Secret revealed… my new lover, Bali, has taken a space in my heart. The hush-hush connection continues…
The Sun Disappears So Beautifully in Jimbaran
The plan was to catch the sunset in Kudeta. However, the cab driver we talked to earlier that day suggested Jimbaran instead of Kudeta. Looking at the clouds, he said it would be cloudy in Kudeta that afternoon, besides Kudeta was pretty expensive. We didn’t mind spending more in Kudeta since it was the last night anyway but I had a feeling Jimbaran would be a better choice that day.
Our Usual Postcard Shot 
The cab reached Jimbaran around 6PM. Jimbaran is known for the seafood restaurants along the long stretch of stunning white sand. The cab driver suggested Aroma restaurant, saying it was cheap. It was not THAT cheap actually, but I would have paid double for the food, service and view we had. Orders were placed. The sun started to set…
The Left Side
The Right Side
The Center
The sky is painted with red, pink, orange and blue hues. It was literally the BEST sunset I have ever seen. And I’ve seen a few… in the most beautiful places in the Philippines –Boracay, Anawangin, Calaguas, Bantayan, Malapascua, etc. I don’t think my photo serves it justice but the actual sight keeps me in awe.
I keep gushing about her. There’s something about her that’s so appealing. Or maybe I’m just easy to please… but like any lover, Bali is also eager to please. Bali keeps on enthralling me.
In accord, the heavens seem to expose more of its beauty as its palette change from gray and blue tone… to gray and pink tone with a stroke of blue… to an orange pink and off-whitish hue… magnificently whipping fragments of mixed shades making me think an invisible painter is standing close by.
On the Table
Crab Szechuan
Deep fried crab appetizingly browned and loaded with garlic sautéed in partly sweet partly spicy brown Szechuan sauce.
The Vegetable Siding, Basket of Rice and Sauces
Grilled Corn Cob Rp10,000
I bought this from the corn stall nearby. There are quite a few selling –probably 10 meters apart from each other.
Garlic Fried Chicken
This was Bubba’s order and frankly I don’t remember getting a taste because he finished the whole quarter of a chicken.
More Photos:
This was the most relaxing part of the trip. We stayed in Jimbaran for almost 3 hours soaking in the evening’s quiet breeze and the sea’s lovely presence.
The Allure of Bali
Bali noticeably caught my interest from Day 1. There is a good mixture of different things to do, eat and experience in Bali –each place has its own personality and it’s only within each other’s striking distance. Ubud is a place full of things to love. There’s a lot of splendor to be found in Ubud –from food to talent.
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There are a lot of galleries to go to. It’s such a groovy artist village with numerous stores showcasing the Balinese creativity. Paintings/sculptures are not only a feast for the eyes –they also stimulate the mind and sometimes spark the heart.
How can I forget the very first time I touched tongue with Bali… the crispy duck skin that crackles as one breaks it from the meat… and dissolves deliciously inside the mouth? That first hello was still pretty timid. Things get down and dirty at the sight of Naughty Nuri’s ribs and smooth martini. The charred barbecued ribs emit a distinct flvor that leaves more to be desired. Several hours later we still can’t get it off our mind –like how one can still taste a lover’s lips even after a dozen kisses.
Ibu Oka Babi Guling, running out of roasted suckling pig 5 minutes after we arrived, teased and left me hurting a bit –a reality check that a lover is not here to stay. It’s very elusive and always teases “catch me if you can.” My desire for the tasty pork continues to yearn, almost begging me for another secret rendezvous someday.
Tanah Lot, shopping, surfing and Jimbaran –the list of reason to like her goes on. Bali is a food haven so irresistible that one can’t help but give in to sin.
There is always something about Bali that leaves you with… a lingering effect. I can actually still feel her on my skin. I cling to every warm memory of Bali that has opened my heart anew.
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