From Bali With Love

The Weekend Is Here! (From Bali With Love)

2012-04-28T00:27:00.002+08:00

I have the weekend off and I'm back to see what I can stir up in blog land. It's quite late here though…almost midnight, so I'll leave you today with a new look for the site. Just a quick upgrade and play around with patterned backgrounds, colors, sidebar widgets, etc. Let me know your thoughts and I'll try to tune in tomorrow for a fresh Bali blog post…after I go shopping with my hubby and kiddos!

Goodnight world!

From Bali With Love,
Anna

And The Winner Is... (From Bali With Love)

2012-02-02T11:35:00.001+08:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway contest and commented on the giveaway post for a chance to win the beautiful prize!

I used a random generator to pick the winner based on the number of comments posted.

And the winner of the MadeByGirl LOVE print is...

...comment #2, Kelly Shropshire!

Congratulations Kelly! Please message me your address and which of the ten color prints available you would like to receive!

Bali, Then & Now (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000+08:00

Long ago I found this website and it's been safely hidden away in my bookmarks until I recently discovered it again. It has some amazing old photographs of Bali. For those of you who are familiar with Bali, you will be stunned, but in case you aren't familiar with Bali, I've located a few recent photos for comparison.

Earliest Map of Bali, 1618

Cock Fighting, Legian Markets, 1977

Jalan Legian, 1972

Jalan Legian Today...from Here.

SolidDev Band @ Jalan Legian Today...taken from Here.

Jalan Legian Today...taken from Here.

Jalan Legian is pretty quiet early in the day but at night, it's the one stop, bar hopping street that draws many tourist and locals alike.

Kuta Square Construction, 1993

Kuta Square Today...taken from Here.

Kuta Square is great for shopping. There are both local and western restaurants around this area, as well as an eyeglass store, shall you need to buy glasses or contacts :) And just a quick walk over to Kuta Beach, lands you your own front row spot to watch the sunset.

Poppies Lane 2, 1986

Poppies Lane Today...taken from Here.

Both Poppies Lane 1 and 2 are very narrow street ways now, with barely enough room for one car to travel down. It is definitely a ride you have to experience yourself with dozens or more bikes and cars trying to take these roads at the same time, all while trying not to run over the one hundred people walking around. Exaggeration...not really! :)

Be sure to check out the entire collection of Bali past images, taken from HERE.

2 days left! (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-30T16:50:00.000+08:00

Only 2 days left to win the giveaway!

There's TEN color choices available: gold, silver, blue raspberry, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, lavender, mint, bubblegum and watermelon.

Makes great decor for your home or nursery, give as a Valentine's present or use it as part of your wedding decor.

Enter for your chance to win HERE.

Images taken from MadeByGirl.

A Place For Happiness (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-30T00:23:00.001+08:00

USA TODAY listed Bali as one of the top ten places to find happiness. So what did the acclaimed author Paul Theroux have to say about Bali?

"It's the grace and aesthetic appeal. I just love the colors, the artistic sense of the Balinese. They can do anything. They can weave, they can carve, they can dance, play instruments, sing. Their houses are beautiful, their clothes are beautiful, they have temples, they have the most wonderful dances and ceremonies."

Do you really need to hear more? I didn't think so either. So stop saying "one day" and hop on a plane to check out the scenery in Bali!

You can check out the full ten spots at USA TODAY Travel.

In The Wild (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-27T21:21:00.000+08:00

Out of the blue news for you today: two interesting articles surfaced regarding Indonesia's wildlife.

The Sumatran Elephant is now on the critically endangered species listing with estimates of just over 2,000 remaining in the wild.

Taken from Voice of America

You may have heard of Sumatra's rain forests or even the Sumatran coffee bean sold at American Starbucks locations, but for those of you who may not know, Sumatra is the largest island out of Indonesia's 17,000+ islands and it sits along the far western point of the country.

In other news, a monkey species, the Miller's Grizzled Langur, was found deep in the Indonesian jungles of Borneo. The reason this discovery is so amazing is because this monkey species was thought to long be extinct and according to the article, there are only sketched illustrations of the species in museums, but no actual photographic evidence of their existence.

Taken from The Washington Post

Just goes to show you, Indonesia is made up of so many interesting creatures, diverse people, national reserves and untapped natural resources far more rich than any other country.

7th Heaven (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-27T08:41:00.003+08:00

Would you like to escape to a private, remote villa and maybe even mingle with some celebrities along the way?

Well, look no further than Khayangan Estate. Their website explains that Khayangan means "seventh heaven" in sanscript and from the looks of the photos, it seems that name holds true.

Khayangan Estate is nestled in Bali's south western tip of the Bukit along the cliffs and is made up of ten antique wood, Javanese homes descended from noble men. The Estate also features a lush garden, spa, lap pool, library, many outdoor activities, such as tennis, and five star meals prepared by your own in-house chef.

All suites have views of the majestic Indian Ocean and the bathrooms have a bathtub which floats over a pond, complete with a waterfall and nearby garden.

The Estate has been featured in many magazines, such as Architectural Digest Italy and Elle Decor Germany.

Looking for an unforgettable wedding location?

You can marry high above the waves, overlooking the endless Indian waters. It's a dream come true!

I also have this Estate listed under Wedding Planning on my LINKS page. Be sure to check out my LINKS page for lots of resources and inspiration about Bali and it's surrounding islands. I am constantly updating it and if you have some great links to share about Bali, or Indonesia in general, please comment here or email me.

All images taken from Khayangan Estate's website.

Indonesia's National Parks (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-26T08:30:00.000+08:00

Did you know Indonesia has 50 National Parks? Crazy, right? Not really, I guess, when you consider that Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands, though only 922 are inhabited.

Komodo National Park

Wakatobi Marine National Park

Komodo National Park

Teluk Cenderawasih National Park

Palung National Park

Way Kambas National Park

Komodo National Park

Indonesia has marine parks, wildlife safari's, rain forests, biodiversity parks, coral reefs...so much beauty is spread throughout the Indonesian archipelago and it's all so valuable and rare. Wouldn't it be wonderful to take some tours to visit these magnificent sites and get up close to these beautiful creatures?

Where would you visit? What would you want to see?

Balinese Wedding (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000+08:00

Photo of the day: a beautiful Balinese Wedding Portrait.

Image taken from HERE.

The Beauty of Bali (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-24T13:00:00.000+08:00

You always read about how Bali is a special place, unlike any other, but what makes Bali so special?

People often ask me this very question and it's actually quite hard to answer. There is just something wonderful and special about the island that you have to experience for yourself to realize.

Personally, I love the food, the sunsets, the "mood", but Bali has a lot to offer, including arts, smiling faces, exotic landscapes, endless heat, surfer's dream waves, music for all ears and ages to enjoy, as well as lots of culture.

Images taken from HERE, though I noticed many are watermarked by baliwww.

Are You The Winner? (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-23T22:04:00.000+08:00

You could be a winner! If you ALREADY follow my blog (on google, Facebook or Twitter), please READ THIS POST and leave a comment to say, "I follow your blog!" That's all you have to do for a chance to win a fabulous prize! Only one week left to enter!

Of course, if you aren't following my blog yet, now's a great time to join in!

CLICK ON THIS LINK, scroll towards the bottom and you will see a white box that says "ENTER YOUR COMMENT". Type your comment there and select a profile in the drop down box, such as google or anonymous.

If you select anonymous, make sure to type your name and email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. Then click "PUBLISH".

Good Luck Everyone!

Bali in LA (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-22T13:00:00.001+08:00

A 1940's house in Santa Monica has been given new life by it's owners.

After several years of reconstructing and $500,000, they were able to turn their English-style home into a fabulous bali-isnpired retreat.

The garden and master bedroom are just beautiful!

You can read the full article HERE and see the complete photo gallery HERE.

Images taken from LA TIMES.

A Thank You (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000+08:00

You may remember THIS WEDDING I featured on my blog by Yu-Shan with Ambi Photography in Singapore.

Well, I received the sweetest email from him thanking me for featuring his work. He said,

Hi Anna,

Wow, I'm totally flattered that you featured my Bali wedding on your blog.

And I'm envious and amazed how you made the move there. I agree that there's something magical and different about the sunset, air and skies in Bali despite being 2 hours away from Singapore.

Take care!

Yu-Shan

ambi photography

Singapore

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing him with the world again!

Be sure to check out his site for more amazing weddings!

Looking For A Villa? (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-21T13:00:00.000+08:00

I just came across this beautiful open air villa online and yes, it's for SALE!

It's located in Canggu, the south of the Bali. It has 4 bedrooms, a swimming pool and views of the beach and the Indian Ocean! Nice!

If you were buying a villa, what features would you want it to have?

Photos taken from HERE.

Ikat & A Balinese Daybed (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-21T00:22:00.000+08:00

I'm loving this outdoor room!

You can create a similar look in your own home with exotic prints, aged wooden furniture, tropical plants, bamboo blinds...and don't forget a nice jute rug to top it off!

Image taken from House2Home

Breast Milk Courier In Indonesia (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-20T13:00:00.000+08:00

Hello everyone! I hope you have all had a great week and are gearing up for your weekend. Today, I want to share with you something a little different. I came across an article on Reuters and thought it was just too unique not to share.

There's a new courier in town...well, in Jakarta. The courier service caters to working women in Indonesia by picking up their freshly pumped breast milk and delivering it to the residence of their child's careprovider. And what better way to travel through the chaotic and pollution stained streets of Jakarta, then by motorbike.

Living in Indonesia has made me look at many things differently, some positive and some negative, but one thing that has stood out here, as compared to America, is the positive push for breastfeeding. It doesn't matter where you are, if a child's hungry, you feed them...there's no indecency there. Women here are praised for breastfeeding and many continue to breastfeed up to and well past the child's first birthday. Though the article does state the number of women breastfeeding in Indonesia has dropped over the recent years. On top of it all, we all know how expensive formula can be and it's no different here in Indonesia where over half of the population lives below the poverty level.

If you are interested in reading the article, you can check it out HERE.

Happy Friday Everyone!

Villa Semadhi Bali (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-19T13:52:00.000+08:00

I was contacted by a reader who owns a beautiful villa in Bali. It's available for rent and she wants to share it on From Bali With Love.

It is located in Pemuteran, northern Bali and sits right on the beach, so you can have the tranquil ocean at your front yard and Bali's northern mountains in your backyard.

The villa has 4 suites, a large garden and staff on call to help you.

You can see more of Villa Semadhi on Flickr or you can visit Villa Semadhi's website to book your getaway!

Thank you Jane for sharing your villa with us!

Bali Wedding (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-18T21:03:00.001+08:00

Have you ever dreamed of getting married in Bali?

Well, today I'm happy to share with you these beautiful wedding photos I came across online. The funny thing is, I've been to this very villa before when my husband performed for a couple's reception (he's a singer). The villa is in Uluwatu, the south of Bali and it is fabulous! Enjoy!

More Bali Weddings coming soon! :)

Photos take from the awesome site, Rock n' Roll Bribe!

Is Indonesia Twitter's #1 Hotspot? (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-18T13:00:00.000+08:00

I recently came across an article that states Indonesia could be the "chattiest nation" as far as Twitter is concerned. I'd have to say it's a very likely possibility, as Indonesia has a population of over 238 million people. Just goes to show you how important an online presence is in today's society.

But don't take my word for it, check out the article for yourself to decide.

Image taken from HERE.

Beautiful Free GIVEAWAY! (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-18T04:35:00.000+08:00

Today I have exciting news...to say thank you, I'm giving one lucky reader a beautiful LOVE print from MadeByGirl. Jen Ramos is the owner of MadeByGirl and if you aren't familiar with her work, you can check out her shop HERE and she has a fabulous blog by the same name.

Here are some examples of the beautiful LOVE print:

Her work has been featured in numerous magazines and blogs worldwide.

There's 5 different ways you can WIN:

One entry: follow my blog by clicking JOIN THIS SITE in the top left column and leave a comment here letting me know you are a follower of my blog and what color LOVE print you want. Go TO THIS LINK to see all 10 color options!

Second entry: follow my Twitter, tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know.

Third entry: follow my Facebook Fan Page and leave a comment letting me know.

Fourth entry: follow me on NetworkedBlogs and leave a comment letting me know.

Fifth entry: follow Jen's blog at MadeByGirl and leave a comment letting me know.

EXAMPLE: "I follow your blog on Facebook or I tweeted about your giveaway"

This giveaway ends February 1 at midnight (Bali time). The winner will be announced shortly after.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

All images taken from MadeByGirl.

Holidays in Hell? (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-17T13:00:00.000+08:00

Yup! That's the title, by TIME Magazine, "Holidays in Hell: Bali's Ongoing Woes (Indonesia struggles amid a surge in tourism)". It's actually a very well written and honest article, if you would like to read it.

In a nutshell, the article touches on Bali's biggest issues: water shortages, frequent blackouts, liter problems, pollution, over population and terrible traffic. It's true, Bali has definitely gotten worst on some levels in the 5 years that I've been familiar with the island. Though the article blames this "woe" on too many tourists, and I would agree, I also blame Bali's issues on poor planning, too much development too fast, use of poor materials and lack of education in all areas.

Bali seems to be currently taking appropriate steps to make some significant changes in the roads, future developments, electricity, transportation and a newly renovated airport, to name a few. Let's hope Bali can come out on top and shine again in a few short years.

Read can read the in-depth article HERE.

Bali's Best 5 Hidden Beaches (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-16T12:21:00.000+08:00

Have you ever been to Bali? Which beach is your favorite?

Most everyone who travels here knows Kuta Beach, as it's the most popular tourist hangout and a favorite spot to gather in the evening to watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean. If you travel here with young children, Nusa Dua's Geger Beach is a good spot as the ocean water is quite calm and relaxing for child's play.

Well CNN Go recently published an article about Bali's Best 5 Hidden Beaches. Want to know which beaches made the cut? I'll be happy to give you a preview.

Balangun Beach

Geger Beach

Bias Tugal Beach

Ungasan Beach

Amed Beach

I am lucky enough to have visited 3 of these 5 beaches. The remaining two, Bias Tugal Beach and Amed Beach, are on my list of next stops.

The article not only shows you the beaches, but also tells you how to find them and what to expect, so be sure to check out CNN Go's article on Bali's Best 5 Hidden Beaches.

Photos taken from CNN Go.

Hello Again (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-16T11:56:00.001+08:00

So sorry for my absence as I've been quite busy the last few months. I took a trip to Singapore, enjoyed some quality family time over the holiday season, and to top off the recently new months chaos, we have welcomed our second baby girl into the world.

Her name is Ziva.

And you may remember our first born, Akira, who is almost 2!

So, between Akira and Ziva, my life is quite full, but never fear! I have some amazing posts planned for you all coming up soon, so stay tuned!

Happy 2012! (From Bali With Love)

2012-01-01T13:09:00.001+08:00

Happy New Year 2012!

W Resort & Spa, Bali
Photo taken from HERE

Want to know where I've been? Stay tuned for the next post! I have lots of news to share.

Iconic...Irreplaceable

2011-10-10T07:13:00.001+08:00

There have been many posts and articles circulating the web regarding the tragic death of Steve Jobs. I was not one of the lucky few to have known him personally, but after everything I've read about him over the past several years, he seemed like such an amazing man, intelligent beyond his years and truly passionate, not only for his family but for his drive in life, his career and bringing the world truly top notch products.

So, I just wanted to share this article with you all. I think it's one of the best written I've read yet and something in it just touched me so here it is. Enjoy and to Mr. Steve Jobs: Goodnight, until we meet again...

Image and article can be found at Unplggd.