Take Me Out to the Ball . . .

Horay, I went to a Ball!!

I can't say as I've ever been to a Ball before.  But, I've certainly read about them in Disney classics, like Cindarella and Beauty and the Beast.  This, was not that kind of Ball.  But still, it was fun.  Sponsored by the British Women's Association, or BWA, this is an annual co-ed event, in which everyone gets dressed-up in black tie, ball gowns or cocktail attire, and they watch a show, eat good food, and maybe even dance.  Almost every large expat group in the city has a yearly Ball for it's members and guests to celebrate the organization, and raise some money for charity.  Some organizations like to have a theme to their Ball, others do not.  This year's BWA Ball had the theme, "Divas."  The show they put on was a dance and "fashion show" (from local stores), staged to the music of all the hottest "diva" singers (Rihanna, Katy Perry, Pink, Adele, Beyonce, Christina Aguilerra, Mariah Carey), and interspersed with the stage show were video clips of divas whose heyday was in years past (Donna Summer, Barbara Streisand, Cher, Aretha Franklin, etc.)

  So, I got all diva'd-up, held onto my prince charming, and we rode in our chariot to the Ball.  Attached are some pictures of us and our friends from the evening. 

Bali High!!

When my oldest sister Stephanie was in high school, her senior class performed a musical production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's, South Pacific.  Even at just 12 years old then, I still vaguely remember (but have since looked up) the words to one of the songs:  Bali Ha'i.  

It goes like this:

Most people live on a lonely island,
Lost in the middle of a foggy sea.
Most people long for another island,
One where they know they will like to be.

Bali Ha'i may call you,
Any night, any day,
In your heart, you'll hear it call you:
"Come away...Come away."

Bali Ha'i will whisper
On the wind of the sea:
"Here am I, your special island!
Come to me, come to me!"

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/southpacific/balihai.htm

Now, 40-plus years old, I finally appreciate the words to that song.  Bali, Indonesia - the subject of that song and an island right near Jakarta - is truly a wonderful, magical, and "special island."

Darren and I took the family to Bali to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary.  It is a quick and easy 1 1/2 hour flight from Jakarta.  I had been to Bali for a brief visit during my semester abroad at Temple University Law - Japan, but I had not been back in 16 years.  So, although I had vague, and fond memories of being in Bali years ago, this time was even more special because it was for my anniversary, with my husband and kids, and because I was able to appreciate it through the eyes of others, while at the same time creating my own new memories.

We started our 5-day visit by checking into the amazing Westin Hotel, Nusa Dua.  Nestled on a gorgeous stretch of clean, white beach, surrounded by beautiful pools, gardens and lounge chairs, and greeted by a lovely Balinese dancer, it was like paradise to us.  

Click on any picture you would like to see enlarged.

 

We could have stayed at the hotel and not moved for 5 days straight and been perfectly happy, but there was so much to do in southern Bali, that we, or I, was eager to explore. So, we did:  we went snorkling and parasailing (even Logan and Natasha!), enjoyed seafood and Balinese dancing on the beach while watching a gorgeous sunset, went to a turtle breeding farm, and saw several beautiful Hindu temples.  

Taking the boat to do our open-water snorkeling adventure.

Natasha and Logan were a little scared, but were very brave about trying snorkeling in the open sea for the first time!

After snorkeling, the kids went parasailing.  Logen LOVED it!!

Yipeeeeeeeee!

I think Natasha was a bit scared at first (she's ONLY five!), but once she came back from parasailing, she wanted to go again and again.

Turtle Farm!

Several Indonesians asked to take pictures with Logan and Natasha.

Next stop was to Jimboran bay, where we ate seafood, saw the sunset, and watched Balinese dancers perform.

Is it just me, or is this picture very disconcerting?

 

Logan watching the sunset with a man and his dog.

Hip, hip, horay . . . we LOVE Bali!

During our stay in Nusa Dua, we had the opportunity to meet beauty pageant winners, Ms. Indonesia and the most recent Ms. World competition winner, Ms. Argentina.  They were staying at our hotel and doing a promotional tour.  Both were very sweet and approachable, as reflected by the pictures we took of (and with) them: 

Without her tiara and ball gown, this is Ms World (Argentina), Antonella Kruger.  Yeah, I know.  Can you see the huge smile on Darren's face?  You got that right.

Ms. Indonesia, filming a commercial for the Ms. World pageant which will be held next year in, where else, BALI!

Once our stay in Nusa Dua was over, we drove to the central foothills town of Ubud, known as the arts and cultural center of Bali. There, we visited a traditional wood-carving village, explored art galleries and basket shops, ate at a delicious organic restaurant in the middle of a lush rice field, and walked through monkey forest where we fed bananas to the monkeys.  While there, we stayed with some friends from D.C. who recently moved to Ubud for a year and have kids the same age as ours.  It was definitely a highlight of our trip to be able to stay with friends in their gorgeous Balinese style home and have them show us the best that Bali has to offer.  And, our kids enjoyed Ubud so much more, particularly because they got along so well with their new friends, Charlotte and Alexa.

Logan and Natasha immediately bonded with their new friends and made a parade with musical instruments as they marched around the house.

Ornate, stone-carved statues like this are EVERYWHERE in Bali!

We went to a wood-working village where the craftsmen and women let the kids "help them" by sanding some pieces of wood.

Money Forest!

Victoria on a walk through Monkey Forest.

Got a monkey on your back?  Yes, sometimes the monkeys get pretty aggressive and even bite.

Our own little ones, monkeying around . . .

We were struck by Ubud as a town.  There are yoga studios everywhere, organic restaurants all over, and a big emphasis on healthy eating, recycling and overall mental and physical well being.

Having been to Berkeley, Boulder, and Ann Arbor - some of the most liberal small towns in America, I think that perhaps Ubud is the most environmentally-conscious, organic, artsy and yoga-loving place I've ever been too. Totally crunchy-granola.  Totally.  And cool to visit. 

Pictures below show a long walk we took through some rice paddies.  Situated in the middle of the beautiful fields and with a 360 degree view of rice paddies was an organic restaurant with delicious food.  After we ate, the kids explored the nearby organic garden and the rice, drying in the hot sun.

            

There is no road in and out of these rice paddies, so all the construction items or other materials needed in the homes or restaurants, must be carried on motorcycles, or many people choose to carry items like this pictured above.

We saw many people along our walk through the rice fields and everyone was very nice to us.  These women even "hi-fived" the kids as they walked by.

Lush, tranquil, and beautiful!

Logan looking at the rice field and marsh.

Our wonderful and very generous host family: Lynn, Nat, Alexa and Charlotte.

These two adorable girls with infectious smiles greeted us warmly.  They were selling soaps and incense along the road to the rice paddies.

 

After our long walk, the kids were relieved to find a beautiful restaurant in which to relax!  And, the wonderful fresh fruit smoothies certainly helped make the long walk worthwhile!

Below, are pictures of our anniversary dinner at a very special restaurant in Ubud, called Wayan's Cafe.  The tables are situated inside a lush garden and had beautiful canopied candle-lit tables.  Very nice!  In fact, the whole weekend had a familiar commercial ring to it:

Cheap and easy ticket to Bali - no problem; 

Escaping Jakarta smog and traffic - wonderful; 

Spending your 11th Anniversary in Bali with family and friends = priceless!

 

 


In short, Bali has indeed become a "special island" to us and, as the song goes, I know it will call me to "come away, come away" many, many more times!