So, in my quest of finding Bali, I traveled to these places:

You know you’re in Bali when you see  statues everywhere.  This one is at Simpang Siur, the busiest roundabout in Bali.

A temple smack in the middle of Kuta.

I didn’t catch the name of this temple but it’s like 5 mins from Goa Gajah.

The beautiful paddy terrace in Tegal Lalang, just outskirt Ubud.  There’s one small cafe facing the terrace and we stopped there for coffee, Bali coffee.

Along the way to Tegal Lalang, there’re shops lining-up both sides of the road, selling various crafts including this one.

The beach near our hotel in Sanur.

The place where we stayed – Segara Village.  This pic was taken at the jacuzzi bar.

This is what I do everyday, lying on daybed and enjoying what life has to offer.

I may not find what Bali means to me, but I’m sure happy to be there.  Perhaps, that’s what Bali is to me.  So, will I go back there?  Sure.

p.s. I thought I saw Jodie Foster in Bali.  But nah…it wasn’t her.  But I swear, she really did look like her.

I have a wish that I wish you would grant. Please, please, please… I wanna go to Tina Turner’s concert. You could either send me to Vienna or Dublin. Yeah ok…I’ve been to Vienna but I didn’t get to see the horses that can dance and I didn’t get to go to Belvedere.   So, please God. A second trip would be nice.

And why Dublin you asked? uhh…well…not sure I can get my ticket with this answer, but you see, my favourite bands are from Ireland. I like U2, I like the Cranberries,and I even like the Corrs. So, it will be cool to be there in Ireland. I promise I won’t be an IRA member. I’m all for world peace.

So God, I’m not really sure if you even exist, but if I get to go to Tina Turner’s concert, then I know you do exist, or not. Sigh….sorry to doubt your existence, but this spiritualism thing can really mess my head. Maybe I should read Rumi.  But at least I’m writing to you, right, so it’s like I do believe you exist, right.

So God, I know you’re busy to attend to a little nuisance like me, so here’s the link to Tina Turner’s concert website http://www.tinaturnerlive.com/.   You could see all the details there.  And just so you clear, I prefer to fly Emirates, business class please.

and ohh…where’s my manners?  Thank you God in advance.  They say we have to thank you for everything and we have to show you our gratitude to you.  Not sure why, but if it gets me to the concert, so yes, thank you God.

Tina Turner, the Goddess.

After 5 hours of driving, we made a stop at Danok, a border town to lunch. The food was fantastic. I had eaten the best ulam ever – ulam pucuk petai. Nyum…nyum…

After that we continued a 45min drive to Haadyai. Quaint was not the word to describe it. It was buzzing with activities. Perhaps it was Friday, and the school holiday was still on.

My intention was only one. To relax, eat and drink. And I got what I wanted.

The sotong kering.

The ayam goreng and burung puyuh goreng

The kopi and teh tarik

Nothing beats eating food at the stalls by the roadside.

Haadyai from the hotel.

A new flight in town – Bank Rakyat hehehehe….

The real new flight in town – ATR 72-500 brought to you by Firefly

The oldest flight in town – MAS.  This one caught my attention coz not often do I get to see an aircraft fueling up its tank.  Cool.

This pic was taken after a hard day at work.  Played bumper car for the 1st time with 2 crazy friends.  I had fun.

Tomorrow I’m gonna be on leave, traveling again.  How lucky am I?  Very.

ps: This is Frank from 30 Rock.  I’ve finished watching season 2 yesterday.  I must say it makes more sense than everything else happenning in this world.

2. My niece knows how to use MMS, which I didn’t know how to.  She’s 10.

3. My cousin who used to run against “you-know-who” in Pekan in the last 2 elections is now married to a Cambodian woman.  She doesn’t speak Malay/English and my nephew doesn’t speak Cambodian.  So go figure.

4. My uncle wanted to get married again, for the 3rd time and he already asked my other uncle and my other cousins to find him a wife.  He’s 75.

5. My anak saudara sepupu (what do u call that in English?) is a hairdresser.  Now I wonder whether he’s gay. I know, I know, it’s not good to pigeonhole people like that.  Sesh…

6. My other uncle and auntie is running a health spa and they want me to visit their new place.

7. My other cousin who used to hold open house on 3rd raya is not doing it anymore.  After the recent election he’s no longer a state Exco.

8. My nephew got a new bike a day before raya.  He learned how to ride during tarawih. And all this while my sister thought he went to surau.  He’s 9.

9. My third cousin (or is it 4th?) is working at MPO.  She can give free tickets but I didn’t ask for her number. Stewpid.

10. My family is still the same.  Full of dramas and colors.  And I love them for that.

Heck…It was so simple back in the 80s.  No over-the-top CGI effect for movies.  Just a good story line with a good acting would do.  And yes, there was no internet and gameboy either.  But us kids, were happy enough to play rounders, guli, ting-ting, and other games that we created.  And oh.. we played pakau too.  Guess being “anak polis” had its advantage.  Not sure now though.   Imagine, there would be about a dozen of us lining up the corridor and play pakau, complete with bets.  Remember the small daun terup that was sold for 10 sen a piece?  That was the wager.  Heh…I started early in that department he…he…

Chunk.  My favourite character on the Goonies.  He can do truffle shuffle.

Anyhow, this is why I love to fly.  It’s just breathtakingly beautiful.

An unidentified island on the way to Macao.

Double Decker plying HK’s busy road

Will definitely be going back to Macao.  Kung! Kung!