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Wherever I travel, I’m always on the lookout for one type of place. A good coffeeshop. True, I am not a straight black cup of joe kinda girl, I enjoy a little flair with my brew. After staying on Bali’s island paradise, Nusa Lembongan for a couple nights and only being offered instant coffee mix drinks, I was desperate for a good cup of coffee. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon Mushroom Espresso and was quite pleased with the entire experience.

Mushroom Espresso is tucked away just off the beaches of Mushroom Bay, but with it’s iconic “Coffee and Chill” coffee bar, it’s hard to miss it. The morning menu features hot drinks, and later in the day offers colder coffees. But for my visit first thing in the morning, I was looking forward to a nice hot latte.

The baristas at Mushroom Espresso know their coffee, and how to work it. I not only got the back story on the beans he was brewing that day, but an art show as he carefully crafted the latte and cappuccino art. Having a small amount of barista experience myself, I am always in awe at the art that can be done on the top of a cup of coffee. It was picture perfect and almost too beautiful to drink. Almost.

Mushroom Espresso

The cappuccino was my personal favorite, with a great blend of creaminess and sharp espresso flavors. I am usually quick to add sugar to my drinks, but I am glad I didn’t mess with this cappuccino. It needed no extra sweetness. Just pure espresso and milk merging to perfection in my mouth.

Mushroom Espresso is more of a coffee bar than a coffee shop, with no indoor enclosed seating. It shares the front property with a hotel, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating. I brought my one and a half year old, who particularly loved the sand toys and kid friendly seats available. She wasn’t ready to go after my husband and I finished our drinks!

I can tell that Mushroom Espresso is not a secret on Nusa Lembongan. There was a constant flow of customers, both visiting tourists and local workers from nearby businesses. But it never felt crowded or busy. It’s go with the flow environment is exactly what an island coffee bar. And Mushroom Espresso nailed it.

Any time and every time I find myself of Nusa Lembongan, I will be visiting Mushroom Espresso!

This post was sponsored in part by Mushroom Espresso but as always, the opinions are entirely my own.

Yummy coffee with island vibes at Nusa Lembongan's Mushroom Espresso! Wherever I travel, I’m always on the lookout for one type of place. A good coffeeshop. True, I am not a straight black cup of joe kinda girl, I enjoy a little flair with my brew.

#bali #coffee #coffee shop #featured #nusa lembongan

Travel Bucket List 2019

It’s a new year, and that means new travel goals! Here’s a list of a few places that I’m hoping to check off this year!

Taiwan Little by little, I am seeing more and more of Asia! I’m looking forward to finally getting to Taipei, Taiwan and experiencing a cool blend of culture and foods. Things I’m excited to do in Taiwan include getting to the top of Taipei 101 and traveling by cable car! I’ll…

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#asia #bali #new year #nusa penida #raja ampat #sri lanka #taiwan #travel plans #usa

Read, Watch Listen: My Favorites of 2018

What does #TheMarvelousMrsMaisel have in common with #MumfordandSons? Check out my lastest blog post Read, Watch Listen: My Favorites of 2018 to find out!

While I love blogging and creating content, I don’t know if anything is more entertaining than consuming good content. Whether nonfiction or fiction, narrative or journalistic, I love a story that is well written, well edited, well produced. This year, I seemed to take in many more podcasts than normal and less books. But that probably has something to do with the all consuming focus of having a…

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#books #featured #funny #marisha pessl #movies #multi level marketing #mystery #podcasts #reading #true crime #tv

It was our biggest makeover yet. Other rooms in our new home had new coats of paint, new curtains or new furniture. But the guest bath? It’s getting a total remodel. I had been counting the days until this project since we moved in. While the bathroom was fairly functional, however still missing a sink, I was waiting & hoping to change the design of the entire space. But this would require more than a rearrange. It was demolition time.

Most Indonesian bathrooms come equipped with something called a bak, which is like a tall tub of standing water. This is extremely functional when your house doesn’t have consistent running water, because it can be scooped out to flush the toilet, shower, do laundry, wash dishes or even mop. We wanted to remove the bak from our guest bath to give the room more space and to put in a sink. But to remove the bak, we had to ensure that we would have consistent running water. Our home had lost city water for a few hours up to an entire day multiple times since we’ve lived there over the past 6 months. And every evening, our whole street’s water pressure was so low we couldn’t shower, wash dishes or fill up a tub for baby with out prior planning. Before we could remove the tank in our bath, we had to find a running water solution.

First we tried to use the well that our home already had bored. But after realizing it was only 8 meters deep, we understood why it was completely dry. We decided not to use it. So plan B was to install a separate enclosed water tank and a pump that would keep consistent pressure throughout the entire house. It would run on electricity, so if and when our power goes out, we’d have to switch back to city water. But we were willing to take the risk. After a few days, the workers had a giant 550 liter tank installed beside our house. Step one complete!

Next step was to tear the “tub” in the bathroom. It’s made of concrete covered in ceramic tile, so it was so easy task. Many hours of drilling and hammering resulted in the removal of the large awkward box tub in our bathroom. Then since we were already destroying much of the tile by removing the bak and relocating the shower to that location, we decided to just redo all the tile on the floor! The bathroom is floor to ceiling tile, and a different pattern on the ground. We decided to minimize the work by just painting the wall tiles white and putting in only new floor tile. It’s such a small bathroom that I thought it would be a breeze. Little did I know the amount of work that goes into tearing up ceramic tile.

Guest Bath Renovation

I also had the fun of choosing the new tile for the bathroom! I searched high and low for the style I wanted. More than once I’d be at a building supply store, see a sample of a tile that I loved, ask to order it, only to find out that it’s no longer in stock or discontinued. Why is it still a sample in the store!? Things I’ll never understand. But I did find a nice pale gray patterned tile which complements the new white walls and white sink beautifully.

The guest bathroom is quite small and we had to get creative to put the shower & new sink in a way that was functional. We opted for a curved shower curtain rod, so we could keep the shower in the corner. Where there was once a water reservoir stands a lovely little shower space, with a beautiful white & black leaf patterned curtain. We picked a sink that would hang from the wall, instead of taking up bathroom space with a large countertop. Atop the sink, sits a small simple mirror. Now it’s starting to look like a familiar bathroom!

Guest Bath Tile

Shower

Overall, the job took about 5 days, which was longer than promised, but still good considering the amount of work that was done. The removal of the tile left a layer of dust all over our house. The epoxy paint smell for the wall tile burned our noses for days. But in the end, we have a stunning new bright white guest bath. And with that, our first real “renovation” to the house is complete!

Guest Bath Redux

To read other posts in My Indonesian Home Makeover series, check out this link!

Totally remodeling a bathroom in a foreign country. Just the next step in My Indonesian HomeMakeover! See the photos and read the story on my blog! It was our biggest makeover yet. Other rooms in our new home had new coats of paint, new curtains or new furniture.

#asia #bali #bathrooms #decor #home #home decor #home makeover #life overseas

As 2018 draws to a close, with thankfulness and joy I look back on 2018 and it’s many highlights. Most of which are centered around raising my baby girl and seeing her thrive. But a few of this year’s highlights are travel related, so I thought I’d share some great traveling memories from the year…

Experiencing the New Developments of Tampa, Florida’s Riverfront We started 2018 in the US, home with family & friends and our new baby. I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, which I never really took pride in until recently. Over the past 10 years, I’ve really began to love how my city has grown and developed. What used to be a collections of chain restaurants, big box stores and shopping malls is starting to shift to independent and artisan endeavors. Take the downtown Tampa riverfront area. Downtown Tampa used to be dull and not worth seeing, just something to pass through on your way to Hyde Park or St. Pete. But now, it’s a destination. Beautiful Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park at one end and the new ultra cool dining warehouse Armature Works at the other. Biking and walking paths line the river. And no trip to downtown Tampa is complete without a stop at Insta-famous Oxford Exchange for food, coffee, tea and shopping. I’m now proud to say I’m from Tampa, and love to recommend these unique experiences to out of town guests. Each time I come home, I discover something new myself!

Armature Works

Downtown Tampa Riverfront

Armature Works

Riding a Camel in Qatar I had never been to the Middle East before this year. So I was super excited to add it to our itinerary in 2018! And if I had one thing I wanted to accomplish in Qatar, it was riding a camel. These magnificent beasts which I had only seen in movies & storybooks are strong and massive. I felt as though I may plummet headlong into the sand while climbing aboard. But I held my balance, and sat atop this incredible creature for a great photo op. Then I had to get down, and it was equally terrifying. But what a cool experience!

Camels

Riding a Qatar Camel

Camels

Cooling Down in the Bedugul Mountains of Bali I love living in Bali, and I love the sunshine and beaches. But I’ll be honest, it’s real hot. That’s why whenever we can, we sneak away to Bedugul. Located in the northern half of the island, nestled in the mountains between 2 volcanic crater lakes, Bedugul weather is cool & crisp. The sometimes oppressive humidity of the coast vanishes. From the botanical gardens to the lakesides, I love taking in the green lush wildlife of Bedugul. Even though the temperatures barely reach below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s a refreshing change of pace from the rest of sweltering Bali weather.

Bedugul, Bali

Penang’s Art Scene Penang, Malaysia was so cool. I’ve had this place on my radar for awhile, and I’m thrilled to say that it measured up. The art scene especially is fabulous. I love the creativity & the architecture. I love the colors and the flavors. I loved wandering down Armenian Street and discovering new works of art painted on the street corners. I really enjoyed stopping into shops filled with creations of local artisans. I adored walking through the abandoned bus depot turned art gallery to soak in the vibes. I feel like Penang needs more than one visit to truly understand all it has to offer. I can’t wait to go back!

Street art Swing

Penang Motorbike Street Art

Penang Street Art

Penang cat street art

Amed, East Bali If I had to pick one city in Bali to visit, it would be Amed. I absolutely love this little village in East Bali. It’s small and minimally developed. Yet many great hotels and homestays have found their way into the Amed community. But what I really love about Amed is the food. There are so many great restaurants here! I can’t even eat at them all in one visit. I love the ocean, the snorkeling and beautiful black sand. I love the cliffside view of sunset over the volcano and Jemeluk Bay. I even created this Amed City Guide on my blog a couple years back, because it has so many great things to offer! I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve visited Amed since moving to Bali, and I know we aren’t done yet.

Amed View

Amed village

Chicken curry at Fusion Cafe

Amed Beach

Diving views in Amed

So, where am I headed in 2019? Stay tuned for my 2019 bucket list in the coming weeks!

2018 had many highlights...want to see my top 5?! Check out my blog link! #travel #wanderlust #bali #penang #tampa As 2018 draws to a close, with thankfulness and joy I look back on 2018 and it’s many highlights.

#2018 #bali #camels #end of the year #florida #penang #tampa #travel highlights

Soft white sand, rolling ocean waves, looming limestone cliffs and a refreshing infinity swimming pool to take it all in. This is the scene on a typical day Roosterfish Beach Club. Recently, we were down in South Bali visiting some friends and wanted a little bit of beach time. We knew from living in South Bali for over 2 years that the popular beaches like Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu and Uluwatu were always so crowded and therefore rarely enjoyable. So instead we looked at Pandawa Beach, which is located on the most southern coast of Bali and a beach we had not ever visited. Pandawa Beach had just opened it’s first beach club, Roosterfish Beach Club and we were on our way to check it out.

Beach clubs are super common around Bali. Seminyak’s Potato Head Beach Club is world famous. But those party scenes usually aren’t our style, especially as 2 parents in their mid 30’s with an infant. But we love the idea of a beach club. Usually beach clubs offer a huge swimming pool, a restaurant and bar, as well as lounge chairs and umbrellas. And of course, located right on the beach. It’s a great way to experience a Bali beach without getting all sandy and leaving with a third degree from all that equator sunshine. Beach clubs are genius. We couldn’t wait to see what Roosterfish had to offer.

The drive into Pandawa Beach is pretty epic. Giant limestone cliffs line each side of the winding & curving road. You begin at the top of a large hill and snake your day down to the coastline. Pandawa Beach is already a popular stop on the tour bus circuit, and therefore the roads and parking lots are massive. In fact, the Pandawa Public Beach is really touristy. There’s tons of souvenir stalls and food vendors. It’s crowded and confusing. But just down the beach, not even 5 minutes with a motorbike, is Roosterfish. The parking lot was less than a quarter full at 11am on a Saturday. This was our place.

We entered Roosterfish Beach Club through the main dining area. High bamboo ceilings covered the expansive dining room. The fact that there wasn’t walls allowed the ocean breezes to come rolling through. Past the restaurant, there’s a lawn with bean bag chairs and umbrellas. Beyond the lawn, a deck with lounge chairs facing the large infinity pool. Since we decided to start our day on the early side, only a handful of people were even at the Beach Club and we had our choice of seats. From our loungers, we could see the pool and the ocean beyond. Over to the left, we could see the limestone cliffs from which paragliders were soaring over the coastline. The waves crashed and upbeat music played nearby. This would be a relaxing Saturday.

Roosterfish Pool

Roosterfish Beach

Roosterfish Lawn

First stop, the pool. I loved the pool floats they provided! Made exactly like a bean bag, these pool floats were the most comfortable pool lounger I’ve ever used. Even baby girl loved these floats! The swim up bar was a nice touch as well. Sitting on submerged stools under a canopy of palm leaves sipping a cold drink is practically the definition of paradise. However, it wasn’t long until our hunger drew us out of the water.

Pool time at Roosterfish

We looked over the menu and recognized many familiar dishes with an Indonesian or Balinese twist. From the Lawar Ayam [Balinese Chicken] salad to the Babi Guiling [Roasted Pork] tacos, my mouths was already watering. We decided on the Ayam Pelalah [Chili Lime Chicken] tacos and the Uluwatu Beef Burger. The tacos had a great blend of spice and seasoning. The beef burger was juicy and flavorful. As much as I love Indonesian and Balinese food, I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving a good taco and a tasty burger. We enjoyed some mixed juices with the meal, and finished feeling refreshed and full.

Dining poolside

Uluwatu Burger

Spicy Chicken Tacos

Tacos at Roosterfish

As lunchtime ended and afternoon approached, Roosterfish Beach Club began to fill up. More and more families were playing in the pool. A group of guys had started a volleyball game on the lawn. A group of girls took selfies from the pool floats. Romantic couples lounged close together. All the chairs were full. I could imagine this place packed at sunset.

We headed back to our friend’s place before the sun started to drop so baby girl could nap and get ready for bed. Even though we were only there a few hours, we loved our Roosterfish Beach Club experience and can’t wait to visit again!

This post was sponsored in part by Roosterfish Beach Club, but as always, the opinions are entirely my own.

New Bali Beach Club on the Block Soft white sand, rolling ocean waves, looming limestone cliffs and a refreshing infinity swimming pool to take it all in.

#bali #beach #beach club #blogging #featured #fun #pandawa beach #swimming

Does anything make a house feel more homey than a cozy living room with a comfy sofa? I think not. Our new Indonesian home however did not exactly have the floor plan of a typical American home [surprise, surprise], so yet again, creativity was needed to create some living room magic.

We have one LARGE room right off the master bedroom with lots of light and space. We decided to make this room both the dining room and the living room. I searched Pinterest for creative ways to combine these rooms. After moving our large [and heavy!] 8 piece dining room table set, I finally decided on a layout for the room which would allow for both a sofa and the table to coexist. Now all I had to do was choose a sofa.

For perhaps the hundredth time since redecorating this home, I’ve longed for the ease and convenience of a one-stop furniture shop. But alas, no such thing exists in our town. As I begin to look at what kind of sofas were available to me, I began to notice how the styled differed here than back home. Most sofas I’ve used in the USA are completely covered in fabric, often microfiber, usually reclining and sometimes even a hideaway bed included. I’m not sure any of those features are available on a sofa in Indonesia. I soon realized the entire way I thought about a sofa had to change. I looked at my American, Canadian and European friends’ sofas. I discovered that most people chose to use a wood frame for the sofa and then add cushions for comfort. This style of furniture would be considered outdoor or patio furniture back home. Which is exactly the type of furniture I began to browse on my favorite American furniture company websites!

From West Elm to Pottery Barn to Anthropologie and back to West Elm, I finally picked a style of sofa I wanted to recreate. It was one long bench, a large footstool that could either create a chaise lounge or move to be it’s own seat, a single seat chair and small round coffee table. I was heavily inspired by a West Elm collection that retailed for over $2,000 US dollars. I was hoping to get a similar set custom made for a fraction of the price. [Fun fact, that exact West Elm frame set is made in Indonesia!]

I chose a new furniture maker [tukang muebel] because his shop was nearby our home and he makes many sofa frames. I showed him the pictures. We talked about the dimensions. He came to my house and measured out the space with me. We talked about the height of the arms. We talked about the thickness of the cushions. We talked about the color of the wood and the texture of the cushions. At this point I’ll remind you, dear reader, that this is all being done in my second language. Yet again, I am learning so much.

Once all the details were set, he quoted me a price and a time frame. And then he got to work. More than once during the time frame [about two weeks], he would call me to come by his shop and look something. Whether it was a style or color question, he was always quick to ask me what I wanted. Because I wanted the fabric on the cushions to be removable, the price had to go up by a little bit. I got to see the entire set develop. But finally, in under three weeks time, tukang muebel and his time delivered the final product. It was a perfect fit. And did I mention the entire collection was under $500 US dollars? If I would have tried to buy the type of sofa I could only find in America [imported] or only used a furniture maker who spoke English, the price would have increased significantly. But all the hard work of language learning and building local relationships is worth it. For so many reasons.

We love our new sofa set and the guests we can host with it. Baby girl thinks the coffee table was made just for her, and she’s not entirely wrong. As we continue to make a home in Indonesia, we are blessed with more and more opportunities to open it up and use it to help those around us. Whether it’s offering someone a place to stay, hosting an event, or just having friends gather, we love that we have a place that we can call home in our new nation.

Stay tuned for our next house updates and be sure to check out all the work we’ve already done!

Another installment of My #Indonesian #HomeMakeover Blog series! This one is all about creating that cozy sofa Does anything make a house feel more homey than a cozy living room with a comfy sofa?

#family #furniture #home #home decor #home makeover #indonesia #life

Many parts of Penang, Malaysia feel reminiscent of other places I’ve seen in Asia. But the floating villages of clan jetty homes are unlike anything I’ve seen before on my travels. Long wooden piers extend from the shore out into water and small wooden homes line the edges of the pier. These original homes were constructed in the 19th century by the Chinese immigrants moving to the area. They built these homes for their clans, or families, as way to maintain community in their new city. And they still are living & breathing communities today. The most famous of the jetties, Chew Jetty, has been given UNESCO World Heritage status, for better or worse. But more on that later.

We actually stayed pretty close to the jetties in our AirBnB, so we will were able to walk to each of these one afternoon as sunset approached. We began at the closest jetty, Yeoh Jetty. Immediately, I could see this community had not been glammed up for tourism. During the warm sleepy afternoon hours, the houses were closed up and quiet. Motorbikes and sandals stood still outside of closed doors. I felt like we were walking through a private neighborhood, but a throwback to quieter and simpler living style. At the end of the row of homes, the pier opened up and I saw a beautiful view of mainland Malaysia in the distance. It was peaceful and serene. I could see what drew the Chinese immigrants to this part of the island. I loved taking photos of the details of the homes, from the iron door gates to the colorful mailboxes. Each home had character and personality. Yeoh Jetty was my favorite of all the jetties I visited.

Yeoh Jetty

The next jetty on the map was the Lee Jetty. I could see this one had been cleaned up a bit more than Yeoh Jetty. The homes had newer paint. One or two of the homes had a cooler of drinks for sale on their front porch. On Lee Jetty, we actually saw another set of tourists walking around and taking photos. A few front porches displayed fresh cut flowers and Malaysian flags, creating the perfect photo moment. Standing at the end of Lee Jetty, looking off into the water and skyline in the distance, it’s easy to forget the bustling city in the background. It’s just you and the water and floating homes.

Lee Jetty

After loving Yeoh Jetty and Lee Jetty, I was looking forward to seeing the more famous Tan Jetty. This jetty has made it’s mark on Instagram. Instead of an open platform at the end of the jetty, it’s a long pier with one single red building at the end. It’s an iconic photo spot. Which is why I spent 20 minutes waiting for a group of teenage girls to finish their endless selfies to capture the pier while empty. It was worth it though, a picturesque look at the Penang Jetties.

Tan Jetty

The final jetty I toured was the Chew Jetty. This is the jetty that has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status and is a stop for all the tour buses. And it just broke my heart. Instead of seeing simple family homes along the pier, almost every family had turned their front porch into a storefront. From snacks and drinks to tacky souvenirs of all kinds, almost every family was trying to capitalize off this tourist boom. One jetty had turned their home into a hotel room for rent, for the tourist who wanted to spend a few nights on the jetty. Chew Jetty was overflowing with people. It was neither quiet nor peaceful nor serene. Families that didn’t want to be part of the mass crowds invading their neighborhood were forced to hang signs that prohibited photos of their property. It didn’t feel authentic, but like manufactured culture. In trying to process my emotions about what I was seeing, I ran across this article from The Guardian from 2017, about the world heritage status doing more harm than good. Is there value in highlighting and preserving culture? Absolutely. Should tourists be interested in local culture? Of course. But is there a way to show the culture of an area without turning it into commercialization opportunity? I hope so.

Chew Jetty

Overall, visiting the Penang jetties was a highlight of our time in Penang. I am so glad that I was able to start at the least touristy Yeoh Jetty and experience that first. My advice, skip Chew Jetty and check out the others. Be respectful and polite and remember that as you tour and photograph, these are people’s home and lives that you are stepping into. And maybe treat them like you would a guest in your own home.

Visiting #Penang's Water Village: The Clan Jetties. Check out all the photos on my blog! #travel Many parts of Penang, Malaysia feel reminiscent of other places I’ve seen in Asia. But the floating villages of clan jetty homes are unlike anything I’ve seen before on my travels.

#featured #jetty #malaysia #penang #travel #travel photography

Traveling as a mom and traveling with my little one in tow is quite an adjustment. Gone are the days of carry-on, minimalist packing and spontaneity. Now it’s diapers and wet wipes, nap times and nursing. But I wouldn’t change a thing. I had great experiences traveling solo to Cambodia and traveling with friends through India and Southern Africa. Then I got married and traveled even more with my husband through parts of Europe and Asia. Now I get to add my littlest love to our traveling adventures. So the extra gear is kind of worth it.

But my desire for minimalism continues to influence my shopping and packing choices even when it comes to baby. As we prepared for this trip to Penang, I carefully thought through how to best maximize each item we were bringing for baby. What are the essentials? What’s extra weight we could leave behind? Here’s how we traveled from Indonesia to Malaysia for 5 days with our little baby travel bug. FYI during this trip, Baby Mila was 9 months old and partially weaned through baby led weaning.

Travel Crib Fun fact, Mila only sleeps in her travel crib. We don’t have a full size crib at her house. So when planning this trip, we went ahead and planned one checked piece would be her Guava Lotus Travel Crib. It’s the bed she already knows and is familiar with, so it was a no-brainer. Plus, it’s so portable and lightweight, it hardly added to our baggage. And because we had decided to book a 2 bedroom AirBnb, we knew Mila would have her own space. This plan worked out great in reality, and I think we will probably always go the AirBnB route when we can, because ensuring we can have enough room for Mila is way better than trying to squeeze into a hotel room. Plus you get the kitchen space, which is awesome when cleaning up baby gear!

Stroller For a long time, we went back and forth on even getting a stroller. Where we live in Indonesia doesn’t have great sidewalks or big shopping malls. Would we even use it? We borrowed one while we were in America, but once we got to Indonesia, we decided to buy a used one from a Canadian friend who raised her babies in Indonesia as well. She said strollers were a must have for airports. And she was right! We are so glad we purchased her the MacLaren Quest stroller. Ours is an older model, but still is a great lightweight easy to collapse and carry stroller. We quickly could get baby in and out, and fold it up and put in the back of taxis. The small basket beneath held our portable high chair and our backpack clipped on the handles. This stroller was a lifesaver while exploring the streets of Penang!

Love that stroller life

Strolling with Dad

Napping in the stroller

Exploring in the stroller

High Chair This is the coolest high chair around. This Inglesina travel high chair screws onto any sturdy table. We can attach it in under 5 minutes. And then it collapses down flat and comes with it own storage bag. I am obsessed with this high chair. We take it everywhere. Whether we are traveling near or far, this is our go to chair. It can attach to about 90% of tables. I love it because it keeps baby right at our level and she can eat off the same table we are. It’s perfect for baby led weaning families.

Lunch time

Yummm

Nom nom nom

Cafe life

Placemat Speaking of eating off the table, we don’t let Mila eat from any old table. We bring along this silicon suction placemat. It’s awesome. It sticks to the table, then the high chair arms hold it down as well. There’s a little lip on the placemat which even catches the inevitable food drop. The placemat is easy to clean and fold up to store in a diaper bag. Because we are baby led weaning, we haven’t ever spoon fed her purees. She’s done solids since she was 6 month old, learning to pick up appropriate sized foods. She also eats almost everything we eat. During this trip to Penang, Mila tried Indian curries and roti, as well as Malaysian chicken and rice dishes. She is loving food with lots of flavor. Which is great for us as we live in a culture that thrives on spicy peppers!

Carrier The baby carrier is something we probably use most often during an average day. Mila has always loved to be worn. Since she was a newborn, both my husband and I wore her in slings and then eventually this Boba Air carrier. We specifically chose this carrier because of it’s lightweight, collapsibility and breathability. We live on the equator. It’s hot 12 months a year. We sweat every time we leave the house. If we are wearing a baby too, we don’t need extra fabric making us even hotter. This carrier is a lifesaver for when the stroller just isn’t working for her. Especially on airplanes. Mila can sleep as well in her carrier as she can in her bed. I’m so thankful we have a baby that loves to be worn!

Collapsible Backpack For this trip, we left behind our bulky diaper bag and instead brought a collapsible backpack. We’ve been traveling with these for years, and they are so versatile. Whether you need a makeshift shopping bag or an extra carry-on, these are so great. And they work awesome as a travel diaper bag too. Just enough space and lightweight to take everywhere.

So what did I bring with us in our diaper bag each outing? Diapers – at home we use cloth, but for traveling disposable is easiest Wipes Extra Onesie Bib – the plastic wipeable kind, with the pockets Cup Snack – typically cereal puffs [like Cheerios, but we don’t have those here] Toy – usually that could attach to the stroller Nursing Cover

Nursing with a view!

Plane life

Snack time

Nursing on the go

So that’s the gear we most used on this recent international trip with our 9 month old. Our next trip will be back to America when she 14 months old! I can’t even imagine what a 13 hour flight with an almost toddler will be like, but we are up for the challenge. Any thoughts or questions about the baby gear we use? Any baby travel gear you recommend?

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Thinking about traveling with a baby? Check out my must have list for baby gear! Traveling as a mom and traveling with my little one in tow is quite an adjustment. Gone are the days of carry-on, …

#baby #Motherhood #Travel Gear

I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it! I’m an optimistic enthusiast who usually can find a silver lining in a place no matter where I look. [Enneagram Type 7’s am I right?] But…love? I don’t often go around saying that I LOVE a place. I love Indonesia, of course, I live here. I also love America because it’s my home country. I love Amsterdam in the spring and I love Singapore’s style. And I’m going to go on record here and say it…I love Penang, Malaysia. I feel like my favorite parts of Indonesia and Singapore had a baby, and it’s Penang.

Penang is located on the northwest coast of the mainland Malay peninsula, with it’s capital city, Georgetown situated on Penang Island. Georgetown is Malaysia’s second largest city and home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The people of Penang, much like most of Malaysia, are very diverse in their ethnicity, which adds to the richness of culture and food in the city. The majority of my personal travel experience was in Georgetown on Penang island, but I realize there is a much larger city to explore.

Penang is a city for artists. It’s vibrant and full of color. From the stunning architecture to the creative street art to the colorful tiles, Penang is a treat for the eyes. Whether you are photographing with your iPhone, your DSLR, or your Instax, you are sure to take some great shots of Penang. Want to know some of my favorite can’t miss spots in Penang?

Armenian Park area This little space of green is a great spot for starting a photo walk. Situated right at the intersection of Armenian Street and Acheh Street, no matter which way you walk, you’ll find all three of my favorite things [architecture, street art, and tiles]. The earlier the better is always best for walking through Georgetown. The weather is cooler and the crowds out snapping pics are much smaller. Especially if you are wanting photos with the interactive street art!

Penang tiles

Penang storefronts

Beautiful arches

Interactive street art

Penang cat street art

Walking Armenian Street

Penang Street Art

Victoria Street Once you finish walking Armenian Street, check out Victoria Street. Walking down this busy road will provide many sights to take in. But if you travel down any of the small roads off of Victoria Street, beautiful street art is waiting to be discovered! Victoria Street is also home to the best little art & handicraft shop I found while browsing Penang. Timura is full of unique, locally crafted items from jewelry, to tea cups, to t-shirts and more! More than a few of my favorite Penang take-homes came from this shop!

Street art Swing

Timura Shop

Processed with VSCO with av4 preset

Penang Street Art

Hin Bus Depot This repurposed bus depot turned art gallery is exactly as cool as it sounds. Actually this whole area is pretty stunning. The Bus Depot is definitely a destination not to be missed. The art gallery is small, but rich. Bricklin Coffee is a tasty spot to recharge while exploring the bus depot. Out behind the building are huge art displays and several shops selling everything gifts and handicrafts to keifer and vegan food. On Sundays, there’s a regular pop up market of artisans, which unfortunately I didn’t get to see, but hope to catch on a future trip.

Bus Depot Art

Bus Depot

Hin Bus Depot

Hin Bus Depot Tiles

Hin Bus Depot Gallery

Bus Depot Art

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion [Blue Mansion] Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage Site status was awarded because of “its unique architectural and cultural townscape without parallel anywhere in East and Southeast Asia.” So many of Penang’s buildings are breathtaking and worth exploring. Many mansions & heritage homes offer tours or even hotel rooms for an overnight stay. We toured the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as the Blue Mansion, and I’m so glad we did. There is a small entrance fee [15 Malaysian Ringgits] but it’s the worth the price of admission. I’ll be honest, I zoned out during the actual presentation part of the tour. I was in a large group, the tour leader was hard to hear, and really I was just there for the photos. I’m sure the building has a wonderful history and is full of rich stories. Which I can just read online. I was there to snap some pics. And it was stunning.

Blue Mansion Tiles

Outside of the Blue Mansion

Inside Courtyard of the Blue Mansion

Tour group at Blue Mansion

Hotel rooms at Blue Mansion

Inside Blue Mansion

Blue Mansion

There’s so much to see and do in Penang, and I’m sure I’ll cover even more in upcoming blog posts. But for now, allow all these creative vibes inspire you to add Penang to your travel bucket list!

Penang is for [Art] Lovers. Have you been? I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it! I’m an optimistic enthusiast who usually can find a silver lining in a place no matter where I look.

#architecture #featured #malaysia #penang #street art #street photography #travel

My Indonesian Home Makeover Part 7: Making a Nest for Baby Bird

Our baby girl's first bedroom in #Bali! Check out the little nest we created for our baby bird! #nursery #homedecor #travelfamily

If there was one room I was most excited to put together when we moved, it was our baby girl’s room. Before we knew her name, her gender or her face, we called her Baby Travel Bug, because this was going to be a baby on the go! Before she was even born, we stayed in fourteen different places in six different countries. After she was born, we stayed in five different places in three countries…

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#baby #decor #diy #flamingo #home #home makeover #nursery

Doors are an important part of any home. The ability to close, lock, and open them again are basic functions that every door should have. Not long after we moved into our new home, we realized that many of our doors did not function properly. It was so odd how many door issues we had, that we wondered how long our landlords had been living here with poorly functioning doors! We begin to do some research on how to fix these problems. So we hired another tukang to help work on these issues. The first door he fixed was the one from the house to the outdoor carport. He installed a new door handle allowing it to close and lock with confidence. Next, he fixed the baby’s room door because it also would not close and latch properly. Then he moved onto the door to the laundry area where he had to install half of a new frame as well as a new handle to allow it to close properly. Then he fixed the door from the car port to the laundry area by adding an entire handle and lock which previously it did not have. He then fixed the door from the master bedroom to the courtyard/kitchen because it was extremely loud when it opened. The final thing he did was add an entire brand new door to the master bathroom. Yes, we have this great master bedroom and bathroom, but the bathroom had no door. So just like the bathroom sink we decided to add one. Working on all of these doors took an entire day for the tukang and his team but it was well worth the effort and money to have the confidence that our doors can open and close properly. But now, weeks later, we are realizing that we still have problems! Will our door drama never end?

Baby girl watching the work

Fixing those door frames

New door going in

Another door, another repair

Door problems

New bathroom door

Also since the walls have been painted and we’re getting more furniture in the places that we want, I began to do some basic decorating. We brought in shelves and began to hang artwork and decorative elements around the house. As a travel photographer, one of the things I wanted in our home was some of my photography on display. We had three large canvases made with original photography from Indonesia. We also had floating shelves installed in the baby’s room and the guest room. This allowed for some fun decorative elements to help tie together the rooms’ decor. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been working on hand lettering and brush lettering. In our new town, I finally found a local art supply store to purchase blank canvases. Using paint markers and/or paint brushes I begin to carefully create hand-lettered artwork for several of our rooms. I love decorating and creating simple personal touches for my home. Sure, I could go out and buy some perfectly designed artwork for my home but the act of creating art for the space where I live is so satisfying and rewarding. I hope that one day I can create alongside of my baby girl things for her room and the rest of our home.

Shelf style

Floating shelves and canvases in guest room

Painting the pineapple pink

Kitchen canvases

Canvas and shelving in baby room

Originally photography in the foyer

Brush lettered canvas in master bedroom

Finding cute and or functional decorative elements is not as easy as going down to the local Target or ordering from Amazon. I have had to hunt and research to find the exact pieces that I wanted for each room. I even ended up painting a pineapple to better match the baby’s room. I love using washi tape, paper crafts, clipboards and photos in my decorating style. But probably my favorite piece of new crafting that I’ve done for the home so far has been the popsicle stick hexagon shelving. I found a simple tutorial on Pinterest and by purchasing a hot glue gun and popsicle sticks I have made eight little hexagon shelves for my home so far. And will probably be making more of these cute little wall hangings.

DIY Hexagon shelves

Wood stained popsicle stick shelves

Bright hexagon shelves for baby girl

The house is really coming together and I can’t wait to finally post about rooms as they are finished. So stay tune for future posts. Follow me on Instagram for the latest updates in our home makeover project!

Another installment in My #Indonesian #HomeMakeover Part 6: Door Day & #Decor Details Doors are an important part of any home. The ability to close, lock, and open them again are basic functions that every door should have.

#home makeover #indonesia #renovation #travel blogger

A marketplace is where a community comes together. People gather to buy, sell, eat, drink, laugh, gossip and connect. Around the world, so many family’s livelihoods depend on a thriving market. In America, we don’t really have an equivalent. Farmer’s markets are fun & quirky, but rarely does an entire community do their shopping at one of those. I love living in Asia and regularly experiencing market shopping. The sights, the smells, and the sounds all add to the shopping experience. I’ve been in small markets with just a few sellers and huge overwhelming markets that stretch out for miles. They are each unique to the community they serve. Here’s a few of my favorite markets that I’ve visited while traveling through Asia.

Bali’s Jimbaran Fish Market I probably love this market because it feels like my community market. I lived near it for 2 years, and would shop there regularly. Bali is full of local authentic markets & touristy high priced markets. The Jimbaran Fish Market falls somewhere in between. Jimbaran Beach, located south of Kuta & Seminyak’s famous beaches, is well known for it’s sunsets & it’s seafood. Scores of seafood restaurants line the soft white sand of Jimbaran Beach offering tables in the sand and the freshest seafood around. But the seafood restaurant style dining has never been my thing. It’s always crowded, often over priced, and doesn’t feel authentic. Down the beach from these restaurant rows and towards the airport, you can find the real thing. The Fish Market. Every morning, this is where fisherman bring in their catches from the night before. Giant tuna & massive swordfish can regularly be seen coming out of their boats. These fish are taken into the market where they are sold. Seafood restaurants from all over Bali get their seafood from this market. And so did we. I never ate more seafood than I did when we lived next to this market. But for $2-3 for a fresh tuna fillet, how you could not? We often would go buy fresh filleted seafood caught earlier that morning and cook it up at home as we enjoyed fish tacos or a seafood stir fry. Or we could pay another $1 and let the guys working the giant BBQ grill cook it up for us. The best way to do seafood on Jimbaran Beach is to head down to this market, choose your seafood [from tuna to mahi-mahi to lobster to shrimp to crabs to snapper and more] and grill it up right there at the beach and enjoy your sunset for under $5. With a fresh coconut, of course. This market isn’t just seafood. Fruits & vegetables line the walkways, and at night you can shop for clothes and household items. It really is a gathering spot for the community, and I loved being part of it.

Coconuts

Fish Grills at Jimbaran Fish Market

Jimbaran Fish Market

Fishermen

Jimbaran Fish Market

Qatar’s Souq Waqif We only spent about 24 hours in Doha, Qatar, but had the privilege of staying right in the middle of the most famous marketplace, Souq Waqif. This market is incredible, especially at night when it comes alive. At times I couldn’t tell if it was a local market or a tourist attraction, but then decided it was just both and went with it. I’ve never seen a more diverse market. Looking for local hummus & pita bread? Or how about some spices to cook with at home? Needing a finely woven carpet? Or maybe a pet rabbit or bird? Hoping to find a new outfit for a night out? Wanting to hang out with some falcons or camels? Literally all of these things can be done at Souq Waqif. It’s a massive winding marketplace that is full of cool nooks & crannies to explore. Being able to walk out of the door of our hotel and into this buzzing marketplace was simply fabulous. Even our 4 month old baby was alert with excitement. If I had a week to explore the Souq, it wouldn’t be enough time. Someday I hope to go back to Doha and take in more of it’s beauty, culture and diversity. Also, this is one of the cleanest markets I’ve ever seen in Asia!

Souq Waqif

Camels

Singapore’s Tiong Bahru Hawker Center Market Singapore is a unique spot in Asia, so of course my favorite market in Singapore is unique. To start, Singapore is so diverse. It’s a mix of modern efficiency and ancient traditions. The people of Singapore are a mix of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Indonesian. The food is a mix of all these cultures and more. While Singapore may be small geographically, nothing about the experience of Singapore is small. Most of the best [and cheapest] food in Singapore can be found at a Hawker Center, which is an oversized food court packed full of food sellers making their best dish. And it’s all delicious. However my favorite market [hawker center] is in my favorite neighborhood of Singapore, Tiong Bahru. This out of the way neighborhood is on the fringes of Chinatown, but is distinctly stylish & hipster. The architecture reminds of 1960’s art deco Miami. Independent bookstore and cozy coffee shops are hidden away in the tall apartment buildings of this neighborhood. And the Hawker Center is something special too. It’s unique round shape perfectly fits in with the style of the neighborhood. On the bottom floor, fresh flowers ooze out into the walkways. You can also shop for produce and household items as well. On the top floor, treat yourself to some delicious dumplings or Hainanese Chicken Rice, a particular speciality of the area. The painted wall murals continue the creativity throughout the whole Hawker Center, and there’s even more great street art to be found around Tiong Bahru. When in Singapore, make the effort to get over to Tiong Bahru and experience this Hawker Center. I know I always do!

Tiong Bahru Flowers

Tiong Bahru Food

Tiong Bahru Wall Art

Hawker Center in Tiong Bahru

Bali’s Sukawati Art Market Another Bali market makes my list because, of course. This market is unique because it isn’t well known for it’s food or yummy treats, but it’s handicrafts. Ubud has made a name for itself in the art scene, but has really been overcome with tourism. If I am looking for handmade creative items from the Balinese culture, I’ll skip Ubud and head straight to Sukawati. This little spot on the map isn’t too far from Ubud itself, but feels like a different place entirely. The market isn’t limited to one building, but one long street full of shops selling their specific handicraft. From rattan bags to wooden knives to shadow puppets to home decor, Sukawati Art Market is a must see. From what I’ve heard, many sellers in the Ubud markets go to Sukawati to supply their shops, and then hike up the prices! As with most markets in Bali, you’ll still need to bargain down to get the best price [insider tip: start negotiating with half of what they offer]. I love browsing the creativity and artistry of the Balinese people. I am constantly in awe of their skills. Of course, you can still find the colorful sarongs and Bintang tank tops that are unavoidable in Bali, but at the least the experience is a little less touristy.

Beijing’s Street Food Night Market I almost didn’t include this market. But it was so unlike any other market I had ever seen, that I had to include it. Maybe market isn’t the exact right word, because it’s more of a walking street of food vendors. China is full of these. But the one we visited in Beijing truly stood out. It was right in the middle of a bustling downtown shopping area, and the bright lights of nearby billboards and shop windows illuminated the sidewalk all around us. Like most parts of China, it was packed. Stall after stall had lines to buy each dish. We tried delicious dumplings and tasty noodles. I took a million photos of the cutest steamed buns decorated to resemble animals and other objects. And then we appreciated the unknown meats on sticks and scary bugs on sticks. This is about where I stopped trying things! My husband is much more an adventurous eater than I am, so he braved the fried scorpions. While I didn’t try the most extreme items available, I did enjoy seeing how the Chinese people enjoy their street food.

Beijing Street Food Market

Thailand’s Chiang Mai Walking Street Night Market Thailand may do markets, especially night markets, better than anywhere else in Asia. Every night we spent in Thailand, no matter the city, there was always a bustling night market. It was the best place to eat and shop in town, no question. And they aren’t just for tourists, but so many locals were enjoy pad thai right alongside us. A favorite market experience in Thailand is in the northern city of Chiang Mai. Every Sunday night there’s a walking street night market and it’s always packed. There’s loads of vendors selling handicrafts, carts selling food, and even spas doing foot massage right on the street for about $1. It combines so many of favorite things…eating, shopping & massage! Surrounded by Buddhist temples, you can wander through the busy streets and browse everything from beautifully painted paper umbrellas to handmade jewelry. There’s so much beautiful artistry in Thai handicrafts. It’s a fun experience if you find yourself in Chiang Mai on a Sunday night. Maybe it’s on the touristy side of Thai culture, but it’s still a good time.

Chiang Mai markets

Do you have a favorite market experience? Have you been to any of these? What Asian market should I check out next? Let me know in the comments below!

How much do you love #shopping at markets when #traveling #overseas? Check out this list of my favorite #markets in #Asia! A marketplace is where a community comes together. People gather to buy, sell, eat, drink, laugh, gossip and connect.

#bali #beijing #chiang mai #culture #markets #Qatar #shopping #Singapore

If I’ve learned anything about home decoration & renovations in Indonesia, it’s that nothing is simple as a foreigner. Furniture shopping is no exception. We chose to rent an empty house this time around, as our last home rental was fully furnished. So this was our first experience with buying furniture in Indonesia. And what an experience it is! We don’t have a Rooms 2 Go or another one-stop shop for tables, chairs, shelves and couches. There’s one furniture store I’ve seen in capital city that reminds me of furniture shopping back home. One. And it’s three hours away from us. In our new town, we shop for furniture a little differently.

Dining room table

Guest room bed

First, as always, we started with our relationship network. Was there anyone we knew that knew someone moving away and selling furniture? Yes! We were able to buy a dining room table with 8 chairs, a queen size mattress & bed frame, 2 large bookshelves, a metal rack for the kitchen, 2 wooden folding chairs and a few smaller items from a family moving back to America. Buying used furniture is always a cheaper option! So we arranged to have these items delivered when we moved in. Additionally, our landlords left a queen sized bed and wardrobe in the master bedroom for us to use while we lived here. Things we were still looking for included some furniture for the baby’s room, bedside tables for the master bedroom & guest room, a desk, and some items for the entryway. We could go the cheaper route and shop for low quality particle board furniture. It’s readily available in some stores around here. The problem? It doesn’t last long. Because our homes don’t have central air conditioning, and we have a pretty intense rainy season, items that aren’t solid wood will absorb the humidity and mold quickly. The best piece of furniture to get for your money is always solid wood.

So we began to look for a tukang meubel [furniture makers]! I searched for several that would match the style and price I was looking for. It was beginning to feel like a fruitless search. If I had to pick one word to describe in Indonesian furniture it would be “shiny”. The finishing on the wood makes many items in local woodworking shops look tacky and cheap. Not exactly the style I was hoping for. Then a friend told me about a woman who runs a furniture shop using recycled & reclaimed wood. I was hopeful. And when I first walked her in shop, I breathed a sigh of relief. This would definitely work.

Zakia Furniture Shopping

The first three pieces we bought from Zakia’s Furniture Shop were a table for our master bathroom sink, a table for our entryway, and a bedside table for the guest room. They were stylish yet simple, which is my exact design aesthetic. She then told me what I had been hoping to hear… “I can make anything you want. Just send me photos and the size”. Perfect. I began searching furniture websites in America [West Elm, Pottery Barn, etc…] looking for desks, bedside tables and more. I kept sending her photos. And she kept making us furniture. So far, we’ve had her custom make a changing table for our little one, two bedside tables for the master bedroom, floating wall shelves and a desk. Occasionally I stop by her storefront to see if she has anything new, and always end up ordering something else. Probably by the end of all this, Zakia will have ended up furnishing the majority of our house.

Entryway table

Bedside table

Guest room bedside table

Baby’s bookshelves

The other furniture option we found was a shop that takes old furniture from hotels and repairs or remakes it. We got a great deal on a bench for our foyer and a kitchen table plus two wooden folding chairs to match our other two. These simple pieces were a great addition to helping our house feel more at home. We have yet to order or find a sofa we like, but I am more optimistic that we can something functional & fashionable to fill the space. I’ve really come to enjoy finding the right piece of furniture to fit a room or a space. It’s rarely easy, but it’s extremely satisfying.

Entryway bench

Kitchen table

The next big part of redoing our rooms was adding curtains. Our landlords left their ivory bulky curtains behind, and I wanted them switched out immediately. Again, just like with furniture shopping, I couldn’t just run out to Target or the local curtain store. I was going to have to get them custom made. So I stopped by a tukang korden [curtain maker]. He showed me samples of curtain styles and fabrics. I quickly realized what Indonesians consider curtain fabric is not what I wanted as curtain fabric. They were all thick & heavy polyester, and of course, shiny. I opted to look for my own fabric and bring it to the tukang korden.

Curtain maker’s shop

Our little town has only a few fabric stores, and they are all at the central marketplace. I have been in my fair share of fabric stores. Back in America, I had a sewing machine and a serger and would sew regularly. I’m no stranger to fabric stores. Jo-Ann Fabrics coupons would be the highlight of my week. These stores however, are nothing like fabric stores in America. It feels like fabric exploded inside a storage unit. Many stores are so dark you can’t even accurately see the color of the fabric! There’s no organization by color or by fabric type. All the rolls of fabric are shoved haphazardly in bins and racks. I was so overwhelmed by the first shops I went into. But finally I found one that felt less overwhelming with a friendly owner. I explained what I was looking for and he pulled out many color options to choose from. He even cut samples of fabric from the roll for me to take home and match to the room. I picked a rich navy for the master bedroom and a Balinese batik for the prayer room. These would be the first set of curtains I would have made.

Fabric shopping

The tukang korden told me how much to buy, and I took him the fabric. Within a matter of days, the curtains were finished and ready to be hung. I was so happy with the final product. Simple but stylish and added a pop of color to both rooms. I will definitely be getting more curtains to come!

Master bedroom curtains

Prayer room curtains

The final update we had done was the rest of the house painting. We loved the gray in our master bedroom so much that we expanded it to the living room, entryway, guest room, baby’s room, prayer room & hallway. It immediately changed the atmosphere of the house. It feels so light and airy in here now. We may continue to the back of the house & kitchen at some point, but for now, the painting is done and I couldn’t be happier. Hurray for new updates!

New house paint

Painting in progress

New house paint

Latest Indonesian #HomeMakeover includes getting some furniture made and curtains created! Lots of fun! If I’ve learned anything about home decoration & renovations in Indonesia, it’s that nothing is simple as a foreigner.

#home makeover #indonesia #renovation #travel blogger

5 More Podcasts for Long Travel Days

I’m still such a huge fan of podcasts. It’s almost all I listen to while traveling, cleaning, or trying to sleep. That’s why I put together my original blog post, 9 Podcasts for Long Travel Daysback in 2017. I’m still following all those podcasts…and more! I recently found a few new [or new seasons] of podcasts that I just had to rave about. These episodes are sure to help pass those long travel…

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#enneagram #malcolm gladwell #podcasts #travel #traveling #true crime

Let the updates continue! We are slowly making progress on this new home, and the results are evident! After a few minor changes, we began some of the larger changes we wanted to make. Starting with the master bathroom.

We were ready for a sink in our bathroom! In the rare case that Indonesian houses have a sink, they often just hang from the wall. But after discovering our wall is to weak to support anything, we knew we had to choose the right sink carefully. So we researched I scoured Pinterest. We shopped in countless building supply stores in town. We not only wanted a good quality sink, but also one for a good price. Finally, we decided on a nice square porcelain sink, chose the faucet and found a great little table to set it on. The next step was installing it all.

Sink shopping

We hired a different tukang with some plumbing experience to get the job done [also because the previous one was too busy!]. Over the course of two days, he had a hole drilled through the table and the sink nicely installed in the bathroom. We still don’t have a mirror or a door, but again, one step at a time.

Sink installation

New bathroom sink

The other major update we wanted to make to the bathroom was installing a hot water heater and new shower head. My tall husband was excited about the new shower head, and I was excited for warmer water. But as with most things, installing the new shower head & hot water heater proved to be much more challenging than expected. The first problem was getting the electricity to the hot water heater. The bathroom really wasn’t wired for it, so it took some creative thinking between my husband, the tukang pipa [plumber] and [electrician] to finally arrive a solution. The same wiring that is used for the light switch & light bulb would also power the hot water heater. So as long as I don’t want a hot shower in the dark, the problem was solved!

Other new bathroom touches included another IKEA order, resulting in a bath mat to match the shower curtain and a sink accessory set with toothbrush holder and soap dispenser. It’s starting to look like a real modern bathroom now!

We also hung some functional and fashionable shelves in the kitchen. Because our countertops are so low [like at my husband’s knees!], the cabinets below them are basically unusable. So we decided to hang some floating shelves above the countertops with towel hooks to help with organization. We are now able to hang most of our pots and pans and utensils from the hooks, and store cups, mugs & bowls along the shelf. Along with a few decorative items! Again, I found this specific look on Pinterest and was thrilled at how functional it made our kitchen become. I also added some traditional Balinese baskets to help organize kitchen items that couldn’t be hung, and it really started coming together!

Our next big change was the air conditioning units. The owners had left one in the master bedroom that was old, noisy and we just didn’t feel was cold enough for us. So we moved it into the guest room, which is a much smaller room used less frequently. We then purchased a new unit for our room and for baby’s room. Because we had no idea how to install these, we called for a tukang AC [air conditioning technician] to help us out. He met us at the appliance store and helped us choose the right units and get the best price. Because rarely is anything marked with prices. Even large items like air conditioning units or refrigerators! You ask the shop employees and hope & pray they aren’t doubling the price because you are a foreigner and don’t know any better. The AC units were delivered and installed in one day’s time, and it was a great investment in the comfort of our home.

Shopping for an AC

New AC in the baby’s roon

Shopping at the electronics store

New AC being installed

Finally we hoped to hang our street number by our gate so our friends could find our house. One might think this would be simple. But our landlord originally said they didn’t know the address and told us just to pick any number! There isn’t often a pattern or flow to the house numbers on any given street so the solution was not obvious. It was only when we noticed an address number for the water meter that we discovered our actual house number. So we bought little gold numbers to screw into the outer wall. This was our home. We are making our mark. For better or worse, we are doing this. And there is just so much more fun to come.

To read earlier posts in this series about how we found our home and some of the quirky parts of this new place, click here.

Another installment of My #Indonesian #HomeMakeover blog series! All about getting a better #bathroom. #Priorities Let the updates continue! We are slowly making progress on this new home, and the results are evident!

#home makeover #indonesia #renovation #travel blogger

Asia is such a fascinating continent. It’s wildly diverse. It’s mountainous, tropical, rural, urban, populous, remote, affordable, expensive, naturally stunning and architecturally beautiful…all at once! I first visited Asia in 2005 when I traveled to India. I immediately overwhelmed by new sights, smells, tastes and sounds. And I also immediately in love with Asia. I traveled to Cambodia in 2009. And then in 2014, my husband and I began to consider a move to Asia, so we started traveling around the continent. We visited about 9 countries in 6 months. We moved to Indonesia in 2015, and it’s been home ever since. I’ve had the great privilege of seeing even more of Asia since living here, so I thought I’d share my top 10 list of places I’ve visited in Asia (so far!) Hopefully it inspires you to see a part of Asia that you haven’t seen yet!

#10 Chiang Mai, Thailand Northern Thailand is delightful, and Chiang Mai is the major city in the region. It’s full of Buddhist temples and delicious street food. We spent 2 months in Chiang Mai in 2014, and even got to celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year complete with giant water fight! We visited the mountains and rode elephants. It was a beautiful experience and Chiang Mai will always hold a special place in my heart.

Chiang Mai temple

Chiang Mai elephants

Chiang Mai Songkran

Chiang Mai markets

Chiang Mai temple

#9 Kathmandu, Nepal I’m not sure how I first became fascinated by Nepal. But I’d wanted to go for years. So being able to set foot in Kathmandu in 2014 was amazing. This tiny country sandwiched between mega China and mega India manages to maintain an identity all it’s own. We visited just months before the massive earthquake that devastated many parts of the city and countless lives were lost. I can’t imagine the extent of the impact on the beautiful people & culture of Kathmandu. Given the chance, I would surely return!

Kathmandu streets

Kathmandu temple

Patan Durbar Square entrance

#8 Angkor Wat, Cambodia I first traveled to the majestic ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia back in 2009. And then again in 2014. I will never stop being amazed by the scale, scope and wonder of it all. The temple complex is massive, unable to take in during just one day. Angkor Wat almost demands multiple visits. We were able to catch a sunrise at the iconic tiered tower temple, and it was magical.

Angkor Wat

#7 Shanghai, China I was surprised by Shanghai. I had previously traveled through other large [and smaller] cities in China, and wasn’t sure how I would feel about Shanghai. But it was a beautiful city. We were blessed with stunning blue skies when we visited, which I recognize is pretty rare around cities in China. We walked the ancient streets, traveled to the top of the ultra modern Shanghai Tower, enjoyed the view of the river, and ate delicious dumplings. Shanghai is probably my favorite city in China, and would love to go back for a longer stay!

Shanghai skyline

Shanghai tower

Shanghai dumplings

Shanghai streets

#6 Golden Triangle, Thailand I love absolutely this northern corner of Thailand that borders Myanmar & Laos. The beautiful Mekong River runs right through here. The towns are small, but the culture is rich. We spent a few weeks here, traveling through villages and crossing the borders of neighboring countries. Recently, this area has been all over the news with the soccer boys trapped in the cave. My heart was filled with joy as they were rescued. As I read & watched the coverage, I was transported back to this place. I simply adore this area of Thailand!

Myanmar

MeKong River

Northern Thailand

Laos

Golden Triangle

#5 Lombok, Indonesia This stunning tropical island often gets overlooked by the fame of Bali to the west. But Lombok is just as beautiful, and much less of a tourist hotspot. I’ve been here a couple of times, and every time I am captivated by a new aspect of this stunning island. Climb a volcano, discover gorgeous waterfalls, enjoy pristine beaches, eat delicious food and meet incredible people. That’s Lombok.

Lombok beaches

Lombok Waterfalls

Mt Rinjani

Lombok Waterfalls

Gili Air

#4 Ha Long Bay, Vietnam What a naturally stunning place on this planet. The limestone mountains of HaLong Bay are breathtaking to behold. Sure, it’s touristy. Sure, some parts have been overrun with the tourist industry. But even with all that, HaLong Bay is worth the trip. There’s so many ways to do HaLong Bay that you can find one that suits your travel style. Whether it’s cruising in luxury or rock climbing adventures, you can take it the views of the Bay. I’ve been here twice, and soaked in all the natural beauty to behold. And as many times as I can, I will go back to HaLong Bay.

Kayaking HaLong Bay

HaLong Bay at sunset

HaLong Bay

#3 Singapore This city nation is unlike anywhere else in Asia. It has such a cool blend of East meets West. The food you can find in Singapore is simply fabulous. It’s a cross cultural experience to dine in the famous hawker centers of the city. If you love any type of Asian food, you can find it in Singapore. From excellent shopping to incredible skylines, Singapore is not to be missed. I love wandering the city streets and admiring the stunning architecture. I’ve been to Singapore a few times, and each time I love it more!

Singapore streets

Singapore Skyline

Merlion Singapore

Singapore at Night

Tiong Bahru, Singapore

#2 Hanoi, Vietnam When I first visited Vietnam, I was skeptical. I didn’t know much about it, and had set my expectations pretty low. But every part of Vietnam surprised me…in the best way possible! The food was delicious! The architecture was unique and creative! The culture & people were beautiful. Especially Hanoi. This city just stole my heart. It’s a street photographer’s dream. It’s one of the most affordable places in all of Asia that we’ve visited. I’ve been twice, and would love to return!

Hoàn Kiếm Lake

Hanoi traffic

Ngon Villa spring rolls and pho rolls

Old Quarter

#1 Bali, Indonesia Perhaps it’s no surprise that Bali is my number one favorite place in all of Asia. We’ve called it home for over 3 years now. On the surface, Bali can look like the ultimate getaway. It has the reputation of escapism. But for me, it’s where I’ve put down roots. I’ve learned the language. I’m constantly learning the culture. I’m getting to know the people. I’m here to do life with them. I’ve been to their weddings, funerals, birthday parties and tooth filing ceremonies. The Balinese people are simply lovely. To only see the tourist destinations in Bali is to miss so much of what the island has to offer. Get off the beaten path. Ask locals for recommendations of what to see and do. Drink coffee together. Take selfies together. Experience one of the most beautiful places on our planet, both in nature and in people.

Tanah Lot

Rice fields

Balinese children

High above Atuh Beach

Uluwatu Beauty

Have you been to any of these places in Asia? What did you like about them? Hopefully this list helps inspire you to come over to Asia and experience one of the most wonderful regions of the world!

Counting down my top 10 favorite places I've visited in Asia...so far! Asia is such a fascinating continent. It’s wildly diverse. It’s mountainous, tropical, rural, urban, populous, remote, affordable, expensive, naturally stunning and architecturally beautiful...all at once!

#angkor wat #asia #bali #china #halong bay #hanoi #indonesia #kathmandu #lombok #nepal #shanghai #Singapore #thailand #top 10 #travel #Vietnam

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