Chinatown and traditional dessert

I love Chinatown in Singapore, you can shop for some good items at low price, but besides shopping, the food are great!

my favorite Almond Milk,

Snow Ice Cendhol,

thank you all for stopping by...

xxx

Shop till you drop

Its time to update my wardrobe... hahahaha.... nope, there were not much shopping but was getting great bargains!

Accompanied by my BFF, she turned out to shops more than me :)

 picture time before shopping, in front of ION

the new ins,

finally got to purchase this bikini, one of my wish list!

I have to purchase a white one, I gave out my white one,

I will always need an Obi belt,

I think this bag is cute!

my new precious,

my other new precious,

my old beach towel is not comfy anymore, bought me this new one,

bought some of these bangles and beads bracelet for my sister and friends, the scarf is for my sister, she loves animal prints,

my sunglasses pouch,

t-shirts and sun dress,

my snacks, caramel-macademian popcorn and caramel-almond popcorn from Garretts, and a bag of pretzel to accompany my reading of Singapore April Cleo mag.,

beach time!

Beach time!!! Or should I just say pool time? Well... our pool at the Klapa Beach House is overlooking to the Dream Land beach... so here goes, images...

me in the infinity pool,

overlooking to the Dreamland beach,

my BFF&Ever,

You can check out the place guys, while in Bali of course, the Italian food is not bad at all....😎😎

Hashers

Among other things, I am a hasher, my mother hash is Bali House Hash Harriers One(BHHH1). You must have been wondering what is a hasher and what is hashing. Hashing is a mixture of athleticism and sociability, hedonism and hard work, a refreshing escape from the nine-to-five dweebs you're stuck with five days a week. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of running, orienteering, and partying, where bands of harriers and harriettes chase hares on eight-to-ten kilometer-long trails through town, country, and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie, and good times. And BHHH1 always runs the country side, how beautiful...

 my fellow hasher Kepiting Rebus with his daughter on his shoulder

I love Bali and love living here...

And I love hash too...

😊😊

Happy New Saka Year

Happy New Saka Year my Balinese friends...

I will be back to these activities and beautiful place after the Saka New Year, xxx

 Lounge-ing La Plancha

 Sunset

Dinner Ultimo

Ogoh-ogoh, one night before Nyepi day

Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa (Saka new year) according to Bali's calendar. It is a day spent in total silence, meditation, fasting and introspection, reflecting on the past year’s events.

One night before Nyepi day is the Bhuta Yajna Ritual where the devout Hindu Balinese villages usually make OGOH-OGOH, demonic statues made of bamboo and paper symbolizing negative elements or malevolent spirits. After the ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the village, the Ngrupuk ritual takes place, which involves burning the ogoh-ogoh.

Hunting Ogoh-Ogoh outfit (no camouflage required),

More details of the tshirt here

I really don't want to put you all to sleep, so here are images from my Ogoh Ogoh hunting. Detailed story about Nyepi down below if you guys are interested.

This year Saka New Year is 23rd March, the Rituals prior to Nyepi are:

1. First, The Melasti Ritual is performed at the 3-4 previous day. It is dedicated to Sanghyang Widhi Wasa and is performed at the beach to respect them as the owner of The Land and Sea. The ritual performed in Pura (Balinese temple) near the sea (Pura Segara) and meant to purify Arca, Pratima, and Pralingga (sacred objects) belongs to several temples, also to acquire sacred water from the sea.

2. Second, The Bhuta Yajna Ritual is performed in order to vanquish the negative elements and create balance with God, Mankind, and Nature. The ritual also meant to appease Batara Kala by Pecaruan offering. Devout Hindu Balinese villages usually make OGOH-OGOH, demonic statues made of bamboo and paper symbolizing negative elements or malevolent spirits. After the ogoh-ogoh have been paraded around the village, the Ngrupuk ritual takes place, which involves burning the ogoh-ogoh.

3. Third, Nyepi is a day spent in total silence, meditation, fasting and introspection, reflecting on the

past year’s events. On this special day, the Balinese Hindu are requested to perform Catur Brata Penyepian (Four Ascetic Practices) consisting of the following:

Amati Geni: No fire/light, including no electricity (forbidden to light any fire or lamp which are both symbolic of mental and physical obstacles).

Amati Karya: No working, forbidden to work or do any physical activities, a pre-conditional to meditation.

Amati Lelunganan: No travelling, forbidden to go out of the house compound, it is advised to stay in and concentrate the mind or meditate.

Amati Lelanguan: Fasting and no revelry/self-entertainment (forbidden to hold any entertainment, to purify the mind and soul).

4. Fourth, The Yoga/Brata Ritual starts at 6:00 AM and continues to 6:00 AM the next day.

5. Fifth, The Ngembak Agni/Labuh Brata Ritual is performed for all Hindus to forgive each other and to welcome the new days to come.

6. Sixth and finally, The Dharma Shanti Rituals is performed as the Nyepi Day or "Day of Silence." While Nyepi/Silent Day itself observed from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next morning, Nyepi is a day reserved for self-reflection and as such, anything that might interfere with that purpose is restricted.

On the main rituals of the Nyepi day (seclusion day), the main restrictions are: no lighting fires; no working; no entertainment or pleasure; no traveling; and for some, no talking or eating at all. The effect of these prohibitions is that Bali’s usually bustling streets and roads are empty - total empty! Except for dogs probably running around,there are no noise from TVs or radios, and few signs of activity are seen even inside homes. The harbors around Bali and the airport will be closed for domestic and international passenger flights. The only people to be seen outdoors are the Pecalang, Pecalang are traditional security men who patrol the streets to ensure the prohibitions are being followed.

Although Nyepi is primarily a Hindu holiday, non-Hindu residents of Bali observe the day of silence as well, out of respect for their fellow citizens. No one is allowed in the beaches area or streets, and the only airport in Bali remains closed for the entire day. The only exceptions granted are for emergency vehicles carrying those with life-threatening conditions and women about to give birth.


With a total blackout from 6.00 am until the next day 6.00 am, sometimes the road is open at 8.00 am. So its no electricity, no vehicle meaning no CO2 produced, no fire/ gas meaning reducing pollution for total 24 hours. I'll say EARTH HOUR CAN EAT THEIR HEART OUT. The whole island participate and it was so magical and so beautiful.... all you hear is the sound of nature and at night the stars never shine so bright!

Of course I cheat most of the time, by fly to another city or another country one day before Nyepi, but some years I am staying in and enjoying the silence, the Nyepi.

A visit to the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park

the Garuda statue,

my nephew in front of the Garuda statue,