Travel - Lobong Cooking Class in Ubud; Don't miss it!

Have you tried a cooking class in Bali?

I just did one in Ubud for my holiday and it totally blow me away! At first I was quite worried that we need to cook 7 dishes! *swallow saliva* But with the guidance of the chef, all was good and I felt like a pro at the end! hehehe.

The tour started with a local market tour, and from the tour I learnt so much more about the Balinese culture as the guide explained to us!

This is the locals' fast food. Solid.

The traditional Warung, like a food stall cum provision shop!

Below are some pictures of the market and I find them so colourful that I did a series in my instagram - Colours of a Balinese Market!

The guide brought us around to show us what were the ingredients needed for our cooking.

The veggie stall

The spices

Fruits stall

Flowers for Balinese ceremonial rituals.

They have huat kueh for offerings too!

The Auntie in red was jokingly telling us she blended in with the flowers. hehe. Friendly souls we met!

My thoughts: To know one's culture, one should visit a local market.

After a good tour, we proceeded to the owner's house for the cooking class but before the start, the guide brought us around the house and explained to us some interesting things about a traditional Balinese home!

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Rocks outside the Eldest house, which is situated in the North of the compound, it represented the number of children they have!

This (rice) storage represented wealth in the olden Balinese culture. 

We witnessed the making of coconut oil!

Then, cooking begins!!

The ingredients!

Making of peanut sauce.

Making of Kare Ayam, braised chicken leg in coconut sauce.

The boiling of the soup - Cram Cam Gedag Mekuah (Papaya, mince chicken, crispy shallots)

Sate Lilit Ayam, to go with peanut sauce which we made!

Jukut Urab (Mixed vegetables, grated coconut garlic chilli dressing)

The dessert - Dadar Gulung

Not to forget, we spent 1 hour 15 minutes to cook the sweet potato rice!!! *gasped*

After ALL the cooking, we were even showed how the Balinese will have their offerings done before a meal and I followed the owner's mum into their family temple and took a look! =))

After we were done, our food were presented to us beautifully! OMG!!

We were guided to our seats while they served us the fruits of our labour!! I felt as if I was in a fine dining restaurant!!

The souvenir is a bottle of coconut oil! So nice of them!

I really really enjoyed myself and I think this cooking class is definitely worth a try when you are in Ubud men!!! It was one way that made me know Bali more (than just a beach/diving/sea activities vacation)!

Website: http://lobongcooking.com/

The cost of the class: Rp 412,500 (S$44) and it includes everything!

Purposeful Traveller - Good stuff must share!

Travel - My first overseas volunteering experience

Yes, this is considered my FIRST ever overseas volunteering experience. I always envy my sister for having the opportunity to do that during her poly years and when I was in my previous workplace, there were occassions of such but I missed it due to many reasons. 往事不堪回首。

Therefore it has always been in my dream list to go for such trips. God hears the desires of my heart and I was presented with this lifetime experience opportunity at this (old) age. LOL. Thank God. 

One of my dreams fulfilled, and it was fulfilled with one bunch of awesome kids! =) 

Though I was not directing doing the things as the kids were supposed to be the ones doing it. I really tried so hard to control myself, tried so hard not to step in because this experience belongs to them. But other than that, I was glad to be part of this whole experience. Everyone contributes, small or big. =)

Here was how the day went:

Morning assembly. They even did a banner to welcome us.

This group of kids teaching English. 

The kids really give them face. LOL. I guess because we were NEW faces to them. >.<

She looked at me, and then returned to write the words that were taught. Aww...

Thank God we brought the giant story book!

The dance team, the kids went a little haywire but well! All had fun! hahaha

The Art&Craft team. Personally I love the photo frame our kids intended for the kids to learn. Very nice.

Look at how attentive and captivated they are!

Every kid gets to bring home what they have done. =))

While 3 teams were busy teaching, 2 other teams were involved in Mural painting. I think they were amazing, the vendor did not provide them with black paint and I was sooooo glad to see them making do with what they had and did an incredible job! =')

One of the walls. Sketches done by one student. As requested by the school, they wanted something "Singapore" and so they sketched this.

The other side.

The painting began.

End product. 

Since its outside the library, we decided on "Reading is fun"

I am truly proud of them for what they have done. Truly.

After all these were done, the kids served lunch to the local students then we did 2 home visits. Yes, we had language barriers and the kid is too young to make any "chim" interpretations for us. Nonetheless, we had fun and we gave some groceries to the families we visited.

I love this girl, she has a contagious laughter and she is really adorable. She is 11 years old.

When we went back and were getting ready to leave, all the kids stood around and waved goodbye.

I shall end this entry with this picture. This journey was so beautiful, even the flowers at the roadside were. I am grateful, grateful for this journey and all the beautiful moments I had. What more can I say, thank God for all these.

Purposeful Traveller - I will keep this experience close to my heart.

Travel - Elephant Trek, I did it again.

In 2011, I did an elephant trek in Phuket. I remembered clearly the feeling I had when I finished the trek and I made a decision not to do elephant trek ever again. It was not a pleasant feeling, I just felt that this shouldn't be what elephants do? I couldn't really explain that feeling. Just felt sad. 

Anyway, when I knew the itinerary for this trip included this activity, I really dreaded the day but I knew I did not really have a choice.

And so, the day came.

However, things were slightly different this time round? There were many thoughts running through my mind after some explanation by the guide.

Before I explain further, perhaps some pictures? =p

Feeding of elephants.

The start of performance.

They were trained to draw, yes this elephant painted that. (Tell your friend beside you, if the elephant can draw, so can you. Quick, say it!)

After performance was an oxcart ride before we went back to the base by elephant trek.

Snippet of the trek

And so the elephant trek ended.

Here are some of my thoughts after some "enlightenment" by the guide.

Elephants were roaming freely in Chiangmai long time ago and were destroying the crops because they eat a lot. Therefore to improve the situation, they were gathered in Elephant camps where they were trained to perform and do the "trek" for tourists in order to generate income to feed themselves, so in a way, they earned their own living. 

Well, this was what the guide told us and to me, it made some sense. Perhaps it is an excuse to make myself feel better but still it has its points. 

There was a reflection done at the end of the day and I shared what was the question I had in mind, my question was "How did the elephant feel?" I knew this question cannot be answered unless I have some super power or something, but one thing I learned from this experience was that.... isn't it good to earn your own living? 

Different people live their lives differently, they have their own ways of earning a living. If that was the way of survival, so be it unless someone else can provide a better option if not so be it. 

Well, it is just some thoughts I have in my mind. =)

Let me end this entry with an awesome view when I did the oxcart ride. hee

Purposeful Traveller - Make the best out of every situation.