Seaside Nails Tutorial

Today's post is a simple one. I've been rekindling my love for nail art and starting to explore more possibilities, methods and techniques. One major source of inspiration for me has been bornprettystore.com which is an online store which sells a lot of accessories and small stuff and their range of nail art items is massive! A lot of nail artists, bloggers and regular people like me who love nail art can find whatever their hearts desire on bornprettystore.com.

Lately, I've been spending my weekends getting zen with my nails and it's something I haven't done in a while. Last weekend I was inspired to do seaside themed nails because I wanted to try the new seaside themed embellishment wheel I got from bornprettystore.com. I combined it with the latest glass nails trend using Mylar pieces to create ripple effects on the water part.

Below I have added a picture tutorial on how I got my nails! I am quite happy with how they turned out but I reckon it would have been better (and lasted longer) with gel polish, despite using a gel system to attach the embellishments, the first one fell out 2 days later and by yesterday (Wednesday), by sheer force of bad habit, I had picked my nails apart.

1. Lay out everything you will need. For these nails I used a combination of colors from LAKA and essie. On the side, one will need acetone and cotton for cleaning, a sponge for the gradient effect, a brush for clean up, a gem picker, some nail art gel/glue as adhesive and the embellishments themselves. 

2. After your base coat, apply 2 layers of white polish which will help bring out the colors of your gradient sponging. 

3. Apply the gradient colors that you wish to use on to the sponge and slowly dab it on, 2 coats is preferable. (I used one application on to the sponge for 2 finger nails)

4. I used micro glitters to accentuate between the colors but you can barely see it and I used a bit of top coat on the blue to adhere the mylar for the ripple effect in the "water".

5. Use top coat.

6. After dry, use a nail embellishment glue to attach the embellishments as you please. I used a clear gel for embellishments and cured.

You're done!

The most frequently asked question when people saw my nails was 1) where did you get them done? and 2) how long did it take you? The answer is 2 hours and 45 minutes. However, a lot of time was spent on waiting for the layers to dry more than anything else. I could have definitely halved the time had I done it with the gel systems.

Anyways, have fun trying and I'd be happy if you could share your pictures with me in the comments below.

4 Tips to Lighten Your Handbag

I usually seek inspiration for my posts based on things I see, buy or experience, this post is inspired by the nagging ache in my shoulder!!!

Walking to my language class, I couldn't help but feel a huge strain on my shoulder which prompted my to change the bag to my left shoulder but that didn't make it any lighter! What is this sorcery??? I am one of those who clears out her handbag every weekend and yet by Thursday, I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulder...I'm willing to bet that I am not the only lady who has this problem!

This, of course, has me juggling a multitude of reasons as to why my bag feels like a baby elephant and even taking the "bigger" items out one by one to access the weight and all while walking...the mystery goes unsolved and I'm still left with an aching shoulder.

Well, empty out my bag on this particular day and you will find:

1 x Kate Spade wallet (596g)

1 x sunglasses in protective case (121g)

1 x passport

1 x headset

1 x airplane jack for headset

1 x receipt for last nights' dinner 

1 x visitor pass for Cosmoprof 2015

2 x pantyliner

3 x bandaid

1 x strip of Zrytec

1 x bunch of housekeys (73g)

1 x pack of tissues

1 x empty Fisherman's Friend
1 x nail file

3 x lipstick/gloss/lip pencil

1 x eye drops for allergy eyes

2 x Iphone 6 (298g)

Loose coins

Stack of name cards

I mean, surely all the small stuff can't be the culprit right? Determined to find out the root cause, I'm weighing everything and here is what I've discovered:

The weigh in!

1) The total weight of my bag and all its contents is 2.312kg (heavy stuff listed above)

2) I really need to start spending my coins! Especially here in Hong Kong when the coins alone could pay for lunch!

3) Time to downsize

Over the years, I have realized my bags (and trending bags) have gotten bigger and bigger. Not only that, everyone who has "helped" me with my bag has never failed to comment on the "gold bars" I'm carrying around. I wish! At least gold bars might help pay for some of the medical therapy I'm going to have to get for this! At the end of the day, what goes up, must come down and I am referring to the size of my handbag! I mean, I am a single lady with no diaper bag to worry about, no kids that I need to be prepared for and NO REASON WHY I need to be carry a bag the weight of a small child.

Here are my top tips on giving your shoulders a break:

1) Carry a smaller bag and only what you need

My Tumi handbag is honestly one of my favorite bags. Its durable, perfect when travelling and also light when filled sparingly. However, I have a tendency to conveniently "throw" things inside on the way. I'm learning the hard way that just because it fits, it doesn't mean I should put it in...ok that sounds so wrong but you get the idea!

Swapping to a backpack that was given to me by a friend, it has been more useful than I ever imagined!

Try carrying a backpack or a bag with an adjustable shoulder strap which you can carry cross body, hence spreading the weight instead of always being on the one shoulder. You should also try to get a bag with as little embellishments as possible, yes gorgeous as it may be- it is added weight on your shoulders!

2) Use your coins!

It doesn't matter where in the world you are, coins will always be a culprit! I'd love it if they (whoever they may be) would come up with 20 cent notes! Here in Hong Kong, we have both the 10HKD note and the 10HKD coin! Coins are also very popular as change here and can be awfully heavy not to mention grow in quantity and weight very quickly!

I could empty out my bag any day of the week and due to haste, laziness or convenience those sneaky little things always appear in the small compartments in my bag...make a conscious effort to use your coins! 

3) Pack a foldable recyclable bag

And this was the last of my essentials that I threw in as an after thought. I realized that I may need to tote back groceries or stuff from the office and so having an extra bag will be better than trying to over stuff my handbag. It has already been very useful for me.

4) You don't need to bring your entire makeup pouch with you (or 5 different lipsticks!)

Seriously, with the quality of make up nowadays and all the makeup setting sprays, there really is no reason why you need your entire makeup regime with you. Bring the basics- powder, a nice bright lipstick and a nice colored eyeliner pencil should easily change your look from day to night. 

If you NEED to bring more makeup, Sephora does give out really handy miniatures. Either that or you can use a multi function product like Benetint for that healthy glow and a subtle pink lip tint.

And the final weigh in, all necessary items included!

Well ladies, whether or not you may consider your handbag heavy, I believe we do have a habit of carrying way more than we need. Perhaps it was childhood aspirations of Mary Poppins or Doraemon, but honestly, our shoulders were not made for heavy bags. Do your future self a favor and lighten your load today...

TGIF!!!

October- another year older...

How many clicked in from Facebook to see how amazing I looked?
Sorry to disappoint but this is heavily edited!

And its exactly as it is, October has come and it's 2 weeks post birthday. Honestly, I don't feel any different. Perhaps its because I get panic attacks about getting older a week before my birthday and start to up the ante on my skincare regime, diet and lifestyle. Hah! Trying to cheat the system basically. Its probably more psychological than it is physical but I feel great so I must be doing something right.

This birthday I celebrated surrounded by new friends, old friends, family and too much cake!

Last year in the days leading up to my 30th birthday, I had mixed feelings of joy and excitement in looking forward to the next chapter in life and of sadness from kissing my 20's and all its chaotic activities goodbye. Looking back, I really did have the time of my life in my 20's and the 30's is a whole other ball game, there was this sense of responsibility and calm that settled over me. The things I used to enjoy just no longer appeal to me. Now if I get home, it's so hard to get me out because I enjoy the peace and solitude I get from being in my domain doing absolutely nothing.

This is life now...Its not always champagne and caviar but then again-
Life is what you make of it!

There were so many changes in the past year with the biggest one being my move to Hong Kong with the hubster. I think we have reached a plateau with bad situations that arose after the move and now we're really getting a grip on life and work...or work and life...or just work. I really love the vibe here in Hong Kong, the New York of Asia, but its being here that makes me pine for the energy and the frivolous and carefree attitude of the 20's. I feel like I am stuck in between- between being zen and adult and on the opposite end of the spectrum, throwing all caution to the wind and just doing whatever I want. I have no reason yet to "be responsible" so why restrict myself right? Or wrong?

I miss my network of friends the most, every single weekend and evening of most days. I should go out and make some new friends...how do I even classify myself? I'm not a "Single/ Asian/ Female looking to make friends" (we know what kind of attention this gets) and neither can I join, nor am I ready to join mummy groups. Would it be rude if I flat out said I'm looking for intellectual conversations about personal growth and the follies of life in general? No conversations which will make me roll my eyes or fall asleep? I love wine like a baby loves milk and i'm artsy-fartsy when time permits. I'll find any excuse not to exercise but I'll attempt to start a diet every week. Anyone else in the same boat can look me up...desperately seeking someone relate-able. Oh yea, I'm also allergic to bullshit like i'm allergic to fur. (I paint such a lovely picture of myself!)

Lucky for me, I've had different friends who have been visiting Hong Kong nearly every month. Otherwise, it's back to Singapore for me for a good dose of errands and dinner with the gals!

Anyways, another perk of getting older is the joys of watching your fine lines become not so fine and skin sagging everywhere. Your chin gets lonely and starts to have a double to keep it company and what used to  be smooth as a baby bottom skin now looks like the surface of the moon. (Did I mention I am dramatic too?) 

Thankfully I work in the cosmetics industry and sometimes I get to guinea pig technology! So for the first time ever in my life, I decided to zap my face into shape! I tried out the new HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) machine that we got at the facial outlets and that was an interesting experience! (I have a generally low tolerance for pain but I feel like pain gets more bearable with age. It's like life is preparing you for all the treatments that are to come!) What I'm getting at is, the treatment does not hurt in places which are firmer (forehead and cheeks) but in my saggy chin and jowl area, it felt like someone was stapling my fats into hiding. I did however notice a great difference after the treatment, when they did one side first, there was already an improved appearance! Immediately after treatment was easy but days 1 through 3 after the treatment was a bit tender around the jaw area- like a post stapled effect. (It helped me learn not to squirrel away food in my mouth when I eat and take smaller bites!)

As HIFU is supposed to stimulate the cells for collagen production and tissue rejuvenation, the effects of the treatment will only be visible after 1 month and a follow up treatment is recommended 3 months after your first. So far, I'm liking the effects and at least I manage to keep any needles AWAY from my face! Anyone who wants to try HIFU, DO IT! 

Right, so another year and thankful for the opportunities that have been blessed upon me. Thankful to have a husband which has signed on for another year of my nonsense. Thanks to the colleagues here  in Hong Kong who have been so welcoming and throwing me a surprise birthday celebration which threw a lot of the birthday wishes off kilter and some people into panic- don't worry, you didn't miss it!

Cheers to the next one!

PS: For anyone who does notice, this blog is work in progress...I am playing around with the colors and tones and I'm not quite happy with it yet. Bear with me!

PPS: The effects of the HIFU are really visible 4 weeks post treatment.

Tips on Flat-Hunting in Hong Kong

Week 5 in Hong Kong and we were no closer to finding a home. We hadn’t found what we were looking for and I was starting to fear that we never will and that we may just out of desperation pick something just for the sake of having a roof over our heads and regret it. Being a person who loves creating homes of any apartment we choose, I needed a place that I can sink my roots into and bloom. Living out of boxes and suitcases for the last 2 months (now entering the 3^rd) is really doing my head in. And the thought of having to repack and unpack again gives me a panic attacks (yes I am dramatic).

The good news is that we weren’t so pressed for time to find an apartment now, the bad?

Where do I begin?

I feel like apartment hunting in Hong Kong is like a real life version of the Hunger Games except that this time people are snapping up good apartments like there’s no tomorrow. We have been searching for a place to call home for the last 3 weeks and we are no closer to finding or choosing anything. We have had numerous near misses (apartments that we were supposed to view only to get a call 1 HOUR before the view saying it had been taken, WTF!), many epic fails (like what were the owners thinking), many nearly there but not quite (perfect apartment but the kitchen/toilet/something just didn’t feel right) and only 2 possibilities and that’s with exception.

Our agents have been very patient with us after we finally found some that understand exactly what we want. Most seem to think that we have given them the task of the century. Hence the reason why I have decided to write this post as these are the things that I wish someone had told me before I moved here.

1) Finding an agent

There are SO many agents here in Hong Kong and if your Company doesn’t provide you with an agent or you don’t have friends who can recommend you an agent, you’re pretty much left to figure things out for yourself. Most agents can speak English but for some, language can be a bit of an issue.

 

Also, because of the abundance of agents here, agents usually focus on their own areas of expertise. One way to ensure that the agent specializes in the area in which you would like to live in, you could chance walking into one of the travel agents in that particular area or contact a mainstream agency.

If you are looking in the Sai Ying Pun/ Sheung Wan area, I have left (at the end of this post) the contacts of 2 agents who really understood what we were looking for.

2) Have an idea of where you want to stay

This is where Google becomes your best friend. I truly wish I had done more research. A lot of times the places we choose depends on venue of workplace, social activities and convenience. While Hong Kong is broken down to 4 main areas- Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories and the outlying islands, there are so many suburbs in these different areas. This website does a great job of listing the different areas and what they have to offer. It can be really mind boggling and it is so important to decide what you and your spouse/family need. 

3) Budget, budget, budget!

Wow, this was a real pain in the butt. Everything that we saw and liked, was beyond our budget (we have high expectations and expensive taste apparently) and while it was a viable option, I wasn’t comfortable with spending so much on a place that didn’t even belong to us!

So we had to really sit down with a pen and paper and decide what we want. 

A few questions that could help you narrow down your choices are:

a) Are facilities important? Do you have kids that require the facilities? Are you both highly active individuals who need the facilities and will use them?

We decided to forego the facilities as we had ready gym memberships and would prefer to do our activities outside for the social aspect.

b) How many rooms do you NEED?

Based on Singapore, I really wanted to have a second room for guests/visitors and my junk is general. But when we did the math, it just wasn’t worth paying nearly 5K-10K HKD/month just to accommodate visitors who came twice a year.

c) Is a terrace/balcony/roof area important?

This was a huge factor in the difficulties in finding a place…most expats are also looking for a balcony so these apartments get snapped up really fast.

d) Will you be owning a car?

Because Hong Kong is so populated, not every apartment comes with car park facilities. If they do, you are looking to pay an extra 2-4K HKD/month just for the car park.

e) Will you be getting a helper?

We decided to get a helper that stayed outside because space constraints were a big issue.

f) Do you have pets and does your apartment allow pets?

Some apartments are not pet friendly so be very honest when telling your agent what you want as this will save a lot of time and effort.

So all these factors address, that leaves you with the rest of the criteria's you may want to fulfill: renovated, supermarket close by and close to the office. We wanted the ideal home but so did everybody else.

You can download the Squarefoot App or visit www.squarefoot.com.hk to check out whats on the market in the areas that you want.

Another things that helps is if you know exactly where your workplace will be and you intend to live nearby, open google maps and zoom in till you see the names of the apartments and check them on Squarefoot as well. It is extremely painstaking but I found that it helped me get a better idea of the areas I wanted to look into and more specifically the developments I wanted to consider. It also helped me to check off those that were beyond budget. 

4) Take note:

When you go for viewings, you will be the one paying for the transportation fee to/from the place even if you go with your agent. Most times, it is better to arrange viewings in one location and do a sort of walking tour.

5) If you like it, grab it! 

If you see a place you really like, don’t hesitate for even one second to tell your agent you’re interested. The agents will tell you to your face that good apartments get snapped up fast so if you “need time to consider” there is no guarantee that the apartments will be available when you want it. So it is cautious to ask how long the apartment has been on the market for, if it has been on the market for a while then you have nothing to be worried about if it has just come on the market and you are one of the first to view it and really like it. Jump on it!

Thankfully our search came to an end this mid-week, it has been tedious, tiring and frustrating and I am just so glad that this portion is over and done with so everyone can just get on with their lives. We found exactly what we were looking for in an apartment with the exception of the lack of second room and the fact that the distance from the bedroom to the toilet is about 10 meters AWAY! But with everything else being so perfect...we jumped!

I hope that this post is useful to others out there who may be facing the same predicament. If so, leave a comment below and your 2 cents worth! I'm sure there there are many others who will be facing the same issues down the line and would be thankful for some advice.

Property Agents in Hong Kong

Wendy Go – Land & Fortune Realty Ltd

Mobile: (852) 6939 9275

Henry Chui – Grand Pacific Property Limited

Mobile: (852) 94936574

Remembering Bali, Part 2

Week 4 in Hong Kong and the city is really starting to grow on me. It’s taken me awhile to get settle in and most times it does get a bit lonely, I miss my support network of girlfriends (and thank Heavens for modern technology!) but I should be getting out and making some new friends sooner rather than later! I am itching to learn Cantonese too because it sounds so lyrical and lively but have yet to haul ass to a book store.

I’m starting to love the intimate setting of a small home and I love not having to “search” for my husband when I’m at home- he’s either there or isn’t! Our dog Harley comes back last week and we are now one happy family with the 2 dogs. It’s been hard having him (Harley) away and every time I see him I can’t help but wish I could turn back time and done a few thing differently but moving forward, seems like Harley has already returned to his normal self (minus one eye).

One eye Harley,
He has a piece of skin covering his eye to help it recover but it looks super raw and disgusting and requires constant care.
Good training for the husband.

As promised, a little late but here is Remembering Bali continued…

Day 3 (Sunday)

And boy did we have plans for the evening!!! In the weeks leading up to the trip, the one thing that everyone agreed on was that we had to catch a sunset in Bali. After going back and forth with many suggestions including the lesser known spots, the surfers view point and a few others, the one place we agreed on was the Ayana Rock Bar!

I got so much flack for trying to take a selfie!

Located within an award winning 5-star hotel in Bali, the Rock Bar has long been THE place to be to catch a sunset. While one might say it’s somewhat over rated, there is just something about the ambiance, the cocktails and tapas that make you feel like you got the best seats in the house for one of natures’ most magnificent displays.

We got there at about 4pm as there is a first come first serve and no reservations allowed policy but the birthday girl was lucky and was personally escorted to the best seats in the house for her special day. Walking down, because the queue to the hillside lift was long and crazy, all I saw was umbrellas- tons of them.

When we were seated, I understood the concept of umbrellas. OMG we were like sitting duck just roasting and sweating! We had about 2hours to sunset…at least we had cocktails!!! And thank goodness they serve their cocktails with loads of crushed ice if they aren’t already frozen cocktails. The MUST TRY on my list is the: Mojito (made the good ol fashioned way), Strawberry Daiquiri (ladies drink), Long Island Ice Tea (packs a punch) and my go to sunny day drink…Frozen Lime Margarita.

Was nice that the crew came out and sang "Happy Birthday" for the birthday girl!

The finger food that we ordered was served promptly and hot, the plating and presentation was exactly what you’d expect of a 5 star location and they didn’t disappoint. Taste wise, my top pick is the: popcorn chicken, sounds so boring but it packs a punch. It is served with a dipping pepper powder and sauce which upon consumption you don’t really feel it but once you’ve swallowed, you start to feel a tingling sensation on your lips and tongue. The birthday girl also got the “Pearls of Passion” and a birthday song…followed by many passionate wishes thereafter. Haha!

My not so frozen anymore margarita and what my friends call my resting bitch face...!

Nicely buzzing from the potent and easy drinks, we turned to the horizon and whipped out our cameras for the moment we’d all been waiting for…I can honestly say that it was well worth the journey and the roasting and the wait- anything after the drinks was more than acceptable. Sunsets still take my breath away and the magic of watching the sun disappear beyond the horizon never gets old.

I love this picture!!! Thanks Tomek!

As the dark settled in, we decided to head back to Seminyak and started talking about dinner locations. As some of the group were tired from the sun and alcohol, only 4 of us ended up going for dinner. 

Clockwise from Top L: Beef Carpaccio with Pesto, Bruschetta and the cheese Ravioli

Ultimo was our venue of choice as one of the guys had been there before and was raving about the pasta. We got there late about 9pm and super hungry, thank god we didn’t have to queue and were seated almost immediately. We ordered our food and were served almost as soon as the food was ready. To start we had the Carpaccio Al Pesto, Ravioli Di Pasta Ripeni Di Formaggio and the bruschetta. I was a bit hesitant about having raw meat in Indonesia but the meat was really fresh and was as carpaccio should be. The cheese ravioli were like big dumplings but definitely a must try. 

Clockwise from Top L: Spaghetti Marinara, Duck Breast with Spinach,
Seafood Spaghetti w/White Wine Sauce and the Lobster Tagliatelle

For the mains we ordered the Spaghetti Alle Vongole, Gamberi E Capeante (yes its one dish and it’s just a fancy way of saying Seafood Spagetti!), Tagliatelle con Aragosta (Lobster Tagliatelle), Spaghetti Marinara and Petto D’Anatra Con Sugo E Corona Di Spinaci (Duck Breast with Spinach!). Fancy names aside, the food was good and we were raving about it. Some of us had food-gasms; especially the lucky fella having the Lobster Tagliatelle. Ordering lobster in Bali also leaves a person with some doubt as to whether one will be getting a “lobster” or the real thing- we got the real thing. No meal is complete without dessert and so indulge we did in the Tiramisu, White Chocolate Creme Brulee and the Mascarpone Cheesecake. The most outstanding of the 3 was the tiramisu. 

Dessert anyone?

So Ultimo is definitely a great place to go for authentic, comfort Italian cuisine, bring your Italian cuisine dictionary while you’re at it (Joking! Everything is nicely translated in the menu).

Day 4 (Monday)

The day that we dragged (because we had to wake up early…or maybe it was just me) and looked forward to all at once- we were going WHITE WATER RAFTING! Being the dry season, we didn’t expect too much as there hadn’t been rain in a while. We were told that we had a cliff to raft off but that would be about it.

Getting good at selfies! The quick photo op at the cliff.

We choose Bali Adventure as our service provider. Pick up came punctually and the journey to the drop off point took just over an hour. Our driver was very nice, chatty and patient with the numerous “Are we there yet?” even stopping at a cliff on the way up to allow us some photo opportunities. Upon reaching the drop off, we were led to a makeshift hut where coffee and tea were provided and this is your last toilet chance for the next 2 hours unless you wanted to rough it. Payment of Rp. 360000 per person was made and then it was time to gear up and head to the rafts. There are many rafts on the river but the guides were skilled enough to maneuver around the other rafts ensuring we were all nicely spaced out.

As ours was a rather long ride down the river, we have a stop 4km in at a waterfall and there was a nice old lady who would happily sell you a Bintang Beer if you were craving one or a bottle of water or juice of soda. Some photo opportunities at the waterfall and a makeshift toilet if you need (better off going in the river because apparently it was disgusting!). Some ways down the river, we were stopped and made to prep for a rafting off a cliff…as nerve wrecking as it was as we approached the “cliff”, it was over all too soon! I hadn’t even hit my loudest scream yet! A huge part of me wished there was more! So our journey continues and a little bit further down, we saw some people selling coconuts!!! Of course we had to stop! How cool is it sitting in the river and having coconuts! Of course, this is where you can also use the toilet but in nature- elaborations not needed, go figure it out.

At the end of the rafting, it was cute because we had a welcoming party of about 5-6 butt naked 11 year old boys who were jumping on our raft and trying to de-raft us. It was funny. A short walk to the shower, towels were provided and lunch after. Lunch was sufficient and who would have known that rafting could make a person so hungry! Most of us were secretly waiting for the Babi Guling that we ordered from Pak Malen!

** One of the girls had left her swimming gear at the shower dividers and Bali Adventures did not hesitate in returning the gear to us promptly the next day. Kudos to the team for going the extra mile.

A 90 minute (because of traffic) journey home later, most of us who had slept all the way back, were ready to eat again! Best thing ever to have “fresh” take away from Pak Malen! Honestly wish I had ordered more but everything in moderation I guess.

Pak Malen's Specialty!

After a nap for some and shopping for some, and it was dinner time. We decided to go to Poppies for dinner. An institution in Bali, the history of Poppies goes a long way! It still maintains its old school charm and the place had not changed a single bit since my last visit there nearly 16years ago. I decided to share my meal with another foodie like myself, I use term foodie loosely here since it was mostly us just wanting to try everything! And boy did we go all out! Between the 2 of us, we had the spring rolls, Thai beef salad, a lobster, the soto ayam and of course gado gado. I really liked the soto ayam and the gado gado, it brought back some childhood memories. The lobster was fresh and we really enjoyed ourselves tearing into it!

Clockwise from Top L: Thai Beef Salad, Lumpia, Gado-gado, Chicken Soto,
and of course- the Lobster!

After such a hefty meal, as there were a few first timers there, we had to do the walk along Kuta beach as some of us were flying back the next day. I was amazed to see how much had changed in the last few years! On my recent trips, I had always avoided Kuta as it was too busy and touristy for me. Walking along, I was amazed to see that they had paved their sidewalks and now had a beachfront mall!!! Whoa!

As some of the group decided to retire for the night, 4 of us with energy left to spare, decided to head over to the strip in Bali where all the gay clubs are. We fell out of a cab in front of one of the bars and immediately there was a guy who grabbed me (sucker!) and “invited” us into Bali Joe. We didn’t even get a chance to browse around. Let’s just say that the gay clubs scene in Bali is extremely hands on and no one is spared. A few performances and 2 beers later, we headed back to our Villa and called it a night.

Day 5 (Tuesday)

Sad day, the end of the trip for some of us. We packed up our bags and got ready to ship out of the villa. With heavy hearts and beautiful tans, we all had different activities planned for the morning and decided to meet for lunch at Ultimo. The girls went shopping and the guys- did what guys do! I really expected to find some nice dresses as I had before but the styles this time were not what I was looking for. I did however find a lovely bikini store where I bought enough bikinis to last me for the next 2 years!

Sadly, as lunch time approached, the guys messaged and told us that Ultimo was closed. Bummer. They found another spot to dine at some doors down called Khaima, the interior had a Middle Eastern flair to it yet the menu had something for everyone- Moroccan, Indonesian, Asian, and Western food! Which makes people like me very stressed out because I always want to try EVERYTHING!!! 

Loving the colors on the plate and the presentation!

So, with a bit of restraint, I ordered the Pho and the Crunchy Calamari- the Asian in me was screaming for soup and noodles. I was a bit disappointed though when those who had ordered the Indonesian cuisine had such beautiful dishes presented to them. Taste wise- everything was spot on. Hunger satisfied, it was time to try some dessert. If there is one thing you HAVE to try- Dadar Gulung, a bright green pancake filled with grated coconut in palm sugar served with lemongrass ice cream! Not a big fan of lemongrass but the combination of the 2 made it easier to swallow.

As we said goodbye, the 4 that were left behind went back to the Villa to pick up our stuff and head to the next destination for the night- Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Resort. 

Doing it jungle woman style. I am not usually so crass...
BUT REALLY...I had to ask the driver a million times if it was OK. He said it was.
Balinese culture has a lot of rules against feet and the fact that my feet were on his picture was really rude.

Despite getting in well past the check in time, our rooms were not ready (we were later told that it was because of a wedding the night before whose guests stayed till late check out). I was getting grumpy because it was the last chance for sun and with each passing minute, I was losing tan time. After about 30minutes of waiting, we were offered coffee and light bites at the bar facing the sea. Sometime later, after some pestering, we were shown to our rooms.

Woooooow!!! I have no words!!! We got a good deal on the Luxury King with the plunge pool and honestly I was tempted to never leave the room but the sun beckoned! Seriously I have no words that only pictures could describe how breath-taking everything was!

The beach@ Sofitel Nusa Dua

After the sunset, we headed to the plunge pool and cracked open a bottle of champagne for some girly fun time. 

The toughest thing to decide after that was whether to retired with room service or to go to the restaurant- we choose the restaurant for the ala carte meal as the buffet seemed like too much after an entire trip of all out indulgence!

Departure Day

For those who don’t know- like myself, you will be happy to know that the airport tax is now included in the cost of your tickets for most airlines. So you no longer need to put aside Rp. 200000 or scramble last minute for cash if you are the type to forget. There are many dining options and some last minute shopping spots for those who have forgotten souvenirs and need to pick up a little something.

Bye-bye Bali!

Well, Bali it's been fun as always and your charms will definitely bring me back again someday, hopefully sooner than later! To my lovely friend who embraced her coming of age in style, you set the standards for all the independent ladies out there! To the new friends I met, it’s been a pleasure and I hope that our journeys will allow us to cross paths once again!

Till next time!

Ayana Rock Bar Bali

On The Rocks

Ayana Resort and Spa Bali

Jl. Karang Mas Sejahtera,

Jimbaran, Bali

Tel: +62 361 702222 

Email: rockbar@ayanaresort.com

Website: http://ayanaresort.com/rockbarbali/

Ultimo

Jl. Kayu Aya 104X 

Oberoi, Seminyak

Bali

Tel: +62 361 738720

Website: http://balinesia.co.id

Bali Adventures

Website: http://www.baliadventuretours.com/index.php/en/

Poppies

Jl. Legian, Gang Poppies 1, 

Kuta, Bali

Tel: +62 361 751059

Website: www.poppiesbali.com

Khaima

Jalan Kayu Aya, 

Seminyak, Badung, 

Bali
Tel: +62 361 735171

Website: www.khaimabali.com

Remembering Bali

So its been a little over a week now that I have been here in Hong Kong and it has been an eventful week indeed. Filled with ups and downs and discoveries but the down is the worst.

Upon arriving to Hong Kong, the first thing that hit me is the fact that our apartment is smaller than it looked in the pictures! We had actually packed up a 550 square foot container but moved into a 500 square foot apartment- UH OH! I definitely have some figuring out/ organizing and puzzle playing to do! Googling and pinning hacks for small spaces is a full time obsession of mine now. To make matters a little more complicated, our container has yet to arrive so we will only know the full extent of damage tomorrow!

Work has been very kind to me. I am loving the new challenges that I face daily and the new things I get to try and do. Its a little different than what I am used to and definitely more hands on but I have really missed the rush of being busy and doing my own thing and watching things unfold thereafter so its a great change of pace for me.

On the downside, one of our dogs, Harley had a little accident with his eye and what could have been an eye with a recovering cornea turned into a very disastrous torn cornea. It is very painful indeed to watch your pet suffer knowing that they are so small and harmless and wishing you could help but knowing that you can't. The vet bills are sky rocketing for us but we really are trying to do what we can to try salvage the situation. Too little too late I guess.

That said, what better way to transport myself off to a little island called Bali and remember the good fun times that I had there not too long ago in June when we were there to reign in my fabulous friends' 31st birthday! This friend of mine is a really independent, ambitious and outgoing young lady and she has taken to planning and organizing her own birthday getaways and making them fabulous and memorable instead of sitting at home and moping about time gone by! This year, the destination was Bali and with her was a group of 6 of her friends.

The birthday girl and her posse!

While we were all working adults, we didn't want to spend too much on the villa as we knew we were going to be out for most of the trip. Even though we searched and considered many options, we still ended up using Semua Properties. I really love the concierge service that they offer and they pretty much do all the research for you and narrow down your choices. There after you only need to do a Telegraphic Transfer via your bank and you're all set! They even provide pick up from the airport so that's one less thing you have to worry about. Your contact person will then meet you at the villa upon arrival and introduce you to the staff as well as offer the welcome drinks and cold towels after which a quick tour of the premises! Two contacts that I have immensely enjoyed liaising with are: hany@semuapropertiesbali.com and peni@semuapropertiesbali.com

This time we checked into Villa Coco Bidadari, a 4 bedroom luxury villa. All of us really enjoyed our days there, lazing by the pool and enjoying the breakfasts cooked by the lovely staff. The one things that made our stay so enjoyable- the staff! Apart from maintaining the villa, they were really accommodating during breakfast and even when we started to make nonsensical requests (green juice, extra bacon, rice AND eggs) they were happy to provide as long as we bought the stuff they needed to make us whatever we wanted. This was made super convenient as the supermarket was just a 7 minute walk from the villa. When the staff found out that we were there to celebrate a birthday, they came back with a cake for the birthday girl! As we all looked at each other questioning who put the staff up to it, we realized that they did it 100% of their own initiative! Also, on the day that we came back from white water rafting, we asked the staff to help us buy Babi Guling from Warung Pak Malen which is also 7 minutes from the villa and her timing was perfection, she arrived just as we did and so we ate "fresh" food. 

Villa Coco Bidadari and the 3 crazies by the pool!

Breakfast time at the villa...check out how professional everything looks!

Another person that is super essential to ANY trip to Bali is a driver, especially those travelling in groups of 4-7 people, a driver is the most sensible and practical person to have around because they are super accommodating! On one of my trips over, my friends and I had checked out of the villa and wanted to go shopping, our driver was so trustworthy that we left our bags in the car and he did a shopping "pick-up" when required and when it was time, took us to the airport. One driver that I really should go out of the way to recommend is Pak Wayan Sukardia, he speaks English, is smiley and friendly AND you can tell him where you want to go and he will take you there promptly. His prices are also reasonable at Rp.500K (+/- SGD50) for 10hours. Should you ever need a driver his contacts are: 

Overseas- +62813 37217017

Local (Indonesia)- 0813 37217017 

Send him a text and quote: VanessaSG

Day 2 (Saturday)

Cocoon Beach Club

We spent our first day at Cocoon as the birthday girl wanted to spend her day luxuriating in the sun and just relaxing! She had booked out a cabana as well as 2 deck beds, a minimum spend applies but unlike the beach clubs that you get in Singapore, the minimum spend was realistic and affordable. Towels are provided but for a small fee of Rp.150K (SGD15). The sun that you get at Cocoon is exactly what you need to get a nice tan, but beware, too much and you may WILL get burnt! Sun protection is a must! Cocktails served were nice and potent and the finger food was really tasty. Must orders are the: salt and pepper calamari, nachos and the pizza (any pizza).

For her birthday dinner, we went to Chandi which serves up Indonesian style inspired food. They are famous for the Hot Lava Stone Sate Platters and the Duck Betutu. Whats great about their menu is that they have tasting platters for every course which is perfect for larger groups and social gatherings where everyone wants a try of everything but doesn't want to finish an entire main by his/herself. The cocktails are also uniquely flavored and has an east meets west concept to it- WORTH A TRY! One thing to note is that they only take reservations by phone and groups larger than 14 are recommended to email an inquiry. 

Dinner at Chandi

Appetizer tasting platter for 2

L-R: Duck Betutu for 2, Roasted Rolled Crispy Pork Belly, Hot Lava Stone Sate Platter

Posting these pictures really evoke memories of the tasty food. The duck betutu was cooked to perfection, retaining its moist meat while the spices used are a real reminder of the Balinese traditional cooking. I also thoroughly enjoyed the broth from the Crispy Pork Belly Dish among other things. The way a typically Chinese dish has evolved and come together in the many different textures- the soupy and the crispy, its like bursts of flavor and texture in your mouth. The Hot Lava Stone Sate Platter is somewhat a hit and miss, it is a dish that requires effort because you need to turn the sate and a moment of neglect could mean that your food may overcook on one side. Honestly, I would have much rather ordered specific sort of sates and tried them individually instead of being so over zealous with wanting to try everything!

Desserts @ Chandi

We ended the night by going down the street to a place called...La Favela. It was crowded and hot and just not my cup of tea. It was definitely aptly named for the interior and concept. We didn't stay too long as we were surrounded by rather young and rowdy party goers. 

Day 3 (Sunday)  

Thinking that we were going to have to sleep off a hangover from the night before, we had booked ourselves for a massage at Spa Bali. I highly recommend pre-booking as they tend to get really busy, they were even turning away potential customers because they were so over booked. Even though we were on time for our appointments at 11am, we had to wait and when our rooms were assigned to us, they tried to pair people up to put in twin rooms for the treatment. If you have an odd number of male/females in the group then someone better be prepared to share. I guess that is what you can expect from a cheap and GOOD place. The masseuse were all professional and made the effort to check if you were ok during the massage yet being discreet throughout. I should also make special mention that their manicure and pedicure services are worth trying because they use top grade products like OPI and branded shellacs. You definitely will get your money's worth here. Everyone was thoroughly happy and satisfied from their treatments but we had to rush off as we had plans for the evening!

...continued in Remembering Bali, Part 2

Cocoon Beach Club
Jl. Double Six, No.66 Blue Ocean Boulevard 
Seminyak, Bali 
Tel: +62 361 731266 
Fax: +62 361 731155

Chandi
Jl. Laksmana 72,
Seminyak, Bali
Tel: +62 361 731060
Email: info@chandibali.com

Spa Bali
Jl. Camplung Tanduk No.888,
Seminyak, Bali
Tel: +62 361 737933