Tag

hindu

Browsing

Cultural Bali in Ubud

On one of the last days of the trip, we took a day tour with Panji from Bali Safest Driver (I highly recommend him!) to a city in the central part of Bali called Ubud. Our newlywed friends, Julianne and Cody, joined us, which we really enjoyed. Ubud is rich in culture and very hippie – we met lots of intense yoga lovers while strolling through the streets. We went to the Monkey Forest and were greeted by hundreds of monkeys, which Julianne, Cody and Sasha all held on their hand, while one decided to lay flat on my head. Afterwards, we went to the Para Saraswati Temple, then to the Don Antonio Blanco Museum. Blanco was a very talented painter, but his art is very, very sexual. We got a good laugh at some of the intense descriptions at the museum. We ate the most amazing lunch at Melting Wok Warung – our second favorite meal of the trip. We went walking through the nearby markets afterward, then headed to a more upscale shopping street afterward. Exhausted after a long, hot day, we got back in the car and went to Seminyak for dinner. We ate appetizers at Chandi (our favorite restaurant where we’d eaten the night before), then ate our meal at The Bistrot. This restaurant is gorgeous – we all commented on how it would thrive in NYC or Houston (where we were both from!). I highly recommend it. Afterwards, we went back to the Conrad and subsequently all fell asleep immediately. One of my favorite days from the honeymoon!

DSC_0940

DSC_0956

DSC_0965

DSC_0970

DSC_1004

DSC_1009

DSC_1013

DSC_1024

DSC_1036

DSC_1068

DSC_0006

DSC_0021

DSC_0023

DSC_0024

DSC_0028

DSC_0036

DSC_0038

DSC_0042

The Bistrot in Seminyak

Initial Bali Snapshots

I’m in love with Bali. It’s truly one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited, and the people here could not be any nicer. I’m a little behind on posting, so I’ve compiled our first few days in one post and will share additional pictures from our cooking class, trip to Padang Padang beach (where they filmed Eat, Pray, Love), dinner at Jimbaran Bay, and elephant ride soon.

Food

Eight Degrees South – great Mediterranean food
Suku – tasty Asian cuisine with nightly Balinese dance performances
Azure – our poolside go-to for lunch
East – a casual dining spot at the Conrad
Sakala – a phenomenal food experience – a trust “must” in Bali
Lakeview Cafe – delicious Asian buffet with breathtaking views
2Day Cafe – as close to a warung (local restaurant) as we’ve tried – great veggies
______________________________

Experiences

Relaxing at the gorgeous Conrad Bali lagoon pool and beach
Eating miso soup and drinking freshly squeezed mango juice for breakfast
Practicing outdoor yoga and exploring Nusa Dua by foot
Watching the awe-inspiring Devdan Show (think Cirque du Soleil + So You Think You Can Dance?)
Trying fresh Luwak coffee (read this to find out how it’s made)
Exploring the Balinese coffee plantation, Santi
Witnessing a perfect rainbow between Mt. Agung and Mt. Batur (sleeping volcano)
Trying lots of fresh fruit (except the stinky durian fruit – see Sasha eating it below)
Enjoying the cultural Barong and Kris Dance performance
Our favorite so far – praying in Bali’s holiest water at Tirta Empul
 

Processed with VSCOcam

Morning view from our room

DSC_0373

Where you’ll find us (every second day – 50% culture, 50% tan!)

DSC_0374

Temple style watch guard points

IMG_4482

I’m never leaving

Processed with VSCOcam with g3 preset

Miso and mango for breakfast

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Onsite temple

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset

Practicing my yoga moves (outside of the 7:30 Sunrise Yoga class)

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

My poolside Summer Salad and Sasha’s hamburger – is there anything better?

DSC_0409

At the Kris and Barong Performance

DSC_0448

Evil and Pure Spirits are fighting (can’t you tell?)

DSC_0471

Amazing costumes in play at the performance

DSC_0479

Two of the main performers

DSC_0523

Waiting to pray in the holy springs at Tirta Empul

DSC_0548

Lots of people and things to be praying for

DSC_0566

Sasha looks darn good in a sarong (I’m totally biased)

DSC_0590

Trying teas and coffees at Santi Plantation

DSC_0587

The freshly picked coffee beans and spices at Santi

DSC_0581

In front of Mt. Batur

DSC_0572

A gorgeous rainbow outside of Lakeview

DSC_0605

Sasha being brave and trying durian

DSC_0609

Me being less brave and trying mangosteen

DSC_0606

Durians look as unappealing as they smell (and taste!)

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 presetMy only picture at Devdan before getting scolded for taking pictures!