Bali Zoo Park

Bored of going to the beach, clubs and hang out places we offered an option to our circle of friends of visiting the zoo on the weekend. I’ve heard Bali Zoo Park is not a real zoo, well compare to Ragunan in Jakarta it’s no where close, both in size and the amount of animals exhibited.

And it was surprisingly small. Can’t call it mini zoo as it refers to baby animals that are kept and usually kids come to learn to feed the animals. Located in Singapadu, BZP is just small. The animals they had were: monkeys (there were about 3-4 sub species), lots of bambis (deer), lots of birds, wallaby, camel, a crocodile, a pygmy hippo, some snakes, a lion, a tiger and Siberian tiger. Quite expensive for a quick (a bit more than an hour) tour. They charged 40,000 rups (we got a half price discount).

But at least it was taken care really well. It was clean and tidy. Lots of trees along the path. Relaxing walk. So the ticket was more like contribution in maintaining the animals and their caretakers.

With another friend who came from Jakarta we ensures the others that whenever they go to Jakarta they should visit Ragunan. They got to see big elephants, ostriches, large hippos, crazy monkeys in all types and sizes. The trip could take a whole day and the ticket is much cheaper!

You pay peanut, you get monkey

I don’t know why friend loves this quote so much. At least she understands the basic rule that good quality require higher price.

I can’t really say I agree with her. Well I guess it depends. Depends on what you’re paying for, depends on where you’re looking. What I don’t like is when she drags me into her problem making her problem mine. Well if you need a monkey look for it yourself. My hands are full already to add another task of looking after a monkey. Why should I bother when it only adds up another problem where I’m better off without one?? Now I got one already that fell into my lap without asking my approval, I got to watch 2 "monkeys"?

Resolution

The one thing that is related to New Year more than anything would be resolution . New year, fresh start is a perfect time to set new goal(s), plan new target(s) and dream new dream(s). Find a better job, quit smoking, lose weight, save more money are very popular resolutions.

I used to make them. Sometimes a long list, but over the years they get lesser and lesser. 5 years ago I had 6-7 points, 2 years ago I had 2, and I don’t think I made any last year. It’s like they lost their initial purpose and meaning as I went through the 12 months, and at the end of the year I don’t even take time to look at them and evaluate them.

So before the end of 2006, that night after some bombings in the city of Bangkok I decided to make a resolution. Nothing biggy. In fact they’re so simple I don’t have to look them up in my journal and remind myself and ponder about them. So simple I can do them every day. It’s like a promise to myself. And I believe when one makes a promise to oneself, it must be something important, and at times it’s for the betterment of oneself. Therefore, don’t give up on those promises, keep them and good luck in your resolutions.

Ps. it’s still 15, so you got plenty of time to make a resolution or 2 ;)

- as presented in the long table at lunch

This is another late entry about my trip to Bangkok. It’s another thing that intrigued me, well, more like bugged me. Nothing else than shopping.

Pratunam is a cheap shopping place in Bangkok. Something like Malioboro in Yogyakarta, where the sellers display their merchandise on a table, along the pedestrian walkway.

In both places you can negotiate, but what I see the most contrast in both places were the type of service. In Malioboro you can walk along the street from one end to another and calculate how many times people call you and offer you their merchandise. In Pratunam you have to make the effort. You can stand there all day and nobody will bother offering you what they sell. I was quite puzzled at first to learn about this, but later got even more confused and annoyed with the way they serve customers.

So my friend was looking at some shirts, I went closer and touched the shirt just to found out what the fabric felt like. And out of nowhere this old lady yanked the item I was holding, mumbled something in Thai and waved her hand telling us to leave. Whaaaaa……???!! I wasn’t the only one that was surprised. My friend was even more shocked with such service.

We continued to stroll, and my friend caught another seller offering shirt so she went there. Not wanting to get the same treatment I just stood next to her eyeing other stores. Again, out of nowhere a Thai woman mumbled something. I had no idea what she was saying, but her younger friend told me that her friend wanted us to leave. Biiiiaaa…...!!!

She didn’t explain further why. Can it be that just standing there and not buying anything could bring her bad luck? Well to tell the truth her attitude was more likely shoo her prospective customers. Weary getting that kind of treatment twice in one day I decided not to touch anything, just walk, see, not making any contact, and continue to walk.

ps. the pictures were not taken in Pratunam, but stalls near the King’s Palace.

Missing my sandals

Life can be funny at times that we can’t do much other than laugh at it for one moment and learn the lesson it teaches us.

So one of the places we visited in Bangkok was the Grand Palace and emerald Buddha temple. I didn’t really study the itinerary and just tag along, also to this place. The palace was interesting, flowery. Then we approached the temple. As we walked a quick thought crossed my mind “why am I visiting a temple?”. I didn’t stop, just followed the group. Then we were told to take off our shoes/sandals. As I took it off another thought crossed “hhmm.. what if it got lost?” I continued taking it off, mostly ruled by my curiosity of what the emerald statue looks like. The first shoe rack was full, so we went to the next. Placed our shoes and sandals in one row and climbed the stairs inside the temple.

Quite disappointed because it wasn’t an emerald Buddha statue, instead a jade statue. And got really upset when we went to get our shoes my sandals were lost, nowhere to be found, stolen, just as I thought it would. Interesting isn’t it?? If only I listen to myself and refrain from going in just to fulfill my curiosity. It can’t be mere chance, my sandals, among tons of other sandals. And it happened to be my favorite sandals, a month ago I was thinking to get a new pair for spare, but the store was out of stock.

Another disappointment as the tour guide didn’t do anything, she was standing comfortably near the sign “we’re not responsible for missing sandals”. I could’ve easily ruin the rest of the day by moping and complaining about my stolen sandals, about incapable tour guide, about the jade (not emerald!) statue, but I decided to walk happily on the cold stone, showing people my barefoot, exiting the palace and went to the nearest store to get cheap sandals to go through another day.

It was kinda fun, you know.. walking barefoot in a foreign land... :)

DPS-BKK-SIN-DPS

After 2 winding years full of hard work, overtime, and more work I got my chance to travel. Even better, my boss blessed my trip. First he ok-ed it with a but (of course there’s always a but), that I check my email regularly. Then he sincerely said I should go, have fun and when I said I was going to Thailand he even gave tips on where to go and what to see. I was touched and glad, as it was the only sign I need to know that God is also ok with my plan. I mean if boss isn’t happy with my trip plan I could cancel my tix and go to Jakarta instead, somewhere within everybody’s reach.

All and all I enjoyed Bangkok and Pattaya. It’s somewhat like Bali. More regional than international. Pattaya is more of a chicken farm (a term “ayam” that means chicken which Indonesian use to acknowledge hooker) though that I said to my friends that if we sit separately on the beach sooner or later a bule would approach us. This was backed up by our tour guide who at one time just stood there and a male bule approached her and asked for her price (!). She was astonished and instantly showed her Tour Guide card (they all wear one). So jokingly I told my friends we should try and find out who will get picked up first. Of course they think I was crazy.

2 days in Pattaya, 2 days in Bangkok. Perfect timing. I don’t know why it was arranged like that, perhaps to have the New Year’s eve in Bangkok. And later we found out it wasn’t a good idea. Right at that Dec 31 a group of crazy terrorists bombed the city on 4 (or is it 6?) different places. A concert that was supposed to happen in World Center was cancelled and they did the count down 3 hours in advance.. well, that’s not exactly the NY eve one expects huh? Well, it didn’t matter anymore, I was just glad God took care of us, safe and sound.

2 days in Singapore for shopping and met a friend we met 3 years ago. Things were just expensive, most of the time we just enjoy strolling around, riding the MRT.

All in all I had a good vacation.. how about you?

ps. Will write an entry or two on some topics on vacation later, ok.