When in Bali...

Hello, Bali!

Completely charmed, and overwhelmed.

Little you can't come to love in the island where everything is blue and magical.

Bali | December 2015

Beach are made for lingers, a land where we are bewitched to marvel at the pantone sky, deep thinking about what last and what don't. You are to emerge in the ripples, toasting to the missing corals, singing the song of the sea. 

Kubu Beach | AYANA Resort & Spa Jimbaran

Balangan Beach | Nusa Dua

Ah, how I miss everything from the immersion.

Perhaps it's the cotton candy clouds.

RIMBA Jimbaran |

Had the most sumptuous stay in one of the most wonderful resort of RIMBA Jimbaran, a part of AYANA. Definitely enjoying the access to Kubu Private Beach, the short track to Rock Bar, and the crispy wind by their pool(s).

 RIMBA Jimbaran |

 RIMBA Jimbaran |

RIMBA Jimbaran |

Toasted from bar to bar, restaurant to restaurant, and gelato to gelato.

Bali is as much for a hungry belly as it is for a hungry soul.

Rock Bar Bali | AYANA Resort & Spa Jimbaran

Potato Head Beach Club | Seminyak

Potato Head Beach Club | Seminyak

Lello Lello Gelato | Seminyak

Unique Rooftop Bar | RIMBA Jimbaran

Deus Ex Machina - Temple of Enthusiasm | Canggu

(Yes, those are their official name.)

A Nusa Dua first timer!

Definitely having a crush for the Water Blow and its three shades of blue. Took around a hundred photos in the site and none can quite describe the magic.

Water Blow | Nusa Dua

Water Blow | Nusa Dua

Water Blow | Nusa Dua

Krisna & Arjuna | Nusa Dua

Of course when you are talking about magic, the glorious morning rays of Lovina Beach took you aback. It glimpses the other part of the world that exists beneath your eyes. Almost like a painting... only a painting is not quite that pretty. Five hours drive is definitely worth it (you are not the one driving, anyway).

Lovina Beach | North Bali

 Lovina Beach | North Bali

Lovina Beach | North Bali

(Doooooolphinsss!)

Between the horizon and the offshore, Bali will always has a special place in my heart. 

Can't wait to come back, Bali.

x, Michelle

(REVIEW) The Martian / Bring Him Home (2015)

Good movies make you feel all sort of emotions even after you left the cinema; better movies urge you to write about it as soon as possible. Well, that sure works well for me. Hello, the season of blockbuster; you came a little late this year, didn’t you?

I have the highest expectation for The Martian. I always have things for slice-of-life slash science-fiction and you know; spaceship, the galaxy, universe, and whatsoever. The Martian is all about that. Interstellar with the laugh touch it lacked of. Plus, Jessica Chastain. I loveeee Jessica Chastain, ever since her portrayal  of Celia Foote in The Help, and again, Interstellar. Well, The Martian has a lot more in common with Interstellar than you probably have tought of. The very lead man Matt Damon was also in Interstellar, and he apparently also stranded in some other planet in the galaxy too. And hello there, The Lord of Winterfell. Nice seeing you in another movie, being not dead (the last movie is Jupiter Ascending, but not even Channing Tatum could save that one from being utterly, sadly sucks).

Interstellar is one of the best movie I’ve ever seen, despite of many complains about its plot-hole scientifically. Honestly, I don’t really understand about the very scientific way to explain warp, time travel, merely the theory of relativity. Of course some time travel stories are obviously weird and don’t make sense just like that. With the eyes of common viewers without advanced science education passed my tenth grade physic and math class though, Interstellar is epic, enchanting, and truly had me breathless. With those being said, I entered the cinema with this high of expectation.

We were instantly served with the sight of Mars from the very first footage. This is a movie about Mars that titled The Martian, so well—of course. We were also caught up with who Matt Damon’s Mark Watney is; the goofy, easy going, and certainly a fun guy to be with for years of space travel, which unfortunately about to be stranded right after when his crew were forced to flee a severe dust storm, thinking he was dead. He wasn’t, but clearly going to, implicating the current situation. If the oxygenator breaks down, he’ll suffocate. If the water reclaimer breaks down, he’ll die of thirst. If the Habitat breaches, he’ll just kind of explode. If none of those things magically happens, he’ll eventually run out of food supply and starved to death. So yeah—he is fucked.

With help being only 140 million miles away, there is only one way to not die—our Mark Watney has to science the shit out of it.

The good news, Mark is the botanist. The best botanist on the planet (and apparently later a space pirate). He burns hydrogen to produce water, grows potatoes in his poo, rations his remaining food stocks, and plans to be alive when the next spaceship planned to reach Mars in about four years. Meanwhile on Earth, NASA notices Mark’s activity by its satellite and realizes they had thrown a beautiful funeral for nothing. But how is the hardest question; if they were to rescue Mark, how?

I talked about all those quantum physic theories we didn’t understand that mentioned all over Interstellar. Christopher Nolan is still my favorite director without doubt, but with all of the comparisons of Interstellar and The Martian, Ridley Scott has won over my heart. After Interstellar, The Martian feels light as the air. You’d just love the not-even-real-scientist-botanist Mark Watney no matter what; but partly for staying sane for hundred days alone in his current situation (with the disco music). He is that funny guy that sent NASA a picture of himself posing with peace signs when stranded in Mars—how can you not love him?

It is a real sit-and-watch-quietly experience where you could take a deep breath of satisfaction shortly after the credit scene.  I think I’m not exaggerating it to say The Martian is the best movie the second half of the year got, yet. The Martian delivers a package of intensity, playful, and lightweight science fiction that wrapped in philosophical pondering. Not to mention Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain with their best performance too. Bring Him Home, the tagline said. I surely want to bring home a piece of DVD I can re-watch every time whenever I got the chance!

x

Michelle

Ripples of Soundful Beach [Gili Trawangan Short-Stay!]

Okay. Sojourn, I said.

Meaning: a temporary stay. It is actually a week stay before heading off to Bali that is more likely a long-holiday for me to say, but I just found the word and instantly in love with it. Plus, I had been in this magical place that is properly fit for extravagant word uses: Gili Trawangan Island. 

  

I never thought this place exists in Indonesia. No. Actually, I know places like this exist in eastern part of Indonesia, but Gili Trawangan is pretty close to Java. Three Gili Islands can be reached just about 15-20 minutes boat ride from Lombok (and 3 hours from Bali--which definitely sounds a lot like a seasick!).

That. Magical. Sea. Do you notice three shades of blue that is captured perfectly, so easily? 

Talking about vibes. This is a place for you to take a deep breath and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Many restaurants and cafes are providing you various kind of chairs and beanbags for you to lie, read, or simply chill during the day. If you are more of adventure person, you can also do dive, snorkel, and even swim. When the sun is down, people gather, eat barbecues, and listens to reggae band. As the night gets darker, you can party below the moonlight with the sound of ripples from the sea. Ya, that is pretty much heaven.

Major transportations: Delman & Bicycle! Well, cycling is a lot funner, obviously (and mostly free from your hotel), but riding delman is convenient when you are carrying your luggages by the time you arrived or leaving! It costs me Rp 80.000/ride from the pier to hotel.

Honestly, none of the food I is necessarily super delicious, but it is quite good. For some reasons, the price is higher on the eastern part of the land; maybe because there are where all the good hotels are located. For a so-so taste, I prefer buying something from good looking place and enjoying the view offered. I haven't really heard a notably popular restaurant around, but if there's any, I'd say The Ombak Sunset, and it's all for their infamous Instagram-worthy swing. 

Say Hi to the ever so popular swing!

People gather and queue to take a photo here. I guess it is a "thing" to stand in the swing, but do watch out because it's quite slippery! (No, nobody got hurt when I was there.)

Speaking of accomodation, I'm staying in Aston Sunset Beach Resort, and have nothing to complain about! It is really arguable considering that I haven't stayed anywhere else, but I personally think that it is the best hotel available in the island.

 

For someone like me who definitely find pleasure in quite surrounding and breezing afternoon, Gili Trawangan is another level of nirvana. There is something alluring in their pathless beach, gentle ripples, and sunny shades that keep me falling in love. What do I do now, I think I caught a sea fever.

Much Love,

Michelle

(REVIEW) Crazy Rich Asians / Love at the First Sight! (2013)

Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan

It was a love at the first sight! I honestly fell for Crazy-Rich-Asians, word by word, instantly when I saw it, back in an airport's bookstore when my flight got delayed for hours. I've never thought CRA is this good; I ended up reading it until the very last page all over my vacantion time.

The main story goes around Rachel Chu and Nicholas Young, who captured my heart just with a few sentences of him. Nick is a hearthrob, but you'd definitely love cousin Astrid Leong as well. Astrid's storyline is serving as the main side-dish of the novel, but it ended up having all my interest especially at the beginning of the book when Rachel and Nick's haven't developed too much.

This is a story about crazy-rich-Asians. No, they are not just very rich. They are China-rich, and we'll be introduced to Nicholas Young's entire China-rich family and friends, based in the chic Singapore. Although Nick is the only heir to The Youngs of Singapore (which practically the closest thing to a royal family Singapore can get), he's living low at New York as some university-professor. This is where he met Rachel Chu, a collegaue. Rachel is our pretty, smart, and lovely professor-heroine. Rachel has no idea who the hell she actually dated for two years, until Nick invited her to his bestfriend wedding in Singapore plus an Asia Tour holiday.

Nick might be a prince charming, but everyone around him seems furious about The Chu girl who is not The Chus from the plastic industry from Taiwan. Especially the girls--oh yes especially the girls, when Nick happened to be the most eligible bachelor in the whole Asia. And while Rachel needs to face a gang of girl bullies straight in her face for having Nick in her arm, Nick's Mom Eleanor Young is even more troublesome. Not only doing a whole investigation of Rachel's family before they even met, she is also ready to do everything necessary to ruin her son relationship.

This is not another Cinderella story. This is not a rich-guy, poor-girl cliche. Nick is not even another rich-guy. The big family of The Youngs, Shangs, and Tsais (apparently to be some big-related, respected old money clan) is leaded by Shang Su Yi, wife of Sir James Young, who possibly inhereted so many (including a palace, because mansion is understating) from her own father. Nick is the only Young between his cousin (who are either Shang or Tsai, or Leong). The whole family has been expecting him to marry a girl from their people.

Although the story is pretty much telling us about how bad and crazy these rich people are treating Rachel, not even because she is Nick's girlfriend, but simply because she comes from the working class, right in the modern world of Singapore, we learned every details and another aspects of their seems-to-be perfect, glamour, and lucky life. And thankfully, not everyone is treating Rachel so bad. Nick's bestfriend Colin Khoo is one of them who don't. Colin (who is roguishly handsome with an unruly shock of hair that makes him look like a Polynesian surfer), is former most-eligible-bachelor himself before his engagement to fabulous Asia's Kendall Jenner, supermodel Araminta Lee. I know I've loved Colin more than I ever should just with his potrayal description, and he is then delivers as someone which are happy and funny, but in truth suffers from depression of his crazy-rich-life. And didn't I tell you already about Astrid Leong?

As I read and read the lines of Astrid's pages, I can't help but to think of Japanese supermodel Kiko Mizuhara somehow. It'd be great if Kiko is ever thought to play the potrayal of Astrid Leong. Astrid is the epitome of effortless chic; one of the few from her generation that get it right, they said. She is that dazzling beauty, unique style, haute couture, and what I'd like to call designer-hipster. Everyone is dying to know what she wears to where and what she pairs when, and whose design she buys.

Astrid is leading a perfect life, or at least it seems to be. She is the it girl of Singapore, wife of hot/handsome IT-guy Michael Teo who was sexy enough to model a swimwear for charity (a couple good looking enough to be gazed at with a mixture of envy and derision), and a double heiress of The Young and The Leong (she is grandma's favorite too). But is Astrid happy? She thought she is, as she's making annual spring trips to Paris for couture fitting, coming home to little prince Cassian Teo and, hiding hundred-thousand dollar dresses she bought from his husband's disapproval. Though, the saddest people are they who don't even know they are. Her life is shortly scattered, and just then she realizes that she has been missing too much pretending to be happy.

Sure you'll envy the infinite Louboutin collection and private jets, only to realize that life is not that simple. Money doesn't necessarily buy happiness. Not the long term one, at least. We learned that some people, even, suffers because they are rich. Of course richness is not a sin, but if we'd to give up our love, family, and soul for that; would you still hope to be one of these crazy-rich?

Crazy Rich Asians is one hell of a reading. It was an instant love. It was funny, crazy, and pleasantly entertaining. The good news is, sequel China Rich Girlfriend is already out and I'm so buying it next time I got home!

Michelle, xx

(RECAP) Game of Thrones / S5 Vengeance is Coming

This is a recap, which first thing first will involves big big SPOILERS so if you haven't watched the fifth season of Game of Thrones and just looking about how things going, you may refer to my review here.

.

And basically, if you are asking how I endure it, I don't. I don't. I barely endured Ned Stark's death for the sake of the story, then after some goddamn weddings, they finally decided to kill again in battlefield. Even after everything they did, I constantly believe that I can handle Game of Thrones. I can't be any wronger, and now I am emotionally traumatized.

Of course Game of Thrones will remain as thrilling as ever but I swear like really, I will not invest any more emotion attachment to be destroyed and having me severely wounded. I don't understand, and at this point I'm too afraid to ask. I was wrong once, to think that after Ned and Robb, I won't give a damn. Right now, I realize it is not about my favorite characters anymore. Everything on Game of Thrones is literary killing me right now.

I am sick of another 10-month-waiting after the finale, but I guess I do need a rest from the mentally draining killings and tortures I witnessed this season (Sansa Stark and Ramsay Bolton? Please?). The lastest GOT episodes literary ended the entire legacy of The Baratheon Family. Nothing much, just Stannis Baratheon burnt her daughter alive and ended up losing and be killed afterward anyway. I reckon Robert to claim no true heir, and his bastards but missing Gendry are all slaughtered by late Joffrey. Renly was gay, so he clearly doesn't count. For the first time in forever, I feel The Starks is luckier than another family in the business. I don't even love The Baratheons, but this is too much. Burning Shireen alive is too much. And honestly, Stannis' Army is my only hope to get rid of The Boltons, because nobody seems to give a damn about them sitting in Winterfell anymore! Now I have to endure Ramsay's winning smile again (I reach a point when I hate him more than I've ever hated Joffrey).

But Sansa and Theon are running for their life, at least. They would be deeply wounded so I don't know how they're planning to outrun Ramsay, but I guess there is always hope in Brianne of Tarth and Podrick! And Podrick. I love him too much I'm constantly scared they'll finish him off soon.

As ending one of the greatest family with the worst kind of way is not enough for the annual bloody mascarade, I need to cope with the lost of Jon Nothing Snow by his own men (and I mean, by that kid). What? Why? How? What about R + L = J? What about it? Is that false, because it is everything I ever believed in the first place. The Crow knows nothing! I wish they are all dead when White Walkers strike. Oh yes I really hope they're striking really fast now to smash Castle Black and Winterfell.

Shoo. It is never better for the other Stark as well. We didn't see Bran and Rickon all season, but I honestly thought Arya's training is getting more sorcereous than it should. I'm not happy about it. I thought Bran's storyline is enough magic around The Starks. Even Arya managed to kill Merynt Trant, she seems to be blind now. Yes, blind. What in seven hells?

On the other side, I tried so hard to feel good about Cersei's downfall this season. Out of hatred to the new, younger, and beautiful queen, she made yet another worst decision by giving The Sparrow power. I thought I will feel good when she is, for the first time in forever, need to pay for what she did all by herself (who told her to send Jamie away now?). But I didn't. I'd really prefer her being dead instead; end of story. I don't want her to be another Theon Greyjoy I finally sympathized with. Yes, even after Robb Stark.

Since we're talking about The Lannisters; I believe the writers have done a very good job again this season with Myrcella. I still remember how they made me so deeply in love with Oberyn before killing him off, yet failed to avoid the very same trap with Myrcella (who is dead, too). I don't even want to be attached anymore even though Daenerys is killed by White Walkers.

The truth is, I don't even find White Walkers to be that scary anymore. Back in episode 8, maybe a little. After the next two episodes? Seriously, human are scarier. Benioff and Weiss are scarier. White Walkers are killing their enemy by worst, yet human betrays and kills their sworn-family. Plus, White Walkers are really cool and everything.

Season Six is still a long way to go, but it will feature very less line-up casts on it (though I believe Kit Harrington would still be there). Notice the bolded name? They are dead. I'm ever so sorry.

x, Michelle

Running Man / Some of The Best Episodes

Sorry, I think this will be the most Korean thing I ever post. Yes, I am not even actually sorry.

Truth is, I always love Big Bang. First I fell for Tae Yang for his song Wedding Dress. Then I fell for the rest of the group, and then for G-Dragon. Even though it is true it is always more about Kwon Leader for me, I adore Big Bang as a whole group and honestly feel no other boy groups are close in term of talents.

So that one day of sport-week back in high school, the not so enthusiast participants played one of the Running Man episodes in one of the classroom. It was Big Bang Special episode. I have my abundance of BigBang, and they had just done a comeback in 2012 with Alive. The episode was super funny for me back then, but the more I watch, the more I realize there are way more funnier episodes of Running Man, and I've fallen for the show more instead. Today I honestly will go to Running Man fan-meeting than Big Bang concert (No, I wish I could go to both, honestly!).

Running Man is Korean Variety Show that have became so popular especially abroad. It is basically seven members of them competing to win missions and games individually or in team for prizes like cash money and gold. It stars Yoo Jae Suk (the leader), Kim Jong Kook (the commander), Kang Gary (sudden commander), Song Ji Hyo (the ace), Ji Suk Jin (the weakest link), Haha (the schemer), and Lee Kwang Soo (the betrayer). There was also the enthusiast flower boy Song Joong Ki, who left the show already in the early episodes for his acting career.

I can't resist adding the mainstream, like Superpower Special and Prison Break, but I've tried adding more recent episodes in this list. True that sometimes I think Running Man can't be funnier than those mainstream episodes back then, but I've fallen already for their charm and nope, there is no way back! Fortunately, even the less funny episodes are more than enough to spare me a laugh!

Episode 244 / Dangerous Bride

This is actually one of the lastest episodes of Running Man which I found really funny. On their wedding day, the running man's grooms are ousted by Kim Jong Kook. They are then given a chance to go back to the past and choose a different venue than the one with Kim Jong Kook and his bride(zilla), Jang Do Yeon, preventing the pathetic occurance. However, they are clueless about Kim Jong Kook choice of venue. Together with their brides (Choa, Jessi, Kim Yoo Ri, Seo Ye Ji, Jang Do Yeon, and of course Song Ji Hyo), the rest running men  need to win missions for choosing chance.

One of the funniest scene is the one with Ji Suk Jin, Jessi, and eggs. The eggs-war is something new in Running Man (as far as I know), and I found it really funny! They should do this again. Jessie is actually very funny herself; she proves that in every missions (suddenly a fan). Plus, there is like three seconds Kim Soo Hyun (a total fan-girl) zoomed in face in the whole episode, so, yes.

Episode 195 / I Am MC Yoo

For the first time ever, The Nation MC Yoo Jae Suk is MCing for Running Man and giving us real and live on the spot reports about how the running men are doing.

Today he is also not part of any teams. The entire episode is golden, but I must say the opening wins my heart. There are real stage performance by 2PM and 2NE1 who are coming as guests, and also from the underdog Mystic team which making us laughing so hard from the lame performance given. The competition between the three teams are so funny and exciting to watch, because the Mystic Team is not giving up easily to the beast 2PM Squad, and neither is to the 2NE1 Squad, who has both Running Man's strongest pillars Kang Gary and Kim Jong Kook to boost their all-female power.

Note the final 1VS1VS1 name tag tearing game also, for it is fierce and become so much fun because we have MC Yoo reporting to the rest of the members!

Episode 93 / Survival Game

In my opinion, Running Man is so good because of the original name tag tearing game!

This episode starts with a very funny survey's result that ranks the running men by their looks, running skills, and somewhat best superpowers (back in episode 73). It turns out to be a non-stop survival name-tag-tearing game for the running men. When everyone is asked to vote who they want to be taken out first, except for Gary, everyone else voted for Kim Jong Kook (like, of course). The whole group then realizes that they had no choice but to oust The Capable Man or they are good as dead in the next rounds because he is not happy about the result. Yet, nobody managed to do it. In fact, the target is chasing the chaser somehow. And I was like, whoa he really is The Capable Man.

Although Kang Gary and Song Ji Hyo came close, they ran out of time and Kim Jong Kook goes on to the next round where another vote is taken. I personally thought even Kim Jong Kook wouldn't keep winning doing this more than once! He is smarter than that, though, alliancing with The Ace Song Ji Hyo (horay, Spartace!). The next rounds are way funnier than the intense first. Definitely worth tons of laughter! Plus, there are cameo appearance from Korean female stars; Suzy, HyunA, Krystal, Seung Yeon, and Gyu Ri (which together with the runnibg men made a good episode of wedding race in episode 94!).

Episode 213 / It’s Okay, I’m a Chaebol!

Today, Running Man is invaded by the ruthless villain actresses of Korean Drama. Yes, even The Ace Ji Hyo is that jealous prick back in her day in The Princess Hour. The running men are suddenly attacked by their partner and left speechless, which made me laugh so hard.

The actresses are beautiful and, of course smiling more in the reality show more than what they did in the drama, but they are not less competitive! From mission to mission, each of them show us the very strong desire to win the final prize and constantly dragging their running man partner in agory. And I think that what makes this episode is very entertaining, indeed!

Episode 91 / Prison Break (The Return Yoomes Bond)

This is completely arguable and changing everytime, but I think this is my most favorite episode ever.

In the middle of the night, running men are captured separately and charged for unreasonable crimes. Jae Suk is seized for wearing too much green, and Gary is seized for literary being ugly. They are actually being prisoned in actual cell. Only then someone sent them a secret message over the daily meal for escaping. The members are busy encrypting the secret message, but not Gary. He is apparently very tired and finding the cell relaxing enough for rest. When everyone is so eager to get out, he is calmly eating and reading some newspaper there. And I literary laughing very hard.

When the members got out of their cell, they need to find their way to escape from the building. They need some keys and some maps, but they are also need to constantly run from the bodyguards and the spy Yoomes Bond (Jae Suk). Jae Suk has to oust the other members by water gun before anyone escaping to win. He is a very talented in doing this indeed, but this isn't going to be easy! Not with the sudden commander Gary, original mister capable Kim Jong Kook, and the ace Song Ji Hyo. This episode is funny whenever I rewatch it!

Episode 168 / Wolf vs Lamb

The guests for this week's Running Man episode are Park Myung Soo and IU. IU got the members like whoaaaaa, and Park Myung Soo was like meh. The concept this week is Wolf vs Lamb, where the members would choose between two cards, wolf and lamb. Afterwards, they have to guess how many of the players chose wolf or lamb. Each winner in the game in the preliminary rounds would have the chance to know how many players chose wolf or lamb. The winner also gets to change their cards to match with the bet they put on how many would choose wolf or lamb card.

The games in the preliminary rounds this episode are actually very funny. There are somewhat flying chair above an aquarium of water that goes down, and down. The crews also actually prepared an octagon UFC ring for name tag tearing game, which brought a bunch of laughter when it is played.

Episode 74 / Superpower Race

Last but not least! One never does simply left this episode when talking about Running Man; The Superhero Special!

The Running Men got an invitation for a Christmas Party separately, and they need to come in pair. This means someone is going to be left out (there are 7 of them). Nobody wants to be left out. The Running Men are busy calling each others for awhile, but since it's Monday, only Mong Ji and Gary Gary Gary coupled up smoothly. The dramas between Yoo Jae Suk and Kim Jong Kook by scheming Haha is actually got me laughing so hard. Now, here is the seed of the best traitor and schemer in the Running Man history.

The best part is yet to come, though. The Christmas Party is turned up into a battle for The Best Running Man. Last time, Gary won the title. But this is not an ordinary battle, because The Running Men are given a superpower. Yes, superpower as superpower like time controller and space controller.

Even now, the cast members, guests, fans, media, and production team continue to refer this episode because it was so iconic and absolutely funny race. I gotta say, I came for Big Bang, but stay only after this episode!

I only realized now that they are so many other funny episodes I haven't added on the lists! Despite their betrayals, lies, and strong determination to oust each other, the love and friendship between each member is evident after all these years of filming together. Their character and frame are what really makes this show so great. There isn’t enough space to talk about all of my favorite episodes, but rest assured that there are plenty more to keep you laughing!
Will definitely making a part two whenever I got a chance!

Don't Walk, Run,
Michelle