We must start this post with a full disclaimer – We are NOT morning people! And I’m talking cranky-and-mean without ample time to “wake-up” and savor our cup of coffee. But a combination of jet lag and vacation always gets us out of bed in a jiffy without the need for any type of caffeine – you know, we may have just found a permanent cure! (get the drift 😉 )

We had been waking up at 6am, well-rested and ready to eat!! Breakfast was exactly what comes to mind when I think of a vacation in Asia – lots of exotic fruits, flavorful local cuisine and some fresh coconut water to stay hydrated by the beach – ah!

Pineapple, Jackfruit, Guava, Passion fruit, Rambutan and Papaya

Indonesian local favorites – the drink is called Jamu (it is a blend of natural herbs, orange  and lemon juice)

Continue reading “A Balinese Spa Date”

After what felt like the world’s longest journey, we finally reached Bali, and our first stop – Jimbaran Bay! We reached the hotel (Intercontinental Bali) just in time for sunset and were greeted by the front desk with cooling towels and a lovely tea cocktail (“rosella” Tea with lemon and honey – I need to find out what this is!) The hot and humid climate seemed like such a welcome relief from the never-ending winter 2013.

We quickly dropped our bags in the room and headed out to check out the hotel and more importantly the beach. The hotel is beautifully maintained and the grounds included elements from the local Indonesian architecture for the pools and the common areas.

Continue reading “Taking a breather in Jimbaran Bay”