Day 4 – Friday, June 24th
It’s the 4th day since we arrived and we’re starting to feel settled into balivillini. We’re quite spoiled having maid service 6 days a week. I feel like royalty returning home to fresh towels and sheets and the dirty dishes magically get cleaned and put away – I could get used to this, or could I?
On one hand I feel like I could get accustomed to the luxury of not having to do the dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc. and on the other hand, I would miss these routines and the autonomy of doing things myself, eventually. I find comfort in the fact that if I asked the villa manager to reduce maid service, these women won’t be getting paid and this is their livelihood, so I leave things tidy and make sure to express our appreciation for all their hard work. A side benefit is the cleaning ladies arrival gives you the perfect motivation to get out and start the day because the last thing I could do is just hang out as they worked around me.
Walking along the sidewalks, you must watch your steps as you weave through the obstacle course of small square bamboo offering baskets filled with flowers, rice, crackers, incense, cigarettes. These baskets are called ‘canang sari ‘ and are placed in front of stores, villas, and even in the dashboard of many taksi (taxi) cars three times a day. This is part of the Balinese Hindu ritual symbolizing giving back what has been given to you by the Gods.
We made our way down the main street and were enticed by the idea of having a fresh juice en route to the gym. Juices are one of my favorite things about Bali with their abundance of fresh fruit varieties jam-packed with nutrients, which help you feel balanced, hydrated, and energized all at the same time. If you want to keep it healthy, when placing the order ask them not to add sugar, and I suspect you’ll enjoy the natural taste even more.
A word of caution – if you’ve never tried papaya, you may want to order something you’re more familiar with because it has a very distinctive taste – Mashrur’s expression said it all when he took his first sip realizing papaya tastes nothing like mango 😉 Beetroot and ginger are also very strong flavors that may or may not to grow on your palate.
A nice local spot to pop into on your way to the beach for juice or an espresso
One thing that will always get you through a hard workout routine is the promise of a spa treatment as the reward….
There are many local spas that give you a casual hole-in-the-wall feel. I was on the lookout for something more modern and this Aussie-owned spa blew me away! It’s smells like aromatherapy oils as soon as you walk through the door and the staff is extremely friendly. It’s always good to ask if they’re offering discounts, we got 30% our blissful 60-minute Balinese Massages. Spas are typically open till 10:00 pm, so it’s also a great nighttime activity and in my opinion beats a typical American night at the movie theater for a similar price. Our villa manager recommends finding a spa that specializes in reflexology if that’s what you’re interested in otherwise you may just end up with a decent foot or hand massage without the added benefits of reflexology.
After passing Cocoon’s bumping parties numerous times en route to the gym, we were eager to return in the evening for happy hour.
Cocoon – Restaurant, Bar, Beach Club
If you’re just strolling down Blue Ocean Boulevard, this is a fun place for poolside cocktails whether you’re drinking them floating on an inflatable raft or enjoying them in the lounge chairs while listening to the perfect blend of house music. You’re easily drawn inside with amnesia about where you were planning to go…
Beach clubs tend to be on the pricey side, so I recommend going here for evening cocktails, there’s a 2 for 1 happy hour from 4-7pm daily – The Moscow Mule was delicious!
Just don’t be food by the term “Beach Club.” You’ll be disappointed if you show up looking for a beach view here. Although it’s located right across from the beach, there are trees and restaurants concealing the ocean less than 50 meters away.
Sun down queues it’s dinnertime, so we vetted a plethora of options and ended up at Passargad.
Passargad – Restaurant and Shisha Café
There’s a dim, relaxed middle eastern aura inviting you to wind down for the night. Dinner was good, but rule of thumb is if you can’t remember it then it wasn’t anything remarkable. I can say with confidence that the shisha (also known as hookah) left an impression – try the apple flavor!
As cheesy as it sounds, I’ve had the Aladdin song, “A Whole New World” stuck in my head since we arrived. I can’t say we floated home on a magic carpet, but we did glide back in a euphoric haze ~ ~
The In-Between 