PAMPERING MYSELF

Yesterday, I left home too early, forgot that before start working I have to go to the bank.
It was 10 minutes before 08.00 in the morning when I passed Monkey Forest street, the bank will be opened at 08.30. And it takes only 5 minutes from Monkey Forest to the bank at the main road.

I always dream to pamper myself early morning before my working hours in Ubud by having a cup of cappucinno or a glass of latte, sitting in a corner of a cafe, writing a post or taking pictures.

"I am going to do it now! I am not running out of time this time!" that was what I thought that day. Usually, it was only a dream in my mind. I always don't have time to make it realize.

So, I parked and walked to my favorite cafe. Ordering a glass of coffee latte and rye bagel with eggplant and garlic hummus.

I sat nicely waiting for my order, opening my laptop and start to edit several photos and write several posts.

I smiled and thought what a nice way to start a busy day!


Sometimes we need to have time JUST for ourselves. Get rid of our routine life and do what we want to do. It makes us feel better.

BELIEVE ME

ORGANIC FARM

In these days, many people being awaken of having a better life. Everybody seems to be directed into “BACK TO NATURE” life style. Kind of way of life style is very instantly becoming popular amongst modern and busy people.

Yoga and meditation retreat started to be fulfilled with participants who look for a balance in their life. Organic food started becoming a primary choice which deliberately bringing a good opportunity for the organic farmers.

Exploring a mountain tourism spot in Bali last Sunday, I and my love ones ended at Danau Beratan, BUT in the side which has not been ‘contaminated’ by the crowd. There is a brand new organic farm developed on that side, completed with a big strawberry farm house. I guess they try to make a kind of organic farm tour, since I looked they put several tracking sign boards. Unfortunately when we wanted to explore more, nobody was there to be questioned. So we continued our tour by ourselves.

I must say not many organic vegetables I could see that time, it seems like they have already done the harvest time. Several yards were still being prepared for the next planting season.

I only saw cucumber, bananas and cabbage.

Next to their office which also their receptionist, I saw a yard full of colorful flowers. I recognized one from the lines they have is an infinity flower like edelweiss. But this one has thousands of tiny orange – red – yellow petals. Very beautiful!

The other line of their flower collection is this bright pink flower. It has a very soft thorn on its stem and leaves. I saw purple and white flowers which usually planted in a hanging pot there.

They are using this ‘automatic’ sprinkler in watering their plantation. When exploring more inside the area further, I saw traditional farmers were also using the same system

I did not know the source of water they were using; possibly it is the water that pumped out of the lake.

Actually there are 3 lakes in the area, unfortunately the biggest one has already experienced decreasing in its water debit since the last 4 years, leaving only half of the lake actual size. Hope the experts can solve this problem quickly. I will write about this lake called BUYAN, in my other post.

Well…….., if you were in Bali and wish to get your organic food supplies, it is very easy now! Several gourmet store in Sanur, Kuta & Ubud area specializing in selling organic food has been opened. You can find many restaurants & cafes which also concentrated of selling organic food easily too!

CHOCO CHIP

Went up to Bedugul last Sunday, ended at Roti Bedugul, my favorite bakery on the remote place. Besides their super quality croissant, they sell several lines of cookies too.
First time visiting Roti Bedugul, Pak Ketut - the chef, asked me to try their choco chips.

"This is an American style choco chips. American said that it has to be deep into coffee if you want to eat it! That is the best way to enjoy choco chip."

His explanation brought me to a documentary movie......., Mad Labs I think? On that movie was described the best way to deep your cookies into coffee or tea? What a weird subject! But still very interesting to know, since I also found difficult to get the just right deep. If you deep too long, you will easily lost a part of your cookies, if too short................, it will still hard! Oh my.......................














Promising good friends of mine in Ubud - Roti Bedugul's choco chips, reminded me of Mrs. Fields.

Mrs Fields? Who is she???

Ok...., ok...., let me tell you. Mrs. Fields was an ordinary housewife who finally becoming a famous business lady by selling her choco chips! And chocolate is the main ingredients in her bakings.

I can't even remember how did I get to know Mrs. Fields. I only remembered finally I put an order to Amazon for Mrs. Fields recipes book, and then be stunning when receiving the books and see the picture inside. So mouth watery! You don't believe me? No?? Just see the picture of Mrs. Fields website? Still don't believe me? Ok....., visit: http://www.mrsfields.com

Well......what about if I am living in her town? Oh no.........., maybe will be really difficult to maintain shapes!

Here it is a video from youtube.com on HOW TO MAKE A CHOCOLATE CAKE!

THANKS FOR THE MAGAZINE, PUTU!

My friend who knows exactly how I love culinary world - Putu Sekar - handed me the October edition of a food & entertainment magazine titled APPETITE JOURNEY.
(visit Putu's blog: http://putusekar.blogspot.com, she posted many interesting articles - in Indonesian- but I think she will expand her blog into an English edition as well!)

I found on the cover the magazine's website: http://www.appetitejourney.com, click on that if you wish to know more about the magazine, or if you miss your free edition.













As a lover to a culinary world, I would expect kind of culinary journals will be long lasting or don't be last please....! BUT.........., for sure the content should be also valuable.

I was very sad few years ago, when found a good culinary magazine titled "SANTAP" was discontinued their publishing. Each edition of Santap was beautifully done. Very educated and contained lots of information. An elegant magazine!

Thanks for sharing the journal, Putu! I will enjoy it for my weekend reading.

DON'T EAT IT! TRUST ME!

"What would you like for your afternoon tea time? Chocolate Cake, Orange Pie, Strawberry Pie or Apple Pie?"
"Hmm..................., I like all of them, but just a small piece please..........."
"Certainly!"
"And what would you like, tea or coffee?"
"Do you have mint tea?"
"Certainly!"

Talking about mint tea, last night I watched Discovery Travel & Living Asia, there was a documentary movie about Morocco Culinary. It was said the best way to make a fresh mint tea, is by using fresh mint leaves (generously), sugar (I thought it must be rock sugar they used not the cube tea sugar), and tea. The man on the movie said, do not stir the tea, but pour the mixture (which already combined with hot water) to a glass, and then pour back the tea into the tea pot. Do it several times until the sugar dissolved. Higher you can pour the tea is better.

BUT........., let me tell you. The above Chocolate Cake and various pies are not real. They are all made of Polymer Clay. I made it last year. Looks good, doesn't it?
















Psssssssssst......................! These breakfast choices is also not real. It is all made of polymer clay.

Last year I was addicted to make any kind of food, fruits ......... anything from clay.
Now, I am very busy doing many things at work, and has to forget my hobby.

Have a great day!