Sleep, Eat, Chill @ Ipoh

Just a week ago, I took a short trip to Ipoh. A last minute trip, but so worth it. Time spent with love ones, good food and lots of rest. 

Breakfast @ Restoran Foh San. Crowded, noisy and dim sum!!

Stayed at Tune Hotel (We are big fans, especially my dad). 

Wooden shutters. *duh*

Pretty cobwebs in a hole in the ground. 

Had dinner @ Restoran Public Pusing. -_-. I know, I had the same reaction when I saw the name. 

Just opposite Tune Hotel. Also crowded, noisy and with good chinese food. 

Makan angin @ Padang Malam. Colourful, interesting until the rain threatened to fall and we had to race walk back to the hotel. 

I was just about to snap a picture of the cart when this guy jumped into my frame and I ended up with a picture of this backside. -_-

Morning view from my room. So peaceful. 

Breakfast again. At some random coffee shop nearby. 

Short trip, but it gave me some time to chill, think, relax, read, stare at the fan, take pictures, sleep, eat and think more. 

*hmmmm, where should I go next?*

Finding paradise at Aya's Room Hotel, Ubud

When I planned my family trip to Bali, I booked a 4 nights stay at the Tune Hotel Legian. However, as the trip got closer, and after much research, we decided to spend our 2nd night in Ubud. Why Ubd? Because its the cultural center of Bali and it far different from the beach scene at Kuta & Legian. 

After much, much, much research and time, I discovered this place called 'Aya's Rooms Hotel'. This new accommodation, just opened to public a few months back, had only 2 reviews. But pictures and reviews look superb, and it's the only accommodation that had last minute rooms available for my big group of 12. It had only 2 blocks, with 6 room each block. Our family took up the entire block. 

It was absolutely a delight to find this haven after a walk through a narrow alley. Like a little hidden paradise, just for us. Big spacious rooms, big clean beds, a little but well-stocked pantry, big airy toilets. The staffs was friendly and tried to accommodate our requests. 

And the view was amazing. Beautiful. 

We ran around like chickens, checking out this paradise that sadly was only going to be home for 1 night. We were all on the highest floor when my mum called up to us asking us to pose for a picture. While posing, I turned my camera down towards her and took a picture *failed*. 

It felt like a private villa with our own swimming pool. Small but enough to refresh us when we needed it. We even had a pool party that night to celebrate me & me twin birthday. There were another couple and 2 single ladies staying in the block opposite us but we basically had the entire place to ourselves. 

Fooling around while waiting for the rest to get ready. That's a norm when you have a big group travelling together. Location was superb as its centrally located. Just a walk out the narrow alley and we could find shops, restaurants, bars. The Ubud Market was about 10-15 minutes walk away. 

Next morning, i woke up to this. I'm assuming that is Mount Agung, the mountain with smoke at the background.We didn't get to go there but at least I could see it, from afar. 

I am so loving my new long range lense as it allows me to spy on people. muauahahaha!! Guess how much we paid per room? Only RM120 or USD40 per night. 

After a long walk out for breakfast and some final shopping, it was time to leave. One last dip in the pool, and a group shot. Time to say good-bye and till we meet again. Wish I could stay here longer. 

*photo taken from dad*

It's really, really hard to find a place that meets 12 persons need and requirements and I got to say that Aya's Rooms did. At least some of it. We all enjoyed our stay very much. 

Aya's Rooms Hotel

Jl. Hanoman, Padang Tegal, 

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Cons 

- Water pressure in the higher floors rooms were quite bad. It was hard taking shower with the small amount of water. But have told them, and was assure that they will fix it. 

- Electricity keeps going out. Every once in awhile the entire night. I think it went off and on averagely 5 times per hour. According to them, its a norm. 

- We did see a cockroach at the swimming pool area, but the guy caught it quickly and took it away. 

* p.s. Sorry for the wonky pictures. My laptop/blogger/camera is not working together and until I figure it out, don't sprain your neck turning left and right k? :)

Poop Coffee

I was away a few days ago for a bit. Sometimes its good to go away and reflect on what matters..

Anyway, while in Bali, we had to go see the famous Luwak Coffee 'the most expensive coffee in the world'. We were brought to this agricultural place, managed by the government/ministry or so the signboard says and had a education walk through a garden growing with cocoa beans, flowers, and stuff that were medicinal, edible and good. *i can't recall the names* 

The civet cat, whose poop we share taste in a bit. They are fed a certain kind of food, which I can't recall too. This is what happens when you are so busily snapping away that you fail to listen to the tour guide. 

The poops are collected, dried, fried and grinded to become coffee powder. Yes, that's how the poop looks like and yes, they call them poop coffee too. 

At the end of the walk, we were given 14 different types of tea to taste and locally-made alcohol. There were all free of cause. 

Except for the Luwak Coffee, which cost IDR 50,000 or RM15. Not that pricey here but I know a place in Paradigm Mall that sells a cup for RM99. It tasted bitter, like burned coffee. Not my kind of thing, but worth the experience. 

Once a lifetime, not again. Not impressed by it. Can anyone enlighten me why is this the most expensive coffee in the world?