Little "Waio"

"What's your name?"
"Wa-i-o"

That's the kind of answer Vio will answer if we ask what's his name.. wahaha.. isn't it similar to Sony laptop brand? :p Good news is that he can start saying his name now! Sometimes it will be "Waio", another time is "Io"

And he can say many many words now... such as "diiii" (drink), "pe-ci" (biscuits), and amazingly he can also count 1 to 10.. haha.. not actually counting la.. just saying out the numbers from 1 to 10... (even though 7 sounds like "pa pen").

[caption id="attachment_1421" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Vio Eating Corn"][/caption]

Bali (Part III)

Day 5

When we reached Bali Handara the night before, we can't really see a thing as it was very dark already. This morning when we open our bungalow room door, we were like.. woww.. apparently our room has got nice view.. It got a pretty view of the mountain, and it's quite cold too.. (of course much nicer compared to SG... when we open our door and what we see is another HDB block.. LOL..)

[caption id="attachment_1407" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="View from our room"][/caption]

Bali Handara Kosaido is actually "specializing" in golf. The area is verrrryy big with many many golf fields. Not that we wanna play golf.. We chose this hotel because it's located in the cold area. Nice change from hot and humid weather in Singapore. Apparently there were only us and another group staying in the hotel. Wah... this hotel apparently doesn't have much guests, more people come for the golf. Since only few of us staying there, they didn't offer buffet breakfast. Instead, we can choose from their menu what we want to have for breakfast.

[caption id="attachment_1408" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Vio going around the hotel"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1409" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Yeah.. higher.. higher!!"][/caption]

Oh yeah, the hotel provides a free service to and from our room back to the hotel, and around the hotel, using a buggy! I like it.. rare chance we can ride a buggy.. hehe..

[caption id="attachment_1410" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="in the buggy"][/caption]

After having a bath, we're ready to begin our adventure of the day! We first went to Lake Tamblingan and Lake Buyan, which was lying next to each other. Didn't really went to the lake.. Only saw it from above..

[caption id="attachment_1411" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Lake Buyan"][/caption]

Afterwards we went to Pura Ulun Danu at Lake Bratan which is quite famous in Bali. Do you know that the Rupiah 50,000 notes have picture of this temple? Hehe..

[caption id="attachment_1412" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="3 of us again"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1413" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Pura Ulun Danu"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1414" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="I love it daddy!"][/caption]

Afterwards we head to Gitgit Waterfall, which is the highest waterfall in Bali. But when we reached there, Vio was taking his afternoon nap in the car. So in the end only pi went down to see the waterfall. And according to him, luckily we didn't go down with Vio. The road was steep and difficult to walk in for adults, much more for babies..

The next destination would be... Jatiluwih. There's nothing much here actually. Just go there to show Vio how does a terrace rice field looks like.. LOL... But on the way there, our driver asked whether we want to go to hotspring (air panas) or not. Since we still got time, so I said ok... But then, I kinda regret.. We need to walk very far, and it's full of stairs and not-even small roads.. Tsk tsk tsk... And the water doesn't look so clean... So we only put our foot (and Vio's foot) in. But Vio likes it.. He keeps wanting to throw his whole body to the pool.. hahahaa.. But of course we didn't let him.. wait later he got rashes or something..

[caption id="attachment_1416" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Jatiluwih"][/caption]

Afterwards, we had dinner at the nearby restaurant, in Saranam Eco Resort hotel, that was actually one of the "candidate" of our hotels.. hehhee.. I wanted to see how the hotel is.. And the hotel is very nice! It's facing terrace rice fields and also have bungalows.. And you know what? Apparently it's the very same hotel that my sister had been mentioning for years... She stayed there on her honeymoon years ago (back then it was called Pacung Mountain Resort), and she was so impressed about the lift (the lift was going down instead of going up), and it was not vertical.. It goes diagonally down.. so cute! But too bad it's not as cold as Bali Handara.. otherwise it'd be a perfect hotel to stay in.. hehee..

Day 6

Oh my, is it the last day already?? Time always flies when we're going for holiday, isn't it?

[caption id="attachment_1417" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="In front of the bungalow"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1418" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Mommy & Vio on the last day"][/caption]

The schedule for today is only to go shopping for souvenirs and transfer to the airport. We went for shopping in Kompleks Nusantara, which is like a big souvenir shop, where the prices are supposed to be cheap (no-bargaining). Hmm... I won't really recommend this place.. The things are not so cheap and the quality of clothes is not good... Next time will go somewhere else to shop..

Our driver sent us early to the airport, about 3 hours before our flight. And when we reached the airport, Vio was having his afternoon nap. When we get down and start walking into the airport, we just realize.. OMG.. he dropped us at the domestic flight area instead of international flight area! Dotz...... The driver didn't even ask us which flight we're taking.. Tsk tsk tsk.. Will not use the same driver again in the future.. International flight is quite a distance to walk.. And carrying a 11+ kg baby walking such a far distance is sooooo tiring.. haha..

But anyway, we had a good holiday in Bali... Will definitely be back there again! ;)

Bali (Part II)

Day 3

For today, I've booked a glassbottom boat to Pulau Penyu in Tanjong Benoa. Booking from Internet should be much cheaper than if we go there directly to book the boat. For the boat, we paid only Rp 200.000,- for 4 of us. The boat have a small section in the bottom that's made of glass. During the journey to Pulau Penyu, the boat will stop for few minutes and from the glassbottom, we can see the corals and fishes. It's quite nice actually, but too bad the water is not as clear. I think snorkelling will be much nicer :D

[caption id="attachment_1386" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="in the boat"][/caption]

We got down at a small island called Pulau Penyu (Turtle Island). As the name suggests, it's a place where they nurture turtles, and also few other types of "exotic" animals. All have been tamed, though, so it's not dangerous.. Other than turtles, they had eagles, bats, raccoons, and even snake! Must applause pi for taking the courage to hold the snake! I don't think I'll ever dare to hold a snake :p

[caption id="attachment_1387" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Snake! ZZZ..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1388" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Family Photo with bird that pooed on Pi's foot"][/caption]

After the short tour around, we sat down and had a young coconut (again). Vio loved it so much he drank non-stop.. haha..

[caption id="attachment_1389" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Slurp.. I love this!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1390" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tanjong Benoa beach"][/caption]

In the afternoon, we went for shopping in Kuta Square, pi was very happy to find pirated Wii games over there.. haha.. We walked back from Kuta Square to our hotel, passing by Discovery Mall. We hoped to see sunset from Kuta beach on the way back. Who knows.... that day was also cloudy.. so again, we missed the sunset... But the sky was still pretty :) Oh, and the crowds waiting for the sunset was like ants! Sooo many people!

[caption id="attachment_1391" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sunset in Kuta Beach"][/caption]

After Vio was asleep that night, pi & I went for a spa! Spa in Bali is realllyyy nice.. and much cheaper compared to SG :p  We took a 2 hours spa package in Bali Ratu Tiara, which includes Balinese massage, body scrub and polishing, and also a flower bath.. I like it... First time having flower bath.. haha.. And they even provide free driver service to send us there and back. Good place for spa, next time I don't mind having a spa there again ;)

Day 4

Today we're supposed to check-out from Aston Kuta and transfer to our other hotel, Bali Handara Kosaido, in Bedugul area. So after checking out, we started our journey with a visit to Ubud. Not that we want to see the art or something (we're not really art-type of people).. I just wanted to try the famous Babi Guling Ibu Oka that's located in Ubud.. hahahaa.. It's quite nice actually, tastes special.. too bad I forgot to take photo of it.. There were quite a long queue for it. It's apparently really famous.. And the seating area is quite small..

And opposite the babi guling is the palace or something... some nice traditional building, so we went inside for a while and take photos..

[caption id="attachment_1392" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="3 of us"][/caption]

And Vio found a place that has many traditional music instruments.. He had fun playing with them.. (luckily no one come to say we can't play with them!)

[caption id="attachment_1393" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ting Tong Ting Tong"][/caption]

Our next stop would be Taman Ayun, which is like a complex filled with temples. I originally thought we can go inside the temple.. But apparently, there are short walls around the temple area, so we can't go in the temples.. :(

[caption id="attachment_1394" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="@ Taman Ayun Entrance"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1395" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Taman Ayun"][/caption]

Our last stop of the day before going to our hotel is Tanah Lot. It's my wish to go to Tanah Lot during sunset. I read and heard that it's the nicest place to watch the sunset.

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tanah Lot Entrance"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1398" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Daddy, Vio, and Nai2"][/caption]

We reached quite early, about 3:30 pm. It's still 2.5 hours to go before sunset! Tanah Lot is a very beautiful place. You can hear the wave sound and see the temple built on a huge rock. We walked around there and finally sit down at one of the cafe there, letting Vio had his early dinner and at the same time, enjoying the view while waiting for the sunset. We had the perfect place, just opposite Tanah Lot temple, and can also see the sun from our seat.

[caption id="attachment_1397" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Tanah Lot Temple viewed from our seat"][/caption]

After sitting for quite some time (more than 1 hour I think), we're out from the cafe and walk around the shops (kinda regret now, as the view of sunset from the cafe should be very nice). But anyway, we (finally!) managed to get a view of sunset! Even though there's quite a fair bit of cloud, so we can't get the round sunset picture that looks like those in paintings... But it's still beautiful :)

[caption id="attachment_1399" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sunset in Tanah Lot"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1400" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Daddy, Mommy, and Vio at Sunset"][/caption]

Bali (Part I)

We're just back from our 5-nights trip to Bali! It was a very nice trip, we don't mind going there again sometime in the not-so-near future.. hehehe.. Bringing a baby really must bring along lots of things. Vio's things alone is more than mine and pi's things combined.. LOL..

Day 1

[caption id="attachment_1369" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Changi Airport"][/caption]

The beginning of the trip was not so pleasant, though. We took Air Asia on 16:00 pm. The plane wasn't delayed at all (maybe Air Asia have improved on this), and the seat was ok though it was a bit narrow. Minutes after the flight take off, the Indian guy in front of our seat reclined to seat to the maximum. In my mind, I was like: "Hellooo? the seat is so narrow and I'm carrying a baby in my lap. How can he recline the seat to the maximum? So inconsiderate!".

Pi talked to the Indian guy to ask him to be more considerate and straighten the seat a bit because it's too squeezy for me and Vio. And you know what? He keep complaining and protesting! He's saying something like "Why do I have to straighten my seat? Do you expect me to sit straight for 2.5 hours? Why do I have to move? Why don't you move to another place? Have you requested the airlines for a bigger front space?" Something like that.. we're like.. OMG.. This guy is so inconsiderate.. If he doesn't want to do it then nvm mah.. No need to mutter very long complains to us.. After all the mumbling, he moved to another chair while still mumbling about it. Minutes after, his wife called him to sit back and she protested to us: "It's so unfair! Why can't we sit together, we're going together. Why must he sit at another place?"  *Wah* this Indian lady is even worse than the husband. So we just say "nvm, you can sit back and recline the seat."  Tsk tsk tsk.. aren't they very inconsiderate? Luckily we found empty seats in the back of the plane, so we moved there. Can't let the inconsiderate Indian family to ruin our holiday mood, right? ;)

Anyway, we reached Bali on 6:30pm. We hired a taxi to bring us to our 1st hotel, Aston Kuta Hotel & Residence. It's very near the airport. Only about 5-10 minutes drive. The hotel was quite ok, all things are clean and neat (since it's still new), and the TV is LCD TV.. hehehee.. I seldom see hotel got LCD TV in the room.. But apparently it's not a beachfront hotel (we originally thought it was), and nearby there's not much shops/food to eat. We asked for recommendation from the hotel staff on where to eat, and they mentioned "Puja Sera". So we decided to try it out and walk quite a bit and finally found it... and.. it looks like those warung kind, where the hotel staff (not tourists) will eat. And it looks kinda dirty. But we walked all the way there already so we just eat there. Vio eat a few spoonful, then suddenly he insisted he wanna drink Teh Botol that pi was drinking, but we didn't give him so he cried and vomitted the food. Aiyo... But then I think it's good that he vomitted the food out, otherwise he might have diarrhoea!

Day 2

Vio woke us up on 7:30am. He's our "natural" alarm clock. He'll scream "mommy mommy mommy" and pull my clothes until I wake up.. LOL..

Today, the morning schedule is just to play around in the nearby beach (Kuta/Tuban beach) and look around the hotels. The hotel is about 5 minutes walk to the beach, and it's the quiet one, as it's south of the crowded Kuta beach. Vio was at first scared of the sand (he's normally scared of something/someplace new), but after sometime, he's ok standing on the sand.

[caption id="attachment_1370" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="In Kuta/Tuban beach"][/caption]

Then we bring him to play with the wave... Wrong move! He's very scared of the waves.. Maybe he's just not used to it.. And after that, he's scared to place his foot on the sand anymore.. He'll say "pasir pasir pasir" (which means "sand"). He just doesn't like the feeling of sand on his foot. Meanwhile, Nai2 is the one who most enjoyed the beach..

[caption id="attachment_1371" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nai2 in the beach"][/caption]

And while we're busy playing (and trying to persuade Vio to play in the beach), we're all barefooted, with our shoes kept aside somewhere "safe". Who knows, there's one time the wave was soooo big that our shoes were all carried away by the waves.. Oh no! Luckily the lady playing nearby us was helping us to catch the shoes, otherwise all would've been gone to the ocean already.. hahaa..

Since we're all drenched, we went back to the hotel to take a shower and have an afternoon nap (for Vio). Before having a nap, we brought Vio to the Kids club in the hotel. Apparently there's not much things to play there, but Vio had a great time playing basketball. I think balls are the only interesting thing for him.

[caption id="attachment_1372" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="{ I luv ball }"][/caption]

I've booked a driver for our half day trip, and he fetched us at 2 pm. We first had lunch at Ayam Betutu Gilimanuk. It's quite famous in the internet, so I wanted to try it. And oh yeah, it's very spicy!

[caption id="attachment_1373" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Ayam Betutu Gilimanuk"][/caption]

After lunch, we went to Uluwatu to see the temple on a cliff. The temple was very small, apparently. And there were maaaaaaaaaanny monkeys. People said that the monkeys in Uluwatu is very fierce, so pi doesn't dare to put on his glasses.. hahaa..

[caption id="attachment_1374" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Hello, monkey!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1375" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Vio & Nai2"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1376" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Uluwatu Temple"][/caption]

Afterwards, we had a kelapa muda (young coconut), which I think is not available in Singapore (or if have, it surely tastes very different)!

[caption id="attachment_1377" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Kelapa Muda"][/caption]

Our next stop would be Jimbaran Bay, to have dinner while enjoying the sunset. We ate at Bali Sea restaurant. The price is expensive, btw. I think they gave us tourist price :(  I heard that they have 2 types of menu with different price. Sadly I think we got the more expensive price. But we got the most front table (nearest to the beach) so we should've the best view for the sunset.

[caption id="attachment_1378" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Daddy, Mommy, and Sleeping Vio"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1379" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="View from our table"][/caption]

Sadly, that day was cloudy, so we didn't really see the sunset, as it was behind the cloud.. However the view is still very nice, it's a different kind of ambience.. And the food was yummy too!

[caption id="attachment_1380" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="during Sunset"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1381" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Whole Family"][/caption]

And back to the hotel, Vio was happy that we let him watched the tv and have full control of the remote.. haha!

[caption id="attachment_1382" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Oh yeah I can watch TV!"][/caption]

Babies Day Out ^^

It's been quite sometime since the last babies day out. And since I got 2 off days to clear, I decided to take 1 day off to join the stay-at-home-mommies "outing" to watch Toybox Edutainment in Tanglin Mall on first Monday of the month.

Toybox comprised of 2 indian guys (or is it Eurasian?) that were preschool teachers for many years before they decided to establish a company providing show services for toddlers. We watched the 3:30pm show in Tanglin Mall. Actually I wanted to come earlier, but in the end can only reach there minutes before the show starts, because Vio just wake up and we can only go out after he finishes his meal.

[caption id="attachment_1364" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The show is on!"][/caption]

The show was full of singing with styles (Vio loves this part. He kept dancing when there's a song.. hahaa), and at the later part, it was story telling using soft toys. I think Vio doesn't understand this part yet, so he got a bit bored during the story telling session..

[caption id="attachment_1365" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="My Handsome Baby"][/caption]

After the show, the others wants to go to Paragon for their babies to play there. Actually I want to go also, but then it was drizzling. So I decided not to join them. Can't let Vio falling sick when we're about to go to Bali.. Yeah yeah 1 more day to go to Bali! LOL..

[caption id="attachment_1366" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Babies Day Out "Participants""][/caption]

The Green Baby

Ahem.. It's my first time successfully uploading a video to Youtube.. LOL.. Have tried it few times last time, but always fail.. I think the internet at my home is toooooo slow for that...

So today, I tried to upload a video in office. It was sooooooooooooo fast!! Unbelievable... 170+MB video finish uploading in 2 mins only... But apparently the "finishing" takes 20 mins... -_-  I thought it hangs somewhere...

Anyway, enjoy the video! It's about... what else but my smart baby? Heehee.. He just gets so excited when we bring him to take letters from mailbox, and there's so much paper advertisement lying around for him to throw to the rubbish bin.. Isn't he a smart boy? ;)

Afternoon Walk in Chinese Garden

On a Saturday afternoon, I made appointment with an ex-colleague to bring our babies to Japanese Garden. Just to let them meet & play together.

So for the first time ever, I rode my new bicycle with Vio sitting behind. It was quite scary at first, I was so scared that he'll fall or something.. And I haven't ride a bike since... like.. ummm.. primary school? LOL.. Wow that's really long ago.. Luckily Vio is a smart boy. He knows that he must hold on.. heheee..

But who knows.. apparently, bikes are not allowed in the Japanese Garden.. tsk tsk tsk.. so we parked our bikes outside and asked our maid to sit there and wait.. Just in case someone wanna steal our new bikes.. :p

Vio & Natalie had quite a fun time playing with the little rocks there. Well, at first Vio was scared of the rocks, but after sometime he wanna squat on the rocks and dig dig dig.. But he didn't want to sit down on the rocks. Once he accidentally sit then he asked our help to let him squat again. Maybe the rocks are not comfortable to sit on? :p

[caption id="attachment_1351" align="aligncenter" width="213" caption="Come here handsome, I wanna hug you"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1352" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="On the rocks"][/caption]

Oh yeah Natalie is realllyy cute.. Apparently she wanna hug any baby that she sees.. LOL.. So she was trying to be closer to Vio (to hug him), and Vio (being a shy baby) always shifts further away.. LOL..

We can't stay too long in the Japanese Garden, otherwise my maid will be very bored.. So we decided to go to the big playground in Jurong Lake park..

[caption id="attachment_1354" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Who can get the ball firstttt..."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1355" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Daddy, can I can I?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1356" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Moms & Babes"][/caption]

Well it was a rather short time to play together, but quite happy to see Vio playing with other babies.. hehehee.. hope there are more chances for that! :)  Til the next blog update!

[caption id="attachment_1357" align="aligncenter" width="214" caption="Baaaa.."][/caption]