AYANA is My Choice!

I know that I am a bloggerina that has too much to say. But in this case, I simply have no words. It is probably the ONLY hotel that I want to stay in when and if I go back to Bali.

OK, I will shut up now and show you the magnificence of AYANA Resort and Spa in Bali. 

 

Now, it might remind you of Shangri-la Boracay but I feel this is twice as awesome. 

A BEAUTIFUL Chapel by the cliff! Once again, I am speechless. 

Now, let me show you what it is like at night.....

Yes, there are a number of aquarium situated by the pool. 

Rock Bar in this hotel is a whole new story. Keep yourself tuned in.

Coffee at Cafe Bali!

One thing I learned about my 2nd trip to Bali is that you really can't go wrong when it comes to food. Almost all restaurants that I ate at served good meals. Presented well and flavorful, rich with Indonesian spices, the only difference is WHERE you eat it. 

One thing you shouldn't miss out on mainly because of the beautiful interior is Cafe Bali. It's a quaint restaurant that makes you feel right at home. 

Beware though because you won't be able to stop taking photos of every corner of the restaurant. 

Although equipped with 2 air conditioners, the whole place is open air. I say, what a waste of electricity, but hey, whatever makes them happy.

One thing you should know is, NOVEMBER is their height of summer. It was scorching and the heat literally drained me of energy. All I wanted to do is sleep! Best time to go to Bali? AUGUST! 

Going back, Cafe Bali serves local dishes, dimsum, soups and all sorts of goodies. It was good enough to satisfy our hunger with a smile on our faces but nothing to write home about. 

I suggest coffee and dessert for Cafe Bali. Remember, not all restaurants serve decaffeinated coffee but this one does. Save your hunger for the other places I am about to post. 

Love love love the chandelier! 

Loved it so much that I couldn't stop taking photos of it! 

 

Food wise, I give it a 3. 

Cafe Bali

 Jl. Laksmana - Oberoi Next to Khaima 

Seminyak 

Phone: 0361 736 484

Reunion at UNION.

This photo courtesy of The Yummy Traveler.

Our first night in Jakarta was a dinner at UNION in Plaza Senayan. It is the hottest place to be right now and TR knew exactly what I wanted. First class service and really delicious food. The place was packed! Even though we had reservations, we had to wait around 10 minutes for our table to be cleared up. Apparently, the diners just don't want to leave the restaurant and if I weren't so tired, I wouldn't have wanted to either. 

This is what we had.

Salmon that melts in your mouth. The sauce and salad made the dish perfect. 

Although they tried to make it look presentable, the TURKEY (seasonal) came out a bit of a mess but once we took a bite, it really didn't matter because it was tender, juicy and oh so yummy!

Foie gras! These two words are heavenly enough. 

This dish is actually quite simple but made complicated, in a good way. The noodles and soup taste quite similar to an instant noodle soup such as Lucky Me, Payless, etc.... BUT what made it extra special is the slice of Foie Gras, fresh mushrooms and crackers on the top. Outstanding! 

Gotta have them seafood! Seabass with huge scallops! MUST TRY!

My BFF's, TR and DL, reunion in Jakarta! 

What I don't love about it? Although it is open air, they allow smoking inside, even if it is also considered a family diner. 

I give it a 4-star. (Naks! Self-declared food critic)

UNION

Phone: (021) 5790-5861
Fax: (021) 5790-5863
Plaza Senayan, 1st Fl Unit Sogo
Jl. Asia Afrika No. 8, Jakarta

PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS, 2011!

I love it when the fashion industry gets involved with any kind of Awareness programs especially when that company sells products that I love. For me, it is hitting two birds with one stone. I shop and therefore I help. 

In this case, PEDRO, a brand that embodies modern luxury and style with a line of footwear and accessories in a smart twist of timeline classic with international influence for men and women, is the fashion brand that I am talking about. 

Ever since the first case was discovered in 1981, AIDS has taken a devastating toll worldwide. A total of 33.2 million people who are HIV-positive are living with this fatal disease with new cases discovered each year. World AIDS Day – 1 December has become one of the most meaningful days of observance since 1988. It is also a key opportunity for the various voices in the world to raise awareness of the dangers of this disease and how it affects innocent lives.

Pedro is pleased to collaborate with Youth AIDS Filipinas Alliance (YAFA), with the launch of the PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS campaign. This movement aims to support the advocacy programs of YAFA. YAFA has been educating the public about HIV & AIDS, its modes of transmission and prevention. They are actively promoting HIV testing. They are also empowering the youth, both HIV positive and negative, to be proactive on the issue of HIV & AIDS in the Philippines.

To commemorate this meaningful campaign, Pedro is launching a pair of specially designed loafers for the men and ballet flats for the ladies. The PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS notebook (available in red and white) will be added to this exclusive collection to further stress on the importance of safe sex.

The loafers will be retailing for Php 3595 and ballet flats for Php 2595. 

The notebook will be sold at Php 450.

25% of the sales will be donated to YAFA.

The exclusive PEDRO FIGHTS AIDS collection will be available at all Pedro stores nationwide starting 1 December 2011.

Make a difference today and join this campaign to stop AIDS, to end suffering and inequities as results of HIV-related stigma and discrimination. It may be difficult, but PEDRO and I strongly believe it will help us to make a positive change to this global epidemic with every single helping hand and kind contribution received.

In truth, I really am loving the flats! The loafers look really cool! For PEDRO's FIGHTS AIDS Campaign, not only do I have more of what I love, I get to help spread awareness. Nothing can beat that. Buy na! Now na now na!