Food Review: P.E.A. Heritage Bistro

It was one of the dinners where we had it at Penang Eurasian Association Heritage Bistro. I had been going to this place alone for numerous times and even its regular customers could recognise me. However, that is where I met nice people in Penang. Therefore, I have been very eager to bring him over.

He loves beef so, he ordered teriyaki steak with blue cheese. He is not the ‘cheese’ person but at least he could finish it. How? Will let you know below.

On the other hand, I ordered grilled lamb with mint sauce. It was really good. Oh, did you see that mint sauce? He actually dipped his steak into the sauce and loving it. As for me, I found mint sauce tastes weird but I prefer his blue cheese. Therefore, we were like exchanging our sauce and finished our food.

This place has other great food as well and I love the ambience. It is a great place for friends to hang out. Unfortunately they are not here. Else this would turn out to be my second Cabanna. They should know what I am talking about.

Bali: Day 4

It was our last day in Bali. Since the boyfriend and my flight is earlier than the others, we were not able to make a short trip to Tanah Lot. After our quick breakfast at the hotel, we decided to hunt for food outside. We had always wanted to have breakfast at this restaurant but we were so unfortunate, always, the place was still closed.

Most of the restaurants were still closed that morning. We could have expected that since the day before was Nyepi celebration. We walked around a bit and saw this restaurant, Deus Ex Machina, and decided to give it a try. It is a place where food and fashion meet.

You get to eat as well as you get fancy their items displayed. Since it was my second round, I failed to finish my food. What a waste, I know. We then walked around a bit at Seminyak Square and found most of the shops were still closed. Disappointed, we walked back to our hotel to pack our baggage and off we headed to the airport after we dropped Ks and Mund at Warung Babi Guling. Damn! I want babi guling!

I realised we did not get to go to a lot of nice places and to have good food. Therefore, I believe we will go back to Bali again!

Bali: Day 3

Third day was the Nyepi celebration in Bali, the biggest celebration in town. So big that all of the people were to lock themselves inside the house, strictly not allowed to step outside including the lao wais like us. I was astonished on how the people in Bali celebrated this celebration.

Therefore, on that day, we were inside the village the whole day. We woke up not so early in the morning, had brunch, played a few rounds of pool, failed to get some massages and then went back to our respective rooms to take a long nap.

But what did the boyfriend and I did? We walked around the village, did some photography while checking out the lao wai hunks and chicks who are mostly students, went back to our room to watch TV, a short nap and then back to the swimming pool (I went to dip into a non-operating jacuzzi pool).

We were actually waiting for the time to pass and make ourselves some steamboat for dinner. However, that night, we could not switched on all the lights and also to lower down our voices. But guess what? The sky at night was superb! It was beautiful! And of course our steamboat was awesome too. We had a great time together with jokes, stores and some other random stuff.

When it was bedtime, as I walked back to my room, it was seriously pitched black! I felt like I was the main girl in Fatal Frame. Really! And it was a great experience.

Bali: Day 2

It was our free and easy day. We hired a driver to drove us to Ubud, this time to have its famous duck rice, Bebek Bengil, at Dirty Duck Diner. We ordered Gado-Gado, Nasi Campur Bali and Nasi Goreng Special. The brunch was really good and we did not regret it.

We wanted to have Babi Guling at this famous restaurant, Ibu Oka, but unfortunately, the place was closed when we were there. We were really disappointed.

We then got our hired driver to drop us at Kuta, one of the very happening places in Bali. Most of the shops were closed and the street was quite empty. I guess they were all preparing for the coming procession.

Our friend wanted to check out Discovery Mall and guess what? It, too, was closed early. I could not believe that Nyepi is that celebrated occasion. It was a long way to reach the place though. However, I found Creamery Cold Stone but yeah, likewise the mall, it was closed too. Else, I would have gotten myself an ice-cream.

Before we left the place, we took a short walk by the beach. If we were there earlier, the guys would have seen some topless babes. Oh well. Since the next day is a silent day and we are not allowed to leave the hotel at all, we decided to drop by at a grocery store, Bali Deli, to shop for some food.

That night, we went out to hunt for food. We were lucky that there was one restaurant that was still opened so we could get our dinner. Trust me, the street was so empty and dark. The next day will be worse.

Bali: Day 1

It was our long awaited trip after our last trip to Bangkok together last year. This trip was first suggested by my brother when AirAsia was having Great Sales. Since we had never been to Bali, we decided to join along. Unfortunately, my brother was not able to make it. Therefore, it was just us and his friends.

It was a 5-day-4-night trip, technically; it was already nightfall when we reached Bali so the first day was mostly spent in the aircraft.

So what did we really do on our first full day in Bali? My brother earlier had made an arrangement, a tour, in Bali with the local tour group.

After breakfast, we were sent to watch Barong Dance. It is the most well known dance in Bali. This dance represents an eternal fight between good and evil spirits. A Barong (a mythological animal) represents the good spirit whereas Rangda (a mythological monster) represents the evil spirit. Honestly speaking, throughout the performance and as well as when the performance coming to an end, the hall was full of “question marks”.

Next was Celuk Village where we were brought to Yan Yan. Celuk Village is the famous village in Bali for its proactive and full of innovative local residents on gold and silver crafting. Most of them are Balinese professional, artistic and skillful of design development related to the silver and gold crafting.

After about one hour ride, we reached our next destination finally for some photography. This is Tegalalang Rice Terrace. I’d seen it in the pictures but didn’t know it would be this amazing as it is built on the cliff bank with beautiful valley. Tegalalang Village is famous with rice terrace but on the way to the village, you will find many shops selling woodcarving on both sides of the road.

After a few minutes ride, we reached Kintamani to have our lunch at the local restaurant. There, there is a wonder and beautiful view of a still active volcano of Batur Mount and wide Lake of Batur in a valley.

After lunch, we continued our journey to the next destination, Trisna Bali Agrowisata Natural Spices. It is one of the places where Luwak Coffee was produced.

Last and final stop before we went to have our dinner was Tirtha Empul Temple or Tampak Siring Temple. It is famous for its Holy Water where Hindu Bali people go for purification. The picture above is the non-accessible Holy Water.

We had dinner at Jukung Bali Seafood at Jimbaran. Well, it is said that the place is famous for its seafood. However, the food was not that great. I can get better ones in Penang though.

Good Friday

Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. On this day, we commemorate the passion, or suffering and death on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We will spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross.

The priest was telling us that we should start to make a change for example, get rid of our bad attitudes, our bad personality and all. I guess I have something that I want to do. Something that I believe would change my life in the future. However, it is not going to be easy but I am willing to give it a try..

Palm Sunday

It is Palm Sunday today. It is the day the Christians celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection. For many Christian churches, Palm Sunday, also referred to as ‘Passion Sunday’, marks the beginning of the Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday.

Jesus Christ was seen riding a donkey into Jerusalem. The symbolism of the donkey may refer to the Eastern tradition that it is an animal of peace, versus the horse, which is the animal of war. Therefore, Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem symbolised his entry as the Prince of Peace, not as a war-waging king.

No wonder the Priest was sharing with us that donkey is the main symbol for this celebration. He mentioned that donkeys were always on hard work in the past and therefore, donkeys were seen as humble animals.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted him by waving palm branches and covered his path with palm branches. Immediately following this great time of celebration in the ministry of Jesus, he begins his journey to the cross which I will continue in the next post..