Jimbaran Puri Bali where the birds have a buffet

This bird will actually swallow this fish whole.  Honest.  It stays alive and wiggles in his throat for a long time.  I watched.

Bird battling with a fish it is trying to eat.

At breakfast I watched this bird eat not just one fish out of the pond but 2!  I have video of this phenomenon as well.

I didn't even care that it was about to rain.  I am not a sun worshipper anyway.  This was much more interesting weather and I enjoyed the breezes while just laying around- a rare thing for me to do with so much awaiting right outside the doors...

Aaaaaah.

A view of the beach and the ocean 

This is the outdoor spa.  It was hysterical.  the massage tables are inside each of these huts and the white curtain area is the reception.  you are supposed to feel completely private in the hut but I felt completely exposed.  The ocean is just to the right of the these "buildings"  Of course I had to experience it.  It was a very good massage even if I felt there were people watching.

The beach at Jimbaran Bay which was very private and quiet with bar service at all times

I bought these two protectors that will go on either side of the Bali bed in the garden.  They are also at Bali Frog in Bhatu Balan awaiting shipping instructions.  I actually think all of these pictures will post in the opposite order I want them too.  Please scroll to the bottom and start there!!

Oh yes and I even had this double swing chaise thing which I loved.  Isn't it cool?

The dining room and office space with the wireless internet that didn't work the entire stay because of the massive storms they were experiencing.   It knocked out their IT system so bad they said they would not have it repaired for 2 weeks waiting for replacement stuff from Jakarta.  how exotic.

A view of the dining room and office area from the bedroom at Jimbaran

Another view of the garden

This is me taking a picture of me in the villa

Half the bathroom.  I like the clever way they put the towels into a holder outside the bathtub.  There was an indoor shower and an outdoor shower.

The pool in the private garden.  Can you believe it?  It was a HUGE space and I was right on the beach as well.

The Bali bed in the private garden.  

This is Suarta, my butler at the Jimbaran Puri bringing me exotic fruits standing in my  private
garden outside the room.

The sofa in the living room of the huge villa I had all to myself.  I would like a couch just like this for my living room at home.  I even measured it.  While I was there I had a Reiki expert come to my villa to teach me Reiki and meditation.  This was the perfect spot for that class.  During my 2 hour session it was pouring rain outside, thundering and lightening the entire time.  We had hot tea and pastries together.

The Bedroom in my huge villa all to myself in Jimbaran Bay.  Each night at turn-down they set up the mosquito netting around the bed and leave me hot tea and pastries.

This is a lovely Ganesha I purchased from a lovely sculptor at a place called Bali Frog.  It is still at Bali Frog until I figure out a way for it to be shipped.  At least I have a photo of a lovely Ganesha.  It is a good size.  I would put it in my garden if I ever received it.

A picture of the living room in my HUGE villa in Jimbaran Bay

Fivelements Spa in Ubud where I got my prana fixed

There are 30 unusual huts along the river and I mean RIGHT ON the river.  You sit in the bathtub or in a chair on the balcony sipping tea that they have brought to you and the river is madly rushing by.  It was my most unusual and memorable spa experience and yes, they spell it Fivelements.  It is topped off with a gourmet raw restaurant but the spa is too new and quite remote so there was no one there but me and I wasn't going to eat raw food all alone.

Fivelements Spa in Ubud where I got my prana fixed

There are 30 unusual huts along the river and I mean RIGHT ON the river.  You sit in the bathtub or in a chair on the balcony sipping tea that they have brought to you and the river is madly rushing by.  It was my most unusual and memorable spa experience and yes, they spell it Fivelements.  It is topped off with a gourmet raw restaurant but the spa is too new and quite remote so there was no one there but me and I wasn't going to eat raw food all alone.

Sorry for not keeping up on my blog promise!

My last 4 days in Bali were drenched in rain storms and the hotel didn't have any internet service and the beach didn't have any sun and that is where I spent the last 4 days was on the beach but it was still fabulous and I had a great night sitting on the sand eating seafood before the storms hit.  After landing in Taipei I was staying at a brand new W Hotel open only 2 weeks and they didn't have internet service working "smoothly" so another few days went by so here I am trying to catch up because I have so much to share but as usual it will be in a peculiar order but I hope it will still be entertaining.  By the way, the W Hotel in Taipei is smashing and the location is ideal.

Taipei: FOOD and PEOPLE Everywhere!!!

A little breakfast pastry.  I was so happy to discover that Taiwanese love chocolate!  Yessss.

An enormous block of peanut brittle that is shaved into dust and things are rolled in it like rice blocks with pigs blood cooked into it.  they have these blocks all over the place used for many different types of treats.

Individual tepanyaki tables.  You don't have to be a party of 8 to get fed in this town!

This man takes his preparation very seriously.  It is a ritual for him to create each bowl of whatever it is he is making with porridge and beans and pork balls and other things.  I can't eat everything but watching him was impressive and mesmerizing.  THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT POSTING IN THE ORDER I WANT THEM TO! I APOLOGIZE IF THIS SEEMS DISJOINTED. I HAVE TRIED AND TRIED TO POST THESE IN ORDER AND CHANGE THE ORDER AND I GOT NOWHERE.  

It seems nearly every street in Taipei is teeming with life, people, motorbikes, neon, more and more and more!  It is so exciting I can barely sit still because I want to discover all of the city.

Strawberries or cherry tomatoes on a stick dipped in caramelized in sugar.  The cherry tomatoes have a slice of plum in the center.  They take their cherry tomatoes very seriously around here and truly appreciate them.  

These are called king mushrooms and they are indeed king sized.  They slice them in half and grill them or deep fry them.  They are the size of a slab of prime rib!!

They have some amazing cooking carts at these markets;  this is a very effective cooking pan that nicely browns each and every bun.

A closer look a pan frying delicious pork buns.  They have a delicate yeast dough and as you can see these are quite large.  Only a dollar.

This is the entrance to my favorite night market.  Stop and look at this photo for a minute.  This is a work night and there are thousands of people here eating and shopping and eating and shopping and behaving so nicely.  no shoving, no smoking, no drinking (although I don't know why) and no running.  Everyone is so civilized.  And hungry.  I have been to a night market nearly every night.  I have skipped going to restaurants because this is such an exciting experience and they are all over the city and each one is different.

Caramelized sweet potatoes