Indonesia 2011

After years of having Indonesia at the top of my to-do travel list, I finally made the trip in November 2011. Mimi was my usual travel partner, so I had to stop by Manila first to meet up with her.

The flight from Key West was quite long as I had connections in Atlanta, Detroit, and Nagoya Japan. I landed in Manila at about 12:30AM on Nov 19. Unfortunately, my luggage didn’t make it for another day and a half.

After a few days in Manila, it was off to Jakarta! Being the caffeine addict that I am, one of my most anticipated activities in Indonesia was to try some of the local Kopi Luwak which it is claimed is “the most expensive coffee in the world”. The coffee is made by an Asian Palm Civet (a small mammal) eating coffee cherries and then defecating them out onto the jungle floor. Locals then collect the droppings and sell it as super expensive coffee to people with too much money to burn like me.

Kopi Luwak

Delicious!!!!

Mimi wasn't as brave as me, and just opted for a fruit smoothie

After our coffee it was time to do some shopping at Plaza Indonesia. Mimi with her sophisticated tastes was upset that the Prada store in Jakarta was still under construction.

Poor Mimi

Later it was time to experience the nightlife in Jakarta. We spent the next two nights clubbing at Red Square and B.A.T.S.  Nightlife starts late in Jakarta and I don’t think we even left the hotel room before 11PM. Of course due to the fact that we are both getting up there in years, this required some napping beforehand…..

Around 2AM

Mimi looking seductive!

Showing off my "lawnmower" dance move. Just one of many in my vast repertoire.

After a few days in Jakarta, it was time to move onto Bali. At the airport on our way out of Jakarta I got to try some Oxtail soup.

Oxtail soup.....my new favorite Indonesian dish.

We arrived in Bali and checked into our hotel “The 101 Legian“.  The hotel was right in the thick of the nightlife in Kuta, only about a quarter mile from the site of the 2002 Bali bombings.

Mimi's outfit went well with the hotel decor

I purchased some new threads that screamed "tourist"

We didn’t have much time to relax after arriving in Bali. At 4:45AM the next morning we were up for the Hard Rock Hotel “Rock n Run” 5K race.

Ready to Run

I don't think mimi was as enthusiastic about the race as I was

Before the race

I think I finished about sixth or seventh place overall out of over 500 runners. Not bad for only getting a few hours sleep the night before. Mimi wasn’t too far behind me. She was the top finisher from the Philippines for sure!

After all the late night clubbing in Jakarta and the Bali 5K, Mimi decided to play up the drama for the cameras with the SalonPas and Advil.

Mimi doing her best Gloria Arroyo impression

The next day we decided to do some activities that were less physical. We hired a driver for 12hrs and drove around the island with a mission of  hitting as many temples as possible.

I was required to wear a Sari at Hindu Holy sites

At Tanah Lot

Slightly dangerous?

Collecting temple photos around Bali was fun, but the next day it was time to get back to some more adventurous activities. I wanted to go SCUBA diving, but Mimi protested “I can’t swim” and “I’m not strong”. After much debate, I finally caved in and we decided to do the next best thing…..Sea Walking.

Mimi at the bottom of the ocean

Underwater Duo

Our last two days in Bali we just hit the beach.

Kuta beach

Kuta beach

Sunset on Kuta

Our fun in Bali finally ran out and it was back to Jakarta for a night and then on to Manila. We had one last activity planned for there. Timing worked out perfectly in that David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team were making a visit to Manila at the same time we would be there. Mimi diligently reloaded the webpage for ticket sales for hours waiting for them to go on sale. We were rewarded with front row tickets to the game. We were just meters away from Beckham, Donovan, and company as they took on the Philippine national team. Manny Pacquiao was also in attendance at the game.

Front row seats