Mummynista!

Our friends were telling us to visit Potato Head Garage when they learnt that we were visiting Bali; the food bloggers are also raving about this place in their blogs...so we decided to check it out. Arriving ten minutes prior to Potato Head's opening hour at 11am, we were refused by the security as well as the restaurant staff to enter the restaurant. I was trying to explain that we have a toddler who was very flushed from the heat and that we would just like to take a seat in the restaurant till they can take our orders at 11am...which is like 10 minutes away... No, we can't take a seat at the restaurant while we wait and the staff wanted us (G, a pregnant woman and a young toddler) to stand under the scorching hot sun for 10 minutes until the magical clock strikes 11am. The chairs, which were in the shade were just couple steps away, and NO..WE HAVE TO STAND UNDER THE SUN WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE MAGICAL OPENING HOUR.   I thought it was pretty ridiculous. I asked fo

I don't know if I am being overly critical or just plain fussy but I find that manicure and pedicure services in Jakarta are not up to par as compared to the other Asian cities like Bangkok, HongKong, and even Singapore! And by all means, the services aren't cheap as compared to overall standard of living locally. To have manicure/pedicure at somewhat a decent place with clean tools usually starts at 220,000 idr (22usd)...and you are not guaranteed OPI or internationally known brands. Nail salons at shopping malls will set you back about 450,000idr (45usd/52sgd)- funny how manicure in Jakarta cost the same in Singapore. Whoever said Jakarta is cheap?! Once, I accompanied my friend to a salon at Kemang where she wanted to have a hairwash and blowdry and I decided to have a manicure/pedicure there while waiting for her. The girl/manicurist came with a large plastic container (like the ones you store miscellaneous stuff in the wardrobe/storeroom) and inside it, the tools and

Image Credit: Photodisc/Getty Images   Nausea? Puking? Food Aversions? Loss of appetite? Welcome to the club. I would like to think that we who experience these revolting symptoms of morning sickness as a highly privileged club- noble and sacrificial mothers-to-be. Not saying that women who breezed through pregnancy are not, it is just a good positive reinforcement to have when we are running to the nearest bathroom every couple of minutes (for the ones who got it real bad). And if you need more encouragement like I did!! - Nausea has long been known to be a sign of a healthy pregnancy; it's been linked to a lower miscarriage risk and a lower risk of heart malformations in the fetus. Read more:   http://www.ctvnews.ca/study-links-morning-sickness-to-brighter-kids-1.392315#ixzz2wtLuxi00 - The more severe the morning sickness is for the mom, the higher the IQ is for the child  Read more: Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina ( http://www.amazon.com/Brain-Rules-Baby-R

Anyone who has been to Seminyak Bali would probably face the dilemma we have- too many choices, too little time. It's like entering a Disneyland of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and spas. On our last day of Bali, we decided to make very wise decisions about where to have our final meals. (Haha..sounds very sombre!) With great determination and a better functioning GPS this time (after our failed attempt to find this cafe the day before), we found this treasure cove of coffee- Revolver Espresso. Raved by many bloggers as the best coffee joint in Bali Seminyak! Situated in an alley at the busy streets of Seminyak, one would never know such a quaint and great cafe exist. The easiest way to identify the particular alley is to notice Bali Clinic which on the opposite street. Seminyak Square is also just a stone's throw away. Amazing ambience for a 'hole-in-the-wall' cafe. Opted for a iced Latte after such a long walk.  So yummy! Some blend of scrambled eggs

We arrived at Bali with no itinerary planned this time, not knowing where to go nor where to eat. So I turned to my buddy, Google and got the answer within minutes. Raved by many bloggers as one of the must-go places in Bali, we decided to check out Naughty Nuri's Warung with expectations of a great grill and porky time! We took a taxi from our villa at Seminyak which took about ten minutes to Naughty Nuri's Warung. The smell of grill and charcoal greeted us the moment we got out of the taxi and we were greeted with friendly staff as we entered the restaurant. Although 'Warung' usually means street store in Indonesian, Naughty Nuri's Warung would be your most high end 'Warung' then. The restaurant was nicely done up with cheeky paintings and slogans and the ambience is laidback and welcoming (very great for groups!). We had our toddler with us too and the seatings were spaced out well enough to feel comfortable. Bustling but not cramped. Nicely