Arrived in Singapore

Back to reality with a two week *internship* at Hwee-Chee's import and online/warehouse sales business.  Mainly Women's clothing; a lot of bra and panties. 

First stop is my home for 2 weeks at Hwee-Chee's aunt Olivia's place.  Nicely placed right across the street from the ever so efficient Singapore MRT, she has a great big apartment and has made it into a beautiful home.  Hwee-Chee took me through an intensive study of all the house rules and then I got the keys.

Hwee-Chee and the cat

Olivia...whom I met only one time before 11 years earlier.  Hope I can keep her happy for two weeks.

This is the place for a dinner party

Bars on the windows to keep the inmates in

Good thing I am well trained in keeping the kitchen tidy

Almost drowned in Indonesia....

Had a few beers at the beach and then instead of going home as planned had to pee really bad so went for a swim.

After crashing around in the waves for awhile thought I would see how far out I could swim.  Well you know the rest...but I got back....phew...

It is only when you realize you may be close to drowning that you really get into trouble.  

Now I have locked myself into my little hotel room and will have an early night.  Tomorrow I head for Singapore where I will be put to work for two weeks.  Can't wait for a *normal* regular routine.

Have to say, though, Indonesia is a heck of place.  Friendliest people.

It is a very big country and I only saw a small part of it, would of liked to travel around a bit more as originally planned, but am happy with what I was able to experience. 

A lot of backpackers are always on the go trying to see everything and anything, but I'm just a bit more of a regular traveller I suppose and enjoy being lazy also and look forward to reading books and enjoying the luxury of being away and somewhere different; it is very peaceful to have this time to myself.

It wouldn't of been the same experience without Rina Jr. and Rina Sr. taking the time to show me around Jakarta and opening my eyes to that giant city.  It made all the difference and started my travels off on the right footing.

Makes you think about becoming Vegetarian

Ubud, Bali

Spent 4 days in Ubud, Bali.....probably should of spent more time at Padang Bai or some other laid back beach town....but instead I'm in tourist central.  It is ok because Bali delivers and everywhere is special.  

Stayed in a guesthouse that may have been the highest building in Ubud and they had a wonderful common area deck on the 4th floor where I read many books and drank tea.

Located in the center of rice paddies, and with windows open 24/7 as there was no A/C, you would spend your time listening to the relative quiet of countless Cicadas and other very noisy creatures.  I could not imagine a bug being able to make so much noise.

Rented a motorbike for a couple of days and took long drives into the countryside until the road petered out and I had to go back so not to get lost.  I'm pretty tall and lanky for a scooter and it wasn't so easy riding in traffic.  Riding over a bumpy path through the guest house rice paddy and put my foot down in the field for balance and got a very big surprise....and now I know how deep and sticky the mud is.  Must be pretty hard working those rice fields.

Read one of my favorite books so far...."The Giant" by Hilary Mantel.  Good book to read if you are not satisfied with your path in life.

Spent a lot of time enjoying the view...which is even better at night time when the symphony starts

The guesthouse fields

There was a very good busy Italian restaurant on my street....and I ate here 5 times!

Have to go the Monkey Jungle in Ubud!!  Finally got my first mosquito bite

This guy had attitude

No one is shy in the Monkey Jungle....and if you have bananas you better watch out

5 seconds later this guy was taking a piece out of my ankle

 

Germans everywhere...my guesthouse was all Germans.  Very friendly.

Working on the Pergola....

Next day.....work continues....

Day 3 and it is time to take a weekend break

So frickin' hot it was a good idea to shave my head

Art, music, and religion...you are surrounded by it in Bali.

For sure Indonesia is one of the friendliest countries I have ever visited.  An amazingly large population of 247 million people who know how to get along with a smile and acts of kindness.

Lombok to Padang Bai

Took the ferry back to Padang Bai from Lombok - this time it took 4 hours and was a much bigger ship.  It is a great place to chat with the locals and relax.

Padang Bai is a pretty nice place to stop and I stayed here one night.  There is a rough rocky road behind the hostel that goes to a beautiful sandy beach with lots of surf.  I almost had to swim back to town as a large wave tried to take my sandal out to sea.

Motorcycle is the transportation of choice for those without cars...not much people ride the bus around here

Loading up the bottom deck

You have to climb a metal ladder to get to the next level.....stairs are on the other side of the ferry

Leaving Lombock

Vendors come on board to sell yummy chicken and rice lunches

Nengah Sujati...the Butterfly Man

Taken from a newspaper......As with the butterfly, initially probably never have guessed that the beautiful animal it came from was the caterpillar. And so Nengah Sujati likens himself.

"As the classic phrase in the English language, do not judge a book by its cover.  Do not judge someone from the outside," says Sujati.

Very friendly fellow....the beauty of the slow ferry is the passengers

If you arrive late you sit outside....inside are luxury chairs and air conditioning.  I was happy to just have a seat as I was last on the ferry

Arriving in Padang Bai

Disembarking

Padang Bai street

Room service !

This #%^@er was outside my window at 6am calling to the hens

I'd be better off if they didn't include breakfast at every hostel and hotel....and Indonesian butter is to die for.  Diet coming soon in Singapore (as if that is possible ;)

On the rocky road to the beach

The most beautiful beach

One of these waves stole my sandal

Back on the bus...heading for Ubud

Short visit to Lombok

Make your own breakfast soup....so delicious

Somehow Expedia got me deal for a luxury hotel in Mataram, Lombok for a couple of nights.  Ok so I couldn't afford to do any of the excursions to see the beauty of Lombok, but I did have a pool, a gym, a beautiful comfortable bed, awesome shower, and the best breakfast buffet.  I recharged my batteries, read my book far too long, and wandered around.  Saw a local beach, a local tourist beach, and a tourist beach....and the contrast of each of those beaches was my best experience on Lombok

Very beautiful Mosque at the break of day

Local beach restaurant....the main course runs around out back

Everyone off the "bus"...we are at the beach. 

Beach boys

No swimsuits here....just jump in

It was a long weekend in Indonesia

Beautiful beach

Riding the bemo....should of negotiated the price before I jumped on

Mataram street

I was here a long time trying to negotiate a taxi price

Whole roast chicken....there was at least 1 tablespoon of meat on that bird

Beautiful Mosque at sunset