A special ‘friend’ comes to dinner in Bali *

*FYI: this is a pretty graphic post so be forewarned!
Oh and don't forget to scroll down the blog for new posts!!!



Pic 1: Left to right: Mum, my sister Marcia and her partner Leon
Pic 2: Mum at a temple.
Pic 3: Marcia and Leon.
Pic 4: Final BBQ dinner at the villa.


So I was very, very, VERY happy to have my family come to meet me in Bali. They had to fly 18, 000 Km through three different cities, three countries, and over the Pacific Ocean to do it but we all agreed the jet lag plus the loss of two days was worth the hassle! I think I just made flying out to Bali from Canada sound pretty awful haven't I - Sorry about that. My Mum and sister both assured me that it's really not that bad. Mind you they are travelers AND troopers so they wouldn't make a big deal of it, and were surprisingly well rested by the time they made it to the villa! Man, if that was me it would not be pretty as I have a LOT of trouble sleeping on planes but I digress.

The time flew by so fast though! In the short time they were in Bali they managed to really explore the Island, visiting places like Ubud, Seminyak, Kuta and a few other areas. We had dinner at Sarong; an Indian-South Asian – Balinese fusion (I know, I was like huh? too but it's pretty good food) hotspot in Seminyak. We also dined at Kuni's Bali; a very nice Japanese restaurant and a few other great places. We went shopping (Seminyak is crazy good with the variety of stores you can browse) where I managed to find some fantastic artwork (finally). It really was an amazing time together but what I really wanted to share was a story about our last day together before my sister and her boyfriend had to fly home.

Look at this spread below, doesn't it look so damn tasty?


It was a specially prepared BBQ dinner made right in our Villa by the staff at the resort. The table was set by the pool, and we were provided with a real Balinese feast: Indonesian fried rice (Nasi Goreng); chicken satay with peanut sauce; spinach with peppers and garlic; bbq'd whole red snapper and prawns with garlic sauce, and; fresh fruit for dessert!! Just an incredible and tasty looking spread. Mum, Marcia and Leon tucked in. I ate none of it. Oh I had a few bites but it wasn't because I didn't like it. Hell no, I would have loved to have wolfed it all down, and knock back a few dark rum and cokes while I was doing it.

Sadly, it wasn't meant to be because there was a problem developing that day (starting when I woke up) that turned into a real issue that evening. Ya see, the previous night Leon and I were in the mood for – wait for it: McDonalds. So we ordered it from the local Mc'D's outpost and had it delivered to the villa. Yeah, I know, but it was a craving and if you've been reading the blog long enough you're aware that I've actually gone hunting for it so you shouldn't be surprised that the McDonalds head would rear itself sooner or later on this trip.

Surprisingly, and shockingly come to think of it, when the food arrived at the villa, I was a bit cagey about eating it. My instincts said this just didn't look nor smell right, but whatever, I was hungry so I ate it anyway. Ghus began the fun from hell. I woke up the next morning and I thought I was hung-over from drinking too many rums and cokes the night before. After careful examination of the bottle and recollecting my drinking behaviour with my family, I knew that was simply not the cause of the body chills and nausea.

As the day went on I felt progressively worse and worse, and then I knew – I just knew what 'it' was that was making me feel like shit. That careless 'whatever' dismissal plus ignoring of the usually right instincts regarding my first impression of last nights' McD's ended up costing me:

1. Three days and nights of stomach aches ranging from begging God to "please stop the pain" to just plain agony;
   
2. The wearing of a cardigan in plus 32 degree weather to stop the shivering;
   
3. Lying on the sofa, the floor of the bathroom, the bed, anywhere that could provide comfort for said aching stomach – none worked – why? Because;
   
4. Constant throwing up combined with diarrhea equaled no relaxation and WAY too many trips to the washroom to count;
   
5. Four additional nights of no solid foods - actually no food at all;
   
6. Six doses of Cipri, the antibiotic (thank GOD for Cipri, Imodium does NOTHING!!) and, finally;
   
7. Vats and vats of water and juice to replace what was lost from my system only for it to leave me again the minute it hit my sore stomach.
   

I'm sorry for the graphic descriptions but I have never ever been as sick from food as I was after eating that Big Mac. Now can you guess who the special friend was that came to dinner? That's right, my good friend; food poisoning. Oh FP, I thought you were gone forever after Vietnam but nope, you decided to return with a vengeance. On the bright side, only getting sick twice after eight months of travel is a damn miracle!! One more thing: I won't be hunting for McDonalds for a long time to come. Yeah, the craving, the desire, it's gone, gone, gone.

As for Leon? Luckily he came out relatively unscathed (damn him – joking, sort of!!)

So that was my last couple of days in Bali – nice way to end a holiday don't you think? Still despite that awful experience and it was awful, let there be no doubt about that, it was an amazing time with my family. I was so glad they could come.

After Mar and Leon left, a few days later my Mum and I made our way to Australia. Although my stomach was not fully recovered when we did make the move all I can say is thank God the worst of it happened before we had to get on that plane. I don't even want to imagine what the plane journey would have been like having to suffer and share puking and chronic diarrhea with God knows how many other people well aware of your 'issues', ugh <<he shudders at the thought>>.

Ok enough 'd' and 'p' talk. Next up: Aussie, Aussie, Aussie – Oi, Oi, Oi! Yep, kind of an annoying chant but you can't escape it and as they say, when in Rome right? Could be worse - I could serenade you with my version of Waltzing Matilda and NOONE wants that!

Cooking in Bali – Part 2

Please scroll down for Post 1 regarding cooking in Bali!!

Now we get down to it! This Balinese cooking class was conducted outdoors by Sous Chef Pegeg Adnyana of the Alila Manggis Resort which was a nice change from regular cooking classes typically held inside. Before we started Chef gave about an hour long presentation on the various foods, herbs and spices used to make a typical Balinese meal which in hind-site was awesome because in most cooking classes you usually get a quick overview of information before you dive right in (which is fine too)!! I honestly thought it was extremely informative to get a first hand, up-close view and description, as well as smell and taste the various ingredients that typically go into a Balinese meal. I did wonder for a bit if he was going to give us an exam afterwards though - yes it was THAT thorough! Still I learned a lot from him and after the class managed to have a quick talk with him. I haven't decided if I'll post that interview - time permitting I will!
Here are few pics from the presentation:

Pic. 1 - Chef giving the demo; Pic. 2 - various fresh vegetables and herbs used in Balinese cooking including leeks, green onion, garlic, red and green peppers, lemongrass, ginger-root and fresh tumeric (which is mostly to colour the rice); Pic. 3 – beans and lentils ; Pic 4 - 5 types of Rice: the coloured rice's are mostly used for making desserts.

The cooking class itself was about three hours long (!) in which I and another student went through about five to six recipes, all combined to make a pretty damn delicious lunch.

We made: Bumbu Bali which is used to flavor everything!! Sate Ayam (chicken skewers); Bumbu Kacang or peanut sauce for the satays; Kare Tahu Dan Tempe or curry of tofu and, lastly; Nasi Goreng or Indonesian Fried Rice. If you want the recipe, please email me and I'll be happy to send it along!



The final result!!


Next up: A special visitor returns on my final days in Bali!

Cooking in Bali – Part 1

I know I've been super quiet with the blog but I assure you I haven't dropped the ball or in this case, pot - get it?? Because I'm talking about cooking? Dropping the pot? Good one eh? Ugh, yup, ahhh, anyway, I admit I have been late trying to get pics, stories and stuff onto the blog because being in Bali made me not want to do it!!Fine, ok, I just didn't feel like it when the sun was beckoning and the beach and the pool ….I'm attempting to catch up now!

First up: Visit to the food market and a day of cooking at in Mangiss. The market was chaotic but cool and a real taste of what was to come in cooking class. I picked up a few things for myself (vanilla pods, peppercorns and macadamia nuts) as it is so much cheaper buying that stuff here (particularly macadamia nuts) than at home. I loved the visit though – look at all the beautiful colours of the food being sold. You just feel like buying everything!!!

New Ways but Love Stays

I love this post heading. I can't take credit for it as it's an old (and great) 70's Supremes album name, but I can say that it perfectly sums up what's been happening to me these past three years.

Tomorrow, March 15,^th will be the third year of my partners passing from Leukemia. New ways indicates all the new things that have happened since then in my attempts to carry on without Robbie: new career (culinary); new adventures (travelling around the world); new friends; basically a new life that admittedly I'm still trying to adjust.

I think I'm handling it much better now, thanks to patience and making decisions that I know are best for me, with no regrets. I don't have that haunted look in my eyes anymore (so I've been told) which is good to know. Slowly but surely, I'm starting to be myself again, albeit with a few changes (ok, ok, we'll call them what they really are: personality quirks), and I'm accepting those too.

And yet - despite all these changes, love stays. I still miss him very much but that's ok, I'm allowed to.

Life can and does change in an instant, whether we like it or not. Having watched what's been happening around the world lately, these terrible events and watching these people on TV or in the papers suffer through loss: families, relatives, friends, people who are dealing or will have to deal with incredible loss; knowing their difficult journey is just beginning - my heart and prayers go out to each and every one of them. It's such a short life isn't it? That's why I'm so grateful to even have had the chance to meet someone like Rob let alone spend that incredible time together. Greed made me want more – time has made me realize I got exactly what I was supposed to get. It's a very harsh/tough lesson to absorb, but I'm starting to get it now.

I love you Robbie. Thank you for inspiring me and giving me the much needed strength and courage to go on with life as best as I can without you in it. Thought you'd be forgotten? HA! Not a chance! J

Rest, sweet pea, rest.

Robert John Robinson
August 17^th, 1971 – March 15^th, 2008.

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunamai

I left Japan about two weeks ago and the recent destruction of parts of Northern and Central Japan just breaks my heart. I was only there for a week but in that time I have grown to love and deeply respect the country and cherished my time there. I have learned a great deal about Japanese resilience from my short time there having had the privilege of meeting local residents, and even ex-pats, and there is a strength of character that may not be persuasively depicted on TV (they're too busy endlessly looping the same thing over and over again) but I know in my heart they'll get through this. My deepest condolences to all the family members and loved ones who have lost their lives in this tragedy, and my prayers and thoughts to those who have survived and remained courageous in the face of this disaster!

Bali = lazy

So I've been in Indonesia now for about what, two weeks? Since my trip to see the Orangutans in Borneo (which believe me was a trek in itself; it took three separate airplane trips just to get there and another three back but it was completely and utterly worth it!!), I've stayed in areas of Bali both in and outside the main touristy spots – specifically in the towns of Ubud and Mangiss (special hello to Ian and Lydia – fantastic couple from the UK who I had the pleasure to befriend and spend time with at both places). Mangiss is near the ocean which is a draw in itself! Here's the deal with Ubud. It is supposed to be the spiritual and artistic centre of Bali. It's where you go to find yourself or buy some amazing art - something like that. I wasn't feeling the spiritual thing but I sure did see a lot of tacky stores with so much crap/junk that substitutes as souvenirs/art, whatever they want to call it, geared to tourists but what can you do? The market has spoken so the locals are giving what is being asked for. Sad and depressing. The good news is that it totally put me off shopping which is a VERY good thing.


A little story about my stay in Mangiss. This past weekend was a national holiday called Nyepi, which is a Hindu celebration to mark the New Year. Basically, it's a full 24 hour day and night of contemplation, so the entire Island is shut down and silent including the airport, so if you had to catch a plane that day you were shit outta luck! No traffic; no TV; no loud or any music blaring; no stores, restaurants or cafes open - I think you're getting the picture. No noise at all. So those of us staying at the resort (actually, ANY resort) were not allowed to leave it under any circumstances, barring a medical emergency. It was odd but kinda nice too. At night the lights were turned off (required again to observe the holiday save for a few lights here and there so guests don't kill themselves trying to get to their rooms,)and it was actually quite beautiful to see the stars. Mind you it was anything BUT quiet at the resort thanks to an influx of families and children whose nannies or housekeepers had the day/weekend off to observe the day of quiet. Thank God I escaped the place the following day!



Next stop was Seminyak; apparently THE place to be in Bali. I believe it – designer stores; flashy restaurants; hip little cafes. Very nice indeed!! After a couple of days there I move on to Jimbaran (another hot spot) where my family is flying in from Canada to stay with me for two weeks. I'm very excited about that - I haven't seen them in months!!!

So you wanna know how lazy you can get here in Bali – body AND mind? Well today I was lounging around as you do, nursing a slight hangover thanks to a very tasty dinner and drinks at Ultimo restaurant the night before, totally in sluggish mode when reception called to ask if I was ready to have the porter collect my bags. I'm like what? What are you talking about collect my bags? Check-out isn't until tomorrow! Oops not so fast Stevie – my reservation was until today, not tomorrow. If you could have seen me running around, sweating like crazy as it was hot in the villa (I stupidly turned off the air/con), frantically throwing things in bags (it was 12:30 – check out is at 12). Maybe I can't blame Bali and the heat. Maybe it's just me being forgetful – hmm, concerning…

After that lovely moment (correction: it was stupid Steve, a stupid moment), as I was being driven to Jimbaran I was asking myself where the bloody hell did the time go?? I mean it has been somewhat busy with activities but not nearly the level it was before I came to Bali so what gives? Well, I'm thinking it's just pure laziness on my part and I guess doing nothing makes the time go by faster? Hey that's my theory and I'm sticking to it. Ya know staying at tropical resorts never used to be my thing but now? Oh, I can sure get used to this life. The weather is just so nice; you have an incredible staff around you to pamper you, so as a result I fallen into the trap of one of the seven deadly sins - sloth. I just don't want to do a thing – wait that's not true. I want to lounge around or swim or just sit on the beach and enjoy the sun and warmth. I don't want to do walking tours, hell I don't even want to walk! Case in point; I went to this gourmet food store in Seminyak to get a sandwich for lunch the other day and was so grossly sweating by the time I got there (only ten minutes from my villa too!) I vowed not to do that again, at least not during the day when the heat is at its zenith. Yeah like I'm going to do it at night- who's fooling who here?

Here's why I couldn't be motivated to do anything. Look at it, my own private pool!! So you tell me - would you want to leave it to go walking about in +30 degree weather???


Next up: Balinese Cooking!

Julia Roberts and me in Indonesia!

Ok, maybe it was just me. Ok, so maybe we weren't actually 'together' or anything like that, but we did stay in the same room at this eco lodge in Borneo when I went to see the Orangutans so technically the post headline is kinda true right? Right? Alright, ok, I'm admitting it's a somewhat misleading headline, and I'm really not a celebrity chaser, but you can read the entire Orangutan adventure (which includes a few Julia references)I wrote for the Global Basecamps blog here.

Here are a few photos from the trip to Camp Leakey to see the Orangutans! I'm going to try to post some video as well.






Oh, and one of my photos was selected as the Global Basecamp Blog photo of the month – not too shabby for a VERY amateur photographer eh? You can check that out here!

Coming up!

Ah the usual thing when I say it's been a while since I've posted anything mostly because it HAS been a while and that's just because Bali has slowed me down - but in a very good way. I really haven't done a thing since the trip to the Orangutan reserve. I'm basically lounging around the pool during the day doing absolutely nothing and Irving it. My family will be here in a couple of days to join me for three weeks. Can't believe they're actually going to be here but I'm so glad they are! I haven't forgotten the blog though! Lots coming up including the Orangutan adventure (a story I wrote for the Global Basecamps blog will be linked here – I'll include new photos and hopefully the video worked out so I can post that too) plus a recent photo contest where one of my pics were chosen; a tour of an Indonesian food market; Cooking classes featuring traditional Balinese cuisine plus an interview with one of the Sous Chefs and cooking instructors at the resort I'm currently staying at. I'm also a working on an interview with the fantastic Etsuko, guide extraordinaire and Sake queen from Tokyo. Keep on coming to the blog for updates!!