Category Archives: Indonesia

What is Jamu? And a Jamu recipe

25th March 2020

jamu1

As you might have guessed from the number of blog posts that are already piled up here about Bali, I absolutely love it. A LOT. And for many reasons. The one I’ll be discussing today is Jamu, this traditional Indonesian medicinal drink that looks a bit like mango juice and that you might have seen popping up on several warung menus or in baskets on the head of the Jamu Gendong, these women roaming the streets selling their precious potions to the locals every morning. So what the hell is Jamu?

jamu2

Yoga Teacher Training 2020: Where to go

26th January 2020

My spiritual journey. Yoga teacher training at Smriti Yoga in Goa, India

Have you become so passionate and dedicated about yoga that you now wish to turn your passion into a career by taking a yoga teacher training? I can’t blame you, been there, done that. I did my yoga instructor training in Goa, India, back in 2015, and although I took a different path after and did not end up teaching, it was truly a transformative experience. I highly recommend anyone to take a yoga teacher training (and a silent retreat!) once in their life!

My Balinese Home Spa with Utama Spice

22nd September 2019

offering-2

Bali.

tirta-empul

The island of the Gods.

bali statue

A feast of colours, culture, beauty and devout faith.

balinese ceremony

With such beauty all around such as the Jatiluwih rice terraces, it’s no wonder Bali boasts such a rich tradition of beauty and spa rituals whose names alone evoke the most exotic and luscious of pampering experiences: boreh, lurlur, temu-temu, avocado cream bath, spice bath – I could just picture myself in one of Ubud’s secret gardens being scrubbed and massaged with rare oils and exotic spices while watching traditional Bali dance.

tirta empul sacred water

The problem with Kuta Lombok

5th March 2019

dog in kuta lombok

I arrived in Kuta Lombok Indonesia full of expectations, after hearing so many tales of unspoiled paradise from friends and trusted acquaintances. When I go somewhere I’m this hyped up about, reality doesn’t always match the expectations: it happened in the Perhentian Islands, it happened in Hawaii and it nearly happened in Koh Phangan. Unfortunately, it also happened in Kuta Lombok. I stuck around for a few days to explore the surrounding areas with a scooter, in search of the magic I’d heard so much about.

Yoga Retreat Bali: Where and When to go

3rd February 2019

Bali has become known in the health-minded sphere to be an incredible location for all things spirituality, wellness, veganism, and yoga. And when it comes to taking a yoga retreat Bali is truly like nowhere else. For years now, people have been flocking to the island at all stages of their yoga journey to experience all the incredible energy and rejuvenation retreats the island has to offer. If you think you’re not advanced enough or not good enough, here’s one of many yoga quotes I truly love: “A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.” There are yoga retreats in Bali for everyone.

Public Transport in Bali

18th October 2018

One thing that surprised me about Bali was its size. This is no teeny tropical island – like the other Indonesian islands I visited, it’s like a country in its own right. At nearly 100km across you could probably circumnavigate it in a day, but you’d better start early! And if you’re planning a Bali itinerary, count at least 10 days!

Like the other Indonesian islands, Bali is sorely lacking in public transport. The options are limited, routes are non-obvious and schedules, in most cases, simply don’t exist. For the budget backpacker wanting to experience all the cafes in Bali, it represents a quandary – the locals clearly get around somehow, but all you see is adverts for private cars or the (generally) overpriced tourist shuttle buses.

One Year Later

1st January 2015

On top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, New York City

One year ago today, on January 1st 2014 at 8am, we locked the door of our flat in Montreal for the last time, leaving behind an empty shell of what was our life of the previous seven years, and dropped the key through the mail slot. As it resonated loudly in the dark empty box, I felt an excitingly familiar feeling in my stomach: we were homeless, the unknown awaited us. It was amazing to ring in the New Year in such a drastic, life changing, exciting way, and the feeling hasn’t left me since.

Kawah Ijen volcano complex in Java, Indonesia

The Silence of the Sea

7th December 2014

1panorama

Lonely Planet calls Nusa Lembongan “the Bali many imagine but never find” – you might know what we think of the Lonely Planet, but when we found out our friends at Fusion Freediving and Yoga were running a trip to see the manta rays through here, we just couldn’t resist.

Eight reasons why Ubud is still awesome

1st December 2014

1petulu-sunset

Ubud was one of those places I was almost certain I was going to dislike. I kept thinking that Eat, Pray, Love would have ruined it for all of us and couldn’t help but wonder if the whole town was going to be full of Elizabeth Gilbert wannabes on a quest to spiritual healing and shakra alignment. Was I going to find myself too “off the beaten path” for a city so taken by the mainstream public’s imagination? Was I going to HATE IT? I was honestly skeptical as our 9th minibus of the day finally drove us into town.

15 vegan and vegetarian friendly restaurants to try in Ubud

17th November 2014

sari1

With its abundance of wellness centers, spas and yoga studios, it’s no wonder Ubud has such a vibrant healthy, raw/vegan, and organic restaurant scene. And if you’ve been following us for some time, you’ll know that this is right up our alley! It is, in fact, one of the many reasons why we lingered around Ubud for so long.