Bali as our Christmas destination

Most nations have their cheap holiday destination; I like to head over to the Philippines to get away from Perth during winter. I am able to spend time with Mecky as we travel around the Philippines.

However, when Mecky needs an overseas trip, Bali is a fantastic destination for us. Sure, we have been to Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi together but Bali is our pre-Christmas relax destination just before the Christmas peak season. Mecky flys in from Manila, usually still in her work clothes and I fly in from Perth, well after I have finished work.

For me, Bali is a three and a half hour flight to a resort location for sun, sea and surf to wind down. For Mecky, her flight is slightly longer at just under four hours, landing at Denpasar airport is the perfect halfway destination for us.

After a couple of days we are both am keen to head up north too a more  remote destination although these days we head up country first before spending the last days near Kuta. I really have no need for the nightclubs, bars or a loud disco with exorbitant prices for watered down drinks so I am more than willing to stay out of the more popular areas. I do like the restaurants and quieter bars though, Mecky does too and we enjoy the time together.

Bali is known as an adventure destination with white water rafting, scuba diving, mountain biking, hiking and the water sports of parasailing, water skiing and jet skiing. Mecky has been white water rafting but there is no way I will get her scuba diving or parasailing. Maybe the lure of the long weekend will be the motivation to visit Bali in the cold and wet winter months of Perth.

Eating out in Hong Kong - Fisher & Farmer

We headed on down to the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon, the interactive mobile phone that was offered by our hotel recommended the Fisher and Farmer restaurant. The restaurant was chosen by Mecky and I wasn't about to complain as that would be met with a stinging rebuke. So off we went on a stunning Friday night in Hong Kong.

This was apparently one of the restaurants in Hong Kong to visit, arriving at 8 pm without a booking was always be troublesome and after waiting for an hour we were seated. There wasn't much of a wine list so the drinks were beer, so the choice was Corona. For the meal, we started with a dumplings as the entrée, the Peking duck was recommended but I can't say I was overly impressed and since desert wasn't on the cards, we left even without coffee.

I'm neither a Hong Kong local or Chinese resident so while I wasn't much impressed with the Peking duck, this reputation of this restaurant is highly rated and the Peking duck is a specialty. It is not difficult to work out the issue stems from my tastes and not their cooking, I wanted local food and not westernised food so in that respect, I got what I wanted and appreciate the meal for what it was. The acid test always is, would I go back and eat there again, the answer is a resounding yes.

Mecky's mini MBA course

I have had the opportunity to take a look at the mini-MBA presented by the Chartered Association of Business Administrators in the Philippines after viewing their course materials in 2012. The Canadian not-for-profit professional association states its mission is to raise the standard of management competency to raise the status of business administration as a profession.

Based on the knowledge development materials I viewed; their program includes human resources management, marketing management, accounting and finance management, information technology management, organisational management and leadership. That's a fairly rounded program with the main disciplines represented; the delivery is fairly condensed over an eight week period with face-to-face tutorials, presentations, case studies and written examinations.

The certificates awarded at the end of the program carries weight; successful completion allows advanced standing at affiliated international universities including but not limited to Edinburgh Business School, Edith Cowan Business School, the University of Liverpool and Charles Sturt University.

Its all very good gaining qualifications, however, implementing your newly acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace is the true test of graduate competency. As the majority of the student cohort are employed professionals; one can assume knowledge and skills are transferred to the working environment.

Friday nights at Cafe Havana

My favourite bar in Makati was Cafe Havana in the Greenbelt entertainment complex. As I travel to the Philippines on a fairly regular basis to hang with Mecky, go scuba diving and generally enjoy life, this was my bar of choice in Makati.

I generally departed Perth at 1.10 am early on a Friday morning for Singapore arriving about 6.30 am. It could be argued that I left late on Thursday, it was tiring after working all day. I have my connection to Manila at 9.30 pm and arrive at about 1.30 pm in the afternoon - it's always the same flights so I know the routine well.

But the time I travel to my hotel after clearing immigration and the Manila traffic - it's Friday afternoon and I'm ready for a little entertainment. Most times Mecky would make it down to the airport and pick me up before heading back to work. I would have a lie down, a shower and get ready for Friday night in Makati.

Friday and Sunday night, a long running band playing an entertaining mix of Cuban and salsa music - this is really a great evening out. I just love the set list, the Salsa and Latino sounds are great Friday night entertainment although I must admit, I can't recall us hanging out too many times on a Sunday night. We have walked past plenty of times though and just listened to the band play, yet I can't remember their name.

I generally travel to the Philippines three times a year for two weeks at a time, that accounted for three attendances at Cafe Havana on a Friday night per trip and nine happy experiences per year. That's more boozy outlandish Friday nights that I can care to remember for the decade I have been diving and holidaying in the Philippines. Mecky on the other hand had to work on Saturday morning and was much more sedate, but then again, she wasn't up all Thursday night either.

Barcino Wine and Tapas

During my visits to the Philippines for diving trips, I am lucky to work in training and education enjoying the advantages of numerous holidays the job allows. During my thirteen year lecturing career in the college system, I have been lucky enough to make up to 3 diving trips to the Philippines a year.

All trips start in Manila before heading out to the islands for what I believe is some of the best scuba diving in South East Asia. My hotel of choice was located to the Greenbelt area of Makati where I am able to hang out at the numerous choices of bars and restaurants over the weekend before mid-week diving begins. I'm staying different places now so I get there less than I used to, but we still get to see some nice places.

All trips ended here too so I have a day or two at the end of my holiday to relax before jumping on the plane and heading home. A favourite bar of Mecky is Barcino allowing us the choice of indoor or outdoor seating. This is a pretty decent venue late afternoon and early evening to purchase a bottle of red wine and watch people strolling through the entertainment district.

Throughout the afternoon, a meal of tapas may be brought out to accompany the selection of wine as evening falls on Manila and  the entertainment powers into overdrive. There is plenty to like about the Greenbelt entertainment precinct, the atmosphere is decent, safety is paramount, the food choices excellent and bars that are fun - we really like hanging out here.  

A cappuccino at the Dome Singapore

Sipping on a cappuccino with Mecky at the Dome Cafe at the Singapore Art Museum on Bras Basah Road is a pretty decent way to spend the morning. The cafe at the Singapore Art Museum doesn't exactly follow the architecture of standard outlets that I am familiar with. Inside, the wooden floors, distinctive green tiling, plush seats and beans stored in glass wall mounted dispensers behind the counter create the style of the cafe that I know.

I find this an excellent ambiance to read a copy of the Straits Times and reflect on the fast paced life we all now engage in. Exceptional coffee served at the art museum right in the colonial district is a throwback to a bygone era. Personally, I find the colonial district one of the more interesting sub-regions of Singapore; the history of Singapore dates back pre-11th century. Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and British colonial powers ruled Singapore before Sir Stanford Raffles formalised the agreement in 1819.

I constantly reflect on the most famous of cafes, the Parisian Le Dome was known as the intellectual gathering place of the bohemian culture of post WW I artists, writers, sculptors, poets and dealers immediately enters my conscience. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Maugham, Picasso and Gauguin all graced the cafe during its heyday. Reading and discussing contemporary issues is the lifeblood of the modern cafe - I seek solace spending my time absorbing contemporary culture and observing people over a coffee.