Idyllic Terengganu beckons - Part 2

Amazing hues of blue adorned the pre-sunrise sky at Pantai Mangkuk.

The pre-sunrise sky was never better elsewhere - at least that's the impression I got that morning when I made my way to the secluded beach, Pantai Mangkuk. Silhouettes of slender coconut palms against a sky in amazing shades of blue reminded me of images printed on those cheesy Hawaiian holiday shirts that I presumed could only be a figment of the shirtmakers' imagination all these while - how wrong was I! With no one else in sight, I felt totally immersed in the beauty of God's creation - humbled and thankful at the same time.

The sunrise was a magnificent private show!

Fishermen's boats throttled past my line of sight of the tourist-trodden Perhentian Islands as the first slivers of the day's sunlight reflected on gentle waves crashing upon my feet. And when the whole sun finally ascended into view, it was magnificent and moving; I enjoyed the moment alone on a deck chair, as if it was a private show meant just for me :)

Basking in the morning light while waiting for breakfast to be served.

We were quite pleased with our breakfast of nasi kerabu (blue-coloured rice garnished with finely chopped herbs), Western-style pancakes and toast, besides the rather compulsory platter of fruits. I rarely eat rice for breakfast, but I guess people from the east coast would eat rice for every meal of the day, huhu. Well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em ;)

A laid back pose in front of a unique heritage villa. My mum was notably excited by those pretty frangipani flowers.

Lounging by the pool.

As agreed, a couple of the resort's staff took us on a little private tour of the compounds including a part which was under construction. I was delighted to find out that many more antique local houses would be resurrected as heritage villas, other than the wooden tower and a traditional spa. We also noticed that the resort incorporated several old Malay paraphernalia as decorations: traditional boats, rope making instruments, grinders, cow bells, et cetera. Kudos to the management for realising this project in such a thoughtful manner ;)

Inspecting the traditional sauna under construction.

A fisherman's boat in endearing colours under a heritage villa.

We took some great pictures around the resort before proceeding to Kuala Terengganu, not so far down south for an obligatory sight-seeing tour around the city. First on the list was Losong Village, made famous nationwide by its keropok lekor (a type of local fish crackers). There seemed to be zero websites or blogs in English discussing this delectable gastronomic delight, so no links here, okay. Anyway, we found several shops selling keropok lekor around the village and quite a few of them were swarmed by local holidaymakers coming by the busload, it's hard to know which one sold the best crackers, huhu. But of course we bought some anyway. Yay!

People grabbing keropok lekor left and right at this shop at Losong Village. Good souvenirs indeed!

The shopping frenzy didn't stop there. Next stop was Pasar Payang, the main market of Kuala Terengganu. It's surely a treasure trove of local delicacies and specialties! I was very happy with my purchase of a light blue songket (ones handmade in Terengganu are reputedly the best), a woven rattan lampshade, a purple mengkuang mat, and some serunding daging (spiced beef floss). Double yay :)

Pasar Payang is a treasure trove of local delicacies and specialties.

In the afternoon, we stopped by Masjid Abidin, the old state royal mosque in the middle of the city. In stark contrast to the hubbub of city life revolving around it, praying inside its white-washed walls brought us the oft-welcome peace and serenity. Also known locally as Masjid Putih (White Mosque), construction of the mosque began in 1793 during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin II in wood but thereafter it was renovated and expanded by his predecessors to the size and splendour that we now see.

A brief stop for prayers at Masjid Abidin, the old state royal mosque.

It was almost past lunchtime so we hurried to our next destination, Pulau Duyong to find some food. But unfortunately to our dismay all the good food outlets I read about were closed! It was later when I discovered that they only open in the evening around dinnertime. Oh well, better luck next time :( So off we went finding lunch at Kuala Terengganu's famous beach, Pantai Batu Burok (literally translated as Beach of Ugly Stone) in the form of an expensive fried calamari and whatnot...

Pulau Duyong is practically deserted by day, huhu...

Idyllic Terengganu beckons - Part 1

The award-winning Tanjung Jara Resort, Dungun, where we spent time for lunch whilst admiring its azure seascape.

This would be the first time I treated my family to a vacation. It was April 2012 hence we avoided the daily downpours one might expect during the long year-end school holiday. Amidst the excitement and nervousness of it all, I managed to drag my parents and youngest brother all the way to Terengganu! I've never been there before but hell it looked great on the internet :)

I think the road trip took us about 9 hours from Johor Bahru on an average speed of about 100 km/h with a few stops in between - my father and brother insisted on driving their manual car (a bit too leisurely by my standards) instead of my automatic one. It's been a long time since I drove a manual car, so I left it to them to do the driving, hah!

A meander amongst the traditional-style accommodation at Tanjung Jara Resort will get you to Nelayan Restaurant.

We stopped by Tanjung Jara Resort in Dungun at around 2 p.m. just in time for lunch. They have a highly rated restaurant there called Nelayan (fisherman in Malay). From the car park, a 10-minute relaxing meander amongst award-winning traditional-style accommodation and gently swaying coconut trees would get you to the seaside eatery, located only steps away from the infinity pool and spa. The welcoming sea breeze interminably caressing your cheeks if not the breathtaking vista of the azure sea can persuade any visitor to stay there a night or two longer I imagine.

Post-lunch photoshoot at Nelayan Restaurant :)

But we're here strictly for lunch and not a minute more because I've secured bookings at another fabulous accommodation (I hoped). So after filling our tummies with the (ehem, slightly overpriced) club sandwich and spaghetti (my mum despised the al dente experience, she rated it as undercooked, hehe), we're off northbound to Setiu, where the lonely Terrapuri Heritage Village awaited our long due check-in.

And when I say lonely, I really meant the less-than-a year-old resort was quite far removed from other hotels and resorts. Unbeknownst to me, it sat smack at the end of a long and quiet village road. Initially my mum was verbally worried that we had lost our way and advised that we should turn back. As it was already 6 p.m. and quickly getting dark, I was worried too, you know :( But we persevered on our course and much to everyone's relief, we found it at last with a tiny plaque announcing the resort's name! Phew...

Dear Management, your resort does not deserve this tiny plaque. Its fabulousness demands a bigger one ;)

Our rather late arrival was promptly greeted by a staff member and checking in was a breeze. Our suspicion that we were the only guests around for the day was confirmed during our chat with the staff at dinner (I opted for the 3 day 2 night offer which included breakfast and dinner). Later on, we also found out that this dainty resort had only 4 personnels running it. Nevertheless, I was personally impressed by their willingness to make us not feel alone but at the same time being non-intrusive. Every mealtime would end with a warm friendly conversation and they even showed us around the grounds the next morning (a personal tour, wow). As it turned out, the traditional spa and a wooden tower were still under construction at the back of the resort - reasons why I should come here again, I believe ;)

Climb up those stairs to reach enlightenment, or really good food :)

My admiration for the non-Malay owner's dedication in preserving hundred-year-old Malay traditional houses and turning them into an eclectic mix of resort-style villas has never waned even after we left the place. The addition of modern facilities and other creature comforts only added to its charm including air conditioners, 3 ceiling fans, a hot water shower and a wooden bathtub. No TV? Not a problem 'coz we never need it here.

Huge prawns and other well cooked Malay condiments. As I said, really good food.

Meals were prepared by local villagers (now that's really authentic traditional cooking) and were certified delicious by my mum who herself cooks really well. I agree!

My heritage villa. The bathroom is a new addition but still complementing the style of the original house.

Good night, Terrapuri. You look so damn good even at night!

The 9-hour road trip sure took a toll on us, but in my personal opinion, it was well worth the journey! The pictures I took of Terrapuri that night were to me so impressive that they made me wonder what good things the next day would bring ;)

Chillin' in Langkawi, island of legends - Part 2

Infinity pool at Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort and the Andaman Sea.

 
Located not far from the cable car base station, Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort is a 5-star resort with 2 small private beaches. It offered the much sought after seclusion from everyday hubbub and a chance for me to forget about work, if just for a while. You know, it's been quite some time since I smiled with nature!

A room with a view.. of the bathroom!

Checking in was not as smooth-sailing as I thought it would be - they did not receive my online room reservation but thank God they got us our rooms at no extra charge (phew..). After an hour of rest, I decided to watch the setting sun over a nearby beach but unfortunately some unfriendly clouds were obstructing my view of the sun :(  So I drove further along the scenic seaside route to Cenang Beach to soak in the sights and sounds where most foreign tourists reputedly tend to flock. It seemed the whole stretch of the beach was occupied by hotels, resorts, rows of shops, et cetera hence no free view of the beach unless you're spending the night in one of their rooms, I guess. Oh well, today's decidedly not the best of days :( 

Luckily, there was that newly opened Cenang Mall for a shopping stint (the Muslim prayer room could benefit from some better up-keeping). A saunter amongst the shops and a cup of good coffee with some Turkish kebab by the roadside later, I found myself driving back to the resort tired and looking forward to a better day...

A private sunrise at the private beach.

After 5 hours of blissful sleep, I woke up early expecting a beautiful sunrise to compensate for yesterday's disappointment. I hauled myself out of my comfy bed and into the bathroom for a quick shower, and went down to the resort's private beach with my family. At this hour, it's practically deserted and we had the whole area to ourselves ;) The sorely missed sounds of soft sea breeze whispering in my ears and of waves lapping up against the shore were welcoming enough. But it must have been the unexpected encounter with a shy crab popping out from its burrow that really made me smile that morning :) With its elongated eyeballs sticking out from its head, it duly reminded me of Spongebob Squarepants' friend, Mr Crab :) Unnoticed at first glance were other well-camouflaged crabs basking on rocks, scurrying into the crevices once I got too near to them. My investment in a good superzoom camera definitely paid off as it is invaluable at a time like this ;) A great start to a lovely day, I would say!

Mr. Crab! How lovely to see you this fine morning :)

We opted for an early check out because I planned to spend some at Tanjung Rhu Beach, which looked fantastic in photos I found on the internet. Along the way, we managed to stop by at Black Sand Beach for some quick sustenance (they serve local food). You have to pass through a number of stalls selling souvenirs before you can feel the sand under your feet, though. Not much to see here except for some colourful fishing boats; even the sand is not so black anymore, huhu.

You can read about the legend of how Black Sand Beach came to being. Not so black anymore, though...

For me, the best beach on the island must be the one at Tanjung Rhu. The entrance to Tanjung Rhu Beach is guarded by a personnel from Tanjung Rhu Beach Resort, the more upscale accomodation in the area (advanced booking is needed to get a room here). If you want to enjoy the beach, it is best to come here before 7 p.m., after which it is closed to public access. That being said, there is a budget motel in the vicinity of the beach too.

If you want to lie on a deck chair, a resort is next door. I'd prefer sitting on a mengkuang mat and have picnic instead ;)

So nice!

Being located north of the island away from the main town Kuah and the tourist hotspot Cenang Beach makes Tanjung Rhu Beach a real gem for people looking for relative solitude and privacy. The expansive pristine white beach with tiny islands dotting the seascape left me breathless for a while; it exceeded my expectations by miles :) We didn't spend much time here but next time, I'll bring a mengkuang mat and have a nice picture perfect picnic by the sea!

Tanjung Rhu is home to many casuarina trees (Malay: rhu). That's the tallest blooming bougainvillea I have ever seen!

We then headed to Kuah jetty, passing by some villages and tourist attractions that we might stop by on our next visit to Langkawi. At the jetty, we caught a ferry to Kuala Perlis where I parked my car (RM 10 per day, unshaded). Of course we did not visit Mahsuri's Tomb, Pulau Dayang Bunting (Island of the Pregnant Maiden) and other places of legend. Well, all that can be reserved for future visits, I guess ;)

Chillin' in Langkawi, island of legends - Part 1

The mosque next to Kuala Perlis jetty.

Pristine beaches, world class accomodations, a laid back atmosphere, the genuine friendliness of the locals -  reasons to set foot on the blessed island of Langkawi are multiple. It is also number 4 on Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards for top 10 islands in Asia (not bad at all). And oh yes, the number one reason for most Malaysians to visit Langkawi - the duty-free goods!

For you guys with deeper pockets, you can get there by air. For the rest of us, the island is also accessible by ferry. There are 3 jetties to choose from: Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis, or Penang Island. We boarded a ferry from Kuala Perlis as according to my brother, the ferry ride is the shortest i.e. 45 minutes using the newer vessels. The jetty area itself is pretty well-developed with a modern ticketing complex and ample car parking spaces (the ferries are not built for carrying vehicles). Nearby, you can find an air-conditioned mosque, a couple of decent-looking hotels, and many seafood eateries (which typically open from 5 p.m. onwards).

Hotel for first night, De Baron Resort in Kuah.

After a tiring 5-hour northbound drive from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Perlis and the ferry ride, we finally managed to check-in at our hotel for the night, De Baron Resort in the main town, Kuah just after sunset. The 3-star resort is a short RM 6 taxi-ride from Kuah Jetty. From the resort, you can walk to a large duty-free shop called Ramps and the positively-rated Saji Restaurant (and other food hangouts) within 5 minutes. Very convenient indeed! The rooms are spacious and clean, and the breakfast exceeded my modest expectations in terms of selection and quality. Definitely worth your money ;)

Big room, big beds, and big breakfast selection for the relatively low price ;)

Nice panoramic view from the deck.

Unless you're on a holiday package of some sort, it's quite difficult to move around the island without hailing for a cab or renting a car. There are quite a number of companies offering car rental on Langkawi Island if you're thinking of it. My advice: rent a car online. We didn't and ended up renting something less than agreeable (sad but true). You may have to pay a bit more, but at least it's worry-free.

Langkawi, here we go!

Dataran Lang is the main square on the island. Lang (as in the first part of the name Langkawi) is essentially the Malay word helang, which means eagle - hence the giant statue of the bird. It's pretty much a compulsory spot for a photo once you set foot on the island :) Afterwards, we headed for some stalls selling trinkets, drinks and titbits, bought some ice-cream to ward off the heat before hitting the duty-free shops in Kuah town. Yey! 

Sorry no pictures of the shops - too busy shopping for chocolates, hehe. I think the more popular shops include the ones labeled Haji Ismail Group. Unfortunately, my chocolates have an unavoidable tendency to melt once they leave the shop, huhu. Just so you know, there are other things on sale as well, of course.

After a quick lunch, we hopped into our car and sped off to experience the other popular attraction on the island, the cable car ride up Machinchang Mountain. You've not officially been to Langkawi if you've not been here! You pay RM 15 per person and have a ride to the top to witness breathtaking panorama of the whole island from 708 metres above sea level, or better still, lay your eyes on a gorgeous sunset around 6.30 p.m. 'on a fine day' (as claimed by a signboard at the top station). Just be reminded that the cable car ride is closed at 7 p.m. and brace yourselves for the 45-minute long queue (on a weekend) even before stepping into one of the cable cars, huhu. And if all that queuing up and cable car ride gets you hungry, there's a small cafe at the peak to satisfy your needs ;)

A birds-eye view of the yacht-filled Burau Bay down below.

Your 45-minute long queue for the cable car is rewarded with a sumptuous 360-degree view of the island.

The Sky Bridge is currently closed to the public (sigh).

I left Machinchang Mountain feeling refreshed by its crisp cool air (also by another bout of ice-cream courtesy of my brother) and off we went to check-in at our second accomodation for this trip. Needless to say, it's bigger, better, and of course a tad more luxurious :) See you in the next entry!

A cooling weekend in Cameron Highlands - Part 2

Some nurseries sell all sorts of flowering plants, while others specialize in selling orchids, cacti, etc.

Breakfast at The Lakehouse that morning offered a slightly different experience for us, in a good way. Cereals, bread, croissants and the accompanying condiments were laid out buffet-style, whilst heavier servings were ordered a la carte. The piece de resistance must be the fresh local honey served dripping from the honeycomb - it was very good! Alas, the enjoyable breakfast plus the extended photo-taking around the hotel grounds could only mean we ended up leaving the hotel a full 2 hours later than I expected, and thereby abandoning my plan to catch a glimpse of the sunrise over the Boh tea plantation (oh well..).

Brinchang is about 30 minutes uphill drive from Ringlet, taking the crawl in the traffic jam into account. When we finally got there, I was baffled by the sight of so many sightseers - I never saw a larger crowd of tourists in my own country!

There are so many strawberry farms, flower nurseries and markets to choose from in Brinchang, it could be mind-boggling just to decide which ones to go to! Even after several days of googling, I cannot really figure out which ones are the best, so my advice is just go with the flow.. of tourists that is. Even though there were several new centres being set up over the years, larger and better established ones are probably your best bet for whatever you're after.

Orchid hunting at Kuala Terla. Bought my own long-sought exotic green Lady's Slipper Orchid :)

As we have already decided not to visit the Rose Valley this time around (some of us had already gone there before), we headed straight to a couple of flower nurseries to purchase some flowering plants. I bought one of those lovely purple lilies in Brinchang and 4 orchids at nearby Kuala Terla (yes, I'm an orchid fan).

Winter Wonderland - sold (to me)!

Buying orchids in full bloom could be a costly affair, so I opted to buy the ones that were not flowering yet instead. The old Chinese lady who owns the orchid nursery showed me a photo album of all her blooming orchids, so I just pointed to the ones I wanted to buy and moments later, she came back with them. Sure it could be a while before I can see the actual flowers, but it's a neat trick to save money ;) To my excitement, I even got to buy an exotic green Lady's Slipper orchid which I have been looking for for so long - remember the posh restaurant in the movie Casino Royale where James Bond and Vesper were celebrating after he won the game? The green orchids on every table? Yes, that's probably the one :)

In all fairness, a visit to Cameron Highlands wouldn't be complete without picking your own strawberries in one of the strawberry farms, now would it? So without thinking much, we just parked our car in front of a crowded-looking strawberry farm, barged in to pay the entrance fee, and off we went picking fresh strawberries to our heart's content. Of course in the midst of our excitement, we picked too many of them only to pay more later for the extra strawberries, hehe. But hey, it was fun...

So many red juicy strawberries, so little time!

Out of excitement, we overloaded our plastic containers and had to pay more. But hey, it was fun :)

Being a mild-weathered place, Cameron Highlands is naturally a vegetable grower's heaven. Apart from flowering plants, you can see many type of vegetables being grown here. That being said, after visiting Brinchang, our local guide (we were indeed lucky to have one) took us to a vast cabbage farm (we took some cabbages home) and a hydroponic lettuce cultivation site (where the plants are grown without using soil) at Blue Valley, past the junction to Gua Musang. It was during my childhood when I last set foot on a farm, so to be on one as far as the eye can see was a really nice experience.

Coriander and spring onions were also grown in the vast cabbage farm in Blue Valley.

The lettuce plants were grown using hydroponic method without the use of soil.

We finally left beautiful Cameron Highlands reluctantly and with our car full of fresh vegetables and flowering plants. I guess it was a truly quality time out with my family. Tired but happy, I might contemplate on another trip to good 'ol Cameron Highlands. Of course, there's always Mossy Forest (one of only 2 in the whole world) if you're up for a good hike. And Lata Iskandar if you feel like swimming in the cool water under the cascading waterfall ;)

A cooling weekend in Cameron Highlands - Part 1

Family portrait at The Lakehouse, Ringlet.

Some Malaysians might gasp in amazement when I say I've never been up here in the highlands before. When I was small, I wouldn't count on my parents to take us anywhere nice even during the long school holidays simply because we were not that well off - I fully accepted the fact without a grudge. And when I started working, half of the time I would be out of the country on some assignment. Now that I am furthering my studies locally (and extended holidays are next to impossible), bringing my parents and siblings for the weekend to tourist spots around Malaysia seems like a good idea. This time around, destressing is the word and Cameron Highlands is the place to do it... Owing its name to a rich English chap and previously a retreat for the British colonial rulers from the tropical heat, Cameron Highlands is now choked with traffic-jam-inducing tourists especially around school holidays. Somehow that fact never deter me from going there...

Cameron Highlands is a mountainous area in the state of Pahang, about 3 hours drive from KL - the latter half of which involves a winding uphill climb up to more than 1000 metres above sea level. Definitely a good time to wind down your window and feel the cool mountain breeze brushing against your cheeks :)

I booked 2 deluxe rooms at The Lakehouse, a small boutique hotel in Ringlet, about 15 minutes drive from the local administrative centre, Tanah Rata. My mom and possibly everyone else were a bit worried because the hotel was a wee bit far from everything else, but their fears turned to excitement as soon as we checked in.

Outdoor lounging area with the view of a lake.

The rooms elegantly furnished in Tudor style, tip-top service with a smile, and the free morning car wash (now that's a first!) justified the price. The distance from most of the attractions at Brinchang just made it a perfect getaway from the crowded tourist spots and head-aching traffic. And what do you know, it's also a popular wedding photography venue - that is just how beautiful the place is! Sure enough, I don't think we ever took that many photos in a hotel before...

English-inspired decor with real red roses on the vanity desk.. and no TV for extra tranquility.

This hotel appears on the current national tourism board's advertisement and is a wedding photography hotspot.

It was late afternoon when we arrived so we figured that we only had enough time to visit the nearest attraction, Cameron Bharat tea plantation about 3 km away. While the more uphill Boh tea plantation at Sungei Palas is reputedly the largest in South-east Asia, Cameron Bharat has its own charm. It so reminded me of that green tea plantation where the Korean drama Summer Scent was shot. We strolled down the main path to a gentle stream meandering through the slopes of the hills. Aah.. so calm, so dreamy... Unbeknownst to me, my mom even plucked a leaf and chewed it while we were going through the labyrinth of tea plants - she later told me it tasted bitter, hehe.

Cameron Bharat tea plantation is not the largest but still is beautiful nonetheless.

Finding our way in the maze of tea plants :)

It was getting dark so when I spotted a Caucasian couple with their cute baby coming down from one of the hilltops (they must be so excited by the scenery to have strayed that far off the beaten track), I politely asked the husband to take a picture of us before my camera's battery went kaput. And of course he said, "Sure."

One last photo before my camera's battery went kaput. Sure was worth it ;)

We sipped some warm tea at the tea house (that white building in the pic above) while our eyes were soothed by the sweeping view of the whole plantation before we said adieu and retired for the day.

Bali: Seminyak shopping & Uluwatu wedding reception

It's all about location when it comes to vacation, says yours truly. So for my second trip to fabulous Bali, I chose Fave Hotel in Seminyak which sat smack in the middle of pretty much everything - Seminyak beach is 10 minutes by foot, night entertainment is a mere 5 minutes walk, and a 24-hour convenience store is just across the street.

Fave Hotel in Seminyak is brand new and is within walking distance to the shops, beach, restaurants, etc.

And for you shopaholics out there, the whole stretch of the main streets Jalan Raya Seminyak and Jalan Raya Legian await your very presence! I should know since I spent 2 hours scouring the shops only to end up buying a unisex-looking head-turning basket-like bag (seems to be my new rage, these basketry things), an original-looking fake designer satchel (sorry, Paul Smith), and a touristy-looking bracelet made of polished striped glass pieces (cheap and chic) - all done while waiting for my 3.30 pm appointment with an expensive-looking Australian-owned hair saloon. On another note, eateries are abound, both halal and non-halal, so no worries about going hungry.

I was here this time around to attend a dear friend's wedding, actually. But not in bustling Seminyak, na-ah. It's in Uluwatu, an area where the hotel rates were as steep as the cliffs they were built on. So after a Saturday night's stay at the less-than-a-year-old Fave Hotel, it's time for me to sit on the lap of luxury at Alila Villas Uluwatu. A 5-star boutique resort with several international accolades only within its few years of opening, no wonder it is the most expensive accommodation I had ever stayed in to date!

Alila Villas Uluwatu. A taste of the high life for ordinary people like me ;)

The iconic sunset cabana.

An impeccable attention to detail is what makes this place so special.

Greeted by a gentle spritz of refreshing tonic onto my face and a sea view to die for, I was then whisked away to my one-bedroom villa on a buggy. The floor-to-ceiling door opened up to a huge living space with sleek modern furnishings. It came with a daybed which seconded as a viewing deck to enjoy the panorama of the blue sea (albeit a wee bit far depending on your villa's location) from which you can jump straight into your private swimming pool (also award-winning apparently), and not forgetting the now standard outdoor rainshower to suit your naturalistic cravings ;)

A hermit crab in my villa (looks big but it's less than an inch actually). You're too far from the beach, my friend!

Lounging before going to bed. Goodnight, people...

Sunrise at the sunset cabana.

Good morning, Alila!

Plus, this helluva resort was only a 10-minute drive from my friend's equally impressive wedding reception venue, Semara Luxury Villa Resort. Alas, I still managed to arrive fashionably late (in Dior Homme, nonetheless) hence missing the part where the bride and groom came out at sunset (sorry you guys)!

Guests waiting for the bride and groom at their garden wedding reception  in Semara Luxury Villa Resort, Uluwatu.

The wedding reception itself was a blast (I don't know about the 2 other weddings going on in the resort that same evening, though). Customarily greeted by the bridegroom's father at the villa entrance, I handed the wedding present I bought in KL and hurried past a corridor of beautifully lit white flowers above my head to the cliffside private garden. A moment later, the couple and their parents gave their short speeches on a specially built floating stage atop the swimming pool following a performance by Balinese dancers. After the couple sat at the main table for dinner, a live band serenaded us with love songs whilst I enjoyed my food and chatted with old friends. The sweet smell of white flowers lingering around the dining area really was a nice surprise for me (aaah..). The couple mingled with the guests for a while before changing into their third outfit for the cake cutting ceremony at the edge of the cliff, followed by 5 minutes of lively fireworks.

That's a really nice dress, Mae. And a really nice man to go with it :)

This slice is chocolate. The next slice is strawberry. Yummy!

Ate my slice of the yummy 3-tiered chocolate and strawberry cake while children danced to current music hits, took some photos and bid farewell to the lucky couple. It was 8 years ago since I last saw them and this night will surely be remembered. Thanks for the invitation and lovely reception, Mae and Rameysh. It's been a long way :)

Thanks for the invitation and lovely reception :)