who cares?!

Island Escapes

2009-10-21T19:20:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered what lies beyond the beaches of the Island of the Gods? For visitors wanting to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds, a trip to Lembongan Island or the Gili Islands is an easy way to experience beaches of untarnished gold, endless stretches of shimmering aquamarine waters be-jewelled with an abundance of marine life, as well as surf-breaks and the timeless charm of island life…

Lembongan Island

Surrounded by immaculate reefs and drop offs, some of the best diving, snorkelling, and surf in the area can be found on the island escape of Lembongan. Whether its snorkelling directly off the beach or the preferred short boat ride off the coast, sightings of the huge, mysterious Ocean Sunfish and large Manta Rays, including many other dive areas, are waiting to be explored. Not only is Lembongan a diver’s paradise, the well-known surf breaks have made this island a regular stop-off point for surf cruises heading east along the archipelago. With its two sister islands, Ceningan and Penida, Lembongan Island is the most developed in terms of accommodations including many resort and bungalow retreats along with temples, a mangrove forest, and an amazingly elaborate underground cave house carved out by hand, and lived in, almost a century ago. Easily accessible in 30 minutes by our BlueWater Express from Benoa Harbour, these clear water coral reefs and beautiful beaches of Lembongan Island make for great day trips or longer stays. Special offers for “island hopping” between the Bali – Lembongan – Gili travel routes provide several possibilities for voyaging at reasonably cheap prices as well. No longer will one have to wait in traffic or on long ferry rides, BlueWater Express’ direct transfers maximize time and enjoyment.

The Gili Islands

In recent years the Gili Islands have become a favourite paradise island escape from Bali. Located off the northwest coast of Lombok, these three atolls are surrounded by pure white sand beaches and clear water, with superb diving and snorkelling straight from the beach. An array of accommodations cater to a wide range of travellers; Gili Trawangan, the most popular of the islands, offer backpacker homestays to uber-chic private villas, while Gili Meno and Gili Air offer a throwback to older times with modest accommodations being blissfully quiet. All three have excellent diving and a choice of highly professional dive operators.

Accessibility to these islands is very easy with a direct daily shuttle service operating out of Benoa Harbour. Travel time is approximately two hours on the water with free hotel transfers to/from Benoa. Even better is the new two islands for the price of one “island hopping” service where a trip to the Gilis can include a stop-over in Lembongan making BlueWater Express an easy choice.

Let’s Use Closer “Windows” More

2009-07-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

Social studies books mention concentric circles concerning someone’s relationships with his/her human environment. We begin, as educators, to teach self, family, neighborhood, town, city, state, etc… We have a lot of relationships with all of these circles. Therefore, we have some obligations regarding to those circles. That is to say, we are responsible from ourselves, our family, our neighborhood, our city, etc... However, these obligations and duties become less and insignificant when the circle become larger. The larger becomes the circles, the lesser the duties.

But, nowadays we live in a world to which Marshall McLuhan called “global village”. The world has become smaller and smaller either literally or figuratively; with supersonic planes, wireless internet, radio, television, and the other mass media.

We can watch the events in the remote parts of the world lively when we are sitting in chairs relaxed in our living rooms. We can buy almost everything via one click from online superstores in different parts of the world. Branches of the big firms and banks work together as if they are sharing the same rooms or flats.

Meanwhile, the issues being dealt in the mass media is more interesting to most people than the problems in which they confront in their near vicinities.

For that reason, we experience the geographically inverted relationships. Our behaviours are being affected by the remote factors. It is true that we are effected by the credit crisis in the United States, a territory far away from us some tens of thousands miles. But it is also true that, while following these events in a great curiosity, we tend to forget our neighbour or town. Some of us, while memorizing names of the presidents and prime ministers of the western countries, or, say in the Middle East, if asked, cannot count the names of the people living in the same apartment block.

So, while we are dealing with, say, the crises in the Middle East, Uncle Ahmet who is sharing us the same block suffers from cancer. When we watch the news about endangered species, our neighbour tries to make his ends meet and focuses his effort to support his son’s or daughter’s tuition fees in a university. When we are watching humane plight in Darfour, Sudan, aunt Ayşe waits in queues of cheap bread or coal. When describing this loneliness, some of us try to find some excuses. We blame exhausting office work, boring traffic, and etc.

But when we were in countryside, we would know, recognize, and chat, via some occasions, with those who live in the remote parts of the same village. In contrary, today, fifty families can reside in the same apartment block. It means a small village. In addition, because of the lifts, it is very easy to access the every floor. At the same time, office tasks in the city are not more exhausting than the rural areas’ agricultural works.

If this is so, concrete, cement, doors and gates, and other parts of the apartment blocks do not say us: ‘Do not visit your neighbors!’ Also, they do not prevent to our greeting to each other.
Then, let’s start saying good morning, bonjour, salam, etc. with our closest neighbors spending only few minutes. Is it so difficult smiling to those hearing adzan from the same minaret? Is it impossible to inquire someone’s health, who lives in the same street?

If we assign only tenth of time we are spending in front of TV to our relatives and close neighbours, believe me, our world will be safer and more live-able.

Taken from: www.karakalem.net

Gorgeous Grill Galore

2009-07-24T20:06:00.000-07:00

If delicious, healthy, and affordable are not enough to describe a perfect steak, then the name of The Grill Corner is easily one of the best keywords you can remember. First opened in December 2008, breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner in this grill-specialized restaurant is sure to be a brand new experience for those who look for something different in their Bali gastronomy journey. Opened 24hours, their personalized menu is something special that makes this restaurant different from others.

Surprisingly creative and unique in zest, the staff at this restaurant know exactly what should be done to wow every customer. Lead by their award winning chef, The Grill Corner has moved forward from a newbie eatery into a must try legacy that Kuta has ever had. A destination unto itself, where relaxing al fresco dining meets international cuisine, the restaurant features a sleek lounge-style area at the front, a fully-stocked sunken bar at the centre, and a delightful view over the pool and garden at the backside. To entertain guests, The Grill Corner has the Acoustic Trio on Wednesday and Friday, Reggae band on Saturday, and Batak anthems on Sunday.

Managed by The Vira Bali Hotel, one of its signature foods is the succulent Sirloin Steak that's worth Rp98k. Served with rich mushroom sauce, lyonnaise potatoes, brown onion, broccoli, carrot and zucchini, plus tomato salsa at the top, I had the opportunity to taste this delectable fare a couple of weeks ago. Accompanied by Ms. Elrawati and Mr. Putu Ambara Putra, the sales manager and the F&B manager, having lunch at the restaurant was truly a once in a lifetime dining experience that was hard to forget. The stylish atmosphere at the restaurant was matched by the beautiful service, delightful meal, refreshing beverage, and of course… the friendly people.

Fashion Icon

2009-07-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

While Bali may not be Paris or New York in terms of fashion, there are plenty of stylists and fashionistas abound that stroll this island as if they just walked off the runway. Bali’s history and legendary status as a designer’s paradise has long been documented with its inspirational atmosphere, it is also here where the clothing line Religion has flourished and has gone on to become one of the leading up and coming fashion pioneers around the world.

Religion’s trademark rock ‘n’ roll pieces can be seen everywhere from locals breezing down the road in Bali to celebrities rocking out from London to L.A. Their underground look started almost 20 years ago as a line of t-shirts and sweatshirts aimed at the then decadent rave scene and has blossomed into a unique and stylish brand worn by the likes of Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue, and Victoria Beckham. With such an impressive clientele list, Religion has catapulted to the top with its destroyed look where pieces have rips and fabrics are washed and treated to the utmost giving it an extremely worn and trendy appearance. Their independent attitude has also helped them in the difficult fashion industry as with so many independent labels in Bali, Religion continues to shine above the rest.

The name itself, Religion, evokes an array of images and it’s this thinking that drives their attitude. Obviously with music being a huge influence behind every collection, the carefree style in terms of cut and lines can be worn at almost any time for any occasion. Cultural and musical iconography pepper most of their graphic designs yet there is a another side to Religion with all over prints and super-thin knit wear that keeps customers coming back for their latest offerings. Not only does Religion sell itself, it also has other siblings like Buddhist Punk, which is a more premium label and cleaner design, and House of the Gods which is basically what it suggests, an iconic imagination of rock gods such as The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, AC/DC, and Blondie. Their strategy has always been to be small enough to react to different trends and changes in fashion yet known enough to set their own movement with stimulation from any place in the world.

In their own words, Religion controls and transforms lives and through the medium of fashion, it is exactly what they strive to achieve. One can visit their branded store in Bali on Jl. Laksmana (Oberoi) and take a peek at what this cult is all about.

Ma Joly Restaurant

2009-07-20T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ma Joly is an elegant beach-side restaurant serving a fine selection of world-class French and International cuisine, as well as the freshest fish from Jimbaran Bay. Dining takes place alfresco on an open terrace or under the shelter of a traditional Balinese roof, where stylish decor is complemented by Indonesian artwork. Alternatively, guests may choose to feast within a graceful pavilion supported by Romanesque stone pillars running half the length of the white-sandy beach. The restaurant's Beach Bar stands beside a Balinese temple and an ancient holy Ancak tree. Here guests can enjoy freshly squeezed fruit juices, exotic island cocktails and superb cappuccinos.

The next best thing is probably to groove along with slight movements and appreciative nods while enjoying the sexy saxophone and thick bass sound in your comfy seats. As the new reclaimed beachfront restaurant and Lounge provides much larger entertaining area than before, from weddings, corporate events, fashion shows and now, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday Ma Joly set the mood for sunset Jazz.

Jazz lovers and fine food connoisseurs alike are invited to unwind in the seductive romantic beachfront courtyard or whilst overlooking the mesmerizing Seaboard from the terraces. With a glass of fine wine and delectable cuisines from canapes to scrumptious desserts, enjoy live jazz shows performed by prominent jazz artists. With the friendly staff and great live music, Jazz café is quite a catch not to be missed At Ma Joly.

Creating the perfect setting and mood with a unique fusion of elegant and contemporary interiors, Ma Joly restaurant hosts various jazz artists from week to week, often showcasing new and upcoming talent. Now erase all your previous notions of a typical jazz club, Majoly, and prepare your best moves!

Divine Danoya

2009-07-14T01:32:00.000-07:00

Only one kilometer north from Seminyak shopping area and 2 minutes drive from Batubelig Beach, Danoya is a private luxury residence in Kerobokan that brilliantly fuses contemporary stylish design with the natural elements of Bali. Consisting of three 3-bedroom villas, three 2-bedroom villas, and three 1-bedroom villas, all unit villas are elegantly furnished with superb amenities and uber-hospitality in a modern living concept that offers both open air and private air-conditioned areas. A combination of open-plan architecture with an Indonesian touch that creates lush tropical comfort, Danoya provides sophisticated interior and peaceful exterior that every 5-star hotel ever had.

In the first floor, each villa is packed with a cozy living room and fully equipment kitchen, a 32” LCD TV with international channels, a DVD home theater, and a private pool plus sun-deck area that is surrounded by a beautiful courtyard garden. Next on the second floor, a relaxing king-size bed with adjoined state-of-the-art bathroom and safe deposit box is set to pamper your leisure. All of these facilities are then completed with Wi-Fi internet connection, 24 hour security system, 24 hour reception service, laundry and dry-cleaning service, massage and spa in the villa, complimentary breakfast, free airport transfer, and free shuttle around the Kuta area.

Inspired by Mediterranean and Balinese influences in its design, this summer Danoya has a smart package that is exclusively dedicated for honeymooners or a family. Worth Rp5.580.000net for one-bedroom villa, Rp7.250.000net for two-bedroom villa, and Rp8.920.000net for three-bedroom villa, enjoy a 4 days/3 nights stay at Danoya with a myriad of inclusions; daily breakfast, welcome drink, complimentary one time afternoon tea, one time 1-hour massage, fresh fruit upon arrival, and more.

sink in the sin

2008-08-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

:: Sink in The Sin ::

here, there, or everywhere
the sin always follows

in the past, present, or future
the agony always hunting me

I can't stop, I lose control
I can't deny, I miss the stroll
now and forever
every single fear
it starts to sink in the sin

tragic alphabetic

2008-07-28T01:22:00.001-07:00

:: Tragic Aphabetic ::

abcdef ghijklmn opqrstu vwxyz
mngopdgr gredfts wqrty plkmbxc
trdszvb hqjklcgf phluvnamt
yfxdpt wqhjlkn ydsrzixbq

wrxcghtu evkzpnr gprefvdaj
gdvathep bdagwyja pertcakjyw
gvdgvsa mnopq revwz dcba
vwxyz yplmnbvc qwerth fghjk

hgfds ytrewq poiuyt lkjhgfdsa
mnbvc qazwsx edcrfv tgbyhn
plmokn ijbuhgv tfkcrdx eszwaxq
alqpzmsl wnebrvtc ytierz pdfvcxlj

clim clam gloomy gum

2008-07-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

:: CLIM CLAM GLOOMY GUM ::

there is a gum that looks gloomy
along the clam that looks groovy
they share the ray within the day
and sing a song rather to say

with sun in hand and moon in head
they try to paint the bloody red
and if you come in slowing dead
they will ask you to be in bed

no, it's not to stuck in land
nor to shake in piece of blend
only a rest in lasting bite
and then to dump in drying site

Flip FLop Flying Pop

2008-07-04T00:22:00.000-07:00

:: FLIP FLOP FLYING POP ::

Bulky Chunky Dumpy Dream
haunt down my little night
The sleek chic beyond the grim
dim the day with glossy sight

Oh tick-tock tricky clock
save my soul into the rock
The deep flip beneath the slip
rest the bones inside my sleep

Let's fight for finger green
but don't forget to feed the rain
Run your words but not your sin
and mock them out to be the pain

A ring-rang turns to bang
All force into the gang
a tiny boom in bloody room
bring the groom with sadly zoom

heavenly

2008-06-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

:: HEAVENLY ::

Agony looks pretty
Sorrow looks glow
Weak looks meek
Pain looks gain
Tragic looks terrific
Worry looks merry
Joy looks annoy
Jolly looks silly
Glee looks flee
Good looks rude
Belle looks fell
Fit looks shit!

humble of purple

2008-06-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

:: HUMBLE OF PURPLE ::

the humble of purple
is just a red and blue

but humble of purple
often makes me blue

'coz humble of purple
reminds me of you

just humble of purple
you hurt me few

now humble of purple
teach me not trust you

then humble of purple
push me off from you

dear humble of purple
I'm still loving you

oh, humble of purple
what should I do

X-trem Double Delight

2008-06-04T18:46:00.000-07:00

:: X-TREME DOUBLE DELIGHT ::

It's a pleasure
It ain't a torture!

It's a leisure
It ain't a venture!

It's a nature
It ainít a texture!

Itís a rapture
more than a mixture!

It's a future
more than a feature!

It's a posture
more than a picture!

Eternity

2008-06-03T23:24:00.000-07:00

:: ETERNITY ::

what we do in life remain in eternity...
what we do in death remain in rhapsody...

death or alive, all just fake...
joy or sorrow, all just mistake...

if the life were a venture,
why the death must be a torture?
if the joy were terrific,
should the sorrow become pathetic?

Lies and Truth

2008-06-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

:: LIES AND TRUTH ::

saying something OFTEN makes me wrong
but saying nothing ALWAYS makes me wrong

right or wrong, I OFTEN eat the junk
though right or wrong, I ALWAYS hear the funk

nothing's right, nothing's wrong
'coz everything is just a kind of song

Roar of the Soar

2008-06-01T19:57:00.000-07:00

:: ROAR OF THE SOAR ::

In the middle of nowhere
A lot of sin to share
Here I stand the grief
For the sorrow that gonna brief

My blood is boiled
My soul is burned
Soaring the pain
With roar in vein

Heading for the sun
Agony scream for fun
I can't control, I can't deny
My soul tears, my sane smears

Don't know when they'll stop
Every second I'm feeling drop
Won't somebody help?
Oh, I guess they all slept!

Pubic Fantastic

2008-05-29T17:54:00.000-07:00

:: PUBIC FANTASTIC ::

this magnificent art
is the greatest masterpiece
you've ever seen

the piece of its part
is the highest moist of ease
you've ever been

far and far away
deep and deep inside
the glorious of its ray
will melt your heart inside

come and take the jolly
find and feel the fury
there it will be
the beauty of she

Who's your Papa!

2008-05-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

:: WHO'S YOUR PAPA! ::

Vienna, Paris, and Roma
remind me from the crowd of Fiesta

Pizza, Macaroni, and Pasta
relish me from the lush of Maria

G-string, Stockings, and Bra
make me say: "who's your Papa!"

Ode to my Parents

2008-05-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

:: ODE TO MY PARENTS ::

Mama, always one I love
Papa, never trust of love

lush of life, never feel the shame
hush in life, always love the blame

Mama, Papa, always be the same
even shame or blame,
both always be the flame

a piece of me

2008-05-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

:: A PIECE OF ME ::

This is me
come up in a wee

Here I am
show off in a damn

No matter what you think
a piece of me will never sink

No matter what you feel
a bit of me will always real

Don't cry, and don't be shy
if you love me, then let it be

Don't sad, and don't be mad
if you hate me, just let it be

a wee glee of bumblebee

2007-11-30T18:28:00.000-08:00

:: A WEE GLEE OF BUMBLEBEE ::

a wee glee of bumblebee
spreads the joy in dazzling air
its big fat free melody
arrests the weep in trembling fair

I stop at a glance
to see the sounds dance
then I catch its tide
to put the ballad inside

Oh, its lovely funny lullaby
dancing inside my aging ear
the anthem which passing by
swept my tear and all the fear

...

magic mystique

2007-11-27T16:24:00.000-08:00

:: MAGIC MYSTIQUE ::

If you wanna touch the sky
fuck a bird then try to fly

If you wanna see the heaven
fuck a priest then rent a leaven

If you wanna feel the love
fuck a dog then bluff in tough

if you wanna get the fee
fuck a bee then wait and see

End of Sorrow

2007-11-25T16:14:00.000-08:00

:: END OF SORROW ::

this is the age
where the heart seems sage

this is the reign
where the pain closely feign

this is the era
where the senses free of phobia

this is the time
where the joy sharply mime

this is the span
where the sadness begin to ban

this is the day
where the agony stopped in ray

this is the date
where the sorrow end its fate

...

Classic Fatigue

2007-11-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

:: CLASSIC FATIGUE ::

Come and see the fake
where the weirdos meet to flake
watch and hear the sake
where the shadows used to stake

Sit and join the fatigue
where the classic looks oblique
eat and drink the sin
where the saints have never been

Speak and chat till sick
where the times flick to slick
stand and dance till drop
where the pious flip to flop

Stop and cross a foxy
where there you'll find the key
go and suck the jolly
where the heaven lies on she

...

the dark side of me

2007-11-20T18:41:00.001-08:00

:: THE DARK SIDE OF ME ::

the dark side of me
always cure the pain
the bright side of me
never keep the sane

the roar of my blood
sadly win the ploy
the mute of my heart
gladly lose the joy

red, white, and black
I never know the truth of fleck
green, brown, and gray
I just know the lie of ray

If the angels are white
why should the devils become red
If my soul turns to fight
why should my mind tends to dead