Bali…… eat, shop, swim, eat, sleep, repeat!

Bali is a destination of many cultures and many different nationalities who visit. It’s a country of traditions and spirituality, stunning sunsets and smiles.

From their daily offerings that are placed everywhere- (their temples, the shop fronts where you actually almost tread on them) with pretty little flower petals, food and rice…… You either love it or hate it. It’s noisy, a bit smelly, and very congested with traffic especially along the roads of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and now the ever popular Canggu (pronounced Changgu), there is always something to see, smell, find and enjoy.

It has improved so much over the years and now its quite normal to see 5 star restaurants and beach clubs sitting along side small Warung eateries serving Bintang beers and satay sticks and rice.

Jess and I have been joined by my cousins wife Lisa. We have travelled a few times with Lisa – and shock horror she has never been to Bali before (her claim used to be “I must be the only Aussie who’s never been to Bali!”) although Lisa has travelled extensively through Asia and all over the world- she puts me in place on court it’s visited!

Floating around the pool at our hotel yesterday, Lisa mentioned that she likes Bali and in fact may now bring her family back here…… This is of course after we had been to the Bali Tailor in Seminyak, with all of us buying beautiful leather shoes, jackets, bags etc. (Christmas shopping ahead of schedule) had a yummy Breakfast, a bit of sun baking and a wander around the local shops and markets with that’s right – NO children –  been to another 5 star restaurant Bambu, a stunning pool restaurant with upmarket Indonesian Food.

No satay sticks for Jess at Bambu- just yummy melt off the bone pork ribs, smoked beef and a stunning vegetarian plate, all washed down with our new favourite cocktail the Butini…….

Whether you are here for 2 weeks or a 7 night trip like us you still need a bit of a plan and all my friends know I love a good mud map, to plan how you can fit everything in and when you want to see tourist places, eateries and go to restaurants everywhere – it can be a challenge. Both Lisa and I have been known to try and cram 12 days into 7 as both her husband Craig and my partner Steve can comment on. But wait they aren’t here this trip!

Yesterday Lisa and I bought these amazing Asia eatery books called Hungry in Bali, so along with all the social media stuff, friend and family recommendations we have checked out -our week is full!

Today’s trip to the heart of Bali in Ubud- Jungle Fish !

Over looking the Osh River Valley, and just north of Ubud, is an open air split level restaurant pool and spa. And it’s stunning. Highly recommended by my cousin Sam it is a must and I can’t wait to go back and stay there. Lisa, Jess and I and my friend Lee (who is currently here is Bali building a new Coffee/Barber shop with her husband) came for the trip. The spa is to die for,  the food was lovely and the pool setting…. well what can I say it’s H.E.A.V.E.N

We left Legian early for our trip to Ubud. It’s around 1.5 hours in the car. At most beach clubs etc it is a first in best dressed sitiuation. As we arrived into Jungle fish to see lush vegetation, amazing koi fish pools, rice fields  and statues and then we saw the resort! We almost had the pool to ourselves, for 2 hours until the lunch crowd.   Ladies who lunch and swim also need to have a spa treatment, and we all had a reflexology  foot treatment, in stunning outdoor spa areas. Ahhhhhh.

Just as we were leaving to go and see the  jungle swing and rice fields, the heavens opened up and we saw the river rapids increase as water just fell from the sky. A small flash flood saw us almost floating down the mountains !

These are what all the stairs looked like outside the resort and all those streets were flooded. Cars and motorbike riders were stopped to let the rain gods do their thing!

Our day was truly peaceful, and full of fun!  Arriving back here to rain in down town Legian – It is the rainy season after all and it doesn’t normally last too long. So we had a lychee martini at the bar to wait it out. Clearly they didn’t know how to make it as I’m sure its straight vodka with a Lychee plopped in the glass! Ahhhh yep thats Bali, pure indulgence pone minute and telling them how to make a cocktail correctly the  next!

Dinner Last night was at the famous La Lucciola – it never disappoints.

It’s time to go and explore all the homeware shops of Changgu today and Breakfast at Sea Circus, and a hot stone massage later this afternoon.

Life is tough and it’s all about the life work balance which it appears I have working in my favour at the moment!

Mrs Wong xx