BALI DAYS 3 & 4: Bliss!

We’ve had a pretty busy past two days, with a little bit of shopping and a lot of eating and pampering! (Pretty tough to endure, but I survived :P ) Yesterday started with breakfast at the hotel again – our accommodation includes a buffet breakfast everyday with pretty much any kind of food you could want. They’ve got the usual things like cereal, fruit, eggs, bacon and toast, but there’s also waffles, little pastries and croissants as well as fried rice, miso soup and curry. The beef fried rice today and the waffles yesterday are my definite favourites so far -- if only my breakfast could be made for me everyday when I’m at home!

After breakfast, mum and I headed back to Discovery shopping centre on a shoe-hunting expedition. She ended up buying two pairs and I bought a pair of THE HOTTEST snakeskin shoes I have everrrrr seen!

We lazed around the room for most of the afternoon, but left at 4pm for a sunset dinner at La Lucciola – a very swanky restaurant with amazing food and gorgeous views over the beach. The cocktails also were really delicious, and I had my first pina colada. Tasty! The restaurant had a nice atmosphere and it was a wonderful evening all up :)

I got seriously pampered today; I went with sister number 1 and her husband to Febri’s Hotel and Spa and had a full body Balinese massage, full pedicure package and a manicure – all for only $50!! The massage was so amazing, I don’t have the right words to describe how fantastic it felt, but I zoned out into this deeply relaxed state of bliss for most of it, if that’s any indication? Will definitely go again if there’s time, I loved it!

Next was the deluxe pedicure, with a foot scrub and paraffin wax treatment. The wax treatment was a bit weird; they heat up the wax and kind of slather it onto each foot in a thick layer with a paint brush. Once the wax sets, they slip the whole thing off your foot like a sock! Apparently it’s to make your feet “soft like a baby”, and I can definitely say they were really smooth afterwards! (It’s “like having new feet”, according to the girl who did my treatment.) The whole thing reminded me of the horror movie House of Wax though, where the crazy guy kills people by pouring wax on them so he can put them in his museum...

Later on we had a hair appointment with the lady who’s coming to do everyone’s hair for mum and dad’s vow-renewal ceremony tomorrow. Cannot BELIEVE the traffic, it took us over 90 mins for what should have been a 20 min drive! It’s the end of Ramadan today/tomorrow, so heaps of people have come to Bali to visit or be with their families for the end of the festival. The traffic was so bad that even the little scooters weren’t able to nip around the cars because the roads were so congested! Hopefully it will clear up soon. Had bacon cabonara for dinner and the Pantai restaurant, and now it’s time to hop into bed with a book so I can rest up for the big ceremony tomorrow. Can’t wait! :)

PS: Here's proof that I rocked a maxi dress ... and loved it!!

BALI DAY 2: Sore feet, globalisation and lobster thermidor.

Phew what a day!! Totally exhausted and with such sore feet, but it was totally worth it! If the consumerist part of me was an animal, it would be stretched out and purring right now because I’ve had some serious retail therapy today. After breakfast, the fam and I hopped in a few taxis (it takes either 3 normal taxis, or one taxi and a van to transport all NINE of us!) and headed to Discovery shopping centre in Kuta. We shopped like CRAZY for most of the day, stopping for lunch at Pizza Hut in between. I bought two pairs of shoes, a couple of maxi dresses, two fancy scarves and lots of cute bits and pieces from an accessories shop called Shine that’s kind of like a cooler Asian version of Gloss.

I can’t wait to wear the maxi dresses; I think I’m falling in love with them! While I’ve always shied away from them because I thought they’d make me look pregnant, the ones I bought today were pulled in at the waist and are soooo comfy (with cool floral patterns)… and cover up my ghosty legs as well, its win-win!

I actually had to turn off the TV so I could sit down and write this, damn you E! Entertainment channel, I know I shouldn’t care about the Kardashian wedding but I can’t tear my eyes away!! After wandering around the markets for a bit, we came back to the hotel for a swim, showers and a rest, and headed out again to the Blue Planet seafood restaurant and had a delicious dinner! I had the seafood platter which was really nice, but I also tried some of mum’s AMAZING lobster thermidor --- it’s actually making me drool a little bit thinking back to it :)

It’s kind of crazy to see how many ‘Western’ brands are here -- I’m in a completely different country yet I can go into KFC or McDonalds and get the exact same meals I would at home. They even have ANZ and the Commonwealth Bank, not to mention all the retail brands they stock in the shopping centres (Polo, Guess and Topshop being just a few!). My lecturer for the globalisation unit I’m taking at the moment will be pleased to know that I’ve taken note of the overwhelming presence of trans-national companies here even though my brain is in holiday mode. Because Bali caters for the tourists, I can see why its so popular to have a Burger King or Starbucks around the main tourist spots, but it’s interesting to see it juxtaposed with the old-world culture of traditional Bali (temples, offerings, statues etc).

Another thing I noticed in the taxi on the way home tonight is even though the drivers here are like maniacs on the road, with cars and scooters going in all different directions at the same time, it really seems to work. They just take it slow and manage not to skittle any passing pedestrians while avoiding the 50 million scooters nipping around --- and yet we in Perth are such terrible drivers?? It could just be that you don’t really hear of road accidents as commonly here, but it seems like even though the roads here are seriously hectic, everybody eventually gets to where they want to go without being killed. And while traffic accidents are really no laughing matter, it did amuse me to think that even though we live in such a privileged, Western country with superior roads and stricter driving rules, the people here in Bali really seem to have got it down-pat.

Looking forward to a long sleep and a more relaxing day tomorrow :)

BALI DAY 1: Leaving on a jet plane!

And we’re off! I’m currently sitting in a tiny aeroplane seat, looking out the window at the beautiful blue sky and at all the clouds (will be posting this later when we get to the hotel). This morning was a bit hectic; (I was reminded of the house in Home Alone before the whole family leaves for their holiday) with everybody running around trying to move stuff around in suitcases that are already too heavy. We eventually managed to balance out the weight by putting things in the hand-luggage. The last minute items were packed (toothbrushes not forgotten, hooray!), the taxi arrived and we went to the airport.

After meeting up with my oldest sister and her husband, we checked in, had lunch and moved through customs and immigration. We went through the usual process of putting our bags through the x-ray machines … and then found out that I’d accidentally packed ALL of my toiletries into one of the hand luggage bags!!! What I had thought were shoes wrapped in a plastic bag (like the rest of them were) was actually all of my face washes, expensive shampoos, moisturisers and makeup! (After I’d been SO careful to make sure all my lip glosses and hand creams weren’t in my hand luggage!) And because of the laws regarding no liquids in the cabin of the plane (unless they’re in little bottles less that 100mL) I was majorly kicking myself, thinking we’d have to bin the lot! Luckily, dad was able to go back and check the bag in with the rest of our luggage, and my toiletries will meet us in Bali. Lesson learnt! (Cue Homer Simpson style “D’OH” moment.)

Then we got to the fun part, buying perfume and alcohol in the duty free store! I picked up a couple of late birthday presents and some of my favourite green apple vodka for myself J I can’t actually remember the late time I purchased spirits that weren’t either from duty free of were birthday gifts (which is an indicator to how often my family travels internationally…).

Now we’re on the plane, we’ve just passed over the top (or side??) of Australia and are now over the ocean. Can’t wait to get there!! Bali is such an amazing place and I’ve got so many happy memories of being there. The unusual thing about this trip is that my entire immediate family is going: mum; dad; two older sisters; two younger brothers and two brothers-in-law. There’s usually someone who stays home, whether its one of my sisters and her husband, or dad. Sister number 2 and her hubby are already in Bali, having arrived yesterday. Mum and dad are having a vow-renewal ceremony in a few days to celebrate their 35^th wedding anniversary. The anniversary was actually in November last year but we wanted to wait till August to head to Bali because the weather is best now. I really am lucky to have such a big, happy, loving and fun family. They’re pretty awesome J (No, this isn’t a hack, honestly!)

I picked up a couple of fashion magazines at the airport before we left and thought I should express my excitement that bold, bright colour blocking is in this season! I have to admit; I was definitely repulsed when I walked in to stores like Sportsgirl and Dotti a few weeks ago and my eyes were assailed by SO MUCH COLOUR. But it’s definitely grown on me. There’s kind of an exhilarating thrill about putting two bright colours together in the same outfit. It’s like I’m breaking all of those fashion rules I learned when I was a kid/teenager. It makes me feel happy to wear colours, and it reminds me that summer isn’t far away. I’ve picked out some cute outfits that I can’t wait to wear once we land, especially sky blue shorts with a fire engine red tank top, and a sapphire blue ruffle front top with orange shorts. And for days at home when I’m not feeling so bold, even throwing in some coloured tights (dark purple instead of black) or a bright bangle or earrings can make any outfit feel more fun.

I’m lucky enough to work in a clothing store that I really love (Cotton On represent!) and it’s always fun to think up new outfits using the items of new stock that we get in. It’s pretty much a dream job for this point in my life (still studying and not wanting full time, “serious” work.) Fun atmosphere, great bosses and team mates, cool music and an awesome staff discount.

It sounds cliché but fashion is a real passion of mine. I’m halfway through completing a degree in journalism at Murdoch University (well, it’s actually a double degree with gender and cultural studies too). I’m definitely drawn to the “real” side of journalism (and by this I mean reporting on the events that you see in most of the newspaper or TV broadcast – deaths, disasters, crime, cover-ups etc – and will probably end up working in this side of the industry once I graduate. However, I’d definitely love to one day build up enough experience to one day work in the fashion/style area of journalism. Whether it’s for a magazine, newspaper or website, I think it’s definitely something I could throw my whole self into and get a lot out of. After all, it’s something I’ve always enjoyed and been interested in – but getting paid to write about it would be a definite bonus.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still got a fiery, passionate attitude towards journalism and news reporting as a whole (that’s my Aries personality coming out), and I have to admit there’s certainly a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment that comes with digging up the facts, piecing them together and coming up with a really good story.

But that’s enough of that for now, it’s time to turn off all electronic devices and prepare for landing. Tray tables are stowed, seats in an upright position, lets get started on this holiday!

LATER: After an amazing dinner with the family, we've come back to the hotel. Bali is still the same, noisy and bustling and seriously alive. So glad I'm here :)

Clip clop, clip clop... It's the sound of fancy shoes.

Call me materialistic, superficial, whatever… I just really want to be able to wear high heels! Don’t get me wrong, I am capable of wearing them, just not for longer than around 3 hours (more if it’s a boozy night on the town) without becoming a whinging, limping mess. I’ve set myself the challenge to train my feet to endure long periods in heels, not every day but occasionally, and especially when having an evening out. I own so many pairs of heels and yet I hardly ever wear them!

I’d love to be able to wear heels casually and it not be a big deal, and not have to feel self-conscious that I’m super over-dressed. I’m pretty tall already (170cm) and quite lanky, so wearing heels can make me feel like I’m towering over all my friends. I recently bought a pair of little black wedge pumps and a pair of chunky-heel boots, and I’m trying to slowly start wearing them at work, one 3 hour shift at a time. Working in a store in one of the fancier parts of town, I see women every day coming in with BEAUTIFUL outfits and precariously high heels. Although now that I think about it, they probably spend most of their day behind a desk not wearing shoes anyway …

It’s pretty interesting what different cultures aspire to look like, though. If we lived in certain African tribes I’d have wire rings around my throat to elongate my neck. Chinese women used to bind their feet, even breaking and re-breaking the bones in order to crush them into a shape that would look dainty in their fancy slippers. I guess, even today we have women that starve themselves and undergo plastic surgery in order to achieve this idea of beauty.

There’s always a deeper cause for wanting something, and although I could take the stance that “I only want to wear these shoes because this CAPITALIST SOCIETY and the evil ADVERTISING AND MEDIA INDUSTRIES want me to”, in this case I think I’d rather just enjoy my pretty shoes.

Is it a mean world after all?

In an attempt to skip the whole "OMG hey guys I'm Brianna, I like shoes and clothes and journalism and my friends and this is my first post LOL hope you like reading it!!!!!!!" thing I'm going to just jump right in there and get started. This is an extended version of a mini blog I had to create for a university assignment.

The ways in which technology has changed the way we live, work, play and communicate are pretty amazing. I recently started using twitter, and apart from informing everyone what I had for lunch, (and other important details like this) I subscribed to several news websites’ twitter feeds. I now get tweets from BBC Breaking News and WA Today on my feed.

Apart from marveling at how tech-savvy and intelligent I felt about receiving the news like this, it struck me that every minute of the day, horrible things are happening. Don't get me wrong, I'm smart enough to know that these things DO happen, but it's never been as in my face as this. As a journalism student, I'm one day going to be making my living by reporting these types of things -- and I'm starting to see why it's such a stressful career.

- A man in Norway kills 69 people in an hour, picking them off like animals.

- Riots in the streets of London.

- A man decapitates his son and leaves the head for the boy’s mother to find.

- Hundreds of people dying due to war, famine and natural disasters.

- Innocent people who will never make it home to see their families again.

Poverty; tragedy; sadness; fear; disease and violence. All delivered to my mobile phone, any time of the day or night, wherever I am. It makes me want to stick my head in the sand and ignore it all.

There’s a theory (known as the 'mean world theory' or 'mean world syndrome') that says that overexposure to distressing news stories can make us think the world is a mean and dangerous place. This theory is usually applied when referring to someone getting a unnaturally skewed view of the world, but it can work in other ways too. Ignorance really can be bliss, and we as humans are, for the most part, pretty content to get wrapped up in all the exciting details of our own lives, without giving much thought to what may be going on elsewhere.

Is it really good to be exposed to so much misery on a daily basis, especially when we usually can’t do anything about it?

I feel it’s all a matter of perspective. Perhaps these awful stories are here so we can appreciate the goodness in our own lives and realise how lucky we are.

After all, good news travels fast, too.