Category Archives: Asia

The Seeds of Life

On my first trip to Bali I was honoured enough to interview the knowledgeable and
food leader Ben Richards.

Byron Bay Ex pat living in Bali for many years, Ben has been a big part of the raw food movement.

His philosophies around health, mindful eating and eating plants are sensational.

He has a cafe The Seeds of Life, is in town, well scoped out by back packers and vegetarians alike, as the mecca of raw and vegan.

He recently introduced the tonic bar and I find this natural medicine at its best. Even as a trained herbalist I am blown away at the variety of drinks on offer.

I love the menu and the food selection and every time (which is quite a few times now) I am stunned at the calibre and colour of the food. Amazing.

He holds raw retreats and you can find his cafe The Seeds of Life  here.  

This is called the Sol Jar and the banana praline stick is to die for!!!

Moana Fish Eatery Canggu

I am unsure why I hadn’t got to visit this awesome little restaurant tucked away up Jl. Batu Bolong. Moana Fish Eatery has been around a while now.

The menu is extensive – salads, sushimi, cooked fish and more.

I have the grilled mahi mahi and it is delicious. Tender and cooked to perfection. The salad is small but sufficient.

The Tartare is meant to be a stand out dish and the cheesecake to finish pretty wicked too!

I got into the chalk walls and managed to knock up a little turtle.

Overall a nice open air restaurant with a good vibe. Good for individuals, couples or groups. Prices are good too! I rate this restaurant as 9/10.

With Ayu the owner…

 

The Lawn

Reclining back, watching the last of another magic Balinese day, I giggle at the outlook of The Lawn. It is like a piece of Seminyak in Canggu. A little piece of glamour in the surf village.  I don’t mind it for a change but I know it wont’ become my local. I am still an “Old Man’s” gal!

The Lawn is impressive though.

Perched on the beach, tastefully hidden, and discrete, you can chill on reef mats, watching the sun set.

It is pseudo kid friendly with an infinity pool, chez lounges and a couple of bar areas.

The cocktails are fairly standard for Bali – good, still cheaper than most parts of the world. I was a little disappointed with the menu and food but that might because I had been spoilt for organic raw choice all day, and gorging on pizza really didn’t tick my fancy. I am sure many would love their American quasi global menu.

The Lawn in summary is definitely worth a sunset visit – it maybe your thing, but you won’t know until you have been there at least once!

 

Exotica Bali Hotel – the best villa in Canggu for value

My friend asked today ” Why don’t you have your own villa in Bali?” seeing as I travel there all the time and lately have been heading over monthly.

I have looked into it, but while the ease of staying at a place such as Exotica Bali (Bed and Breakfast) is available I can’t justify the debate in my head.

Last night is the first time I have stayed there and I shall be booking ahead of time for my next visit. It books out quick!

The villa is about a ten minute walk to the beach – something that always deterred me but this is becoming the more ” hip part” of town anyway. Funky cafes, organic eats, warungs and great shops line the upper part of Jl Batu Bolong.

The entrance to the villa is lovely, the pool perfect and the staff great.

The rooms are luxurious, very well priced and have everything you need while staying away from home.

There is even a drying area for laundry and a “relaxation” space on the first floor over looking the rice fields.

I can highly recommend this place and the tariff includes breakfast!

You can book directly here.  

Bamboo Charcoal Burgers!

There are so many awesome eateries in Canggu, Bali so that eating burgers hasn’t really been high on my agenda.

However … this time round I decide to check out two burger places; Warung Cucu and Burgerz across the road. Both are located not far up the road (Jalan Batu Bolong) from Old Man’s pub.

The charcoal buns look a bit weird and at first I thought it was a marketing ploy… make the buns dark and say they are charcoal. However the buns are really infused with bamboo charcoal.

Apparently an idea from Japan.

They cook them on the spot on a BBQ and you can eat beside the pop-up looking bar area.

Unfortunately I didn’t realise the buns also had gluten (something I try to avoid) and the meat was sausage meet with plastic cheese.

I am sure burger eaters would love the buns. A little crunchy but apparently the charcoal is a great anti-oxidant and good to detox your bowel! I think I will give them 4/10 but that is mainly because I don’t eat burgers and there are plenty of healthier options available in Canggu.

Across the road is a top notch burger joint called Burgerz. 

It has the best burger I have eaten in a long time…and definitely worth me breaking my gluten free stance. The meat was great, the bun fresh and grilled and the inner bits just melted in my mouth. It had been so long since I had eaten a burger so I was pretty wrapped it was worth it.

There is a plethora of sides, and of course you can grab a bintang to wash it all down with.

The hours are pretty good too and perfect for after a session dancing to live music down at Old Mans!

Villa Sonja Ubud

Ubud is an eclectic arty town about an hours drive from Denpasar airport.

It is well known for the art-yoga-vegetarian scene and definitely worth a stop over for a few nights to explore the local area.

Sprinkled in and around Ubud are free flowing waterfalls, lush rain forests and sacred sights.

Accommodation ranges from home stays – very keep and usually suitable, through to elaborate, six star world class resorts.

This time around I opted to stay at the Villa Sonja as it was close to the side of town where I was doing my reiki course (at Ubud Yoga Centre).

I was really impressed. For the price, the rooms were large and clean.

The villas are an assortment of rooms, (hotel style) and larger rooms. All with private bathrooms.

Two large pools ensures plenty of swimming options and there is a warung for meals on site. I usually eat next door at the Swasti Eco Village as it offers incredible food.

I would rate this place as 7/10 over all. 9/10 value for money.

Anhera Suite and Spa, Ubud

It was an interesting time to be in Ubud and Bali the end of July and start of August. It is a really busy time and the hotels I normally stay at were booked out.

I booked this place based on facilities, proximity to town and rooms.

And this is where I hold my Bali Nourishment Retreats! 

It is rated 4 starts by www.bookings.com but I think 3 stars would be more appropriate. You can book directly with Anhera. 

The rooms are massive, as are the bathrooms in each separate hotel room.

Each room opens onto it’s own grassed area ensuring excellent privacy.

Two pools spoil the small retreat – one an infinity pool at the lower end of the property and the other back near the main part.

Breakfast was included and not really that special – continental and Balinese.

English was a challenge for most staff, but they were so lovely and accommodating the frustrations didn’t amount to much.

You can have a massage by the pool and whilst it is not a high end spa facility, the prices are good.

I would stay here again but for the price ($120 – $160) I think there is better value in town.

Cagar Budaya Gianyar, Bali

This amazing temple is about thirty minutes drive from Ubud.

I didn’t know this temple existed until my latest visit to Bali (my 12th time in the last 3 years)!

It is so worth the visit.

The mere fact that the caved sanctuary was built  over 1000 years old makes this place a spiritual mecca.

Originally serving as a meditation school, the temple has recently been used for offerings from local farmers.

The incredible arches, reaching up to the sky give the place a surreal and natural ampitheatre.

The sound in the kings meditation dome is amazing. It is over the river and up behind the large wall alcoves.

There is no rush to pass through this temple and once you pass through the eager shop assistants you will be able to move through at your own pace.

I did some meditation in one of the alcoves and really relaxed in the beautiful grounds.

I can highly recommend this place. Oh – it does have a few steps (300+ apparently). Not a drama for most but definitely an issue if you don’t like steps.

The Aston Canggu

Canggu is my preferred place to stay in Bali.

The coast is fringed by different villages and slowly, as tourism increases, Kuta has spread.  Legion, Seminyak and now Canggu. Fortunately Canggu has stamped itself as a mecca for surfers and cool folk. It’s not as upmarket as Seminyak and not family driven like Legion.

I love it.

I normally stay in the villas: The Duane and Villa Love Echo as they are great value for money, clean, have a pool and morning breakfast. But this time my beloved villas were booked out!

So I am forced to look else where… and I decide to stay at the Aston, Canggu.

The roof top pool lured me in.. and the close proximity to Old Man’s.

Its a wonderful decision.

From my room we can do a surf check on Batu Balong up to Echo Beach.

The breakfast buffet is excellent and it is very easy for me to find healthy food and non-gluten and non-dairy food options.

The rooms are good. I would request one with a view if you stay. The views are great.

The view from the top floor is even better! And be sure to wiggle your way up to the very top… a nice little sitting area where you can down a Moscow Mule or two!

I really loved staying at this hotel. It’s pricer compared to the villas (the villas are $50-60 per night and the Aston is $140-160).

I am going to find it really hard not to stay here again in the future and go back to my villas.

Sweet Orange Warung

This eclectic warung/bar opened by Putu last year is set amongst the rice paddies in Ubud. You need to know the secret walk way beside Starbucks.

The secret rice paddy walks connects lots of hotels up the road… It’s a leisurely walk and once you are on it, it’s easy to find Sweet Orange Warung. Just follow the rubbish bins…

The beers are cold, the atmosphere relaxed and there’s plenty to see or not see.

I am interested in Putu’s gardening efforts  – she is trying to grow lettuce at the moment in piping. Her other crops look fantastic and include eggplant, chilli, spinach, paw paw, corn.

I am going to make this a regular check in when I go to Ubud. Mainly to get out of the hustle and bustle of Ubud and also to support an entrepreneurial female in a third world country who has managed to create an awesome venue!

ADDIT:

I did go back to visit Putu last week.

After the first visit I thought I would paint the hanging coconut heads.

My crazy idea is that I would paint the coconut heads, and ask Putu to hang the painting with the aim to sell the painting.  I have been giving money to a local Balinese man, Wayan, and his family, for a few years. He was struck by bamboo six years ago and has been a quadriplegic since.

Unable to walk, move and being bed bound, has made life very difficult for Wayan and his family.

To my surprise last week, when I returned with my painting, Putu and her husband, Nyoman said they would buy the painting. They told me how they support local causes and believed this was a good cause.

So gratefully I accepted their money, and for now, the painting of that fantastic warung, Sweet Orange Warung, will remain hanging above the welcome sign.

Make sure you go and check it out!

OH YES – they make awesome spring rolls too.