Having just left a quiet, jungle paradise, the the chaos and people of Ubud was a strange site. I wondered how we would get to a hotel that advertised itself as a retreat and boasted peace and tranquillity. Then, just as quickly as we entered the madness, we left it. Just a few minutes later,…
For those who know my family, they know my husband is the cook. I can cook…if I have days to plan, shop, prep, and have all the ingredients in front of me and plenty of time to do it. My husband can make a meal from the ingredients of the kitchen in 30 minutes. Since…
Being married to an Indian, especially one who is a huge Carnatic music fan, I had seen my share of Indian classical dancing. Precise movements, vivid facial expressions, and elaborate costumes. From what I researched on line, Balinese dancing was similar. But I was in for a surprise and treat when we were taken to…
Our first day in Ubud promised to be a fun experience and I can unequivocally say it did not disappoint. Our awesome guide from Destination Asia picked us up at 9am from the Wapa di Ume, and we headed in our ridiculously large van for about an hour outside Ubud. There we were welcomed into…
The drive from Bali Barat National Park to Ubud was four hours of long curvy roads. We, and more importantly the guide and travel agent, knew that the kids could not do that in one go, especially during the daytime. So we factored in two stops, The twin lakes and Ulun Danu Baratan Temple. Our…
It was dark and late when we pulled into the dirt road that lead to The Menjangan Resort. All we saw was dirt roads, tall trees and eyes in the darkness. Where was this they were taking us? Then, out of a clearing we saw the tall Bali tower with it’s soft cushions and chairs,…
Still somewhat jet lagged from our 24+ hour trip out to the Bali Barat National Park, it was easy to handle the 5:45 AM wake up call. Our amazing guide from Destination Asia, Mr. G, was there ready to take us to our first excursion of our Bali trip. We were driven a short distance…
My husband and horses do NOT have a good history together. Back in 2005, when were were driving across the country, we stopped to visit a friend in Jackson. They took us horse back riding through the valley. My husband was not confident and the horse knew it. At some point the horse wanted to…
When I turned 30 I was happy. I was pregnant with my first child. I had a job I loved. My life was in a trajectory toward success and fulfillment. I loved turning 30. Fast forward 10 years. Life…is not quite as happy. My career has stalled. I’m not finding fulfillment in my work I…
Growing up along the Jersey Shore, I grew up with the boardwalk. To me the boardwalk is funnel cake, pizza, carnival games, and rides. It’s walking along the shore, feeling the ocean breeze, as you spend quality time with friends and family. I have fond memories as a child, walking along with my parents and…
A long expanse of clean sand with waves of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and lines of motels on the other, it’s a beautiful place to spend the day soaking in sun, playing in sand, and enjoying the water. Plus, if you are lucky you’ll see a little wildlife as well. The nice thing…
We had a tiny window. Dad was recovering well from surgery, almost back to his old self and energy level. But he was due to start radiation soon. My stepsister and her daughter were in town just as my children were able to join me on the East Coast. My dad, from whom I got…
As my regular readers know, I have been taking some time to take care of my father after he had a 9+ hour maxillectomy surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering to remove a stage 4 tumor. During that time, I spent over a week fairly close to the hospital, spending 12-14 hours a day in the area.…
“Closed? What do you mean it’s closed?” That was my reaction when we walked up to the Folsom History Museum on Memorial Day. You see, I was looking for a new day trip adventure with my family. We’ve done Old Town Sacramento. A lot. We did the train museum, the history museum, the steam train…
For the first time in forever, I have no idea how the summer will play out. I have two weeks of camp scheduled and that’s it. I have a one way plan ticket to New Jersey. I have two weeks booked in Bali, but one hand on the travel insurance policy in case it all…
