December felt like a loop of small tragedies. It’s supposed to be Christmas magic; Bali said humid Tuesday. I’ll throw a Christmas party next year and personally bully the calendar.
Coping strategy: Jala Food Court with friends because they have Taiwanese crispy chicken, my emotional support snack.
Location: Jl. Tukad Yeh Aya No. 69, Renon (Bali)
Vibe: open, casual, pick-a-stall and negotiate with your cravings.
🔥 Grilled Chicken IDR 20.000
Overcooked to the point I could taste regret more than chicken. The sweet sambal was nice, but the meat went bitter, so I benched it. Sad.
🍚 Fried Rice & 🥦 Veggie Tofu IDR 20.000 each (friends’ picks)
Review from the table: so-so. Edible, not memorable.
🐔 Taiwanese Crispy Chicken - the hero
Crisp, juicy, exactly like the ones I inhaled in Surabaya. I’d add curry seasoning next time for maximum drama.
Pros & Cons (speed run)
Pros
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🐔 Crispy chicken that actually slaps
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💸 Budget-friendly stalls (most plates ~Rp 20k)
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👥 Good for group grazing / low-stakes dinners
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📍 Easy Renon location
Cons
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🍗 My grilled chicken was overcooked (ask for not too dry)
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🍽️ Other dishes were mid—depends on stall & timing
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🔊 Food-court acoustics (not a whisper date spot)
Tips if you go
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Lead with the Taiwanese crispy chicken; ask for extra seasoning (try curry).
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If ordering grilled items, request “jangan terlalu kering” (not too dry).
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For variety, split one safe dish + one new stall and share the data.
Stay crunchy, not bitter,
ikkel
I was supposed to post this earlier, but November me nearly deleted my entire camera roll. I salvaged a few photos (heroic). Posting before my phone changes its mind again.
Why Nalu (and which location)
Nalu Bowls, Seminyak (second shop; first was at Single Fin which is far from my cave).
People often Gojek it, but I wanted the walk-in vibe and a bowl that hadn’t done a motorbike stunt.
Macaronis — Rp 50.000
Blend: papaya, mango, dragon fruit, pineapple, strawberry, apple juice + granola. Texture icy, flavor fresh; the granola is crunchy-toasty, not that dusty oatmeal look you see in some pics. Price point: this is the cheapest bowl on the menu tier.-
Uluwatu — Rp 65.000
Blend: dragon fruit, banana, papaya, raspberry, apple juice. Photogenic, tangy-sweet, very “post me.”
Add-ons (a necessary evil for the IG look)
Banana + Strawberry: Rp 5.000 each (mine)
Mango: Rp 5.000 (friend)
Add-ons run about Rp 5–10k. If you skip extras, your bowl won’t look like the Instagram you screenshotted. (Not a complaint; just physics.)
Vibe, service, delivery vs. dine-in
Chill, compact, quick counter service.
In-person wins for texture (toppings stay crisp, blends stay perky). Delivery is convenient, but my crunch has trust issues.
Chill, compact, quick counter service.
In-person wins for texture (toppings stay crisp, blends stay perky). Delivery is convenient, but my crunch has trust issues.
Pros & Cons (quick scan)
Pros
🥣 Bright flavors, crunchy granola
💸 Entry bowl at Rp50k (Macaronis)
⚡ Add-on control (customize for diet/IG)
🕖 Early open (07:30) for smoothie-as-breakfast people
Cons
➕ Add-ons bump price fast
🚲 Delivery can mush toppings; dine-in better
🪑 Seating is cozy (read: small)
Tips to win your bowl
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Order the base, then add 1–2 fruits max so flavor doesn’t turn into a group chat.
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Ask for granola on top last if you’re taking photos (stays crisp).
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If you like creamier, pick blends with banana or add peanut butter (if available).
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Go earlier to dodge the noon blender symphony.
Nalu Bowls
Seminyak, Bali
Bangkok is crowdead (macet energy), but in a lively way. Think Jakarta, then pivot the flavor dial. My sister knew the city (second time), so I wandered behind her like a confused duck with a DSLR.
I brought Millos (teddy bear). He lived in the suitcase. He’s fine.
🐖 Moo Ping (หมูปิ้ง) pork skewers
Sweet-savory, smoky, softer than Balinese sate babi.
Different personality, same commitment.
Best with sticky rice.
I stood on the sidewalk and reconsidered my life choices (in a good way).
🦑 Squid on a stick
Chewy, glazed, perilous to eat gracefully, 10/10 would battle again.
Dipped in the mysterious Thai super sauce : sour + spicy + delicious.
(technical term: I didn’t ask, I just ate)
💸 Prices I paid
Most skewers were ~THB 8–18 each (about IDR 3–6k).
Street food wins economics and my heart.
🥤 Drinks carts
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Thai milk tea with robust tea and a LOT of ice (you can ask for less—if your Thai is better than mine).
Fresh orange juice that tastes like a clean decision.
(I didn’t meet the infamous insect skewers. I’m grateful; my brand is not “cricket couture.”)
Taste profile musings (don’t arrest me)
Thailand leans bright/sour (hello, tom yum brain), while a lot of Indonesian classics are bold/rich (hi, babi guling, santan everything). So whenever I taste something lively-sour now, my mouth goes: “oh, Thai.” If I vanish after this, assume I was detained by the Flavor Council.
Philosophy of Getting Lost™
“Getting lost is not fatal. Almost every time, it will make your world.” — Julien Smith
I don’t speak Thai beyond pointing and smiling. I walked anyway. When you don’t know where you’re going, life gets interesting. Just make sure you know how to get home.
Small temple, big pause
On a random corner we found a little shrine. Office workers slowed down, left flowers, and whispered prayers before hurrying off again. I stood there and felt… quiet. I like cities that make room for breath.
Bonus wandering: MBK & Platinum
We cruised MBK and Platinum for clothes and souvenirs. Sellers were kind; multiple people thought I was Thai and I glowed for six hours.
Som Tam (ส้มตำ) green papaya salad
Sour, salty, spicy, fish-saucey, not sweet (green papaya, so of course). If you’re Balinese, think of a distant cousin to rujak kuah pindang, but Bangkok-coded. Tourists love it; my sister is the founding member.
Quick guide (so you can copy my chaos)
Where to graze
Any busy corner with a grill and a line: moo ping + sticky rice
Squid or sausage stalls with a rainbow of sauces
Juice carts for orange juice; tea carts for Thai milk tea
What to pay
Skewers THB 8–18 (IDR 3–6k)
Drinks carts vary; still friendly to your wallet
How to order (survival Indonesian/English)
Point, smile, hold up fingers for quantity
Say “less ice” with polite hand waves (or learn “น้อยน้ำแข็ง” / nói nám-khɛ̌ng)
Pro tips
Bring wet wipes and small bills
Stand off to the side to eat. Sauce is ambitious
If it’s a shrine, be respectful; if offering flowers, watch locals and follow
I wanted December to be soft. Christmas lights, not this.
Instead I’m standing by the mango tree, naming the ground.
The beginning (Putih, Google, and seven tiny storms)
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Putih showed up first: skinny, stubborn, collar on, shower-hating, loved by the lane. One day he wandered and never came home.
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We adopted a pregnant stray we called Coklat (my cousin, chaotic neutral, renamed her Google).
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She had seven puppies: six boys, one girl. Rehoming local pups was hard, but kind adopters found four. We kept Moka (mocha fur), Jiro (don’t ask why: family lore), and Kinpoy (kinpatsu hair, anime brain).
I left for Japan two weeks. I came back; Google was gone. Soon after, Kinpoy died in an accident. The person apologized properly. I still hated reality. Grief and logic rarely shake hands.
Two brothers who fought over food (and everything else)
Moka and Jiro stayed. They argued like siblings, loved like siblings.
Moka had a bad accident once. We ran to the vet with swollen eyes and no pride. It cost a lot. It was worth it. He lived, limping and determined.
We trained them not to roam. Jiro preferred the garage, Moka still flirted with freedom like Putih did. Our street sits too close to the main road. People see; not everyone understands.
The two goodbyes
In November, I found Moka lying by our door the same way he had during the first accident. Except this time, there was no breath to call back. We buried him by the mango tree.
Yesterday, I bathed Jiro, combed his fleas, hugged him a ridiculous number of times. He smelled like soap and second chances. Today I came home with treats and found him sleeping near my car, the kind of quiet you can’t wake.
Now they’re together. I’m trying to be okay with sentences that end there.
Things I wish people knew (about “just local dogs”)
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Collars and vaccines matter. Mine had both. They weren’t “strays.”
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Local doesn’t mean less. It means ours.
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Culling is common here. Fear of rabies becomes fear of any dog.
Please notice the collar before you raise a hand.
Please notice the person who loves them.
I’m not here to blame a stranger and carry that weight forever. I’m here to say I loved them, and losing them this way hurts worse than age or illness. It feels preventable, even when I can’t point to a single villain.
What I can do next (and maybe you can, too)
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Keep pets inside/secured near busy roads. Freedom with fences.
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Tag collars with name + phone. Make it obvious: someone’s family.
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Talk to neighbors/security about vaccinated community pets.
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Support local rescues; share adoption posts for local dogs (they’re the last picked and the first lost).
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Teach kids to read dog body language. Fear shrinks when knowledge grows.
For Moka & Jiro (and Putih, and Kinpoy)
You waited by the garage for the sound of our keys. You ate like the world would steal your bowl. You learned “no,” “stay,” and my footsteps. I didn’t protect you perfectly. I wish I had. I hope puppyland has mango shade and zero traffic.
I’m still deciding about adopting again. Love is brave; I’m tired.
For now, I’ll water the mango tree and say your names until they sound like thank you.
ikkel
Bali finally rained after two months of sauna cosplay. Night temps ~28°C, which is basically winter to my pores. I can sleep again. My Wi-Fi? Worse than ever. My camera roll? Full of food I forgot I ate. Balance.
December also means birthday season for 80% of my friends, which turns me into a confused personal shopper. One thing I can always pick: cake. So we went to Harvest.
Step one: inspect.
Step two: pretend to be decisive.
Step three: leave with snacks you didn’t plan to buy.
What we ordered (prices I paid)
🥐 Vanilla Cronut IDR 25.000
My snack-at-home choice. Flaky, buttery, lightly sweet, Dangerous if you have movie marathon.
🍰 Oreo Cheesecake IDR 28.000
Taste: solid Oreo cheesecake, not cloying.
Look: the strawberry garnish had a Monday. Flavor wins, presentation needs caffeine.
🍫 Choco Cheesecake IDR 28.000
Chocolate-forward, not too sweet (I like).
Macaron color? Chaotic. Please pick a lane, little cookie.
🥧 Quiche Lorraine IDR 14.000
Savory intermission so we don’t pass out from sugar. Tasty, neat portion.
🥤 Drinks (two humans, three beverages = math)
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Frozen Green Tea IDR 35.000 (sweet; ask for less sugar)
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Faluda IDR 38.000 (also sweet-sweet)
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Iced Lemon Tea IDR 25.000 (the adult in the room)
If I complain about weight later, please cite this paragraph back to me.
Vibe check
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Store design: elegant. Marble/clean lines/“take photos of me.”
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Plating on some items: not as elegant as the room (still tasty).
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Rain outside + AC inside = correct December mood.
Pros & cons (quick scan)
Pros
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💸 Cronut at IDR 25k = reliable joy
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🍰 Cakes are not overly sweet (bless)
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🥧 Quiche as a salty reset
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☔ Cozy spot for rainy-day dessert runs
Cons
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🎨 Some garnish/colors look mismatched vs the fancy interior
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🧊 Green tea/faluda run sweet by default, ask for less sugar
Tips if you go
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If you’re sugar-sensitive: say “less sugar” on frozen drinks.
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Balanced haul = 1 sweet + 1 savory (quiche) + water so you can still blink.
Happy December fellas! I still inlove with this month
ikkery pamyu pamyu
What it is
A peel-off lip tint with a thin, watery gel texture. You apply, wait, peel, and boom!
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