Showing posts with label Bali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bali. Show all posts

3/13/2014

Travels :: Bali Part 3 {Eats}

The perfect Tasty Thursday, a recap of some of our delicious eats from Bali.  I will say this, we can get Italian, Mexican, steak etc anytime we want back home.  The Mister and I knew we wanted to experience as much of the true Balinese cuisine as possible.  Here's a look at where and what we ate in Seminyak.


{via: 1 | 2}
Our first night we feasted at Sarong, sadly I didn't have a camera with me and my iPhone battery died.  You'll just have to take my word for it that the food was incredible and the ambiance, heavenly.  What we ate: seared scallop with green mango sambal; tuna tartar with edamame, ginger flower, nashi pear, shisho leaf, alfalfa topped with a chili soy dressing; Light green curry fish with Thai eggplant, oyster mushrooms, in a coconut cream topped with sweet basil; chicken kasoori kebab marinated in saffron yogurt, kasoori methi, served alongside green mango salad.  This was an insane amount of food but every bite was incredible, my personal favorites were the chicken kassori kebab and the tuna tartar.


The next morning we headed out to do a little shopping, a little while later we were famished.  So we stopped in for a quick bite at Grocer & Grind.  This was by far my least favorite place that we ate at.  The food was good, but there are definitely better options in Seminyak.  If you are looking for a break from the local Balinese cuisine, this easy going cafe as plenty of sandwich, salad, and pizza options to choose from, and it's family friendly.  We ate:  tofu pad thai (a little too sweet for my tastes), and tandoori chicken pizza with roasted peppers, served with cucumber & mint yogurt.  



We went to Biku for some tea, and so that I could get a tarot card reading, when in Rome (Bali), right?  Anyways tea was great, we both ordered the Asian high tea for two, I ordered the Darjeeling while the Mister ordered the traditional Oolong tea.  If tea isn't your thing, they have a full service menu with everything from Asian flavors to burgers and steak,  and their outdoor patio is so dreamy.  And as for my tarot reading, she had some pretty interesting things to say without me giving her anything to go on, regardless it was all in good fun.
{sporting the dress I scored for a bargin at the Seminyak Square market}

 Our last night we were supposed to have dinner at Menega Cafe on Jimbaran Bay.  Picture outdoor seating, at sunset, where you pick from the catch of the day and tell them how you'd like it prepared.  Sounds amazing, right?  Sadly we wouldn't know.  The one downside to Bali is the traffic; what is only 8 miles (13 kilometers) is actually an hour and a half trip, ugh.  Our concierge suggested Merah Putih, and I am so glad he did.  Not only is the place visually stunning, the food is divine.  What we drank: the archipelago cooler (Finlanda vodka, ginger flower, kaffier ling, soursop) & Kaffier lime crush (Finlandia vodka, passion fruit, kaffier lime leaves, apple).  What we ate: Perkedel Jagung (corn fritters, eggplant sambal, & spiced corn); Scallop & Lobster 'Pangsit' (Scampi dumplings, seaweed, with a tomato confit); Ikan Bakar Sambal Matha (Whole char grilled Jimbaran fish, topped with eggplant & shallots);  Slow Roasted Suckling Pig.  I guess I got my Jimbaran fish after all.

When I was looking at places to try in Seminyak, this boutique coffee house kept popping up over and over again.  On our last morning in Bali we managed to grab coffee at Revolver Espresso Cafe.  The only downside, it's a bit challenging to find, as in the entrance is down an alleyway, or you could the back entrance which is through a store.  If you do want to find this place, and I recommend you, tell your taxi driver to drop you off by the Bali clinic, as the alleyway is across the street.  The place itself is a little kitchy, imagine a western saloon set from the 80's, with mismatched china, and yes revolvers on the wall.  The staff is super friendly and helpful with their suggestions.  I wish we had breakfast there every morning.  What we ordered:  Espresso, iced coffee, & the Smith & Western (yes their menu is inspired by their love of firearms). 

3/07/2014

Travels :: Bali Part 2 {Shopping & Relaxing}

The Mister and I decided to do a little exploring each morning after our morning coffee, and each day yielded a new find.  Our hotel was located literally within walking distance of some amazing stores.  Our first stop was Samantha Robinson's porcelain store: full of gorgeous one-of-a-kind handmade pieces.  A few streets down we hit up Kody & Ko: an eclectic housewares store (I am obsessed with all the vibrant pieces); Hobo: another housewares store full of beautiful neutral pieces (we brought home one of those lovely sailboats); House of Feather.  I met Heater, who is so lovely, of House of Feather while we were pursuing the lovely jewelry she curates.  If you love jewelry and gorgeous pieces, you will be obsessed with this store.  I managed to find a couple fabulous bracelets for my lady loves.  Another great find were a pair of adorable shorts at Bali Boat Shed.  Not to be discounted, the roadside markets have some great pieces.  I bargained my way to a lovely printed maxi dress (although I'm sure I could have gotten her to go lower on her price) at Seminyak Square.  And being in Seminyak, there are plenty of designer stores to choose from, some of our favorites include: Lily-Jean, Lulu Yasmine, & Magali Pascal.  And the perfect way to end an afternoon of shopping is relaxing at the spa.  We booked ourselves a couples exfoliating massage at Body Works.  After an hour long Balinese massage, they exfoliate you with a traditional Javanese 'lulur', followed by a relaxing soak in their massive tub.  Translation, two hours of pure bliss!














3/06/2014

Travels :: Bali Part 1 {Where to Stay}

The Mister and I stayed at the incredible W Retreat & Spa while we were in Seminyak.  Seminyak is known for its resort hotels, and the W did not disappoint.  You arrive to a spectacular tree lined entrance and are shuttled through the resort to the hotel (they also have some incredible villas and a helipad, because you'll never know when you need to land your helicopter).  The staff is phenomenal, the accommodations are beyond luxurious (think retractable sunroof over your soaking tub, and just really marrying the whole outdoor/indoor concept), and the ocean views are stunning.  The hotel featured little extras that made our stay just that much more enjoyable.  We were lucky to catch the sunset every night with prime seats at WooBar while sipping on some delicious cocktails.  My favorite was the LOL (lychee, orange, & lime) without the orange and with a shot of Goose.  The hotel itself was located next to some incredible restaurants and walking distance to some fabulous stores.  Hands down, I would stay here again in a heartbeat.













3/04/2014

Travels :: Seminyak, Bali in 3 Days

The Mister and I spent a few blissful days in Seminyak, Bali this past January.  As it was my second trip to Bali, I knew I wanted to avoid the crowded and touristy Kuta Beach.  Seminyak, known as the boutique and spa center of Bali, was the perfect Balinese getaway for the both of us.  We managed to get a bit of shopping in, spent many sunny hours by the pool, stuffed ourselves on delicious eats, and enjoyed the best couples massage.  Here's the quick and dirty on 3 days in Seminyak.  I'll be sharing more of our trip later this week.  Happy Fat Tuesday!

1/15/2014

Bali

The Mister and I are off for a couple days in paradise, aka Bali.  We'll be spending our time in the cozy resort town of Seminyak, and staying at the luxurious W Retreat and Spa.  Feel free to tag along on our adventures via Instagram, #APNinstatravel2014.
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6/17/2011

Getaway.... Bali

When we were in Bali we wanted to be as close to the beach as possible.  Who could blame us when it's winter in the Midwest 9 months out of the year.  Had I known this place existed I would have insisted we stayed here.  Como Shambhala located near Ubud, is your own private tree house resort.  The views are stunning, and if you're looking for a place to escape the world, I can't imagine a more serene place.

{photos via Como Shambhala}