Spa Retreat

During our honeymoon stay at Bali, I and my hubby deliberately plan out for self-indulgence at Arum spa centre in Seminyak Sunset Road. After a long day out in the sun, we both seek for some pampering sessions for our tired souls. Bali Spa and wellness centre are famed for their assorted spa treatment, luxury rooms with calming music, friendly therapists, warm ambiance and also wide range of aromatherapy oils simply takes care of freshness in our mind and soul. We reached the spa centre at about 6 p.m. after our Tegalalang Rice Terrace visit. We pampered ourselves with aromatherapy foot massage and full body massage to rejuvenate ourselves. The scent of eucalyptus floats us into relaxation and it feels heavenly.

One hour Balinese full body massage cost about Rp 50k in a clean decent massage center. We couldn’t find this kind of price in any decent massage center in Kuta area. It easily costs Rp 75k for a full body massage in other places. So if you love massage, you may want to get it in less commercialized areas like Seminyak.

After the invigorating massage, we headed for our dinner in Kuta. My husband felt his muscle flexed and also revitalized. It is a good way to keep us zesty throughout the vacation. We were treated to a nice and delicious Chinese cuisine in Golden Restaurant. It didn’t have a Balinese ambiance and taste but it did tantalize our taste bud. For the first time we had non-Balinese food in Bali. Even then, we were quite satisfied with the food. Simple and fresh.

Tanah Lot: A paradise on earth

One of the places most visited in Bali is none other than Pura (Hindu temple) Tanah Lot which swept me off my feet when I first caught a glimpse of the breathtaking panorama. It was such a beautiful sight to behold. Tanah Lot is one of the best attractions in Bali till today. This Balinese Hindu temple stands majestically in the middle of the sea and constantly hit by gushing waves from the Indian Ocean. It’s located in Tabanan, about 20km from Denpasar. Pura Tanah Lot is famous for not only the sea shrine which is guardian gods of the sea but also the sacred snake said to be guarding the temple in a cave on the mainland. This temple has been part of Balinese mythology for centuries.

It was believed that Pura Tanah Lot was built in the 15th century by a priest named Nirartha. The priest was travelling along the south coast of the Indian Ocean when he caught a glimpse of the rock-island’s beautiful surroundings and decided to rest there. Some fishermen saw him, and brought him gifts that persuaded him to spend the night on the lovely island. Before he left the next day, he told the fishermen to build a shrine on the rock because he felt it to be a holy place to worship Balinese sea gods. Till today there is holy spring water that arises beneath the rocks which is deem to be sacred and guarded by priests. I and Raj got our blessings from the priest there sprinkling the holy water, some rice grains (Bija) pressed onto our foreheads with some Frangipani flowers.

The uniqueness of this temple compared to the rest is, the entire temple is surrounded by seawater during high tide. But on days of low tide, you can easily walk to temple. A giant snake purportedly protects the temple, which was created from Nirartha scarf when he established the island. The legacy of Tanah Lot believes that the snakes protect the temple from evil spirits. Therefore local people pay a great respect to the snakes. Even though this place has already been heavily flocked with tourists and shops, but its true beauty never ceases to amaze people from those who merely seek for pleasure to the ones who are searching for profound meaning of this very place.

We were told by our tourist guide that one of the best moments to go to Tanah Lot is during sunset. However that day we had plans to watch sunset at Jimbaran Bay with delicious seafood, so we did not stay longer. There were many stalls along the way from the entrance till the exit of the temple. Varieties of souvenirs, wood sculptures, stone art, batik attires, and food stalls were tempting as you know being a woman, it’s my natural flair to love to shop around but I had not much time for this and not much of a choice to overspent my cash. On the whole, I felt like I was in a paradise on earth.

Start each day with a grateful heart

Start Each Day with a grateful heart; it is something like a prayer to live my life by.

Isn’t it true? We should be grateful to God for all that He’s blessed us with. All the little things and big things in our lives carry a meaning in our lives. Shouldn't we all? Looking back at the harsh reality of life, I begin to appreciate the gift of life and feel blessed. Thank the Lord for each day that I get to rise and shine!

Sometimes I just feel that we all get carried away in our daily chores and every other thing in life that we tend to forget what is the essence of life. Do you ever realize how beautiful the hues of twilight sky? Or the scent of dewdrops in the morning? Perhaps the love of your pet dog could be forgotten. All these does not seem important to everyone but it does. The post indicates that we should be grateful for the simple beauty around us. All the things around us have been here for ages and will be around for years to come. And trust me; it is far more important than our daily chores.

It always brings me back to the essence of living our lives with gratitude in our hearts. It has to be made as our life mantra. It opens up my eyes to be grateful in both heart and soul of the little things and beauty that surround us.
Lately there have been a whole lot of changes going on for me. Changes for the better or worse for which I have no idea. It’s easy to get caught up in these changes and get too absorbed into it. I took a leap of faith and pursue my journey. I have bring out the best of me that I have faith I can be. So why not start today? I’ve found that gratitude has this way of turning what we have into something positive. This is my life and each day that I am blessed with should be lived. I decided to kick my shoes and live my life.
I am grateful for all that I have and all that I am. It doesn’t get much better than that! Life is beautiful and take some time to savor the beauty that is everywhere around us. And it just makes life a little bit better.

A sluggish Monday to start with

When Monday comes, almost everybody will see things very. That’s why it is called Monday Blues, folks! So what does it take for us to smile all the way, keep our spirits up and have a dynamic personality throughout the weekdays? It just takes a simple attitude and a right focus to get things going.
There are days I loathe at the thought of Mondays. This is when the mere thought of Mondays brings me closer to bad mood. Sulky, quiet and prefer to sit at my cubicle all day long trying to tune myself to work mode. After having a leisure weekends with bits and pieces that I chose to do, now I end up at work and facing the reality of hectic schedule, datelines to meet, meetings to be attended, staffs to be supervised and journals to be read. I have a string of to-do list on my sticky note pasted on my cubicle. Arrgghhh. So many things to do but so little time.
Ohh and I just remembered that I have tax declaration to be completed by end of this month! (Thank God by friend reminded me).
What’s even worse of all the days, when I try to be happy today morning only to be awakened by a cold breeze and raindrops falling on my rooftop? It’s Monday and even worse it’s raining, man! What the heck? Right away, I sunk into my cozy bed and wishing it was a weekend. I had the sloppy feeling to start the day when the weather is conspiring against me.
I know I have to take some control back and make myself feel good. No, no, no. I’m not talking about eating chocolate strawberry fondue which I have been craving to have since Saturday! I’m talking about doing small things that can redirect energy and focus to what I am suppose to achieve this week at work. After having a sluggish work experience today, I am ready to say good bye to Monday soon. Hope the rest of you had a better start to your week than I did. Happy Monday, folks!

Going beyond earth hour

I have always reflected on how much energy the world would have and supply the mankind? What if the natural resources run out and what will we do without all the resources that we need to run our lives? Have you ever wondered how much energy the world would save if everyone shut off their lights for just one hour or everyday throughout the year? Well, this event is joint endeavor throughout the world one day a year, for just one hour to fulfill our social obligation as Earth habitants!

Last Saturday, March 31st at 8:30 pm marks the 6th consecutive year that we are pursuing WWF’s noble effort, Earth Hour. Earth Hour is an global collaborative effort where millions of people around the world show their support for climate change action by turning off their lights for one hour. It all started in year 2007 where Earth Hour was advocated as a noble act to get us being considerate of our planet and since then it has become a worldwide annual event in an aim of conserving our energies. But more than that, it’s a conscientious initiative to start an environmental pledge for this is not only about one hour in the dark; it’s about a brighter future in years to come. People from over 135 countries pledge to participate in Earth Hour in a community or individually. At the end of the day, a message is conveyed across and it reflects that each of our actions add up to one big change.

Switching off the lights and electronic appliances for one hour doesn’t mean I had to sit in dark and whining. Earth Hour can be made fun and entertaining by making your one hour completely off-grid. I went for a walk with my mom to check out the spirit of Earth Hour in my neighborhood. Sadly, there is a lot to do to create awareness of Earth Hour in the city. And it is about going beyond the earth hour!

March bade adieu with a noble thought till next year!

Kintamani, A place to remember

Kintamani is the most favorite tourist destinations in Bali with the active volcano of mount Batur and beautiful lake. We were told by our tourist guide Madhey that Kintamani which was famous for its captivating atmosphere were surrounded with six ancient villages around cauldron of Batur Lake. The local people hailing from these Bali Age villages preserves the unique culture and life style of Bali till today. The Balinese heritage is something to be admired and treasured. A beautiful culture that keeps me and my hubby, Raj fascinated to listen more about the distinct cultural practices that our tourist guide narrates from time to time.

Kintamani is located at the north of the Bali Island. Madhey drove us up all the way to view the volcano Mount Batur while relishing our lunch treat in one of the restaurant named 'Grand Puncak Sari'.

The Grand Puncak Sari Restaurant is located about 700 meters from the entrance of Kintamani. The beauty of the restaurant lies in the dining concept which offers open air atmosphere as well as closed ambiance sitting. The lunch was a buffet style whereby I and Raj enjoyed it while admiring the panorama of Mount Batur volcano. We didn’t get the open air sitting facing the landscape so we decided to battle with fork and spoons inside the restaurant. However, we grabbed a cup of freshly brewed Balinese coffee and dash out to the open area to catch a glimpse of the scenic. Indeed it has magnificent view of Mount Batur undeniably. Awesome!

Savoring the magnificent view while having your lunch

It was one of the little blessings that I experienced together with my love of life. Hot and rich aroma of coffee ignites my senses and tantalizes my feelings of serenity for a moment. I must say the Balinese Coffee gets thumbs up for its exotic taste. The weather at Kintamani is cool with temperature about 23°C. The chilly breeze gave a refreshed spirit for us both to embark on our next journey. Indeed I could barely walk away from that place. It took my breath away.

Source: BayBali.com

 I can imagine how nice if we put a night at the hotel here. Besides savoring in the cool atmosphere at night, there must be other exciting activity to look out for. I and Raj captured few shots of the gorgeous Mount Batur and Lake Batur while still fixated with lingering thoughts and view of the volcano. We were still eager to find better view of the volcano and Madhey took us to another point to get few snapshots of it. This time, we were close to the lake somehow and we could see villages bordered the area.We both told ourselves that we should return to this place someday. A beautiful magnum opus of God.

You don't look like married!

Yes, you don’t believe that I am married, aren’t you. I’m sure you didn’t. Are married women likely to look differently init?It is by practice that the wedding emblem should be carried by the women in the form of sindoor (red vermillion known as kumkum) and mangalsutra or thali. I wonder does anyone ever discern the wedding ring on the men. I find it rather unfair that people around you are so inquisitive to find out your marital status, if the girth of your waist doesn’t show up. Does it matter to them?

Over the couple of months, I have occasionally forgotten to wear the sindoor which always irate my mom. Obviously my mangalsutra is not flaunt due to safety reasons but at all times it has to be worn. It is not intentionally to conceal my marital status. It is not about fashion either. I have put on some extra pounds since I got married almost 3 months ago, but it wasn’t that obvious that most people haven’t noticed it! And therefore, I get that line often, “But you don’t look like married!” Not that I’m not trying to look single, but I don’t think I need to look married either. I mean, if you know me you would know I’m married and if you don’t, how does it matter to you?

I must say I have the privilege to look single which eventually is a sign of youth. Perhaps the nature of my personality and with the figure I am blessed with, it serves as a boon to me. My mom and aunt keep reminding themselves that, “Nisha is married” all the time. To them, I am always their little girl. No people! I am not bragging but it is just a pleasure to feel good about myself. Even then, I am defeated by few of my colleagues whom are married with a child but can afford to look like a teenager! Holy god!

The quizzical look I get when I say, I’m married is just enough for me to secretly feel excited. Don’t tell I have to carry a banner with me affirming that I’m married since I don’t look like one. What raise my curiosity, is there any defined attributes for married ladies to look like? Usually the expansion of women waist circumference and sloppy image inevitably scream out about our marital status. But why no one ever bothers a man whether he’s married or not. Does it make a difference? I think this is simple habituation of human mind to expect women to be in a certain way. I have my tongue in cheek, so you needn’t worry about me ever really doing that!

I think I have the genes that sustain the younger look in my family. If you have seen my dad and mom both in early sixties and late fifties respectively, still fairly look young (they don’t look haggard and too old). Hope I will carry their genetic factor and enjoy the gift. It’s becoming a requisite in younger couples to maintain their beauty regime and being a benchmark to look good even after married. Certainly, being married doesn’t mean that you have to give up on your looks. In the long run, it affects the marriage life for us.

My husband has been working out austerely in the health club that he recently enrolled right after our wedding. He has been hitting the gym and pool every single day till he has shed down on his visceral fat deposits around his waist. Trust me; I am in love again with my hubby. He looks dashing, man! This ultimately fortifies our bond and keeps alive the love that we share. I am up for my beauty and health regime to look attractive like the very first time he fell in love with me.

As a modern age woman, I would strongly adhere to certain principles of life indoctrinated with a dose of moral compulsion for me to be respected and appreciated. Yet, this does not single out women to be treated differently than men. If I am married, so be it then! It doesn’t have to be sensationalized to others. As long as my husband knows I am fulfilling my role as a wife and my family understands my capability to take care of my married life, this is all that matters. The rest is just insignificant.

IKEA is taking the worldwide by storm

Ever heard of the IKEA phenomenon amongst city dwellers in KL? The IKEA craze is widespread indoctrinating us with their concept of modern yet trendy, handy yet eye-catching, environmentally-friendly. It carries on Swedish home furnishing tradition to the next level. IKEA product range captures the fine touch of Swedish heritage. The novelty of the theme is reflected in the colors and substances used. These light, bright living spaces with unique designs create the sensation of reliving the vivid atmosphere in your home. In fact, the website of IKEA states that one of the best ways to describe the Swedish home furnishing style is to describe nature - full of light and fresh air, yet restrained and unpretentious.
The concept of IKEA store originated from a small part of southern Sweden called Smaland by Ingvar Kamprad. Many people associate Sweden with a fresh, healthy way of life. The heart of IKEA approach is to observe low prices but quality not compromised for the sake of profit (since Sweden is famous for their reliability and quality and hence IKEA takes the pride in offering the substance in all range of their products). But not everyone is so enamored of IKEA.
Do you shop there? Are you in love for their products? Do you hate it...and shop there anyway? Can you resist the lure of the Swedish concept? I would easily spell out the answers to the questions above. Frankly speaking I am not fancy of most IKEA products although some of their items are relatively trendy and unique. Have you really analyzed whether the famous retailer’s products are really sustainable while making all of these easily tangible products? And to make things worse, it is not cheap too. Then what makes it so attractive for shoppers to be crazy of IKEA products?
IKEA store conceptualization is to drag you through the showroom maze whilst tantalizing you to impulse shop, then further intoxicate you with cafe food, and confound you with ambiguous signage, all in the hopes you'll spend more of your hard-earned salary there. It just a waste of our time being in there. I go there just to get some innovative ideas on how to personalize my own home interior design. Trust me it helps! So simple ideas with own creativity with a free walkthrough their gallery will help to create a better everyday life at home with comfort.
I will tell you that I do still shop at IKEA but I am more prudent in my shopping spree. There are some plastic wares for your kitchen, bedroom and living hall items that is reasonable even though the quality is compromised. But it has everything that I need to fit the convenient and small space of my home. At the end of the day, I still get to decorate my home with finishing touches from IKEA products (Shh..last sunday I did my hunt at IKEA for some items to complete my home).
So what is behind the craze of IKEA phenomenon? You can tell me how you got enticed with their attractive garden concept, perfectly designed kitchen, comfortable sanctuary of living hall that gives you a sense of pleasure or the ambiance of your bedroom that absorbs you into dreamland.
Let's cut to the chase. Personally, it’s the brand consciousness that drives people to IKEA and a sense of pride to say, “I got this at IKEA” only expecting to raise the eyebrow of your listener! Hah-hah. Otherwise it is no big deal to me. I prefer to be a smart consumer where I mix n match my household items from different stores as long as the quality is not compromised.