Nomadic Mom

This is a continuation from here. With any girly holidays, naturally a spa visit is a MUST. So after a satisfying martini-laden lunch on Friday, we staggered off in search of a spa. Okay. Okay. It was not that bad. We were not drunk. We actually sat and chatted over cups of latte and tea for a couple of hours.... :-P

Took a cab to coast along Jalan Seminyak Raya in search of a spa. When CC saw a sign for 'Jari Menari ' (translation: Dancing Fingers), she directed the taxi driver to go there. We were wondering why he was SNIGGERING away and seems too amused with his repeat of the shop's name. When we got into the shop, we found out that ALL the masseuse are MEN. No wonder the stupid taxi driver was sniggering away lah... he must be wondering this FOUR ladies gonna have some 'fun' in this place. Immediately thoughts of whether this place provides a bona-fide massage or otherwise crept up in our minds.
CC and JC read the brochure and I remember the words "professionally-trained" were mentioned. But WN and I were not comfortable to have male masseuses. I would be too conscious to relax and enjoy the massage. I will probably be mumbling "don't go there. don't go there" in my mind!
CC and JC were quite keen to try it, especially the FOUR hands massage but again... they weren't sure if the masseuses are really "professional". What if they are TOO sexy for the masseuse? And he cannot tahan. How?
We decided to give it a miss...
Later on, I had to google 'Jari Menari' and what do you know? It's rated No.1 Attraction in Seminyak on TripAdvisor. Some of the reviews... damn funny. Expressions like "Floated out of the Room"... CC was really keen to also "float out of the room"!
Basically, it is a bona-fide place. Not one with hanky-panky. It even provides massages for kids.

We went to Espace (No.2 on TripAdvisor) the following day. I have to say that it slightly less than satisfactory in my opinion. The premises are so-so. Showers are small and located away from the massage rooms. There are no proper hangers nor tables in the rooms to hang our clothes/store our items. The masseuse seems to be rushing to meet the 90-minute duration. There are many spas in Jakarta that have better facilities and do a better job. Most of the spas that I go to here have showers in every room; proper hangers and little boxes etc to store jewellery etc. So much more convenient. Can you imagine if you have had a scrub, and you need to dart out to the common shower room but it is occupied? Adoi!
That was my only spa visit in Bali. The other two ladies, JC and WN were on a spa-mode and visited the spa across from our hotel twice. Yup. 3 Spa visits in 4 days...

CC and I were more into lounging by the beach ... she with her Chit Lit and me with my....... iGCSE Maths!!! Hahhahah Nope. Not kidding. I was reading up on the syllabus and doing some revision (going to start tutoring.. my first class is today!), and that brought upon some questions regarding S1's Maths class at school. That started a whole chain reaction which resulted in more worries & stress for me, and a meeting with the Class Rep for Year 9 that will take place this morning at 10 AM. That will be in a separate post... don't wanna spoil this post. It is a HOLIDAY post after all.......

Basically, we didn't do any real sightseeing. Just hopping around to different places having tea, coffee and makan-makan. This allowed us to visit EXPENSIVE resorts that we would never have stayed-in, like the Como Shambala and the Ubud Hanging Gardens. With prices from USD 500 and 300/ nite respectively, it is definitely OUT of our price range. But these resorts are very very nice lor.

As WN have not been to Bali, and is planning to come with her family in June; I was more-or-less telling her the things-to-do in Bali with kids. And as Sobek (White-Water Rafting Company) is just next door to the Como Shambala, she was interested to have a look at the facilities .... thinking she could do this with her son and hubs in June. The Sobek supervisor was kind enough to walk us to the starting point (okay... not the whole way but up to where the path descends down to the Ayung). Haven't even reach, WN was grabbing my arm so hard cause she was afraid of heights. As we approached the edge, she just stopped and squatted at the side.... TERRIFIED. The three of us couldn't help laughing (okay. very very bad friends to be laughing at her vertigo but it was indeed very funny) and took our time taking photographs of the beautiful views. The Sobek supervisor wanted to guide her towards the edge but she just refused and wouldn't budge from her position! We had to go and squat with her to get a picture together (no view lah, of course). Needless to say, White-Water Rafting will NOT be in her itinerary.

Okay... gotta go. Continue later...

Yup. After 4 nights away from hubby, kids and chores, it's back to the daily grind.
So much so that I actually went straight from the airport to the supermarket to get some groceries.
4 nights is waaaaaay too short. :-(
But better than nothing lah.
I had a great time. Eating, Drinking, Gossiping, Chatting, Sharing, Crying, Sighseeing, Spa-ing and of course LAUGHING. Lots and lots of it.
This is what to be expected from FOUR patt-pohs!

Never miss my annual girly holiday with my girlfriends from home. They flew into Denpasar an hour earlier on Friday (25th March), and waited for me at the Black Canyon Cafe over at the airport. Blur-Blur Nomadic Mom could not find the Cafe, and thought it was closed. Called the girls and had a loud "IT IS OPEN. WE ARE INSIDE" blurted into my ear. And when I reached the Cafe, I saw a table with 3 ladies and without bothering to look at their faces, I blabbered away.... And what do you know? It wasn't my friends. Hahahhahaha. They were all sitting INSIDE the cafe. You say lah. Blur or not??

Anyway, we stayed 3 nights in a budget 3* hotel (Puri Saron on Seminyak Beach because one of my gf had 2 nights FREE. This works out to be only RM 240 per person for the 3 nights. Needless to say.... budget means no-frills in the rooms. Though I did not get bitten by bed bugs, my pillows smelled funny and I had to have my sarong draped over them. The room also didn't smell too pleasant, and the shower rail design was rather odd such that when you shower, the toilet seats will certainly get wet. The service is so-so and they didn't really have enough deck chairs. The only plus thing is that it is located right on the beach. Luckily we spent most days out of the hotel....
Nope. Will NOT stay in this hotel again.

After 3 nights, two of my gfs left for home but CC and I stayed on another night. We moved to a nicer hotel in Tanjung Benoa - The Bali Khama. Have to say that this resort is sooooooo much better. The room smells good and so did my pillows. Everything was much better. It was of course more expensive lor. Prepaid a discounted non-refundable rate of USD 123 per night for the room a few months back. Compare this approx. RM 369 per room per night with our budget RM 160 per room per night. Sure 'yatt fann cheen, yatt fann for'.

I supposed the first 3 nights in the budget was also good.... allowed us to splurge in our culinary adventures.
Where did we go?
Friday Lunch @ Anantara, Seminyak with 'shaken not stirred' Lychee Martinis
Friday Dinner @ Jimbaran Bay for seafood (More for the ambience and environment rather than the food)
Saturday Lunch @ Gabah, Kuta for yummy Indonesian foods
Saturday Drinks @ The hotel's beach bar Saturday Dinner @ Chandi, Seminyak with very potent Sangria
Sunday Coffee @ Como Shambala, Ubud
Sunday Lunch @ Ibu Oka, Ubud for BABI GULING
Sunday Tea @ Ubud Hanging Gardens
Sunday Dinner @ La Lucciola, Seminyak (Lovely beach front views!)
Monday Lunch @ Bali Khama's poolside
Monday Dinner @ Tao for Thai food
AND today, Tuesday?? Errrr... McDonald's lunch at the Airport!!

More about my holiday later...

Wow! Time really does fly. With a blink of an eye, 5 nights here in Washington DC has gone by. Yeah, 5 nights in DC seems a lot but not when you consider us flying in late and flying out early....and the spending a day out at the factory outlets. Donno why the day we were due to go out to the factory outlets, I dreamt of Laundryamah. Both she and I were flying to London for shopping and on the plane, I found out that she has bought 2 seats for herself....so that she could have the extra 20 kg baggage allowance!!! She is the most shopaholic friend that I have. I kept telling H that if Laundryamah comes to the states for shopping, she sure will go GILA!!! Espeacially when there is a sale at the outlets. can you imagine Cole Haan shoes at USD 45 per pair???? I bought 3 pairs...I think Laundryamah would buy like 10 pairs!!

Okay lah...continue later. Think my free airport wifi is going to run out soon.

I am a REAL dum-dum.
I knew I was going to Moscow and then the US. And what do you know??? On my flight to Singapore from KUL, I suddenly thought about my US visa. Is it in my current passport or in my old passport? Just 15 minutes before touching down at Changi, I rummaged through my handbag to get my passport. Lo and behold - my current passport do NOT have my US visa. Almost had a heart attack. The moment I got down from the plane, H was waiting at the gate....and immediately could tell something was wrong. Told him what happened and he was pretty calm. I thought he would surely kill me!

First thing to do was to see if we could change our flight to the following day. But flights were full......especially for redemption tickets. Then H said we should get my friend to go to our house to get my passport from our safe. This friend ... Can trust la. Called her up and she agreed to drive to my house. A day later, she would have been away in the mountains with her family. Also, maid was still in the house... So gave instructions on how to open safe over the phone. Aiyo.... Think 5th try only managed to have the safe opened, got my passport, checked US visa in there, close safe then lock it back. Passport then given to H's colleague who was summoned to our house to collect my passport.

Passport then passed to H's secretary on Friday morning to be couriered. It's like a big operation...friend, maid, colleague, secretary and now DHL ... All because of my stupidity!!! And donno why the package has to go to London first....and am told package will only arrive in Moscow on Tuesday. And you know what? My flight is on Tuesday. So what to do? Have to postpone the flight to the US. And since there will not be a flight on Wednesday to Houston, we can only fly out on Thursday. H says my c@ck-up has forced us to stay 2 extra days in this boring city! ;-(

So many things to change not to mention the list $$$$. We will have to rebook our Houston - New Orleans flights, extra 2 nights hotel in Moscow, the prepaid rooms at Houston and one night of New Orleans room. *sigh* really don't know how come I can be so dum-dum. This is not the first time I travel to the US summore!!!

Anyway, the last we checked, the package just left Jakarta this afternoon. Probably going to Singapore then London and then finally to Moscow. Now we are in Cafe Vogue in Moscow, and H is just wondering out loud if he can entice the 3 middle-aged Russian ladies in the other table to give him a cigarette. Told him to go ahead....,

Okay. Gotta go sort out our Houston - New Orleans flights with this free wifi. Tata

Last Day of School
Yup. Today is the LAST day of the school year....and then it's a loooooooooooooooooooooooooong Summer Break of games, TV, and what-nots till the boys' eyes pop out! Any ideas of how to entertain them outside the realm of electronics? I've signed (or rather got my sister to do the leg work) at a Football Camp for only four days. What about the other weeks?? Need to put them in Mandarin Classes too....

Guessed the boys are also gonna have a ball of a time at school today... no studying. Just fun fun fun. They ditched their school uniform for casual clothes this morning, and brought cupcakes to be shared with their friends.


Closure
There was a small service at school for Sei Young yesterday.... Only Year 8 students and family were invited. I supposed this service is to provide some kind of a closure for the school and the students. Before I even went into the theatre, I already started crying. I just broke down when I saw her parents walk into the foyer....her father carrying a photograph, the way how we Asians carry the deceased's photograph. A parent is not meant to do this for their child!

The service started with her friends describing how she was, her smiles, her antics...and how they missed them. We had speeches/ prayers by the heads of the school and and also the key SAR coordinator. When the photo presentation of Sei Young came up on screen, I could see her mother breaking down.... Oh how I feel for her. As a mother, you can imagine her pain, sorrow and grief.... But we really cannot imagine how she is feeling. I am sure the pain is too great to put in words. When the service ended, I just had to give my S1 a big big hug.

There was another service yesterday at the Korean Union Church...opened for all. I forgot about this one, and when my friend texted to ask if I was going, I absent-mindedly said YES as I was thinking of the service at school. .... May Sei Young be at Peace....


Terrible Terrible
Don't know why suddenly why all my PY2B posts are of the sad sad topics....which require me to write about the recent tragic events. It feels absolutely terrible to use these tragic events to earn a few bucks. Please forgive me.....


Time for GoodByes...
This year the turnover of expats is especially HIGH. I have so many good friends leaving. I supposed we feel it more this time because this posting is by far the longest for both H and me. Previously, we are the ones that would leave after 1 1/2 to 2 years....

This year, many people are leaving...both at school as well as H's office. My poor H has no more good pals at work that he can go out drinking or gila-ing with. He used to play in every Tuesday in the pool league but not anymore....as his kakis have all gone to the Middle East. And yesterday, he was at a farewell for another colleague/friend who will return to Australia. And another colleague/friend who will be off to South Africa in August. What about us? You ask? I don't know when or where we will be going next.... Yes. He was offered to go to the Middle East. And Nope. He doesn't want to go there.

Both S1 and S2 have very good friends leaving too. I am sure you have heard me mention S1's friend T who lives down the road from us. The family will relocate to Seoul.... Not only the boys will miss them. I will too! T's mom had just given me her Klik-n-Kut Cutter!!!! I came home one day, and there it was ....RIGHT at my door! Eh. This thing costs a few hundred dollars. Told her I couldn't accept it...but she was adamant that I keep it. She said she wouldn't have space in her shoebox apartment in Seoul. I will post a pic later...
Well...THANK YOU, S!

And then there's another family....who will relocate back to Switzerland. These two families are the ones that the boys usually have sleepovers with... Either at their place or ours. *sigh* ...
Well, will definitely visit them one of these days.. Hey. Maybe end of this year SKIING holiday for the boys? Both Seoul and Switzerland and both SKIING destinations. Can plan, yeah?

Another family...also leaving to go to Singapore. This friend of mine has been here for the longest of time, think maybe 9 years? Ever since I knew her four years ago, she has been saying that they are leaving. They are leaving...and never happen. This year...finally confirmed.

And then there's of course the other families that are leaving...that I am not to close with...
You know what sucks? It's when your friendship has grown a little closer and then you find that you will have to lose the friend....Okay. Maybe not lose lose per se. But you know what I mean, right???


Travel back to Malaysia
Boys and I will be going to back to Malaysia on Tuesday, 13th July...on one of the AirAsia flights...don't know which one; and staying on till the 11th of August. I actually leave for Moscow on the 15th of July.... and will only get back on the morning of 1st August 2010...and off to Penang on the 7th. I supposed that leaves me only 5 full days in PJ to do what I wanna do..... Yeah. Sounds kinda packed...

Okay lah. Later...

As mentioned previously, I went to Bali with the girls on Friday, 30 April 2010 for three nights. Our hotel was only finalised the day before..... Was wondering if we might have to sleep on Kuta beach or something. :-P

C wanted to try out The InterContinental Hotel, and as all three of us are going to bunk together in one room, figured that the cost won't be too exorbitant. Eh...actually, still exorbitant lor! Paid USD 320 per person for the three nights. Even without the extra bed, the rate was still USD 260 per nite. Gila, right? InterCont is nice...but not sooooooo special lor. Seriously, I wouldn't have paid that rate if travelling with my family. Plus now with the boys bigger, I would need two rooms! Waliow! Over USD 500 per nite?
Khai-wann-siow!!!
Plus I find the hotel toooooooooooo big..over 400 rooms. To walk from our room to the lobby is like doing a marathon. I think a hotel of about 200 rooms would be just right. They are small enough to walkabout, and big enough to have all the facilities that we want - pool bar, beach bar, restaurants, etc.

Anyway, I digress.

The first thing we did when we arrived was to reserve spots at the Must-Go restaurants with the help of the hotel conceirge. We then headed out to Kuta area as C wanted to buy some swimwear. I had bought mine from a specialty shop last year, and C seems to like the design....so that's where we went. Alamak! Cannot remember the name now... but it's on the one way street that winds towards Kuta Beach. That woman bought two pairs. The shopkeeper was very happy!

We then jalan-jalan abit around the shops and market.... I bought this el cheapo white dress for wearing on the beach over my swimwear. Paid USD 4 for it. Cannot complain lah...so cheap. From Kuta, we went over to Metis for dinner.

Metis is the new name for the famed former Kafe Warisan. It has since relocated, and changed its name to Metis. More canggih? I don't know. But certainly less than a mouthful. The new location is bigger, but the look almost the same. Open terrace overlooking rice fields. Food is still as ever good! The foie gras - YUM! YUM!

It was indeed a really memorable dinner... good food, good company and some good eye candy!

On Day 2 - We were contemplating to go to either St. Regis or Bulgari to have breakfast. But lazy gals like us decided to just pop over to The Four Seasons. Why need to find breakfast? Aiya...the rate for first night do NOT include breakfast leh. Anyway, I was in charge of our pool money - and on our way out...contemplated if USD 40 was enough for breakfast. They all said it wouldn't be enough. So what do I do? Trott off back to the room to get more money....which again is like going for a marathon. So blardy far.

We walked on the beach from our hotel to The Four Seasons, and then took their buggy to the main restaurant. Happily ordered the fresh juices, coffee, waffles, pancakes etc...

When we got back to the hotel, we continued where we left off at the hotel beach bar. Nice nice...with the sea breeze in your hair, sand in between your toes....

A bummer indeed!

Just got back into town from Bali.
Thought that after my Bali trip with my girlfriends, everything will be better. I've shared my feelings about the miscarriage with the girls. Talked about it to death. Cried enough. Endured the cramps and heavy bleeding.
But. But. A check-up with my obgyn this afternoon revealed that the medication did not expel all the products of conception. The embryo is gone but still lots of blood and the placenta is still in there. Bleah...
Make my mood back to pre-Bali only.
Bleah...
Going into the hospital tomorrow morning to have D&C.
*sigh*

No. I don't mean Los Angeles..... but Bangkok.

Went to Bangkok with Laundryamah last Friday (24th July) for two nights. You could say two nights is both too few and also too many. Too few because we didn't manage to visit many other places other than three shopping malls. Didn't manage to visit any markets. Too many because if it were more days, we would have to declare bankrupt!!! Everywhere was on SALE!!!

This Laundryamah really can SHOP!!!!!!
Waliow! SHOP until almost have no dinner on Saturday nite. All the restaurants were closing and thus refusing more patrons. Almost have to return back to the hotel to make instant noodles! Lucky there were some restaurants near to our hotel that were still open. We had Italian food. Not great but at least kept our tummies full!

This trip is INDEED an expensive one. Not because that I shopped alot BUT because I lost one of my Mikimotos. It was about 6 pm and we were shopping at Siam Paragon when I touched my left ear and discovered that my earring was gone!!!
BOOOOOO HOOOO HOOOO
Sooooooo sad!!!
I must be moaning and groaning like a wailing cat, and irritated the shit out of Laundryamah that she prompted me to replace the lost earring immediately
DING DING DING. Isn't that a great idea?
Surely there is a Mikimoto outlet at Siam Paragon. And yes. There was one!!!
No. They don't sell just one earring. So what did I do?
Bought another pair lor......

More later... DinnerTIME now.

Remember my last trip to Hong Kong during Easter 2008?
I was sick most of the time that we didn't do much... and certainly did not visit the cheapest tourist attraction in HK.
Which is that??
The Star Ferries, of course.I had a glass of Prosecco by the harbour...It was rather refreshing and I could have had a couple more if it weren't for the fact that we had to rush back to the apartment for the Seafood meal that Mr L was preparing..... so.....

For Part 1, go here.

THANK YOU, LADIES

LOVED THEM VERY MUCH!

After dinner, the ladies came over to our apartment. Supposed to take pictures....but we were chatting away till we forgot to take the intended photos.

Oh well...I'm sure there will be a next time.
RIGHT??

Read Sandee's account here.

Thought I should finish all my posts of our USA trip before I fly off to Melbourne in less than 2 weeks time. 

Sunday, 12th October 2008....

Yes. Yes. Very long-winded. Still on Day 2. Continuation from here. We were soooooo 'eaw kui' (hungry ghost) that when the food came, we just whack. The mussels, prawns and crabs.  So...no photos of the yummy seafoods. H did indulge with two glasses of pinot grigio. Me? I had more Chandon bubbly!