Run Forrest Run

Bubba Gump Shrimp's Word of The Day

everyone who watched Tom Hanks' most famous movie "Forrest Gump" knows indeed what those

with my friend, Vincent

words refer to. in the movie, Benjamin Buford "Bubba" Blue and Forrest Gump had an idea to manage a company, named "Bubba Gump Shrimp Co" after the end of their service in the Army, but Bubba died in the line of duty in Vietnam, which left Forrest Gump to be the only member of the company. this Forrest Gump movie inspired Viacom Consumer Products on 1996 to initiate what happened on the movie. and after almost 20 years in business, Bubba Gump are all over the world. one of them is opened in Bali, Indonesia, and becoming the most visited restaurant in Bali. 

SeaFood Plater & Juice

Bubba Gump offers large choices of seafood, prawns, king prawns, shrimps, squids, fishes and other combinations which make you surely want to have all those things. the prawn is so juicy, the cocktail tastes great, what else though? 

the restaurant entrance was very animated with lots off funny signs & license plates like "Stop Forrest

the lucky birthday girl

Stop!", "Shop Forrest Shop!" and some cool stuffs they put on the window. a very clever idea to drag everybody in. with their camp environment, 1950's classic style and "Forrest Gump" movie quotes, you will surely feel, this place has no matches.

cheers in the place

the staffs were often yell happily to cheer & greet you. they will often force you to be in a fun game with the other visitors. when I came in, there was a lucky visitor who had a birthday, with no hesitate, the staffs danced and sang the Birthday song, sung by the whole people in the restaurants (what a birthday??!)

there's some quite unique rule in this place to order your meal. if you want to order and ask the staffs, you have to say it loud "Stop Forrest Stop" or you turn the sign on your table to "Stop Forrest Stop". and if you have done with your meal, you have to say it loud "Run Forrest Run". if you don't do it, they drag you into their games, and all people in this place will surely stare your red crabby face. :D

easy to find

this Bubba Gump is so easy to spot, it's just beside the Waterbom Bali or across Centro (you won't surely miss this place), if you can't find it, so.. Run Forrest Run!!!

Smörgås Café

A Swedish Touch

it was a hot summer day in Bali, I was heading to Sanur to visit one of my colleagues who handled a

Swedish Place with Swedish Flag

Tour Operator. was so unlucky, he left out of town for a group to Amed-Tulamben, on the north of this island. my stomach was so grumpy (was its feeding time) & I saw some blond girls crossed the street and entered a nice Restaurant. I decided to take a detour "seems a nice place to have a Brunch", suddenly I remembered haven't eat anything since woke up, those blonde girls really made me starving :))

the Restaurant was a Swedish ones. never had any idea what was inside, but hell worth to try though. Smörgås Café that's said on the wall. and for the Swedish, it's a call for their  Swedish bread. yupp!! Smörgås, an open sandwich actually, like a slice of fresh bread with different style

Don't Forget the Name

and type of spreads, butter, liver pâté, cheese spreads, cold cuts such as roast beef, turkey, ham, bacon, salami, beef tongue, cheese or sausages like beerwurst & vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, radish, or cucumber. this kind of food is consumed nearly all over Europe like Austria, Germany, Czech, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland as well as other parts of Europe & North America as a regular breakfast or appetizer.

the always smiling waitress brought me instantly my Smörgås, "here's your Smörgås Swedish Bread and your natural Swedish Juice". 

Smörgås Bread & Swedish Healthy Juice

 I picked my Swedish Bread (a slice open sandwich with cheese, bacon, mix veggie and stuffed mayonaise) and my natural Swedish Juice is quite like a vegetables juice (they mixed kale, green grapes, cucumber and apple, served cold). 

Nice Place to be

the place was on the hook, so cozy & their concept is an outdoor restaurant, and it's a great idea. there's lots of menus for you to try here, this place also serves fusion menu (Asian, Western and Swedish). and if you're running out of idea to have a good Breakfast-Lunch, this place definitely a perfect choice. God dag och Hej då...

comfort couch :D

 worth to try though

                                                            

Once Been Stranded

small Port in Anggana by the Estuary of Mahakam River

transport with small Ferry

big ship passed the river

 Where the Tide meets the Stream

Tug boat delivered coal

back in the middle of 2009, I worked in a Food Plantation Unit in Borneo (a big island across Java). Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world and the largest island of Asia and the home of the oldest rainforests in the world

coal mine

This island is divided among 3 countries: Brunei, Indonesia & Malaysia, and is divided by number of marvelous large rivers like Barito in the South, Kapuas in the West, Rajang in the North, and Mahakam in the East.

I stayed for around 10 months in East Borneo, around 2 cities (Balikpapan, Samarinda) and 1 district (Anggana in the region of Kutai Kartanegara), due to my job, I had to travel around those places every week (it was an exhausting journey I tell you what).

the company provided me some houses, 1 of them was in Anggana (from Samarinda, it lies further on the east) and the house was built on the river bank of Mahakam, 1 of the longest river on the island, 900 miles long from Long Apari to Makassar Strait.

along this river can be found hundred of coal mining, fish-prawn farm and drilling in purpose of Petroleum demand, and obviously it makes a lot of money.

with a great length period of exploitation, this river & soil have been suffering a great environmental damage. the soil lost its exuberance & its solidity. often the crops were ruined, unharvested, then land slides often been a headlines on TV & newspapers. the great river anguishes high pollutant by the mining & drilling. the water has been toxicated, shrimps, fishes, prawns, crocs and other species died haplessly. meanwhile the inhabitants often consume the water for their own kids & babies. it is truly a devastating effect. 

it was always a strange feeling that I've been stranded in the middle of nowhere. it was truly a different place to be. knowing you was just a little jigsaw puzzle in this mother earth. I will obviously never suggest you to visit my place here, but there will always some challenges for you to dare for. A life by the wild rain forest and great river will always tempting, o dear mate. so, would you dare to overcome this wilderness? I'll be waiting you on the place where the Tide meets the Stream...

Bali Safari & Marine Park

Barong Lobby of Bali Safari & Marine Park

Bali Safari & Marine Park

it was a great sunny day of 2012, me & my colleagues   

Bird Venue

visited Bali Safari & Marine Park at Gianyar (about 45km

from Kuta). it was an hour by car through By Pass Ngurah Rai, it was quite crowded day too.

Bali Safari is the 3rd animal theme Park which owned by this company, the 1st and the 2nd are on Java. we heard that this Bali Safari Park is fully supported by the authorized local government, by leasing vast wide of land in Gianyar to the company.

soon while we arrived, the zebra pattern bus brought us through deep into the jungle and suddenly we were at the main lobby, Barong Lobby. 

we directly went to the Bird venue where lied just after this place. we saw some parrots, the famous Macaws (but I'm afraid they weren't able to speak, like we'd likely see in the movie). they weren't caged, but their domain's marked by the wooden fences (were completely unharmed).

Elephant Venue

we continued to the next venue, the Elephant venue. you can feed them, while the staffs built Elephant nests around here. and there also Elephant Ride, riding Elephants through the jungle. I counted there were 5 adults Elephants and 8 babies. if you follow the sign to the Elephant Show, you can see a collaboration act by the staffs & the Elephants. it's about of a human-elephants history. it explained reason why Elephant often quite aggressive nowadays.

this Theme Park offers us lots of animal shows, the 1st was Elephant, the 2nd was animal groups (eagles, otters, mouse, cat, dog and parrots).

Marine Park Aquarium

actually there were another show but it was held inside the Bali Agung Theater. they held an hour and a half duration show, there were some animals involved too.

as usual the tour is riding the zebra bus and take a round way while seeing the animals. the animals are separated by their orientation, is it a herbivore, carnivore or omnivore.

after you get this round way ride, you can choose some spots as riding the elephants, feeding the tiger or having a dinner with the lions in the Tsavo Lion Restaurant.

Kid's Playground

there's also a playground inside for kids. there are also high slide and pools in it (should be fun though). I didn't know if there was an extra cost to get in, cause it's designated for the kids. 

if you just too tired to try all those stuffs, you can just relax at the Tsavo Lion Restaurant and enjoy the sightseeings.

Kuta Theater

Kuta Theater Entrance

Kuta Theater, The Unbelievable Show

it was a warm Saturday evening. my watch showed the time already reached 7pm Bali time. had already my dinner & had no idea what to do that evening (was a long time to be in Legian). I set my mind to Centro Shopping Mall on Kartika Plaza, might find something chill. my steps stopped as I saw a big sign on the edge of the street. it wrote "Unbelievable Theatrical Show". never had an idea what was in it. seemed worth every penny. then I asked to a man with a red mask, stood just by the sign, he was the doorman. "it's a theater illusion show, mate. come and see!" while he told me about. still had no idea. I watched the TV instead, and I got his message ;)

Kuta Theater Balcony

the doorman delivered me upstairs where I could see the whole show & of course bought the ticket. USD 10 for a ticket, for an hour show with full of action, the doorman convinced me.

the show started at 8pm precisely, I picked a middle row seat, where I felt comfort to see the whole show. it was entirely free seat to choose & that evening there were lots of spectators, around 100.

The Legong Dance in Kuta Theater Show

the show begun with a balinese traditional dance then it was totally different. a mixed twisted story of a modern life with balinese touch and magic. yupp magic! they zipped in the magic touches & tricks with dance, drama & Bali's plot. clever tricks! I couldn't figure it out how they run the show, and mostly the magic tricks. the magician vanished three dancers in a box. with just a slight wave of hand, those three girls were vanished right in my very eyes. absolutely worth every cents & dime to watch this show.

The Viewers

the story ended when the girl & the guy re-united again, and happily ever after. the magician, dancers & the crews bowed, saluting "good bye". it was never felt it was already 60 minutes. decided to rush out to the doors, the dancers & the magician waved us, they were so friendly indeed. I saw happy faces, big smiles after the show. great work mate!

the spectators were amazingly from around the world, Aussie, German, French, Russia, Korea, Japan, China and some Malaysians, and I haven't saw any frowned faces.

with the Dancer

and the day after, I saw the dancers walked around the block. I greeted and cheered her, but of course it won't be good without a photo.

she gave me a free photo session. well surely I will be here again next time, where the magic comes alive...

The Ritual Bali - Cliff & Chapel

The Chapel

The Ritual Bali - Cliff & Chapel

this place is actually a private owned place and you need a special permit to get in. I was there, while my friend & I had some Fireworks installation to finish off. we were hired for a wedding event. the wedding organizer arranged a great evening for the bride, one night to remember.

this place is called The Ritual, first, it has a Chapel, which obviously a place for people to have a marriage ceremony. second, it has a cliff and wonderful sightseeing. 

Cliff Behind The Chapel

at the first time, I wondered how much this place would spend our money and I got an answer, it would take USD 6000 for an hour. and it would need to pay the half to book this place (food and beverage are obviously not included).

the best thing, the space would only suit for less than 50 people. so you might have a proper reason not to invite some unwanted friends :))

View from The Cliff

for once in a lifetime moment, USD 6000 would surely a fair price, if you look the blue sea and sky whose would be the background of your wedding photos. so.., have an idea to change your wedding venue? just don't make up your mind too fast.

the Ritual is just before the intersection of Blue Point, Suluban Beach. there's a sign made of solid rock, surely you won't miss.

Blue Sea from Above

Petitenget Seminyak

A Girl Walks By

 Petitenget Seminyak

Crowded Beach of Petitenget

Seminyak has become the up market heart of Bali. here you will find a slightly quieter pace than Kuta and Legian and the home of fine dining, boutique shopping and trendy bars. the area is popular with the European crowd and offers luxury villas and 5 star hotels. Seminyak Beach continues along from Legian heading away from the airport and is where you will find the famous Ku De Ta, La Luchiola and  Oberoi.

Villas & Bungalos Are Easily Found

Sand Drawing

Petitenget is Seminyak's little sister located just next door and has cute cafes and shops. further along heading away from the Beach are the areas of Umalas and Kerobokan. here you will find beautiful private Villas and a more traditional feel, whilst still being only 5-10 minutes away from the heart of Seminyak.
along from Petitenget is the quaint area of Batu Belig (that we have been). as Seminyak spreads along the coast, the shops and restaurants have now reached this neighboring village. there is still a semi-rural traditional feel to this area but its close enough to the action & even has some of its own destinations now. 

Petitenget won't allow foreigners to sunbath or swim as it's sacred to the Balinese and it's just in front of a temple area. they often have ceremonies here and don't want to find any disrespect to be shown. there are signs which ask you not to sunbath so it's pretty obvious but sometimes people don't see signs even if they are big. sometimes in the evening you can buy barbequed corn on the cob. get drinks and food from the little wagons that are set up. a corn on the cob costs 50 cents.  

because this area has a temple on it, you'll find more sellers and locals. they often spend time here on the weekend. if you want to swim or surf, this place obviously won't suit you in..