yes again in KL, or rather genting highlands more specifically.
Category: TRAVEL
i think going to KL isn’t complete until a visit to genting highlands. my past visit to genting highlands have always been via direct coach services from singapore. since i took a flight to KL, i will have to arrange my transport from KL to genting myself. i took the genting package from kl sentral which costs affordly @ rm10.30 one way. the trip consists of bus trip from kl sentral to skyway lower station (about 60mins) and skybus up to genting highland hotel (about 20 ~ 30mins depending on the queue)
http://www.gogenting.com.my/en/express/klsentral.htm
sari ratu is one that been found when i google for nasi padang in KL. so glad i found one around bukit bintang
i long wanted to try malaysia dry bak kut teh. so when plan for trip to KL, i google in search of dry version around bukit bintang area which i will be staying. thankfully, kimba’s kitchen post helped locate one.
Restoran Sun Fong Bak Kut Teh （新峰肉骨茶）
35, 37 & 39, Medan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03 2141 4064
35, 37 & 39, Medan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03 2141 4064
Fax : 03 2144 8864
Business hours : 5.00am to 12.00am (midnight) daily
Business hours : 5.00am to 12.00am (midnight) daily
I’m so glad the previous minor accident has been fully settled. So I can now fully focus on finishing my work & getting prepared for my trip to Ayuthaya next week.
Actually, there are many small events prior to my Ayuthaya trip, hmmm … let me make a list
- Major Flooding in Thailand ~ while Central Ayuthaya aren’t affected (where I’m staying), some of other location like Sarburi & Pak Chong which I plan to visit are.
- Tiger Airways changed by returned flight scheduled ~ It was 8pm but have move back to 2pm instead. Meaning I have to be at the airport by 12pm, and which also mean I only got 4 ~ 5 hrs to rush from Ayuthaya to Airport. I’ve taken Tiger flight due to the return flight scheduled @ 8pm. Unfortunately, this change in schedule srewed up my original plan, really pissed! I guess this will be my last flight with Tiger Airways
- Minor Accident with Motorbike in the carpark ~ really unfortunate and due to this I missed 2 more events
- Missed a bargain for Lumix LX5
- Missed a gathering
So it’s really series of unfortunate events prior to my Thailand trip. On a positive note, all these are minor issues but they do inconvenienced me one way or another. Or perhaps these really a blessing in disguise? I really hope so! 
Anyway, hope all the bad are over, just wish for a safe & pleasant Ayuthaya trip.
Day3
Asked the driver to pickme up from Tegal Sari @ 11am as I want to walk around Ubud.
Surprisingly the sun already up by 6am! Also, realize Bali time is the same as Singapore (i.e GMT+8).
It was a pleasant walk along the narrow street, peaceful stroll with occasionally street dog barking at me. Before I went, there are already news of Rabies in Bali, so I avoid that as much as possible.
Noise gradually creeps in as I approach the main street which Ubud centre is located. Here, the morning market is bursting with activities. Parking attendants controls the traffic & parking (for a small fee), Balinese went shopping for their groceries, food, flowers (for offering to gods) etc.
Frankly I was a little hungry, however looking at the street food vendor, scooping food with their bare hands & packing them left me with little appetite for brekkie. I end up with instant cup noodle & coffee at the 24hr convenient shops (much like our 7-11) for quick fix.
I was hoping to see some interesting local action around the morning market. So was so uneventful, so after strolling around took a few pictures before heading back to Tegal Sari.
Just as I approach the junction, I notice that monkey forest isn’t far from there. Since I do have sometime, I took a stroll to monkey forest. There was a small path that cut thru monkey forest without having to pay a dime. Wasn’t really crazy with monkeys anyway (besides we got out own “monkey forest” back in Singapore). Took a small path and found a small cafeteria. Decide to have a proper brekkie ~ Egg Benedict sandwich with smoked salmon + Bali kopi. One thing about Bali kopi is that, they never filter the coffee powder at all, all stirred into hot water which makes the kopi taste very muddy *yucks!* Also, they have tendency to add way too much sugar! Fortunately, this cup was provided with a pack of sugar separately. Still, the kopi taste really muddy
Remember not to order Bali Kopi next time !
Driver was on the dot! I went to have famous Ibu Okra Babi Guling + Teh botol. Well, it was ok but fanastic? No way … I think it way over overhyped or perhaps “success have spoiled them”!
Later, I asked for Kusamba to watch fisherman & salt harvesting. But he insisted there was nothing there. Instead he kept pointing me to yet another Pura (temple). I wasn’t interested to visit yet another boring Pura, so insisted of not going. We end up at a local beach makeshift coffee shop.
Beach wasn’t interesting except for the black sand. He had his brekkie there and I have kopi while enjoying the sea breeze ~ just trying to cool myself down. Obviously wasn’t happy with the driver, but since it’s my holiday, I try not to make a scene out of it.
Next we head to Sanur, nothing interesting, just yet another touristy beach. We left in a short while and head to Uluwatu. But before that, I requested to head to Denpasar for some famous mutton sate. Again, he unwilling to head there, and instead brought me to another street stall @ Kuta which I have Sate + Gule Kambing. Surprising delicious and cheap, still I wasn’t happy for not having my request fullfilled.
We head to Uluwatu + Kecak Dance. The cliffs were beautiful, kecak dance was interesting but I wasn’t too busy fiddling with camera to enjoy the show. But was really challenged taking kecak dance shots under Dim light ~ my canon S5IS camera certainly not up to the task.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The signboard at entrance warn tourist @ Uluwatu to be wary of the monkeys. Do take it seriously, my compact camera pouch & spec were almost snatch by them. Fortunately they couldn’t hold it well and drop onto the ground ~ lucky me!
At the end, we went to Jimbaran for “overpriced” seafood. Regretted my decision, way too expensive @ 400K Rp and there wasn’t anything special with their seafood.
Ending night can’t help feeling unsatisfied. But still I manage to contain my displeasure.
Continue with photo below
砥峰高原 Tonomine highlands
Filming location for Haruki’s Norwegian Wood. Quite a lovely location with all those silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis) and rolling hills
LIFE
Yeah haze is back! Many thanks to fire in Sumatra
http://haze.asean.org/
Check here for view of their past destruction. It’s such a waste to for ASEAN to fund indonesia for the fire fighting when they don’t even know who / root cause of the fire starter.
http://blogs.reuters.com/photo/2010/08/12/an-aerial-view-of-sumatra-island/
BALI D1
First day in Bali, took a bike taxi (20,000 rp) to Kuta Tune Hotel. You know the trip only took about 20mins or less, I reckon it will be even faster when there isn’t any jam. 20,000rp! oh gosh! The taxi cost 50,000rp but decide to take the bike taxi as it’s easier to cut thru the jams.
Tune Hotel is compact but clean ~ no complains
Had lunch @ Made’s warung, their Nasi Campur special is nice but not cheap, 55,000rp (S$8++!)
Rest of day were just walking round Jln Legian & Kuta beach. Well, yet another touristy spot ~ shops, touts etc. Somehow have a feeling of regret for coming to Bali, oh well, will give it a few days to proof me wrong!
Take a look at street scene of Kuta, I’m certainly not fond of these. No peace at all.
