It all sounds well and good to live by the mantra Carpe Diem (Seize the Day), but let’s be honest… we just won’t be the best version of ourselves every day.

I’ll speak for myself for a minute. I’m not one of those perky morning people that pops out of bed in the morning ready to take on the day – who are you people? In fact, I roll out of bed and don’t think about much at all until I’ve had at least one cup of coffee – and that’s after 8 hours of sleep!

Regardless of whether we acknowledge it or not amidst the hustle and bustle of our routines, our time is finite. Each day is an opportunity to be who we want to be and live how we want to live.

We are beautifully flawed beings layered with strengths and weaknesses. Positive affirmations like the ones in the image below can help us refocus and motivate us in a constructive direction rather than being our own worst critic and getting caught up in the excuses of life’s roadblocks.

Progress is progress no matter how small, so take a moment to set your intentions for the day and focus on one thing that makes you feel amazing about yourself!

The above quote is by Robin Sharma, a renowned leadership advisor. I don’t know much about him or his other work, but if if you’d like more information, check out: http://www.robinsharma.com/

Let me ask you a few questions… Do you ever feel like your mind is racing? Do you get anxious and feel overwhelmed? Are you constantly battling the noise inside and around you? Maybe you just have a hard time focusing on your short-term and long-term goals. Well you’re certainly not alone, but you alone can decide if you want to actively take control of your mind and find inner peace.

Our minds are both our greatest asset and adversary. We can learn to calm our minds and focus on our goals without popping pills or going to a psychologist. Mashrur and I are beginning to learn and practice Transcendental Meditation (TM), and I encourage you to try it as well. This natural practice isn’t a religion or a belief. In fact, you don’t have to believe in it at all, just try it for 2 weeks and see if it helps.

How does TM make you feel? Once the surface of your mind’s chatter falls or “transcends” into the depths of your being, you will experience the quiet serenity of your mind. Being content in this dark nothingness is similar to how you feel right before you fall asleep. According to the TM website, this technique has been shown to improve mental health by achieving a balanced mind resulting in decreased stress while becoming more efficient and productive in all different aspects of your life.

Learning and practicing TM doesn’t have to cost you anything except for you to invest time in yourself. I’m not qualified to teach you how to practice TM, but I promise it’s not complicated. If you’re interested, I encourage you to check out the official Transcendental Meditation website for more information and watch this video. You can find other free online resources by searching on Google, YouTube, etc. to learn about this technique.

Wishing you inner peace; it’s the greatest gift you can give yourself!

Update: Please click here to read a recent NY Times article about the scientifically studied health benefits of meditation

Week 2:  Tuesday, June 28^th – Monday, July 4^th

We have successfully conquered one week in Bali, so it’s time to start thinking about living like an expat rather than running around like a tourist.

There have been a few consecutive days of scattered rain, which is the environment’s way of behavior modification therapy to make us slow down. It’s ok to take a breath and have a low key day, we’ll be here for a while.

Many people have asked, “What do you do all day?” Here’s a glimpse at what this new chilled out routine in paradise looks like:

1. We’re night owls, so we typically go to sleep around midnight-1am and have a morning wakeup call between 8-9am either from the sun bursting through our bedroom windows, a rooster crowing (no joke), or a dog barking. That’s our queue to get out of bed and make some coffee or a proper cup of English breakfast tea
2. Self imposed reading and writing bootcamp to keep the creative juices flowing
3. Dreaming and making plans for the future
4. Dedicating time each day to our health whether it’s at the gym or incorporated into an activity – I’ll discuss this more in a separate post
5. Cooking some basic meals at home, here are a few of the options:

• Breakfast
  • Eggs
  • Cereal with banana slices
  • Apple cinnamon mussel (tastes like oatmeal)
• Lunch/Dinner
  • Grilled chicken (flavored with lemon Bintang)
  • Asparagus
  • Mushrooms
  • Green beans
  • Bell peppers
  • Potatoes

6. Cherishing intangible moments that unfold each day with a humble understanding of what precious gifts they are. I will try to capture a few of these vivid impressions in words, and I hope this inspires you to live consciously and fully embrace at least one of these fleeting moments for yourself today.

• Listening to celtic songs as the the candlelight dances to the music and rain dribbles down the roof forming a curtain around our outdoor terrace
• Chilling on the terrace writing while the ceiling fan hums off a calming breeze as the humming fan blades cut through the air methodically
• Walking along the beach, I glance up and immediately had a Peter Pan flashback as I watched a black pirate ship kite sailing through the sky with childish amazement

• A peaceful nighttime swim chatting with a lovely Australian woman and her teenage daughter, who I assumed was her sister or cousin – now that’s impressive!
• Relishing in the fact you haven’t heard a Justin Bieber song yet and then jinx “Where Are U Now” starts blasting from one of the nightclubs around the corner
• Experiencing dragon fruit for the first time felt like I was tasting ambrosia of the Gods. It’s mysterious outer shell appears alien and contains a soft fruit inside with a vibrant magenta hue. If I saw this fruit in the wild, I would have thought it was poisonous – clearly, I survived unscathed and in awe of its many health benefits

7. Exploring the culture through food, dance, spa, etc. Here are a few new places we’ve checked out this week:
   • KZU – This cafe knows how to spice things up! This unassuming local joint may just turn you into a vegetarian. Their fresh buffet style options that vary day-to-day offer a plethora of Indonesian style dishes: chickpeas, lentils, green beans, pumpkin quinoa, sweet chili roasted tempe, and so much more! For the carnivores, they also have a few meat options: stewed pork, nutty chicken, chicken meatballs, teriyaki fish, etc. We like to expand our horizons and try new places, but we can’t help returning to this place at least twice a week for lunch. You just can’t get enough of their creatively healthy options at such a great value – it only costs ~$1.00 USD per serving of each serving you select.
   • Sushimi – This conveyor belt of Japanese favorites is taking fast food to the next level. In a single glance you’ll see sushi, dumplings, spring rolls, and edamame roll past you. Watch the edible eye candy being created by the sushi masters hard at work in the open kitchen at the center of the restaurant, so you know it’s fresh. If you prefer not to pluck your food off a rotating belt, you can ask the server for your food to be made to order. Items can also be heated up upon request as needed. Friday nights are a sushi lovers’ dream, their special is 20,000 RP per item, which is ~$1.50 USD, doesn’t get any better than that!
   • JENJA – Walk into a dragon inspired den and discover one of Seminyak’s chic new nightclubs. Live DJs spin for an energetic crowd of Indonesian socialites and travelers seeking an upscale cosmopolitan vibe. As you walk through the separate levels of house and hip hop, a beat will surely strike a chord and get you on the dance floor. Ladies, dress to impress and you may even get away without paying an entrance fee. Sorry guys, you’ll have to pay up and don’t forget to wear some nice shoes – no flip flops (aka slippers) allowed!
   • 

     

     Spa Bali – I was light as a feather floating away from this spa after a full 2 hours of a pampering spa manicure and pedicure that felt like a religious awakening. I honestly don’t think I can ever go to a spa in America ever again. Everything is spot on here from the atmosphere to the service that literally indulges you head to toe like royalty. I was even able to convince Mashrur to get his first ever pedicure and he came out with baby feet feeling like a King. I would also recommend their massage and body scrub. All treatments cost approximately 150 RP/hour = ~$11.00 USD.

   • Cendana – This restaurant is part of a hotel and the outdoor dining space flows into the pool which lies in the guests’ backyard. It sounds a bit strange, but it’s also kind of fun and makes you want to jump in and cool off before your meal arrives at your table. Mashrur is fully committed to finding the best beef rendang in Bali, so he faithfully ordered it and ranked it as the contending #1 out of at least 10 different venues serving the same dish. I can say I enjoyed the kung pow chicken, until I saw 2 rats run by the courtyard and then I wasn’t sure if I could stomach coming back.
   • Miura – Raised a flight of stairs from street level, this restaurant has a nicely positioned terrace for outdoor dining and people watching as they pass by. They seem to feature local musicians routinely and otherwise play a calming backdrop of music while you dine. The food was good but expensive compared to similar local restaurants and the service was mediocre.

So that’s our incredibly fascinating daily routine, mystery unveiled!

Day 7 – Monday, June 27^th

What is your favorite scent? I absolutely love the smell of clean laundry, ahhh.

It’s pretty tough doing laundry in Bali — you fill up a bag with your dirty clothes, walk around the corner, drop it off, and pick it up the next day (I hope you sense the sarcasm). The cost is based on weight, 10 pounds is ~$7.00. They did such an incredible job washing, drying and folding the clothes, I quickly forgot how anal I am about the way I do my own laundry. I really think it’s cathartic to fold clothes, maybe the calm repetitive motion is a strange form of meditation. Many Manhattanites get their laundry done as well, but I have always done my own until now when there is no alternative since villas don’t have a washer or dryer and I haven’t seen any self-service laundry mats. Hey, I’m not complaining; I’ll find a different type of meditation to compensate in the meantime.

Ok that’s enough obsessing about laundry, onto something more fun for you to read…

It was around 90 degrees and sunny, so this called for a beach day. Seminyak beach is strewn with surfers and sunbathers, but the waves can be rough and unpredictable, so it’s worth the ride down to Uluwatu’s turquoise waters and private white sand beaches.

Sundays Beach Club

Hold onto your swimsuit and get ready for a ride of a lifetime. Hidden beneath the Uluwatu coast lies a pristine beach calling your name, but I hope you’re not afraid of heights. You’ll ride a rollercoaster lift descending over a sheer cliff (Caution: May cause heart palpitations). All your fears will dissipate when you arrive at sea level. This beach club charges an entrance fee, but it includes a food/drink credit, beach towel, and access to the facilities (restaurant, lounge chairs, wifi, nice bathrooms and showers, etc.) – well worth it in my opinion.

I tore off my cover-up and ran into the ocean at full speed. It’s hard to believe this was my first swim in the Indian Ocean! Since arriving in Bali, we’ve been sticking to long walks on the beach and swimming in the pool. Although I’m a pretty confident swimmer, there’s rarely lifeguards, and I wouldn’t rely on them to save anyone if the riptide carries you out to sea. Needless to say, we’re being overly cautious as we begin to test the waters. This beach is nestled into the cove of a cliff, which offered a bit of shelter from the aggressive tide.

The warm ocean cleanses your skin as you buoyantly drift across the surface. It’s humbling to feel how insignificant you are in this gargantuan aqua expanse of crystal clear ocean and sky. You enter a zen state as you float on your back looking at the cliff looming above you… until an unexpected wave hits you in the face and your eyes are burning while trying to tear up to neutralize the salt.

I swam for a while until my fingers pruned and body fatigued from stubbornly going against the pull of the current. I washed up on shore and found a nice lounge chair next to Mashrur with an ocean front view where we could lazily admire the view.

We had once again met up with our friends Naomi, Lisa, and Chloe at the beach club (I swear we aren’t stalkers). They gregariously introduced us to a strapping group of Aussie guys here for a stag (bachelor) party.

The sun faded into night as we gathered around a bonfire in a circle of beanbags letting the stories flow in synch with the drinks topped off with some roasted marshmallows. One of the Aussie guys showed us how to navigate the constellations to find the southern cross. I was in awe appreciating the view of the night sky from this hemisphere. Some things you will never miss about New York/New Jersey – light pollution.

We decided to move the party back to Seminyak, so we arranged for our driver to stop by a Mini Mart for a few snacks and some cold travelers/roadies while Mashrur DJ’ed in the backseat making the Toyota Venza into a full-fledged party bus.

We arrived in style as the doors opened into the stag party’s baller villa tricked out with all the modern amenities of a Hollywood Hills celebrity McMansion complete with 24-hour security guard, private chef, home theater system, and illuminated Olympic sized lap pool.

The chef took one look at us and knew exactly what to do – in less time than it takes you to cook ramen noodles, she whipped up some incredible nasi goreng, mie goreng, spring rolls, and chicken satay that totally hit the spot.

Refueled, the fun ensued as we took turns controlling the playlist which clearly represented our individual taste in music with a strong influence on our countries of origin: Australia, Ireland, and America.

Here are some of the most notable song selections from each of our groups that had us dancing and singing the night away:

Australia: “The Horses” by Daryl Braithwaite, “You’re the Voice” by John Farnham, “Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Savage Garden

Ireland: Traditional Irish Jig (name unknown) and “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush

America: “Hells Bells” by AC/DC, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley

The grand finale was a song that struck a chord for all of us and summed up a very memorable night — the Dirty Dancing theme song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.”

Day 6 – Sunday, June 26^th

The apocalyptic booming of a tropical thunderstorm beating down on the clay-tiled roof shook me into consciousness. The dreary weather was a welcome excuse to stay in the comfortable confines of our room for a bit longer. Soon enough, hunger motivated us to brave the pouring rain.

I know I over packed for this trip with my 60-pound suitcase, but Mashrur’s bewildered look when I stuffed a yellow poncho in my bag that he never saw me wear before now fully justified itself. Mashrur on the other hand, was stuck with a small polka dotted umbrella. 🙂

Our villa garden flooded with almost an inch of water became the ideal frog playground.

We jumped around puddles and slipped on the tile sidewalks all the way to the Dusty Café.

Dusty Café

I felt like I was stepping into a café in SoHo surrounded by the vintage glam ambiance. Gushing over every quaint detail, I instantly claimed the Dusty as my favorite neighborhood hangout.

Picture distressed woods perfectly blended with brick and galvanized metal accents. The chandeliers and royal purple chairs invite you to sit down and stay awhile whether it’s to kickstart your day over breakfast or satiate your craving for a mid-afternoon nosh served up on a wooden cutting board. You could sit here for hours tucked away sipping lattes with a good book at your antique sewing machine table adorned with doily placemats, black lantern, and petite floral arrangement.

Highly recommend: Iced Latte, “The Gate” (omelet), The Captain” (tuna tartare), “Art Car” (burger)

After breakfast the sky was still grumbling, but I threw on my wet poncho and we decided it was time to find the local grocery store.

Bintang Grocery Store

Imagine walking into a grocery store named Budweiser… well, the name of our grocery store sounds just as odd since Bintang is the local brand of beer. We arrived with the agenda to pickup some basic necessities but sure enough as soon as we walked through the door I felt some level of ADD take over and couldn’t resist the urge to walk up and down the aisles gazing at all kinds of products I had never set eyes on and a surprising amount of brands that are common in the U.S. I was naive to think we wouldn’t be able to find our brand of toiletries here, so I stockpiled a 3-month supply of every bathroom product we can’t live without. Sitting on the shelf staring me in the face was a huge row of toothpaste including my favorite Crest Pro-Health Whitening for less than $2. These are the moments you shake your head realizing you weren’t moving to a different planet.

Our shopping adventure led to our first home cooked meal: Grilled chicken tenders with asparagus and mushrooms, not too shabby!

Today’s rain was a welcome respite after being on autopilot since we’ve arrived in Bali. I was pining to retire to bed early, but Mashrur had other plans. He rallied us to find our second wind, so I had a cup of coffee and got myself together for a night out. I’m not talking about the pub around the corner, we trekked an hour south to Uluwatu!

Single Fin

We reunited with our three Irish friends who told us this was the happening spot on Sunday nights. It’s awesome to reap the benefits of piggy backing off of like-minded travelers who meticulously research and plan every detail of their trip. Yes, that used to be me, but I’m taking things as they come these days and that seems to be working out just fine.

This frat house meets surfer beach bar is definitely the place to be for those single fish looking for a sea of fun. This isn’t our typical scene, but I’d like to think we’re not a boring old married couple so as they say when in Rome…

We missed the infamous Uluwatu sunset, but we almost saw the sun rise before our heads finally hit the pillows.

Day 5 – Saturday, June 25^th

Today’s extravaganza was all about the daytime pool party. If you’ve ever been to Encore in Las Vegas listening to live DJs like David Guetta, you know we had some high expectations.

Potato Head

Sounding like an 80’s heavy metal band, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the weird name Potato Head.

When you’re the buzz on the street and your website touts itself as the destination for “good times, unpretentious food, delicious cocktails, and throwing great parties,” well of course your reputation precedes you.

So yes, we shamelessly hit the gym in the morning to tighten those Bali bods, fueled up on some protein, and headed to the hottest spot in town for some good ol’ fashioned fun.

The vintage wooden-shutter spaceship loomed high above us and we were teleported to a realm of scantily clad beautiful people sprawled across the infinity pool and tropical landscape in what felt like a 21^st century Garden of Eden.

It didn’t take long before I was neck deep in the water merrily sipping on my coconut. Everyone was feeling the vibe set off by the cool beats filling the air accompanied by accents floating around from all over the world. It’s refreshing to feel a universal human connection through music. I confess, I’m grateful that English has also been adopted as the universal language in Seminyak.

Mashrur and I were trying to guess the accents of a few girls next to us and my initial instinct was to guess Aussie (side note: every other person you meet is currently on holiday from Australia due to their winter and fortunate geographical proximity to Bali). Mashrur was more attuned to their accents and guessed Scottish. Naturally, we resorted to asking the source for confirmation and learned they were genuinely Irish: Naomi, Lisa, and Chloe.

We enjoyed soaking in the sun while chatting with these three lovely lasses for a few hours and by the time they were leaving to grab dinner, our 2017 plans to Irish jig on a Dublin pub crawl, walk up the Hill of Tara, and sleep in a castle were practically written into the next chapter of our fairy tale.

We stayed for a while longer to scope out the night scene, but things got a bit funky when the evening restaurant crowd brought their preteen children who unabashedly filled the dance floor with their juvenile shenanigans amidst the adult debauchery.

That was our queue to leave…

Kuni’s Japanese Restaurant

This has been our best tasting dinner thus far. Located in the hustle and bustle of Eat Street, we stumbled upon a Japanese garden oasis. Their prix fixe dinner options offer a wonderful variety of sushi and other authentic dishes for a reasonable cost as one of the more upscale restaurants. It’s not air conditioned, so you may feel a bit overheated while eating a hot meal of miso soup and chicken teriyaki, but washed down with a cold Bintang and you’ll end up in a satisfying food coma.

Day 4 – Friday, June 24^th

It’s the 4^th day since we arrived and we’re starting to feel settled into balivillini. We’re quite spoiled having maid service 6 days a week. I feel like royalty returning home to fresh towels and sheets and the dirty dishes magically get cleaned and put away – I could get used to this, or could I?

On one hand I feel like I could get accustomed to the luxury of not having to do the dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc. and on the other hand, I would miss these routines and the autonomy of doing things myself, eventually. I find comfort in the fact that if I asked the villa manager to reduce maid service, these women won’t be getting paid and this is their livelihood, so I leave things tidy and make sure to express our appreciation for all their hard work. A side benefit is the cleaning ladies arrival gives you the perfect motivation to get out and start the day because the last thing I could do is just hang out as they worked around me.

Walking along the sidewalks, you must watch your steps as you weave through the obstacle course of small square bamboo offering baskets filled with flowers, rice, crackers, incense, cigarettes. These baskets are called ‘canang sari ‘ and are placed in front of stores, villas, and even in the dashboard of many taksi (taxi) cars three times a day. This is part of the Balinese Hindu ritual symbolizing giving back what has been given to you by the Gods.

We made our way down the main street and were enticed by the idea of having a fresh juice en route to the gym. Juices are one of my favorite things about Bali with their abundance of fresh fruit varieties jam-packed with nutrients, which help you feel balanced, hydrated, and energized all at the same time.  If you want to keep it healthy, when placing the order ask them not to add sugar, and I suspect you’ll enjoy the natural taste even more.

A word of caution – if you’ve never tried papaya, you may want to order something you’re more familiar with because it has a very distinctive taste – Mashrur’s expression said it all when he took his first sip realizing papaya tastes nothing like mango 😉 Beetroot and ginger are also very strong flavors that may or may not to grow on your palate.

MiX Espresso Bar

A nice local spot to pop into on your way to the beach for juice or an espresso

One thing that will always get you through a hard workout routine is the promise of a spa treatment as the reward….

Eco Bali Spa

There are many local spas that give you a casual hole-in-the-wall feel. I was on the lookout for something more modern and this Aussie-owned spa blew me away! It’s smells like aromatherapy oils as soon as you walk through the door and the staff is extremely friendly. It’s always good to ask if they’re offering discounts, we got 30% our blissful 60-minute Balinese Massages. Spas are typically open till 10:00 pm, so it’s also a great nighttime activity and in my opinion beats a typical American night at the movie theater for a similar price. Our villa manager recommends finding a spa that specializes in reflexology if that’s what you’re interested in otherwise you may just end up with a decent foot or hand massage without the added benefits of reflexology.

After passing Cocoon’s bumping parties numerous times en route to the gym, we were eager to return in the evening for happy hour.

Cocoon – Restaurant, Bar, Beach Club

If you’re just strolling down Blue Ocean Boulevard, this is a fun place for poolside cocktails whether you’re drinking them floating on an inflatable raft or enjoying them in the lounge chairs while listening to the perfect blend of house music. You’re easily drawn inside with amnesia about where you were planning to go…

Beach clubs tend to be on the pricey side, so I recommend going here for evening cocktails, there’s a 2 for 1 happy hour from 4-7pm daily – The Moscow Mule was delicious!

Just don’t be food by the term “Beach Club.” You’ll be disappointed if you show up looking for a beach view here. Although it’s located right across from the beach, there are trees and restaurants concealing the ocean less than 50 meters away.

Sun down queues it’s dinnertime, so we vetted a plethora of options and ended up at Passargad.

Passargad – Restaurant and Shisha Café

There’s a dim, relaxed middle eastern aura inviting you to wind down for the night. Dinner was good, but rule of thumb is if you can’t remember it then it wasn’t anything remarkable. I can say with confidence that the shisha (also known as hookah) left an impression – try the apple flavor!

As cheesy as it sounds, I’ve had the Aladdin song, “A Whole New World” stuck in my head since we arrived. I can’t say we floated home on a magic carpet, but we did glide back in a euphoric haze ~ ~

Day 3 – Thursday June 23^rd

We decided it was time to ride around town Bali style – on a scooter. Hey if the Balinese can do it smoothly while carrying a baby or holding onto a 50-pound suitcase, we can too! Scooters are very economical and cost about $5/day to rent. Your introduction to the scooter should include figuring out where the registration is in case you get stopped by the police and how to honk the horn. I was on the back of the scooter while Mashrur drove. He felt off balance with me on the back and tried giving just the right amount of gas at the right time to keep us stable, but my sneakers were firmly pressed against the foot pegs ready to jump off at any moment if things became perilous. It was a bit unwieldy navigating the bumpy streets and lawless traffic, but we made it to the gym without any incidents. Later, we did feel a bit uneasy about whether we were supposed to give money to a man sitting in a small toll booth (official or unofficial) along the narrow beach road, so we drove right passed it. We found out later that he collects a legit fee for street parking, so we just have to let him know we’re parking at the gym garage.

Whether you’re driving a scooter, taking a taxi, or walking around town, directions in Bali are not how we know them in the western world. You have to get accustomed to the landmarks because it’s rare to have clearly labeled street signs. Businesses and villas pick their own building numbers so you can have the number 3 next to the number 8. Even the main street near our villa has 2 names – the formal name is Jl. Camplung Tanduk but the locals refer to it as Dhayana Pura.

Café – Jl. Camplung Tanduk / Dhayana Pura 101

We were craving a hearty breakfast after the gym, so we went to a café, cleverly named Café. Like many restaurants, it’s open air covered by an awning for shade and a few fans to keep the heat bearable. I would say it was a pretty standard American-style breakfast: eggs, toast, chicken sausage and an iced latte. The food was good but nothing to rave about compared to many other meals we’ve tried.

I really miss whole wheat bread, crackers, rice – it’s not as common to find here; however, I’ll trade the farm fresh eggs over the hormone-injected chicken eggs that are typically several weeks old in American grocery stores any day.

The days are hot and humid, so we’re getting used to being a bit damp all the time. The afternoons are best spent either:

1. Embracing the sun in all its glory poolside and riding the waves at the beach or
2. Chilling out under the villa veranda with the fan blasting full speed, finding one of the few air conditioned hideouts whether it’s in your bedroom, at a spa, gym, or in one of the few shops and restaurants that are like sealed refrigerators to accommodate the delicate tourists

For us it’s a combo of the two, we love being outdoors and enjoying the sun, but we’re grateful to have a few hideaways from the burning heat when we just can’t take the dripping sweat anymore!

In the evening, we decided to take a long walk on the beach. Unfortunately, we discovered a few drain runouts from the city going directly into the ocean. We needed a running start to jump over the waterways and continue down the beach. There wasn’t garbage flowing from them, but there was definitely an unpleasant dank and musky smell. The beach close to where we live feels like a reasonably safe distance away from the runout area, but our perfect blue ocean water was a bit tarnished.

We were welcomed back to the beach near our home with a phenomenal sunset spilling a spectrum of yellow, orange, red, purple, and blues across the sky which reflected seamlessly in the ocean’s low tide giving the illusion it was all part of one continuous horizon. Children and adults alike ran around and played in mirth across the wet sand. All I could do was lift up my arms feeling free in this spiritual moment as we became wrapped up in the blanket of night.

Day 2 – Wednesday, June 22^nd

I woke up a bit disoriented trying to remember what bed I was in, and in what part of the world.  I’ve slept in 4 different beds over the past few weeks since trekking from New Jersey to Miami to London to Utrecht.

Remembering I’m now in Bali as I look at my fitbit showing 8:56 PM on Tuesday which is actually 8:56 AM on Wednesday here, a staggering reminder I’m on the complete opposite side of the globe away from almost everything I find familiar in my comfort zone. I’m 12 hours ahead of most of my family and friends in America, so literally day is night and night is day, everything is flipped inside out and upside down as I begin sorting out this new culture. Despite being so far away from America, I feel strangely at home in Seminyak as I step onto our villa terrace greeted with dewy flower petals freshly fallen from the garden.

We quickly got dressed and were on a mission to find a good gym. #BaliBody has been our motivation over the past couple months to get in shape and we’re finally on a roll that can only be sidetracked by a good breakfast 😛

Bali Fitness – 333 Sunset Road

The Good: Newer gym with a clean upbeat vibe, good quality equipment, large variety of classes included (yoga, spinning, zumba, TRX, etc.)

The Bad: Need to take a scooter or taxi to get there since it’s on a busy main street, very popular and crowded, so you may have to wait to use equipment, be ready to sweat! – the air conditioning wasn’t that strong

The Aussie owner at the gym couldn’t stop raving about her favorite breakfast joint, so we took a little detour…

Sisterfields – Breakfast

We love brunch in NYC and it’s no different here. Step into a trendy, well-appointed and air conditioned restaurant in the heart of Seminyak’s version of the Las Vegas strip called Eat Street.

Highly recommend: Sisterfields big breakfast: Eggs your way (poached is delicious), bacon, sautéed mushrooms, roasted heirloom tomatoes, spinach, toasted sourdough – All for the equivalent of $7.20 (+tax 10% and service charge 5%)

Oh, and don’t forget to order a fresh juice from this incredible selection for ~$3:

• Mixed Juice
• Granny’s Remedy: Apple, Beetroot, Carrot
• Orange Tango: Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime
• Green Fields: Spinach, Green Apple, Cucumber, Celery, Mint
• Vitamin Booster: Beetroot, Carrot, Tangerine, Lime
• Immunity: Apple, Pineapple, Ginger, Lemon
• Ginger Ninja: Carrot, Ginger, Green Apple, Celery, Lemon
• Detox: Carrot, Parsley, Lemon, Honey

Replete and recommitted to our mission we headed to the next gym option… or maybe I need a pedi

You take a girl to a place where she can get access to incredible spas for such a reasonable cost, and there are just some temptations that will put you over the edge, so into heaven I went…

Vita Luxe – Nail & Beauty Bar

Located in Seminyak Village, the new mall in town, is an incredible oasis that is clean, cool, black & white décor adorned with a sparkling chandelier and I melted into a massage chair and got the most meticulous hour-long pedicure for ~$10

That’s it, I don’t know if I can ever leave this place 🙂

Now back on our gym mission…

Seaside Gym – Jl. Doble Six No.14

The Good: Walkable beachfront location, not crowded, decent quality and variety of equipment (including boxing gear), personal training available, good cold water and fresh towels included, air conditioning is great

The Bad: Gym is slightly outdated in American terms but very functional and maintained pretty well, daily/weekly/monthly passes are more expensive than Bali Fitness, classes aren’t offered with membership

Overall Gym Verdict: Cost of weekly/monthly gym membership is unexpectedly high compared to many other goods and services around Bali ~$50-75/month and forget about trying to get your tub of protein powder ~$100 vs $30 at Sam’s Club in New Jersey. We wanted to pack protein powder in our luggage, but I was worried airport security may think we were smuggling something illegal!

We sucked it up and got a weekly pass at Seaside Gym so we could walk there – Gym Lesson 101: If it’s not convenient you’re not going to go.

By late afternoon we had trekked 5+ miles all over Seminyak and needed some caffeine to combat the jet lag, so we popped into this café

Capil Beach Grill & Bar – The Coffee Library

Coffee is mostly imported and a bit on the pricey side no matter where you go, so if you’re going to spend the $ enjoy a beachfront view and cool off with an iced latte

Chicken Brothers

A quick and easy new lunch spot conveniently located on the main street leading to the beach (Jl. Camplung Tanduk). Currently celebrating their recent opening, there’s a lively and welcoming vibe. They’re sure to gain a reputation as the best chicken in town!

Highly recommend the half or full grilled chicken with herb seasoning. It takes 20 minutes to cook, but completely worth the wait. Succulent and pretty healthy, great value for your money!

Rotisserie chicken with stuffing also very good (a bit less healthy) pictured below.

La Plancha – Beach Bar & Restaurant

Who doesn’t like chilling out on colorful bean bag chairs in the sand adorned with multicolored umbrellas and lights?

This festive beach bar is telling you to come over, chillax, and enjoy sunset drinks and a calm nighttime ambiance listening to good music while watching the rolling waves. The staff may have to move you back a few feet as high tide creeps in, so you don’t float away!

Recommend: Variety of fresh juices (I enjoyed cucumber), Milkshakes (strawberry was sweet, light, milky with chunks of fresh strawberries – nothing like milkshakes in America), Grilled prawns, Bintang (local Indonesian beer)

People selling artwork, bracelets, lanterns and other goods will approach you, but a few no thank yous and they move on. We couldn’t resist bargaining for a couple of fire lanterns and releasing them as the wind carried them peacefully up into the night over the ocean along with our wishes, and nope you can’t know what they were or it may not come true 😉

Whether it’s waking up to fresh flower petals fallen from the garden to greet you on your villa terrace, seeing the southern cross in the night sky for the first time, or walking into the sunset as the horizon becomes one with the sea, Bali has welcomed us with open arms and we feel at peace here.

Week 1

Day 1 – Tuesday, June 21^st

We flew on an overnight flight from Amsterdam to Jakarta via Garuda Indonesia airlines, which was wonderful service and very good food. In the US we’re not used to luxuries like leg room, FREE checked bag, meals and snacks, headphones, movies, pillow, blanket, eye mask, etc. unless you’re in first class, so I felt extremely pampered. Our 14-hour journey was smooth sailing and we awoke to a beautiful morning landing in Jakarta. We were greeted with a wall of heat that our bodies would need to adjust to quickly. We were like lab mice dropped into a new maze – our eyes darted around to take in this new place scanning signs to identify which corridor to follow to find our flight transfer to Denpasar.

I noticed designated prayer rooms for Muslims and found it refreshing to see such devotion and respect for those wishing to openly practice their religion in a public place such as an airport, it made me think how difficult it must be as a Muslim praying 5 times a day in the corporate world in between client calls and meetings.

We passed through a very straightforward immigration line, you simply tell the officer how long you’re planning to stay and with a US passport anything less than 30 days doesn’t require a visa.

As we waited to board our flight, we were grateful for the small wall AC units sputtering to combat the heat. Through the glass, I saw men working tirelessly outside wearing white from head to toe. Even though I love the sun, I can imagine why they would hate it.

The flight to Denpasar was pretty quick and painless, about ~2.5 hours. I was happily sleeping, as usual, so I would be fresh for the day ahead once we finally arrived.

Anxiously watching the baggage claim rotate with bags of many colors and sizes, we scanned the snaking belt to find our massive luggage containing everything we could possibly need for this adventure into the unknown. I could finally breathe a sigh of relief as they popped into view one at a time and we hauled them with the rest of our things to the front entrance of the airport where our villa’s driver Nengah patiently awaiting our arrival while holding a name sign “Mashrur.”

We were relieved everything was unfolding as planned and we were on our way to the villa. As we began to drive through the busy streets of Denpasar all my senses were on overdrive processing this new world and a completely different set of driving rules even compared to crazy Manhattan cabbies. Unfortunately, we did come across an all too real depiction of a disheartening Slumdog Millionaire scene watching children weave in between traffic, some holding infants on their hip, as they approach vehicles begging for money. Our driver explained some of the social dynamics at play and encouraged us never to give money to them.  This is a deep seeded issue the Indonesian government continues to battle – the business of exploiting children as street beggars.

We greeted our villa with a sigh of relief and the pictures we saw online transformed before our eyes as the large wooden door opened into a serene pool and garden.

Shortly after settling in, the villa managers and longtime expats Brenda and her husband Luigi stopped by just in time for happy hour cocktails by the pool. We tried soaking up all their insider tips like sponges that our already dripping from the sensory overload of all this new information. After our crash course on the must sees, dos, don’t dos, it was sink or swim and we set off to explore this place we had been dreaming about for the past year now materializing into reality.

Less than a minute from our villa is a street leading to the beach that’s jam packed with restaurants, spas, and shops, so it wasn’t hard to stumble upon our first taste of Indonesian cuisine.

Warung Ladhu –

You can’t miss the welcoming vibe set off by the purple walls and neon sign with the elephant deity, Ganesha. Reasonably priced and open 24 hours, a welcoming vibe and complete menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. If it’s late and you need some good nasi goreng (infamous Indonesian fried rice), this is the place.

Recommend: Chicken or Vegetable Nasi Goreng, Chicken Satay, Sweet and Sour Chicken

After stuffing ourselves, we went for a nighttime walk down to the beach to scope out the scene. We were enticed by the lively atmosphere as the personality of each restaurant resounded in the beats flowing onto the street. The beach was lit up and music carried across the salty beach air, we smiled knowing this place was going to be everything we dreamed of and more…