Alexis Mire

I can't remember how I came across this amazingly talented young photographer, but I do remember being totally consumed by her work. For hours I clicked through her Flickr Photostream. Her images have an eerie dreamlike feel to them, they kind of evoke memories and emotions of my life when I was 19... which is nice. Her self portraits are experimental in every way it seems as though she has no fear when looking through or at the lens.

Word of mouth

A shop in Bali worth visiting is Word of Mouth at 9 Jl Kunti, Kunti Arcade
Shop 10, Seminyak, Bali. It's a mixture of fashion, furniture and food. The don't permit photos and it's difficult to find any decent ones of them online, but I was lucky enough to snap a few of theses amazing floor and pendent lamps made from silk worm cocoons. They are made by an eco loving Thai company called Ango who cleverly tap into the country's silk industry for this design. Be sure to check out his other designs, especially his tapioca "Twig" light!

Guess what I'll be collecting this summer!

Bingin, Bali

low tide at Bingin beach

Day 8 and we're on the move to higher ground. After Pat was struck down with a bout of Bali yesturday, it feels like a good time for a new environment. The only upside to the Bali Belly incident was we discovered the wonders of Norit - charcoal tablets. Completely natural and the best thing we've found for diarrhoea. Highly recommend!


Moving on from bowl movements, thought I'd share a few of our more successful eating adventures while on and around the Bukit!

Jimbaran Bay

Chicken Sit Sit wrapped in a crispy tofu basket at Chandi

Tempestuous Organic Mixed Salad at Chandi

If you're into organic, locally grown food then you have to try Chandi restaurant in Seminyak. It's the third time we've eaten here and perfect each visit. Visually the food just blows you away. I'm a coeliac and amazingly they new exactly what I could and couldn't have, they also adjusted ingredients to make certain meals edible for me. Their deserts are incredible but we just didn't have room.

Ulu - great Thai food on the Bukit and Sanur

Pineapple rice boat at Ulu

Good old bacon and eggs at Jiwa Bingin - aptly named "Surfers Breakfast"

Pratima's at Bingin

The entrance

This is the second time we've been lucky enough to spend a few days at Pratima's Villa in Bali. It's about 40 minutes drive from the centre of Bali, or "The Nest" as Pat fondly refers to it as! 

Located in Bingin on the Bukit which is on the southern peninsula, Pratima's has some of the most spectacular views. It's really a surfers paradise, with Bingin, Impossibles, Dreamland, Green Balls and of course Uluwatu all with in 10-15min drive. Pat surfs and I'm sure the boys will one day, but for now the little men and I spend hours reading, swimming, exploring and eating... relaxing mostly. 

Traditional Javanese house (rebuilt) sleeps 4 adults

Traditional Javanese bungalow sleeps 2

Breakfast

The pool & warung

The neighbours

Main bedroom

View of Impossibles from back of Villa