Articles from this Category
10 February 2026
Above: T-shirts based on Jakarta scenes and food. Chinatown I woke at 0600 in Jakarta, which was 0700 back in Bali. Today, I’m meeting Ah Meng, who is family of the hotel that I stayed at in Jakarta. With brunch on the cards, I made do with some fruit and cake before heading out at […]
9 February 2026
Above: Art made up of scrunched up fishing nets at Sarinah Mall. Leaving Despite retiring much later last night, I woke at 0500 for my rehab exercises and taking breakfast at 0730 to avoid waiting (like yesterday). I told them to skip the pastries and juice, in order to eat less. Checking out at 0900, […]
8 February 2026
I kept up with my rehab exercises after waking up at 0500 and taking breakfast at 0730. Kim was home attending to lots of matters, so I played my part by doing some admin on the computer before having a swim around 1000. For lunch, I went out to the main road in search of […]
7 February 2026
With 5h of time difference, I was up at 0500 and did my rehab exercises for my hip and knee before breakfast started at 0730. Breakfast started with a basket of bakery, cut fruit and cereal before a hot ala carte option was given. It was too much food for me! Having recently gone over […]
6 February 2026
Landing some 20 mins ahead of schedule at 1700, we disembarked about 10 mins later and I was through immigration using the automated gates at 1715. It was purely walking time with no waiting at all. I had applied for an obtained a Visa Exemption application online free-of-charge, which allowed the use of the autogate. […]
5 February 2023
The big procession Today is Capgomeh (the fifteenth or last day, but literally night of Chinese New Year), the big day that we have specially come for. I’m two years late for this event, originally due to come here in 2021, but delayed due to the pandemic. We headed to town at 0645 where it […]
4 February 2023
Above: Vihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya or Tai Pak Kung Temple with the minarets of Masjid Raya Singkawang in the background. Breakfast Today is the eve of Capgomeh. With nothing officially on the published programmed, I didn’t set the alarm and woke around 0700 to find a message from Tim and Elena next door. They […]
3 February 2023
Above: Sambas palace. Departing Kuching We checked out from the OYO Golden Lounge before 0600 for our ride to Singkawang in West Kalimantan, the venue for possibly the most colourful Capgomeh (last day of Chinese New Year) celebration in the world. Our ride would depart from Siang Siang Corner food court across the road. Boo […]
8 February 2020
Inland Temples Today I had booked through Traveloka a 12h rental car-and-driver for IDR130K (USD9.50) plus petrol and driver’s lunch allowance of IDR50K. I had the itinerary all decided and it was all within their “In Town” zone. With a pickup at 0930, I lay in bed and decided to check the zonal map once […]
7 February 2020
Leaving Singapore I tried to spend some time with my aunt in the morning as it was a very short visit on my part. At her age and with her special condition, she keeps to a certain routine. It appeared she wasn’t too fussed with my presence so I didn’t push it. Heading to the […]