Bali

Bali.  What to say about Bali.  It wasn't really what I expected.  I'm not sure what I expected, but the obnoxious traffic, lack of side walks, and not really pretty beaches wasn't it.  Since I got the negatives out of the way, the trip was wonderful.  It was so great spending time with Colleen and Margaret as well as getting to know Aileen.  It was a great girl's trip.

Upon arriving to Bali, it was dark and there was not much to be seen.  So, we got picked up by our driver and were whisked off to our villa.
Here is a look at our villa

Since we arrived at night, we decided that first thing the next morning, we needed a mani and a pedi.
We headed to Think Pink Nails for our special treat.  And special treat it was.

Pink lemonade with little brownie

This is for a little princess

That afternoon we headed to the beach.  There was a beach that was walkable from our villa, except the walk was basically a death trap.  There was no side walk and the road was not very wide.  We only did the walk that first day.  We found another beach that was driving distance away.

Walking distance beach.

Driving distance beach.

In addition to beaches, we visited some rice terraces.  I was really interested to see Balinese rice terraces to compare them to the rice terraces here in the Philippines.  The rice terraces in Bali were beautiful and very different from the ones in the Philippines.  If you would like to compare the differences, check them out here.

Lookout point 

Me at the lookout point

Scarecrow? 

They were burning something in the terraces

Close up

Margaret looking out over the terraces

We also visited some monkeys.

Baby monkey

Baby monkey with bananas

Lots of Hindu temples.

Aileen visiting a temple in an art store.

 

Offerings are made daily to the Hindu deities.

We visited a coffee plantation.

Coffee tasting

 

Ate lunch by a rice field.

Had dinner and drinks twice at an amazing Spanish restaurant.

Scotch and cigar cart 

Sangrias 

Love these light fixtures 

Pouring scotch for Aileen and Margaret

Pina Colada

Colleen and I enjoying our mixed drinks 

The most amazing salad ever

Gin cart

Meatballs in red sauce with feta

Pumpkin and turmeric croquettes

Shrimp salad with apple dressing

Then dinner twice more at another amazing restaurant.

One of the best things I have ever put in my mouth.  Shrimp with kaffir lime, some kind of yummy peanut sauce rolled up in betel leaves.

Dumplings

Sweet potato samosas

Banana cake

And let's not forget sunsets!

I left early Saturday morning and the other girls left that evening.  I was home long enough to wash my clothes and board the next plane to Malaysia.  Until next time.