Balancing Bali

Bali is a place I love to visit to get the balance back into my life – the scent of frangipani, the spirituality, the local’s smiling faces.  The chaos and the calm are all part of beautiful Bali’s karmic charm.  

I like to split my time between mountainous, lush green Ubud complete with its hippy culture and ‘real bali’ & beachside glamour spot Seminyak which makes you feel like a star. Oh and I always avoid the Kuta area like you would a mosquito infected with Dengue Fever. 

Bali is one of those places you need to know where to go to really enjoy it. So after many requests from friends here are a few of my favourite spots…… 

EAT

Café Vienna – cute-as-a-button euro style café perfect for breakfast or light lunch.  Choose from healthy breakfast of fruit and muesli or crepes to omlettes, eggs anyway and fresh smoothies and juices. I went nearly every day! Jalan Drupadi II, No. 7, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia.

Café Zucchini – where the beautiful people lunch (largely from Melbourne & Sydney). Fresh salads and toasties plus the best espresso coffee I have found. Perfect post-shopping pit stop. Jl. Oberoi No. 49, Seminyak

Sardine - superb seafood and organic greens in a stunning bamboo cabana terrace overlooking rice paddies. JL Petitenget 21.

Metis – delicious, fancy pants French place. JL Petitenget 6. Kerobokan.

Nammos Beach Club – the highlight of my trip. Private beach complete with cabana style café & bar. Take a dip in between courses of fresh seafood and wood-fire pizza. An hour drive from Seminyak. JL Wijaya Kusuma Ungusan 

Cocoon – relative Bali newbie this sleek Ibiza style day club and restaurant (chef is ex Rockpool Sydney) will have you totally charmed.

The Rock Bar - Ayana Resort/ JL Karang Mas Sejahtera - Nusa Dua. Ubercool open-air spot atop a cliff over-looking the Indian Ocean.  Out-of-this-world sunset views best soaked in with a cocktail.

Ku-de-Ta – a Bali night spot institution.  Great beats, sangria and stunning sunset views overlooking the ocean.

Ibu Oka – roast suckling pig you will have to queue for. Opposite Ubud Market.

PRAY

Jari Menari – the best massage I have ever had  - and I am a day spa addict.  Therapists massage movements follow the body’s energy flow. All male therapists. Not a luxury spa but clean and relaxing and better than the ones I have had at 5 star resorts. Jalan Raya Basangkasa 47. Book ahead.

Desa Seni – eco-friendly village with daily choice of some of the island’s best yoga classes, organic farm and boutique accomondation. Jl. Subak Sari #13 Pantai Berawa, Canggu - Bali

Yoga Barn – hugely popular yoga school in Ubud.

Maya Ubud cooking class – chef Wayan will teach you to make the most delicious, healthy Balinese dishes from prawn and chicken spring rolls to your own banana leef baked fish with handmade spice paste. The best part is you get to lunch on all 5 dishes at the end! www.mayaubud.com

Sari Organic  - amazing organic café and farm nestled in the middle of lush green rice fields only accessible via foot, bicycle or motorbike.  An essential Ubud Experience. 800m down the Abangan/Water Way | 20 min walk from downtown Ubud

LOVE

Niluh Djelantik - for off the shelf and custom handbag and shoes. Quality designed shoes all hand made and leather exported around the world. For custom allow 1 week. I bought 3 pairs!!! Jalan Raya Keobokan (at the junction) seminyak

Magali Pascal – beautiful boutique by French designer of the same name with all items made in Bali. The accessories and jewellery are to die for.

The Prisoners of St Petersburg – stop here for original vintage 60s &70s sunglasses from Christian Dior to Lanvin. 942 Jl Laksamana, Seminyak.

Ubud Market – dust of your bargaining skills and rummage through beautiful textiles, handmade silver jewellery and art.  Go early to get the special morning price!

Sarah Jessica Parker in Oscar de la Renta.

Best foot forward

One of the many things that French women are aware of is the power in wearing a fabuleux pair of shoes…. So instead of blowing your budget on the one dress that will last for one season, think about investing in a HOT pair of designer shoes that will make any outfit pop!

Hint: Never leave the house with dirty shoes…and ladies if your heals start to sound like tap shoes, take them to a cobbler to get your heel tip replaced! The sole of your shoe in time will wear and tear, but don’t fear, they can be saved with a topie also from your local cobbler!

Great sites to visit…

www.leftmelbourne.blogspot.com

www.zomp.com.au

www.net-a-porter.com

www.asos.com

For men who appreciate custom quality shoes: www.customluxe.com 

On the nose

I nearly hugged the fragrance consultant when I spotted the master French perfumerie range L’artisan Parfumeur at Bourke Street Myer. Perched pristinely on the top shelf in vintage-look bottles it was calling me to envelope myself in its deliciousness.

I first discovered L’Artisan Parfumeur in a side street in the Marais Arondissment in Paris. All I can say is the French know a think or two about sensory experiences. The shop attendant wouldn’t let me purchase a fragrance until I had tested it on my skin and let it react with my own chemistry. My perfect match was Premier Figuier bottled and spritzed the scent of summer ripened figs balanced with. Every time I spray my fabulous Figiuier it takes me back to Marais.

It’s amazing how a scent can cause you to travel back to another time when that fragrance defined you or what you were experiencing at that moment. The sweet smell of just baked almond croissants, incense burning in a yoga studio or the captivating cologne of a past lover.

Speaking of lovers…. Have you ever stopped seeing a guy because of his smell? I am not talking bad-body-odour-needs-good-wash-and-some-deoderant kinda smell. I mean the smell of a guy’s skin that just doesn’t do it for you? Or conversely have you ever been mesmerised by a man’s smell that made you keep following your nose despite your head or your heart?

My next L’Artisan Parfumeur experience will be Papillon. A little bit of Paris in the laneways of Melbourne. Try it before it becomes as common as Chanel No 5.