[Flying Journey]: Amsterdam in Spring 2016 - Keukenhof Garden!

Remember about what I post earlier, that God had listened to my prayer and I've got Amsterdam again? Couldn't thank God enough for this amazing flight! I'm blessed enough to be able to have Amsterdam flight before they changed to 350.

Further more, to be in Amsterdam during Spring was totally amazing! Because it's the Tulip season!!!!

I went to Keukenhof Garden which they claimed - the most beautiful Spring Garden in the whole world! I have to agree, the moment I entered, it smelled so so good, flowers everywhere. 1 word, beautiful!!

As I went here during Spring, I have thought to bring my mum to Amsterdam during Spring 2017. Finger crossed it's gonna happen!

Here are the beautiful pictures!

Summer 2015 / Spring 2016 

Indoor Garden - so many tulips! 

I didn't know Miffy is from Holland! 

Taken with Iphone5 

I love this pic the most! Thanks to the red coat :) 

And yeah, finally here! I AMsterdam :) 

 'til then~

XOXO

Jess 

[Diary]: God's Blessings

Recently because of the depression that I've experience, mum prays for me every single day. So I could get wise senior colleagues who works with me, anyone with evil thoughts or intention to be cast away in Jesus' name, and many more.

Sometimes, well, most of times, I took it for granted. My thoughts were I still can run my daily life and routine without need to pray to God and all seems good. Yes, it was, at first. But, when the trouble comes, I felt really down. Easily stressed, daily life seems getting more difficult to be faced, I have more fear, lesser strength as I was really holding to myself, relying myself. No longer God in my life. Listening stuffs that I want to hear instead of what I need to hear. God seems getting further, until when I call, I don't feel any presence. Let me tell you, it's awful. Daily life seems fake.

Until, I try to rely on God more, try to call Him more even though I don't feel Him. I try to give thanks, be thankful of what I have, even without any reasons, the simplest thing like I could breathe, I am where I am, safe, still alive, anything. I tried not ask for any prayer, just give thanks. Just say "God is good, Tuhan Yesus baik. Baik sekali. Terima kasih Tuhan. Terima kasih Tuhan."
I was repeating this again and again, play worship songs whenever I'm in hotel room, or when I'm home.

When I was walking by myself, I tried to talk to God more like having conversation. Anything I will talk about, silly things, good things, bad things. And, I'm so glad, very glad like finally I could feel again. Feel His presence. Just by saying "Thank You God" I could feel it. Oh gosh, I really miss this.
I just cried without reasons, just feel glad and enjoy that I could feel His presence. It is really something that I would not trade in this world.

I couldn't imagine my life without God, life seems difficult. Everyday is like a challenge, full of fear. Afraid of things, many more. Experienced that, and I don't want it again.

Slowly, I feel God's blessings come into my life. For April roster, I prayed on March and told God, "God, is it possible for me to get Amsterdam again before they changed aircraft? I really love Amsterdam." And when the roster out, I've got it. Currently I am in Amsterdam, Spring 2016 and going to see Tulips :)

For May roster, I prayed again, I told God, "God, I haven't done HKG SFO, I think it's gonna be fun, but I also want FCO or MUC because I love Europe." And, when the roster out, I've got HKG SFO and DME IAH. 2 States flight in a month - rostered. This is AMAZING.

I told my mum about this, God is good. I've got no complain, but I'm just confused. I don't know I should be happy or sad that I've got this 2 States flight. Mum told me, "Be thankful! It's a blessings. Remember that you told me that you want to sponsor for my trip to Korea, I prayed that God will give you good flight so you could earn more money!" I was speechless. I totally forgot when I told my mum about that, but I do have a thought to provide for her trip to Korea with whatever that I'm going to earn. Oh my. I'm just standing in awe. God is just too awesome and amazing.

I was puzzled since last night and finally I have thought to call mum and I got the answer. It's like the puzzle that connect s from one thought to bless and to be blessed. Connected by prayer. It's like magic - poof! But of course, I know it is because of faith that we have in Him.

I'm just so happy. Thank You GOD! :)

[Holiday]: Bali Escapade 4D3N - Budget Trip

Just want to share with you guys about trip to Bali, some people say it may be expensive but some people say it may be cheap. For few trips that I've done, it always ended up I spent more than my budget. Damn.

But, on my recent trip. I guess I spent less than $500 include flight ticket. So, it's pretty cheap since it is Indonesia! My beloved country. I'm gonna list down on what I've spent too, so it's kinda clear.

Flight ticket, I took SIA - got some discount so my ticket fare was $157. If you take budget, well the price pretty much almost the same; either more or less. Hehe.

Hotel, as I kinda know that I want to spend more time outside than in hotel, so I just book a 3 star hotel as long as it's clean enough to shower and comfortable enough to sleep. And oh, parking space. Hotel for 3 nights was $120 nett. I chose Destiny Boutique Hotel at Seminyak area.

Transportation, we rent a car. Daihatsu Ayla, big enough for two of us. We just need some car to get us around comfortably, easy to drive and tiny enough to get through the small roads. Rental for 3 days total $66 nett (about $22 per day).

Day 1 - Arrival Day
In the morning I just arrived from Moscow, 10.5 hours flight at least. The whole day I didn't eat, didn't really have enough sleep as the rest period onboard pretty short. Morning arrival in Singapore, quickly I get myself back home, unpack some stuff and pack stuff for Bali.

 

Off to Bali! 

Managed to get shower, relax for a while then heads off to Airport.
Arrive in Bali about noon, by then Mariyah had arrived and get the car upon her arrival. I told her I can't drive on first day as I'm really tired and I don't dare to take any risk. I kept my tummy to eat all Balinese food! And we had the Nasi Babi Guling Pak Malen at Sunset Road, they have moved from across the shopping mall to somewhere else, still along Sunset Road but before the traffic light.

 

Nasi Babi Guling Pak Malen - IDR 45K per portion (with drinks IDR100K)

After ate, we checked in to hotel. Too tired to just cheong. Old enough. HAHAHA. I didn't take any pic of the hotel, don't really bother as we just want to rest. After resting about 2.5 hours, we decided to go Potato Head Beach Club. Last time, I thought I have to get a table in order to be able to enter. BUT BUT BUT BUT! Thanks to Mariyah, I knew that we could enter just by saying we want to dip at pool and just order from BAR! So the host took her ID and Credit Card. I could say, this is SMART. 

We were literally able to enjoy the beach club just by ordering drinks, we spent about 150K for 2 of us. 

 at Potato Head Beach Club

And, what is Indonesia without food??? I always get hungry easily when in Indonesia. Ok this is weird but when I'm back in Indo, I just crave for food. I NEED TO EAT. We had dinner at Biku, Mariyah said it's kinda in thing like everyone goes to this place. 

I ordered Nasi Campur Biku and she ordered Babi Kecap with Rice. It was delicious except her pork meat not too tender. It costs us about IDR 250K. If I'm not mistaken.

 

Dinner at Biku (kinda hip thing in town!) 

Love the food!  

Before we end the day, we had Gusto Gelato for dessert, it is so yummy and cheap! We chose the medium size cup, 3 flavor for IDR 42K. 

 

Dessert is always a must! Gusto Gelato! 

Day 1 spending: IDR 100K + IDR 150K + IDR 250K + IDR42K = IDR 542K (about $60 for 2)

Day 2 - 1st clear day
Woke up early morning, about 9 am. Then off from hotel 930 am, we went to eat Nasi Babi again. HAHAHA. I know it's kinda crazy to have it as breakfast but it is a MUST in Bali!
Actually I love the babi guling at this place, the meat is sooo tasty. It's located at Nusa Dua, Nasi Babi Guling Pak Malen.

The goodness of babi guling 

Breakfast cost: IDR 100K (include drinks) - IDR45K per portion.

After breakfast, we were heading to Finn's Beach Club, located on the southern part of Bali Island. Maybe about 30 minutes journey from Nusa Dua. I drove with guide from Waze, we saw the view from hill and beach, it just so beautiful! Too bad we didn't take any picture as we were driving quite fast.

I should really admit that I love driving in Indonesia. Sometimes I may get annoyed because the rules aren't clear but it's fun to have these kind of things. Maybe because I grew up in Indonesia then only I moved to Singapore. It's like a total change, I did enjoy it at first but not until recently.

Ok, back to the trip. Finn's beach club is sooo beautiful! See the pictures!!

 

This time, we really just relax by the beach, doing nothing. Just stoning, enjoying ourselves, pretty "atas" life that I may not really able to enjoy in Singapore. Of course, we took bunches of pictures too. 

 

Entrance fee: IDR 300K per person inclusive IDR 150K voucher for F&B. Pretty good deal actually.

For dinner, we had Eat Well. I ate the crispy pork. hehe. I love the crispy pork, so enjoyable.

Mariyah ordered pulled pork burger but I didn't take any pic :(

Dinner cost: IDR 300K for 2 of us

Total spending for Day 2: IDR 100K + IDR600K + IDR 300K = IDR 1000K (about $110 for 2)

Day 3 - last clear day

In morning, we went to drink coffee at Grocer & Grind Seminyak. As usual just two cups of Latte for both of us.
Coffee cost: IDR 70K for 2

Then we went to Denpasar for Babi Guling Pak Candra. HAHAHA I know right, like every morning we eat Nasi Babi. So fattening but don't care. This is Indonesia!
We ordered a portion only as we were pretty full, and it's only cost us IDR 50K with drinks.

Last day to relax on beach, we decided to go to the cheap and free beach. Geger Beach. Thanks to Waze, it brought us to private beach at Novotel, so we have to walk about 10 minutes to the real Geger Beach, actually it's nearer to Mulia Hotel, just beside Mulia Hotel.
So we enjoyed the same beach that hotel guest paid for, except that we paid cheaper.

 

The seats for two are IDR 50K additional towel is chargeable at IDR 25K.
They also provide some water sports gears for rent about IDR 100K per hour. Good deals I guess.

 

Literally I slept on the bench, enjoyed the winds, it was very serene and peaceful.

Lastly, we had dinner. Nasi ayam. I have no idea what is the shop name, but here's the picture! Hehe. After dinner we just chill out at Motel Mexicola, I could say it's like the most hip and in place now at Bali. We suspected they hire some staff to get crazy and make the place noisy and so happening. Abangnya kayak asik sendiri dan heboh sendiri gitu. HAHAHA!

 

Nasi Ayam

 

Day 4 - Going back to Singapore

Sadly, the escapade had to come to end and I came back on the day I'm on standby but it started in evening. So while in the airport, I checked and they have activated me for BNE. I don't mind any aussie flight as long as no Indian flight. While waiting for the boarding time, I was sitting down at Black Canyon and there was this angmoh wanted to sit on my table so he could charge his phone. Of course since I didn't use it, he's most welcome to do so.
While talking, I found out that he actually doing some show for Manila Fashion Festival. He invited me to attend the event and he will arrange transportation to pick me up and also VIP ticket. I was like wow. Unfortunately I just have turn down his invitation as I need to save up and also I want some time in Singapore just doing some house chores.

 

Bye Bali! See you again soon! :) 

'til then~
XOXO
Jess