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Stacy's Finds
NYC Loves Diamond Head Road
Summer lovin' has officially come to the Big Apple as we are excited to announce The Chatwal New York, a luxury five-star hotel in midtown Manhattan, as the exclusive carrier of Diamond Head Road in the city.
The Chatwal is a historic hotel that was once a haunt of legendary entertainment icons and has recently been renovated and "re-imagined" by prominent French architect, Thierry Despont.
DHR can be found in the exclusive Chatwal Spa, a first time co-branding partnership with Kashwere, a global lifestyle brand recognized around the world for feel good products that are as sumptuous to the touch as they are to the eye.
Everyone Loves Bali in the Summer
Summers are a great time to visit Bali – the days are warm and sunny, but not scorching hot.
The nights cool off enough to wear something light around your shoulders which if you live here year round is an amazing feeling.
As we come to a close on our very first year on the Island of the Gods, I thought it would make sense to jot down a short list of a few of our favorite things to do here so that you don't find yourself in a traffic jam for nothing.
1. Uluwatu: Think North Shore, Hawaii; Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa or Bells Beach, Australia – Uluwatu is up there with the world's most famous surf spots. Take in the energy and watch in awe from the cliff front warung or take a dip in the mystical beach cave at low tide.
2. Ubud: This place is absolutely nuts during the summer. Tour busses clog the streets and tourists crowed the sidewalks. Skip the mess and meander instead among rice paddies to the Sari Organik restaurant, located right in town yet in the middle of what feels like old Bali:rice farmers, dirty ducks, and coconut groves. Experience it at night and you'll be greeted by thousands of twinkling fireflies who also love Bali summers.
3. Padang-Padang: Definitely one of my favorite beaches especially during the summer as the white sand and turquoise Indian Ocean are pristine and perfect. It will be crowded this time of year, but in a fun way: surfer hotties of all levels paddling in and out, couples canoodling under umbrellas, kids running around exploring rock formations and secret coves and travelers from all over the globe showing off their country's unique beach style.
4. Sanur: Rent bicycles in town and ride a couple of miles along the famous beach board walk, Bali's first expat resort town established in the 1930's. Stop in at Hyatt Reef Izakaya (a few restaurants north of the Bali Hyatt Hotel) for lunch or dinner and enjoy freshly grilled mahi mahi or prawns caught that day.
5. Canggu: Enjoy yet again more continental surfer vibe at Echo Beach House on the glistening black sand of Echo Beach. This is a great home base to explore rivers coming down from the mountains, pick out your favorite beach front villa and again watch great local and world class surfers do their thing. Sunday afternoons have a fun party atmosphere with live music and a standing room only crowd so get there before five. Nearby Sea Sentosa also does movies on the beach every weekend through September.
San Diego, Martha's Vineyard Mix
Perth may be the most isolated city in the world, but she's second to none when it comes to the infrastructure that has been thoughtfully created for her sport loving community.
Imagine hundreds of miles of powdery white sand beaches lined with beautifully maintained boardwalks perfect for biking, jogging or walking with friends and a string of friendly beach towns in between.
Head to Cottesloe Beach, or "Cott" as the nickname loving locals call her. You'll find a vibrant family atmosphere bustling with ocean front parks offering modern facilities for the kids, grassy lawns & beaches perfect for picnics and plenty of dining options.
A little bit further along the coast, you'll find Fremantle, or "Freo," a historic port full of charming buildings dating back to the 1830's along with hopping pubs, mouth watering fish & chips, an interesting shipwreck museum that actually displays the hull of a real Dutch ship that never made it to her destination of Jakarta, Indonesia in 1629.
The coolest spot in Freo is the oceanfront brewery and restaurant, Little Creatures. We walked into the breathtaking warehouse to see children on the floor drawing masterpieces with free flowing chalk, along with fresh flowers and candles everywhere. Try their pale ale and a simple pizza topped with sea salt and rosemary.
We also loved the underwater shark viewing at the Perth Aquarium and the dinosaur skeletons at the Western Australian Museum in the historic city centre.
Follow the yellow brick road…
Having grown up in one of the most beautiful places on earth, I try not to set my expectations too high when we travel.
This wasn't the case for Margaret River though – Australia's version of Napa Valley with a little Santa Cruz and Provence thrown in the mix – my expectations were very high and "Margs" as the Aussies' call her did not disappoint.
We decided to take a break from the Bali heat and visit during Western Australia's off season which is our summer, their winter -and not even the hail, cold rain or frigid wind could dampen our spirit – an unusual cold snap for the area that definitely fulfilled my desire to wear fleece and get cozy by a fireplace.
Dramatic white sand beaches, idyllic rivers with bridges and walking paths, acre upon acre of pristine forest and to top it all off – over a hundred wineries within an hour's drive; one more beautiful then the next surrounded by vineyards as far as the eye can see, local breweries with the freshest beer on the planet and lively Aussie family ambiance and restaurants that serve only the most incredible fare produced right there in the shire – cheese, cream, butter, eggs, pastry, fish, chocolate, jam – you name it, Margaret River makes it.
For breakfast head to the eclectic Margaret River Bakery - I became addicted to the freshly baked scones topped with Devonshire Cream and local strawberry jam and served with a flat white, an Aussie version of a cappuccino topped with a creamier foam, of course.
Expect the unexpected…
Going with the flow is an absolute must have attitude on an island like Bali which I often describe as the land of juxtaposition:
Infinite beauty struggling with the ignorance of pollution, breathtaking tranquility along side thousands of motorbikes and an unbelievable commitment to tradition in the midst of an unstoppable construction boom.
This has been a most memorable year for me: ups and downs like any year coupled with the struggle of raising two children instead of one perfect son and the aftermath of an economy that twisted our arms into making a life altering lifestyle change – a journey that hasn't always been easy but of which I'm grateful for as my year abroad in Europe as a teenager instilled the desire to have an international experience with my own children.
Take my birthday for example – movie night at the jaw dropping Karma Kandara resort where a cliff side lift takes you all the way down the sheer mountain from the restaurant to the beach.
'Date Night' with Tina Fey was on the menu, but upon arrival we were faced with 'Tooth Fairy' starring The Rock – a movie that I wouldn't wish upon my own worst enemy's birthday, but alas…
Vodka martini in hand, fig and proscuitto pizza on the table, best friend of 18 years by my side and "one of our perfect sons" dancing in delight on a sand dune under the tangerine sky made up for the mix up.
A little something for everyone…
Bali is a fantastic destination for a family vacation, but sometimes the kids (and the adults!) may need a break from sun and surf, temple visits and nasi goreng.
Located near the trendy Canggu and Seminyak areas of the island, the Canggu Club is a private colonial style venue featuring some of the best amenities on the island.
For $75/day or $400 for a full week, the entire family can enjoy all the activities and onsite amenities of this private club.
They have the best gym I have seen on the island with a full time trainer on hand to help re-introduce you to the machines and free weights if you're rusty like me and haven't had a proper workout in awhile.
For the kids, you'll find a staffed toddler's room where the little ones can color or watch a movie. For the older ones, the club regularly features organized lessons and mini-camps on their world class soccer field, indoor tennis courts, and 25 meter swimming pool.
The food is great and actually quite reasonable with a snack menu starting at just Rp 20,000 (about US$2) with favorites such as edimame with rock salt and "after school mini burgers."
Happy hour isn't too bad either at the poolside bar or inside Tapper's Pub.
Eco-Luxury Minimalism in Ubud
Mixing business with pleasure is a favorite past time in Bali and no one does it better than uber eco-preneurs, John and Cynthia Hardy.
This summer the couple is hosting a series of speakers at Bambu Indah, their eco-resort located right below the Amandari in Ubud.
Meandering through the resort grounds with a glass of fresh arak madu before the presentation, I thought to myself that I have never seen so much reclaimed wood in my entire life.
The entire property – from the traditional Javanese houses that make up the resort's rooms to the decorative, yet working agricultural plots that grow in between them – sets a new standard for what John refers to as 'primitive minimalism' albeit with a luxury twist.
Fantastic Balinese food, an eclectic and friendly audience along with a humorous presentation by 'shopping anthropologist' Paco Underhill, set the stage for a perfect night with all proceeds benefiting the Balinese scholarship at Green School, allowing more local children to enjoy a global and sustainable education.
Southeast Asia's hottest surf spot…
You don't have to be a pro surfer to immerse yourself in the lifestyle and surf culture of Uluwatu – one of the world's most renowned international surf destinations.
Just a hundred or so steps down a stone stairway will lead you to a cliff front warung (casual open air restaurant) perfectly positioned to provide not only jaw dropping views, but fairly close proximity to many of the top surfers around strutting their stuff right before your very eyes.
If you're up for a higher level of adventure including an energy cleansing swim, head down another couple hundred steep steps to the Uluwatu cave and white sand beach where the color of the Indian Ocean is a gorgeous milky turquoise.
Ask about the tide before you decide to go down though, as the cave can be treacherous on a high tide with big swell. This is where surfers paddle out to catch some of the most perfect and consistent waves on the planet.
This surfing mecca is located near Pura Luhur, a Balinese sea temple built in the 11th century! Try the Blue Point Bay Villas & Spa if you want to be within walking distance or Alila Villas Uluwatu if you're looking for eco-luxury eye candy.
Hawaiian Design; Balinese Artistry
"Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.
A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all's right with the world."
~Ada Louise Huxtable
On a road to somewhere yummy…
Get your rice paddy fix as well as a good meal in a very eclectic setting on the road to Sari Organik restaurant in Ubud.
Located almost directly across the street from Jalan Bisma, this delightfully well maintained path leads you along a Disneyland-esque stroll through rice paddies and coconut tree groves, working farmers and playful ducks doing their thing walking in a row or splashing in the mud.
Originally developed as a community project to help Balinese farmers learn about non-chemical farming, the trail provides little recycling bins, a small compost area and rubbish bins made from reclaimed basketball hoops.
