I Saw a Rainbow

Sunny bright sun at one corner and thick dark clouds at the other end. Stuck in between both sides, there is a rainbow.

I saw a rainbow. I felt hope. Freedom. Creativity. Eternal time...I saw so many things that I long for but somehow suppressed. Hidden in between the walls of the materialistic world. Something more sacred than the printed notes that seems to be the source of living. If I found enough courage, I would run free. I would hug mother nature. Drown in her sea of contton clouds. Live in poverty. But the world is evil, they work in binary. Without the notes, you won't be able to do a lot of things. Without suffering and life experience, art would not be so beautiful. We are trapped in that system of notes, but in the end, it still creates something precious...

Realization. Appreciation.

I cry a tear. I flood my room. I am ashamed on how much I have forgotten about life. I am transforming into something I feared most when I was younger. Lost in the reality of adulthood. Forgetting the childlike and imaginative world. Departing slowly away from it. Just like how fairy tales used to speak of kids growing up and never be able to see fairies anymore.

Because they do not believe anymore.

I still want to believe.

Magic. Miracle.

Faith.

Bromo-Bali 4

After a moody night yesterday, the morning was bright and sunny. So that is how the entrance of our hotel look like.


Deeper inside there is the reception and a pool awaits in the middle of the compound.


Two statues guard the pathway into our hotel, as we follow the narrow path we arrive at the place we stay.

Today is the Balinese New Year. I find myself fortunate to be there then. A cultural experience and a very quiet day. Streets are empty and everyone was dressed in their traditional clothes, preparing offerings in the morning and get ready for their morning prayers. Most shops are closed however, they are only open after the mid afternoon, some just don't at all. P


We had a lovely breakfast, bread on toast, fruits, juice and tea for me.




Above are some of the offerings that they have prepared for the festival. Mostly made up of flowers, sticky rice and grains. Almost every single building has at least some sort of it daily, but on that day, they are more lavish.





Lovely ladies above in their traditional clothes during the festival.



Next, it is time to explore the town nearby. Ubud has lots of craft work, shops that sells traditional instruments, clothes, jewelry, handicrafts, paintings and so forth. A place for art lovers and also those who love spas. Peaceful town with enough entertainment and place to eat. Some of the places are quite far, so we only manage to walk the few streets nearby. There is a shop who has paintings that is filled with gecko or lizard. It look so adorable, never seen those before. Am a proud owner of some of it and couldn't resist getting one.



In the Chinese culture, we have lion dance and a troupe of percussionist. In Bali, we have Barong dance (Could be a boar, lion, dragon or tiger depending on the region). This particular one in Ubud should be a boar. They believe that it is the protective spirit of the land and forest.

After a long walk, we stopped by at the restaurant Dian. Nasi campur in Bali is really delicious, no matter where you go. They serve it with rice, sate lilit, vegetables, tempe (made from soy bean) and fried meat.

We finished the day with a massage and back home early. Hooked on Indonesian drama since the day we arrived in Ubud. All three of the ones that we watch has a girl's name at the starting. I can only remember Alisa, can't remember the two other. Very peaceful night, with beer and no cyber world.

Bromo-Bali 3

Today we will be heading to Mount Ijen, where the crater lake is located. Leaving Catimor homestay,
the pink old building built by the Dutch at 6am. Waking up rather early, we had another long bumpy ride heading out of the area. We were looking forward for the hike up to see the sulfur mine as well as the crater lake.



Our journey began from this deceving road.
Little did we know that the 3 km hike was up the hill. After one third of the hike, it became rather difficult and steep. We were taking out one piece by one piece of our clothing as it was getting warmer. Felt like our lungs was going to burst. I am not very good with hills personally, in fact hate it. I can walk forever on flat ground but not up the slopes. Cursing the bag that I was carrying which was loaded with my slr and drinks. Very heavy load. I think we walked for about 1-2 hours up the hill. Our driver was smart, he said he would wait until we finish. To escape hiking all the way up, which leave us on our own and we met some of the workers of the sulfur mine.



They offer to bring us to see the view and go down the mine. Charging us a fee at the end of the thing. The fact is they were just on their way to work, and we were merely tagging along with them. Terrible idiots, and we came back with some stupid souvenir made by sulfur. For those who plan to visit Mount Ijen, do not be touched by their 'kind' offer to guide you there because they do not mean it. They expect a tip or fee at the end.





The view of the lake is magnificent from another short hike up after we reach the top. We have dead twigs and branches at the side of the pathway. Looks like the way to Mordor, haha. I was imagining it would be beautiful place for photography with ladies wearing red or white with the twigs as the backdrop. The next challenging part is climbing down into the mine which is rather steep. We were helped by the workers there to hike down. I was trembling because I have great fear towards high places yet I have to hike down no matter what. We reached the bottom and it was an experience. My friend saw the lava flowing out from the pipe. I was to traumatize by the climb down that I just sat there to catch my breath.



Finally, it is time to go back. Those idiots ask us for a fee and....What it worst, after they bring you down to the mine, you have to climb up yourself. There are no proper trail or road up there. One wrong turn could get you stuck. It was so smoky with the sulfur smoke as we were hiking up, we have to stop at some point because it was a plain of white smoke. It makes you choke a lot as well. I felt like I was going to die at that point and the verge of crying. I have a great fear of height. That was really an adventure. I think we took about half an hour to get back up the top of the mine. From all the rocks and polluted air. Your lungs crave for fresh air. Sulfur really stinks.

Getting out from there, we have to hike back down 3km down the hill. That was a breeze but we speed down because we were really hungry. It was so good to see the foot of the hill. We are smoked in sulfur and the smell does not go away. I have yellow stains here and there. A fresh change of clothes and chomp on our sandwhich prepared by the driver. The time is 10 plus am.
We just hop on the car, and what awaits us is a long ride to Bali. Memory of the place as above floats in my mind. We had lunch at a small restaurant before going to the jetty area at noon. Then we drove on again, finally we reached and we took a ferry to cross Selat Bali. My friend made a funny remark which I have to record down, she said we are crossing Jalan Bali :)
This is trip is rather extreme, even on how we have to pack our clothes. We went from the mountains to the sea. Freezing at 0 celcious and moving towards hot humid seaside weather.

Feeling a little sick from too much of sulfur inhaled inside. After the ferry ride and a two hours drive we stopped by at a restaurant where we have the most delicious noodle soup. As we continue, our tired bodies doze off on our journey to Ubud, Bali. The centre of the island. We had almost a 10 hour car ride from Surabaya to Ubud, Bali. We reached the area at about 9pm was very disappointed with Rumah Roda and their online reservation services. It was dark and they did not promise us our reservation. Our room was not available and we had to check in some horrible place. We just left, wondering off with our heavy backpack under a light drizzle. We were wandering along the Monkey Street to look for new hotel. We were lucky to meet the boss of Graha Ubud Bali who would give us a good deal for the 3 nights in Ubud. All the hotels were almost more than 400 000 rupiah per night, which was beyond our budget. So we took the offer, and he gave us breakfast as well as extra bed without charge. The room was huge, really thankful that we found this place. It is a good place to stay in Ubud, I would highly recommend ;) Good staff and service.

Time to zzzz, a long day. A lot of stuff happened all in one day.

Bromo-Bali 2

The clock strikes 3am and my alarm started to ring. The temperature must have fell lower than we arrived. I was freezing to death. Hui and I had a tug of blanket yesterday night too. Without breakfast, we just freshen up and took about a 1 hour drive up to Mount Penanjakan to catch the sunrise view of Mount Bromo and a few other mounts around it which I could not remember the name. I was wearing 4 layers of clothing and the 5th one is a rented one.









Nothing can be more wonderful than having a nice cup of hot noodles and milo when it is freezing at less than 5 celcious, plus it is 5am.















After the sunrise view, we head over to Mount Bromo. On the way, there is a piece of empty grass land with the mountains behind which is gorgeous. Felt like I was in New Zealand or so.
As we reached the site of Mount Bromo, it was as if we have been transported to Tibet or Mongolia.



Sandy grounds, horses, temples in the middle and the steep steps leading up the crater. Steam puffed out gently and the air is filled with sulphur particles. I was choking a bit on it. The worst part is, hiking up and breathing in polluted air.



As we reached the top, I realize I have lost my lens cap. Of all times and places, at the sandy area. My camera was covered with fine sand after the journey.

I find Mount Bromo pretty plain but the road leading to it is much more interesting. Something that I havent seen in my life at least, volcano, I am just at the mouth of the active volcano.












We went back to Hotel Cemara Indah for breakfast, which is at 9am. Had fried rice, chilled out a bit with coffee and tea with Juni and Hui. The view from the lobby is awesome! The weather has became slightly warmer, very much like Cameron Highlands back in Malaysia

Next destination would be a long ride to the town Malang where Mount Ijen is located. We started our journey at 10 something in the morning and we reached the Catimor homestay at about 4-6pm...could not remember the exact time.
We passed by a coffee plantation as well. The sun rises early there and the sky is dark at 6pm. The ride there was horrible, and the song 'Rocky Mountain' was playing in my brain constantly. The road is rocky and steep. Poor car engine, luckilly it is a four wheel, if not we would be stranded. Catimor homestay is rather cosy. Hot spring ten steps away from our room. Took a long dip in the warm water though it was rather murky in colour. We must be mad. Weather is cooling. Free coffee and tea for the guest. We have to wait till 7pm for the dinner. Fried rice again :) We slept in early and the following day, we have to wake up at about 6am.

What a long day. Though half of it was spent on the road. Travelling for hours from one destination to another.

Bromo-Bali 1

This is the trip that we have been waiting for since last year. Way before West Side Story production and also Cambodia trip. We are off to see the volcano. I remember reading all about it when I was a kid and remembering the different types of volcano from dormant, active and layers in a volcano. NOW we are really flying there!

Mount Bromo, one of the popular attraction located in East Java,Indonesia, still active and puffing :)

We got a really cheap rate for MAS to go to Surabaya. RM250, two way ticket. My very first time on MAS. We flew off at 430pm and reached Juanda Airport at about 730pm (their local time). It was pitched black in Indonesia. Oki, our driver picked us up and we realized our tour guide FFK us. Gosh! It was just him driving us around, not like what we expected. It was a long ride up to where we stay, Cemara Indah Hotel. We reached there at about 1130 pm and it is freezing!! Much more than Genting Highland in November. We are guessing it is about 10-15 celcious there.

The hotel is wonderful, we get a view of the volcano next to us. Giant size. As soon as we reached our hotel, we were digging for clothes to wear because the chill was really great. Water were ice cold and took about 15 min or so for the hot water to come around. After shower, we just hopped to bed and zzzzz. I was having a lil flu then but one magic Panadol flu medicine, I'm up and alive next morning.