Jimbaran Beach

I think I have found my happy place.  It is at the InterContinental on Jimbaran Beach, Bali.

We stayed in two rooms on the Club side.  For a little more (worth it), you get club rights, free breakfast, and happy hour.  The kids also got access to the kid's club where they got lunch, dinner, and activities.  They loved it so much, that we got ditched...a lot.

We woke up each day to a beautiful beach and 3 main pool areas.   We camped out by mainly by the surf shack and even rented some boards.  The room was also top notch, with plenty of room.  

Our highlight of the stay was a night at the beach with a BBQ dinner and my mom letting a lantern go.   She saw people releasing them and decided she needed to do it too in honor of my Gma.   She wrote a not on the tissue and said a prayer.  The lantern slowly drifted into the dark sky, until we couldn't see it anymore.  Two days later my Gma passed.  It was a great way for us to say good-bye.

Where we camped out daily.

Nightly happy hour.  Three hours of free drinks and light snacks. 

Lantern release.

There it goes. 

Bodyboarding. 

The beach was clean and never busy.

Ubud

My mom came during our fall break.   I wasn't going to waste all the time in Singapore, so I booked us a trip to Bali.  I have been to other part of Indonesia, but never the island of Bali.    We decided on seeing Ubud and the beach while we were there.

I didn't know what to expect of Ubud.  I was happily surprised and could have spent all our time there.   I completely fell in love with the highly recommended guesthouse we booked.  It was a perfect location and setting.  It is also connected with the cooking school featured in the book Eat, Pray, Love.  We ate breakfast and dinner there.  Amazing!

During our time in Ubud we did a lot of shopping and walking.  The poor kids were troopers with the miles logged.   We also made a trip to Monkey Forest.  Most people know I am not a fan of monkeys.  They are not nice animals.  I was worried about going, but somehow convinced myself.   It turned out alright, but we were all on edge.  Especially watching stupid people tease them and letting them on them!  We just shuffled fast through the paths and made it out unharmed.

One our way to the beach we had our drive take us through the Bali rice terraces.  It was worth it.  They are beautiful!   It was a dry to a lack of rain, but they were still very green.  I wish we would have taken the time to walk around them and not just a drive-by

The door to our room.  The room was the bottom floor of one of the houses.  It had a front sitting porch with eating area that over looked a garden.  It was also right next to the pool. 

Guesthouse pool. 

This one is a baby.  The big ones are the worse. 

Monkey Temple.

My little monkeys

Rice terraces. 

You can go down into them and walk around, 

Universal Singapore

My kids had no idea what Universal Studios was.  I was waiting to introduce the concept when there was a good reason too.   Mimi (Sweet Helen) was that reason.  We arrived early on our first day of break and it was a ton of fun.  I was worried the kids would be too young, but they proved me wrong.  Amelia was actual scary with her lack of fear.  She handled all the big rides like a pro.   Liam was a trooper.   He is not a ride fan, but he gave a lot a try (some with tears during but pride after).   

We will be back.

Character from Madagascar. 

The Universal symbol

Jurassic Park world.  

Making Mimi do a ride.  Liam and I watched from the sides.  

Transformer ride line.  This was my favorite.  It used great technology.  

Ending the day with Minions. 

Sweet Helen to Singapore

All it took was a good deal on a plane ticket to get Sweet Helen ti Singapore.   We had a total of 2 weeks to show her about our life and squeeze in a beach vacation.   During her time here, I took a personal day and the kids and I had a week off for October Break.

During my day off we, just she and I (with Wade intermittently) toured Singapore.   We saw a lot and the sweet from the hot day and walking didn't stop us.

Our schedule: Bugis Street for shopping, finding the main Merlion, lunch with Wade, messages a the bets hotel in Singapore, Fullerton, high tea at the Fullerton, boat tour around the Quays, drinking original Singapore Slings, and chili crab on the beach.

Merlion on the Bay

Using the selfie-stick we bought for Shelby earlier. 

High Tea

Chili Crab

Japan

Japan has been on my travel list for a while.  So when I learned that ABAI was going to be holding it's conference there, I knew I had to go.   I was also able to talk my co-worker and friend Sarah into joining me.  With a weird holiday in the middle of the week, we decided to leave a day earlier so we could sightsee and stop in Tokyo on our way to Kyoto.

Japan is pretty amazing.  The technology was something to be amazed with.  Where else do toilet seats come with warmers, vending machines of ALL kids, and so much more?   My goal for the trip was not just to learn at the conference, but also to eat as much as I can.  I was successful and I think I put on 5lbs.   I also learned that tofu an be made a variety of ways (sometimes even tasted like cheese) and don't have the aversive reaction to wasabi that I once had (I think it's because it seemed so much milder).

Shibuya Square

We flew into Tokyo and took the bullet train to Kyoto.   Tokyo is a big city and reminded me of New York.  We stayed in a hotel looking down at their version of Time Square.   It was rainy but people were still everywhere.  We got it late and only had about a day there.   We also met some SAS peeps and our old principal for an awesome Japanese dinner.   

The restaurant a scene from Kill Bill was based in.  

Soba noodles, bacon wrapped asparagus, and tempura. 

My younger cousin Kaitlin has been studying Japanese for a while now.  I asked her where to go before leaving.  Harajuka was on her list.  We didn't see any people dressed up (I guess they come out Sundays), but it was a cool area.  Great shopping...especially for Halloween stuff. 

It's great to go out with people who know where to go.   This is one of the many dishes ordered during the SAS dinner.  I was brave and tried a lot of it.  It was so fresh and good, it literally melted in your mouth. 

Salmon, avocado rolls.  

Kyoto is much smaller than Tokyo and does not have the high-rises.  The hotel and conference was based in the Kyoto Station.  It probably one of the most amazing train startions I have ever seen,  We were able to get trains to surrounding areas with our off time and we didn't feel like we missed out seeing tourist stuff.  This included the Kyoto Temple, Bamboo Forest and Geisha District.  Again we ate and drank lots of good Japanese foods and beverages.

Temple on the hill.

Coming down from the temple into the city center.  There was lots of shopping for souvenirs and food. 

This are man powered.  We never used one, but I thought they were cute. 

A side street. 

Geisha District:  We saw three heading to appointments.  That is one in white. 

The Japanese wear Kimonos as daily wear.  They were so pretty.  

My coffee find at 7-Eleven.

Park on the river.  It was a beautiful day.  

A couple walking along the river. 

The maples were starting to change.  They will be so beautiful when red. 

Bamboo Forest

Lunch at a tea house in the park.  Known for it's tofu.  

Wasabi! 

There was Geisha's at the opening reception for the conference.  

Sarah and I had to get pictures with them all.  She was the tallest. 

Japanese technology: A photo booth that makes you "beautiful". 

We had a little too much fun with them.  

I discovered plum wine.  I even brought some back.  So sugary good.

The food!!!   Bacon wrapped avocado deep-fried on a stick.  Perfection!

Ramon!  You can also get udon and soba noodles.  So many noodles...and soy...and tofu...and food grilled on sticks.