For my birthday this year I decided to go travel alone, not too far though, just to the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains got its name from the blueish tint as you look over the valleys and mountains. It was June and boy was it cold. While I was not fortunate enough to catch the snow, I did get to experience the beauty of foggy mountain view. I always stay at Leura, which is this very charming village with a lot of character.
Apart from Leura I didn't go anywhere else this time as I only had 1 and a half day but I still did most of the things I wanted to do. Leura village centre/Leura Mall is basically a main strip of road filled with restaurants and shops. There's also a Woolworths so it is very convenient if you want to cook your own dinner. There are a lot of really nice and quirky shops here selling stationary and homewares. There are also shops that sell things made by local artists and a really nice chocolate place called Josophan's fine chocolates, I love the waffles balls they sell here, goes perfect with hot chocolates. Next to Josophan's is a art gallery showcasing some really cool wooden sculptures and artworks. You can spend half a day shopping and browsing here easily. But most importantly of course, let's get into the food. Leura has some of the best food I've ever eaten.
Le Gobelet French Restaurant
I had the best french food ever here, too bad it's up for sale now so I couldn't have the pleasure of tasting their food one last time. From memory, the crab crepes was the most outstanding dish. The duck with cherry sauce was also devine, I very much regret not been able to fit desserts in after all that food. The place is actually a house with the living room tranformed into a dining hall. The owners are one crazy pair, the last time I was here, I could hear the chef banging and swearing from the kitchen. We had to wait 2 hours for our food to arrive but man was it worth it! It's such a shame to see this place go, I am truly saddened.
Red Door Cafe
You have to try their coffees, best in Leura I'd say. The food here is also awesome, simple but tasty with local ingredients. Most of the time I get breakfast or brunch here, their sausages are excellent and so is everything else.
Bon Ton
First time trying this one, located at the end of the street I've always walked past it but never actually went in. But after seeing Le Gobelet closed I really wanted french food and so in I went. It was the first time I've eaten at a proper restaurant by myself, the thought of it always weirded me out but actually sitting and eating by myself wasn't that bad at all. I got the Escargot cooked with parsley, garlic, eschallot butter and freekah crust. A fricasse of chicken, leek and mushroom pie, served with roasted eschallots and spinach. I really like escargot especially with a lot of parsley and butter, if it comes with bread for dipping then even better. These escargot were a bit too dry for me, while the snails themselves were very tender and juicy, I found the crust to be a bit lacking in taste and dry. The pie however was marvellous! The crust is cooked to perfection, encasing the chicken, leek and mushroom inside. Full of flavour and texture, I also really liked the accompanying spinach and roasted eschallots. It was a very satisfying meal to say the least, well worth a visit in the future.
Bygone Beautys
Technically a teapot and antiques museum but I came at a wrong time because they're currently expanding so all the showcasing teapots were moved. But the other antiques and teapots are still on display which you can also buy if you want to. The place is a bit cramped but I came here for the Devonshire tea. Served with 2 homemade scones, it is the perfect way to spend your afternoon by the fireplace. I love my scones smothered in cream and jam. The scone melts in your mouth along with the sweet strawberry jam and cream, yum!
Another place I visited during my stay was the Toy and Railway museum. From the look of their website it seemed quite a awesome place to visit but from my experience it was far from that. It is inside a 100 year old house which looked quite nice from the outside, once you go in, the entrance fee is $14, that's pretty steep for just a look around the house and the garden outside. You are also not allowed to take photos inside the house, a bit weird but ok whatever. The house is pretty old with creaky floorboards, there are several rooms, some you are allowed in and some not. Toys from all ages are showcased here, mostly creepy dolls and toy trains.
After wondering around the first floor I went upstairs and I felt so uneasy up there I had to come down again. Maybe it was just my imagination but the air upstairs was so dense and uncomfortable I just didn't want to stay another second. Outside in the garden is the train displays. Some of the old railway station signs and etc are on display, that's about all that's interesting here. I probably wouldn't recommend you coming here, maybe if you're truly bored and have nothing else to do.
I
used to think travelling alone would be boring and lonesome but now
that I've actually experienced it I would definitely do it again. Just
because I'm alone doesn't mean I'm lonely, I think everyone should try
it at least once in their lives.
Well then, till next time, bon voyage!
:)
Shopping
Batik
Batik is the art of drawing on fabric with hot wax. We were taken to this place where you can watch the ladies in action. There's a huge hall stocked with batik clothing and home furnishings. You can also buy a plain t-shirt and give it to one of the ladies at the front with your choice of pattern that's displayed on a white cloth in front of her station. They will draw the pattern, every single detail of if from memory. Mine only took her around 5 minutes or so, I was quite mesmerised sitting there watching her do it. You will need to give them a small tip afterwards, I gave her 50,000 rupiah which is around $5 Australian dollars.
Dewa Putu Toris Art Gallery
The Dewa Putu Toris art gallery showcases some of the largest art collections I've seen. Bali is also famous for their artists so people have flocked here to buy and collect artworks. If you are an art enthusiast then do make sure to stop here for a visit. The building itself is quite amazing too, it looks very narrow and small on the outside but it seemed to go on forever once you're inside. The gallery holds artworks of all kinds of styles and subjects, if you are interested in buying anything the gallery also can delivery to your hotel for you. They also let some artists work at the front area so the buyers can observe how they work.
Ubud Market
If you like finding bargains then markets would definitely get you quite excited. Ubud market is one of the biggest markets in Bali, stalls here sell everything from clothes to souvenirs, paintings, jewellery and toys. But from what I've seen, most of the stalls sell pretty much the same things. Now, if you don't know how to bargain then do not come here because you WILL get ripped off. Always ask for 60% first, if they refuse then walk away, 99% of the time they will stop you and say something like "I don't make any money off of that price but for you I will do it" and then if they insist you go a bit higher then go for 50%. Either way, if you don't buy it at this stall, you will find it in another stall so you don't really have anything to lose. Oh yeah another thing, our tour guide took us to this silversmith in Celuk village, even though I asked for and got 60% off (apparently this was a first as the highest anyone has gotten out of them was 55% off, yay for me and my asianess! ) of our things we still got seriously ripped off. So I would suggest you buy your silver stuff at the markets.
Discovery Shopping Mall, Kuta
One of the biggest malls I've been to, inside is mostly international brands like Ralph Lauren Polo (they're everywhere in Bali), Crocs and a lot of surf and sunglasses stores. Right outside the mall is Kuta beach. I guess if you're looking for some surf wear then come here, although they're about the same price as you would expect to pay in Australia. There's also some really nice home ware stuff in here like cushion covers and carved wooden sculptures.
I think that covers everything, just remember to bring some medicine for stomach upsets because you will most likey get some kind of stomach problem during your stay. Otherwise, Bali was a wonderful place to visit, we really enjoyed our time here. No wonder so many aussies love coming here, till next time Bali, I'll miss ya!
Places to visit
Kuta Beach
Along Kuta beach is home to some of the best resorts in Bali, there's also "Potato Head", a favourite among tourists to watch the sunset while sipping on drinks and dipping in the pool. But if you want to go to potato head you will need to book in advance as the seats fill out extremely fast. The beach itself is very long, the sand is a bit course but the water is very clean and a beautiful shade of blue during the day. We walked for ages along the beach, there were fishermen mending their fishing nets and dogs running around, it was picturesque and idyllic. Watching the hues of the sky change as the sun was setting was a memorable moment.
Bali Water Sports
Bali is famous for it's beaches and water so they offer a whole bunch of water activities, from the pretty tame to the extreme, depends on what you're looking for I guess. "Bali Water Sport" is the one we went to. We chose to do the "Banana Boat", you lie in a rubber shaft which is dragged along by a boat at high speed so the shaft flies into the air. It's exhilarating and a bit scary at the same time, I think I screamed my lungs out for the first 2 minutes because all you're holding onto is these 2 rope handles when you're almost vertical in the air.
They also offer this thing called the "Sea Walker" where you walk along the sea floor and feed the fishes with bread (ok so maybe that's a bit bad since bread doesn't exactly grow in the ocean but oh well..). We were fortunate enough to see a clown fish hiding in the corals. All the while you're down there, instructors follow you and film you, after you're on the surface, they will ask if you want to buy the video. Bring your waterproof camera if you have one.
Turtle Island
One of the activities offered is the glass boat to Turtle Island, a conservation type of place that breeds sea turtles. The island also has other animals like snakes and exotic birds, you have to pay a contribution and that goes towards the conservation (I hope it does anyway). I guess this isn't one of those places that I think is extremely worthy of visiting, but they do let you hold their turtles which I thought was really cool anyway.
Tegalalang Rice Fields
The rice fields are a interesting sight, you can climb them if you want or you can chill in one of the cafes perched along the path overlooking the fields. It's surrounded by a forest but there are paths which makes it a lot easier to get around, we got down to the bottom of the rice fields but decided not to climb any further as the heat and humidity was just too overbearing.
Goa Gajah
Also known as the elephant cave, it's the only temple we managed to visit during our stay in Bali. The temple is surrounded by some forests, you can stroll the maze-like paths which takes you to waterfalls and rock carvings throughout the forest. It was extremely humid when we visited the site, if you don't have your own sarong, the temple staff will make you wear a polyester one which does not help with the heat. As with most attractions, you need to pay an admission fee to the temple, if you like Balinese culture then this place is worth a visit, just bring a hat and sunnies.
Monkey Forest
Don't be fooled by the cuteness! These monkeys can be quite ferocious. Before going in, make sure you buy some bananas from the ladies at the entrance to the forest, you can hold a banana up in the air and a monkey will climb on you. As with any wild animals, don't act stupid and be respectful. It can be quite tempting to try to get close to them especially the baby monkeys but remember that they are territorial animals and their mothers are always around. Tina got scratched by one lol.
Kecak Fire Dance
Get a local or tour guide to take you here, they need to buy the tickets for you which can be quite chaotic. The stage is up on a cliff and you need to climb up a series of stairs pass through some really nice scenery. The dance starts off pretty slow, 50 guys huddle together and sing in this very low, trance like voice which was pretty impressive. It's a old Balinese tale of love, revenge and friendship, all against the beautiful backdrop of the sunset. Near the end where the battle between the white monkey king and the evil guy occurs, they lit a big fire, I think the people sitting at the very front got quite a scare as the fire was kicked around. I would say that this was an experience like no other, well worth the trek up the cliff.
To be continued...
I went to Bali with my best friend Tina last year in October, we planned to stay there for a week but one week is just not enough I say! Bali is one of those places that Australians love to go because it's relatively close and also cheap as chips. So I will be sharing some of my experiences and recommendations on Bali this week :)
Accomodation
We stayed at Amana Villas in Seminyak, which is a very tourist heavy place. We opted for a private villa, it came with a private swimming pool, daily breakfasts and your very own butler. Amana also offers a airport pick-up service for an extra fee so you don't get hassled by taxi drivers who will most likely rip you off if you don't know how to negotiate. The villa is simply gorgeous, immaculate, clean and beautifully decorated with dark woods and white tiles throughout. The service is tailored for your needs and likings but never intrusive. Our butler was very well informed and friendly, always called us by "Miss Tian" and "Miss Tina". The bathtub was filled with rose petals when we arrived, that would've been a nice surprise if we were a couple lol. The pool was so refreshing as the weather in Bali was very hot and humid. I was quite surprised at just how quiet and tranquil the villas were because if you walk 50m down the road to Seminyak, it's full of cars, bikes and noise pretty much 24/7. Seminyak is a good place to stay if you want to be close to everything, there are heaps of really funky bars, shops and restaurants around this area and it's also very close to the beaches.
Food
My favourite topic! All the food we've eaten in Bali has been so delicious not to mention dirt cheap. After we took a dip in the pool we decided to go out and explore the streets and also get some light dinner (paddling around in the pool is hard work). We found this place called "Sambal Shrimp" on Oberoi St and thought we'd give it a try. The staff here were so friendly and they actually remembered us the next day when we walked past. We got their signature sambal shrimp and also a fried rice with shrimp paste grilled on lemongrass. I'm so glad that we chose this place because the food was heavenly, the shrimp was extremely fresh and bursting with flavour, it was moderately chilli probably due to the fact that it's mainly tourists that come here. The rice was fragrant with the smell of lemongrass, it wasn't too oily and was a nice accompaniment to the shrimp. The cocktails were also fantastic, I think all Tina drank on the trip was Mojitos. The total for food, drinks + tip: $10 AUD
We booked a Ubud tour with the villa and our tour guide took us to "Bebek Bengil" or "Dirty Duck Diner". Surrounded by rice patties it was a very pleasant place to relax and eat a slow lunch. They specialises in duck dishes so we got the duck in Balinese sauce and also some chicken satays. The duck was so tender and just melted in your mouth, a little spicy and very fragrant. Even though it was almost 40 degrees outside it was so cool inside the restaurant without fans, Balinese architecture is amazing.
Across the road from Sambal Shrimp is "MAMA San", a very hipster looking joint that reminded me of places in Surry Hills. It's a fusion restaurant that combines various asian cuisines. The bar upstairs the dining hall is also very funky, they serve some of the best cocktails I've had. We ordered the buns ( I forgot what was actually in the buns..), Pork hock, Eggplants in chilli sauce, Mung bean cake with coconut ice cream, Black sticky rice with coconut cream. The pork hock was huge, we could not finish the whole thing. The dipping sauce was really nice though, the acidity from the vinegar and chillis really cut through the heaviness from the pork. The pork itself was crispy on the outside and fall off the bone tender on the inside. The eggplant was ok, I don't think it was anything spectacular. My dessert which was the black sticky rice was awesome, creamy and sweet, if I wasn't too full I would have finished all of it. The mung bean cake was a bit too dense for me though.
The next place I'm going to talk about would have to be the coolest place I've been to..ever.
It's called "El Kabron", a Spanish tapas restaurant that is situated on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. We went during lunchtime but it would be the coolest place to watch the sunset. There is a minimum spend if you want to sit near the pool but seriously, for this kind of view why not?
The infinity pool is the coolest, you can rest at the edge and take in the magnificence of the ocean and horizon.
Not only is the view specatular, the food is also mouth-watering and authentic. We started off with a jug of sangria, Tortilla De Patatas (Potato and onion omelette, toasted bread drizzled with tomato & olive oil),
Croquetas De Marisco (Prawn and lobster croquettes), Almejas Al Vino Blanco (Fine clams deep steamed in a white wine sauce),
Crema Catalana ( Vanilla & cinnamon caramelised catalan cream) and
Sacher Chocolate Cake. The potato and onion omelette is surprisingly good, it's smooth and creamy with the texture of a potato cake. The clams were juicy and flavoursome, the toasted bread that sucked up all that juices were awesome. The Catalana cream was very similar to a creme brulee but with a hint of cinnamon, it was lighter than a brulee and not as sweet. The cake was what you'd expect a chocolate should taste like, rich and sweet with slightly bitter notes. This would be a must try if you're thinking of going to Bali, not just for the food but for the whole experience.
I had the best iced coffee at "Anomali Coffee", situated in Seminyak, it seemed like a cool place to relax and have a light lunch so we went in. The atmosphere is pretty cool, lounge music playing in the background and a lot of people around. We had the pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) and iced coffees. The pho was a little funny, having had quite a few in Sydney this one tasted like a tamrind based soup instead of beef broth.
The iced coffee was just amazing, the best I've had for sure.
To be continued...
Had the chance to go to Melbourne for the weekend, this is the 4th time I've visited Melbourne and it is as beautiful as ever, except for the weather which hovered around 12 degrees. On the last night there was a event called "White Night" which is kinda like "Vivid Sydney", basically buildings are transformed with lights and projections and there's also live performances and other artsy stuff. But man, was there a crowd! Didn't end up seeing most of the stuff and just went back to the hotel so I didn't take any photos :(
Cumulus Inc.
A friend who lives in Melbourne had suggested this place for dinner, according to him, if a restaurant doesn't take bookings for under 6 people then that means it's a awesome place to eat, apparently. So we decided to give this place a go, went in at 7 and was told that a table won't be ready till 9. I guess most people would not wait for 2 hours but they have a very nice bar area where you can drink and eat as well so we decided to just sit at the bar. The bartenders really knew their stuff when it came to drinks and cocktails as well as the food. So we got:
Baked chilli mussels, Roast new season potatoes, confit garlic & sage, Corn-fed chicken breast, confit leg, puffed rice, avocado & sorrel, Flounder (I can't remember the full name as it was a special).
The mussels were delicious, baked in a tomato and chilli based sauce, chilli enough to feel a slight sting which was just right. The potatoes were crunchy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside, the sage was panfried with the potatoes and give it that really nice aroma. The flounder was a big hit with the group, it was tender and moist, the sauce which was also tomato based with corn (and some other stuff which I have forgotten lol) really held the dish together, be careful of bones though. Then came the chicken which I must say was my favourite of the night, chicken breast can be tricky to cook as they can be quite dry but it came out a perfect 10. The puffed rice was a really pleasant texture, it just seemed to work in perfect harmony with the avocado. We did not have room for desserts unfortunately, it's funny how really good food fills you up even though it's in very small portions.
Hot Star Chicken
When I saw that blue sign when I was walking past my heart skipped a beat. I had experienced the awesomeness that is "Hot Star Chicken" in Shanghai when I went back last year but here in Australia?! My word!! For those of you who don't know the brand, they sell fried chicken the size of your face (ok, maybe even bigger than your face). You can choose different flavours (chilli, salt & pepper, plum, seaweed) and there are also sides like curly fries and fried sweet potato. After you had your first taste you'll want to keep going back for more. Just saw on their facebook that they're opening a store in Sydney in March, hooray for fried chicken! :D
