Hey What's up? Want to go to Bali for my birthday? I don't even like beaches Yeah, the flight leaves in an hour ??? Ok see you in Seminyak! ... Bali Let's start! Day 1 *the acting* Wow I cannot believe it's been 5 years since we've been to Bali If you guys know me there are 2 places I love traveling to: 1. Japan 2. Bali What I love most about coming to Bali is honestly I just like chilling here Going to the spa, walking the beach and checking out my favourite coffee shops and stores So I hope you guys will enjoy this vlog! Just a side note (because I know a lot of people come to Bali for Instagram content) I will probably not be doing any of those things and be chilling by the pool So if you enjoy that type of vlog then stick around! A quick room tour: Bathroom Bedroom The View Shrimpis Found this seafood restaurant nearby They have their own shrimp and oyster farm Oysters are $1 (USD) each! But we opted for shrimp dishes Because I'm a little scared of food poisoning Can't wait to hit up all my favourite spots in Seminyak this week! We just came back from dinner We have a spa session scheduled for 12:30am tonight Just because from 12am-6am they do a 25% off all their spa services So I'm just editing the Tokyo vlog right now which should be live by this Sunday And in the meanwhile we're just going to wait until our spa appointment! We're both doing a 90 minute oil massage It's HKD 600/ USD 76 per person after discount! Day 2 Coffee Cartel I love the breakfast culture in Bali Latte and strawberry juice The bamboo entrance is amazing! You can walk or... Wait for the buggy to pick you up! The pool I'll be here all day Victor hates chilling- this type of chilling Heading to dinner Motel Mexicola This place is a vibe Every night there's a dance party at 9:30pm The guacamole and calamari Definitely order the fish and beef tacos My birthday! We don't have any plans other than to hang at the pool But first… I need a birthday coffee Baby Revs Baby Revs is the mini version of its parent cafe 'Revolver' There's only 4 tiny tables Happy birthday to me Even though it's cramped, it feels very cozy and intimate! My second breakfast of toasted banana bread This is how Victor signs off on his emails "Cheers, Victor" Will we get our first sunset tonight? Stay tuned to find out! Looks like a glorious day, and Victor's worst nightmare This guy hates sun and beach vacations Victor ended up going up to the room So I stayed at the pool with my fries There's relaxation pools at the spa be right back in an hour Heading back to the room to catch sunset Always lit at Potato Head Beach Club We're heading upstairs Kaum They serve traditional Indonesian food This is the third birthday I've celebrated here at Kaum 😂 Ended the night with 'Next Level Kitchen' Day 4 Eat, spa, pool, repeat I thrifted these YSL pants at a Salvation Army! We'll be going up north to Ubud today açai smoothie bowl And we're off to Ubud! Goodbye beaches, hello lush forests and... Jackie Chan? KAMANDALU Ubud A negative space heart cloud 🫶🏼 2 bedroom pool villa Master bedroom The second bedroom exploring the hotel grounds Day 5 Good morning, everyone! So we're spending 2 nights in Ubud. This morning we are having our pool breakfast Tomorrow morning we have a spa session and there's a really nice swing to just chill at Guess who's here Rusters Rusters is a creative compound Which includes a cafe, pottery studio and furniture shop This dog is so cute! Oat milk latte The lunch spread The food was mediocre Checking out the shop the furniture shop wasn't open that day :( Ceking Rice Terrace Came here to watch people get launched on the swing My second time at the rice terrace But I personally find it very tourist-y Heading back to the hotel for a picnic! a picnic lunch on a boat there's a thousand koi here Nusantara by Locavore Nusantara is a sister restaurant to the original 'Locavore' The setting is more casual, relaxed and affordable This complimentary platter reminded me of banchan Really love trying new dishes and flavours Indonesian food uses a lot more spices/herbs than Cantonese cuisine Dessert time Tukies Coconut Shop Double scoop of creamy coconut ice cream Topped with coconut brittle and wafer roll Day 6: good morning it is 7am. We're heading out to the spa and then afterwards having breakfast and checking out We will be going back to Seminyak today Morning yoga Our first time doing an outdoor massage Just finished our morning massage At first they told us it would be an outdoor massage, I thought it would be kind of gross and humid kind of like Hong Kong But in reality it was actually really cool and nice and dry! Checking out Traffic is really bad in Bali so I don't recommend moving around too much Tiki Temu Cafe A modern coffee shop with Aussie/Indonesian flavours Aglio olio and mango smoothie bowl Ubud Art Market I really want a crochet bag- but these were all too small At least one of us scored something! Desa Studios Potato Head Formerly known as 'Katamama' Potato Head has expanded its hotel to both studios and suites Which opened during the pandemic It was also co-designed with OMA (the ones who designed the Arabica at K11!) Picking up our welcome gift Everyone gets a tote bag and refillable water bottle They repurpose waste into the hotel amenities I feel like I'm at Aesop 😂 Next to the 'Circle Shop' is the 'Headphone Bar' But both record players were busted Let's head to our room: I'm going to give you a guys a little room tour We booked 'The Desa Studios' for 3 nights We chose this one because we really enjoy overlooking the 'Potato Head Beach Club' architecture This studio is really compact but really well designed and equipped Behind the bed is a simple desk and coffee bar station They also have a strong sense of sustainability here Here is a welcoming tray where they do have bottles of things you can use while you're here on your stay Including some sunscreen, aloe vera, insect repellant and hand sanitiser There's also a set of bamboo cutlery for you to use. And when we checked in they also gave us a refillable water bottle to use on premise They also provide a magazine/newspaper where it introduces the hotel and they also have a schedule for all the events they have this month And over on the opposite side, we have a very discrete and cozy bathroom. The only downside is the bathroom is not completely soundproof- So if you're too shy to fart in front of your partner, now's the time to get to know one another The bathroom is completely covered in wood which gives it that Scandinavian/Japanese type of aesthetic It is quite a tight space but the colours make it look very warm and inviting The view from our balcony The beach club is also accessible through the hotel: Love the Brutalist architecture Escalier A really cute multi-brand shop located inside Potato Head! Spring Spa Seminyak This is was my go-to spa in Bali for years! Spring Spa sits on the rooftop of a shopping mall And the treatments are very reasonably priced But I recommend you to book ahead We did the couples Balinese massage And it was only HKD 330 / USD 42 for two of us! Heading back to the hotel to catch sunset There's a pool right here and no one's using it (It's not officially open yet) Checking out the library #accidentallywesanderson Potato Head Beach Club It was packed on the beach club side We're heading out to Canggu for dinner Mosto Nat wanted to take me here to celebrate my bday Mosto is the first natural wine bar in Bali Japanese oysters Anchovy, sichuan pepper, shoyu burnt butter Tagliolini sambal arrabbiata Pappardelle pork neck ragu BBQ pork collar and sweet potato mash and kaffir lime sauce Beef tartare and sage tempura Pandan panda cotta with ginger granita Day 7 Today is a shopping & spa day! Bali Boat Shed This shop carries a lot of printed dresses and linen sets I got one of my favourite dresses from here years ago! Sisterfields I used to love this cafe But now the coffee/food quality isn't the same anymore Bamboo Blonde Will show you what I got at the end of the vlog! From afar A minimalist store that sells cotton basics There's loads of shops down the main strip Palma This is one of my favourite shops to buy dresses But now that I'm in my 'skirt era', I didn't get anything Bodyworks Spa Found this spa while searching on Google Maps It's a photographer's dream POV: you're doing a 70 minute massage & shower Must book in advance with your hotel concierge!!! We just finished our massage and now we're heading over to a coffee shop that one of Victor's photographer friends recommended Expat Roasters His recommendation did not disappoint The barista came over to show us her latte art skills Bringing some beans back for our home cafe Monsieur Blonde Seminyak Most people say Seminyak is very touristy But honestly I don't mind I love the jewellery here at Monsieur Blonde They sell a lot of dainty, vintage-inspired gold pieces All gold-plated brass (and affordable) Highly recommend to gift to your girlfriends! Magali Pascal If Chloe, Zimmermann and Cult Gaia had a baby: Magali Pascal would be her The clothes are gorgeous but on the higher end in price Stumbled upon this brand for the first time: All the linen clothes are made locally Went to get changed for dinner Mason The food scene in Canggu is popping The baba ganoush was definitely the highlight Shrimp was a little overcooked People raved about the bread pudding But it reminded me of Chinese milk buns with ice cream Chocolate cake was amazing Day 8 Hands down, the highlight of staying here: Is the breakfast It's made fresh to order and you can order as much as you want Heading over to Canggu again for shopping and lunch Cove This gold vermeil & pearl jewellery line caught my eye It was about HKD 1,000/USD 130 for a necklace The Medium This interior shop was fun to do some window shopping Nataoka A lot of brands have several shops across Bali And we stumbled upon Nataoka here also in Canggu And did some damage 💸 I've been wanting to visit this store forever!!! The other project #futuredreamhousegoals All the ceramics are made by local artisans in Bali Was debating between a few pieces Even the packaging is 🥺 Lunch is just next door: Ulekan Another popular Indonesian restaurant Kim Soo This is my favourite store to hit up in Bali It's like walking into a Pinterest home where everything is shoppable There's a beautiful little pool in the back If your partner is bored, send them for a drink at the cafe Getting a slice of chocolate and carrot to enjoy at the hotel Will be hanging at the pool for the rest of the day Should I be offended 😂 Carrot cake Sweet potato fries, lychee iced tea, fresh coconut 1/2 dozen local oysters Lemongrass gin Our last sunset was kinda cloudy :( Will head back to Kaum for dinner tonight Got a selection of their a la carte dishes tonight Last day :( Good morning! Today is our last day in Bali I'm heading over to the spa because I have booked myself a one hour facial Love the design of the spa A shot of 'jamu' to calm the stomach before the treatment The spa room is moody and dark see you in 1 hour I will really miss this You must order their rice porridge 🤤 I'm so happy! They have a Revolver at the airport after you check-in We're going to have lunch before hopping onto the plane The pasta was way overcooked :S But I got a slice of tiramisu to go I'm sure I'll be back soon, Bali! How to elevate your economy class seat: Hey guys, we are now back in Hong Kong and I'm going to do a very quick Bali unboxing What I love about shopping in Bali is because Bali and Hong Kong have very similar climates so you can get a lot of tropical, breezy types of clothes And very dainty jewellery that's made in Bali So let's get started! Just as a heads up, not everything was purchased on this trip. I have purchased some of these items on my previous trips but because the things are very similar, I'm just going to show it to you so you know what you can buy there as well First off are items from the Potato Head that were complimentary with our stay: The first are these refillable water bottles. They're in metal and on the top they used the recycled/repurposed plastic With their logo on the top Next we have this plastic tote also from Potato Head. It came in this olive green, ocean blue and black. But Victor really wanted the green And it's a crossbody bag that you can use to put all your swimwear in while you're there We also had to try coffee in Indonesia because we heard it's really famous This one is by a brand called 'Expat' and we like it because it has notes of tangerine in it. We do like our coffee more on the fruity side I just discovered this brand on this trip This brand is made in Bali and I just want to support and shop local So I bought a pair of sandals I like how these sandals are very chunky and chubby so they're very easy on the foot The reason why I like these also is because the sole is very flexible So unlike most of those Greek sandals, these are very easy and comfy to wear Here we have some jewellery that I bought on my last few trips to Bali from the brand 'Monsieur Blonde' I didn't buy anymore on this trip just because they do start looking the same But I love these dainty pieces. They use gold-plated brass and semi precious stones And because Australia is so close to Bali, you can find a lot of Australian brands sold at boutiques there For example, these are a couple of hats I purchased on my last trip to Bali from the brand 'Lack of Colour' So I've been wearing these for years and I love them a lot And you can find them at some stores in Bali still I wasn't very sure if I should include this just because this fan is like 6 years old. And it's by a brand called Pubumesu. They make these leather hand-painted fans I don't know if the store exists anymore- they used to sell it at Potato Head but you can find this brand on Farfetch Although I want to buy everything at Kim Soo including the pool and the light I did end up buying the wood salad servers that you saw me pick up in the vlog I had to control myself from buying too much stuff so I only got this one item I just like this one because of this dark wood and this wavy pattern that I love. I wanted the iron candleholders but they were a little too tall for my bookshelf I did want to show you guys one item that I got from 'Magali Pascal' a few years ago It's this beautiful silk chiffon mini dress I don't really wear it that often just because it's not exactly super practical but it's an option if you're looking for some beautiful party wear And if you guys were on Instagram in 2016, you know every blogger was sporting a 'Bali bag' before they went to Chanel and Hermes So this one I bought 6 years ago- I've been using it ever since. You can purchase one at any of the Ubud market, Seminyak markets. You can also bargain so I think my friend bargained it from 300,000 to 100,000 idr. Mine is lined in yellow and they come in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes. Bamboo Blonde is another brand from Bali- they sell a lot of trendy clothing As you guys know, I did buy a skirt from Japan that was also white and long But actually Japanese sizing is a little snug and short so I ended up getting another cotton tiered skirt. This one is definitely a lot more relaxed and longer (because I'm taller) And I think this one will make a nice basic Last but not least are ceramics from a brand 'The Other Project' This brand I've been wanting to visit since my last trip to Bali And I finally got to make a trip to Canggu The packaging itself is stunning- it comes in this adorable little cotton tote And it's got a quote from Hayao Miyazaki on the back It also comes with a few little postcards just describing the brand and the process behind the ceramics So this first item is for myself It's beautifully wrapped in twine and recycled paper They wrapped it really well- look at this! This is just a simple vase with a very subtle green glaze to it. I will use it when I have very simple orchid arrangements These next 2 are 2 tea mugs that I got as a gift I decided to get mismatching colours- I think it's quite fun and I'm very indecisive when it comes to choosing the perfect colour It also comes in more linen And this one I got in this speckled matte finish What I love about this brand is that all their ceramics come in very neutral tones So you can mix and match according to your own preferences And here is the matching cup I almost forgot but these are 2 dresses that I purchased in Bali on my last 2 trips there The first brand that I have here is by Palma which I showed also in the vlog but I didn't buy anything on this trip I like their dresses because they do a lot of fun prints and beautiful colours- and they're a lot more affordable than- say- Magali Pascal Second is this brand by 'Auguste the Label'- it's another Australian brand This is a full-length floral dress with pockets. I got this one at 'Bali Boat Shed' This is my go-to dress to wear for weddings and just date nights
