Hoi An & Da Nang | Vietnam

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This city is my perfect definition of beauty; gentle, unglamourous yet never fails to mystify and charm its visitors.

On the last couple days of our trip, we decided to split from the adults to explore on our own. My cousin who lives in the area took us on a food tour around Đà Nẵng and Hội An. We ate at some of the most local, authentic restaurants possible and of course, I am sharing all of those gems with you below. A lot of these foods are dear to my heart as they are the foods of my childhood. I hope you will seek them out to experience how amazing they are for yourself. Enjoy!

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Đà NẴNG

Bún Chả Cá Bà Phiến

Fish cake vermicelli soup. One of the most popular breakfast foods in Đà Nẵng. It has 3 different kinds of fish cake: steamed, fried and boiled fish cakes. It is served with pickled shallots, pickled carrots, fresh herbs and bean sprouts. This dish, in my opinion, knocks your typical bowl of phở on its face. This place is quite popular and was already jam packed in the early morning but service was remarkably fast and friendly.

Bánh Cuốn Hải Huệ

Steamed rice cake. The rice cake is stuffed with ground pork and minced woodear mushroom, served with Vietnamese ham (chả lụa), pickled green papaya, fish sauce and fresh herbs. The unique thing about this restaurant is you get to see how they make the rice cake in front of you. And it is made to order so freshness is guaranteed.

Bún Mắm Ngọc

This dish and Mì Quảng are my favorite foods. Ever! It has roasted pork belly, over a bed of vermicelli, fresh herbs and is generously drizzled with mắm nêm. Mắm nêm is a sauce made of fermented fish. Unlike the more familiar nước mắm, mắm nêm is powerfully pungent and more similar to shrimp paste. You will either love it or hate it! Either way it will change you forever. The sauce is typically diluted with very ripe pineapple to cut through the saltiness. This restaurant is my family’s favorite and we have been going here for as long as I could remember. I seriously love this dish with all my heart!

Dừa Bến Tre 190

Agar Agar Coconut Jello. This restaurant was featured in the 3rd episode of our Vietnam series but I have decided to include it here to tie it in with the list of restaurants in Đà Nẵng. It is an agar agar based jello made with coconut milk and coconut water. I love how they actually make their jello in fresh young coconut. This little cafe is also conveniently located right across from the Hàn River!

HỘI AN

After busting our guts in Đà Nẵng, we headed over to Hội An. Hội An is one of the most renowned and visited city in Vietnam. The city is known for its historical architecture and well preserved culture. Walking around town is like traveling back in time to see how Vietnam was hundreds of years ago. Hội An in the morning is calm, serene and beautifully nostalgic. Hội An at night lights up with beautiful lanterns, the city’s trademark, and is bursting with life.

We were there during the Lantern Festival where it’s a tradition to set floating lanterns into the river as a form of prayer. These lanterns not only represent our prayers but it signifies setting free the trapped souls of those who have already passed on. To see the river illuminated with speckles of lights and knowing what they represent was magical beyond words.

Street food

Walking around town you can find street food at every corner. They have everything from grilled pork skewers, fried shrimp cake, pressed cassava, red bean ice cream, fresh durian, grilled corn and many more.

Mì Cao Lầu  

This dish is the essence of Hội An in a bowl. It is the perfect combination of chewy noodle, barbequed pork, sweet soy sauce and fresh crunchy herbs. It is definitely a texture play! All of the components blend perfectly well together to make this a harmonious dish. Unfortunately, the place that we went to doesn’t have a name (what is up with Vietnamese people and not naming their restaurants).

Cơm Gà Bà Buội

This is a cozy restaurant that sits about 20 people max and is known for their chicken and rice. What makes this place unique is that they utilized every part of the chicken. In one course, you will get to sample everything from the chicken meat, eggs and organs. Even the rice was made from the same broth that the chicken was boiled in, which definitely contributed to its fragrant and buttery texture.

Mót Herbal Tea

Your trip will not be complete without trying this locally famous herbal iced tea. The tea is a blend of several ancient herbs served over ice and garnished with a lotus petal. It is simply beautiful and refreshing. Keep your eyes peeled though, this tiny stall is easily missed on the busy streets of Hội An.

I’ve always loved Hội An for everything it represents. The beauty in the way it is preserved, the way that the people hold on to the traditions and maintain it until this very day. This city is my perfect definition of beauty; gentle, unglamourous yet never fails to mystify and charm its visitors.

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Vietnam has always been kind to me. Perhaps for a child who has always been far from home, home is a place of absolute warmth. But being away from home is like watching a movie in fast forward. Each visit is a pause, always long enough to be happy about seeing my loved ones but gone just as quick to remind me of reality. With each visit, it etches in my mind how grown up my siblings have become and how I’ve never gotten to see it happen. Enough to see the deepened wrinkles on my parents’ face.  Enough to wish I could have held onto the past just a little bit longer. But as those new buildings go up, I feel my simplest, most treasured memories slipping away. To make way for the new billboards, fast food chains and way of life. I can’t help but feel conflicted.

But Vietnam is forever growing and changing. Mostly for the better, I would argue, and I couldn’t be prouder and happier for my little country.  

Phong Nha | Vietnam

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The stillness inside this cave is one that I do not take for granted.

The road to Central Vietnam wasn’t exactly a smooth one. 9 adults and almost 10 pieces of luggage squeezed into a small minivan definitely doesn’t scream “comfort”. We made several stops along the 16 hour drive, snacking our way through all the little towns and cities. I’m not providing any names since these are usually nameless restaurants along the road of National Route 1A (Quốc Lộ 1A). National Route 1A is a highway that runs directly from northern to southern Vietnam, crossing all the major cities and provinces along the way. We drove nonstop and the lack of legroom took a toll on everyone. We also drove through the night, which I don’t recommend because you’ll miss out on opportunities to sightsee along the way. Take the plane or the train, unless you’re driving with a smaller group of people and aren’t pressed for time.  Anyway, despite the apparent tired looks on our faces, everyone was in good spirits as we trekked homeward.

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HOME

When we finally arrived, my mom came rushing out from the kitchen, arms open wide, her smile bright enough to light up the entire town. As she wraps herself around me I can feel her warmth enveloping me, holding onto me, and making me feel like I’ll be protected forever. The naturally sweet scent of her makes me feel the most at home. It’s hard to fully describe the love I feel from my mother’s embrace. It can only really be experienced, kept internally and held onto forever. Nothing was said, but so much was said in the way her eyes met mine. A million questions were asked, a million were answered. A long time seems to have passed when she finally gently let go.  We need to take care of our guests.

Now, my parents are the most hospitable people I know. No one ever leaves our house without being properly fed and, of course, that was the first thing my mother did for the tired bunch. An array of traditional New Years food such as Bánh Chưng (rice cake stuffed with marinated ground mung bean and pork belly), Thịt Muối (salted pork belly) and Củ Kiệu (pickled Chinese onion) were served. These are dishes only served during the New Year so I haven’t seen these in years! They were just as flavorful and delicious as I remember.

The next 2 days were spent preparing for Tết, visiting the local marketplace, attending our siblings’ engagement party and basking in all the festivities. Check out our New Year’s preparation and the first day of Tết videos below!

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PLACES

Phong Nha

There are certain places that you don’t forget after the first visit. Phong Nha was that to me and I promised to show Billy this beautiful historical landmark. So, on the 3rd day of New Years, we left town and headed north.

Located in central Quảng Bình Province in the North Central Coast region, Phong Nha cave is about 500 km south of Hà Nội (2 hours from Huế and 6 hours north of Đà Nẵng). This remarkable cave was formed approximately 400 million years ago and contains the oldest karst mountain in Asia.

There are 2 entrances to enter the cave, either by the underground river or through the top of the mountain. We decided to do both and opted for the water route first. Riddled with hundreds of cave systems, this magnificent landmark is home to some of the most spectacular stalagmites and stalactites you will ever see. Some so huge that they connect from the top to the bottom of the cave.

 The cave is about 8,000 meters long but the tour only allowed us to go 1,500 meters in. Once inside the cave, you’ll have the opportunity to get off the boat and explore. The entrance through the top of the mountain is not for those not well versed in cardio. Prepare to have a serious workout. However, by the time we reached this entrance, I realized that this was not the same one I took a decade ago. It  seems that the officials have carved out a shortcut, about ⅓ the length and closed the original one permanently. I’m going to assume that there were too many complaints about the old, steep, vertical steps that went on for miles.

The air inside the cave was so crisp, borderline chilly a huge a contrast to the hot and humid air that’s just on the other side of the cave entrance. The stillness inside this cave is one that I do not take for granted. I felt so small in its stern presence. I found my mind wandering off in a meditative state, searching for the ancient stories that this place has, for the many wars it’s endured, and shelters that it has provided. Faintly in the background, I heard our tour guide rowing gently and I want to know her stories too…

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EATS

If Phong Nha is on your agenda, you will also pass by Huế and I recommend eating at the following places.

Chicken Eggs

Right outside of Phong Nha cave entrances are vendors who sell fresh boiled chicken eggs. These eggs are much smaller than usual and probably just a tad bigger than quail eggs. But they are the most creamy, buttery, yolky eggs I've ever tried. 

Bún Bò Huế

In Huế, obviously. The restaurant we stopped by unfortunately is not listed on Trip Advisor but I think most restaurants in Huế serving its dish of origin is a pretty safe bet. Here are some local favorites according to my dad: Lạc Thiên Restaurant and Ngự Uyên Restaurant.

Bánh Bèo Bà Cự

Another Huế specialty. Mini, stackable rice cakes topped with ground dried shrimp and pork rinds, dip with fish sauce. Such a simple, yet beautiful and delicious dish.

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Saigon | Vietnam

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Arriving and departing are two entirely separate events with their own set of emotions.

Vietnam - this small, bustling little country is where I’ve spent most of my childhood and where my fondest memories were made. It’s where I got to be a child, where I sleep the best, laugh the hardest and cry the most. Its warmth and typical 90% humidity is the reason why I’m constantly chasing the tropics. 

This visit is a little different than the last few. Billy and I are here for Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tết. It has been 17 years since I got to experience these joyous and beautiful festivities. For Billy, it’s his first time.

19+ hours of traveling left everyone feeling exhausted but that was quickly replaced with excitement as the stewardess came on the intercom to announce that the airplane will start its descent shortly. I watched in anticipation as the plane dipped lower, the clouds float past me, and the ground become closer.

My first glimpse of those colorful, vertical buildings sent butterflies soaring through my stomach. Closer... closer…. I can see the ground now. Closer.

Touched down.  We are home.

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Tết

Vietnamese believe that everything you possess, experience and consume on the first few days of New Year will percolate through the rest of the year. So people dress their best, have the most fun, do the least and eat abundantly. Anything less than that is considered bad luck.

Think Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year combined. That’s pretty much what Tết is. Being here around this time you’ll be surrounded by the classic red and gold decorations. There’s no shortage of displays of ancient dragon imagery, Buddha statues and other symbols of luck and prosperity. Certain areas of the city were turned into somewhat of a fairground with artist galleries, festival games and shows. The energy was infectious. The whole city was in a celebratory mood.

The plan for this trip was to start from Saigon and make our way toward Da Nang. Since we arrived a week before the first day of New Year, we started exploring the town immediately. I made sure my camera was fully charged and stomach, you can be sure, very empty.

We spent most of our time walking through the city to soak in all the festivities, which in hindsight, it was a great decision considering all the food we ate.

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EATs

Bánh Xèo 46A

Easily one of the best bánh xèo (Vietnamese crepe) I’ve ever had. Crispy beyond words. Bursting with a generous filling of pork and shrimp. And they’re the size of my face. Why 62A? I have no clue and I was too busy inhaling everything on the table to ask. Make sure you get their imperial egg rolls as well, you’ll thank me.

Bánh Mì Như Lan

Good lord, these bánh mì. We were stumbling down the streets of Saigon (not drunk, just dodging potholes) when we came across this sandwich megahouse. We were on a quest to find a Pho restaurant but were so desperately lost we decided to buy a couple bánh mì to hold us over. The Pho idea went out the window immediately after the first bite. Everything from the warm fluffy baguette to the deep pâté flavor, to the tender ham and meat were perfect! It was everything you want in a Vietnamese bánh mì and more. We ordered 10 more bánh mì and a few desserts, you know, to hold us over.

Phở Hương bắc

Our hotel is located in District 1, which is the fancier part of town with lots of shopping options, though after several attempts, proved to be a little difficult to find a good phở joint. We decided to venture a little further out on our last morning there and found this gem. Tiny plastic red stools on the side of the street, local men eating with their morning coffee, some with their cigarettes, some with a newspaper, all inside a small restaurant which I’m certain the family of the owner lives upstairs. All signs of a great restaurant in Vietnam. And I was right. Clear, flavorful beef broth decorated with a few slices of rare steak and topped with fresh herbs. So simple. Too delicious.

PLACES

Bến Thành Market

One of Saigon’s landmarks. A huge, very well-known marketplace with hundreds of stalls selling anything from clothing to household appliances to local cuisine. What I love most is their food court which holds an array of different kinds of food, drinks and desserts. They even sell fresh fruits so you can pretty much scooch over to the next stall after your bun bo hue for some fresh durian or chè ba màu. Whatever your heart desires, Bến Thành has it.

Thiên Hậu Temple

We took a break from the festivities to visit Thiên Hậu Temple, a Chinese-style Buddhist temple located in District 5. It’s quite small but quaint and very tranquil.

Suối Tiên Theme Park

The biggest theme park in Saigon, if not the whole country. This place still trumps all others when it comes to the level of excitement that it can impose on its attendants. We didn't have time to go but I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you're there during the summer. 

Other Places Worth Visiting

Saigon Notre Dame ( Đức Bà) Cathedral

Tân Định Church

Saigon Central Post Office

Saigon Opera House

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Our nights in Saigon were spent strolling the streets, wandering through countless dessert places and cafes. Three days felt too short and there was plenty left to see. But we were now 2 days from New Year, there were a lot of preparations left to be done and we had a long drive home ahead of us.

Bali | Indonesia

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PARADISE IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT

Bali is a place of intense contrasts. You will see 5-star hotels, prime surf spots, and yoga studios side by side with 5am open air markets, active volcanoes, and a deep devotion to Hinduism. What you want out of Bali, which side of it you want to experience is totally up to you. It is a mashup of ancient and modern, of humble and luxurious, of religion and diversity, but welcomes you all the same to sample as you please.

What brought us here is the simple, communal lifestyle, the tropical vibes and the bold spicy food. Our trip included 4 nights in Ubud and 1 day in Lovina. We loved every minute of it and want to share our experience and recommendations with you. Below is a snippet of this paradise through our eyes.

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GOOD TO KNOW

ARRIVING

Our first order of business after landing in Denpansar was buying sim cards to secure our means of communication. You should do the same. After customs, we found a Telkomsel booth (a very reliable phone service in Bali) on the right hand side outside of the main exit door. They offered several different voice and data packages, depending on the duration of your stay. 

Transportation

We took a taxi from Denpansar airport to Ubud, which was about 1 hour away. Now, if you've been to any 3rd world country, you probably know what this next scene looks like. If you aren't prepared, you should be. It was an absolute zoo. There were 50-100 taxi drivers either independent or from a resort, swarming the frazzled, tired arrivals. They are not afraid to hustle you relentlessly because they know that you are so exhausted you'd pay whatever to get to your hotel already. Be prepared or be strong, friends. Also, anyone who's carrying your bags for you is expecting a tip, so make sure you have cash handy. 

We highly recommend getting a personal driver while you are here. Public transportation is very unreliable, not to mention limited. The drivers are usually English-speaking and can act as stand in tour guides. Ours gave us really good recommendations for new destinations and restaurants. Hotel staff can usually set you up with a trusted one if needed.

Confirming itinerary 

Make sure to confirm every tour you've booked a day in advance. Even though we loved all of our tours, 2 of them definitely forgot to pick us up. We ended up rescheduling one and were super late to the other. Your hotel staff can help you call to confirm your booking if needed. 

EATs

Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka

Babi guling aka Balinese suckling pigs! I don't even know where to start describing how deeply this dish has touched me and how it has changed me for the better.

Let's break it down: whole pigs, stuffed with a traditional Balinese marination called basa gede, rubbed with turmeric, basted with coconut water every 30 minutes while spit roasted over an open fire for 6-8 hours.

Ibu Oka is known to have the best babi guling in Ubud and was also recommended by our driver our first day there. We ordered the Special Plate; which came with roasted pork, fried pork, blood sausage, pork skin, rice and mixed vegetables.

Anthony Bourdain once claimed that this was the best pig he ever had. And I tend to agree with everything Mr. Bourdain says. The pork was juicy, tender and busting with clean buttery flavor. The fried pork was perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. But the pork skin, oh the pork skin, shiny salty caramelized skin that shatters into pieces of deliciousness right when you bite into it. Too much meat? The spicy veggies will help reset your taste buds. I wouldn't mind having this dish every meal everyday until I die.

Nasi ayam kedewatan Ibu Mangku

Recommended to us by the owner of our cooking class when we asked him for a place where locals eat. This place serves working folks style lunch of nasi ayam, which literally means chicken rice. The to-go boxes come with rice, chicken, fried chicken skin, sambal, roasted peanuts, veggies, and a plastic bag of soup. Amazingly delicious, dangerously spicy. Their sambal destroyed Billy. 

Warung Kayana

A quick search on Tripadvisor and you will think that Naughty Nuri has the best ribs. But, our cooking instructor informed us that the locals swear by the ribs at Warung Kayana. We weren't disappointed. The ribs were fall off the bone tender, a perfect balance of savory with a tad of sweet. I personally love the dense, almost tapioca-like fries the most.

Bebek Bengil & Bebek Tepi Sawah

We checked out both places for their well known crispy duck dishes. Both places have been around for a while and serve an array of duck dishes. The most popular dish, bebek bengil, is duck first steamed with Balinese spices then deep fried right before serving. Definitely a must try! You can't even taste any gaminess, just pure rich and crispy duck deliciousness.

Café Wayan & Bakery

Eat, Pray, Love was filmed him. Cute cafe with traditionally decorated gazebos inside a charming garden. Making it the perfect hideaway from the hot and humid Ubud weather.  It is also walking distance from the Monkey Forest. They serve an extensive menu of traditional Balinese food and homemade desserts. I recommend trying the Indonesian rijsttafel which is a sampler of many traditional dishes.

Salak 

Aka Snake Fruit. This fruit is native to Indonesia and can be found everywhere in the country. I don't think they are available in other Asian countries either since I've never seen them anywhere else but Indonesia. They look like snake skin on the outside and garlic gloves on the inside. They are mildly sweet with a hint of sourness and have a texture of an apple.

Cafe Lotus

A total tourist trap. Very expensive, terrible service and below average food. Nothing offends me more than overpriced cardboard. I had to chase down the anger and disappointment with two scoops of ice cream afterward. Do not recommend! 

DRINKS

Luwak Coffee at Bali Pulina

Another Balinese specialty is their Luwak coffee. The weasels are fed fresh coffee beans and a fermentation process occurs as the beans are being digested. This takes away the acidity and gives the coffee a strong, distinctive flavor. The farmers will collect the animal poop, which contains the fermented beans, and proceed to clean and roast them. Don’t worry, this process is quite extensive so you won’t be tasting any poop flavored coffee. We definitely recommend trying a coffee flight, usually including flavors like ginger, vanilla, coconut. Some plantations even offer a tea flight.

Anuman Coffee

We stumbled upon this cafe while wandering around town. It's located on the second floor of a clothing store, both owned by the same family. The cafe overlooks one of the busy downtown streets providing a great view while you're taking a break. It's a very low key place with the best service. On our second visit, we ordered a dragonfruit smoothie and they happened to run out of the fruit. The owner's son spent 45 minutes searching 3 different markets to find dragonfruit for our smoothie. The dedication! And of course, it was a bomb ass smoothie. I guess everything tastes amazing when it's made with love. Support local business! Support Anuman Coffee! 

PLACES

Temples

We visited several temples in the surrounding Ubud area including Goa Gajah, Gunung Kawi, Brahma Vihara Arama and Tirta Empul.

Every temple required visitors to wear a sarong prior to entering. If you don't have one, they will have rentals available. My favorite temple is Tirta Empul. The purifying bath located inside the temple holds holy spring water (hence its name) where visitors can enter to pray under the 13 spouted sculptures, each signifying a different purpose. 

It's a beautiful sight to see people from different generations and backgrounds congregating in one place, all praying for something they care deeply about. We highly recommend checking out a temple while you’re here and specifically, Tirta Empul if you really want to experience the cultural aspect of Bali.

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

A little disclaimer. I was so stoked on this place despite Billy's animosity and hatred toward monkeys. Until I got there. Holy shit! These little things are vicious as hell. Be careful, everything you read online about them stealing, chasing, and hissing at you are real. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful sanctuary and in my opinion, worth the monkeys' abuse. 

Campuhan Ridge Walk

A very scenic hike with a gorgeous view. Do your best to make it here in the early morning since it gets scorching hot midday. There are two entrances to the trail; one leads you to downtown Ubud, the other to the outskirt of town. The view is beautiful in either direction.

Tegalalang Rice Terrace

These picturesque terraces are probably what Bali is most famous for. One of our tour guides clarified that Tegallalang refers to an area of multiple rice terraces, not one specifically. Our hotel room conveniently overlooked one of these terraces. Waking up early to catch the sunrise was the perfect way to start our first day in Bali. I spent some time alone journaling, taking in the fresh morning air and admiring the view as the tranquil terraces stretch before my eyes.

Banjar Hot Springs

Banjar Hot Springs is a popular pit stop on the drive between Ubud and Lovina. It is basically an outdoor pool with natural hot spring water flowing out of sculpted spouts, and the vibe is very much like a small water park but with warm bath water. Which can be a little weird on a hot day, but feels pretty good on your muscles and joints. You can also buy snacks and drinks at the shop near the entrance.

Activities

Lobong Cooking Class

My favorite tour, for obvious reasons. This cooking class is a family owned business. We started the tour early with a visit to the morning local marketplace. This is where the tour guide introduced us to the unique Balinese ingredients and what makes it different from other cuisines.

Post market, we headed to his family compound to start the class.

The head Chef who leads the class is a well known local chef who has worked at many famous restaurants in the Ubud area. The ingredients are all pre-prepped so students can get straight to the cooking portion. They are very meticulous, well organized and always made time to answer everyone's questions. The class ran seamlessly.

We learned to make several dishes including; Balinese BBQ chicken, sate, mixed veggies and sweet potato rice. After we finished cooking and before the meal start, the host showed us a pre-eating ceremony. At the end of the day, they gave each of us a gift bag to take home, which includes the recipe book and homemade coconut oil. I could not have asked for a better experience. 5 Stars all around! 

Jegeg Bali cycling Tours 

Jegeg Bali Cycling Tour is another family owned business. Like most tours here, all participants are picked up from their designated hotel first thing in the morning.  The tour took us through the country side of Ubud, which crosses different rice fields and villages.  

Our tour guide made frequent stops to explain rural Balinese life and traditions to us. Seeing this non-glamorous, tourism-free side of Bali was both humbling and eye opening. The biking was mostly downhill until they surprised us with two semi-vertical hills at the end. But we lived.

The day ended at the owner's compound where they've prepared a traditional Balinese lunch for us. The food was excellent and I fell in love with corn fritters here. Definitely going to try to duplicate that recipe soon.  

mount batur sunrise trek

Mount Batur is an active volcano formed about 28,500 years ago. It houses a lake which was formed by magma collapsing into a crater-like formation. This is a famous spot to see the sunrise in Bali. We had to leave our hotel at 2AM and hike 2.5 hours in the dark to make it in time for sunrise. 

The active lava running inside the volcano actually hollowed out a network of heat vents underground. It is hot enough that the tour guides, for breakfast, cook eggs and bananas on rocks over these holes. If you're lucky, your guide will show you a really cool trick by blowing incense smoke over a volcanic heat vent. 

Hand lined fishing

This was our last tour of the trip and was in Lovina. We had a little miscommunication mishap and what originally was a spearfishing trip turned into a hand line fishing trip. You could probably imagine our faces when the fisherman handed us a fishing line and told us to go wild. I didn’t even know you can fish like that! Regardless, we just laughed it off and to be honest, it was pretty exciting watching as Billy caught us a mini lunch.

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We left Bali completely charmed by its tropical aesthetic and exotic food. But with that, we also learned that to experience Bali in a raw, authentic way, it really is up to you to seek these things out.

What we enjoy most about this trip is searching through all the nooks and crannies of the city for those unique foods, landscapes, and ways of life that you can’t find anywhere else. Billy now knows where he stands on the Balinese spiciness scale and I’ve further confirmed that pork belly is life. Learning about Balinese history while gaining unnecessary weight on their babi guling was worth every minute.

We’ll definitely miss the bright smiles, the welcoming gestures and as always, the amazing food.