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)

View Bali 2012 in a larger map

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

Uploaded via Picasa 3

Diary of a Form 3 Kid

I was tidying and clearing junks in my room this afternoon and I stumbled across an old diary which I kept during my school days. It's not really a daily type of dairy but I would write/draw/scribble any rubbish inside. And to use it to cure my boredom when the teacher is teaching in front.

Here is a short recorded moments which I found on some pages. This was in Form 3 when we still had nothing much to worry but PMR.

27th July 2001

Today Shao Jin and Alvin Leong called each other stupid. Then I laughed when Shao Jin asked for his pen. One of my page from my maths book came out. Shao Jin sings like a frog. I look back on what I have written, and smiled. Shao Jin as usual copied my answers as I continued doing my questions. I’m so boring and blurred out… What is this question asking? I decided to call teacher. Mr Loo passed the class. Yes!! I finally did it… My class is so noisy! On my left, there is a bunch of guys talking about…VCD, girls etc. While the guy in front of me, Alex, keep walking around the class, talking and laughing with other friends and draw a picture on the white board. What is even worse, Sinnta is sleeping zzz… 3E is so boring…

SUDDENLY, Wei Hoong show teacher a handphone. Oh my God. That’s stupid, Wei Hoong. Teacher will report it to our class teacher. No, to Pn Ramah. No no, to Mr Loo and he is going to confiscate it. Again, this teacher JUST DON’T CARE, or in other term: ‘SLUMBER’

RING…! The bell has rang and the teacher is gone. The class is becoming noisier and noisier. Here comes Joel, He is asking for my telephone number. When I say ‘603’ he asked what’s that. Alex laughed at him and called him stupid. When I show this dairy to Alex. He laughed and gave me back the book.

Now what? Shao Jin is sleeping. Suddenly he woke up and said ‘Sarimah’. He doesn’t want to do the work which was given to him. Everybody is booking to go to the toilet when a car crash… teacher asked me to throw the rubbish but I ‘mubs’ lar… Everybody is talking crab..what is the answer for this stupid question. ‘Walanyeh’ comes out from Shin Keat mouth. And suddenly I heard about ‘cake’. Joel and Jian Fai talking about ‘cake’. And suddenly change to ‘banana’. Hey guys, you know what are they talking bout larr, right? On my front, there is a guy name Alex which is the ‘8 kong’ in the class. He always walking around and talking here and there to ‘find some business’ to do. But now, miracle, he just sitting there and do his homework. Everyone is so ‘serious’ doing their kefahaman. Take a look at Tuck Chun. Normally he’s always chit-chatting with Man Kiat. And now, both of them are thinking the question. Looks like they are preparing to score 7As in their PMR. Looks like the noise is starting again.. Shin Keat is asking stupid questions.. Alvin is asking me for answers. Alvin Leong…… What a ‘tut…’ ‘girl’.

Pn Jamilah say ‘kalau tidak ada pasang kipas cakap panas, sekarang ada kipas kata sejuk.’ Then Joel ask for PJ but teacher disallow. Shao Jin asking teacher to give answers…he’s bitting the pen and write the answers. Pn Sarah didn’t come. ‘Yes, yes……’ Everyone now is walking around Lup Kee said that ‘Guru ganti’ is Pn Ramah. Everyone is gathering at Perry's place when Joel passed the handphone to Galvin. It started to rain. Tho asks me for his liquid but it was in his bag. What a peaceful day. Jian Fai feel angry because Shao Jin conteng the paper he needed for the interact class. Actually, I also contect some. Kasihan Shao Jin.

3rd Oct 2001

13 days left to PMR. Now we are having Geography. Pn Siti is teaching but no one understands. Everybody is drowning and soo blur. Only Kee Guan is still aktif. Ying Khai shoots Tao Payoh and he scores. The bells rings, I wonder who’s coming in next?

A teacher comes in, when the class wants to greet her. She ask to hold on… and scold us!

4th Oct 2001

12 days left. 2 periods of PJ really is tiring… Now we are having a math test and that’s even worse. What’s next?! Oh no! Now we have KH test. The bell rings, it’s time for recess and after that, back to KH for more test. Ah finally the last 2 periods of the day but it is BM and Jamilah comes in. She asks us to use the book we bought by force. Alvin is really killing me. Such simple questions.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Actually I also know how to do the question that Alvin asked me. I just wanna ‘test’ him only. After that , Alex come and look at what I’ve written, he then laugh. Alex brought a bible to school, he show Collins and Sze Ping something in it. And there is something that he don’t want to show them. Still got what? About S2 (Siew Siew) one lorr.. Aiyah.. it’s so boring. Shao Jin suddenly ask me a question and then Wei Loong menyampuk. Celeka punya budak. Shao Jin is so irritating. I think I must split my table from his. What kind of polygon notes is this? Why is the time so slow. One of my notes is missing and Alvin asked me to ask Mr Lai to come for tuition 2-4. Alvin think he is so smart. He still asked questions! Ha! Ha! Ha! I gave this to Alvin to read. He laughed :D

5th Oct 2001

11 days left to the war – PMR. The war that we have to suffer for 4 fays and we took 3 years to plan the strategies. After this war, we’ll be free like a bird. Nelly said, we’ll be like a bird and we’ll only fly away.

11th Oct 2001

5 days left…

12th Oct 2001

PMR…4 days left

21th May 2002

PMR OVER!!! NOW WAITING SPM!

Ah, what a high school life I had!