Bali - the North Coast

After four days of lounging in the South of Bali we packed up our stuff into our rented "Avanza" and drove up to the north coast. The North is not very touristy.... but has an excellent beach and was a great place to stay for 3 days.

On the drive up we stopped off at the Hindu-Buddhist temple know as Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, located on the shores of Lake Bratan in the middle of the island.


After a long drive it was nice to check into a small hotel right on the beach.


Icha and Bella take a swim!


Bella enjoyed playing with her sand toys on the beach.


Another gorgeous sunset....

More Bali

On days three and four of our trip to Bali we headed to Legian beach... a much more 'touristy' area. We had a great couple of days there loafing on the beach, going swimming in our hotel pool and eating out... and of course gorging ourselves on the hotel breakfast buffet!

Bella and Icha get ready for plate number 12 at the buffet.


Mark helps Bella learn how to swim. She can now swim alone for about 5 seconds before sinking!


Bella gets ready to swim off by herself.


We spent the afternoons on the beach... Bella got her hair braided!


After a rough day of lounging around in 'paradise' Bella was ready to curl up with a good video.

Bali - dinner on the beach

On our second night in Bali we headed out to the shores of Jimbaran Bay to have dinner on the beach. It was a beautiful setting and quite possibly the best seafood both Icha and I have eaten. Fresh fish and prawns caught in the ocean that day... all bbq'd to order!

Icha and Bella smile on the shore below the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay Resort... the place that only the privileged few can dream to stay.


Icha barters for a good price!


Meal time... look at that scrumptious spread. All for just under $30usd. Sensational.


The Indomurnanes take a moment to smile.


After such a fantastic meal... we needed to have an equally opulent dessert.

Bali 2008!

After working ever so diligently on our house for 4 weeks, it was time for a vacation! With Bali only a hop, skip and a jump away... how could we say no? For two weeks we tooled around this great island and had a sensational time.

This is the first of several reports on our holiday in paradise.

Days 1 and 2:

We spent the first two night of our trip in Sanur. Sanur is about 30 minutes from the airport and is a relaxed resort area on the southeast coast.




Bella and Icha settle in for the hour and a half plane flight.


Selamat Datang di Bali! (Welcome to Bali)


On the morning of our second day Icha hung out on the porch of our bungalow. Is she alone....?


Nothing like a foot massage to start off the day!


Bella and Icha walk around the grounds of our first hotel.

Summer Camp Comes to an End

Tomorrow is Bella's last day at her "Tutor Time Summer Explorer Club." For the past three weeks Bella has been attending this pre-school program from 8am to noon.

Bella smiles in front of the Tutor Time building... located just north of Pondok Indah Mall.


Bella calls for the elevator to ride up to the top floor.


Bella proudly shows off her cubby in which she stores important things like her snack, her drink and her stuffed animals.


Computers! Right up there with chocolate, Dora and her parents as Bella's favorite things.


Bella smiles with Ms. Natalie, one of her teachers.


With the end of her summer camp that means it's time for a nice holiday.... we head for Bali on Sunday for 2 weeks!

In Pursuit of Perfection

In conjunction with his life long pursuit of finding the 'world's greatest donut' --- Mark also has a perpetual goal of finding the world's best cup of coffee. While currently the 'maple macadamia nut' donut on offer at Agnes' bakery in Kailua, Oahu ranks as the number one donut.... this morning Mark had a cup of joe that sits right up there with the best: a cup of authentic Toraja coffee at the Kafe Toraja located in the Passaraya department store in South Jakarta.

Tucked in a corner on the 5th floor of the sprawling Passaraya, Kafe Toraja provides the real stuff.


Toraja coffee comes from the Toraja region of north Sulawesi.


Real Toraja coffee is made using a traditional reverse brew method handed down for generations. As the water boils it is drawn upward into the finely ground coffee beans.


To ensure the coffee is served at the highest quality a well trained Toraja coffee attendant must pour the magical elixir with the greatest of care.


A great cup of coffee! Far better than Starbucks... and almost on par with the pinnacle of commercial brew: Peets.

A Glorious Moment

Yesterday was a great day in Cluster Gunung Raya as a special 'package' was delivered to us!

The truck arrived.... what could it be?


Oh yes... here comes our baby!


Bella was very excited to see such a lovely couch set up in our living room.


Thumbs up! I stayed on this bad boy until 3:30am last night... good thing my only responsibility these days is finding a good cup of coffee in the morning.