BEST TRAVEL PLACE

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Le Café des Arts, Chaweng

This Thai/French (with emphasis on French!) restaurant is part of the Papillon Resort on Koh Samui in North Chaweng. It's down the road that leads to Chaba Cabana and you just need to follow the road, about two times you probably feel or think that nothing else is coming any more but you need to keep going and all of a sudden, at the end of the road the Papillon Resort and Le Café des Arts show up at your right hand.

Most nights we went out of dinner together with my sisters family but a few nights they went their own way and during one of these nights they visited the Le Café des Arts and for their last night on Samui during this years trip they decided to go back here.

The setting is really nice, a great and unusual view over Chaweng Beach is yours from their beach side Le Café des Arts restaurant.

The menu has an extensive choice but the staff must've had a fairly off day, especially compared to the first night when my sister came here, yesterday we had to wait a relatively long time for simple things like two bottles of beer! With thirsty guys around your place that's not a good service!

Once the food came around, everybody enjoyed his meal, I had the above pictured Grilled Lamb cotellets.

My sisters sons both had the T-Bone steak, as pictured above, one of the reasons they came back actually!

A pleasant night was had by all and if you're in for a nice relaxed evening in a lovely open air restaurant with a great view over Chaweng, Le Café des Arts with it's French cuisine may be your choice.

Camille

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

22nd July, 2010

Today's weather;

Well, internet is back on at last in my little part of Samui and sister's gone home early this morning. It has been cloudy all day but dry and with a current temp of 31C at 1pm.

Yesterday saw a lovely warm and sunny day with a max temp of 34C.

The prediction for the next 7 days is lots of strong wind and plenty of rain!

Camille

Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Temple) at South Bali, Indonesia

Uluwatu Temple (S8 49.762 E115 05.185) at South Bali Island is One of the Must Visit Tourist Attraction in Bali. The temple is located just right at the Sharp Plateau of Bukit Peninsula of Bali.

Once you pay the entrance fee, you will be given the 'Sarong' or a 'Waist String'. To respect to the Holy Temple.

The Sarong

Caution : You are advise NOT to bring any snacks and keep all the sun glasses, hair clip in you bag or keep in the car. Take extra care of your Compact Camera! Because beside the famous temple, the area also Famous with Naughty Monkeys!

The monkeys spotted once you step into the entrance

There are pathway and staircases to climb before you reach the Temple. Children are advise not to run within the area.

The Kecak Dance performing platform

About 5-10 minutes walked, we reached the Famous Uluwatu Temple of Bali.

The Uluwatu Temple of Bali

"Pura Luhur Uluwatu is one of Bali's kayangan jagat (directional temples) and guards Bali from evil spirits from the SW, in which dwell major deities, in Uluwatu's case; Bhatara Rudra, God of the elements and of cosmic force majeures. Bali's most spectacular temples located high on a cliff top at the edge of a plateau 250 feet above the waves of the Indian Ocean. Uluwatu lies at the southern tip of Bali in Badung Regency. Dedicated to the spirits of the sea, the famous Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple is an architectural wonder in black coral rock, beautifully designed with spectacular views. This is a popular place to enjoy the sunset. Famous not only for its unique position, Uluwatu also boasts one of the oldest temples in Bali, Pura Uluwatu. Most of Bali's regencies have Pura Luhur (literally high temples or ascension temples) which become the focus for massive pilgrimages during three or five day odalan anniversaries. The photogenic Tanah Lot and the Bat Cave temple, Goa Lawah, is also Pura Luhur. Not all Pura Luhur are on the coast, however but all have inspiring locations, overlooking large bodies of water." Source from Uluwatu Temple Tourism.

On the right side, we were impressed by this Breathtaking view of the cliff!

Breathtaking view from Uluwatu Temple

"Pura Uluwatu is located on the cliff top close to the famous surf break on the SW of the Bukit peninsula. Empu Kuturan, a Javanese Hindu priest who built the tiered meru, founded the temple in the 10th century and a shrine here as well as at other key locations longs the Balinese coast."

You be able to walk till the end of the cliff but we did not, because we need to protect the kids from the monkeys! :) (Advise not to leave the kids alone in the temple area)

I took some portraits of the Famous Naughty Monkeys

We witnessed the monkeys continuous trying their best to grab the stuffs from tourists, especially from the ladies! Beware! I did captured one of them holding the hair clip from one of the Japanese tourist!

The monkey's hand was holding the clip which grabbed from the tourist

Our driver - Mr Agoes was Kind enough by holding a tree branch and standing beside us! He said, once you hold something on your hand, the monkeys Dare Not get close to you. Haha! That was a Great experience!

We spent more than an hour within the temple because of waiting for the beautiful sunset. But the weather was Not on our side again! It was same as the Tanah Lot sunset! The Red Ball was covered by thick clouds! What A luck

And so did the monkeys and the sunset!

Tourist, monkeys and the sunset - Uluwatu Temple

We left the place after dark, during that time...the Famous Kecak Dance show has began...we gave it a miss because we were planned & heading to our dinner at Jimbaran Bay! :)

Bye! Uluwatu Temple of Bali

Bali 5 days 4 nights trip :-
* My Bali Trip on June 2010 (D1)
* Harris Resort at Kuta, Bali (D1)
* Made's Warung at Kuta Beach Road (Jalan Pantai Kuta), Kuta - Bali (D1)
* Babi Guling (Suckling pig) of Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud town, Bali (D2)
* Palace opposite Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud, Bali (D2)
* Tegallalang Rice Terrace at North Ubud Town, Bali (D2)
* Kintamani and Mount Batur at North Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* Fruit Stall around Kintamani area, Bali (D2)
* BAS Coffee Farm at Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* TJ's Mexican Bar and Restaurant at Kuta, Bali (D2)
* The Kuta Beach of Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Taman Ayun (Temple) at Mengwi, Bali - Indonesia (D3)
* Strawberry Park at Candikuning beside Beratan Lake - Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Ulun Danau (Temple) at Bratan Lake, Bali (D3)
* Pacung Indah Hotel And Restaurant at Bali (D3)
* One of the Famous Balinese Seven Sea Temples - Tanah Lot Temple of Bali (D3)
* Bebek Bengil - The Dirty Duck Diner at Ubud, Bali (D3)
* The Legian Street (Jalan) at Kuta, Bali (D3)
* Bali Collection at Nusa Dua, Bali (D4)
* Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Lia Cafe Seafood Restaurant at Jimbaran Bay, Bali (D4)
* Farewell Bali Island! (D5)

* Our Bali Humble Driver - Mr Agoes (D4)

Location map of Uluwatu Temple at Bali, Indonesia

View Larger Map

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia

Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park (S8 48.541 E115 10.043) located about 12KM South bound from Bali Caollection Nusa Dua. The entrance fee was rp.50,000 per person. (Which was the highest entrance fee among the tourist attraction in Bali)

"Mandala Garuda Wisnu Kencana, or Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) is a private cultural park on the Bukit Peninsula at the southern end of the island of Bali in Indonesia. Bukit is a limestone plateau with Uluwatu to the west and Nusa Dua to the eastern.

It is devoted to the Hindu god Vishnu, and his mount, Garuda, the mythical bird who is his companion.

Currently, the statue of Vishnu is 23 m high, although the original plan was for a 146 meter gold plated Vishnu riding Garuda on top of an 11 storey entertainment complex. The idea was not without controversy, and religious authorities on the island complained that its massive size might disrupt the spiritual balance of the island, and that its commercial nature was inappropriate." Source from Wiki.

Limestone surrounded the Cultural Park

The Flying Fox activity also available over here. After the main entrance, we walked pass the lime stone and a huge statue of bird appear on our left! That was the Mythical bird - Garuda Statue.

The Garuda Mythical Bird statue, which was the companion of The Hindu God - Wisnu

"The statue and its pedestal will be surrounded by more than 240 hectares cultural park which was once an abandoned and unproductive limestone quarry." Source from Here.

Garuda - The Mythical Bird. It was made from tons of copper and brass

This was really a good photography spot. The weather was cooling in the Cultural Park even the sun was direct shine on us, I believe it's gotta do with the Huge Limestone surrounded.
On the left on the Garuda, we continued to climb up the staircase and reached the other Huge statue - The Hindu God Wisnu.

"Designed and built by Nyoman Nuarta, one of Indonesia’s foremost modern sculptor, the Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue or GWK and its pedestal building will be standing 150 meters tall with its wings span 64 meters across. Made from more than 4000 tons of copper and brass, the statue is picturing Lord Wisnu, as the source of wisdom, riding on the back of the mythical bird Garuda as the manifestation of conscience toward Amerta, the perennial goodness." Source from Here.

From this Giant copper and brass statue, you can see the Jimbaran Bay from far....yeah, the place we gonna have our seafood dinner tonight.

There were many souvenir shops in the Cultural Park, and some Cultural Dance which I miss it! Because once I step into the last souvenir shop, I was not able to come back to the performing stage! Oh! What a Miss!

My purpose to this Cultural Park was about photograph. It took an hour for me to finished shooting...And this was also my first time to taste the Indonesia Famous Sosro Tea - Teh Botol. It serve in the bottle and taste like normal tea without milk.

Bali 5 days 4 nights trip :-
* My Bali Trip on June 2010 (D1)
* Harris Resort at Kuta, Bali (D1)
* Made's Warung at Kuta Beach Road (Jalan Pantai Kuta), Kuta - Bali (D1)
* Babi Guling (Suckling pig) of Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud town, Bali (D2)
* Palace opposite Warung Ibu Oka at Ubud, Bali (D2)
* Tegallalang Rice Terrace at North Ubud Town, Bali (D2)
* Kintamani and Mount Batur at North Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* Fruit Stall around Kintamani area, Bali (D2)
* BAS Coffee Farm at Bali, Indonesia (D2)
* TJ's Mexican Bar and Restaurant at Kuta, Bali (D2)
* The Kuta Beach of Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Taman Ayun (Temple) at Mengwi, Bali - Indonesia (D3)
* Strawberry Park at Candikuning beside Beratan Lake - Bali, Indonesia (D3)
* Pura Ulun Danau (Temple) at Bratan Lake, Bali (D3)
* Pacung Indah Hotel And Restaurant at Bali (D3)
* One of the Famous Balinese Seven Sea Temples - Tanah Lot Temple of Bali (D3)
* Bebek Bengil - The Dirty Duck Diner at Ubud, Bali (D3)
* The Legian Street (Jalan) at Kuta, Bali (D3)
* Bali Collection at Nusa Dua, Bali (D4)
* Pura Luhur Uluwatu (Temple) at South Bali, Indonesia (D4)
* Lia Cafe Seafood Restaurant at Jimbaran Bay, Bali (D4)
* Our Bali Humble Driver - Mr Agoes (D4)
* Farewell Bali Island! (D5)

Location map of Garuda Wisnu Kencana at Bukit Peninsula, Bali

View Larger Map

21st July, 2010

Today's weather;

Samui has a blue sky to show for this morning but there are clouds out there today. Current temp at 7am is 26.5C

Yesterday saw a lovely day with sunshine all day long, followed by rain during most parts of the night. Max temp reached 34.5C

Camille

Monday, July 19, 2010

Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts or SITCA

Loyal readers of my blog might remember that my sister is visiting Samui right now and yesterday she and her family went to the Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts or SITCA. An institution when it comes down to Thai cooking classes on Samui and one of the very first to offer this on our lovely island. A success story now copied by many hotels, if you want the original, this is the place to go and make sure you make a reservation well in time!

SITCA is located in Soi Colibri, very near to the entrance for Centara Grand Beach Resort in Chaweng. Within walking distance of the Chaweng Cove Resotel where they are staying. It's in the very beginning of the Soi at your right hand.

A little bit further down the Soi you will find the excellent Japanese Yamato Restaurant.

I must admit that the frontal view of SITCA is very inviting and makes me nosy to see what's going on inside.

They offer two cooking classes per day and my sister and family went to the class that starts at 4pm. The nice thing is that you can invite somebody to share your cooked dishes with once you're finished with the cooking. Since they're 4 and my family is 4, that was bit of a no brainer so around 6.30pm we arrived, a tad bit early but after a short wait we all went upstairs to enjoy a nice meal.

The photo above shows the preparation table where all the food is chopped and rolled together and who knows what you do with the food before it's going to be cooked.

After that it's off to the kitchen where on 10 stoves all the ingredients are mixed together and some wonderful dishes see day light. Yesterday a Massaman curry was on the menu with spring rolls and a sourish but lovely prawn salad. It was interesting to see how all 4 of them produced different curries!

After the cooking was completed, everybody goes upstairs, including possible guests and your meal starts. It's nice to meet other people who participated in the cooking class and enjoy everybody's effort.

The actual portions are very luscious and SITCA claims that nothing goes to waste, either the staff will finish the food or it's given away to the needy!

If this course wetted your appetite, contact SITCA well in time, yesterday there was a group of 10 and a group of 5 people, so a reservation may not be a luxury.

They also offer various dishes on each weekday so you can choose what day you prefer food wise and afterwards you will receive a book and a cd with instructions on it, o you can repeat your efforts at home once more.

Inside the store they also sell loads of cooking accessories and ingredients.

Well worth a visit and an afternoon spend with fun!

Camille

Bali Collection at Nusa Dua, Bali

We visited one of the Souvenirs Center at Denpasar to buy some souvenirs for friends. And I learn the words 'Oleh-oleh' in Indonesian mean 'Souvenir'. :)
Then follow by this Bali Collection Shopping area (S8 48.092 E115 13.748) at Nusa Dua, Bali. The Nusa Dua area was Totally different from others place within Bali, nice, clean road and different class. Yes, prepare for the high price! :)

By entering Nusa Dua, our car had check by the securities and scan with the metal detector! Tight security!

Security check at Nusa Dua, Bali

Most of the Luxury Hotels and Resorts are located in Nusa Dua, Bali. No wonder the area was Clean and with the very strict securities and ensure all the visitors safety.

"Bali Collection Nusa Dua is the shopping complex set up for the many resorts that are located in the area. With the Grand Hyatt Bali to the south, the Melia Bali Sol to the north and the twin ‘islands’ of Nusa Dua only 400 meters to the east, the complex is easy to find. Nusa Dua itself feels like Beverly Hills, with manicured lawns, sprawling properties and a distinct lack of anything local. The Bali Collection has the feel of an outdoor mall in California, complete with small restaurants with outdoor dining, palm trees and a tranquil vibe." Source from Here.

The Bali Collection Nusa Dua was a bit special to us, because it's Not a Complex. It was actually many shops and restaurants gather in a same protected area. As you can see from the photos below...

But the weather was killing! I believe it would be different if we visit it during night time...
We popped into a Handicraft Center called The Art Market Of Bali Collection.

Well, most of the handicraft in the Art Market were familiar, which we saw most of them at other souvenirs shop. But...the prices surprised us! It cost about 3-4 times higher with the same item we saw from other market! This called 'High Class Handicraft'?! :) Doesn't matter, I'm not gonna buy it.

Beside all the Branded apparel shop and restaurant, there were nothing much attraction...