The Coffee Girl

Well it was just another Friday morning. I took the usual train to work, alighted at the usual station and walked to get my breakfast from the bakery shop inside a building not far away. Many shops were not opened, except for some eateries and coffee shop. I walked pass them and headed across to the 24 hours supermarket to see if there is anything to grab as I was catching a flight home for the weekend. Spending not more than 10 minutes inside, I grabbed some strawberries from the fruit section and a packet of almond nuts before proceeding to the cashier for payment.

To my surprised, a familiar figure appeared right before me while I was about to queue on the second cashier from the magazine section. She was not in her usual working outfit, wearing a black shirt and her black framed spectacles. I heard she mumbled something once she noticed me. She looked cute with her small face and the smiley eyes as always.

I was stunned for a few miliseconds and couldn't believe whom I've just met. And judging by her surprised-looking face I supposed she didn't much expect to bump into me in such an early morning. She made a light smile and looked embarrassed, before quickly proceeded to the last cashier at the end. 

To be continued...

BALI TRIP 2012: Alila Villas Uluwatu

THIS is perhaps one of the most unforgettable experience I've ever had. The moment we dropped off at the resort lobby, 'WOW!' The view of the ocean through the infinity-edged pool was the first thing that caught me eyes. The Alila Villas Uluwatu resort sits on top of the cliff at the south of Bali and therefore you could see the uninterrupted view over the Indian Ocean. Simply breathtaking!

I fell in love with this right away

Reception area

A lady staff dressed in white uniform approached us and I asked her politely if we could have a drink and enjoy the surroundings of the resort. She suggested us The Warung which is a more casual restaurant and there are seats available both indoors and outdoors. Another staff then led us to the restaurant through the reception and spa area.

The Warung

We took the outdoor seats

Designed by Singapore architecture firm WOHA, the resort has a modern look yet maintains the traditional feel of Bali. I'm impressed by the use local materials such as stones and wood to create details on the walls and roofs. If there are words that I can used to describe this place, they are chic, clean and definitely costly.

Where they found such huge tree??

Everything looks so open in here without many walls. The glass doors are hidden when they are not in used. I guess this also help to bring the sea breeze in. A brilliant open concept!

Looking towards the lobby area

Not the usual Monday blue

Unlike most of the resorts in Bali where I find infinity-edged pool has become a must-have for them, this resort here has something 'extra' - a cliff-edged cabana. This overhanging resting platform with decorative timber wall becomes the landmark of Alila Villas. There are a few others of them placed around the resort.

As we only had 30 mins before our driver came to pick us up, we quickly ordered some drinks and went around taking some photos. It is not often we got the privilege of visiting such cool places. I ordered a Kiwi & Apple juice for 75,000rp (about RM25, subject to 21% tax). Bear in mind that food/drinks are not cheap there. There were complimentary snacks for us though.

Hi from Malaysia!

Surprisingly, a wedding ceremony was going to begin later on that day and the resort staff were looking busy putting on the decorations and arranging chairs inside the cabana. How romantic to have a maximum exposure to the panoramic view of the sea while exchanging vows and rings. We didn't get to see the bride and groom but one of their parents were busy with the arrangement. I must say a filthy rich Nihonjin family.

Once in a lifetime ma

A peek into the gym changing room was another experience. The openness concept once again is used on the shower and toilet room. But would you still dare to use this in case of emergency?

Real nature's job

How much to stay there: A quick check on its website shows villa with one bedroom costs USD685 and villa with three bedrooms cost USD2625 per night. Tax excluded.

How to get there: From Ngurah Rai Airport head south on Jalan Uluwatu towards Jalan Uluwatu Pecatu. Look out for a Alila Villas Uluwatu sign on the left and continue heading inside. There will be a security gate before entering the resort compound.

Look out for this entrance sign

The way into the resort

GPS coordinate: 8050’43.48”S, 11508’15.88”E (-8.839276,115.137062)

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I immediately felt in love with this paradise..

On Board the Titanic

IT was almost like a dream come true when I saw the Grand Staircase at the Titanic exhibition.

Majestically beautiful

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition located at the Marina Bay Sands Art Science Museum runs from 29th October 2012 until 28th April 2012. Ning and I went on the first day itself and I remember I was very excited throughout the whole day. Never been so happy!

Gallery entrance

We bought a combo ticket together with the Cartier Time Art gallery entrance. And another addition of SGD5 for a short movie - Ghost of the Abyss by the same award winning director of Titanic, James Cameron.

Inside the Art Science Museum

Ticket reception

Before entering the Titanic Artifact exhibition, we were each given a 'boarding pass' with name of a selected passenger who boarded the ship in 1912. And Captain Smith was there to greet the visitors and kind enough to offer a photo session with everyone one of us.

A ticket to ride

with Captain Edward Smith

For the first part of the exhibition, stories on how this legendary ship was designed and constructed are being  told. The artifacts recovered from the seabed being displayed in glass boxes. Artifacts such as shirts, utensils, steel bars, basins and even chair are some of the items being displayed. Some of them are rusted and worn out but quite a number of them still looked new like they'd never been used before.

Inside the gallery, some parts of the ship were remade and created to give visitors a feel what was like being on board the Titanic. Here are some shots which I managed to take. (photo taking are actually prohibited inside oopss..)

First class corridor. Looks classy enough!

The promenade deck. I like how they use the mirror to give a longer illusion of the area.

2nd class cabin. Shaky cuz the ship was moving haha. *joking*

A mini 'iceberg' for you to put and hands on and feel the freezing point

The Boiler Room (again the same mirror effect is used)

List of passengers sorted according to class type and survived/dead. Notice the dead list on the 3rd class passenger and crew

Guests leaving some feedback and thoughts at the end of the gallery

It took us about two hour to complete to exhibition. I almost forgotten to mention that the background music fitted perfectly for the gallery. Wonderful but tragic at the same time.

At the grand staircase

I enjoyed it so much that I went for the second time three months after when my parents came visiting Singapore. Just felt like I should bring them to see this. And my mum liked it as well. A 100th anniversary to Titanic!

A scale model of Titanic displayed at The Shoppes Marina Bay Sands

KL New Skyline

IF you noticed lately, there has been some construction going around the KLCC area. The near completion Carigali Tower (find and dig?) is one of the building that topped the usual skyline of KL, making it the 3rd tallest building in Malaysia after the Petronas Twin Tower and the Telekom Tower

Located at Lot C of KLCC masterplan, this building consists of office space and also an extension to the existing Suria KLCC mall at the podium level.

There is also a Four Seasons Hotel to be built at the vacant lot between Maxis Tower and the old-looking Wisma Central, where the existing car park has been shut down for quite a while now. Once completed it will be the tallest Four Seasons Hotel in the world.

The initially planned two towers has been revised to a single tower (below)

The latest addition to the skyline will be the Landmark Tower designed by Buro Ole Scheeren, who designed the China's CCTV building in Beijing. As simple as it looks, the building compromises of a few different blocks stack on top of one another.

View from Jalan Ampang

I admire simplicity of the design which stands out among the buildings in context. This 65 storey building will accommodate hotel rooms, serviced apartments and retails. The sky pool will probably be the main feature of it and also a perfect spot for fireworks viewing during event celebrations.

Set for completion at 2016

Can't wait! =)

*All photos taken from internet sites and forums*

My Architectural Thesis

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