Bali in June: Ulun Danu Beratan Water Temple and Wild Animal Encounters

The Ulun Danu Beratan Water Temple is about 26.8 kilometres away from Lovina Beach, where our dolphin watching tour took place. After a not-so-appetizing breakfast, I reluctantly dragged my feet into the car and slept like a baby until the chilly air forced me awake. The climate was completely opposite to what we have experienced near the beach, very cold and refreshing.

Entrance fee: Rp 30,000 per person.

Bali in June: Dolphin Watching Tour at Lovina Beach

Having to have to wake up at 2 a.m in the morning was a little ruthless to our bodies that day. We barely rested enough with just a few hours of sleep. I had 3 and a half. Crashed like a pig after washing up and blow drying my hair.

Around 2.30 a.m, our tour guide came to pick us up from Villa Mimpi Manis. Everyone was looking so beat up including the driver (our tour guide), "Kicap" who drove us through two hours of steep and winding mountain roads covered in thick fog. A round of applause to the pro F1 racer and myself for still being alive. It's a celebration! Haha. Tthe drifts could have swallowed us whole, you know.

Okay guys, you'll be surprised by our adventurous ride of the day...

Bali in June: Tanjung Benoa and Deluang Sari Turtle Farm

Hello, guys! My 5D4N Bali trip was nothing but fun, fun, fun and more fun!!! Gotta say that although I'm physically back in Penang, but mentally, my mind is still far from where I am now. Just a few more days or perhaps weeks, for it to crawl back into my head. LOL.

I've been suffering from severe lack of sleep since day 1 of our trip. There were seven of us who took midnight bus down to KL. As crazy as it sounds, we arrived KL Sentral around 5-ish, had breakfast and napped in McDonald's at the bus station, then hopped on the bus again (roughly an hour plus journey) to KLIA 2.

I napped in the bus, napped in Starbucks at the airport, napped wherever and whenever possible. It was plain EXHAUSTING not being able to have a good night sleep! Like a walking dead I was before catching the afternoon flight to Bali. Thank God I slept well in the plane.

At nightfall, we touched down at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali to be picked up by Pasek (our friendly tour guide), followed by yummilicous dinner at Ayam Tulang Lunak Malioboro (the chicken was fried to crispy so you could eat the bones and all), checked-in to our cozy villa, and that's pretty much it about day 1.

Alma Park Zoo Brisbane: Kangroos and Koalas

Alma Park Zoo - Part 2!!! You never miss the water till the well runs dry. Indeed! I really miss the chilly winter days in Australia now. Malaysia's warm and humid climate drives me nuts, overly warm and humid if you were to ask me. It's annoying how much it reminded me of the sweaty and sticky feel every time I come back, feeding my delicious blood to those nasty mosquitoes everyday. Grrr!!! I wish all creatures on the planet Earth could be as harmless as kangaroos and koalas *daydreams*

Alma Park Zoo Brisbane: Wombat and More

Gloomy day with periods of rain and drizzle sounded like the worst time to do any sight seeing or touristy things, especially visiting the Alma Park Zoo in Dakabin, north of Brisbane. We arrived before midday with our pre-purchased half-price entrance tickets. $52 in total for 3 adults, $18 for a single pass and $34 for a double pass.

If you haven't been to Australia or any of the zoos down under. Get yourself ready as I'm about to take you on a virtual tour to see some Australia's native animals =)

Hong Kong Trip Day 3: Ocean Park (海洋公园) Sea Jelly Fish and Cable Car

Ocean Park is separated on two different sides of a mountain and wide swaths of sea. In order to travel from the WaterFront to the Summit or vice versa, you'll get to choose between cable cars or Ocean Express funicular train. We chose to take cable car first and train second.

Hong Kong Trip Day 3: Ocean Pak (海洋公园）Gold Fish Treasure (金鱼宝殿)

We've seen giant and red pandas in my previous post. And now, it's turn to admire the cold-blooded creatures that swim in the water, undeniably cute and puffy! =)

Hong Kong Trip Day 3: Ocean Park (海洋公园) Giant Pandas

Here comes another exciting day in Hong Kong! We'll be heading to the bus station at Central (中环） Exchange Square (交易广场). What for? Just scroll down and see for yourself ;p

My New Pets Revealed

Ladies and gentlemen... this is my cute little pair of new pets. Yes, I've got myself gold fishes but not guinea pig! Surprise, surprise! No rewards for you since none of you got it right :P

Choosing My New Pet

My boi has got me a new pet from Pets Galore this afternoon. Now, have a blind guess which of these did I actually choose to bring home with me?

Bathing Baby Whisper

It was my first time bathing / showering a doggie that day, when Warren (the daddy) agreed to let me (the auntie) babysit his baby girl, Whisper for one night.

Fire the Shih Tzu

Let me introduce you to Fire, the naughty + hyperactive Shih Tzu.

Hiking in Youth Park, Penang

We went to hike Penang's Youth Park this late afternoon (around 6 pm), after visiting my little bro in Sg. Petani, Kedah. He is currently still in the National Service Training Camp and will only be back to celebrate Chinese New Year for a few days.

Anyways, this is one of the scenes that you'd expect to see if you were to hike up the hill these few days or maybe weeks. Wow, autumn in Malaysia? Think again...

Australian Green Tree Frog in Wild

I found something "cute" in the laundry area just now, hidden right behind the washing machine. It looked so familiar, just like those we saw in Sydney Wildlife World.

Graduation Trip: Taronga Zoo Sydney (II)

Taronga Zoo is the nation's leading zoological garden, featuring Australia's largest collection of native animals and a diverse collection of exotic species in New South Wales. Taronga is renowned for its conservation work and its special location which is situated on elevated land along the waterfront, in one of the most beautiful vantage points on Sydney Harbour overlooking Sydney Cove, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Sydney Opera House.

Graduation Trip: Taronga Zoo Sydney (I)

Here comes an animal post! Does anyone of you like to see some zoo animals? No? I know, I know, most people would spend time shopping, clubbing, playing online games, watching movies in the cinema and etc rather than going to a zoo. The sun makes you sweat, the ultraviolet light makes your skin tan and most importantly zoo is a kids' place? I, myself love outdoor activities, it ain't killing me to visit Sydney's Taronga Zoo with my family at all, it was really fun!

Graduation Trip: Sydney Wildlife World (II)

Aww, look at its fluffy ears! The koalas are such adorable creatures, aren't they?

Graduation Trip: Sydney Wildlife World (I)

This beautiful young lady right here is the trainer of stick insects.

My Precious Siamese Fighters (Bettas)

A brand new and classy fish tank for my precious ones.

Ekka's Dog Competition 2008

There was this dog competition going on when we were in Brisbane for Queensland’s biggest and best loved annual family event - the Ekka Exhibition. Seriously, I know nothing about dogs but I really have made my best effort to identify these dogs from small breeds to giant breeds. So please, please forgive me if any of the information is incorrect.