The Wheel and Axle

Labuan Bajo Hilltop View

We arrived in Labuan Bajo (on Flores Island, about an hour from Bali by plane) on Tuesday afternoon.

Flores is an island of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago and is close to the Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage island chain that is home to the famous Komodo dragon. Thus, Flores is a gateway for adventure-seeking tourists who wish to see the komodo and many other wonders of nature in the archipelago.

As we arrived already late in Labuan Bajo, we simply signed up for a Wednesday all-day joiner island hopping tour. This was through Kita Tours, one of the many tour organizers we encountered along the harbour. The price was extremely reasonable, especially compared to what was being offered back at the hotel.

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Continued From:

Indonesia 2017, Leg 1: Ubud ng Ganda

After lunch, we went to Pura Ulun Danu Beratan (Pura Bratan for short), a Shaivite water temple by Lake Bratan close to Berdugul. This was a highlight of our temple tour, as the view was spectacular. It is an old temple, dating back to 1633, and honors Dewi Danu, the water goddess of the Balinese Hindus. Do not miss this when going to Bali.

We had a stopover for a quick view of the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. It was really quick because this was the only part of our tour wherein the rain didn’t stop nor slow down. It wasn’t a deluge, but it was still enough for us to take fast pictures of the view as well as of us by the view. The terraces are pretty good, though I personally think there are better ones (and I was proven right the next day).

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So last Sunday, we arrived in Bali from Manila for a week’s getaway in Indonesia. Our itinerary consists of two nights in Bali (specifically in Ubud and the surrounding areas), three nights in Flores Island (about an hour’s flight from Bali), then finally another two nights in Bali (this time in Seminyak).

The first time I was in Indonesia was when I went to Jakarta in 2016. Jakarta is very much like Manila, only larger. And just like Manila, it’s a business capital. It’s very cosmopolitan and – save for some cultural tourist spots like the Istiqlal Mosque, Kota Tua (a.k.a. Old Batavia; think Intramuros, only Dutch-influenced), and several museums – really more of a gateway into the country to get to more touristy destinations.

Bali is quite the contrast. It’s significantly more laidback and, if I’ll be honest, has a greater cultural feel. It’s also different from the rest of the country in that it’s the only Hindu-majority area as opposed to Muslim-majority. You can almost feel an old world vibe that comes from a pre-colonial time. Sure, it’s modernized as well, but this is a place where you can really immerse yourself, take time to reflect, and enjoy.

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Seriously, I want to be these guys. One speaks 35 languages (and understands even more than that), while the other is learning 18 languages and already has 15 languages in common with the first guy. That is not an easy feat.

Perhaps it’s never too late to learn more languages and become a polyglot. It would certainly be a very awesome way to acquire more knowledge, and it’s definitely even more awesome in action if one loves to travel. Let’s see.

I just love this clip that showed up on my newsfeed recently. Apparently, it’s from a Thai TV series called Slam Dance, which now I need to watch in full. With subtitles, hopefully.

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Atom Araullo making his feature film debut in a movie by a re-emerging Mike De Leon (the Mike De Leon)… I’m in!

Sometimes, I can’t believe it’s been over three years since that first writing workshop by Jessica Zafra. I was lucky to be part of that first batch, and not only did I learn a lot (and finish the first draft of my first novel), but I made lots of new friends that I still keep in touch with. We still occasionally hang out for coffee, conversations about books and more, or just catch up. Some of us formed and still run The Library Underground; although the site is dead (personally, I think a revival is in order), the social media accounts are still alive.

If you think all that’s great and want to see what it’s like to learn from a master slash the dominatrix of the universe, well, you’re in luck! Jessica has run several successful workshops after our batch, and she has another one this July!

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Damn right, Tyra. That’s talent.

Time for a de-stress. 👍🏻 It’s a bit rainy, but it’s still beautiful. Let’s see what the next few days have in store for us. First stop: Villa Sarna, just outside Ubud.

This short video from Ministry of Funny could very well be the spiritual sister of UP Babaylan’s anniversary book from a few years back, Anong Pangalan Mo Sa Gabi? at iba pang tanong sa mga LGBT (What Do You Call Yourself At Night? and other questions for LGBTs).

In the clip, the interviewers asks random straight people (in the streets of Singapore, apparently) some questions commonly asked of LGBT people. The hilarious squirminess and/or bewilderment of the straights should make anyone realize just how inappropriate or foolish asking these questions can be when directed at non-straights.

Enjoy and learn.