MAMMA MIA

Was suggested by a friend lately, an authentic Italian Restaurant in Ubud - Bali area. Located at the second S turning from Lod Tunduh village to Monkey Forest, this restaurant looks so simple.

It is not easy to get your car a park if you are using car. However the taste of the pizza and other Italian Food, wow ..... Mamma Mia, it just stays on your tongue.

We had Quattro Formaggio Pizza, Penne al Salmone and Spaghetti Marinara for lunch today. Freshly grated parmesan cheese shines on top of perfectly cooked al-dente penne. The freshness of the tomato sauce which claimed imported directly from Italy, tastes just right!

I am not trying to market the place, I just want to share if you are an Italian food lover like me, it is worth to give a try.

Enjoy!

MASHED POTATOES

As I wrote on my other blog: http://www.muziekforeveryone.com/2012/08/in-rememberance-dad.html, today is the anniversary of 10 years my dad passed away.

His favorite western dish is mashed potatoes especially the dutch style. However in many cases when my mom too busy in preparing other food for us, the  Betty Crocker - Real Mashed Potatoes would also be fine :)


Please find herewith the link of nice creamy mashed potatoes recipe: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/delicious_creamy_mashed_potatoes/

Miss you so much daddy, time was never enough. You must be rest in peace with Him now.
Pray for us who are still struggling in this world.

THINGS that WE NAMED AS 'ATTENTION'

I started my day very early today.
After arriving at my office - about 45 minutes later, as usual an office girl and an office boy do their cleaning task in my office.

They work based on roster, usually they work for several same offices for a couple of days, before transferred to other offices area.

I noticed the girl that work for 3 days up to today has a very nice smile. She is very polite and have a very well mannered.

I never have a chance to chat with these office girls and boys. Only exchanging smiles and say thank you for their assistance.

Today, since it is not too busy, I started a conversation with the girl.

Responding my question if she employed here or on the job training, she said that she is on the job training at my company. She took a year of housekeeping hospitality diploma program. One semester learning the theory and one semester on the job to mastering her knowledge.

I asked her, what is the reason for her to take one year diploma program instead of taking a program which can lead her into a brighter career in the future? She said that her uncle who suggested him to take the program and so on.

From her explanation I can read between the line, that funds is actually the problem for her to get a better education.

Then....., I continue my conversation. I asked if she speaks English. Her answer: she does not have the capability to communicate in English.

I feel pity for this girl. To enter the jungle of hospitality world, it is a must to be able to speak English. She took the one year program, for the reason to get job quicker. But how can she survive from the competition if she does not have English as one of the main 'weapon'? She is a very nice girl, her character will be suitable for service industry. But............??

I learn from my experience talking to the girl. Being too busy doing my job and self centered....... (still I guess), I did not pay enough attention to small things happened surround me.

At the end of our conversation, I suggested her to learn English, even I know, maybe the fund for it can still be a problem.

DINOYO KERAMIK

I was doing ceramic handcrafted many years back, but not anymore. However anything related to ceramics still has a place in my heart.

If you are a ceramic lover, you must have heard about Dinoyo Ceramic.
Dinoyo is actually a name of a region near Malang - East Java Regency where one of most popular ceramic center in Indonesia located, now you know how Dinoyo Ceramic obtains its name.

Never ask the history of how this ceramic craft happened in Dinoyo, no body knows.
The people of Dinoyo only can answer the question, "The craft has been there even before them."

Some say that this craft has been there since the era of Kanjuruhan Kingdom in the 8th century. And it survives till this modern era. The nuance of those ancient times still attached in the patron of the ceramic made in Dinoyo.

Uniquely some crafter still doing a special ritual before they start making ceramic. They believe by doing it, the ceramic being made will be more beautiful.

Interested to know further of Dinoyo Ceramic, I found an interesting websites which containing information related to Dinoyo Ceramic: http://www.dinoyo.com

Enjoy exploring.

KEMBANG GOELA

I was invited for a lunch yesterday.
The place chosen was a nice Indonesian Restaurant named Kembang Goela located in Petitenget area.
You can find the place easily. Just follow the Petitenget road from the Kerobokan Traffic light. Kembang Goela is on the left side not very far from the traffic light. Its signboard with a lady in nonja style kebaya is very obvious taking attraction.

The restaurant picked a colonial interior style with some big size printed old photographs hung on its wall.
Several antique furniture also set as an interior component.
The restaurant overall is very clean and giving a pleasant feeling to enjoy your meals.















If you are looking for an authentic Indonesian cuisine signature, I must say that Kembang Goela have it. Even the service is a little bit slow and the up selling effort I feel sometime too pushy, they were still giving a top service category.



Their signature dish are their sausages and gulai ikan.
Price wise, considered ok for food selections, but not for the drinks - expensive.
















"Sosis Om Yance or Uncle Yance's sausage" is a 75cm long sausages, served using a long wooden plate, especially to coupe the sausage. Mayonnaise, mustard and tomato sauce were the condiment to accompanied it.

"Sosis Sinyo Londo or Dutch Boy's sausage" served in a 'naughty' way........ :D
Check the picture below.




















Rice is the main dish for Indonesian. And Kembang Goela develop the rice selection into 4 types of rice. The Yellow rice, Green Rice, Red or Brown rice and normal rice.
Yellow rice is rice colored with turmeric, and green rice having its green color from pandan leaves and daun kayu suji (I do not know the English word for daun kayu suji).

















For you who like spicy food, their SambalKombinasi or Combination Chilli Sauce should get a two thumbs up. Consisted of Mango Chilli Sauce, Shrimp Paste Chilli Sauce or Sambal Terasi, and Gandaria Chilli Sauce. I wonder where did they get the Gandaria.
Gandaria is a name of a tree with greenish fruit. The fruit tastes sour but very good for sambal. The Gandaria trees is nearly extinct. To my knowledge the trees are only available in West Java.
















Last but not least, I chosed cappucinno to complete my lunch.
The lunch finally ended at nearly 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

Nyepi - 2009

What makes Bali so unique, I think one amongst other uniqueness is the NYEPI DAY. Nyepi Day or Silence Day, when all activities are stopped, the day is used to do a self instropections.

Experiencing so many Nyepi Days, I still feel the great sensation. The island is truly purified during the day. No polution, very quiet ...... so wonderful.

Many people do not like Nyepi Day, but not myself.

Nyepi day this year, that will be fallen on 26th April 2009 will be different.
WHY?
We would not have any Ogoh-ogoh on the Pengerupukan (a day before Nyepi Day).
Ogoh-ogoh is a big statue reflecting bad spirits that should be beaten by good spirits.
The lose of bad spirits visualized by burning the Ogoh-ogoh after it carried surrounding the village.

Campaign that due in the same period as Nyepi Day, caused the government thought, it will be wise for not having Ogoh-ogoh for this year.

Well, I hope I will have the same great sensation experiencing Nyepi Day, although without Ogoh-ogoh and the noise following the parade on the Pengerupukan day.

GALUNGAN - a BALINESE Holiday

Today is a big holiday for Balinese people.
Recurring every 210 days, Galungan is a big celebration.
The ceremony lasts in 10 days, closed by a Kuningan Day.

The city of Denpasar feel like 'empty' during the day.
People are going back to their villages, visiting families and friends, after praying at the temple.
They also pray for family members who passed away but yet still not be cremated.

It is not easy to find a restaurant or food stalls selling tradisional Balinese food during this days.
At least for 3 days on the Galungan day you will have problems in finding food.

Balinese also erecting poles which have been decorated beautifully with coconut leaves and flowers, these poles giving an atmosphere of big festive for 10 days here in Bali.

This Galungan Day is very special as it is very close to other Balinese big holiday - NYEPI DAY.

SELAMAT HARI RAYA GALUNGAN!

BEDUGUL - Botanical Garden

Since I was a little girl, I have already fallen in love with this place.
My dad often took me there (almost every weekend - if we were in Bali). Usually we walked in the forest, stepping a nature pathway, seeing various kind of plantation.
Those days, weather is a lot cooler compared to now. No many people like visiting Bedugul Botanical Garden like today.

The garden named EKA KARYA Botanical Garden.
Located about 60 kms up north on the way to Singaraja from the capital city of Bali - Denpasar.
They have nearly 16.000 types of plantation scattered on about 155 hectares area.















Bedugul Botanical Garden is a perfect place to bring your family for a short weekend holiday.
You can bring your food and have the children playing freely while enjoying the nice and clean air.

MAN MARU - A Japanese Restaurant

Last Saturday, without planning I went back to Ubud.
Went back? Yes, after spending 5 hours at my office in Ubud, return to Denpasar, then we decided to have dinner in Ubud.

We picked Man Maru, a Japanese restaurant located at Jalan Raya Sanggingan.
Several times passing the road of Sanggingan we have never seen this restaurant being busy.
Usually restaurant that quiet pack offer good quality of food or......... maybe good price.
Good quality + good price = very busy.
Good quality + expensive price = limited clients
Bad quality + cheap price = sometimes busy
Bad quality + expensive price = disaster
(LOL)

But since Man Maru is recommended by several friends, we thought that we should give a try.
"The quality of the food is better compared to Japanese Restaurant X, "my friend explained.
"But......, the price is a lot higher too!" he continued.

Then, we have already been in the restaurant.
We took a Japanese traditional table at the corner, closed area, divided by bamboo partition to other area of the restaurant.

We take a look at the menu, they have many variations of menus.
And true, price is lot higher compared to our favorite Japanese Restaurant.

After scrutinizing the list of menu, I decided to order ebi tempura sushi with black sesame seeds to be shared with my love ones. I never can eat a lot due to stomach problem.
They have a katsu and teriyaki. We also have a bowl of boiled eda mame, which unfortunately slightly overcooked, and it lost its crunchiness.

I choosed hot Ocha as my beverage, it is served in a nice traditional glass. Expensive! - Rp. 18.000 per pot.

They served bean sprout with sesame oil and a kind of slightly hot sauce as the appetizer.
Finally our order served. It is true, the food is very good!
The ingredients is very fresh and cooked nicely.
















We will recommend this restaurant to our friends too. That is why I posted my experience having dinner there in my blog!

BALI SAFARI & MARINE PARK

Last Sunday, my love one joined a caricature competition.
It was the first time he agreed to join such competition.
He is very talented but always refuse to join a competition.

The competition took place at Bali Safari & Marine Park.
It was for the first time for us visiting the park.

Entering the park we were given a bracelet showing that we are entitled to enter the park.
There are 3 types of bracelets (I guess), differentiate by colors.
We got the green one which meaning we still have to pay if we want to enter the fun park.

From the main gate, we were taken to Barong Lobby by bus (they called it trem).
Passing the Barong Lobby we will find shops area and Uma Restaurant. There is also a wantilan (kind of open partition building) where traditional Balinese dance are performed on schedule.

Crossing the Dragon Bridge you will find several beautiful Cockatoo birds.
They are very gentle, you can take pictures with them.
On the opposite side of the cockatoo there is a place where you can take picture with orang utan.
You will need to pay some fee to get your picture with the orang utan.
They are so cuteeee!!

















Passing the Cockatoo and Orang Utan place you will arrive at Hanoman Stage, where the Bird and Dogs performance showed on schedule.

Across Hanoman Stage there is a pond where elephants taking bath. The elephants marching to their bathing pond. Pay a bunch of banana for Rp. 10.000 and you can feed the elephants while they are taking a bath.















Walking across the unfinished Ganesha Court (wondering what that place is going to be); you will find the trem station, where you can start your journey exploring the park, seeing their wild animals collection.










If you wish to spend night there, they also have lodge, but we did not see inside.
Maybe it will be fun too staying a night there. The rate started from USD 160++.
See the picture below, that is the style of the accommodation in the park.















Well, it was a fun day for us. My love one won the last prize for his category, he was happy.
Spending nearly a day there, sweating walking around the park.
But if you visit it near time, the marine park is not finished yet, will be ready in 2009.
We will back there by then!

One more thing! You won't be allowed bringing food from outside. The price of the food sold in the restaurant is quiet reasonable, but don't be surprised, the beverage price is 2 - 3 times more expensive compared to the price in the market. So get ready ;-)!

LOVINA TRIP

It was truly an un-planned trip.
I was not prepared to go, but my love one having problem with his left foot (swollen) and can not drive. So I have to take his duty to drive my in law to attend a wedding party in Singaraja.

Singaraja was previously the capital of Bali before it is moved to Denpasar.
It is located on the north part of Bali about 80 kms from Denpasar, having a warm and humid climate.

The wedding party was held about 18.00, but we left Denpasar early morning as my in law wanted to attend the marriage rite at the church. We dropped them at the bride's home and we headed to Lovina, a tourism area in Singaraja.

We spend our time at Bali Taman Resort & Spa.
The hotel is very well maintained, yet clean and tidy.













Since it was too hot to swim when we arrived at the hotel, we decided to have a drink at the restaurant. The restaurant is empty as it was already around 11.00 in the afternoon.
Breakfast already past while lunch was bit too early. I ordered a cup of Balinese coffee, my love one had a glass of ice lemon tea and a plate of fried banana for both of us.

The fried banana was served with palm sugar syrup.
The batter was crunchy but unfortunately, the banana was not riped enough.












I recommended this hotel, I would stay there again one day. The staff is friendly, and also honest! My in law left her precious necklace in the bathroom, but it kept save by the staff.
When she realized she did not have it and rang me to go back to the hotel, I found it kept at the safety deposit box at the front desk. Thank you so much!

It is also easy for you to go for snorkeling or if you want to take a dolphin tour in the early morning. The journey start right on the beach in front of the hotel!

SWEET ORANGES

I was re-arranging my e-photo album, when I found this picture.
Taken 2003. The fruit is from the orange tree at our land located in Kintamani.
It is not a serious managed orange plantation, we have it as it is already there.

It is quiet weird........, when first visiting the place after my love one bought it, it was just the harvest time. We tasted the orange from all trees at the first layer terrace. We just left un-eaten the orange which is not taste sweet :-(. Feel sorry right now, it is not good isn't it. What a waste!

Right now, we just collected all fruits. The one that are taken from the tree which marked not sweet, collected separately, and it goes to a blender ------> output : ORANGE JUICE!
The sweet one, we ate it directly, put the left over in the refrigerator. If there are too many left over, it went out to our friends house.

Actually the harvest time itself is really enjoyable. Taking the fruit one by one, smell its freshness while the mountain breeze softly caress our skin. Exchanging jokes, sometimes throwing small undeveloped orange each other.

I'am happy.














This is the view from my land at Kintamani.
Actually I and my love one want to sell it, we want to move to the north part of Bali.
It is not big, only 2.300 m2, but the view is 'undisturbed'.
Nobody can build something in front of the land, as it is located on the slop.
If you are interested please contact me by post a comment.

DESA DUSUN - a Must to Try

Many times we went out for eating not because of the food but because of the place it self.
Few weeks ago we found a nice place in the middle of the city. Located on a river bank - Ayung River, the place offered a romantic Javanese touch.

Entering the place we will pass a mini library, I have never checked what kind of books are in their collection, as I usually bring my own. Next to the library there is a collection of artworks, many items displayed there that I do like too. The place called DESA DUSUN, if you are passing the Gatot Subroto Road in Denpasar, the place is on the east part of Gatot Subroto, not far from the elite housing called TERAS AYUNG.

DESA DUSUN is the place where we like not because of the food. The food is good, but what I mean, you still can get the food at the same quality in other places or even a better quality, but you won't get the same atmosphere in other place like there.

Two days ago we went there for a dinner. During night time, they enlight many torches along the pathway, giving a different feeling and touch to the place. They are using a combination of brown textile and batik as the table cloth. Cuteleries are placed in an ata box. Ata is a kind of wild root which is woven becoming various designs from place mat to hand bags.

My love ones preferred to order Chicken Mushroom Steak and Beef in Black Bean Sauce and a portion of Asinan Desa Dusun for myself.

We never miss to order Fried Banana as the dessert. Their fried banana uniquely served with a combination of sugar and cinnamon. They are using Pisang Raja not Pisang Kepok the usual banana for fried banana. The sweetness of Pisang Raja gave a nice combination with the batter.

Last but not least, please consider to have separated sugar or syrup if you order sweet drinks. It tends to be too sweet. I have a sweet tooth but I always taste their beverages are too sweet.