Birthday In Bali: Places To Go & Things To Do
DAY 1: After weeks of extensive research and organizing, Charles and I finally made it to Bali and stayed at Villa Capung, located at Bukit Jimbaran - a little far out from everything else but the villa was amazing and we had such a great time there with our group of friends.
The private pool, right next to our room
Living room
Master bedroom
DAY 2: Menega Cafe is the usual spot I'd go to for dinner in Jimbaran but it was PACKED that night so we settled for the restaurant next to it, Bela Seafood and it was just as good. Seafood dinner at Jimbaran is a definite must-do when you visit Bali. A friend from New York mentioned that the price of the meal we had for 4 people on the first night at Menega Cafe (IDR550.000/USD60) does not even make up for a dinner date for 2 in NY.
DAY 3: A lot of pro surfers come to Bali for its awesome waves. It's a great place to learn surfing if it interests you. Try catching a wave!
We celebrated Charles' birthday in the villa and to make it easier for everyone, the theme was 'Halloween Part II'. We had 2 sexy chefs, a 'shady white guy', a sexy police officer, a Jedi, slave Princess Leia, a zombie, sexy school girl, flower boy and a chippendale dancer!
Dinner was prepared by the maid at our villa. The cost of the food is calculated from the total price of the groceries + 30% labor fee. The food was excellent and it only cost about USD22 per person.
I ordered the Chocolate Devil cake from BaliDeli.net for Charles. He just turned 26 on December 20th. They actually meant to write 'Happy 26th Birthday Buttmunch', but instead mispelt it as 'Buttmuch' instead. It's a little nickname we sometimes call each other. I'm sure the word speaks for itself! They totally forgot about the candles but we got him to blow out a tealight candle instead..
After dinner, I surprised Charles with a 20-minute compilation video of his childhood photos and over 20 of his friends who sent in clips wishing him a happy birthday.
DAY 4: The next day, we went on a 2-hour road trip to Ubud for white water rafting along the Ayung River. It costs about USD79 per person, including villa pick-up service, insurance and a buffet lunch A great deal indeed! Everyone loved it.
Check out Sobek if you're keen.
Bumbu Bali is a traditional Balinese restaurant, otherwise known as a 'Waroeng' (meaning traditional hut in Indonesian), and is located in Nusa Dua. They also provide cooking lessons if you're interested in learning how to cook traditional Balinese/Indonesian food! This was where Charles first tried Sour Sop juice and fell in love. Poor guy has been missing out on all the good stuff. I introduced him to Horlicks too! Next, chin chow aka grass jelly drink - another one of my favorite sugary drink.
DAY 5: Everyone else left early on the last day in Bali but we booked a later flight so we could actually spend time together on his actual birthday. We went to Hard Rock Cafe in Kuta, where I got the waiters to surprise him and sing him a birthday song (equipped with traditional Balinese instruments!). He finally got to blow out proper birthday candles this time.
Happy birthday, baby.
If you liked this post or have any other recommendations or favorite spots that you liked in Bali, do leave your comments and share your finds!
I’m Back From Bali!
I was in Bali for 9 days with my parents and nephew to visit Martini, who had just moved there permanently. She got a sweet villa in Canggu, which is an 8 minute walk to Berawa beach and has invited me to come over anytime...
Lucky me!
I took tons of photos of Dragon (my cousin) on this trip... Look at this troublemaker -
Martini, Dragon, my mom & I...
Sunset on Berawa beach...
I'll be back in Bali in 2 weeks for Charles' birthday. We're going with 10 other friends and staying at a luxurious villa near Jimbaran. Hiking, rafting, surfing and PARTYING... I can't wait!
Now, gotta get this butt back in the gym.
Sand On My Butt!
I'm going to Bali For 9 days for a long overdue vacation with just my parents and my little nephew to visit Martini who has just moved there permanently. Woohoo! Going to reminisce about the time I went there early this year with Charles ♥
Can't wait to wake up to the sound of the ocean and go for a morning run on the beach.
My Top 3 Favorite Eating Spots In KL So Far…
Since I moved to KL, it's been a challenge to find healthy and/or organic restaurants to eat in town. I've been forced to cook for myself just so I can make sure that I'm eating healthy. It's so easy to overeat when you're dining out, and I'm always tempted to order dessert (even before my actual meal). Local food here (and in Asia generally) isn't just delicious, there's such a wide variety of choices and most are relatively cheap, especially if you're dining at a local spot. I love good food and there's no doubt that you can find that anywhere in Malaysia, but what's better than good food? Good, healthy food.
#1 The Yogitree
My friend to me to The Yogitree organic restaurant (The Gardens Mall, next to Isetan) the other day for lunch. Focusing on 'real food', they use only freshest, natural and largely organic ingredients so you get healthier and better tasting food that's good for you.
""Our food is fresh, natural, and incredibly tasty, whether a fresh salad or a hot mud cake! From hot sausages to a garden salad, any dish can be healthy if cooked correctly with the right ingredients."
Their duck salad was an absolute winner in my books. Sweet, juicy and absolutely delicious. I've also tried the 'Carbonara With Bacon, Mushroom, Egg and Smoked Salmon' (they prepared it the authentic Roman way, so no cream). I love cream pasta, except for their high caloric and fat value. This particular Carbonara pasta isn't as thick and creamy as how I usually like it. It's healthier of course, but I personally think it's a different taste altogether and still prefer the creamy way!
Dishes I would recommend:
1. Steak Sandwich with chilld Australian grain fed beef (RM27)
2. Duck and Pear Salad with organic Toasted Black Sesame (RM23)
3. Al Funghi with mushrooms and ceps in light cream sauce, dash of truffle oil (RM23)
I would also recommend trying out the juices (RM12 each). The two I've tried and liked are 'Peak Performer' and 'Wheatgrass Wonder'. If you like Cedele (Singapore), you'll like Yogitree. You can download the rest of the menu here.
#2 Alexis
I had a great dining experience during my first time at Alexis Bistro+Restaurant and have since been a frequent visitor to this chic spot that's conveniently located at my favorite mall in KL - The Gardens. I don't remember the names of the dishes I ordered before and they don't seem to have a menu on their website but I do remember having the duck confit and it was love at first bite. Sweet, succulent and juicy - just the way I like it.The salads are tasty too, and served with a good portion of greens. Worth checking out, or bringing your date to 
#3 Delicious Restaurant
One of the reasons why I go to Delicious a lot is because you can easily find at 3 prime locations - Mid Valley, Bangsar Village & One Utama. Everything on the menu is good - from salads to pasta and desserts especially! Other restaurants I've been to and liked are The Apartment (KLCC) and La Bodega (Bangsar). You can find me at any one of these places if you're lucky! 
F1 Weekend In Singapore – 4 Nights Of Partying
I was back in Singapore between 23rd-26th September for the F1 weekend and pretty much partied on all 4 nights! The Singapore F1 Grand Prix seems to get better and better each year with more celebrities, glamorous events and race dramatics (Headline News: Lewis Hamilton unharmed after crash in Singapore Grand Prix).
To start things off, I went to Marina Bay Sands for the first time on Thursday evening to celebrate Tashination.com 's birthday at her suite with some of our close friends.
DAY 1 - Birthday @ Marina Bay Sands / Avalon At Large GO! Festival
Pre-party snacks - Fresh fruits, mixed nuts, chocolates (compliments from the hotel) garlic bread, various dips and toppings and of course, Doritos!
With my girl friends: Selina S., Michelle T., Dawn Yang, Natasha Chiam, Anna Cortez and Claire Yang.
Selina, Tashi and I went up to the roof to check out Ku De Ta and the stunning view of the city lights. It was spectacular.
Now this would have been a perfect shot if it wasn't for that man in leopard print Speedos...
We then headed down to the Sands Expo And Convention Center next to Marina Bay Sands for Avalon At Large Go! Festival. Even my friends from KL came down to Singapore to party!
Some of the line-up for Thursday's performances included: Santigold > Major Lazer > Steve Angello > Flo-Rida > Steve Aoki > Above and Beyond
Going a little crazy...
Waiting for Flo-Rida's performance.
The place was jam-packed! It was basically like a huge garage filled with 'party animals'.
Flo-Rida!
Flo-Rida performed for about 1 1/2 hours, interacting actively with the crowd, giving out huge lollipops and getting girls to dance on stage. He was an awesome performer and sure knew how to work the crowd. So full of energy.
With my friend Tida Wei, visiting from Bangkok. Flo-Rida is performing right behind us! I love how the Singapore GP brings everyone from around the globe to Singapore... it is truly a unique experience to watch a night race right in the center of town. It's worth the trip! If you haven't done it, do it next year...
Steve Aoki took over the decks after Flo-Rida's performance. I stayed on for less than an hour and had to give 'Above And Beyond' a miss as they were starting much later and I was already so tired...
* * * * *
DAY 2 - Meet & Greet with Jenson Button at The Conrad Centennial / Podium Lounge / Filter Club
Darryl David (the host of the media interview) and James Thompson, chief marketing officer, Diageo Asia Pacific. James presented the new Johnnie Walker Step Inside campaign for 2010 and shared with us an exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the life of Formula1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.
The videos will take you through the luxurious lifestyles of Jenson and Lewis.
Watch the 'Step Inside' trailer here and anticipate the release of the other episodes!
Master of Whisky Kevin Chang led through a House of Walker whisky mentorship and tasting.
Tasting the unique differences between Johnnie Walker Black Label, Green Label, Gold Label and Blue Label...
Although the JW Black Label will always be a classic favorite, out of the lot, I liked Gold Label the best for its smoothness and sweet character. It even came served in a special round ice ball to bring out more flavor.
I was so thrilled when I heard that the first question Jenson was going to answer was about health, fitness and training!
"(F1 drivers) got to keep their weight as low as possible. I'm 1.83m (tall) and I weigh about 70kg. We do a lot of work on our necks because of the g-force when making a turn in corners. It involves some strange neck training and one of them is having my physiotherapist put a towel around my neck and he stands back and pulls it (quite hard) so I'm not actually using weights on my neck, which could be dangerous."
"Triathlons to me is something fun. I was in Japan last weekend and practiced swimming and cycling in the humidity to get used to it for this race (Singapore GP)."
Of course he was in Japan... Jenson Button's gorgeous girlfriend, Jessica Michibata (Argentinian & Japanese parentage) is a distinguished model in Japan. I love her editorials in 'Glamorous' magazine. Some say she's like the Giselle Bundchen of Japan.
Do you see the resemblance?
* * * * *
I went to the Podium Lounge on Friday night which held the pool side of the Ritz Carlton. The place was very nice with the pool setup but there wasn't much happening at the event itself as most of the crowd was probably still watching the race!
After Podium Lounge, I caught up with some friends at Filter Members Club (next to Gallery Hotel).
Filter is debuted as Singapore's only private club and had recently just opened a few months ago. It was my first time there but with friends like these, I felt right at home
They played Hip-Hop and Old School that night (HUSH Fridays) and are expected to play Mashups on Saturdays (Bangers & Mash Saturdays).
* * * * *
DAY 2 - Johnnie Walker Jet Black Party (Saturday) / Filter Club (again!)
I attended another Johnnie Walker event! This time in Singapore. The Johnnie Walker Jet Black party was held at One on The Bund (Fullerton Bay Hotel).
The exclusive, invite-only party packed more than 1000+ guests that filled the dancefloor and outdoor area.
It was a little humid outdoors but the view of the city lights were amazing.
DJ Andrew T spinning our favorite tracks!
Guest mixologist, Joel Fraser whipping up a storm at the bar.
With Gustino, from Hong Kong. He was also at the Johnnie Walker Black Circuit Lounge party in KL. Yes, my friends from all over the globe make special arrangements just to attend Johnnie Walker parties. True friends and fans indeed!
The VIP bar was stocked up!
My girls were still in party mood so we decided to go to Filter again on Saturday night! Talk about party animals!
* * * * *
DAY 4 - Johnnie Walker Jet Black Party (Sunday)
The Jet Black Party was a 2-day event (Saturday and Sunday). While more people attended Saturday's party, Sunday felt like the official after-party of the F1 race because everyone needed a drink after all the drama on the final race!
Lovin' the Scottish pride, boys!
♥
All partied out. Back to KL with my ♥
Like Cupcakes? You’ll Love ‘Delectable’ by Su
I had lunch with a new friend from KL the other day, Su-Yin, at Midvalley mall. She started up and runs 'Delectable', where you can find custom-made wedding cakes and cupcakes. I was never really a huge fan of cupcakes... until recently. Su brought me one of her outlets, at the Gardens Mall (near to Robinsons) where she housed all the pretty cupcakes and other yummies. It was hard to resist seeing all the beautiful cupcakes knowing it wasn't just pretty, it was edible! So, I took the plunge.
I LOVE the packaging! Su designed everything herself 
3 cute little cupcakes for RM28
I tried the frog cupcake first because it had peanut butter and raspberry jam filling in it and I simply love that combo.
My intention was only to have a couple of bites and throwing the rest away, thinking "If I don't waste it, I'll waist it." But IT WAS SO DELICIOUS, I ended up eating the whole thing! I can see why people love cupcakes so much now... I'm saving the other two for tomorrow.
Su insisted that I tried her layered cake with prune after I told her how much I loved the one from Bengawan Solo. (Do they have that here in KL?)
Verdict: Charles & I devoured the layered cake last night while watching a movie. It was even his first time ever trying it. There are only 4 little pieces left in the fridge. It was that good.
I'll be coming back for more, Su!
* * * * *
If you have a sweet tooth, pop by 'Delectable' at The Gardens Mall or Pavilion Mall for some tea/coffee and cupcakes! I highly recommend it
Delectable by Su
Designer Cakes & More
S213 The Gardens Mall
Midvalley City, Lingkaran
Syed Putra, 59200 KL
012.508.1855
Delectable by Su
Treats
P6.03.00 Pavilion Mall
Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 KL
03.2144.5157
Be sure to check out her website, http://delectable.com.my/
Making A Difference: Learning To Be Green
Last year, my aunt Martini, who is also my muse (she opened my eyes to the world of healthy living), gave birth to her first child, Dragon, at the age of 39. She lives in Florida but came to Singapore months before labor for its good healthcare system.
Singapore is ranked #6 in the World Health Organization. It currently has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world (equaled only by Iceland) and among the highest life expectancies from birth, according to the World Health Organization.
Martini gave birth to Dragon in a tub (water birth) at NUH last year on August 13th 2009. No drugs. No epidural. Just natural birth. That made baby Dragon a certified organic baby!
(Left) Within the first hour of child birth.
Dragon & I.
Martini and Dragon went back to Florida a few weeks after he was born but came back to Singapore for his 1st birthday. She admitted wishing she had tried to have kids sooner. Now who would've thought? Martini has always been this bad ass who's always up for an adventure and extremely strong-minded. Like I said, she's my muse. I thought she'd think that having a kid was a total waste of youth and time. Well it seems she's found her softer side. Next to Hello Kitty and cycling, of course.
The family loves Japanese food.
Happiest baby ever.
I caught up with Dragon & Martini a couple of weeks back during a short visit to Singapore. He is so big now, compared to the last time I saw him when he was just a baby!
The main reason why I'm writing about Dragon (besides the fact that he is absolutely adorable and how I admire his mom for her strength) is because of what Martini has planned for him in terms of education. The family is planning to move to Bali so Dragon can grow up there and attend the Green School. Green School is an amazing project, pioneering sustainability within education. It is pushing boundaries in schooling at a time when the world must review whether more of the same is acceptable.
If you watch the video, you will learn that the kids attending the school love that they are being surrounded by nature, not by the concrete walls of regular schools. They are being taught to love and nurture their environment while learning the essential core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science so they will have doors open to them for whichever kinds of further learning and careers that they choose.
"If we are to believe just a small proportion of the statistics we are hearing and seeing about the destruction of our planet, individuals need to take a more responsible approach – and education is the key starting point. Our aim is to develop responsible and green habits in these young people which will be with them for life."
"Being at one with nature – in these classrooms without walls – has a huge and positive impact on the learning process. It positively affects the quality of relationships, the way that people conduct and behave with sensitity to each other, and it helps those youngsters who are easily distracted in conventional classrooms to focus much more easily on their tasks – there are plenty of distractions at Green School but they are natural distractions which are acceptable to, and not in conflict with concentration."
Students and their parent on the first day of school.
"Given the economic mess that our world has created in recent times, an education system which produces more of the same is not going to work. Something has to change, and Green School is at the cutting edge therefore of being able to do things differently."
"An education at Green School is preparation for Green Leadership of tomorrow. Our students will be the confident generation that wants to, and can, make a difference."
This is definitely something worth sharing and bringing to light. It's for the future. It's for your kids and your grandchildren. What do you want them to learn about Earth?
Share this with someone you know.
Johnnie Walker Black Circuit Lounge Party in Kuala Lumpur
STEP INSIDE THE BLACK CIRCUIT FOR THE PARTY OF THE YEAR
The Black Circuit Lounge was held on August 28, 2010 at the Swedish Marque (a Volvo showroom) which became the spot for the ultimate Johnnie Walker party.
An exclusive party brimming with illustrious figures of the Malaysian music, motoring, business and entertainment industries with prominent A-List celebrity faces amongst the 700-strong star studded crowd.
What a fantastic idea! Who would've thought about turning a car showroom into a private, classy club lounge?
This was where we partied all night until 2am.
A bottle of Black Label on every table. Pampering
Guests at the Black Circuit Lounge were given first class treatment and personal service, even before arriving at the exclusive venue.
Right from the gold coated invitation bangles and the specially engraved Limited Edition Johnnie Walker® Black Label Centurion bottles, to the complimentary valet service, every detail of the event was meticulously carried out to the highest standard.
Photo taking session with the slick Johnnie Walker F1 car upon arrival.
My girls from Singapore... and Allison (in pink) from Bangkok. They came all the way to KL to party with JW
Friends from KL.
Elegantly dressed butlers served guests specially crafted Johnnie Walker cocktails and indulgent canapes throughout the night.
Mmm... Chocolate! JW knows what us girls like.
Purple power ;P
Lovin' the JW Black Label. My drink of choice at any bar: Double shot on the rocks. They also served Johnnie Walker cocktails at the party and the 'Black Circuit' cocktail drink a popular drink amongst the girls as it was sweet, delicious and strong.
Andrew T (representin' one of my favorite clubs in Singapore, Butter Factory) gettin' the party started with a fresh dose of Hip Hop and R&B!
Gorgeous DJ Havana Brown heats up the dancefloor and oozed out the latest mix compilation of the hottest dance, Hip Hop and R&B tracks that got the discerning crowd cheering and the dance floor pumping.
MUSIC WAS SPECTACULAR.PEOPLE WERE DANCING AND HAVING A SENSATIONAL TIME.
Beautiful, talented and knows how to get the party going. The recipe of a successful female DJ.
I would so love to have a bar like that at home. It's getting there
Probably the only photo I took with Charles, who was busy hosting throughout the night.
We love our JW.
Tommy & Ally both came all the way from Bangkok for a night just to attend the Black Circuit Lounge!
With Sarah Lian (far left), the host of the party and Mervin Xavier, a local radio DJ.
Hard to believe this isn't a club but a Volvo showroom, huh?
Hui Wen and Shan from Nuffnang Singapore were there too!
* * * * *
The first Johnnie Walker® Black Circuit Lounge in April was launched as an after-race celebration party, in conjunction with our Formula 1(TM) Malaysian Grand Prix, which I also went to.
The Black Circuit Lounge is all about delivering the style and global glamour of an authentic Formula 1 Paddock experience to valued guests; to give fans of Johnnie Walker insider access to the high-flying lifestyle of world racing. Of course a key underlining message of the successful and pioneering partnership between Johnnie Walker and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes that I'd like to reiterate is the Never Drink and Drive initiative which has communicated the importance of drinking responsibly, and always staying in control.
Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience: The Real Taste Of Formula One
Johnnie Walker is offering Malaysians the once-a-lifetime opportunity to step inside the Black Circuit and experience the exclusive and high pressure world of motor racing with the Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience that will take place at the Sepang International Circuit, home of the Malaysian Formula 1™ Grand Prix on August 27-28.
To get a taste of the fast paced and high profile world of Formula One, Malaysians must first participate in a virtual pit crew challenge online (www.apps.facebook.com/jwpitcrew). Those who complete the challenge in the top 24 fastest times will be invited to be part of the Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience.
I tried out the game myself and it was pretty fun in the beginning but got very challenging towards to end as gamers became more competitive!
* * * * *
I was up as early as 6am on Friday (27 August 2010) to catch the 7am shuttle to take me to the Sepang tracks. It was a long one hour drive from town, but at least I managed to catch up on some sleep.
Being at Sepang again took me back to 2007 where I was one of ten Redbull Formula One Una girls chosen to experience celebrity treatment, meet the F1 drivers, be invited to exclusive parties and of course, VIP passes to see the F1 race. Each race see 10 girls selected to represent their country or region. To be in with a chance of being selected from the many applicants, the girls have to demonstrate their wit, intelligence, and of course, beauty.
Definitely another one of the best experiences in my life!
Winning a race does not only depend on a skilled driver but also the help of his team members who handle all the time-crucial pit stops and ensuring the safety of the driver and team while observing the sporting and technical regulations.
Team members were given 30 minutes to familiarize themselves with all the equipment and surroundings at the garage, ensure the optimum set-up of the car for the free practice, manage the qualifying efficiently, be fully prepared for the race from fuel requirements to pit stop strategy, handle all pit stops effectively and the final garage pack-up.
There were 2 teams for each race and 2 rounds of races each day (Friday & Saturday), which was split into the morning and afternoon session.
Supporting Team 2 (Charles' Team)!
Lucky Charles got to be a pit crew member as he is the brand manager of Johnnie Walker Malaysia.
Popular Malaysian celebrities, Reshmonu, Henry Golding, Chermaine Poo and Megan Tan who are also Formula One fans will undergo the Johnnie Walker Pit Crew Experience with the chosen 24 Facebook winners.
The Pit Crew Experience will show consumers that even in the world’s most stylish and glamorous sport staying in control, precision, passion and teamwork are paramount. This will serve as a reminder to partygoers to live life responsibly – take public transport or nominate a designated driver.
I love how our outfits are so coordinated even though we didn't plan on it!
Mark Manderson, the race driver for Team 2.
It’s important to stay hydrated on the tracks! See umbrella in the back? That’s for the driver to prevent a heatstroke. It was desert-hot out there and they must have been boiling in that race suit!
Besides watching what goes on in the pit, there were other activities you could do at the Pit Crew Experience such as go-karting, Wii games and enjoying the scrumptious buffet.
Although I didn't manage to win a position as a pit crew member, I’ve learnt so much from just being behind-the-scenes. It certainly takes a good deal of effort and teamwork between team members and the race driver. I had better appreciation for the sport and became a bigger fan of the brand that gave me the chance to learn from this experience.
10 Things To Do In Phuket
1. Check-in at a beachfront apartment/hotel/resort/villa.
2. Wake up to the sound of the ocean.
3. Get a pepperspray because you can. (Not if you're going to take it back to Singapore, but it's legal in KL.)
4. See a ping pong show. It's probably not for everyone, but I was curious and it was an eye-opener, literally. I went to D Club, in Patong. This was taken outside.
5. Drive a cross-cart. The most fun I ever had on four wheels!
6. Ride an elephant.
7. Shoot guns. My first time holding a 9mm. Absolutely exhilarating. (Quality of the picture sucks because it was a photo of a photo taken with a Blackberry.)
8. Hike up the Bang Pae waterfalls
9. Visit an Irish pub and enjoy a Guinness - my favorite beer in the world.
10. And of course, hit the beach and soak up on the sun.
This is the life.
Chasing the sun across the globe, starting from Singapore to California, Florida, and now Kuala Lumpur.
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