A Justice Night - 26.07.2012

Do I need to say more? oh yes I do.

Gaspard Auge and Xavier De Rosnay came to Bali last month. And the crowds just keep flowing in to the venue on the Potato Head Beach Club.

From Grammy award winning videoclip song "D.A.N.C.E." , to the new "Audio, Video, Disco", and to top it up a mix of "We Are Your Friends" the place rumbles "ONNON" and I just can't help myself getting goosebumps and eargasms. I might not be the biggest fan of JUSTICE, but they do play very good music, and the crowd are certainly not the usual ones you see in a common club. Bali, with all the both local and foreign diversity, makes th duo DJ Set looks like a party somewhere you don't see everyday in Indonesia. People are wearing casual beach outfit, with shirts and sandals and loafers and sundresses and bikinis, with a pool in front of the stage. I don't even know where to start.

From the moment I saw the sign on the entrance, I was already thrilled and hooked. And walking into the venue, I heard them started playing, and while waiting in line to get inside, I can't help myself from being anxious. Inside the beach club, with the open spaces, the place was full, with the stage radiating with bright lights and superb sound.

This Duo from France played for two full hours, and that was the best two hours of dance music in my life, so far. The grassy lawn, the ocean air, the crowd, the lights, it is both relaxing and pumping the adrenaline inside me. I just wished that all my friends are there with me, singing along to "We Are Your Friends" at the top of our lungs.

Again, I can only say, aside from the absense of my friends, T

he party was dope :)

Here are some pictures I took with the Lomo L-CA+

Penida and Lembongan - some tension reliever, mind, body and soul.

The Trip started on Saturday morning. The group of 5 interesting women with a sea-riden guy. 

Started from Sanur, with the Maruti fast boat departing at 09.00 AM.

It cost 65k IDR /person

Our destination was Nusa Penida. 

The purpose: Praying in the Temples of Dalem Ped and Giri Putri Cave

I've only known how the plan was when we were waiting for the boat, all i brought was T-shirts and snorkeling gear. I borrowed "kamen"(balinese style cloth to wrap your lower part of body) from my friend.

So that I could enter the Temples.

Here's how the other looked like, all dressed up to visit the temples.

On the yards of Dalem Ped Temple

After finishing at Dalem Ped Temple, From the Pura Segara to the Pura Penataran Agung (I will have to get back to you on that), we continued our journey to the most visited Temple in Nusa Penida.

The Giri Putri Temple, Which is located in a Cavern in the hill.

Here is the view of the ocean, just opposite frome the stairs to Giri Putri Temple.

Fisherman boats at Nusa Penida

 and then we started climbing the stairs, it was already noon, and the sun is schorching hot.

With an offering for the Gods and some cameras, we went uphill to the entrance of the cavern.

steep stairs to Giri Putri Temple

Halfway to the entrance of Giri Putri Temple

Another view of the Shore

Entrance to the Giri Putri Temple

Praying at the entrance of Giri Putri Temple

After praying for blessing to advance, we entered the cavern, the opening was a small hole that we have to squat and crawl to advance. it was probably some 50 meters until the ceiling of the cave became higher and expanded into a big dome.
and then My camera became unusable :p


We got out of the cave after a series of ritual and ceremonies.
The weather was clear, the sky's blue, and here comes the fun side of our vacation.

We arrived at Lembongan Island by 4 PM and after some time walking (it was a long walk really)

we arrived at the bungalow, rest our feet and freshen up, and watch the sunset.

and the rest is total fun :)

Bali Log Date: 06.07.2012 - friiiiidayyyy...

Today, might not be the best day for me.
but I somehow feel electrified. I just lost my phone, I felt impaired.
I dont really feel down actually, just dumbfounded.
Somehow we are a digital slave already.
forgetting that we used to be all organic (and we still are)
but we are so attached to the electronic devices and 'gadgets'
that helps making our lives easier, yet somehow, sometimes, somewhat
lacking the old fashioned romance.

Hahaha... talking about romance...

Let's look at the big picture here.
Romance is, when you can look in awe, on a place or spot, and knew or had a story about it.
When you feel the back of your neck tingling, to the words and moments of your life.
One Piece had taught me about romance. I might get astrayed countless times,
but as I am writing now, an idea is forming, let's hope it's not too random.
And for 'romance' sake, I will fight for it.

The Romance Dawn is showing, and it is time for a new adventure.
One that you might not know where it leads to, but knowing your goal, you just do it.

Cheers...
Niki, Denpasar 6 Juli 2012

Saturday Sunset

This is the time when I defy everything and write to my heart content. You have to be structured, they said. Write the facts, and keep it objective. But my soul is flipped, and all I want to do is put all the words in my head into this electronic web log.
This is the day when I go out of the norm and decided to stay out of things that is my burden to bear, and feel as alive as I can be. And boy do I feel. The sun is setting fast and night came. Along with it came passion. Things are moving fast and slow, the conversation was going nowhere and we were clinging to each other. There is nothing in the future, nor the past. There is only now. And the 'now' felt so good. Then, time starts ticking again. Reality bites, sun burns, water spraying, the smell of coffee doesn't help, the wind is cold, words came out.
And I just sat there, lingering in the sands of time, feeling it flows between my fingers, unable to grasp, unwilling to follow, standing against the wind with only a thin piece of garment. Succumbing into the hopelessness, and smiling at the great big wave of change. I'm drunk, addicted, captivated, light-headed, yet sober. Suffocating on all the air around me.

Then there is the light of dawn.
And I'm blessed, though I don't know how.

Niki, Denpasar 1 Juli 2012 - just being mellow

Bali Log date: 22.06.12 - A Cup of Warm Milk

Today, was certainly eventful.
The weather was cool, cloudy and breezy.
The morning was okay, had a yogurt honey smoothie.
Went to the beach to sit back and relax for a bit.
After that, I'm on a roll.
The afternoon went. Night came.
Too lazy to go anywhere, watch a flick titled "Big Miracle" starredd by Drew Barrymore, and dozed of right in the end.
Woke up not long after with a start. Drops of sweat was running at the back of my neck.
Chats about being a lady with a lady. The conversation rolled on to books, music, niece, mosquito, coffee, and a cup of warm milk.
And then it's time to sleep in. Tried and failed. Produced this writing. Think about stuffs. Worries. Smile. Roll over.
Smoke. Listen to music. And hit send.

Niki, Denpasar 22 June 2012 01:36:04

Bali log date: 21.06.12 - A Clear Mind After Exhibition Opening

After a reviving morning, with a clear head and a relaxed body, I managed to get off work unscathed. Done with the day, I drive up to an exhibition opening. It was the "Let's Play" Lomonesia Bali Exhibition, episode 2 that is. The last one was held on 1-8 June. This one, with a different venue, starts yesterday, 20th June 2012. With a different kind of mood, and a lot more people participating, my opinion was this one is more relaxed and low brow. The first one was more of a gallery style, while this one is coffee shop/dining place cooling down style.
Carrying on, the day before I had a nice conversation with some people older than me. Each one with a vision of their own. With their point of view and advices, a little bit of a mind opener. Hence, this moment, ideas are flowing in my head, and that block in my mind sort of got lifted. And like an open dam, thought comes flowing in and out of my head.
So let's just write this down before I start to blabber and forget what I am thinking. First off is, pay a little more attention to what I am doing right now. Meaning, I got to share my thoughts for main and sides. This got to do with the thing I have said before, "the little things that matters." So basically, I need to be fast and take control. And I can do just that.
Next is, a simple hello can go a long way. Let's just play smooth, try to be assertive and be more of yourself. So, think always from two sides of the party. You won't be doing any good just by worrying what other people might do, and closing yourself up to do more with yourself. So suit up, and be awesome.
Since it's late already, I'm just going to sums it up. On the daily job, just try to relax and do more stuffs and open your eyes. Things will get through eventually, and even when you least expect it. But take control anyway.
On the passionate things of my life, let's make a difference by getting my ego be fed, but try to think about what good can it do to other people, especially the ones that matters. Moving from that point, let's plan some stuffs so that the best can happen, and the flaws can be reduced to a minimal amount.

Niki - Denpasar 21 Juni 2012 03:32:34 AM

Bali Log Date: 17.06.2012 - Lightning Crashes and a Roller Coaster Ride on a Sunday

Sunday Morning,
The First thing I saw was a friend meditating. Half asleep, I Sort of imagined that I saw it on the web or television. the meditating friend, with a pin on the top right corner, noting "Morning Meditation". That kind of crack me up a bit, and then I went back to sleep before I even manage a chuckle *fade to black* 


I woke up a few hours later, and receive a sad and shocking news. a colleague in my office had an accident last night. He was riding his motorcycle and got hit by a car, who then ran away. My colleague didn't survive the crash. And he was just barely living his life. This is a sad sunday indeed.


Moving on, I spent my afternoon with some friends from the capitol, coming to the island for a music event. we had a late lunch and coffee and tea, and talks about random stuffs. just sharing news and thoughts, and "mind enrichment" (this is what I always thought on having conversations). As the sun rolls toward the horizon, we part ways.


I then went to the morgue, my colleague was lying in the coffin, dressed up and looks really peaceful. I went to give my condolences to the family, and made a cross sign to honor him and pray for him. My mind wandered to how he was, and how he was not anymore. I got the hear the story from his relative, about how he always cared about his family, and never has been a nuisance. He was a good person. I also got the story about how the accident happened. He was hit by a car, thrown from his bike, and hit a parked car. This is unfortunate. I don't do sorrowness, and I suck at soothing sad people, so I just tried to induce acceptance instead.


I went back to meet my friend before she went back to Jakarta, we had dinner, we share some stuffs, giving heads up and encouragement on each others, sarcasm on other related subject :). And then, by a phone call, I was transferred to a bookstore. Unlike yesterday, today I knew what i'm looking for. Well, a few of it :p. I met the first one, and search for the others. Black cardboard paper (i might have to look this up again for the right terms), double-sided tape, a board cutter, and an aluminium ruler. 


This is when I stopped writing, because now I'm thinking what should I write next.
I went to sit and chat with a friend of mine, about how my mind won't stop pestering me, and playing games on me. I ordered a chocolate milkshake, and a wrong type of finger food. Not a really good choice for a night snack, choco cheese fried banana *note to self* (the banana isn't ripe, taste sandy). And moving on, this same friend is now telling me that I have to write everything down on this log, which i might or might not do :p. 


It's getting late, so we walked back to our vehicles, i reffed my bike engine and went home, stopping to find a lightbulb for my room, the last one went into a 'disco state', gets dimmer and kept blinking. Found the bulb, installed it, and now my room has warm yellow light. Yeay...


just one more thing to do. Sort them photos.
So, I'm off...


Niki, Denpasar, 17 June 2012 - still looking for the right spot to put my feet on.