The paths around the gardens house some of the most interesting and beautiful flowers. The gardens are so extensive that we could never see it all in one day.
We went back to the apartment and I decided to take another stroll. This time I ended up back at marina bay. Walking around in the light of day at the park gave me new and wonderful things to look at.
The Supertrees look very different in daylight and are spectactular.
There are 18 Supertrees in Gardens by the Bay, with the tallest one measuring up to 16 storys in height. 11 of the Supertrees are embedded with environmentally sustainable functions like photovoltaic cells to harvest solar energy. Each Supertree consists of four parts: a reinforcement concrete core, trunk, planting panels for the living skin and the canopyy.
Over 162,900 plants comprising more than 200 species and varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns and tropical flowering climbers are planted on the Supertrees.
As I was walking down a path enjoying nature, I spotted something large and white on the other side of walkway covered in a trellis of green. I was intrigued so I keep walking. As I got closer I thought to myself, “That’s a baby”. Yes it was. It was a large statue of a naked baby lying on a hillside. Luckily there was a sign telling me the purpose and story of this statue.
Looking across the bay I saw a most interesting building and thought that I had to see what it was. I walked over and it turned out to be the Art and Science Museum. When I got back to the apartment that night and I told Shannon that we were going there tomorrow she was so excited.
The ArtScience Museum opened on February 17, 2011 and it is the world's first ArtScience museum .
The architecture is said to be a form reminiscent of a lotus flower. It is designed by the architect Moshe Safdie, the same man who designed the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Referred to as "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore" by Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson, the ArtScience Museum is anchored by a round base in the middle, with ten extensions referred to as "fingers". The design concept for each finger denotes various gallery spaces sporting skylights at the "fingertips" which are included as sustainable illumination for the curved interior walls.
The ArtScience Museum has 21 gallery spaces with a total area of 50,000 square feet .
Rainwater is harvested and channelled down the center of the building, flowing through its bowl-shaped roof into a reflecting pond at the lowest level of the building. The rainwater is then recycled for use in the building's restrooms.
My phone was dying – typical, so I had to get back before the kids got worried. We ate dinner in and watched a movie.
January 18, 2017 Wednesday
We hopped on the MRT again and landed down at marina bay for our trip to the Art Science Museum. There were 3 different options that we could take advantage of. They were a little pricey and so we decided to choose one to attend. The three were:
Journey to Infinity: Escher's World of Wonder
Journey to Infinity: Escher's World of Wonder is a major retrospective of artworks by graphic artist and master of mathematical representations M.C. Escher.
Step inside M.C. Escher’s playful world of imagination and wonder - of poetic geometry, strange realities and impossible constructions. Featuring over 160 original works, the exhibition is a retrospective of his enigmatic sketches and paradoxical designs, executed with incredible mathematical precision.
Future World
Come and discover Future World, Singapore's largest interactive digital playground! Ignite your creative spark in our fully immersive digital universe, where 16 spectacular art installations are brought to life and evolve in real-time.
This landmark Art Science Museum exhibition was created in collaboration with teamLab, a globally renowned Japanese group of ultra-technologists and award-winning art collective.
NASA - A Human Adventure
Venture into the thrilling journey of mankind’s exploration of space in the largest space-flight exhibition ever held in Singapore. Be inspired by the ambitions of those who dared to dream, marvel at more than 200 artefacts and machines – many that have travelled to space and back – and open your imagination to the future of space exploration
I was leaning towards NASA and Shannon was looking at the Future World one. Since we decided that we only wanted to pay for one, we settled on Future World. It looked interesting and fun. It cost us S$38 for entrance. We were excited and entered the first room of the playground.
This is their description:
Nature
Your adventure begins with an enchanting stroll through Nature. This interactive world of flora and fauna is comprised entirely of digital technology, simultaneously connecting you to and challenging your perceptions of the natural world.
Basically, to me it was a projector showing butterflies and flowers spinning around up on the walls and ceiling. I walked out with the thought of “lame” in my mind but I didn’t want to say anything to Shannon just in case she enjoyed it. Her exact words coming out of the room were “lame”. We laughed but said that hopefully this would get better.
The next room was a bunch of bean bag pillows on the floor with a projection of an ocean scene on the wall. So much for better!
The next room was called Town which was a large room with some playthings in it. Okay – so if I had a child here it would have been more fun. Then we went on to enter Park. There were large balls that we could play with. Really!!! We paid S$38 for this?
Continuing on we came to the last area that had columns of glass that we walked through to the end. This was the description of the crystal walk.
Behold a seemingly infinite number of light particles inside the scintillating Crystal Universe. This stunning artwork is created with teamLab’s Interactive 4-D Vision technology and more than 170,000 LED lights, giving the illusion of stars moving in space. Move beyond the stars to encounter astrophysical phenomena such as planets, galaxies and even gravitational waves.
Find yourself at the centre of the universe, as the light and body of the installation responds to your mass and motion. Change the fabric of the universe itself by 'swiping' planets and stars from smart devices within the installation, and watch them become part of the dazzling environment around you. Surrounded by celestial wonders, reflect upon your own place within the vastness of the cosmos.
Sounds more thrilling than it actually was! This was the highlight of the exhibit but......
Needless to say that we were not at all impressed with this exhibit. Shannon was on a mission and found one of the volunteers and tried to talk her into giving us a refund or at the very least entrance into another exhibit, explaining that it wasn't that good. She went and got someone above her and he basically told us that there were no refunds. We explained that the description of the exhibit was not even close to what was in there and that we were so disappointed with it. He told us that he wasn’t going to do anything for us, used the reference that if we bought a ticket to a movie and didn’t like it that we wouldn’t get our money back. We walked away very disappointed with the staff and just couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t even try to make us as customers happy. Being the person that I am, I thought about all the things that I was going to say in Yelp for my review!!
Anyway, we walked up the stairs and were thinking about going to the free movie, which neither of us was really interested in, when we came upon another guy that could clearly see that we were not happy. He was wearing a badge and he talked to us and explained that the exhibit is a highly rated and loved by everyone that comes in. Of course we had a hard time believing it but we just said that we were excited to see it but it left us very disappointed.
He said “come with me, you found the right person” and proceeded to take us to the front where he gave us VIP badges to see anything we wanted. It was all I could do not to wave this in front of the original guy we talked to, but I held back! We really enjoyed both of the other exhibits.
We called it a day and went back to the apartment where Shail cooked dinner and we got to sleep early considering that we had to get up at 4 to get to the airport for our flight to Bali.
January 19, 2017 Thursday
Up at the crack of dawn – actually way before that! Called Uber to take us to the airport. Our flight was at 7 and lasted 3 hours. We arrived at Bali around 10 and breezed through customs. Now, our mission was to find a ride to Tanah Lot and our hotel which was about an hour and a half away. Shail negotiated us a ride for Rp 250,000 which was about $20us. Not too bad. I was totally awed by the fact that Shail could converse with these guys in a language that I had no idea what was being said. One of the guys looked like he had something on his shirt. At first I thought it was crumbs from lunch but on further inspection I realized it was rice particles and then I noticed them on his forehead. I whispered something to Shannon and we had a little chuckle about it. She told me that she thought it was some kind of religious symbol.
Shail decided to stay in Kuta that night so that he could surf the next day and we dropped him off on the way. The ride to the hotel was long and the traffic was horrible. There were scooters all over the road and there seemed that it was every man for himself and all chaos on the road with no one really following any rules. The last ½ mile to our hotel was a dirt road with a million potholes and we were so happy when we finally arrived at our hotel, Kedungu Surf Camp around 1. Even though it seemed in the middle of nowhere and hard to find, we walked into a paradise. As you can see by the pictures this place was beautiful. As our first hotel in Bali, we were impressed. Cost – Rp 28,000 about $25 US. We settled into our room, which was on the first floor overlooking the pool. The room was large with a huge king size bed. The bathroom was behind the wall outside of the room among some trees. It was very lovely. We went out into the lobby which was outside with a roof.
The hostess asked us if we would like some lunch. Of course we would!! She made us some food and coffee and then we asked about going into the temple area. Dovid, the host, told us to walk down the street a little way and then turn right onto the next street and follow that to the town. He said it would be about 30 minute walk and to follow the power line and we would be walking through the rice fields. Ok, sounds easy enough and 30 minutes is nothing to us.
The road turned out to be a dirt road with lots of ruts and mud. We had to be very careful but we continued on. The rice fields were very lush and green. I told Shannon that we would need a flashlight if we were planning on walking back this way, which I wasn’t really planning on at all. At one point the “road” looked like it ended and I questioned if we were on the right path, but we found the connecting path and crossed the bridge loaded with mud and came to an area that looked like a small village.
We turned right at the entry sign and went up the hill and finally came into a village with shops and we could see the temple and walked over to check it out. It is so awesome that we can be walking along a dirt path and turn and be right in the middle of some the most amazing sights. We walked around taking lots of pictures of the ocean, the temples and the grounds.
We saw a class of artists on the hill painting their perspective of the temple. I am so amazed with the talent of these kids. Their paintings were exceptional except for this one girl who just didn’t have the talent to paint. But good for her for trying anyway.
We took a walk around the shops looking at all the stuff for sale. Some of it looked handmade and exclusive to that particular stall and I was thinking that I could probably find something cool to take home. Of course, walking along I saw the exact same trinkets at the next stall and the one after that. So much for hand crafted and unique!
P.S. these are stock photos!!!
We came upon this little coffee shop that had a large cat sleeping in the tree. We then saw the other two on the counter. We were immediately in the awww mode!! We talked to the owner of the coffee shop and he explained that these were Luwak cats. The reason that he could bring them to his work everyday is because they are nocturnal so they are very lazy and docile during the day. He has over 50 of these cats and that he has bred them for several generations to be domesticated and told us the story about the coffee.
Luwak Coffee is made from coffee beans that have been eaten by a these small tree dwelling civets called Luwak. Ripe red coffee berries are one of their favorite foods and they choose only the ripest and sweetest berries to eat. After the Luwak swallow the berries, they ferment in their digestive system where the unique combinations of stomach enzymes break down the protein that give the coffee its taste. The inner beans are passed through intact, still encased in their protective hull. They are then collected and thoroughly cleaned dried and lightly roasted to preserve their complex flavor. This particular coffee is said to be the most expensive coffee in the world because of the unique processing . We tried a cup and it wasn’t any better or worse than what we have been drinking, but the story is great.
We were so engrossed by these cute cats that we failed to see this creature hanging from a post.
The guy told us that this bat has become a part of his shop and flies away every night and comes back to roost every day.
The beautiful temples and grounds were a sight to behold. This is just a sampling of the many pictures we took exploring the grounds.
Entrance into Tanah Lot Temple area.
As you can see there is a gauntlet of
shops and restaurants you must pass through
before you even get to the temple! Shannon
enjoying
the view.
When we walked up to the entrance to meet Shail, we realized that he would have to pay an entrance fee, but since we walked up through the back of the area we didn't even know there was an entrance fee. It cost him Rp 60,000, about 4 bucks. Not a bad price for the beauty of this area. (we gave a donation later)
Here comes Shail with an
ear of roasted corn. I didn't
know it at the time just how
delicious this was.
I talk about this later when I get
to experience it for myself.
Tanah Lot means "Land Sea" in the Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.
During Saint Nirartha’s travels along the south coast of Bali, he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts, and then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock, for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.
People waiting for the tide to recede to cross over to the temple.
These guys saved my ass from falling several times helping me cross.
At high tide, waves flood the causeways making it impossible to cross and the rock takes on the appearance of a large boat at sea.
At low tide is the only time the temple is accessible and you may cross to view the rock base where the legendary ‘guardian’ sea snakes dwell in crevices around the Tirta Pabersihan fountain. This natural spout is the source of holy water for all the temples in the area. Priests at the fountain bless visitors by sprinkling holy water over their heads. You can cup your palms and take a sip to prove it is amazingly fresh water.
Poisonous snakes live in the nearby caves to 'guard' the temple and contribute to the temple's dangerous reputation.
Luckily, I didn’t know this beforehand and didn’t see any in the rocks.
We got across to the temple and walked up the stairs where we were blessed from the fountain and got the rice put on our foreheads. This explains the guy at the airport!
Pictures from the temple side.
Back across the water - this time the water was much lower so it was "easier" getting across. Just had to step on the right rocks and with the grateful help of the guides strong hands to keep me from falling in!
These are just some of the many pictures that we took.
The other temple is called Bali Temple on Rock Formation.
There are several other small temples in the area that are used during the high tide when the main temple is unavailable.
We stayed and watched the sun set and then went in search for some food.
We pick a lovely restaurant with tables sitting over water.
Shail talked us all into ordering one of the fish dishes. I was a little skeptical about it because it is the whole fish with the head and tail.
It was delicious and we were having a wonderful time.
Just before 8, a huge thunder storm came up. There was lightning and thunder and pouring rain.
Holy crap, what do we do now? How are we getting back to our hotel? Shail is on a scooter!
All of a sudden, lights out!! We had no electricity and we were in the dark. The restaurant staff, carrying umbrellas, gave us a battery operated light and so we just decided to wait it out. Luckily we could still get some coffee and sat talking.
Finally when the rain stopped, we had to figure out how to get back to our hotel. Shail had the brilliant idea of all 3 of us to get on the scooter and he would take us back. I was a little skeptical but we all boarded the scooter and Shail took us back to our hotel and then headed back to Kuta. I felt badly for him because of the rain and it was at least an hour ride back. Shannon told him to text her to let her know he got back safely. I fell asleep with exhaustion!
Shannon and Shail deciding on dinner. Coconut drinks Fried fish in spicy sauce.
January 20, 2017 Friday
When I woke up this morning I found out that Shail had lost his phone on the way back to his hotel and Shannon was worried last night when she didn’t hear from him. He called her through his computer and I could tell that she was really stressed out about the phone, and I was thinking that we wouldn’t be able to communicate with him so I suggested that we leave this hotel and stay in Kuta tonight. They were both relieved and we called a cab and were on our way to Kuta. The ride was again so long and very crazy.
Traffic is so bad and they only really have one main road. There are so many scooters jockeying for position on the road and everyone is passing and traveling crazy like. Its like there are no rules on these roads. I booked another hotel and dropped Shannon off and walked to my hotel, according to my GPS, about 20 minutes away. Later I realized that I could take the “back” way and get there in about 6 minutes. Shannon and Shail were there waiting for me when I finally got to the hotel.
I checked in to my room and Shannon and Shail told me that they were going to the beach to surf. I settled into my room and thought that I wanted to relax a little but then decided to take a walk down to the beach to see if I could find them. Why spend unnecessary time cooped up in a hotel room when there is so much to explore!
I walked down to the beach and up the coastline along the water on the beach for a little while and I didn’t find them but I enjoyed my walk except for the fact that the beach was littered with trash and all kinds of junk. Even walking in the water, there was trash washing up around my legs - ugh. It was really disgusting and I couldn’t understand how the beach could be so filthy. It was also very hot and I stopped at a café for some coffee and ice tea. I saw on my walk that the Hard Rock was having live music so I planned for a fun evening. I walked down the street and decided on a massage. I got a 45 minute massage and a body scrub for Rp 120,000, about $10 US. It was very relaxing and just what I needed. I went back to my hotel to shower and get ready for an evening out.
For some reason I couldn’t figure out how to get hot water so I took had to take a quick cold shower and on my way out asked the front desk about it. I told them that I would check back in the morning.
I walked down the street to the Hard rock and took a seat at the bar. Yes I know, I said that I would only eat at authentic restaurants, but this was a special occasion and the one and only time for a night out like this.
Had a few drinks, ate dinner and Shannon and Shail met up with me.
We all had another drink went downstairs for the start of the band, and all ordered more drinks. Wow, they were so much fun. After a few songs and after someone else got up, we all started dancing. We had the most wonderful time. I didn’t know that Shannon and Shail were such a great dance duo!
After Seven at Hard Rock Cafe, Bali
More pictures in Kuta. Shannons new shoes! She loved them so much that she wore them the rest
of the time we were in Bali
January 21, 2017 Friday
In the morning I went up to the front desk to ask about the hot water.
I was told that I had booked a fan room – no AC and no hot water - WHAT!!! Ok, so now I know that when I go to another country, do not get a fan room! I never heard of anything like this. I can deal without the AC because the fans are great but no hot water??? On the website which I checked later when I got home, it said that select rooms include AC and hot water. It pays to read the fine print! Oh well, I only paid $14 US for the room.
This morning Shannon and I get massages. We went back to the same place I was at yesterday. I told her not to get the body scrub because it was done at the same time as the massage and so you don’t get enough massage time. We then agreed upon foot massages but it wasn’t really that good because my girl focused too much on my legs and not on my feet. Not licensed massage therapists but it was still good. Took cold showers and got an Uber to take us to Ubud.
Another 2 hours on the road to our hotel.
One of my travel companions during her brief moment of awakeness!
Our hotel was a little hard to find but it was lovely. Bali 68 Homestay was the name of our hotel. These homestays are rooms within the host property. It was a building away from the main house and included a delicious breakfast. We got there a little late so after we dropped our stuff off in our rooms; we walked downtown for some dinner.
Along the way Shail spotted a fruit truck and negotiated us some wonderful fruit. I tried some of the mango and it was juicy and very tasty, fresh off the truck picked that day.
After dinner we were just walking around and I heard some music playing somewhere near us. We followed the sounds and stopped by this little place that had a small 3 piece band. They were sounding good and we stayed for a drink and a set.
When we got back to the hotel, I realized that there was no AC and no fan. It was so hot so Shail talked to the host within an hour a fan arrived. It saved the night because it was so muggy and hot that I could never have slept without it. It kept me cool and I had a great night sleeping.
In the morning the hostess of the property came and asked what we wanted for breakfast. Coffee and banana pancakes with fresh fruit was the perfect way to start the day.
January 22, 2017 Saturday
In the morning the hostess of the property came and asked what we wanted for breakfast. Coffee and banana pancakes with fresh fruit was the perfect way to start the day.
We walked into town to rent scooters for an exciting day. Shail talked us into 2 scooters at a great price. One for him and me and one for Shannon. She never drove one before even though Shail told the guy that she had. They took her scooter out for a little lesson and then we were on our way.
Our first stop was the monkey forest. There was a small entrance fee – Rp 40,000 which was about $3 US. There were signs on the way in with rules that we all needed to follow. We had no idea what we were in for today. Read the sign!
Looking at these rules felt like this was going to be such an adventure. We already knew not to look them in the eye or try to touch them. There were monkeys all around us walking and doing monkey things. It seemed that they really didn’t even know that people were watching them. I guess they are just so comfortable with people that it wasn’t anything new even though to us it was. What a wonderful place to be. The forest held so much beauty and interesting plants and trees. We walked all around the paths exploring all that we could. We took lots of pictures of the monkey and enjoyed the expressions and had so much fun.
Shail bought some bananas and gave them to us to hold up while the monkey’s climbed up onto us to get them out of our hands. They had such soft paws and were so cute. I had this one monkey just loving all over me. He climbed onto my head and was picking at my bun and then he was playing with my finger splint. He kept jumping off me and then back on. This went on for at least 10 minutes until I made the mistake of reaching for him. Just that quick the 3 larger monkeys that were on the railing ran over and showed their teeth. I knew enough about monkeys to know that I was done playing!
We saw monkeys grooming each other, babies on their mothers, big monkeys, little monkeys, and so many more. So much fun for 3 bucks!!
The type of monkeys that live in the area of The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary are known as the Balinese long-tailed monkey.
There are about 600 monkeys living in this area. They are divided into 5 groups: in front of the main temple, Michelin, eastern, central, and cemeteries.
Each group consist of 100 – 120 monkeys which: infants (0 – 1 year), juvenile 1 (1 – 2 years), juvenile 2 (2 – 4 years), sub adult male (4 – 6 years), adult female (> 4 years), and adult male (> 6 years).
Because of the considerable population, the conflicts between groups of monkey cannot be avoided. Sometimes for a specific reason, such as a bath to the river in the dry season, certain groups must cross the other groups territory.
This type of primate is active during the day and rest at night. The pregnancies of female monkey are about 6 months and generally 1 infant is born. Very rarely are twin. Monkey’s baby stays with their mother for about 10 months and thereafter will be weaned to live independently.
Mating can occur throughout the year with higher intensity happened in May to August. Monkey’s mothers are keeping their babies intensively; even female monkeys who are not the parent also participated in keeping the baby monkey.
The average weight of female monkey is 2.5 – 5.7 kg and male monkey is 3.5 – 8 kg. The lifespan of male monkey up to 15 years while female monkey up to 20 years.
The long tailed monkeys are omnivores. In the Monkey Forest Ubud, the main food of the monkeys is sweet potato, given 3 times a day and combine in daily with: banana, papaya leaf, corn, cucumber, coconut, and other local fruit.
We had so many pictures throughout the forest. The trees, vines, pathways and all the different areas were amazing.
Here is just a sample of some of the many pictures we took. It was hard to whittle them down to just a few.
We left there after a few hours even though it was hard to leave. Back on our scooters and we followed the signs to the waterfalls. We parked the scooters and walked down this steep stair path to the falls. This falls was Kanoto Lampo Waterfall in Klungkung. Luckily there was a guy there helping me cross over to the other side. I had my purse with me which I should have left in the scooter because it was a hindrance and I was afraid that I would slip and fall. Shannon and Shail went under the falls for some pictures because she was smart enough to just bring her camera, but I didn’t really want to get all wet so I played it safe and stayed on the other side.
Shail helping me down the rocks. The power of the falls was outstanding.
Fun at the falls
We then walked and climbed over rocks to get downstream a little ways to another smaller falls. They were trying to talk me into getting wet but I was just enjoying the water. I just didn’t want to be soaking wet the rest of the day. Shail ended up carrying my purse on the way back. I was being so very careful and at one point I told Shail that I could probably take my purse and just that quick I took a step and down I went, completely under the water.
I had to pick the rock that was very slippery and just next to the deepest part of that area. I had no chance of helping myself, I was down and under before my brain even knew what was happening. I came up laughing and the look on other people’s faces was priceless. Shannon gasped and asked if I was ok. Of course I was and very lucky that I didn’t hit my head on any rocks or get hurt. Well, now that I am soaked, I went under the falls for some funny pictures. I almost made it but it wasn’t meant to be. Fortunately, it was hot and I dried quickly.
Back onto our scooters and away we went to who knows where – apparently, as I am about to find out, it is always a great adventure with these two!! We headed towards another falls. This was called Blangsinga Water Fall.
This time we parked our scooters and had to walk through a gauntlet of shops. Shail stopped to get some corn and we all decided to indulge. This corn is so tasty. The lady is standing with a small grill burning and shucks the corn and places it over the hot coals and grills it and then puts salt and butter on it. Wow, this is so juicy and tasty and the perfect way to eat corn.
Then we make our way down what seems like a mile of steep steps down to the lake area. Luckily it was downhill, but I kept thinking that when we are done we will have to come back up!
The area was very rock with a wonderful little “pond” that people were swimming in. The force of the water was so loud and strong that you couldn’t get close enough to the falls to feel the power.
We could see that there were people up on the top of the cliffs and crossed a bamboo bridge to try to make our way up to the top. It was getting close to closing time and they were charging a fee to get to the top so we decided not to make the trek up the cliff and went back down.
Now it was time to get back to our scooters and back up those stairs. They were so steep and I had to stop and take a breath a few times but I made it with some great encouragement from Shannon.
Earlier in the day when we were walking to get our scooters, Shannon spotted a sign for a puppet show that evening and was excited to go see it. It sounded fun so we planned to be back in time.
Luckily we made it back just in time and paid Rp 10,000 to go in. Shail tried negotiating a lower price but they weren’t having it. It was in the back area that was set up with a big screen with back lighting. We took our seats and waited for the production. They had given us a flyer that told the story that we would be seeing tonight. There was music playing and this went on for a good 30 minutes before the guy came on and told us a little about the show. Since the show was not in English, it was hard to follow and the music that was playing behind the puppet talking was a little obnoxious.
There was a little girl just in front of us that was very distracting also and Shail asked them to move. Needless to say this show was not what we expected and we ended up leaving. Shail tried to get our money back but again they weren’t budging. I felt bad for Shannon because she wanted so badly to see a puppet show and unfortunately we picked one that wasn’t so good. Later, I looked at the reviews and they were mixed with the majority not liking it. So much for the show - it was sad to see Shannon disappointed. Walked back to our hotel and got some much needed sleep for our big adventure tomorrow.
January 23, 2017 Monday
Didn’t know it in the morning but this felt like the day from hell!
Had another delicious breakfast and on our scooters for a ride up to the volcano and around the lake and the beach area up North.
So, today our plan was to drive up to Kinnaman Volcano and then Cedar Lake and go up North to the beach and then drive back.
Simple, right? Of course not! It started out great. However, as soon as we were getting ready, it started to drizzle a little but then stopped after about 5 minutes and the sun came out. We were a little skeptical but it was warm and it had stopped raining so we got going.
Just outside of Kuta Shannon spotted a wonderful place to pull over. It was an area called a Rice Terrace. The view from the top of the road was spectacular. These areas are built on the side of mountains to prevent erosion when it rained. They built these terraces which catch the water and then use them to plant rice. What a wonderful way to use the natural resources. We took a walk down and around the rice fields taking pictures and enjoying the area.
It was extremely hot but being back on the scooter with the wind was great. Down the road another scooter with a man on it, came up beside us and started talking to us. He asked us where we were going and Shail pulled over. They then started talking in a native language and the only thing I got out of the conversation was British and police. When they were done Shail told us that he said that the British police were up ahead at the volcano charging Rp 20,000 to enter. But if we delayed ourselves 20 minutes, they would be gone and it would be free. He suggested that we follow him and stop at a coffee farm. The coffee plantation was a Luwak coffee farm.
We were taken on a tour of the plantation and stopped at the roasting area. We all took turns sitting with the roasting spoon taking pictures.
Roasting Luwak beans. Shail on the swing. Luwak grazing ares.
We then walked down a path filled with plants and flowers and came out onto this flat area overlooking the Luwak grazing field. We had a free coffee and tea sampling and we each ordered a cup of coffee from one of the samplings.
We realized that the whole British police thing was just a ruse to get us to stop at the coffee farm. We probably would have stopped anyway but I guess this was a way for the scooter guy to get some kind of a commission that he was stopping people on the road and suggesting the plantation stop. It turned out to be a very refreshing stop on our drive up.
Shail loves his fruit and we stopped by a roadside stand to indulge.
Back on our scooters and just as we came to a T in the road, it started pouring. Not just a rain but a torrential downfall with lightning and thunder. Luckily there was a small shop just past the stop sign that we pulled into. As Shannon and Shail were getting off their scooters a swarm of women came out from behind the wall and started trying showing off their wares. They started draping them with hats and shawls. It was such a funny sight watching this. They were all saying take mine, no take mine. It was fine at first but after a little while it got annoying because we weren’t given the opportunity to have a good look at anything. Shail negotiated us a good price on 2 wraps. He also got us a good deal on 3 rain ponchos that we were hoping that we wouldn’t need but luckily we had later in the day.
Unfortunately it was so foggy that we couldn’t enjoy the view from the top. We hung around for a little while and had some coffee hoping that the rain would stop. It was about 30 minutes later when the rain let up and we decided to go for it and headed down the road towards the lake. It was so foggy that it was hard to see. I was continually worried about Shannon being on the scooter by herself. We had all wished that they had invented a 3 person scooter!
It was misting the entire time down the road and we found a cute little restaurant to have lunch.
It was a little chilly from the rain and we were feeling fortunate that we had these shawls.
Back on the scooters heading towards the volcano. We were driving and driving which seemed like such a long twisting turning road. At times I felt like we weren’t making any progress towards the volcano. We started up this steep hill and about 10 yards up it felt like the road was too slippery for us to continue.
Shail stopped and said “one of us is going to have to walk up the hill because we are not going to be able to make it with both of us on the bike.” I laughed and said “well, I guess it’s going to be me”. It was funny because he was trying to be nice but there was only one option and that was for me to walk and him to get the scooter up this steep hill.
I swear it was a 60 degree incline. There were kids all along this road helping people get their scooters up to the top. At one point Shail got one of the kids to ride Shannon’s scooter up and she walked with me. Apparently these kids hang out on this hill helping people in the hopes that they will give them some money which Shail did. It was worth $2 for the help.
We finally got to the top of the hill and started our way back down this crazy hill which was scary because it was windy and practally straight down. Shail was braking most of the way down and stopped at a flat part because the brakes had given out. I was thinking “What the hell did I get myself into with these two?” I thought we were going to be stranded on this hill without any brakes but Shail told us that we just had to wait a little for them to cool down and then we could continue.
At one point I looked on my phone at our location and it looked like we were on the wrong road and had made a wrong turn a while back. So, back up the crazy hill and Shail found someone along the road and asked for directions. Turns out my GPS was off and we were actually on the right road, so back down the crazy road. We kind of gave up on the volcano since it was so foggy and rainy. But thank goodness we had our ponchos!
The fog lifted for a view of the lake
I assumed that we were headed back to our hotel when we spotted a sign for another falls, Gitgit Waterfall. Shail asked if I wanted to go and of course I said yes. What sort of adventure would this be if we didn’t experience all that we could?
Unfortunately it was back this bumpy pothole ridden road but it was worth it. We didn’t see the wonderment at first and wondered if this was the waterfalls. This was a small water fall that kind of looked like a man made dam. It had gears that raised and lowered panels. We kept looking around and Shail saw a path up the way across the stream.
Shannon and Shail decided to cross the rock laden stream and take the path upwards in hopes of finding something awesome. Of course, being the baby that I was that day, I decided to wait it out figuring for some dumb reason that they wouldn't find anything. Not with these two!
So, now, here I am in the middle of nowhere by myself and my mind started visioning horror movie scenes! I saw a women coming down the path and watched her cross the stream and thought that it didn’t look so deep or dangerous so that I could do this to meet up with the kids.
I just didn't want to miss out on something.
By this time it was starting to just get dusk with the sun just above the horizon. I crossed the stream with just enough light and headed up the path. It kept getting steeper and I came to a fork in the road. Hmmm, which way did they go? Luckily I guessed the right path and met up with them coming down just a few minutes later.
They were in awe and excitement and told me that I just had to go see the waterfall because it was spectacular. They said it was only a few minutes back so of course I said yes. I didn’t cross that rocky stream for nothing! Off we went up steps, steep paths and across another rocky stream and there it was. The power of mother nature pounding water down over a steep cliff is just such an incredible sight. We took pictures and enjoyed the moment and started back.
Now, by this time the sun had gone down and it was very dark. Luckily Shail had a camera on his phone and guided us safely back to our scooters.
So, in the pitch black dark with no moonlight because of the rain clouds and fog, we headed back on the road. This road was so dark, windy and of course the rain kept coming. At times it was so heavy that I couldn't figure out how Shail could even see to keep going. Shannon was such a little trooper riding her scooter behind us. I was thankful that I was on the back of Shail and not riding my own. There was one point on this crazy rainy ride that for just one second, I just put my head down and thought to myself that I just wanted to cry. I was so cold and wet and miserable and felt that we were in this black hole of roads and we were never finding our way back! I pulled it together and tried to enjoy the rest of the ride back. The best thing about this whole day and wild ride was that we were all together in this, laughing at the craziness and Shail guided us safely back.
It was getting late and we were all starving and needed a break from the rain and we saw a sign for a resort. We took the road back to the hotel and walked in. We were so cold and asked for someplace warm for dinner. They took our ponchos and laid them out by the front door and the sweet girl brought us warm towels to wrap ourselves in. We had a most fabulous dinner and reluctantly we were back on the road again.
Thank goodness that is was only 45 more minutes back to our hotel and even that sounded like an eternity! I have never been so happy to be back in my room as I was tonight. I am so thankful that Shail got us safely back to be able to take hot showers and curl up under the blankets. No need for the fan tonight. This whole day was such a crazy adventure and even though it would have been fabulous if it wasn’t raining, this day was a day like no other.
January 24, 2017 Tuesday
Today was our last day in Ubud so we wanted to go do some shopping. Yesterday on our crazy ride, I saw a bead shop on our way out and some really cute shops. Today was Cory’s birthday so we called him in the morning, which was evening the night before. It was nice to get to talk to him and wish him a wonderful birthday. Shannon got some beads and we checked out some other shops before heading back to turn our scooters in.
We walked back to our hotel and called Uber to take us to our beach hotel on the island. We found out from the Uber driver that driving an Uber in Indonesia is illegal, but they still do it because the money is so good.
Again, a long and crazy drive but the Matahari Terbit hotel was is a great location, right along the beach, my favorite place to be.
Nusa Dua is an area in the southern part of Bali, Indonesia, known as an enclave of large 5-star resorts. Nusa Dua means two islands, because there are 2 islands in the bay of Bali Tourism Development Corporation area. On the southern side lies Peninsula Island, and on the northern side lies Nusa Dharma Island, which is smaller but shadier, and which contains the Pura/Temple Nusa Dharma.
Everywhere we went in Bali we saw these offerings. Some as elebrate as this and some as simple as just one of these at the doorstep. I kept wondering bout them so I finally googled it to find out what it was all about. I figured that it was some kind of religious sacrifice and here is what I found out.
Sacrifices makes up a big part of life in Bali. You cannot imagine a day in the life without. They are celebrated everywhere in Bali, on the streets, under the trees, in cars, shops and holy places. A Canang Sari made of banana leaves filled with cookies, rice and sometimes even money, is meant not only to appease spirits and gods, but are also beautiful temporary pieces of art. An average family spends at least half of its income on a variety of sacrifices. This is regarded as a token of piety and gratitude. If people do not have time to make it themselves or if special ceremonies requires elaborate shapes , they may be bought on the market place or ordered with a This women was Tukang Banten (sacrifice specialist). placing them around the hotel grounds.
Sunset on the island.
January 25, 2017 Wednesday
Since our flight wasn’t leaving until 10:30 tonight we started the search for scooters. We originally had the hotel get us 2 but on the way we had a mishap and something fell out of the scooter that was holding the kickstand up and we went back to try to get new ones. This turned into an ordeal so we got our money back and walked down the island searching for another place to get scooters. Shail scored us another great deal and off we went on another wild adventure.
First stop was Uluwatu beach. It is listed as one of the best surfing points in Bali located in south part of Bali Island right under the Uluwatu Temple. It is a hidden gem, famous amongst surfers for its powerful waves and stunning sunsets. To get to the beach, you need to go down a set of steep, rocky steps.
The beaches are nestled underneath a cliff, on the top of which rests Uluwatu Temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Bali.
Within Uluwatu beach is a couple of different named beaches. One of them is Padang Padang beach. It's a nice sandy beach where "Eat, Pray, Love" was filmed.
Padang Padang beach has an interesting access entrance through the split in a rock wall. The beach is a relatively small beach in the Uluwatu area. It's a wedge of beach with a dramatic concrete bridge spanning over it. It does get crowded from time to time, and the tour buses have been showing up ever since the movie was filmed here.
Pictures of the beaches.
Even if you aren’t a surfer, you can enjoy the clifftop views and stunning sunset. After our swim in the Indian Ocean we trekked up the stairs for some lunch overlooking the ocean and the surfers. We were relaxing to the sound of the waves crashing below and enjoying the cool evening breeze.
After lunch we rode to the Uluwatu Temple. This is a pictue of the temple grounds which encampasses acre upon acre of land.
Built in the 10th century, this temple is one of Bali’s directional temples. A directional temple is one that, according to Hinduism, guards the island from evil spirits. The entrance fee is Rp 30,000 and you need to be properly dressed to enter. Sarongs and sashes are available free at the entrance. Guides, once famously mercenary, hassle visitors less than they used to, although they will offer to "protect" you from the monkeys, for a tip of course. Note that while you are free to walk around the temple grounds, the central courtyards can only be entered during special rituals.
Without a doubt, what makes Uluwatu Temple spectacular is its cliff-top setting at the edge of a plateau 250 feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean. 'Ulu' means the ‘top’ or the ‘tip’ and 'watu' means a ‘stone’ or a ‘rock’ in Balinese. Several archaeological remains found here prove the temple to be of megalithic origin, dating back to around the 10th century. There are two entrances to Uluwatu Temple, from the south and the north. A small forest lies at the front and hundreds of monkeys dwell here. They are believed to guard the temple from bad influences. The serpentine pathway to the temple is fortified by concrete walls on the cliff side. It takes about an hour to get from one end to another as there are several fenced points along the way to stop. The views from the bottom of the water surging up against rocks and the ocean horizon are remarkable. The Balinese Hindus believe that the three divine powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva become one here. That belief results in making Uluwatu Temple a place of worship of Siva Rudra, the Balinese Hindu deity of all elements and aspects of life in the universe. Pura Uluwatu is also dedicated to protect Bali from evil sea spirits.
The temple grounds are inhabited by monkeys, and of course precautionary signs warn visitors of the monkeys grabbing attractive items such as sunglasses and cameras. However, they can be calmed when approached with peanuts or bananas, lending an opportunity to retake stolen possessions. They can usually be persuaded into trading the items for fruit, although this only encourages them to steal more!
Back over to Uluwatu beach to watch the sunset at the restaurant on top of the cliff. We have no pictures of the sunset because all three of our phones were dead! Back to turn in or scooters and took a taxi to the airport.
Arrived back in Singapore around 1:30 and took a taxi back to the apartment.
January 26, 2017 Thursday
I found this very interesting antique shopping area on line that I thought Shannon would like so we took the bus. It took us a while to find it but when we did it was a spectacle to see.
There was a long warehouse that housed any and all things antique. The idea was to look through the stuff, take pictures if it wasn’t portable and ask the owner how much it was.
The only thing wrong with this is the fact that Shannon found some really cool stuff but the owner wanted way too much for it. He said that the price she wanted to pay didn’t even cover his cost.
She told me that at this time his cost was irrelevant since he was storing/hoarding so much stuff and no one to buy it.
We walked away and went to a little mall that Shannon had taken an interest in to possibly sell her jewelry. It turned out to not be what she expected and we headed home. We had dinner at home and watched a movie.
January 27, 2017 Friday
Today we are going on another adventure that I found on the internet. We are going to Changi Village to take a boat ride over to Ubin Island for some bike riding.
We took the MRT and a bus up to the north coast of the Singapore. From there we took a small power boat across to the island and rented bikes for a few hours to ride around.
There were plenty of paths for us to ride and the best thing was they had maps at every turn so we always knew where we were. At one point Shail left us to do the black diamond trail and we met up with him later. It was way too steep and rocky for Shannon and me so we had a very leisurely ride on the other trails. We saw a very large lizard, monkeys and various birds native to Singapore.
This was a special area with lots of vegetable, spice and herbs gardens.
We took the boat back to Singapore island and stopped at the brewery for some beer.
This place looked like it could be lots of fun. Besides the beer and food, we were told that they have music playing at night. Too bad it was a little too far to come back.
So, you buy a beer card and then tap your own beer. The card is deducted according to how many ounces is dispensed. We had two little mishaps with the taps and the beer girl compensated us by giving us 2 almost full beers.
It was Chinese New Year celebrations tonight so after
we got back, we went down to Chinatown for the
street fair and fireworks.
Year of the Rooster.
January 28, 2017 Saturday
Shannon and I got up and went down to Marina Bay for some sightseeing and pictures.
A wonderful marvel in this area that can be seen from almost anywhere in the southeastern part of Singapore is the Singapore Flyer.
It stands at a towering height of 165m, giving it the honors of being the largest Giant Observation Wheel in the world.
Grand opening was held in 2008, taking 3 years and S$240 million to accomplish.
A ride on the Flyer, about 30 minutes in duration, is a 360-degree bird's-eye-view of some of the famous sights and sounds of Singapore - all summed up in a nutshell while taking flight on this rotating wheel.
It has 28 air-conditioned capsules, each able to accommodate 28 passengers, and incorporates a three-story terminal building which houses a beautiful rain forest.
As the wheel makes it's journey around, each capsule also rotates keeping it in an upright position.
And as breath-taking as the flyer experience is, I took a walk around the vicinity and strolled through the Yakult Rainforest - a landscaped rainforest built within the grounds of the Flyer with the purpose of creating a relaxing atmosphere amidst the hustling and bustling city life.
January 29, 2017 SundayWe got up and headed to church. I was excited because Shannon really enjoyed this church and I was looking forward to sharing this with her. Unfortunately when we got there it was closed. Apparently they weren’t having a service because of Chinese New Year.
Oh well, that’s ok, we just went for breakfast at this little restaurant called Sexy Coffee.
After breakfast Shannon and Shail went back to the apartment and I walked to see the toy museum. They had so many old toys and lots of memorabilia.
I then went back to Marina Bay for some entertainment and more sightseeing.
Singapore’s national icon, the mythical Merlion is a statue with the head of a lion and the body of a fish.
The body symbolises Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, meaning 'sea town' in Old Javanese.
Its head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, or ‘lion city’ in Malay.
Spouting water from its mouth, the Merlion statue stands tall at 8.6 metres and weighs 70 tonnes.
Built by local craftsman Lim Nang Seng, it was unveiled on 15 September 1972 at the mouth of the Singapore River, to welcome all visitors to Singapore.
With the completion of Esplanade Bridge in 1997, the statue could no longer be viewed clearly from the waterfront,
so in 2002, the Merlion was relocated 120 metres away from the original position to where it stands in Merlion Park today, in front of Fullerton Hotel and overlooking Marina Bay.
Another wonderment at Marina Bay is the Esplanade – Theaters on the bay. Fondly nicknamed "the Durian” by Singaporeans for its resemblance to the popular fruit here, Esplanade holds a 1,600-seat Concert Hall, a 2,000-seat theater and several more intimate performance venues. The spikes on the dome allow natural light to fall onto the foyer spaces while keeping the heat out at the same time. The concert hall boasts state-of-the –art features, including reverberation chambers and an acoustic canopy that adapts the hall for all types of musical performances.
The Esplanade Singapore began its lifelong journey in 1989, when the Advisory Council on Culture and the Arts suggested having a performing arts center in Singapore. After years of discussion, the committee decided to officially call the performing arts center, Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay.
Singapore is not exactly a musical city comparable to that of London or New York City, but Esplanade Singapore has undergone tremendous transformation over the years. Officially opened on 12 Oct 2002, today Esplanade - Theaters on the Bay is not only the exclusive home to the highly respected Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), but also center stage to a variety of music, theater and dance performances, presenting itself as an arts venue for world-class entertainment.
It looked like the area would have been a great Chinese New Year celebration. There was a street fair and I had some crazy food.
There is also an outside theater that I stopped by to listen to some great music. The outdoor theater stretches across the 300M long waterfront. It has a standing capacity of 600. Audiences can watch the free performances under the night sky.
This band was so fun and entertaining.
The Helix, commonly referred to as Helix Bridge, is the longest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. Opened in 2010, the bridge has a distinctive double helix structure modeled on the DNA structure. It overlooks Marina Bay, forming a curve next to the vehicular Bayfront Bridge and the Youth Olympic Park, and connecting Marina Centre with the Bayfront area.
More scenes at Marina Bay
Youth Olympic Park is Singapore's first art park Bamboo Wall
and was developed to foster a greater sense of
community ownership and connection with Marina Bay.
Opened on 24 April 2010, it currently features art installations
using different media by local youths,
depicting life's aspirations. The park was built and named
in commemoration of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games
hosted by Singapore in August 2010.
Pathway at Gardens by the Bay Supertrees
January 30, 2017 Monday
While Shail worked, Shannon and I went over to Bugis station for some shopping. We saw a set of steps and a park. Of course, we had to check it out. It was Fort Canning Park. She had been there already so showed me some hidden secrets.
Fort Canning is a small hill slightly more than 60 meters high. Although small in physical size, it has a long history intertwined with that of the Singapore due to its location as the highest elevation within walking distance to the city's civic district within the Downtown Core.
Sally Port: The sally port is a small hidden door that leads into or out of a fort, allowing occupants to escape from the fort undetected. Fort Canning had at least three sally ports but only one remains today.
scenes along the park walk.
January 31, 2017 Tuesday
My last day. Shannon and I walked around the city and did some shopping and back to the apartment by 2 to finish packing and left for the airport at 6. Many hugs and left Shannon and Shail to pass through security. I walked around the airport and visited the butterfly garden. What an amazing sight. Apparently the butterflies were all sleeping because I didn’t see any flying around.
Took a few minutes to sit in the free massage chair and off to the airplane. Flight home was long and finally it was over. Nice to be back home but miss the warm weather and the relaxing crazy vacation.
Stay tuned for more adventures the next time I travel.
