Bali, Day 3: We're Not In Candi Dasa Anymore...

Mum and I managed to sleep in this morning and by sleep in I mean we didn't wake up until after 6:00. It was a good start to the day. This morning was our last morning in Candi Dasa. I cannot recommend the area and the Candi Beach Resort enough. Candi Dasa is a beautiful, sleepy little town with some stunning hotels and great restaurants. Candi Beach Resort is one of those stunning hotels and I would stay here again, without a doubt. The staff were lovely, the grounds were simply beautiful, the rooms, although a little outdated, were clean and comfy. Everything was perfect. But before we could say goodbye, I had some pampering that needed to be done! After a delicious breakfast with a great view over the ocean, I spent a little time by the pool before heading up to the hotels phenomenal spa. Although it's a bit pricey, it was just too good to pass up. I had booked myself in for a 2 hour pamper session with a massage, body scrub, body mask and flower bath. 

 

If you read my blog yesterday, you would have seen photos of the hotels spa but let me paint a picture for you anyway; the spa sits on top of one of the hotels restaurants, looking out over the ocean. Each room is its own little building, perfectly angled to make the most of the view. Looking out to that view, listening to the waves, it was just magical. I went upstairs at 9:00 for my booking and after a nice welcome drink of ginger tea and filling out of a medical form, I was shown to my room. All of the rooms have 2 massage tables in them but I was so excited to have it to myself. Who needs a Prince Charming anyway? I was shown to the bathroom, directed to take off my clothes, put on the oh-so-sexy paper panties, a dressing gown and slippers. I always just have to laugh at myself when I put on those paper panties, I don't think they could possibly be flattering on anyone. 

I was directed to sit to have a quick foot bath before the massage was underway. I had chosen this particular treatment because it had a hot stone massage. Although it was nice, it was definitely not as good as Koa's. I cannot wait to return to Sanur so I can get one. I have no complaints about the spa at all. It was so lovely drifting off with the sound off the waves. The girl was very respectful of my modesty, her pressure was perfect in that I didn't cringe once while she was massaging me. It was really beautiful. After the  body mask, I had a quick rinse in the shower before hopping into the flower bath with a fresh coconut to drink. It was perfect. Such an incredible view over the hotels pool and ocean although it took me a minute to get comfortable with the idea of being in this bath and being able to see everyone around the pool. In fact I got so comfortable that it took me a second to register that I was standing butt naked in front of the window while getting out of the bath. As far as I know, no one saw but I just laughed it off. 

Back at the spa reception, I filled out a comment form and paid. I even got a sneaky 10% discount. Once again, I don't know if this was my doing, due to them knowing I'm a travel agent, or Yuda's from being friendly with the staff. Either way, I was happy. 

I only had a little while to kill before we were due to get picked up by Oka. It was off to Sanur today. He was at the hotel right on time, we said our thanks and goodbyes to the lovely receptionist we had met when we first checked in and told her how much we loved the hotel. I was actually quite sad to be heading back to Sanur! 

With a quick stop to pick up Hilary and Nadine from their hotel, we were on our way. We had plans to stop at Komune Beach Club again, for lunch this time. I had checked out the menu before hand to make sure it catered for mums gluten intolerance and Nadine's vegetarianism. With the traffic, it ended up being about an hours drive but with so many laughs still carrying over from our dinner last night, it passed like no time at all. 

Komune Beach Club doesn't have an entry fee at all and if you're not a guest, you just need to purchase food or drinks to be able to use the facilities. They've got a great menu with a huge range of western and Indonesian food plus cocktails and delicious fresh juices. The options were endless. Mum and I both got a fresh juice, I ordered a chicken schnitzel burger from lunch, mum got a tuna sandwich made with her own gluten-free bread, Oka got some Nasi Goreng and Hilary and Nadine both got salads of sorts. We were all really happy with our food but even more happy with the atmosphere. The service was great, the place was stunning and so relaxing. Not at all like other beach clubs where you feel the need to dress to impress. Komune has such a chilled out vibe. 

By the time we finished our lunch, it was 2:00. I would have loved to stay and hang out a bit more but time was just not allowing for it. It was maybe another 20 minutes to Sanur and I felt so good as we turned onto the main road and the familiar restaurants and shops were within view. We dropped Nadine and Hilary off at their hotel before heading to ours; Kejora Suites. Located right on the main road, it's in a great location and is a nice little boutique hotel. Exactly our kind of hotel, right? Well it wasn't long after coming into the hotel that I felt claustrophobic; there was no breeze drifting through, hardly any pool lounges available, no grass, no gardens, no palm trees towering over us. Did I love it? Well it certainly wasn't the Candi Beach Resort. Never have I been so... not sad but up that alley... to be back in Sanur. Where had the space gone? I couldn't hear the waves anymore or feeling the beautiful breeze. I couldn't even get a lounge in the sun. Despite that, it is a really nice little hotel. And I will exaggerate the word little. 

Nevertheless, the staff were lovely checking us in. We got quite a surprise when we were shown around our room but one I'm not allowed to fill you in on until I get home, so stay tuned for that one (although some of you already know;)). We got settled, had a dip and "enjoyed" the hotel. I may be sounding like a brat now, and don't get me wrong, it is a lovely hotel but I have now been so spoilt after staying in Candi Dasa, it's hard to adjust to having to share a small space with so many people. The rooms though are lovely; spacious and very comfortable. If you could take these hotel rooms and put the at the Candi Beach Resort, you'd have a perfect hotel. 

We headed down to the beach for a drink before it was time for our dinner plans, where we bumped into Hilary and Nadine and some of their family. What a small world!! Now that I could feel the breeze, see the ocean I felt better about being back in Sanur. We enjoyed some more chats and laughs over a drink before we had to head off. Yuda had insisted on us joining him and his family for dinner tonight and we could never say no to him. Not that I would want to anyway, I just love spending time with him and his family. We were off to a local warung tonight that was owned and run by the village. Yuda had booked and ordered ahead for us, not giving us any choice in the food choices which was fine by us, because we completely trust his judgement! The food was all lovely but even if I wanted to tell you where it was, I couldn't. Without Oka driving me there again, there's no way I would be able to find it. 

Yuda and his family are truly some of the loveliest people I have met and I am so blessed to have them in my life. A trip to Bai would no longer be complete without seeing them. We had a lovely dinner together before returning to their home for coffee and tea. We had a lovely walk back to our hotel where it was time for an early night. Tomorrow, mum and I are up bright and early (as usual) for a Sanur bike tour. Stay tuned! 

Bali, Day 2: A Day at the Beach

After a wonderfully solid nights sleep, Mum and I were up to our usual antics of rising early. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunrise but unfortunately a cloudy haze had rolled in so there wasn't much to see. Early mornings in Bali are such a beautiful thing, watching the world wake up and the Balinese going about their morning business like placing offerings and fishing before it gets too hot. I spent a good hour wandering around the immediate area and taking it in before Mum and I decided to head to breakfast. 

The hotel has got 2 restaurants, both with the same menu but breakfast is served only at one. It's quite an old part of the hotel but everything here has got such a stunning view over the ocean, it didn't matter. The hotel has plans to renovate this restaurant soon though. Although we were disappointed with yesterday's lunch, the breakfast here is fantastic. They had beautiful fresh fruit from tamerillo's to guavas, dragon fruit, pineapple and melons. They had plenty of Western options (probably for all the Europeans this hotel seems to attract) and a few Indonesian as well as an egg and pancake station. 

After breakfast, we were off for a quick a walk before I spent the next 40 minutes enjoying having the pool all to myself. Something great I've noticed about the hotel is that there is no one up early trying to reserve pool lounges. Whether it's because there are so many lounges scattered around that no one feels the need, that all lounges are in a great spot or because the staff keep an eye on it, I don't know but it's so nice to get up and not feel the need to fight for a lounge. I had a beautiful morning swim and caught a few rays before it was time to face the world. And by face the world, I mean get picked up by our friends that are staying nearby and head to White Sand Beach. 

Mum and I had visited White Sand Beach last year at the end of the East Bali Bike tour we had done. It's a beautiful place to relax for a few hours with a nice clean beach and an abundance of warung's. There are a few local people wandering up and down the beach trying to sell the usual Bali knick knacks and offering massages but they're not aggressive in any way. But first, we had to make another stop. Mum had been drawn to the Candi Dasa Chocolate Factory after seeing photos online. It was tucked away a little way out of Candi Dasa so our friends had organised a driver for us. It was a very cool place but it was lucky we hadn't gone for the chocolate because there wasn't any! It wasn't what we expected at all. There was no where to buy the chocolate (that I saw) or the soap that also gets made here. What we did love about it was the swing. A swing strung between two palm trees with that spectacular Candi Dasa view. Of course I had to have a go. After a swing, I reverted back to my childish ways and decided to have a swing on my stomach. This swing was not made for that at all and I ended up falling on my butt. I'm pretty sure it's going to bruise but we all got a good laugh from it. 

The chocolate factory also had a pet goose that I feel I should warn you about. Whether he's very friendly or he's looking for a fight, it was hard to tell but not long after getting out of the car, he had waddled over to greet/fight us. We were all a bit to nervous to test the waters with him but I am 97% sure he had an agenda. He starting sniffing around our bags and it took our driver scaring him off to we could get them again.

So with no chocolate to be found, we got back into the car and headed for White Sand Beach. It was the perfect day for it; a light breeze to keep us cool while the sun was shining down with no clouds in the way. Our driver recommended us a particular Warung so we chose a few lounges (all the warungs have lounges out on the sand) and got comfortable. It wasn't long until the ladies were upon us offering their goods and services. I agreed with one to have a massage later on when I had finished drink my coconut but she didn't stray far. In the meantime, mum and our friends headed out for a dip in the ocean while I watched them from a distance struggle with the strong under current and laughing as the small but deceivingly strong waves had them falling all over the place. It was the perfect for people watching; I couldn't help but chuckle as I saw a European lady being too busy posing for a photo that she didn't see a wave coming that knocked her over. Don't worry, she didn't get dumped, just pushed down onto all fours. . It wasn't a choppy day by any means but depending on the tides, this beach would definitely not be good for weak swimmers. Even me, who was in a swimming club for years, was wary of the strength of the current. 

As soon as I finished my coconut, she was upon me, asking if I was ready for my massage. I decided to cave and let her take over my feet. The foot massage was lovely and only 50,000 rupiah. My feet are very ticklish but I didn't not have any twitchy foot problems while trying to keep a straight face so it was a succes. We enjoyed our time laying under our umbrella, chatting and laughing before we started getting peckish and went into the warung for lunch. The warung was Warung Sunrise and with its simple menu, I wasn't expecting much. We ordered drinks and our food and although it took quite a while to come out, we were chatting happily away, passing the time. 

The food, though simple, was delicious. All freshly cooked and nicely presented. I had decided on crispy calamari, mum had grilled mahi mahi, our friends Hilary and Nadine had grilled whole snapper and gado gado. We were all really impressed with the food and thanked the cook profusely. Our meal along with the lounge hire and earlier drinks was about $30 between mum and I. We didn't have long before our driver was due to pick us up so into the ocean we went. The temperature of the water was just amazing. The swell had been going from calm to a bit crazy throughout the morning but was looking pretty good at this time. It was perfect.

We went to find our driver to take us back to our respective hotels. I had only a couple of plans for the afternoon; swim and relax. Mum and I went for a quick dip in the hotels second pool before taking up places on lounges, overlooking the waves crashing on the shore. I got some sun and listened to the sound of the waves while I had a bit of a nap before. Mum came down to wake me up at about 3:30. We had planned with the hotel for me to do some room inspections and we were so eager to see the beautiful villas on site. 

We met the manager in the lobby at 4:00 and he lead us towards the direction of the villas. But no, we weren't walking. People that are staying in the villas don't have to walk (to be honest, some of them could be a fair walk), they get escorted by golf buggy. What a novelty! We were shown inside one of the villas and it was just gorgeous. When I find my handsome Prince Charming (come on mate, where are you?!), I will be bringing him here. The villas can sleep 3 but are really only suitable for 2. It's got a big double bed overlooking the lap pool which overlooks the hotels grounds and the ocean. It has a double shower, a double spa bath, 2 chairs and 2 pool lounges. See, much better suited for 2. If you're thinking about staying here and can afford to splash out a bit, these villas are the place to be. Words cannot describe how stunning they are. They're all identical with beautiful views and a couple of them will soon be interconnecting for a group or family. 

Back into the buggy we went and next we were shown an upstairs deluxe room. I learnt that the only difference between the superior and deluxes is the location; superior are garden facing, deluxe are pool/ocean facing. They're all the same size and same design but all so comfortable. We paid a quick visit to the spa as well which is also just spectacular. It is quite pricey for a Bali spa but it really is just beautiful. I'm booked in for a 2 hour pamper tomorrow and I just cannot wait. The spa rooms are designed for 2 people (ie they have 2 massage tables and 2 showers in each room) and are all individual little buildings, placed on an angle to make the most of the beautiful view. They have spa baths right up next to the window which is huge to let in the natural light. The sound of the waves is almost hypnotic, I felt relaxed just being in there. 

 

The manager was just lovely so we thanked him so much for showing us around. We had some time to kill before we met up with our friends for dinner so after freshening up a bit, we headed to the restaurant for a cocktail. The prices here are not cheap by Bali standards but whenever we're in Bali, we have to have at least one cocktail at the hotel. We plonked on one of the lounges by the restaurant, overlooking the ocean and ordered our cocktails and some fries. They did take quite a while to arrive but luckily we were so content, it didn't matter. We chatted and relaxed, while I decided that this would be the place I get married one day (Prince Charming, just hurry up would you?!). Our cocktails were just right for us, when they eventually arrived. It was the perfect way to spend an hour with the sound of the waves and the laughs of local kids playing in the water. 

 

We killed some time back in the room before heading to the lobby to wait for our pick up for dinner. We were off to Le Zat's, a little hotel located in the middle of town that has a fantastic restaurant. It located right on the waters edge so had a beautiful breeze blowing through that kept us nice and cool. I ordered a 3-course set menu of some soup that I can't remember the name of- it was like a coconutty Tom Yum soup and was delicious- vegetable samosas and beef rendang. Anyone that has been reading my blog for a while would know that I'm mad for beef rendang, especially the one from Mona Lisa's in Sanur. I decided before this trip that as much as I loved Mona Lisa's, I hadn't tried enough rendang's out there to really declare it the best. After eating this one tonight, I have come to the conclusion that Mona Lisa's may not be the best but it is my favourite. All the rendangs that I've tried have been different, with a uniqueness to them so I don't think it's fair to say Mona Lisa is the best. Mum and Hikary had "Nasi Bali" which is thir version of Nasi Campur and Nadine has honey ginger prawns. Le Zat's food was delicious; all of us loved our meals, except for the the vegetable samosas, wasn't a huge fan. We left with full bellies and smiles on our faces after sharing delicious food with great company. We shared many stories and laughs with Hilary and Nadine. It's so nice to holiday with people that you click so well with. 

Another day gone but tomorrow is a new adventure. Back to Sanur we go!

Bali, Day 1: With Open Arms

When you've been to Bali as many times as I have, it truly feels like a home away from home. There's no better feeling than stepping out of the airport, into the humid Bali air with that distinct smell and being welcomed back to paradise with open arms, which is exactly what we got. As we stepped out of the airport, we kept our eyes peeled and spotted Oka, Yuda's son, waiting for us. With a warm hug to welcome us back, we were ready to begin our holiday. 

What a way to start my day. Mum and I had a stupid o'clock 3:40am flight with Jetstar that had us in Bali at 7:30, just in time for breakfast. It wasn't just any old breakfast we were having, Oka was taking us to his family home in Sanur to see Yuda and his wife Made. We have forged such a beautiful friendship with this family, seeing them has become one of the things I look forward to most. They are such warm and gracious people, you'd have to have a heart of stone to not have a soft spot for them. We were greeted with more hugs from Yuda and Made as they welcomed us into their home. I was lucky enough to come here for dinner one night during my March trip and was so happy to be back. Yuda was so proud to show us around their home that they are currently renovating. We were invited to sit and Oka brought us breakfast cooked fresh by Made. It was a delicious Balinese style omelette that I had to keep myself from wolfing down as quickly as I could. It was still to early to head off so to kill sometime, Yuda took mum for a scoot around the back streets of Sanur where they live. Mum has recently decided that although she's not comfortable with hiring a scooter (or my dad hiring one and riding on the back) that she'd be perfectly comfortable riding on the back of Yuda or Oka's so she was all for it. What a daredevil. She returned about 10 minutes later with a big smile before Oka took over and took me for a ride.

It was great to explore the back roads and spot villas that I've heard of but never seen. There is so much more to Sanur tucked away from the roads that I know. 

It was time to head off in the general direction of our first hotel so after a quick stop at Hardy's to grab a few essentials, we piled into the car; Oka, Yuda, Made, mum and myself. Yuda had a couple of stops planned for us- he does like to keep us on our toes. As we headed north towards Candi Dasa, we made our first stop at Komune Resort and Beach Club. This is an eco resort located about 15 minutes North of Sanur. It's a popular spot for surfers with its beachfront location with a decent surf break on the doorstep and its night surfing. I've seen many photos and have been following their Instagram for a while but didn't have any plans to visit. That has definitely changed now. It's a beautiful hotel with simple but very comfortable rooms, its Eco-friendly feel with vegie patches in the hotel grounds and it's absolutely stunning beach club. I've had a few beach club experiences but Komune is in a world of its own. It's got the same chilled out vibe that you'll find at the likes of Potato Head but with the glitz and glamour. It's really just a place to hang out, surf and enjoy the incredible view of their black sand beach. 

 

Although we were only there for all of 15 minutes, I've fallen in love with and we've made plans to come back. I can definitely see myself staying here at some point even though I can't surf to save my life. Hey, maybe I'll meet a nice surfer boy to keep. 

Back in the car, our next stop was to Yuda's village where he was born and grew up. He'd been wanting to take us for a while and we thought it was such a nice gesture so agreed to go during this trip. The village was a beautiful one tucked between Komune and Candi Dasa. He welcomed us into his complex and introduced us to his family with his usual big smile. None of them spoke English but it was so special to watch them go about their daily lives. I met such a gorgeous little boy while I was there who played a game of peek-a-boo before turning into a show pony and marching around the place, doing Spider-Man jumps and keeping us laughing. It was so beautiful to see and connect with him despite our language and cultural barrier. He gave me a big hi-five as we left and waved goodbye. 

We were then off to visit Made's village. There was quite a contrast between the two; as Made's village was considered a city village and therefore a richer village, with the higher status came pets. I found it quite confronting to see so many dogs on chains and in cages that were much too small for them. I had to force myself to look away because even though I am an animal lover, I know that having status is part of the Balinese culture. There is currently a push to educate the Balinese on many things including how to care for their pets properly which, after seeing these dogs, I am so thankful for. 

After a quick meet and greet with nieces and sisters, it was time to move on again and get to our hotel. With a quick hello to some friends staying at another hotel and confirmation of our dinner plans, we headed to Candi Beach Cottages. We were welcomed warmly and even scored a room upgrade; the perfect way to begin our stay. This was my first time to Candi Dasa so I was really looking forward to it. 

We were lead to our room; a bungalow that although is a bit outdated is very comfortable, to settle in before we headed to the restaurant for lunch. We were starving by this point and really wanted to enjoy the beautiful hotel grounds. And the grounds are stunning. Although the hotel is quite large, it doesn't at all feel like it's full of guests. It's so spacious and caters so well for the number of guests it can have that it felt quite empty. With an abundance of palmtrees shading the grounds and a beautiful infinity pool overlooking the ocean, we were in heaven. 

  

We enjoyed lunch looking out over the ocean, taking it all in. How can a place so amazing even exist? With lunch of satay and nasi Goreng in our stomachs (not overly impressed with the food or the prices) it was time to get poolside. It had hit me by now just how exhausted I was after our early start so I can ready to freshen up in the pool and relax. The pool was just the perfect temperature and came with the perfect view. After a swim I took my place on my lounge and it wasn't long before I drifted off for a while.  

It's a beautiful feeling waking up from a nap in the sun. Feeling slightly more refreshed, it was time to get myself ready for pre-dinner drinks and snacks with some friends that were staying nearby. We headed off to their beautiful hotel at the other end of town, The Aquarius. What a contrast it was to our hotel. Both are stunning, both have that Bali feel, both beachfront with a killer view over the ocean. The Aquarius is just a small boutique hotel compared to our larger one but it was just as breathtaking. I would definitely stay here. 

We enjoyed some laughs over a cocktails, I caught a glimpse of a beautiful sunset and we soon headed off to Vincent's for dinner. It was a great little restaurant with live jazz playing but I was just too tired to appreciate it. It had attentive service and nice food so hopefully I'll be able to head back after a good nights sleep.  One day down, I sure do like to hit the ground running!! Until tomorrow friends... 

The October Plan: Part 2

This time next week, I'll be touching down in Bali. Now that I'm working full time, I've learnt to really cherish these getaways so this trip seems more precious than others. I can't wait to get back to my favourite area of Sanur after spending two nights in Candi Dasa. Sanur always feels like a home away from home. I know the area almost as well as the back of my hand, it's where some of my favourite hotels and restaurants are located. A trip to Bali wouldn't be a complete for me without a visit to Sanur. 

This time around, I'm going to be staying at the Kejora Suites. Located in a fantastic central location, Kejora Suites have a reputation of being a boutique, hidden oasis. Even with its location, it's tucked away from the noises of passing vehicles. Although it's classified as a beachfront property, it's not open to the beach but it is actually managed by next doors Segara Village Hotel which just happens to be one of my favourite hotels of all time. You're able to enjoy your Kejora Suites escape but use the facilities of Segara Village, swim in their stunning pool while overlooking the ocean. There is no better feeling. 

Kejora Suites have fantastic prices (look at bookig direct for the best deal), beautifully designed rooms that are spacious but have all the facilities of a hotel with a high star rating including an in room espresso machine (I'd be excited about this if I were a coffee drinker), bathrobes, slippers, free wifi and drinkable tap water! A bonus that not enough hotels have. I'm looking forward to sharing this gem of a hotel with you next week! 

  

Images from www.kejorasuites.com

 

The October Plan: Part 1

It's not long now until I'll be heading back to Bali. Since I got back from London at the beginning of July, I have been busy busy busy so this holiday could really not come soon enough. I'll once again be out there trying a couple of new hotels to share and (hopefully!) recommend to you.

In March, my parents and Canadian friends spent a night up in Candi Dasa and my mum came back absolutely in love with the area, despite their short stay. According to her, it's the new place to stay for affordable ocean-front accommodation- note I say "ocean" not "beach" . Candi Dasa is located on the East side of Bali, about a 2 hours drive North of Sanur. It's known as being a sleepy and quaint area to stay; a great place to escape the tourist riff raff that you find in the areas of Kuta, Legian, Seminyak and Sanur. It's starting to gain popularity for that very reason, its great selection of hotels that are affordable but stunning and its reputation for good restaurants. This is where mum and I will be heading for our first 2 nights of our trip in October.

This is the Candi Beach Resort and Spa. Yes, it does very closely resemble paradise so I'm sure you can understand my excitement.

It's located a little ways out of the main area in Candi Dasa but given so many of the restaurants offer pick up, the location hasn't concerned us at all. And with a view like that, I doubt we're going to find much to complain about! Except for the fact that we've only got 2 short nights here and the more we dream about being at this gorgeous hotel, the more we think it is just not long enough. But there's always next time...

 

Check out their website here!

Photos from http://www.candibeachbali.com

 

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I Had a Dream...

I currently have 3 Bali trips to look forward to. Yes, 3. October I'll be having another mummy-daughter trip, splitting our staying between beautiful Candi Dasa (a new stop for me!) and our favourite Sanur. June next year, my family and I will be celebrating my dad's birthday in Bali, but we're still yet to do everything but book our flights. A few weeks ago, I dreamt of Bali. I dreamt that I was on beautiful Lembongan Island, at the funky Le Pirate Beach Club enjoying the stunning view and sunshine. I dreamt I was there alone. Now I'm not superstitious at all but when I woke up from that dream, it was decided; I was going to go back to Lembongan Island and I was going to go by myself. So that's exactly what I'm doing. I've booked myself 4 nights in November on the island with the help of The Lembongan Traveller. I decided to go against staying at Le Pirate, as much as I would love to because it's simply too isolated for a solo traveller but I cannot wait to get back there during my stay to enjoy the atmosphere one of the days I'm there. Saying I'm excited is an understatement. I seriously cannot wait to get back to the paradise island and I cannot wait to enjoy those 4 glorious nights all to myself.

 

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Anna's Chocolate Cake: The Special Continues!

A couple of months ago, I bought to you, my lovely readers, an exclusive offer that one of my favourite restaurants and I had collaborated on. The Art Cafe in Sanur is, in my opinion, home of the best chocolate cake. Not only that, they also have lovely staff, great service and fantastic meals (plenty of Western and Indonesian choices) at good prices. I refuse to miss out on having a meal here whenever I'm in Bali. They never fail to leave me with a very full but very happy tummy.

Tonight, I share good news with you. The special that I have collaborated on with this fantastic restaurant is still continuing until further notice!

The details of this offer are:

If you go to The Art Cafe for dessert only and order the cake, you will receive a complimentary tea, coffee, cappuccino or latte. The complimentary drink is valid per order of chocolate cake ie if you order 2 cakes, you'll receive 2 complimentary drinks

If you go to The Art Cafe for dinner AND dessert and order the cake, you will receive 10% off your final bill.

Conditions:

The offer will be continuing until further notice

The offer is valid for evening only, not lunchtime

If your party is more than 5 people, you will need to book and order the cakes in advance to ensure there is enough and you won't miss out

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONDITION:

To receive the offer, you must order the cake as "Anna's Chocolate Cake". If you don't reference it as such, you'll miss out

For those have already enjoyed this special, please enjoy it again. For those that haven't, enjoy!! I know I will be in October:)

 

Contact The Art Cafe:

• Click here to go to their Facebook Page. Message them here to book
  
• Click here to go to their website
  
• Click here to check out/write a review on Tripadvisor
  
• Address: Jalan Danau Tamblingan Number 82 (across the road from the Besakih Hotel and next door to the Lazer Sports Bar)
  
• Phone: +62 361 283811
  

 

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Where I've been...

Hello again my friends. I have been MIA the last couple of months but with good reason!! Having returned from London (more to come on that soon!) at the beginning of July, I had all of two days to recover from my jetlag before I was the fresh face in a new work place. After 3 weeks of fulltime training and the last 3 weeks of settling in, I am now a qualified travel agent. Am I enjoying it? Yes. Do I love it? Am I going to be doing this for the rest of my life? Ask me again in a year or so and I might be able to answer that. But in the meantime, I am happy. I am now playing an active role in helping people plan their own trips and it is making me happy. I am loving the opportunity to meet new people, forge new relationships and follow this new and exciting path. What it will bring, I don't know yet but I now have a whole lot of new doors open for me.

While I settle into my new routine and new job, I will not be posting as much but I still have a lot too share with you about my recent trip to London and I currently have 3 Bali trips to look forward to in the next year! I can't wait to be back on the beautiful island, where my heart and head are both content and in harmony. In the meantime, I promise I'll be back with you soon with photos and recommendations for London:)

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