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“Oceans” by Hillsong

oceans

I love Hillsong United so much (last referenced here). One of my favorite songs of all time is “Oceans” from their most recent CD. My friend, Brooke, sent me this live version, and I have watched it more times than I could count. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I listen to this song – “You’ve never failed, and You won’t start now.” What could be more encouraging than that? I highly recommend this song – whether you are religious or not.

I hope you all have an amazing Easter weekend. 2014 is one of the rare years when Serbian Easter and Protestant Easter align, so we are heading to Galveston to celebrate with Sasha’s family, then jetting back to spend the rest of the day with my family. What Easter traditions do you have?

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m_sWJQm2fs]

Gray Malin on One Kings Lane

Joy to the world – a Gray Malin Far & Away sale on One Kings Lane! I have honestly clicked on each picture ten thousand times. I really want to get one for our living room, but I cannot decide which one to buy! The sale prices are amazing. I cannot get over how perfectly he captures these unique scenes from mountain top skiers to sheep in the desert. I only have four more days to decide. Which one of the prints is your favorite? If you’re not subscribed to One Kings Lane, you should!

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Previous Gray Malin post on S&MT here

Balinese Cuisine

For the best seafood on the island, any Balinese native will point you toward Jimbaran Bay. We hopped in a cab one night and headed to this gorgeous sandy beach which is lined with seafood restaurants where you literally hand pick your dinner (this is far beyond my vegetarian mind can grasp). Sasha loved it and definitely over indulged (see photographic evidence below) at Kampoeng Restaurant.

The following day, we were picked up at 6am from the hotel and went to a local market, where we met up with our cooking class and instructor from Bumbu Bali. Heinz von Holzen is the Swiss man who runs the show – and we (especially Sasha) loved him. We were gone for 9 hours and loved every single second. We shopped in the local markets for fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, all the while learning about the local Balinese culinary customs. We headed to Heinz’s bed and breakfast, where we spent the latter half of the class learning how to prepare 20 traditional Balinese meals. We were both in awe of Heinz’s passion towards food and left inspired to recreate the dishes we made in class (and devoured after). It was one of our five favorite things we did on the trip. I recommend anyone traveling to Bali to take this class!

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Sunset at Jimbaran Bay

DSC_0641Loving the soft white sand on my toes

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Sasha working it

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Sasha at Kampoeng Seafood where we ate dinner

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Deciding which poor lobster to eat

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Weighing his dinner for the night

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Please see Sasha’s snapper, shrimp and lobster (eyes bigger than the belly)DSC_0667

The most gorgeous sunset

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Heinz showing us the local spices

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Gorgeous colors in the market

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A local Balinese woman preparing rice religious offerings

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Bali bananas are all this tiny

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Traditional Balinese flower offerings that you will see everywhere on the island

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We used plenty of these gorgeous peppers in our cooking class

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Another local Balinese woman prepares another type of Hindu offering

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Getting ready to get his hands dirty

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Preparing the vegetarian peanut sauce salad

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The vegetarian end result (heaven on earth)

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Certified Balinese chefs (i.e. we have a certificate!)

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Sasha demonstrating the hardships of the sulphur porters of Indonesia (read more here)

Initial Bali Snapshots

I’m in love with Bali. It’s truly one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited, and the people here could not be any nicer. I’m a little behind on posting, so I’ve compiled our first few days in one post and will share additional pictures from our cooking class, trip to Padang Padang beach (where they filmed Eat, Pray, Love), dinner at Jimbaran Bay, and elephant ride soon.

Food

Eight Degrees South – great Mediterranean food
Suku – tasty Asian cuisine with nightly Balinese dance performances
Azure – our poolside go-to for lunch
East – a casual dining spot at the Conrad
Sakala – a phenomenal food experience – a trust “must” in Bali
Lakeview Cafe – delicious Asian buffet with breathtaking views
2Day Cafe – as close to a warung (local restaurant) as we’ve tried – great veggies
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Experiences

Relaxing at the gorgeous Conrad Bali lagoon pool and beach
Eating miso soup and drinking freshly squeezed mango juice for breakfast
Practicing outdoor yoga and exploring Nusa Dua by foot
Watching the awe-inspiring Devdan Show (think Cirque du Soleil + So You Think You Can Dance?)
Trying fresh Luwak coffee (read this to find out how it’s made)
Exploring the Balinese coffee plantation, Santi
Witnessing a perfect rainbow between Mt. Agung and Mt. Batur (sleeping volcano)
Trying lots of fresh fruit (except the stinky durian fruit – see Sasha eating it below)
Enjoying the cultural Barong and Kris Dance performance
Our favorite so far – praying in Bali’s holiest water at Tirta Empul
 

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Morning view from our room

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Where you’ll find us (every second day – 50% culture, 50% tan!)

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Temple style watch guard points

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I’m never leaving

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Miso and mango for breakfast

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Onsite temple

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Practicing my yoga moves (outside of the 7:30 Sunrise Yoga class)

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My poolside Summer Salad and Sasha’s hamburger – is there anything better?

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At the Kris and Barong Performance

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Evil and Pure Spirits are fighting (can’t you tell?)

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Amazing costumes in play at the performance

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Two of the main performers

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Waiting to pray in the holy springs at Tirta Empul

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Lots of people and things to be praying for

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Sasha looks darn good in a sarong (I’m totally biased)

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Trying teas and coffees at Santi Plantation

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The freshly picked coffee beans and spices at Santi

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In front of Mt. Batur

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A gorgeous rainbow outside of Lakeview

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Sasha being brave and trying durian

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Me being less brave and trying mangosteen

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Durians look as unappealing as they smell (and taste!)

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 presetMy only picture at Devdan before getting scolded for taking pictures!