In the sixth month of 2005, I found the true meaning of blue. In Bali!!
As an Indonesian, it is such a shame that I have only visited Bali twice. Not that all Indonesian has to visit this Island of Goddess (Pulau Dewata), but it is a fact that many foreigners have visited the beautiful island more than what we have done.
So after ten years from my first visit, I again flew to Bali, from Singapore this time. The main agenda was clear, i.e. to attend a friend’s wedding (see picture above). But it seems like (and it was quite obvious, actually) that the peripheral agenda was more happening and waited for and obviously taking more space in the picture folder. *Bali gitu lho…. Baliiiii….. coba bandingkan Bali dan Singapore…*
I guess this posting will have more pictures than other entries. Despite the 2002 bombing, we still decided to go (no worry and fear at all honestly) and I am forever grateful that God still loves me enough to spare me from any misfortune and hence here I am, sharing some beauty and blue from Bali.
My flight was on Friday afternoon and I had an interview in the morning. I was fetched by my long-lost cousin whom I haven’t met for 2005 – 1997 = 8 years. Went out to his eatery to eat (he is one with the legacy of cooking my ancestor’s – from mother side – well known cuisine) and reached the hotel at around 11 pm.
The next day started with rafting in a river whose name I’ve forgotten. Then we (a group of four) went to a massage at Cozy (claimed to be one of the affordable best in Bali). As I have never been a fan for massage, spa and any other kind of relaxation hence for this time I was just thankful as it was in Bali hence without an escalating price. Next, Tirtha Uluwatu with the unforgettable monkey attacks.
Had nice dinner at Jimbaran Seafood (Ramayana) by the dark beach. Continued to Kudeta, a very well known place to eat, drink, relax even to people abroad. Owned by one local and three foreigners, this place can really attend to tastes of many cultures. It has an indoor table and chair dining place suitable for families, some bar areas, some outdoor comfortable couches, and some benches by the beach. It is vast, the service is good, the drink is nice but the ambience is what’s really, totally awesome. We left the place at around midnight, as on the next day we had a wedding to attend (and where I had to deliver a wedding speech). Alas, the next thing we knew was that we couldn’t just leave Kudeta as one of our car tyre sank in the sand. An abortive attempt from us and one of its officer continued until 1 am when I started calling my cousin, just to ask where and how can we seek help from police. He then came with his friends and also tried many ways but failed. Then he called a friend who has a four-wheel drive kind of vehicle and our car was literally pulled in many directions until it was back on track, hmm on a civilized track more like. It was 2 am, we were exhausted and yet glad and relieved that we could now go back to hotel. Yet, we still chatted until 4 am.
Our agenda for the next day was only to attend the wedding. The preparation was rather rushing as we still spent the morning chit-chatting around our “meja ajaib”. Why do we call it meja ajaib (magic table)? When you are not feeling well, unhealthy or tired just sit there, have a chit chat and some nibbles with us and the next thing you knew is that you are healthy, happy and kicking one more time!
So off we went to the wedding, join the solemnization in the very beautiful triangular chapel. The scenery was simply breathtaking I must say. The blue was really blue. It is difficult to explain, can’t really capture in a picture either, you have to be there to experience the “blue” (the colour, not the mood). The wedding was beautiful and the buffet dinner was sumptuous. It was an outdoor wedding, and the cliff and the sea became our background.
You can definitely only find it in Bali…
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