Bali 2010 Part THREE

We also went to Ubud, yes the Ubud from Eat, Pray, Love.

We also found out that Indonesians call this book, "that darn book". They say that now, all desperate "lonely" women of a certain age travel to Bali and Ubud in particular to find (fake) spirituality and the Brazilian love of their life copying the book... they are sort of sick of it. I guess that's what happens when a great book comes out AND they make a movie about it with Julia Roberts.... After finding this out, it sort of put a damper on my feelings for the book.

Lotus Garden

Royal Palace Gardens

Details of some of the architecture

HUGE Bamboo shoots in the Royal Garden

Can't wait to go back!

Bali 2010 Part TWO

Bingin Beach is home to some of the most famous surf spots in Indo, one in particular called "Impossible" ..... Enrico in fact lost 2 fins from 2 separate sets here and wasn't too happy about the damage done! I wasn't able to get any other pictures because I was too busy, well let's just face it.... too busy relaxing!

We had the best Nasi-Goreng (Indonesian fried rice) here yet!

The roof made of woven palm fronds

Secret views of the beach...

We also went to Tanah Lot;

Tanah-Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home of a pilgrimage temple. Tanah Lot means "Land in the Sea" in Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.

Enrico cleaning out a fresh coconut

My Mom & Enrico enjoying the fresh coconut juice

A Gamelan band featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums ,gongs and bamboo flutes.

Detail on one of the instruments

There was a big celebration going on and everyone was traditionally dressed! Look how cute this little girl was!!!!

offerings to the gods

Purification before entering the Temple

Entrance to the Temple just springing with people!

This little girl was sooo cute all dressed up and eating her rice with her hands! Her Family was having a pic-nick!

Beautiful gardens surrounding the Temple Park

A view of a smaller temple at sunset

The stone carved lanterns were just to DIE for! Next time we're going to fill a cargo container and ship everything we can't carry on board!

The sunset just kept on getting better, and better.....

Just happy to be here!

Rice terraces in the distance

Leaving the temple....

Bali 2010 Part ONE

Even after 4 times of going to Bali, I just can't stop loving this Island, its people, the traditions, the food and the hospitality it offers you.

I've decided to call it my special Island.

Our fight was Rome- Doha - Singapore - Bali.

At our second stop in Singapore, the airport was AMAZING. There was a butterfly garden and a Koi Pond...

When we got to Bali, we went to some pretty nice places... places I had and hadn't been to before

like this place:

The infinity pool was AWESOME!

It was just an amazing day!

I had to take my Mom and our friend Marta to see Uluatu temple where all the monkeys are! Then, at sunset, there is a traditional dance performance called Kecak. (che-chack)

I thought this was hilarious!

and this too!

Right after I took this picture, a monkey jumped on my Mom and tried to snatch her earrings! It was funny because I kept on warning her that monkeys like shiny things, but she didn't seem too worried about it until it happened!!

Of all the dances in Bali today, the Kecak dance is perhaps the most dramatic. Taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the dance tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sita, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka. Unlike other dances, there is no gamelan orchestra accompanying it. Instead, a troupe of bare-chested men serve as the chorus, making synchronized "chak-achak-achak" clicking sounds while swaying their bodies and waving their hands.

We went to Pura Luhur (pura means temple) in Uluatu to see it: