Unleashed Amateur Pole Doubles Competition 2011

April 23, 2012 By Kim Ong

This would be my second amateur competition and by the time I entered the Unleashed Pole Doubles competition 2011 almost a year ago in June 2011, I was dancing for a year and a half.

I’ve decided to share my story right now – my pole journey with Jen Cheah of how we trained and what we did. It was team-effort and a lot of commitment and we finally reaped the rewards, the feeling was really good.

The Preparation

I had an eye for talent, I approached Jen as she was in some of my pole classes and we talked about the idea of teaming up together. Here are some steps we took leading up to the competition.

1. Select a song. We decided to dance to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. I was just breathing the song day in and day out! It was a bizarre song to dance to but had a really strong theme. Instead of being similar, we decided to go for a boy-girl theme.

2. Identify both strengths and weaknesses. Jen had the strength, I had the flexibility and ended up as the “flyer”. She carried me throughout the competition, more than just physically – metaphorically too. Teaming up together meant that we had to identify each other’s skills and work off what’s best so we look like “one”.

3. Identify both physical differences. I am a little taller and broader than Jen, but since I was going to be the flyer, I had to wear ballet flats – which made sense so I could step on her thigh while climbing instead of high heels poking into her thigh!

4. Watch YouTube videos of other pole doubles’ videos. We watched competitions of doubles’ – including amateurs’ competition performances, because obviously professionals’ tricks sometimes would be over-used. We aimed to be different.

5. Setup a pole studio. I turned my living room into a pole studio and had Jen bring her second pole into my house! I also bought 6 sets of cheap $20 mirrors so we could see ourselves while practising.

6. Practise at least 4 times a week together for a few hours for three months.

7. Record your own performance and replay it to review and analyse afterwards. We kept laughing at our videos, they’re so funny – some involved me accidentally kicking her, or her accidentally slapping me.

8. Warm-up first. Every one of our pole practice sessions involved a warm-up and we would take turns to conduct the warm-up.

9. Jot down ideal pole tricks and start working on them. Out of 20 tricks we listed, we probably used only half of them – depending on suitability of our music. Also, some were not achievable based on our level back then, too strenuous or required more physical strength.

10. Go for endless pole workshops. Leading up to the competition, Pole Divas would hold many workshops to help competitors build up strength. (Ahem, good to see who else would be competing too! – especially when it’s a Doubles’ workshop).

11. Prepare outfit and make-up theme. Jen picked out this youtube video and we started copying it just for fun (we just tried out our make-up very quickly and smudged our faces all over). We bought new and put together existing clothing pieces and I sewed on diamantes and laces onto my skirt and Jen’s vest. It was really fun! I hadn’t touched the needle since… school? Hmmm….when I had to mend my hubby’s 26-inch track cycling thigh’s ripped pants.

12. Have a few mock rehearsals and invite a few good friends to review performance. Mimi, Amber and my hubby gave us their honest opinion about our timing, facial expressions etc.

The Audition

We had the same outfit, make-up and went for the audition. Several days later we were informed that we got through, we were absolutely delighted! 5 pairs were selected out of 12 pairs. We were wow-ed by the standard of the competition, the level was really very high and there were pairs we had not seen before from other Pole Divas’ studios.

The Real Competition

On the day of the competition, we had our base make-up at home and had more put on later by professionals – sponsored by the make up artists. We couldn’t really see other competitors’ performances and that was it – our turn! We wished for the best and clasped our hands together while the results were being read out.

Here are some photos by beckonphotography.com.

 

From L-R:

BEGINNERS: Elissa Sly
INTERMEDIATE: Beth Feigl
AERIAL HOOP: Saffron Gallagher
DOUBLES: Kim Ong & Jen Cheah
ADVANCED: Sonida Sorn

Thank you Jen. Let’s do this again after Unleashed 2012! So the deal this year is – we’re joining in solo categories under Elite.

My no.1 supporter – my hubby! I’ll never forget friends and family members who supported me throughout.

My prize hamper involved the following – which I really loved!

Skinovate – $100 Microdermabrasion Voucher
Skinovate – $200 Laser Hair Removal Voucher
Red Bennies – double passes to shows
True Thai Indulgence Package voucher
Skin and Body Boutique Treatment Voucher
A bottle of Rebello Strawbellini sparkling wine
Intraceuticals – Rejuvenate Serum
Touch Point Remedial Massage – half hour treatment
The Lock Boutique – voucher for a cut & colour
Beckon Photography photo shoot to be shared
Lululemon gym bag, water bottle, socks & headband

So, I’ve decided to show you the video of our performance. There you go, our very first Amateur competition together! Hope you like it!

Filed Under: Pole Dance

A Bali Experience

April 21, 2012 By Kim Ong

Bali is a great tourist spot with their friendly Balinese people all around ready to provide the ultimate experience for spa, shopping, accommodation, dining, adventures and more.

I have compiled a list of places to go and what to expect. Hope you will enjoy your experience as much as Josiah and I did.

Ngurah Rai Bali Airport

Upon arrival at airport, you might have locals in uniform come help you with luggage. Decline and get your own trolley as they will ask for payment. Always have a booking form with you, or else you will not be allowed to enter airport entrance. Travel light with less bling.


Language

Speak in Malay if not English. Try to speak in bahasa baku and roll your R’s so they will understand you better like:

How are you? – Apa khabar?
Thank you – Terima kasih
How much? – Harga berapa?
Car – Mobil / Transport
Can – Bisa
Cannot – Ngak bisa


Cost

What to expect when it comes to cost:

  • Transport to or from the airport from Seminyak is around AUD$5 / RM15 / RP47,480.
  • One full day tour (8-12) is around AUD$40 / RM127 / RP379,940.00 or more depending on how long the drive is.
  • An hour’s full body massage is around AUD$8 / RM24 / RP76,000 for local Bali prices.
  • Tipping – Balinese earn very little, cost of living is high. If service is good, please feel free to give tips. Tip more for driver as petrol is high. At restaurants, sometimes service tax are included.

Important Tips

  • As you walk along Legian or Kuta, stall owners will keep asking you to buy their products “Sir you want bag? Purse? Towel? This? That?” non-stop and they will follow you around for a bit too. They will try to promote their taxi services or “magic mushroom” (marijuana). Be sure to politely say no. This might be a little off-putting but they have little children promoting products too until you reach a point of irritation (especially on weekends).
  • There will be people providing scratch and win cards trying to promote new hotels (Peninsula Beach Resort) and you will be in the run to win USD$1,000, they will drive you to their hotel to promote their “timeshare” plan and get you to put down AUD$15k by luring you with their free t-shirt and lunch. Stay if you want to learn about the timeshare scheme for fun, otherwise you know what to do.
  • When the police stops you for an offence, the right way in Indonesia might be to offer “duit rokok” (cigarette money) but they too are afraid to accept bribes for fear they might get into trouble. They are not to intimidate tourists.
  • Money changer in Indonesia – Rates at the airport are higher. Change in other areas and make sure that the money changer is legitimate. There are a lot of “too-good-to-be-true” money changers (within souvenir stalls) and they will try to confuse you by recounting the rupiahs over and over again while they slowly slip some notes off when you’re not looking. Change with $100 bills instead of smaller notes as they give lower rates.
  • Bring sunglasses, sunblock, hat / cap and wear slippers / sandals. I didn’t find the need to wear sport shoes at all. You can buy mosquito repellant in Bali.
  • The beaches in Bali – they rent out beach chairs and may not necessarily belong to the hotels. Bring your own towel to the beach.
  • Wear a helmet if you rent a motorbike. There are tons of them out there for sale for around AUD$7!

SEMINYAK

For the ultimate massage experience, go to Bening Spa. The main room (office) didn’t look too impressive but you’ll be taken to their rooms behind and the two times I was being massaged, I fell asleep. I also did my manicure and pedicure and they don’t use OPI but they use Revlon, which is not bad and my nail polish with patterns lasted for two weeks.

The hotel we stayed at was Grand Balisani which came with our flight package from Flight Centre. Quality of hotel was pretty decent although seemed a little quiet – we were told it was a quiet season (post Easter holiday) compared to after July holiday season. Wifi is commonly offered at the lobby area.

Pasar Taman Sari is good experience if you want to experience real local wet market. They also sell food – be sure to make the right judgment so you don’t get the Bali belly. Now that’s going to be a tough one!

Along Seminyak, there are many furniture stores. You can buy items in bulk and have them shipped to your house in your country. If you’re in Australia, you need to get customs clearance / have wooden items treated.

The mandatory flexi-pose, taken at Seminyak beach.

LEGIAN

This is shopping paradise. Compare and contrast prices of products. You’ll get the same products all over again in the next stall. Bargain your way through.

We stopped by Warung Murah to have a wheatgrass shot.

We rented a Vespa scooter to go around Legian and Kuta.

I’d love a red Vespa someday!

Josiah spoke to Puput about renting scooters.

This one was indeed a head-turner and is probably 50 years old, authentic with its Army badge on it as well. Absolutely loved it!

We were scooting around and found a flea market in Oberoi.

We both bought a new singlet each and wore them immediately! Matching outfits? :)

And while scooting, we witnessed a funeral procession on the way.

The motorbikes in Bali are crazy, as in everyone weaves their way in and out but really slowly too. Apparently accident rate is really slow mostly because they have no insurance, so they’re all really cautious on the road. Or, I could be wrong – they’re all just really cautious and there is no need to rush, hence they go at 30kmph max.

Nasi padang is so yummy!

We had Bloody Mary and Mojito and bar-hopped while shopping in Legian! Of course not while we were scooting, we had to be on our feet the whole time. Don’t drink and drive!

Balinese Dance Class

It was a temple taken care by Ibu and Pak Nyoman. I was then driven to a nearby school to learn the Balinese Legong dance with the children.

It is common for girls to learn the Balinese dance at a really young age.

It really reminded me of those days when my mother used to fetch me to ballet class with other mothers outside waiting for their children as well, it was really heartwarming to see all the little girls running into their mothers’ arms. I miss my Supermom!

My instructor in the middle.

I find Balinese dance quite similar to ballet and Indian dance. You hold your legs in a plie position and arms in extended second position. There’s a bit of eye-motion (12 o’clock and 3 o’clock direction) as well which makes the dance really interesting to watch.

Click to play my YouTube video here, my very first time learning the Balinese dance.

 

KUTA

Here you’re on your own and don’t need a tour guide / driver. Just hop on to taxis from your hotel. Go to the beach and have some fun, bask under the sun!

At Kuta, we stayed at Grand Whiz Hotel at USD$70 per day in our final 3 days.

Our secret entrance towards Kuta Beach.

We scooted our way into Kuta Beach.

We had a nap at the beach.

I know – I’m really obsessed with taking all these flexi-poses at the beach.

And I had a new discovery. I never knew my husband could do handstand after being with him for more than 5 years now. I was very impressed ;)

This dude (my husband) was this |–| close to buying this useless weapon which would have been forbidden into Australia. It’s a blow-dart. Boys and their toys. Sigh!

Many cafes, look at menu price. Try local bottled chilli sauce Sambal Asli ABC (ah bay say), Ask for Sambal Mentah which is a mix of minced raw onions, garlic and chilli. Popular menu items are bebek (duck), nasi goreng, mie goreng. Bintang Beer – small bottle shouldn’t be more than Rp 15,000.  Mineral Water (Aqua) – small bottle Rp 5,000 on Kuta Beach.

Mie Goreng

Another plate of Mie Goreng.

Nasi Goreng.

Soto Ayam at 80 cents?!!

Nasi Goreng and Sate Ayam.

Kangkung Terasi (Belachan) and Garlic Butter Prawns.

Sate Ayam

Gado-Gado

Clubbing in Bali – the ultimate club is Sky Garden (most packed) and has a good variety of genre, one floor / room with a pole-dancer onstage and you’ll find many Balinese girls trying to “solicit” business in this pole-dancing room. The middle floor has bar-top dancers and a stage outside with Go-Go dancers. The highest floor has all Caucasians and plays hip-hop / R&B music.  Paddy’s Club was not that packed although it’s highly rated – they’re just a few doors from each other. Paddy’s was the one that got bombed in 2002 in Legian. After clubbing, taxis don’t go by meter. Make sure you be prepared to pay a certain fee to the hotel and can hop on and off the taxi if you don’t agree with them.

Before clubbing at Sky Garden, we dined at the restaurant opposite on a Thursday night.

On a Saturday night.

Romantic dinner.

That’s me in a seated position off a railing at Sky Garden.

This is the club pole-dancers (people who learn pole-dancing) can swing around on. It’s not the most sturdy pole (not X-Pole) and seems a little shake on top, but pretty okay. They also have napkins and spray behind the stage for pole dancers to wipe. Just a bit of fun!

The dresscode at clubs in Bali is pretty relaxed with most guys in t-shirt and shorts with shoes (or slippers). I wore my ballet flats and danced the night away without corns and callouses from high heels!

This is the memorial built after the 2002 Bali Bombings at Paddy’s Club.

Police are seen all around the clubbing area at Legian to enhance tourist security.

UBUD

Known as the Art, Culture Centre of Bali. This is a place to relax, less hectic compared to Kuta, more picturesque. Temperature is much cooler. Go for long walks, explore surrounding rice fields, nature trails.

Our Driver:
Made Sukrada
HP: +62 81 338 716 277
E-mail: kadek@sukrada@yahoo.com

Made Sukrada (pronounced as Ma-deh) was our driver we found off the street in Kuta who provided the most reasonable price amongst majority of the other prices we obtained. He speaks decent English and is sensitive to tourists’ needs and always arrives 30 minutes early at your hotel if picks you up early in the morning. While you’re on your tour, he would wait outside. The places he takes you to will be his recommendation because he would have worked out a deal with the restaurant / tourist spot by getting a freebie and it’s common in Bali – their way of making a living. They rarely get a commission from recommending. If you don’t like a particular spot, you can always tell him – like a spa in Ubud we felt was too expensive and we left the place. He accommodates according to your request.

The following itinerary starts at 8.30am pickup from your hotel. Be sure you have breakfast before you start your morning with a Balinese dance.

Barong & Kris Dance

Starts at 9.40am, the performance is a mythical one – Chinese lion dance but Balinese style with some guys fighting around, boxing around and reincarnating into gods and etc. Read the pamphlet provided to understand better. The Balinese dancers are amazing. They will take a photo of you and stick it onto a plate by the time you finish the performance – and charge you $10 for the plate. It’s up to you to buy it.

Batik Painting Centre

The Batik Painting place we went to had fantastic art pieces, silk and batik but they were really costly compared to similar ones we saw in town.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary – http://www.monkeyforestubud.com

Entrance fee Rp 10,000. IMPORTANT: where there are monkeys, there should be NO sunglasses, caps, bangles, earrings and etc. Ensure camera strap around wrist, anything they can release off you in exchange of bananas or peanuts.

Lunch at Paddy Fields

At the paddy fields, we had Bebek Goreng! Duck of all sorts with rice and vegetables.

Luwak Coffee Plantation

It had long been considered as a legend that the civet (Luwak) consumed the best coffee beans which then passed through their gut undigested, even entire with their cherry-like coating, the beans being washed and processed in the normal fashion to make this highly selected top grade coffee. Some thought that the actual situation was that the best beans were selected according to the type civets would eat, and these processed without having actually been eaten by the civet cats. The luwak coffee is very nice and strong. Try if you must. Have a tea and coffee-tasting session for free and either make a donation or patronize their store by buying chocolates or coffee. Their ginseng coffee’s really nice too.

Tea and coffee tasting.

Strong luwak coffee!

Trying the luwak coffee for the first time.

Balinese Home Compound

This is a typical Balinese home compound.

The cocks picking on the Hindu offerings.

Silver Wear

Made will take you to have a look at jewelleries and there – they will explain the processes of making silver jewellery. I bought a pair of earrings for $26.

Our day trip ended by 5pm back at our hotel.

NUSA DUA

Watersports

Made fetched us from our hotel at 9am for a 10am start in Nusa Dua for some watersports activity. We made sure we had a good breakfast, not too much so we were fit for the activity. We spent about $50 per person for a package of three activities we felt were most fun: Flying Fish / Big Mable / Turtle Island Tour. We finished watersports at around 3pm.

Unfortunately there were so many activities that we weren’t allowed to take the jetski on our own so we didn’t select jetski.

Getting onto the Big Mable.

We took the boat to Turtle Island.

Josiah was teasing “Julia” the monyet and he somehow managed to scratch Josiah’s upper lip. Eeeks!

Fresh coconut juice.

Entry into Turtle Island is via donation. Entirely up to you.

Uluwatu Temple

Get there by 5pm. Entrance fee is Rp 3,000 /pax including sarong and sash. Like your visit to the Monkey Forest, ensure that you have everything on you intact. The monkeys here are cheekier than those at the Monkey Forest.

Monkeys are sacred in Hindu religion.

Jimbaran

This is where people come to watch sunset, tables on beach, strolling band expect tip,

Rp 10,000 is ok. It is romantic for couples but do beware of very nasty mosquitoes, bring your mosquito repellent spray. You can buy local mosquito repellent at 24hr convenient store (Autan).

All Jimbaran restaurants are about the same, you choose your seafood, they weigh, then grill / barbeque for you. Rice & kangkong (water convolvulus) are of free flow. Before order, agree on 25% off food bill. Price – approx. Rp 150,000 per pax. (Crabs, prawns, lala, fish, octopus, all grilled or fried + drinks)

Price list guide – Prawns 1kg Rp 19,500, King Crab 1kg Rp 17,500, Red Snapper 1kg Rp 12,000, Octopus 1kg 12,000, Lala 1 Kg Rp 8,000 all before discount. Aqua 1 bottle Rp 8,000, Big Bintang Beer 1 bottle Rp 30,000

It was such a romantic evening at Jimbaran.

I ate seafood to my heart’s content!

…while enjoying Balinese dance.

We finished dinner at 8pm, back at our hotel.

KINTAMANI

The drive to Mount Batur Volcano is 2.5 hours and another 2.5 hours coming back. Made will take you to the top of a mount nearby that oversees the volcanos and you can enjoy a good buffet lunch at $10 per person.

Mahu cari “Gado”? (gaduh) – Want to pick a fight?

Overlooking the Mt. Batur Volcano.

We went to see the paddy fields and surfed online for a while. So high up, it’s a little more chilly.

We had ginseng coffee which was absolutely diluted. Tell them your friend said it’s diluted and they should make it nice.

Isn’t the view just gorgeous?

On the way back, we stopped at Halo Bali Spa in Sanur (caters to Chinese tourists and has 160 rooms) at $35 per person for an hour’s aromatherapy full body massage. The quality of massage is the best I’ve ever had!

And it was the end of our Bali trip – back at the airport immediately on our way back to Melbourne.

I have compiled this blog entry in a five-page PDF document for you.

Download online version HERE.

Filed Under: Bali, Travels