Bali is an island and the smallest province of Indonesia, and includes a few smaller neighboring islands. It is located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, between Java to the west and Lombok to the east, and has its capital of Denpasar at the southern part of the island. It has a population of 3,890,757 in the 2010 census, which is currently 4.22 million.

My bucketlist will never be complete without a visit to this island. Because of its waves, Bali has become quite the popular tourist destination for surfers and wannabe's. The island is also known for its diverse culture, Hindu temples, and vast rice fields. It is best to visit Bali during the dry season between the month of May and September. 

The rooms are clean, the staff is accommodating, and the place is safe. The hotel also offers a relaxing in-house massage service, which is very convenient to guests. What's more, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is just at the ground level of our hotel!

Ketut was recommended by a colleague of mine. He described the man to be friendly and has good driving skills. For me, this is important, specially on long trips to unfamiliar places. I commend Ketut for always being on time and accommodating to our requests. 

Bali Photo Diary

Tegal Sari Bali Coffee & Spices
This place is a plantation where we got the chance to taste different kinds of coffee, cocoa, and tea.
 

Tanah Lot Temple

Tanah Lot is a rock formation in the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home to a pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot (literally "Tanah Lot temple"), and is a popular tourist and cultural icon for photography and general exoticism.

A sumptuous dinner at Melasti Tanah Lot restaurant ended our Bedugul day tour.

One thing you should not miss when you visit Bali is the 2-hour surfing lessons offered by surf instructors. Before you hit the beginner's waves, the instructor will teach you how to handle the board, paddle out, catch waves, and stand up. After a few tries, falling off the board and being wiped out --- tadah! Look at my surfin' moves! ^^

Apart from searching the best airline ticket deals, I look forward to choosing what I call "swak sa budget" accommodation. Choosing a clean, comfortable, accessible, and affordable place to stay takes a lot of time and patience. Recommendations and online reviews are also helpful in getting to know the possible choices you have. There are also few sites that offer a list of hotels -- from budget to 5 stars, outskirt to central locations. 

It's spring time during March in Taiwan and according to the weather forecast it will be raining in some of the days. I was thinking of booking a room comfy enough for me to just lounge the whole day while enjoying a my bubble tea. A colleague of mine suggested to search for Minsu, also known as homestay.  This is a popular accommodation in Taiwan with rooms of different themes. 

While searching for this type of accommodation, I stumbled upon a blog site that recommended Jogging Bear. Jogging Bear is located in Ximending and it's just a 3-minute walk from Ximen MRT. The place is owned by a couple who is very accommodating and helpful. They offer rooms with different themes (you can check their blog site for room pictures and descriptions), and during our stay, I booked the Greek Romance.


The place is located on the 5th floor of the building. The room has a queen-size bed, air conditioning, LCD TV, mini fridge, and en suite bathroom with tub. It is clean, well-maintained, and towels are provided, too. Jogging Bear is accessible to some of Taipei's tourist attractions and must-try food.


Transportation Guide to Jogging Bear, provided by our hosts:

Transportation A:
1.Please take bus (kuokuang 1819) to Taipei main station from Taoyuan airport. (http://www.taoyuan-airport.com/english/Publish.jsp?cnid=100150)
巴士125台幣，1小時20分鐘
2. Please walk to MRT Taipei station when you alight at final bus stop.
3. Please take MRT from Taipei main station to Xi Men station and leave station by exit no.6 (http://fangshiushiu.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/webbl18.jpg)
4. Please call me immediately, and I will show up within 3 minutes.
5. If you come here by Taxi or private van, please tell driver send you to the junction of 台北市中華路一段 and 武昌街二段, and please give me a call as u arrive.

Transportation B:
1. Please take the shuttle bus at airport which bound for Taoyuan HSR (high speed railway) station. 15~20 min
2. Please take HSR for Taipei main station and leave platform by east exit for MRT Taipei station.
3. Please take MRT from Taipei main station to Xi Men station and leave station by exit no.6 (http://fangshiushiu.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/webbl18.jpg)
4. Please give me a call immediately, and I will show up within 3 minutes.
 

Brekky at Cafe Ballet, CKS Memorial 

Sending birthday wishes to the sky.

2013 was jam-packed with activities and I have a lot of backlog posts to catch up. I'll start the ball rolling with my long overdue birthday entry. 

Last year was my 2nd birthday away from home. Together with my travel buddy and cousins, I celebrated my 28th in Siem Reap Cambodia.

Siem Reap, is the capital city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia. It has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. In the city, there are museums, traditional Apsara dance performances, Cambodian cultural village, souvenir and handycraft shops, silk farms, rice-paddy countryside, fishing villages and a bird sanctuary near the Tonle Sap Lake.

Visiting AngkorWat has always been a part of my bucketlist, though there were few things to consider before making it official - the weather, plane tickets, and availability of my travel buddies. Not to worry about the weather since Cambodia is smoking hot during March. After we set the date, Cebu Pacific and Jetstar seat sale announcements popped in my inbox, and my travel buddies made way for this trip to push through.

Getting a group tour is highly recommended when you visit Siem Reap; this makes your trip free and easy. While searching for one, I stumbled upon Angkor Wat tour drivers. Few of them are on the Internet, showing the services they offer and their rates. Hiring a local Khmer driver is the best choice, and Thera is someone we can recommend. Cambodia is his birth country and he was a teacher before he became a tour guide. He has thorough knowledge about the places we visited, can speak English well, and is very accommodating. 

Cambodia Photo Diary