Virtual Experience
Eat & Exercise
Prior to my fall holiday, I have been trying to trim down a bit. In case you have forgotten, I have built in daily exercise coming and going from my fourth floor flat. On top of that, I am trying to lead a healthier life and exercise for at least 30 minutes four to five days a week. I have yet to achieve my personal goal and I mention all of this because it was most definitely derailed this past week! Aside from the bike adventure (referenced below) the only other exercise was walking to get a massage (or two, or four), going to get food, and tons of laughter. Oh wait; laughter counts as exercise because it works the abs right? 🙂
What is that you say? What are my recommendations for culinary delights in Indonesia? I will be more than happy to supply that information.
• Motel Mexicola: A throwback to the 50s and 60s full of life and great Mexican food. Recommended: The Piña colada and make reservations. It gets lively and full quickly!
• The Harvest (Patissier & Chocolatier): A hidden gem we stumbled upon. Elegant yet funky atmosphere with pastries and chocolates that fill your taste buds with pleasure.
• The Butcher’s Club: A banging BBQ experience! Recommended: The “Little Miss Piggy” chopped BBQ sandwich, the regular bacon cheeseburger with a side order of fries and the Jack Daniels Coke slushy. Also recommended, loose clothing.
• The Rock Bar: Breathtaking scenes only accessed by a tram and a perfect place to go and have an appetizer and cocktail or mocktail. Reservations are definitely required and this spot is perfect for a spectacular sunset experience.
• The Char Char Bar & Grill: Perfect for lunch and people watching. The food was fresh and you sit on an upscale bleacher watching the sites of the main road in Seminyak.
• Swept Away Restaurant: First off, appropriately named. The atmosphere was amazing and the food was spectacular. Recommended: The sirloin with truffle oil mashed potatoes and asparagus. Although the ambiance is more so for those who want a romantic evening, singles looking for a delicious meal with views also enjoys it. Make reservations.
• Warung D’Atas: Happy, happy, happy. Joy, joy, joy! This BBQ was the bomb! Recommended: BBQ Ribs with fries and comfy clothing!
And if I failed to mention the coffee made famous in the movie The Bucket List (movie clip), I would not be offering an adequate account of my Bali experience. The world’s most expensive coffee, Kopi Luwak is a delight reserved for those rich in pocket and perhaps adventure. The coffee plantation I visited described it as this:
Luwak coffee comes from the Indonesia Island and is well known for its excellent extravagant taste. Also native to the area is a small civet nocturnal animal called a Pardoxurus also referred to as luwaks by the natives. These little mammals live in the trees and one of their favorite foods is the red ripe coffee cherry. They eat the cherries, bean and all. While the bean is in the little guy’s stomach, it undergoes chemical treatment and fermentation. The bean finishes its journey through the digestive system and exits. The still-intact beans are collected from the forest floor, cleaned, roasted, and ground just like any other coffee. The resulting coffee is said to be like no other. It has a rich, heavy, flavor with hints of caramel or chocolate. It is also described as earthy, exotic, and very smooth.
Did I try it? You should already know the answer to that question!
Pray
Psalms 27 has always held a special place in my heart and at the onset of this trip; God showed me once again how masterful He is in his timing. My flight left at 7:10 pm meaning I needed to be at the airport by 5:10. I came home from work to do a quick wardrobe change and pick up my luggage thinking that I would have no problem getting a taxi, picking up my friend Kristi, and catching the subway express line to the airport. Little did I know that there is a shift change at 5 pm and the taxi drivers were unwilling to go that far into town. After being denied transport by four taxi drivers Kristi and I try to initiate plan B: Take the bus into town. After running to get the bus we were faced with yet another dilemma, the bus was full. It is now 4:45 pm and at this point, there is a fear that we may miss our flight for we were still roughly 35 minutes away from the airport to catch an international flight. Both of us were praying and in less than 3 minutes a taxi driver came by who was willing to take us to our destination.
I share that testimony, as it is one in a litany of many, of how God continues to show His presence in my life. This I know is true:
God’s timing is tremendously flawless.
God’s scheduling is spectacularly sound.
God’s programming is impeccably perfect.
As I reflect on another year of life and look ahead in faith, I can rest assure that God knows the desires of my heart and more importantly He knows how He is going to fulfill them. In the meantime, I will continue to sing this song of Psalms 27:13-14 (MSG), “I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with GOD! Take heart. Don’t quit. I’ll say it again: Stay with GOD.”
Love
Bali offered a lot to love from the kind and beautiful people to the awe-inspiring landscapes. In many ways, it reminded me of India with the twist of being more tropical in nature.
I love the devotional in Max Lucado’s “Grace for the Moment” for my birthday.
You are a great God.
Your Character is holy.
Your truth is absolute.
Your strength is unending.
Your discipline is fair…
Your provisions are abundant for our needs.
Your light is adequate for our path.
Your grace is sufficient for our sins…
You are never early, never late…
You sent your Son in the fullness of time and will return at the consummation of time.
Your plan is perfect.
Bewildering. Puzzling. Troubling.
But perfect.
Most importantly I love those in my life that inspire me, encourage me, bless me, challenge me to grow, and believe in the greater good for my life. As I enter a new chapter in this my nth year living I am grateful for you all. 🙂
Teach
Yes, muscles do have memories. I tested this theory while biking downhill (for the most part) through a Balinese plantation. The tour offered breathtaking views, literally. At the end of the day, Kristi became my “ride or die” partner as she shared at one point that she was a little concerned for my health and well-being when the paths became narrow, filled with dodging potholes and/or when we were merging into village traffic. Portions of the tour were through bumpy terrain, which the tour guide coined “massage road.” His sense of humor did not stop there either. As we were riding through the rice fields he said, “If you happen to slip or puddle through the mud, no worries. It is good for your skin.” Those of you who know me, know that he received an appropriate facial expression to signify my thoughts. Mid-way through the bike tour, my hands were on fire for I had spent the better part of the tour gripping the brakes for dear life! That evening and two days later my muscles (you know which ones) are still holding on to the memories of that excursion. Although they have an opinion, I would not trade the experience of that day and am thankful for the adventure.
The above-referenced tour took place in Ubud which is also home to one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever witnessed, Mt. Batur at Kintamani (top photo). The most recent eruption took place in 2000, with the first documented eruption dating back to 1804. Also visited while in Ubud were emerald plantations of tiered rice fields, a Balinese compound, small villages, old temples, and Tegenungan waterfall which had fresh water and lush green surroundings.
While in the Kuta/Seminyak area I had a daily dose of foot reflexology and shoulder massages at Soma. Relaxation for an hour and a half cost 115K (IDR). If your mouth dropped open, keep it there because in USD that is only $8.82. During this holiday most of my expenses were attributed to transportation. Although I went outside my comfort zone in doing the bike tour I have yet to gather the courage to rent a scooter and navigate the busy and narrow roads of another country. Perhaps I will get there on the next adventure speaking of which will be the last week in October as I go on a camping trip in Hong Kong with forty-eight seventh graders!