Escape to Bali #2

The tour agency paired us with a Mexican family for the next day. I admit that I was excited to meet angmohs.

Our first stop -- Barong Keris dance.

It's like an opera, but without singing and minimal dialogues. Basically it's all dancing and 'fighting'. It's a local legend adopted from the Mahabrata.

So many DSLRs around, with super long lenses.

The Rangda aka Monster. Rawr.

Oh and there's a monkey behind.

On the way to Kintamani, there are 4 villages. Each village has its own signature handicraft. The first village we visited is famous for their handmade batik.

There are 2 types of batik, the painted one and the weaved one.

My little Mexican friend who thought I was 14 years old. Ricardo has soft curly black hair and hazel irises. He speaks impeccable English without accent. His last name is Torres.

Ahhhhh angmoh kids.

Passed by a village which specialises in stone carvings. We didn't visit this village because none of us are interested to buy a heavy and fragile statue. Although they are really really cheap, shipping them back home will cost a bomb.

The motifs are mainly Hindu-Buddhism.

The giant volcanic lake of Kintamani. At this height, the weather is cooling like in Fraser's Hill. The view is spectacular.

The active volcano. Judith, Mrs. Torres, almost freaked out when Yana informed us that it's still 'alive'. The last eruption was 2 decades ago if I'm not mistaken.

That's what I'm talking about: lunch beside an active volcano. It's not so much about the thrill; it's more about the picturesque scenery and the clement weather.

The food wasn't fantastic, but good. Their mixed vegetable soup rocks though. Maybe this was where Edmund ate the 'poisonous' onion rings. Anyhow, my stomach isn't as delicate as his. No food poisoning.

Coffee beans in civet cat poo. That's how you get the aromatic and rich civet cat coffee, the most expensive coffee in the world.

Why is it the most expensive coffee in the world? That's due to the quality of the coffee beans and the processing of it.

Firstly, you don't wake up and find civet cat poo in your front lawn everyday. You may find them in your neighbour's. Secondly, civet cats are choosy animals, they only pick the best coffee beans to eat.

The terraced rice fields. More greenery. Bali has enough food sources to sustain its inhabitants. If ever I were to move to a kampung area, I'd move to Bali.

I'm joking. I'll never move to a kampung area. Too much of a city girl.

A village where villagers are skilled oil painters. Realism, cubism, abstract, whatever you want. I prefer watercolour paintings more than oil paintings. Oil paintings lack the serenity and phantasmagorical quality that watercolour paintings have.

That's a personal opinion. I like Van Gogh's oil paintings though, especially the one about stars in the night sky.

The signature handicraft, wood carving, of another village.

My expression said, "Wth. How did they do that?"

Carolina and I in 'sarongs'. We had to wear sarongs as a sign or respect before entering the temples.

I find the architecture fascinating. It's 16th century Balinese design.

The Balinese do not have figurines of the gods they worship on altars and shrines, unlike the Indian Hindus. Yana said they pray to the spirit of the gods.

She got so bored whilst we were shopping for silver jewelry she had to play Top Model. Aww... angmoh kids I tell you.

Mio carino Carolina, one day you'll regret for not choosing an earing or two. That village is famous for its silversmith works, you know.

I absolutely love this part of the day, like totally -- candlelight dinner on the beach!!! XD

I love hearing the sound of waves lapping on the beach, I love the vibe, I love the fine sand, I love the clear night sky, I love the stars, I love the restaurant's band singing 'La Bamba'...

... and I looooooooooove the food omg glorious barbeque seafood.

I love everything except the prawns. Not a big fan of prawns. We should have tried the lobster and crab.

The ambience was so romantic that everybody was cuddling, all the angmohs especially. Angmoh girl laid her head on an angmoh guy's shoulder. Judith and Julio playing kissing games (see how people keep the flame burning even when they're almost 50 and with children).

And I have no angmoh to cuddle with *sulk* *sulk*

They didn't join us for the next day's tour as they only signed up for a 1 day tour. Sigh. Shall miss my sweet Carolina. I wish my daughter will look like her.

IF I could have a daughter. 20 years time.

Ok 10.

Well it isn't up to me to decide when right? Who knows when the ingredients will arrive. Or if they ever will arrive.

P/S: MACC should get a new lawyer. Abdul Razak can't even speak English properly, not to mention that he doesn't understand simple English as well. Oh, and he lacks common sense. Cindy can be a better lawyer than him.

I don't understand why that principal had to say, "... balik ke negara asal!" My homeland is Malaysia, just like them, just like you. If it's because you settled here before we did, thus making us foreigners...

Well, we all know who the original inhabitants are, don't we?