Cheap Trip: Phuket part 1

Liburan emang asik banget. . Tapiiii, kalo budget lagi mepet, gimana? Well, I have something to share regarding the cheap trip. To Thailand. To Phuket to be exact. For four nights (empat malam) at least.

We're going to Thailand from Indonesia's island of Batam, across the Strait to Singapore then pass through Malaysia. 

Price are based on the period of April 2014. It can be higher or lower.

What to prepare?

Money-->Of course laah. But what kinds of money we should have in pocket? Here's the deets:

1. Thailand's Bath: actually you do not have to bring huge amount of Bath as we can exchange it in Hatyai or Phuket (the rate in Hatyai is waaaaay cheaper than in Phuket though). Moreover, if we are having CIMB card we can withdraw in any ATM in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand with no charge applied and with the current rate. Damn!

2. Coins: these ones are very helpful. Malaysian Ringgit and Bath coins are what we must have. We will use it for the rest room on the long way to Phuket.

3. EZlink: this card is used in Singapore if we take MRT. It's SGD15.00 with 10 dollars amount in it.

4. Other currency: Thailand accepts many currencies including Indonesia Rupiah (50,000 and 100,000 only). So, if you bring Rupiah there, no worry. You can change there.

Here's the breakdown of the amount of each currencies:

Bath: 8000 (or IDR3,080,000.-)

Ringgit: 150 (or IDR525,000.-)

Sing Dollars: 50 (or IDR450,000.-)

Total: IDR4,000,000.- ALL IN (transportation, accommodation-bed and meals for 4 nights stay, shopping)

Document: passport.

Stuffs: clothes and toiletries. But it won't be necessary to bring lots of stuffs. And it's better to wear and bring clothes with thin and light fabric as it will be hot all the time. One jacket is okay to wear in the bus.

CAMERA: for the best moments we can take :)

So, ready to go? Let's go!

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And the Grammy goes to...

It's only prediction of the 5 biggest nods of the biggest moment in the music industry.

1. Brave by Sara Bareilles for Best Pop Solo Performance.

I'm pretty sure she will grab the trophy. There is Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry and Lorde. 

What makes it interesting is that Katy's Roar is just so similar as Sara's Brave. I'm not sure about Katy as the track record shows she's been nominated for many many times and it seems like it's enough to her. About the rest? Well, Lorde is exceptional. her album is overall critically positive so it is likely to her to win in this category.

2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis for Best New Artist.

They are one of the biggest artist of 2013, just right after Miley Cyrus (but in a different sense, of course). "Same Love" is huge! The other nominees? Well, only one person I have no idea: Kendrick Lamar. All I know about Lamar is the one hooking up with the Kardashians. LOL.

3. Locked Out Of Heaven for Song of The Year. 

This is the most exciting category of all! Locked Out Of Heaven is another best song by Bruno Mars since Grenade in 2010. What a long time to wait! Royals, Roar, and Pink's Just Give Me A Reason is a bunch of great songs. But, I'm not really sure, AGAIN, about Katy Perry's Roar. Same Love is powerful hit and I will not be surprised if it takes the Grammy.

4. The Heist for Album of The Year

 Personally, I prefer Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. I mean, those crazy helmet aliens spread the new viral funkiness. Their music's just sick! Swift's Red? Mmm....maybe but I think Swift's music are up and down. I mean, sometimes it sounds so intense and mature but most time sounds more teenager and more teenager. Okay, T-swifts, just give the other people a shot for Grammy. No monopoly. What about Kendrick Lamar? Again, I have NO idea. Kim, could you give us any clue? (He's not a baller, please!!! LOL)

5. Locked Out Of Heaven for Record of The Year. 

This is the ultimate category anybody won't miss. Blurred Lines reigned the summer charts. Get Lucky is aired everyday until now. Radioactive led the band to the fame! What a breakthrough! And Royals, may the Lorde be with you, Grammy (She's highly likely to win this category!!!)

 

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Little Things To Know: Batam

For those not knowing yet about Batam, here are the things that uniquely to know:

Massive Deforestation
As any other developing countries do, they make living from cutting trees. Take a look at this picture.

It was taken three months ago when I happened to go around and found this newly deforested area. Now the tree (the last one remaining) is gone as it's became ashes already and there will be clusters for settlement and industries. And it's not the only one, trust me (see other pics). We all see that Batam

is center of industry. Many factories have been built and more others to come.  Deforestation is striking every inch of land in this island.

Dusty Cars

Believe it or not, MOST of cars in Batam are dusty regardless it is the tacky or the classy one. It's fulled of dust. And it's thick! 

The picture above shows the someone wrote "DASAR JOROK!" (GROSS!) on the windshield's glass in the backside of a car. What a joke! I mean, they shouldn't have made it if the dusty is not at least 5mm thick.


Free Area

As it is only 12 miles away from Singapore, we can find many things (imported products) which are cheap and better easily. Seriously. You can get Chivas here way cheaper than any other places in Indonesia. Carlsberg, Bailey, wine, snacks, many things.

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Celebrity Who's OUT and You Know What, They're Off the Hook!

It must be surprising when a celebrity, with the fame in hand, declares that they're coming out. Fortunately we're no more living in Medieval Age, and for some who's still living so, our prayers for the enlightenment for you. Anyway, here is 5 Hottest Celebrities who's coming out. NO H8!

1. Ricky Martin

The Livin La Vida Loca singer is publicly stating his sexuality in 2010. Who knew that the latino hunks had broken girls all over the world? He has 2 boys from surrogate mother and just called off his relationship with his long run stock broker boyfriend Carlos Gonzalez. Hope he'll find his Mr. Right anytime soon.

2. Jonathan Bennett

Maybe he's not quite familiar for some people. The Lilo's co-star in Mean Girls (several thousand year ago movie) apparently is in relationship with another not-really-famous actor Matt Dallas. I do not even know when he's no more closeted anyway. He's still gorgeous. 

3. Cynthia Nixon

In television, we see Miranda is a settle down woman who's facing more complicated problem as there are kids to take care of. We see her as a lenient and tender mom. But, who knows that the actress and activist has a wife already? Step aside, men!

4. Zachary Quinto

He's maybe the hottest inter-galaxy man ever. The Star Trek's Spock came out of the closet in 2011 and once was in relationship with actor (I do not know his name. Just google it you'll find out, trust me!) then split. Sad!

5. Matt Bomer

Save the best for the last! Yes, my last hottest celebrity is Matt Bomer. When he appeared in Glee as Kurt's boyfriend's brother (who's Kurt's boyfriend's name, actually, for God's shake?!) I never thought that he loves b***. The White Collar leading actor spoke up in 2012 and now he's in relationship with his publicist. 

They're fabulous people, they're doing their job very well, and they're just doing the right thing for their life. Livin la vida, todos! Cheers!!!

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2014 Golden Globes: Expectation & Prediction

Just one more day to reveal who's gonna go home with the trophy in hand. Everyone loves Awards Season for sure. Kicked off with People's Choice and ended up with the Academy later the end of February. But now, let's warm it up with Golden Globes hot list! Check it out!

Best Motion Picture Drama
Expectation: Gravity
Prediction: Gravity

When it comes to best motion picture, like it or not, there must be something vision-ably dazzling to take count (not to mention the idea of story line, OF COURSE, and many other things). And Gravity did it very well. This 90 minute outer space theme drama successfully pull out the zero gravity effect on the big screen. And everybody flied.

Best Actor in Motion Picture Drama
Expectation: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Prediction: Chiwetel Ejiofor

What makes different between drama and any other genre of movies is that those involving in the scene looked more real and straight to reality (though surely, there's some part of dramatization, still). The characters are intense. Captain Phillips's Tom Hanks rules bu I'm not so sure. The movie is a quite one but 12 Years A Slave's Chiwetel showed us, through his role as Solomon (I do not know the last name or maybe the first name?), how 19th Century was a a HARD time for black people as slavery was deemed as okay and cruelty and bad things towards them is, somehow, okay. This is a VERY good movie as it remains us the split between those supporting slavery and Abolitionists in America, and Chiwetel was just ....great in the movie.

Bestt Actress in Motion Picture Drama

Expectation: Sandra Bullock
Prediction: Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock deserves the trophy. First, because it is Sandra Bullock. Second, any other thing. I mean, if she wins the nod then we see how visualization is A MAJOR ELEMENT to its characters involved. 

Best Director - Motion Picture 
Expectation: Alfonso Quaron
Prediction: Steve McQueen

This is a little bit confusing. I mean, all the movies in this nomination has its own "exceptional thing", but one for sure, as most of the movies are based on true story, so, we'll see which one of them has showed us best their best angle in adopting a story (not to mention there is Captain Phillips and American Hustle. Confusing).

Best Animated Feature Film

Expectation: Frozen
Prediction: Frozen

There is Despicable Me 2 and The Croods, but I choose Frozen. The first two movie looks similar at a glance (I mean, the animation. Lol). I have no idea how to give a critic/comment whatsoever when it comes to animated movie, as it's, somehow, it's not my area at all. I mean, there must be something (technological) that counts for a movie so it deserves winning in this category. Frozen is a not bad movie afterall. And the frozen summer is the "coolest" story line.

So what's your prediction?

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How To Burn Belly Fat

What's your New Year's Resolutions? Going to Bali or Lombok? Diving in Aceh's Sabang? Buying new gadget? Well, for me, the first and most urgent thing to do is to lose my belly fat. SERIOUSLY! I mean, OH MY GOODNESS this is a disaster! How could you just stare at the mirror and all you see is your tummy is getting bigger uncontrollably? 

Well, here's the thing. Every time I look at my tummy, I feel like I'm not ready for heart attack anytime soon. I got so distressed. And every time I got myself in this kind of situation, I tend to eat more than I used to. Like, you know, disorder. The only possible thing to happen is I keep on eating, and more and there is apparently so hard for a way out of this belly fat mess. It's a satanic spiral.

So, earlier this year, I have to lose my belly fat in any possible way. Here are things I possibly do (fyi, I do not like any kind of sports or exercise actually):

1. Drink more water

Maybe it's a very simple thing to do but in this 21st Century people get used to drink anything soda or isotonic or anything sweet and tasty. But you know what, drinking plain water helps our metabolism. I mean, how water can fasten the burning of fat in our body. Most importantly, it helps us much when we're craving at night and we know we can eat for the shake of ... okay health. Well...

2. Do squats. 

I've got the tips in an article: "Stand with your feet 8-9 inches apart, extend your arms in front of you and squat your hips backward. Do four sets of 15 to 20 squats, working several minutes at a time." Hope it works.

3. Run Run Run!

This is exhausting. I will do it any way (not really running fast like professional sprinter in Olympics). Or okay, let's make it rational: WALK WALK WALK!

4. Sauna

I don't know whether this can burn the fat in my tummy instead of just get my body sweaty. But I like sauna anyway. Maybe I can do some improvisations in sauna room to burn more calories!

5. Eat Well and Heathy

Regardless of whatever exercise you've done as long as you eat garbage, your tummy will keep being a garbage can. Seriously. So I have to figure out the kind of food I CAN eat (I believe it's more difficult than kosher-non kosher diet), the size (portion), and the timing. 

6. Anything possible

Well,besides those things above, I will do anything else possible to say bye to my belly fat. I can swim now so I will do it every week to burn calories. And, one more thing, I will do Kayaking as I just LLLLLLOVE it. It keeps me healthy afterall so I will do it.

So, anybody can share some tips how to address this belly fat distress?

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