When you can't have a vacation....

I rarely do staycation because personally I think with the same amount of money I can go for a 2D1N holiday somewhere nearby in Malaysia. 

Nevertheless, I tried it out for the first time and I really enjoyed myself! It was supposed to be a birthday celebration cum "holiday" for 4 of us! My friend managed to bake a strawberry shortcake the day before upon birthday girl's request and thanks to lunnieah, the birthday cake box was beautifully decorated! =))

Anyway after some research, I booked Dorsett Hotel for $175++, the location was awesome because it is within walking distance from the MRT and the CNY market, yet it is situated slightly away from the buzz so it was relatively quiet at night! 

We got a room on the 7th floor!

We figured that was a door bell! Cool!

Cozy looking room with fluffy beds and pillows!

We watched 2.5 movies on the HBO channel. LOL. Slacking our day in the room!

View from our room!

View from the roof top garden~

Another PLUS point about Dorsett is that there are plenty eateries around the hotel! We went down and there is a cafe there! We walked around the hotel and spotted this Irish Pub serving affordable set lunch and we had our lunch there!

Potato & Leek Soup~ Yum

$12.80/$15.80 nett for main course, drink and soup!

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I pretended I was overseas. Hahaha.

We headed to Cityhall by MRT to visit Public Garden before going to supermarket to buy our dinner! We randomly decided to Lou Hei (we bought the Salmon Yu Sheng for $33.80, not bad!) and have a sushi dinner! =)

Then of course we celebrated the birthday, the prank with inextinguishable candles nearly freak us out with the smoke they produced! We panicked for awhile, thinking if the smoke will activate the smoke sensors!! LOL! 

We headed to CNY market only at 1am! The streets were much quieter and I could take a good picture of the CNY decorations (I was tempted to stand on the road to take a closer picture, tempted.)

Love the colours of CNY!

Because of the awesome location, we were able to have our brunch at The Plain cafe the next morning (@ Craig Road) which is nearby the hotel too.

This staycation was awesome and memorable because of the people and I must say that the location is fantastic especially during pre-CNY season! =D

Purposeful Traveller - A staycation to consider......

Travel - How about cycling in Ubud?

The warmth from the morning sun, the cooling wind because of the altitude and a breathtaking breakfast view. This was the beginning of our cycling tour and the route is in the suburb of Ubud.

Mount Batur

Breakfast view that I was talking about.

Had a coffee plantation visit before our bikes were fixed and off we went. Mainly down slopes, I chose to do the cycling tour with Happy Bike Tour because it has a rather easy terrain and is reasonably priced. But don't mistaken me, easy doesn't mean boring, in fact some of the down slopes were pretty scary and I had to be quite alert. 

We had several pit stops and guide explained to us more about Bali's culture. 

Listen intently

A community temple in the small village we passed by.

Paddy fields

Another community temple that just had a major ceremony

Last pit stop before we chiong for a short journey of UP slope. 

Besides all the awesome views, what I love about the tour was seeing the locals in their daily lives. Visited a traditional Balinese home, kids were running around and granny was doing her chores. Along the roads, kids would run out and wave to us (nearly lost control of my bike when I wanted to wave back at them, lol)

The cycling tour ended in 2 hours and we had a delicious lunch in the owner's house. Forget about all the restaurants in Ubud centre that sell Balinese food. I really feel in a traditional Balinese house is where you can find the yummiest Balinese food. It was so delicious that I had to have 2 helpings. hee.

Everything was included in the tour and it costs only Rp 350 000 nett (SGD 38). *gasp*

Ending off with a panorama view of Mount Batur

Purposeful Traveller - Cycled in Ubud!

2014 Resolution

When we get older, our resolution gets simpler. That is my resolution for 2014, and I believed all things will work towards fulfilling this resolution.

Purposeful Traveller - Travel is my life!

Why I love this movie

Photo source: http://www.waltermitty.com/posters/

I don't exactly remember when was the last time a movie made me had such strong emotions but this movie definitely stirred my emotions about living my dream.

Sometimes in life, events crippled our courage, that courage to step into the unknown, to step out and reach out to the life we want to live.

Perhaps I am in that transition again. I don't want to be stuck in this race of life that I cannot get out. I want to do what I love, and I want to do it passionately. I want to travel, I want to see the world, I want to dream again.

Life is about courage and going into the unknown.

To see the world,

Things dangerous to come to,

To see behind walls,

To draw closer and feel each other, that is the purpose of life.

Life, is dedicated to the people who made it happened.

I want to stop dreaming and start living my dream.

Purposeful Traveller -  I want to be a purposeful traveller, that is life.

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!