Missing Bali

Large private pool and beautiful sunsets, boy do I miss Bali :)

Short work week but it feels like I never left. Work is busy these days. We went out pretty much every night this week too since Charles is here visiting. Kenn showed him around during the day. It's warm now in Tokyo and cherry blossoms are in full bloom. They are as pretty as they say and people here really go crazy over them. Drinking while cherry blossom viewing is big. People go as far as camping out over night for goods spots and bringing portable karaoke machines.

Livia and Doris arrive tomorrow so the party continues...

Wedding pics!

It's been really busy since we've gotten back. Second day back at work and back into the full swing. I almost feel like I never left. We had an amazing time in Bali, it was perfect. When I free up some time, I'm dying to write about the details. Hokkaido was also good, great mountains. It being late in the season and a warm year though, we didn't get any fresh powder. More on that to come too. Our friend Charles is visiting Tokyo right now on a last minute trip and then Doris and Livia are here next week. Busy Busy Busy. Enjoy some pics I've rushed to get up. If I haven't sent them to you check them out here

We're Married!

Everything ended up perfect in the end. When we woke up on Wednesday morning, it was pouring rain and it rained all morning. I know it would have been ok, still a good time, if it rained but this place is just so beautiful it would have been a shame. We headed into town for a little shopping and on the way home it started to clear up a bit. By lunch it had stopped raining and by the time we were getting ready for the ceremony it was clear and dry. Totally amazing how it worked out in the end. We had our ceremony on the cliff overlooking the gorgeous view. Slightly overcast skies should make for great views. Buffet Indonesian dinner was delicious. Decorations were amazing. It was a great time ending with all of us playing pool games late night.

The beginning of the week included lots of sun and pool time, visit to a local beach, a tour to Uluwatu temple, watching a traditional Balinese dance at sunset, and seafood dinner. There's so much more to write about but I'll have to regroup and organize my thoughts for writing them all here.

It's raining today and Nestor and Eva just left for the airport. The rest of us will wait out the rain in hopes of some more beach or pool time.

I'll try and post again soon.

GREETINGS FROM BALI!!

Gotta love the internet! We arrived safely and almost everyone is now here except my brother Greg and Caroline who are coming from Tokyo tomorrow. There are no words to describe this place. This Villa is absolutely breathtaking. We have taken a million pics (which will be to slow to upload right now) but they will not do this place justice. It's just so extremely peaceful and beautiful here. Having the villa all to ourselves is amazing. The staff here is amazing, they serve us meals and clean and its just a dream, this whole trip. I miss all of you who aren't here and wish you could experience this. Everything is just stunning, I couldn't have asked for a better place and week. It's only day 2! Food cooked and served at the villa is dirt cheap, like $3-$7 per person. Massages are $20 an hour, had one today and it was amazing. We've just been lounging by the pool all day so far.

Ok, gotta run to our villa cooked Indian dinner now. Will try and write again soon.

Twas the night before Bali

and we're packed and ready to go! I finally got through the work week. I expect to have over 1000 emails by the time I get back but I am absolutely excited to go to Bali for the next 2 weeks!!! We're really looking forward to it, I can't say that enough.

To be honest, I don't have anything else to blog about.

Ging is right by the way, we are going to Niseko in Hokkaido. Looking forward to that too. After 2 weeks of relaxing in the sun, it should be interesting to put on winter gear and go snowboarding.

I'll try to blog from Bali and even send some pics through :)

2 more days to Bali!

I started packing last night. Very excited to leave. :) I have a ton to do at work so have been pretty busy and not blogging, sorry. Glad to be going on vacation. It's nice to have a break every once in awhile. I need to win the lotto so I can go on perpetual vacation.

Hmmm i really don't have anything interesting to blog about. Here's the Villa we'll be staying and getting married at: Canang Sari Villas


Cool huh?

Right when we get back from Bali, Kenn and I are leaving the next day to Hokkaido (northern island of Japan) for more snowboarding! Going for a 4 day weekend. Supposed to be some of the best snow in the world because of the weather pattern from Siberia. Last snowboarding trip, when we get back, Tokyo will be in full spring season. From summer to winter to spring all in a couple weeks. hehe.

Spring skiing

Another fun snowboarding weekend although the weather was really warm, spring skiing style. The side of the mountain we were on was pretty bare on the bottom, we actually had to take a lift up, walk off of it to another lift to get up higher for the snow. It was crazy that just 2 weeks ago, it looks so different! The snow up top wasn't bad though, soft. Kinda nice, easy to ride, but fast! We also paid an extra $5 to access the mountain next to Ishiuchi - Gala Yuzawa. Snow was even better over there but it was too crowded. That mountain actually gets a lot of day trippers cause the the train stops right at it. We rode for a few hours, stopped for breaks and light food along the way, and called it a day fairly early cause it was hot and we got tired. Man we're getting old! I remember the days we would ride all day long until the last lift. Then again, we didn't go snowboarding often and lift tickets are expensive in the Northeast so always wanted to get our money's worth.

Ending the day early also meant I could hit the public bath at the hotel while no one else is in it. We had dinner at the hotel this time, good food - Italian style. Salad, penne, baked chicken, clam chowder, dessert.

We got information and a taxi to the Yuzawa snow festival. That was really really cool. The town holds a festival each year, normally they have snow sculptures but I think because of the lack of snow they skipped that part. They had booths of food including cheap ramen in this huge pot. We'll get pics up sometime. They also had free Sake!! As you can imagine, Kenn and I went to town on that. ;) Then there was the traditional carrying of the shrine. A bunch of town people carry this big heavy shrine down the street and they chant, sing and make a bid to do. Kenn decided to jump in on the action and try to help carry it. They let him in and I took a bunch of pics and videos of it. Such a cool experience, the vibe was really something. Then there was a fireworks display. Big fireworks, but not very many. Lastly, they do this really cool thing every year. A bunch of skiiers come down the mountain single file holding these lit up torches, kinda like flares. The resort is blaring music from the loud speakers as the skiiers trail down against the mountain and the night sky. It was gorgeous.

All in all another great weekend, we skipped riding on Sunday and headed home on the train. The commute is easy and we had all our gear messengered so had no issues.

4 more days to Bali!!!

Busy week

What a busy week it was! Of course now things are really picking up at work and we have a bunch of projects starting right before I leave for vacation to Bali for a few weeks. Guess that's just how it goes...

Thursday night Kenn and I decided to go out. Stopped at our fav watering hole and tried out a local club called Vanilla. Admission included 2 drinks making it actually free admission :) It being Thurs it was kinda dead at first and the main room was playing really lame music. Dance versions of random songs like Dancing Queen, Uptown Girl, Beautiful. I'm talking serious dance versions, it was aweful. We were about to give up on the place when Kenn went up to the DL booth and asked for hip hop and found out the other room had hip hop. We stayed around for awhile, that was much more fun. The night ended with a Mc Donald's cheeseburger. 100 yen menu with the exchange rate means 82 cent burger! Hehe

This weekend is yet another snowboarding trip. We're going back to Ishiuchi and staying at the same hotel. Figure we have the process down no so why mix it up. Happens to be the Yuzawa Snow Festival this weekend so should be cool. Fireworks and snow sculptures and stuff. It's been warm so snow is a bit bare now but that's ok.

Will post more pics- enjoy your weekend!