Delicious Laziness

 Sunday May 11, 2014

Tokyo, Japan

Beautiful Late Spring Day (just arrived from Bali!)

So the last days in Bali were spent basically not doing much.  I loved it!  We left Ubud early on Wednesday where Wayan's brother Nyoman (3rd born)  picked us up sharply at 8am.  Wayan couldn't join us because he was busy with the 210 day passing ceremony.  In Bali, a celebration takes place at the temples every 210 days.  I believe it's like their New Years.

We were heading to the Intecontinental Jimbaran – a resort on a pristine beautiful white sand beach on the Indian Ocean side.  But on the way, we had Nyoman stop at some shops for us.  We stopped at at a woodcarving shop where I found out I overpaid for my crocodile wood Ganesh and then a basket shop.  The basket shop (Bali Handy) was great!  We learned about the process of making these gorgeous baskets made from a native plant.  And we found out the baskets made at this place was very popular with the Japanese.  And indeed many Japanese ladies came by to shop.  I got a picnic basket and some baskets from bread, etc.  Very reasonable in price and beautiful.

Baskets in Bali are made from this tree (not bamboo)

All the baskets are smoked to strengthen and remove insects

Some of my purchases

But the highlight of our shopping was visting the local shops that make and sell tamarind cutting boards.  Definitely not on the "tourist" shopping list.  I found a beautiful tamarind wood chopping board for a mere 50000 rupia ( 5$!).  Love it!  Now how I'm going to take this home with the stone mortar and pestle is another story.

Tamarind chopping boards

I bought mine from this guy

We then headed to our destination the Intercontinental.  The Intercontinental did not disappoint.  We were upgraded to a duplex suite in the club floor.  So our room was 2 stories and because we were on the club floor we got free breakfast, tea between 2-430pm and free drinks during cocktail hour from 430pm to 8pm.  And because the club room was being renovated and would not open until May 10,  we got to go to any restaurant for our "freebies"!  The service was IMPECCABLE and because most of the staff is Balinese, there is a lot of happiness karma. 

Our room

So we spent the next few days basically, lounging around the pool, the beach, getting spa treatments, reading and basically enjoyed laziness.  (And of course, went to Four Seasons where I bought another painting!)  We did venture out one morning to the main market and fish market though which was fun and had a FABULOUS dinner at a fish restaurant – Menega Cafe -  on the beach which only set us back about 25 USD!  We had the best grilled red snapper and shrimp.  So delicious!  And it came with rice and spicy sautees water spinach. 

Photos from the Jimbaran morning market,  supposedly the best in Bali

Everywhere you go in Bali you find Absolut bottles filled with kerosene.  Innovative way to make money when gasoline stations are not abundant.

Very cute guardian

Photos from the Fish Market.  The boats come in, folks transfer the fish by loading a basket and the fish are then sold on the street. 

And we had one of our best meals here, where freshly caught fish was grilled over coconut shells. Pics aren't great as it was dark and only had my iphone.

And just when we were getting used to being lazy, it was time to pack and leave.  I honestly, would have loved to spend another week in Bali just relaxing.  It's hard to believe that before the 1940s, this island experienced a lot of violence as the Balinese people of today seem so gentle and full with happiness.  (BTW, running amok, come from an old balinese word – amok which means killing like a maniac). 

Sandra and I agreed this is a place we definitely want to come back again.