Aroma Festival & Cockatoo Island

Last Sunday's theme was spontaneity. Originally, we had planned a quiet lunch and a spot of grocery shopping, but the clear blue sky was stirring up all kinds of adventurous spirits. Then when Anth mentioned something about a coffee festival, it became all I could think about. 

Pretty soon we were in Circular Quay, where the Aroma Festival was buzzing with hundreds of people buzzing with caffeine. Rows of stalls stretched from the MCA to the Rocks Markets, selling organic chocolate, fancy teas, pastries, street food and a whole lot of coffee. Plus everything coffee related, including beans, machines and home brewery kits. 

I wish I could say that I can taste the difference between earthy and fruity beans, or that the words single origin meant more to me. But I can appreciate a good brew and I'm pleased to say I had two at the festival. One traditional hot cuppa from Djebena Coffees, and one chilled double shot espresso with burnt orange peel and simple sugar syrup from Black Drum Roasters. Talk about contrast right? 

After the festival, we had some time to kill so the obvious solution was to catch a ferry. Where to? Cockatoo Island. What could we do there? We had no idea. 

Despite our uncertainty, it turned out to be a pretty cool place. The island's had many uses over the years, as a penal colony, a ship building and repairs dock, and a reform school for girls. Now it's mainly a historical attraction, with its sprawling warehouses and antique machinery, but it's also used for events and even festivals. It would make an awesome place for groups to hold an amazing race or scavenger hunt, or an interesting corporate retreat. There's a camp site there, or if you're feeling fancy, there's also glamping! 

The highlight of our visit was the giant chess board (not super unique I suppose, but still fun). I lost the game, in a ridiculously slow, near-stalemate ending, but the day overall was a massive win. It reminded me that the city I call home can be quite fun and fascinating, and I'm anticipating more Sydney adventures to come.  

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Blooming in Bali: Highlights & Things To Do

My love affair with Bali bloomed from much more than the food and pretty cafes. With a culture so vibrant, and people so welcoming, it's no wonder that the island attracts millions of tourists every year. There's so many things to do, and so many opportunities to do nothing except bake on the sand of a beautiful beach. We tried our best to find the balance between relaxation and exploration, but we still felt like time was against us. This is a sort of photo diary (with commentary) of some of our best Bali experiences, which I hope may someday also be yours. 

Barong Dance

On our way to Ubud, we stopped off to see a Barong Dance, a story-telling dance centered around the opposing forces of good and evil. The actors were incredibly skilled and visually, it was vibrant and engaging, with intricate costumes and many, many intense facial expressions. 

Although the plot was a little hard to follow and the entire show was in a foreign language, I couldn't help but smiling and laughing along with the comical characters. Plus, we were provided with a handy (if somewhat confusing) outline of the story in English, so that helped. This dance is probably not for everyone, but if you want an insight into traditional Balinese culture, it has my big tick of approval. 

Bebek Tepi Sawah

An outdoor restaurant in Ubud, Bebek Tepi Sawah is a sort of hybrid between between a rice field and a temple. Every table is its own private hut, meaning that the waitstaff really have to treck it to get from kitchen to table. 

Unless you're a vegetarian, do not skip the duck dishes. They're what the joint is known for (and named after) and they are damn tasty. Besides the food, my favourite things about this place were the fresh air and our lovely floor cushions. There's something so comfortable and carefree about sitting cross-legged in front the table, eating with your hands, surrounded by food and friends.

Tegalalang Rice Fields

I had no idea what to expect when I got to the incredible rice fields, by some strange miracle I hadn't even seen pictures of it beforehand. Let me tell you, photos don't do them justice. The sheer scope of the fields and the greenest green just can't be fully captured by a lens (or not my lens at least). 

Here are my tips for Tegalalang survival: do not wear thongs. A few of us (thankfully not me) made that mistake, and it was not fun (actually it quite funny, but not safe at all). Also, don't expect there to be proper stairs, handrails or any sort of safety equipment. We literally had to pull each other up the slopes at points. Finally, this goes without saying, but it is super hot, so take the adequate precautions. But don't get me wrong, the experience was seriously mind-boggling and well-worth it. 

Ubud Art Markets

I can't say I'm much of an art critic (or one at all), but the colourful and diverse range of paintings at the Ubud Art Market are worth . There's plenty of gorgeous canvases, painted with florals, traditional patterns, portraits and even cartoons (I swear I saw Spongebob once). You'll also find a plethora of sarongs, t-shirts, shorts, bags and also, wooden genitals (with a wide range of sizes and colours available). 

The stallholders can smell tourists from a mile away, and if your eyes linger on one thing for more than a second, you've been caught in their trap. When bargaining, be friendly but firm. Our driver told us to try to whittle their asking price down to a mere thirty percent (if you can manage it, please share your wisdom with me!) 

Tanah Lot

For the lovers of history, scenery, the ocean and/or sunsets, Tanah Lot is a must see. It's a huge tourist attraction, so expect to be surrounded by people, especially around sunset. But even with the crowds, there was peacefulness emanating from the temple. It seemed like own ancient little ecosystem, with happy little birds flitting in and out of the greenery. Anyway, I digress.

If you want the best photos, I recommend getting there well before sunset to secure a good position. It's only about an hour out of Seminyak (depending on the traffic), and there are restaurants in the area, so don't stress about finding food. Also, look out for a guy with a massive bat nearby, which we heard was awesome to see. 

Finn's Beach Club

Now for the most relaxing and sandy experience of the lot, Finn's Beach Club is the place to be when you're ready to kick back and do some well-deserved lounging. To get there, you take a sort of ski-lift (outdoor elevator? I don't know) down from the Semara Luxury Villa Resort (check out the monkeys there, but don't get too close!) 

Then kick back with a cocktail on your comfy beanbag, or try some stand up paddle boarding or kayaking on the beautifully clear, calm water. The food here is a little pricey for Bali standards, but really delicious. Around sunset there's live music and after dark, a bonfire, so you can literally stay all day. Top tip: keep an eye out for reduced cocktails between specific hours!

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Blooming in Bali: Eating Around Seminyak

One of my favourite things about Bali was the food. I was constantly looking forward to my next meal (not much different from the way I am at home to be honest) and I was delighted by the variety of cuisines available. The Indonesian restaurants were amazing, teeming with duck, pork and seafood, and packed with chilli. There's also a whole lot of cafes and restaurants specifically marketed towards tourists, including a bunch owned by innovative Aussies. 

I didn't have a single bad experience while I was there (except maybe the time when chilli got to my stomach – hint, bring supplements that promote healthy digestion) and the following are some of the great places I tried while I was staying in Seminyak. 

Revolver

Seminyak

Revolver is the 'it' cafe in Seminyak for a coffee connoisseur, or really anyone who enjoys a good caffeine hit. It's all wood and warm lights inside, with a trendy midwestern vibe (two words that rarely go together). The hipster bartenders know their stuff and if you want to feel part of the gang, there's awesome Revolver jumpers and T-shirts on sale. I had my first soy latte of the trip here so it'll always have a place in my heart. Oh and the food was pretty great too!

Naughty Nuri's Warung
Seminyak

Ribs, ribs, ribs. That's pretty much my summery of Naughty Nuri's. The pork ribs here were some of the best I've ever had. Moist, melt-in-your-mouth and a perfect combination of sweet, smokey and zesty (the lime is a genius addition). The sides and salads here were a great addition to the main event, and like most restaurants in Bali, the menu offers heaps of options for drinks as well as food. I because here I decided to branch out from my usual young coconut and try jus alpukat, which is basically avocado juice blended with milk and chocolate. 

Watercress

Seminyak

Watercress is the perfect place for foodies looking for a more sophisticated feed. It has a lovely open air dining area, which lets you enjoy the beautiful Bali breeze with your dinner. The menu is diverse and rustic, and caters for a range of tastes and preferences. The waitstaff were friendly and attentive, and we even think we spotted the owner on the table beside us. Highlights were the entree of succulent scallops, the beautifully cooked lamb and the delicious dijon mustard and lightly battered onion rings that came with my steak. It's Sydney food, for less than Sydney prices. 

Potato Head Beach Club

Seminyak

Everyone told us we had to go to Potato Head and when we got there we understood why. I didn't take many photos (I like to say I was off-duty that night), and it was dark, but we could still appreciate the classiness of the club. We sat - well technically, lay - down on one of the hybrid lounge/tables/beds near the glowing infinity pool. 

The cocktail menu there was the standout of the entire trip. I'll be dreaming of the heavenly Indus Nesos (vanilla vodka, apricot liquer, lychee juice, coconut cream) for a long time. We didn't have any savoury meals, but the desserts we tried were awesome. 

Sea Circus

Seminyak

It would have been brilliant if we had visited Sea Circus before our final day in Bali, and if we went for more than coffee and last-minute churros. Especially after a big night, so we would have an excuse to try one of their "hangover happy meals" that come with the option of – get this – a 15 minute shoulder and neck massage. Now that is a strategic attraction right there! 

The colourful interior of the cafe perfectly complemented its quirky, lengthy menu. Special shout out to the bathroom which completed my quota of bathroom porn for the trip. 

Waking up with an iced latte & wheatgrass shot

Satay Under the Tree (Sate Bawah Pohon)
Legian

Some of my favourite meals in Bali were the cheapest and simplest, which usually meant they were the most authentic. This satay was just delicious. It didn't have the thick, peanut-y flavour that I'm used to, it was more subtle and sweet. Then came the huge hit of chilli which nearly burnt my tongue off but I didn't even care because it was so good. I ordered mine with lontong (I got laughed at for calling them rice cakes) which were the saviour of my mouth with their creamy, stickiness. 

There's no menu, basically just one meal option (actually makes life a lot easier) but if you come here without a local or an Indonesian speaker, don't expect the same helpful, welcoming vibe that you'd get at places marketed towards tourists. Here, it's get in, eat, get out, and the cooks don't have time to mess around with silly English questions. The experience and flavour is well worth it though.

We both looked like super tourists that day

Finally, I have to mention Metis and Bambu. I don't have any photos from those restaurants (again, off-duty nights) but they were must-tries for anyone looking for a fancy dinner. One French, one Balinese, both romantic, both incredible. And for fine dining, the prices are way cheaper than Sydney. 

Two of my favourite cafes haven't been included on this list, because they were so individually awesome that they deserve a separate post. So stay tuned!

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Monochrome & Multicoloured Mexicola

This is my first post from Bali and I'm so excited to finally start sharing my photos and experiences here. Until I can wrap my head around the sheer amount of photos I took over those ten wonderful days, I'll start with a simple outfit post.

This night was one of my favourites, when we went to Metis for dinner (more on that later) and Motel Mexicola for drinks. But first, the obligatory outfit shots after the sun had set on our villa. I've spoken before about the joy of playsuits and how they make life easier, and this one is no exception. 

The playsuit from Beginning Boutique is really well made, with a gorgeous crepe-y fabric which didn't crease the entire time I was away (including when it was shoved into the bottom of my suitcase). It isn't sheer, like a lot of other similar white garments, and thank goodness because trying to find undies that work with sheer is one of my biggest pet peeves. To top it off, there's the slightly gaping, elegant slit at the back. 

I paired the playsuit with my basic black sandals and a whole lot of black and silver jewellery, including my new favourite summer piece, a leafy ear cuff from Topshop. Notice my braids, bracelets, anklets and tattoo? That's what happens when you're a tourist at Kuta beach who doesn't know how to bargain/say no. 

I kept my makeup soft and lipstick subtle for most of Bali, because, well, it's Bali. 

Motel Mexicola was where we found all the Aussie tourists hiding at night. It's an awesome place, with a garish mismatch of decor and coloured lights. On the walls, Mother Mary sits uncomfortably next to a whole lot of cleavage, but somehow it works. Cocktails are reasonably priced (for Sydney standards) at around $10 each. The Coco Colado was the standout for me – vodka, Triple Sec, Malibu, lime juice, pineapple juice and coconut water poured into a coconut shell. Good way to start the head spinning! 

It's a great place to meet fellow holiday-goers and make new friend and the music isn't half bad either. Anth and I have a theory that they play the same music every night, so if you ever get the pleasure of visiting multiple times, let us know if we're right! 

Outfit

Playsuit | Beginning Boutique

Sandals | Hype

Necklace | Sportsgirl

Ear Cuff | Topshop

Rings | Toni & May

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