Young at Heart

Happy summer, everyone! I spent the weekends with my family and relatives on my father's side in Batangas. My father has six siblings and each has a family of his own so it's really a huge reunion. I even have one niece who has already a daughter. Gosh technically, I'm her grandmother (o.o) It's fun though but I wish I had female cousins who are the same age as me. Most of my cousins are older and male. Anyway, I really admire dad's relationship with his brothers. They remain pretty intact and still hangout despite their other commitments. We get to visit different towns every summer and aside from that, we also make sure to attend our family gatherings and special occasions.

I guess one photo is already good enough to express my love for summer. But forgive my vanity, I can't help but post more photos. For me, no tool still beats the beauty of natural light in enhancing one's photo.

Although I swore to the moon that I can never tolerate the scorching sun, I still and always remain enthusiastic about summer. Summer is so wonderful that it leaves me torn between wanting to enjoy the sun and not wanting to have a sun-kissed skin. But let's face it, even if we use sunscreen and avoid the sun at its peak, we still get tan lines. (But remember, these minimize skin damage!)

I also love summer because it's the perfect season to wear bright colors and short shorts. Yey, skimpy summer outfits and not giving a damn! I also love breezy tops with floral prints which are so in this summer. The one I was wearing was actually made from my unused dress. The old dress was too big with unattractive style but I love its prints so much that I couldn't give it away. I'm happy I was able to revamp it for summer. The old and unused is now my new favorite! I'm sure you guys have clothes too that are lurking at the bottom part of your closet. Revamp them and who knows, you may love their new looks.

My beach experience won't be complete without getting inked! But hey, these are only henna tattoos and will eventually fade after a couple of days. Henna tattoo can last up to two weeks only if the concoction is good and if you don't wash it until it's completely dry. I haven't encountered any but I heard from an artist that there are inks that won't fade until a year. I think I'll have that! I get attracted to tattoos but it doesn't mean I want one for myself. It's a love and hate relationship - I don't want it forever, not especially when I'm older.

Do you love my accessories? The peace sign and thread bracelets are made by yours truly. :D I finally know how to do fishtail braid using threads. I hope I can do well on my hair too.

What I wore: Arm Candy from Nava| DIY Arm Candy| Calvin Klein shorts| revamped crop top| hipster shades from Medley

Look who came with us! It's my 5-month old shihtzu, Shu Qi. (my sister named her after the Taiwanese Hongkong-based superstar). We didn't want to bring her since traveling might exhaust her but there's no one to watch her at home. It turned out pretty well though. She had fun in the beach and even rode the boat. It's also our first time to sleep in bed together. She's so sweet and cute that I couldn't resist her. You should watch her video here :D!

For those who want to bring their pets to vacation, make sure you bring plenty of fluids. Your pet will also want to rest by the time you reach your place so don't fret if he won't eat immediately. I also mentioned that I took Shu Qi for a boat ride. She loved looking at the sea but she got scared of the sound of the motor boat. You may also want to consider that.

How about you guys? How do you dress up for summer? Have you also tried revamping your clothes? Tag me your posts! :D

FOLLOW ME: TWITTER | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN

Day 2 in Bali: Kuta Beach, Nusa Dua and Tegalalang Rice Terraces

I had to be an eager morning person during our subsequent days in Bali so yes, you could imagine me, being reluctant to turn off my alarm clock and resist crawling back under the covers. I had to or else, none of us would bother to wake each other up and we would all miss the glorious morning sun at the beach. It's just that we really wanted to spend time at the beach every morning before our tour. There's still no crowd yet and we got to enjoy Bali like it's our private getaway.

With Adly; Low-tide 'til morning

With Den

Finally, we had a photo together! Thanks to the man who just happened to pass by. 

We couldn't contain our excitement as we left for Nusa Dua, an island known for its various water activities such as parasailing, scuba diving, riding on jet ski, banana boat or fly fish and ocean walking (you'll get to enjoy and walk at the bottom of the sea for 15-30 minutes, wearing helmet supplied with oxygen). Prices range from $35-$80 but they could give good discount if you're going to avail in group or venture atleast two watersports. We couldn't decide yet since they're all fun to try so we headed first to Serangan or Turtle Island.

It's just a few-minute boat ride from Nusa Dua but it already served as an amusement. There's a clear glass beneath the boat so we're able to see a spectacular view of the underwater. We also had a chance to feed these hungry fish.

They 're already huge but wait til you see the rest of the photos.

Turtles look completely harmless but their horned ridges are sharp enough to break off a finger so be careful when feeding one.

They're way heavy! We carried little turtles too and they would continue to swim in air and hit our hands, leaving them painful in a matter of seconds.

Albino turtle

 There's still more to see in the island! Not only the turtles. . .

We had a great time! Well, we must because it's kinda pricey. You have to pay 100, 000 rupia for the two-way boat ride and entrance fee and give donations and tips. They are never compulsory until you reach this island. Donations are fine as long as the money is used for the well-being of the animals but to demand for a certain amount of tip?!  

We finally figured out what suited us best: parasailing

They'll give you instructions so you have to listen well while you're above the skies.

The longest one minute of my life if I estimated it right. . . :DDD

Grilled meat and seafood for the hungry tired souls 

My forever favorite avocado smoothie to quench my thirst

Our next stop was the Tegalalang Rice Terraces. The place is not only exquisite but it is also a representation of the people's creativity and hard work. 

Thanks for reading! It's just the first part of our second day so keep in touch! FOLLOW ME: TWITTER | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN

Part 2: Day 1 in Bali

Hey guys! I'm back for my second post on our first day in Bali. There's no reason to waste time so we managed to visit most tourist spots and still enjoy the beach. You can't say you had a vacation in Bali without visiting the beach. I'll show you our beach adventures on my next post so keep in touch!

Our next stop is the Uluwatu, one of the oldest temple in Bali. Religious groups make pilgrimage in Uluwatu during the three or five-day odalan anniversary where they commemorate the temple's consecration. The Hindus in Bali give their offerings and begin their worship as they place incense sticks on the canang. Canang, a small tray made of coconut leaves, is filled with rice, flowers, fruits and sometimes biscuits. You'll see canang, not only in temples but everywhere in Bali -houses, business centers, seashores and even sidewalks as these have been their daily offerings to their God.  Since odalan is the temple's birthday, expect a festive atmosphere. Uluwatu has also become a famous tourist spot because of its location as it is set on a limestone cliff above the majestic waters. We felt tired after walking the long trail under the scorching sun but it paid off after we reached the edge of the cliff and watched the scenic sunset.

They will make your rent their sarongs if you're not wearing proper attire (bottoms should be below the knees).

There's a small forest called Alas Kekeran and  is inhabited by a number of monkeys. They're actually tame but be wary of your things because these naughty creatures are fond of stealing tourists'stuff. Eyeglasses, hats and key chains are their favorites. You would be surprised on how adept and fast they are; we even saw one monkey snatched a slipper. Hold on tightly to your stuff, otherwise, make sure you have something edible with you. They return things in exchange for food. Now, what is clever?!

The next perfect place to go and have dinner is Jimbaran Bay. After a few-minute drive from Uluwatu,  you'll get to see beachfront seafood restaurants where you can buy seafood in kilo and have it cooked in your preferred way. Sounds like our dampa in the Philippines. Fire dance and Kecak dance will leave you entertained while waiting for food to be served. Good food, cool breeze, picturesque beach and awesome company- who would not call this night perfect?

I haven't blogged about on how to pack your stuff when traveling in a tropical country like Jakarta. I may not be able to do so but I would love to give some advice about the importance of planning. No matter how long and where you are having your vacation, make sure you never fail to plan. Though it sometimes seems fun to go with the flow and get lost in time, it will still be enjoyable and at the same time, practical, if you stick with your schedule. We actually missed the sunset in Tanah Lot, one the most famous scenic views to watch out while in Bali, because we stayed more time in the gold jewelry workplace and rice terraces. Also, planning will keep your trip hassle-free as you will learn what to anticipate.

With travel blogs and search engines, it becomes convenient to gain information and feedback about various tourist spots, helping you to decide which are to include in your itinerary. You'll find out which places and experiences are worth to venture while there are some that you can postpone especially if there's time constraint.

Thanks for reading! Make sure you have read the part one of my post.

FOLLOW ME: TWITTER | TUMBLR | BLOGLOVIN

Day 1: Getting to Know the Balinese Culture

After a day in Jakarta, we flew to Bali, a leading tourist destination known for its beauty and rich culture. Filled with excitement, we thought about island hopping but the one island that we wanted to visit is too distant and would take much of our time. We also thought about going to Ketut, the fortune teller in the movie "Eat, Pray, Love" but we had to give up that destination since it's too far from the place we stayed. Despite that, we had the most of our vacation and I'll tell you, there's a lot to marvel in Bali.

 

If there's one thing that made me love Bali a few minutes after we set foot on the island, it's their Chicken Satay! The succulent dish is quite spicy yet  too delicious especially when dipped in peanut sauce. I'm really fond of spicy food so even though most Balinese dishes are new to us, I find them really appetizing.

 

Babi Guling, also known as suckling pig is a roasted pig stuffed with spices. Ubud, Bali is famous for it and most tourists would not leave the island without trying this specialty.

20-meter  tall copper statue of Wisnu

Lotus Pond

We headed first to Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park which is a few minutes drive from the airport. The tourist attraction didn't only leave us mesmerized of its vast expanse and towering statues but it also showed how the Balinese are able to preserve and cultivate their heritage.

Statue of Wisnu

The statue of Wisnu is an illustration of their God. Known as the source of wisdom, they also believe that He is their creator and caretaker.

Statue of Garuda

Garuda is a giant bird that serves as Wisnu's companion and transportation. It symbolizes freedom  and selfless devotion.



We savored our time looking at these huge dramatic rocks. Very picturesque.

Gotta emote a little

With Adly

With Den

Gamelan, Indonesian traditional musical instruments

Before finally leaving the place, we were able to watch their cultural show. It's a series of traditional dances, showcasing the rich culture and strong religion of the Balinese.

 

After the show, we had a chance to take photos with the performers and try their instruments.

 

When I first saw this creature, i thought it's similar to the Chinese dragon but it's actually a half dog, half lion. The mystical creature named Barong, is said to be the Lord of the forest and protector of the Balinese villages.

Barong Dance

These two ladies performed the Legong dance which is characterized by facial expressions and intricate finger movements. These finger movements or dancing fingers later became a technique in massaging, another thing Bali is famous for. I'll be blogging a separate detailed post about the cultural dance and the story behind it.

That's the part one of our first day in Bali. I hope you had fun! I have more to share so just keep in touch. :)

Follow my blog with Bloglovin