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Part 2, the villa’s menu options…Food around the world…

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Tom’s plate with Blue Fin tuna made with a tomato, lemongrass sauce, spicy vegetables with a side of coleslaw.

“Bali Sightings on the Beach”

Each day when the tide comes in before noon, the sea is as close as 10 meters to the edge of our pool. When it recedes, it leaves behind ocean refuse and trash. Each day but Sunday our pool and landscape guy, Ribud, cleans the beach in front of the house. Yesterday, (Sunday), we captured these three dogs playing after the tide had gone back out, leaving a muddy play area for dogs.
Yesterday, we enjoyed the quiet Sunday at home with the staff off for the day. I made the bed. Tom made coffee (as always) and did the dinner dishes. The only food prep necessary was to make the salad, heat the veggies and fish and we were good to go. Swimming in the pool and doing research while lounging  in the cabana, out of the scorching sun, has totally entertained us.
My plate with fish and veggies.
Of course, food made fresh that day is always the most desirable. The precooked tuna was a little dry after we reheated it in the microwave, but, we ate it anyway, happy to have a good meal without much effort. I think I’ll become spoiled with the thought of not cooking until July, only reheating a meal for Sundays when the staff is off.
The daily stir fried veggie platter laden with Balinese spices, is a dish we both love.

In a way, the heat, humidity and ants have made cooking less interesting for me over these past years of living on several tropical islands where these three factors are always to be expected. Add the difficulty of finding some ingredients we use in cooking “our way,” it makes the process even less appealing. 

Each day, the Ketuts present us with this itemized list of the cost of the ingredients to make  the meal(s).  The “petrol” at the bottom of the list is the daily cost of fuel for their motorbikes, IDR 10,000, US $.75.  For two meals for both Saturday and Sunday the total cost was IRD 185,000, US $13.87  Unreal, eh?
Over these past many moons of travel, we’ve talked to more and more people who prefer not to cook.  Either they’re busy while still working, often with young mouths to feed or, like me, simply have lost interest in spending long periods in the kitchen. 
Dinner menu, Page 1.
It’s no wonder prepared meals are readily available in the markets, along roadside stands (in many countries) and a wide variety of fast food and other dining establishments to suit the needs of most diners. Unfortunately, such meals aren’t an option for us, other than occasional pre-cooked organic chickens made without wheat, sugar or starch.
Dinner menu, Page 2.
My lack of interest provides me with little excuse not to cook. Our way of eating requires homemade meals while we’re living in most countries. I have no excuses. Always on a mission to spend as little time cooking as possible, when we’re preparing our meals, we have a few dozen options we tend to repeat over and over again.
Dinner menu, Page 3.
Here in the villa in Bali, it’s not a lot different for the cooks. In perusing Part 2 of the menu, posted today with choices of dinners and desserts, it’s easy to determine the options suitable for us are few. As a result, we’ve all been creative in designing the perfect meals. None of the desserts are adaptable.
Dinner menu, Page 4.
Thank goodness we purchased the mince (ground beef) that Gede picked up in Denpasar this past week or we’d be alternating chicken and fish, night after night. That could get boring for these two months. So far, it appears the only fresh fish available is Blue Fin tuna and small prawns.  Perhaps, there will be more variation in time.
Dinner menu, Page 5.
Today, Monday, we devised the menu for the week, although the two Ketuts don’t require that we do so. Monday and Tuesday, it will be chicken, veggies, salad; Wednesday and Thursday it will be hamburger patties with bacon, cheese, onion, salad and veggies; Friday and Saturday it will be prawns with veggies and salad; Sunday we’ll have our pre-made leftover ground beef dish which is in the freezer along with sides of veggies and salad. 
Dinner menu, Page 6.
In actuality, we’d be happy to repeat this weekly menu over and over. As long as the meals are befitting my way of eating, more variety is hardly necessary. The cooks seem fine with our repeats understanding the degree of limitations.
Dinner menu, Page 7.
There are no restaurants or resorts nearby and if there were, we doubt we’d be able to dine out when most Balinese meals contain lots of carbs, starches and sugar.
Dessert menu, Page 1.
Tom’s sunburned feet are healing and soon we’ll get out to take more varied photos and get more cash. In the interim, we’re having so much fun watching the activity on the beach in front of us and swimming in the pristine pool, we’re supremely content. 
Dessert menu, Page 2.
During these past few days, we’ve been busy applying for visas for our upcoming Mekong River cruise and booking many flights necessary over the next several months.
With the slow signal, this is a time consuming process.
Dessert menu, Page 3.
Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there. May your day be filled with love and wonderful surprises.
Photo from one year ago today, May 9, 2015:
View of the drive to the Kilauea Lighthouse in Kauai when it was closed on a Sunday. For more photos of this popular historic location, please click here.

Part 1, the villa’s menu options…Food around the world…

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The two Kataks and Ribud (the pool and landscape guy) holding up the three kilo Blue Fin tuna for last night’s and tonight’s meal. After it was cleaned and filleted there were two huge portions which we’re sharing each night.  Such wonderful people!  Such fabulous fish!

“Bali Sightings of the Beach”

Crab trail and buffalo footprints in the sand.

Today is the first day we’ve been entirely alone in the villa. The staff hung around last Sunday to make sure we had everything we needed to settle in including a nice Sunday dinner. The fact they gave up their regular day off meant a lot to us. 

We could have easily figured out everything on our own as we often do when the owner, the manager, or other staff isn’t handy to show us “the ropes.” Somehow we always manage.

The two cleaned fillets.  Hard to imagine we could eat one of these between us, each of two nights, but after picking out bones, and the less than desirable darker flesh commonly found in fresh tuna, it was the perfect amount. Adding the fabulous vegetables and coleslaw, it makes a perfect meal. The cost of this fish was only IDR $145,000, US $10.85. There’s no cost for the cooks preparing our meals other than IDR $10,000, US $.75 daily for fuel for their motorbikes. We’ll provide tips at the end of our stay.

In a previous post, we mentioned, we wouldn’t be cooking until July 23rd when we settle into the house in Phuket, Thailand for almost six weeks. We were wrong. We’re on our own on Sundays going forward for the remaining seven weeks in Bali, this time around.

Breakfast menu, Page 1.

Actually, I don’t feel like cooking. As mentioned, the kitchen is the domain of the two Ketuts, not mine, and with the number of ants roaming around the counters, the less I prepare the better. Oh, I’m used to ants, even those crawling on me but they’re annoying when preparing food when all they want to do is crawl inside the dish I’m preparing.

As a result, yesterday I asked the two Ketuts to make the second portion of the fish and another plate of vegetables for us for tonight’s meal. Today, I’ll make a fresh batch of coleslaw which I can complete in less than 10 minutes, most of which time is spent fine slicing the cabbage. 

Breakfast menu, Page 2.

Last night, before the Ketuts left for the evening we gave them money for Monday and Tuesday’s roasted chicken and vegetable dinner. Each day before they arrive at the villa they visit the early morning markets where they purchase locally grown vegetables, meat, and fish. They bring us change or ask for more cash if they were short. Daily, they provide us with an itemized price list of items they’ve purchased.

If necessary, they stop at the tiny market for grocery items such as soaps and paper products. From what we’ve seen so far, these little markets also carry a wide array of “junk” snack foods that are purchased by tourists and locals alike. Obesity and type two diabetes are as prevalent in Bali and the mainland of Indonesia as in many other parts of the world.

The lunch menu, Page 1.

Yesterday, they visited the fish market and again picked up a huge Blue Fin tuna as shown in today’s main photo. After thoroughly cleaning and deboning it (mostly) we were left with two huge filets, enough for last night and tonight’s meal.

They’ve explained that most guests chose from the menu requesting three meals a day, each with two or three-course, all of which they prepare six days a week. With our one meal a day, they’re able to spend less time here in the villa with us, mostly cleaning in the mornings, leaving midday, and returning per our request at 4:00 pm to prepare dinner.

The lunch menu, Page 2.

We requested our dinner be ready at 5 pm each night, a little early for us.  In doing so, they can be out the door earlier to return home to their families. They clear the table after we’ve eaten, wash the dishes, bring in the chaise lounge cushions and beach towels and close the huge accordion glass doors for the evening before the rampage of mozzies begins. 

By 6:30 pm, we have the evening to ourselves. We avoid opening the exterior doors or stepping outside until after dark when the mozzies are less frenzied. There’s a nighttime security guard that sits on a chair all night a few doors from our villa, guarding the few villas along this narrow road. 

The lunch menu, Page 3.

Today, we’ve included a portion of the villa’s menu options from which we’d choose if we could eat the items listed. Tomorrow, we’ll show the dinner and dessert menus.  

Instead of choosing items on the menu, we pick and choose adaptations of the items offered, ensuring they don’t include any sugar, starches, or grains, all with minimal carbs. So far, it’s working when I’ve had no ill effects. 

The lunch menu, Page 4.

We thought it might be interesting to share Part 1 of 2 of the menu today and tomorrow for our “foodie” readers. For those of you with less interest in food, soon we’ll be back with more of “your type” of stories and photos.

The lunch menu, Page 5.

We want to thank all of our new readers we met on the most recent cruise (and past cruises, of course) for stopping by and checking us out. Our stats have indicated a huge increase in hits over the past several days. 

We’d love your input via comments at the end of each day’s post or, by email (see links to both of our email addresses on the top right side of any day’s post).

The lunch menu, Page 6.

As for our regular readers, wow! You continue to hang with us, many of who’s been with us since the beginning of 2012. Thank you for making us feel as if you’re right beside us, day after day, more friends than one could ever expect in a lifetime. The journey continues.

Happy Mother’s Day today for all the moms in this part of the world where it’s Sunday and again tomorrow for all the moms on the other side of the world where you’ll celebrate tomorrow.  May your day be as special as YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, May 8, 2015:

Beautiful purple flowers we encountered on a walk in Kauai. For more photos, please click here.  (Error correction from yesterday when I mistakenly posted this photo which was meant for today. A new photo for the appropriate date has been replaced on yesterday’s post. Click here to see the correction..

The maze like environmant of the souk…So confusing…Food around the world…

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Yesterday, this was my meal at Le Jardin;  fillet of Dover sole with a spinach sauce made with a flour-less cream reduction sauce. In the center, is an array of cooked vegetables, including carrots, zucchini and eggplant. The chef prepared this meal for me after the server showed the him the restriction list on my phone. It was fabulous. Now, I can’t wait to have this again! See how tempting it is to return to favorite restaurant when I can order a dish as amazing as this?

Firstly, again thanks for the many well wishers, for my improving health.  Now with only one more day on Cipro, I am feeling completely well, having decided to continue and do the full five day regime.  All symptoms have subsided and I’m back to my energized self, chomping at the bit to get out and explore.

Tom ordered the same dish he’d had at Le Jardin the last time we visited, fearful he wouldn’t like other options. Next time, he’ll try a different dish.

Yesterday, we did exactly that!  Explore. On Friday, the holy day for those of the Muslim faith, many of the shops are closed in the souk. As a result, the narrow roads and passageways of the souk are relatively free of foot traffic. Since we aren’t interested in shopping, this is an ideal time for us to get around and explore the area and search for new restaurants to try.

During the long walk, as we searched for Le Jardin we discovered this interesting door in the Jemaa el Fna in the souk..

Here’s the dilemma. We’ve decided we can no longer dine at most Moroccan food restaurants. Having decided I will no longer eat raw vegetables after this dreadful illness there are few foods that I can eat in a Moroccan restaurants with any assurance that there will be none of the ingredients that I can’t have. Many dishes have flour, sugar, grains, fruit and starches, all which I must avoid.

Continuing on through the narrow roads, we looked for any familiar landmarks that would assist us in our search for Le Jardin.

A few days ago, Tom suggested I write about food too much. I agree that it is a frequent topic of conversation.  But, let’s face it, people usually travel for a few reasons other than to “get away from it all.” They travel for the shopping, the sights and for the food and wine. 

We thought we were close when a few weeks ago, we’d spotted these same two kittens playing at perhaps the same spot.
Many of the homeless cats hang out in pairs.

When travelers board a long flight, one of their first questions asked is, “Do we get a meal?” One of the major reasons travelers enjoy cruising is for the food, the “all you can eat” aspect, with many courses with an endless array of desserts. When travelers arrive at a new location, they immediately get to work to find out where to eat using the Internet, the concierge or by inquiring to other travelers.

From time to time we’ll see what appears to be a traditional home furnishings shop. 

We live in a “food” orientated society. Our holidays and celebrations consist of big meals with many desserts.  Sporting events appeal to many for the food and drinks that seem to go along the frenzy. A trip to a movie theatre results in a desire for popcorn, candy and drinks. 

Ever go to Las Vegas and not discuss a plan as to where to have the biggest and best buffets, maybe “comped” if one is a serious gambler, or to immediately return to a favorite haunt for a special dish?  Its our nature.

If we go back to the caveman/cavewomen, most likely the first thing they thought about upon wakening, is where and how they’ll get their next meal. In the animal world, we observed both on safari and in living in Marloth Park, that animals lives revolve around the constant hunt or forage for food.

What an interesting door!

Its in our DNA whether its out of the need to feed our bodies or for sheer pleasure. We can’t help but think and talk of our desires for food in various the forms in which we’ve become familiar. A huge part of traveling is the excitement of seeking the new food experiences, the new flavors.

Here we are in Morocco, dealing with my major food restrictions (which I don’t resent at all) and Tom’s picky taste buds, in one  of the “foodie” capitals in the world! Food is a major point of discussion in our lives perhaps in a slightly different manner than for most travelers.

A few decisions have been determined by my recent illness coupled with Tom’s taste buds:
1.  No more dining in Moroccan restaurants
2.  All dining is to be in French, Italian or other suitable international restaurants
3.  When dining in, Madame Zahra will make all meals without the traditional Moroccan spices which at this point, neither of us cares to eat.

Finally, we spotted the green sign at the top of this photo, assuring us at long last, that we were heading in the right direction.

Our lifelong taste preferences can be changed for a few days or even a few weeks. But, none of us, prefer to eat the strong flavors of another culture’s food for months. For example, I love Szechuan Chinese food. Could I eat it everyday for over two months? No. Could one eat foods with Italian spices everyday unless  you were Italian, used to eating those flavors at each meal? No.

Ingrained in all of us, are the tastes most familiar in our lives and from our upbringing. Deviating for a period of time is acceptable but, not so much for the long term.  When Madame Zahra made our meal on Thursday without spices other than salt and pepper, we both moaned in appreciation not only for her fine cooking but for the familiarity of the simple flavors.

With French spoken in Morocco by many of its citizens and the fair number of French restaurants, we’ll have no difficulty finding French restaurants. The bigger problem is, “finding” those in the souk, many of which appear to be tucked away.

The fresh organic produce offered for sale at Le Jardin.

Yesterday, we decided to do a “repeat” and go back to Le Jardin, a French restaurant offering a combination of Moroccan and French influenced options. Having dined there recently, greatly enjoying the food and the ambiance, we decided to return. 

The first time we’d dined at Le Jardin, we stumbled across it during one of our many walks through the maze-like souks. We thought searching and finding it on one of the many online map programs would make returning a breeze. We encountered a few problems. 

They didn’t appear in any of the map programs. The map on their website was confusing and when I tried to call them to email directions, there was no answer. When I tried sending an email to their posted address, it was returned. We were on our own.

Today, we’ll return to the same general area to dine at this French restaurant we stumbled across when looking for Le Jardin.

Tom has the best sense of direction of anyone I’ve ever known. When we left there weeks ago, he had no trouble finding our way back to our home. Time having passed with many outings in the souks, he wasn’t 100% certain as to the course to take.

Needless to say, we wandered around the souks for 45 minutes until we found Le Jardin. We’ve discovered it makes no sense to ask shop workers for directions.  Invariably, the salesperson drags us inside their shop or to another shop, hoping we’ll make purchases.  We’ve learned that we must figure it out on our own. I suppose the shop workers have grown tired of giving directions to confused tourists.

Yesterday, we had another excellent meal while enjoying the birds and turtles roaming freely in the courtyard.  Hence, a few of today’s photos.

Here is one of the two resident turtles at Le Jardin. The staff carefully maneuvers past them when serving guests. It was hard to believe how fast these turtles move. They moved so quickly that I had a hard time taking the photo.  he turtles are on a constant “crumb patrol” mission.

Today, we’ll venture out again to a French restaurant we found along the way yesterday. Again, the souk will be packed with tourists especially as Spring Break becomes relevant in many parts of the world. However, we’ve yet had to wait for a table at any dining establishment.

At Le Jardin we were given two larger maps that hopefully will assist us in the future. The hostess, speaking excellent English, explained that tourists have trouble finding their restaurant which is tucked away at an unexpected location.

Madame Zahra made us this Moroccan spice-free meal which wasn’t bland at all with her use of garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. From left to right, starting at the bread for Tom; sautéed carrots,  chips (fries) for Tom, egg battered sautéed cauliflower (my favorite), sautéed fresh green beans and fried mashed potato puffs for Tom. In the center is the rooftop grilled chicken with both white and dark meat which works well for us; Tom likes the white meat while I prefer the dark. As always, there is more food than we can eat. But, homemade Moroccan cooking consists of many items. 

In two days, on Monday, we’ll go out on a day of sightseeing which we both anticipate with enthusiasm, ending the day at a new-to-us, upscale French restaurant. See… even sightseeing is laced with concerns about FOOD.

Part 2…The best new luxury resorts around the world…Second place on Quiz Night!…

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A rectangular formation of clouds at sunset.

Here’s the continuation of the fantastic article from Travel and Leisure, found here on their site:

“The Best New Resorts Around the World—Including a Luxe Mexico All-inclusive and an Italian Countryside Escape…continued…

Le Château de Théoule, Théoule-sur-Mer, France

After more than a decade living in France, I’ve seen my fair share of castles, but Château de Théoule is different. Like a cat with nine lives, the building has undergone multiple renovations since its humble start as a savonnerie, or soap factory, in 1630. For this latest reinvention into a 44-room retreat, interior decorator and antique dealer Marie-Christine Mecoen paid tribute to the château’s former owners (who include a Scottish lord and wealthy French silk merchants) with subtle touches. Each room’s design is anchored around a hand-picked antique, so no two are alike. Some are outfitted with sumptuous, draped silk headboards and boudoir-style fringe lamps. My ochre-colored duplex room, dubbed La Valériane (after the flower used in perfume), channeled a 1960s South of France vibe, with floor-to-ceiling gauzy, eggshell-white custom linen curtains, violet velvet armchairs, and rattan palm tree light fixtures. I also appreciated the relaxed location—unlike nearby Cannes, with its international jet-setters, the town of Théoule-sur-Mer attracts in-the-know locals who come to hike trails in the surrounding Massif de l’Estérel mountains, and get away from it all. Doubles from $680. —Lane Nieset

Les Lumières, Versailles, France

It’s easy to feel like royalty at Les Lumières, a hotel across the street from the Château de Versailles. There are gestures to France’s most famous palace everywhere: The gold-plated bar at Le Bar des Philosophes pays homage to Louis XIV’s court outfits, and the hotel fragrance is by Trudon. This Versailles candlemaker dates back to 1643. The 31 rooms and suites are also named after famed French writers and philosophers from the Age of Enlightenment, like Voltaire and Denis Diderot, and explorers, like Navy officer Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse. It all contributes to a feeling of learning, knowledge, and contemplation. (There was even a journal in my suite to write in and take home.) I also took advantage of the Dream Machine amenity, a light machine brought to my room for a self-hypnosis experience. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $428. —Robin Allison Davis

Le Mas Candille, Mougins, France

Le Mas Candille, set in the hilltop village of Mougins in the French Riviera, seems to define the area’s storied glamour. With majestic views of the bay of Cannes and the Lérins Islands, it’s easy to be swept away by the scenery. Still, the interiors of this 46-room property, which initially opened in 2001 and has come back to life after a careful restoration by French-Mexican architect Hugo Toro, are just as compelling. Furniture and decor were sourced at Provençal flea markets, and I adored the green carpet and matching drapes in my suite (both custom-crafted by Toro). The Clarins spa was another revelation. After several laps in the indoor-outdoor heated swimming pool, I relaxed in the steam room and braved the cold plunge pool, before an hour-long facial with plant extracts, almost all grown on the property. Well-nourished by chef Romain Antoine’s Mediterranean-inspired feast of langoustine and scallops, I retired to the library to skim the collection of classics. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $532. —Kasia Dietz

Mara Toto Tree Camp, Masai Mara, Kenya

The safari started from the plane. I saw my first elephants while approaching the Ol Kiombo Airstrip, a 45-minute flight from Nairobi. After touchdown, I spied warthogs, Cape buffalo, and Grant’s gazelles—their coats glowing pale yellow in the East African sun—on the drive to Mara Toto Tree Camp, a Great Plains Conservation camp run by safari stars and legendary conservationists Dereck and Beverly Joubert. They’ve created a feeling of total immersion and intimacy: Mara Toto Tree Camp has just four tented suites on the Ntiakitiak River. Each one, lifted nearly 10 feet off the ground and connected with snaking wooden walkways, feels like a tree house, with all the adventure you could ask for. Of course, the accommodations are exceedingly comfortable, and the fireside dinners of blackened ribeye, herb salads, and creamy local cheeses are delicious. But you’re here for the game drives, which are unmatched. Mara Toto has access to both the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Mara North Conservancy, a part of the same ecosystem, but with a fraction of the crowds. “Privacy counts,” says Dereck. “You have to be careful to avoid the abundance of tourism, but in Kenya, there are more than enough private corners in nature to explore.” I would say this corner is one of the best. Doubles from $1,445 per person per night, all-inclusive. —Nicole Trilivas

Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort, Turkey

Last May, Türkiye’s Maxx Royal Resorts made a showstopping entrance into the luxury hotel scene on the Bodrum Peninsula with Maxx Royal Bodrum Resort. This wildly chic paradise seems to sprout organically from the dreamy Aegean landscape. Low-slung suites and villas, some of which flank the watery edge of a brilliantly conceived, almost labyrinthine pool, unfurl down to a secluded bay and beach. All have balconies or terraces, and many have private pools. The resort is constructed mostly of smooth stone and wood, giving it warmth and elegance. With seven restaurants and four bars, the gastronomy is uniformly superb, eliminating the need to venture off property. Partnerships with Caviar Kaspia, lifestyle hospitality brand Scorpios, and Spago by Wolfgang Puck, among others, offer international cachet. The 62,000-square-foot Maxx Wellbeing Centre is also a dizzying universe of wellness and an oasis of serenity. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $1,129. —Marcia DeSanctis

One&Only Kéa Island, Greece

The road that leads to Greece’s first One&Only resort is not for the faint of heart. The hairpin bends between precipitous valleys and parched hills appear to careen off the cliffs into the sea until you are finally ushered to the top and into a vast, light-filled atrium. From this panoramic hilltop pinnacle, tiers of double-height, glass-fronted villas cascade down to a sheltered cove and beach club. Of course, you could skip the drive altogether and come by speedboat (a 45-minute, adrenaline-fueled ride from the Greek mainland), by helicopter (there’s no airport on Kéa), or even on foot (via a gorgeous coastal trail from Pisses beach). Better yet, charter Stavros, a handsome wooden kaiki moored at the private jetty, for gentle cruises around Kéa’s beach-fringed coastline. Here, it’s all too easy to simply hunker down at the resort and surrender to the blissful isolation and solicitous attention. I spent hours idly watching seagulls from my miniature infinity pool or contemplating the play of light on the hazy hills etched on the horizon from Kosmos bar. A dedicated host is on call 24/7 via WhatsApp to book spa treatments, tennis lessons, diving sessions, or dinner reservations. I found the enormous spa a bit sterile, but the sea-view yoga pavilion motivated me to get in a workout before a long, slow breakfast of kayianas (scrambled eggs with tomatoes, feta, and oregano) and a calming infusion of chamomile blossom. Doubles from $1,672. —Rachel Howard

The Potlatch Club, Eleuthera, Bahamas

In the 1960s, The Potlatch Club, on the island of Eleuthera, hosted VIP guests like Paul and Linda McCartney, who honeymooned at the hotel in 1969. Last summer, it reopened following a meticulous renovation, with 11 suites and cottages scattered across 12 lush beachside acres. Some accommodations are new, some are original, but all are enlivened with era-appropriate accents—cute wallpaper here, a vintage model ship there. Think of it as a Slim Aarons shoot recreated for the Instagram age. Over in the main house, I found McCartney’s lyrics to “Oh Darling” written on a Potlatch Club napkin, framed on the library wall. Doubles from $775. —Flora Stubbs

Princes’ Palace Resort, Büyükada, Turkey

Reachable by helicopter or boat, the 69-room Princes’ Palace is located on Büyükada, the largest of the nine Princes’ Islands off Istanbul, where Ottoman intellectuals retreated in the 1800s. The crescent-shaped hotel’s glass facade is visible solely by sea, making quite the first impression when you dock. The main building’s minimalist design revolves around sweeping views of the water and Istanbul’s skyline, which you’ll see everywhere from the terrace of seasonal, farm-to-table Ema’s Dining Room, where seafood is sourced off the coast and herbs are grown in the on-site garden. When I was one of the first to visit Princes’ Palace in mid-December, it was too brisk to take a dip in the swimmable beach below, but I had a prime view of the sunset from my balcony suspended over the Mediterranean-style beach club and the tiered infinity pools. In Turkey, a hammam is practically a given, but the slate-gray, marble-and-tile one here is an experience in itself, especially when paired with a dip in the sea-facing indoor pool. Doubles from  $675. —Lane Nieset

Rosewood Schloss Fuschl, Salzburg, Austria

In the 15th century, the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg built a grand lodge on Lake Fuschl, in Austria’s mountainous Salzkammergut region. Now, the schloss, or castle, has been reborn as the 98-room Rosewood Schloss Fuschl. Given the property’s lineage, I expected it to be thronged by European elites. But I was pleasantly surprised to find locals and backpack-toting travelers among the mix—one afternoon, I squeezed onto a communal picnic table beside a German family, where we all savored smoked trout and generous pours of grüner veltliner. Doubles from $650. —Siobhan Reid

​​The Store, Oxford, England

There’s a reason why the university city of Oxford has inspired so many generations of children’s authors. The place is a rabbit hole of intrigue. Alas, its tight medieval center doesn’t leave much space for 21st-century facilities, and for decades, it has lacked the hotel that equals its popularity as a destination.

The 101-room Store opened last summer and presents a brilliant solution to this problem. It’s a breezy, modern hotel, complete with a spa (with Oskia products) and rooftop cocktail bar (usually you have to sneak onto a college roof for such a good view). And yet, it still has a bit of Oxford charm, being located in an iconic old building: the venerable Boswells department store, which was open for nearly three centuries before shuttering in 2020. The lobby presents a serene refuge from the tourist hubbub outside, and I found that the Treadwell restaurant offers inventive spins on British classics, like curried chicken pie. Doubles from $373. —Richard Godwin

Salterra, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Turks & Caicos

This Marriott Luxury Collection resort, just 10 minutes from South Caicos Airport, welcomes guests with coral stone walkways leading up to the property. Menus at the six restaurants incorporate local ingredients like conch and Bambarra Rum—I’m still thinking about the platters of smoky grilled lobster at Cobo Bar & Grill and Key lime tart piled with marshmallow-soft brûléed meringue at Sisal, the lobby bar and restaurant. The 100 ocean-facing guest rooms have hand-carved furniture, textured wall hangings, and prints from a February 2024 study of the islands’ flamingo population. Individual and couples treatment rooms, an aqua thermal facility with a steam room, a dry sauna, and a salt room join a serene hammam in the spa. Here, a massage therapist eased my sore muscles after days spent bonefishing, snorkeling, hiking, and scuba diving. Across the property, the kids’ club offers daily activities, including guided kayaking, paddleboarding, beach discovery walks, and trips to the School for Field Studies’ Center for Marine Resource Studies, which helps restore Turks and Caicos’ coral reefs. I explored the underwater coral plantings as part of the Snorkel for a Cause program at the resort, which was my favorite part of the trip. Doubles from $726. —Carrie Honaker

Valldemossa, Mallorca

A little-known secret about Mallorca is that you can find more history (and incredible luxury) if you leave the beach and head into the mountains. Enter Valldemossa, one of the newest properties to grace the peaks of the Tramuntana mountain range. Built on the former site of Royal Charterhouse Palace, which once housed guests visiting the village of Valldemossa’s 14th-century monastery, the hotel has preserved that antique feeling. A stone staircase framed by olive trees leads to the main terrace, from which a meandering path will bring you to one of the 12 rooms. The pool is a prime spot to enjoy the views of citrus orchards, and the village below—but a table at De Tokio a Lima, the second location of Palma’s hit Peruvian-Japanese fusion restaurant—offers an even better perch. Aesthetics aside, the heart of the hotel is the Sanctuary, where guests can receive full-body spa rituals tailored to their individual needs. After arriving for my appointment in the morning, I emerged from the treatment room hours later, having completely lost track of time, imbued with a newfound lightness and feeling fresh to explore the village down the street. Doubles from $365. —Jamie Ditaranto

The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa

When one thinks of Bora Bora, the first image that comes to mind is likely an overwater bungalow positioned over crystal-clear waters. The newest resort on the French Polynesian island since 2017, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, is no exception. One of its main draws is its location at the base of Mount Otemanu, offering an unobstructed view. The design, which results from an extensive renovation and rebrand (Le Méridien used to sit on this plot of the atoll), also brings the outdoors in. There are 14 beach bungalows, as well as 128 overwater bungalows—the largest collection in Bora Bora—connected by a winding boardwalk. The vibe is laid-back, but I found the staff’s anticipatory service to be a subtle and welcome part of the stay. For example, on the second day, a server at Tipanier, one of the hotel’s six restaurants, brought our coffee orders as soon as we were seated at breakfast. Snorkeling gear was left outside the door of our bungalow following an offhand comment I made to a waiter about seeing stingrays from our plunge pool. At the spa, the masseuse added a local soothing serum to aid in healing the sunburn I’d gotten on my back. And at Maere, the resort’s signature restaurant, the chef cooked all the courses on seafood night for my mother, who does not eat raw shellfish—a shame, in my book, but one that the restaurant handled perfectly. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $1,000. —Jess Feldman”

Each of these luxury resorts is indeed expensive. But for that special anniversary, wedding, or other celebration, a few days or a week at one of the locations may be the perfect venue. Having the prices for the resorts included in this article was imperative. Thanks to all the writers and reviewers who visited these locations, from which we borrowed the information from the Travel and Leisure online magazine.

On another note, we attended Quiz Night at Giraffe last evening and became part of a new group of six. We would have been in first place, but we all had trouble with the music portion of the quizzes. Nonetheless, we each won ZAR 50, US $2.73 which covered the cost of our entry fee. We had a fantastic time with this group, which we’ll join again next week for 60s Night.

Today and tonight, we’re staying in for a lovely dinner and more exquisite time on the veranda with our wildlife friends.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 7, 2015:

A lagoon at Kealia Beach in Kapaa, Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…The best new luxury resorts around the world…

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A lovely view from Ngwenya.

So sorry we didn’t post yesterday. We all have days when we aren’t feeling up to snuff. Over the past few days, I haven’t felt like myself, and I am taking it a little easy. My blood pressure spiked to a dangerous level while my pulse was normal, and I didn’t experience any Afib or other heart-related symptoms.

Typically, I can feel my blood pressure spike for no reason at all. Subsequently, we went to Doc Theo yesterday. After a slight medication adjustment, it is better, but it took the wind out of my sails, and I am still not 100%. Again, today, I’ll take it easy, and hopefully, tonight, I’ll feel well enough to go to Quiz Night at Giraffe, which begins at 6:30 pm.

After the visit with Doc Theo, we headed to Spar Market, where we purchased everything we needed for the next few weeks in less than 20 minutes. Once back in Maroth Park, we stopped at The Butchery to pick up our pre-ordered biltong, which was out of stock last Friday due to the huge number of holidaymakers in the park in April.

The holidays are over, and the tourists have left. Fortunately, we’re enjoying an endless stream of wildlife this morning as we lounge on the veranda. It’s delightful to see our wildlife friends returning to the garden.

There are just the two of us tonight, but dear friend Patty Pan arranged a spot in a group for us. We won’t eat dinner at Giraffe tonight since they don’t have much on the menu that either of us cares to eat. We’ll eat at home early since we have plenty of delicious leftovers in the freezer to enjoy with nothing to do but heat them in the microwave.

As a result, since I’m not feeling creative today, we are sharing a fantastic article from Travel and Leisure, found here on their site:

“The Best New Resorts Around the World—Including a Luxe Mexico All-inclusive and an Italian Countryside Escape…

Travel + Leisure’s 2025 It List.

By Travel + Leisure Editors
Published on April 16, 2025

Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Isla Mujeres, Adult All-inclusive, Mexico

Repurposed from a previous life as a mid-range all-inclusive into a Marriott Luxury Collection resort, the adults-only Almare offers a much-needed shot in the arm to sleepy Isla Mujeres, across a peaceful bay from the buzz of Cancun. Here, the vibes are more “summer camp” than seclusion—I joined my fellow guests at morning yoga, mezcal tastings, and even a jog to Punta Sur, the island’s southernmost point. The 109 rooms are spacious and bright; some travelers might find the Mexico-meets-modern vibes a bit too sparse. However, I appreciated the Byredo toiletries, spacious soaking tubs, and sunset-facing balconies. The food was also a hit: all-day restaurant Boga focuses on local fare from the Yucatan, and The Breeze, a lunchtime pool bar, has tacos, ceviche, and an excellent burger. If you like the convenience of an all-inclusive (unlimited drinks!), the charm of a boutique hotel (staff who know your coffee order!), and the reliability of a mega-brand (loyalty points!), Almare has a winning formula. Doubles from $1,025, all-inclusive. —Laura Ratliff

Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, Indonesia

When I arrived at Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, it was pouring, but rain suits the place. The 85-room resort sits in a valley inside the Payangan rainforest, about a 30-minute drive north of Ubud. The primary building, a glassy hilltop structure, houses Kirana, an all-day Indonesian restaurant, and Amerta, which serves fire-roasted entrées. The resort also has a spa, two pools, a lounge, and a bar that serves cocktails made with arrack, a local cousin of rum. Looking out from my villa’s infinity pool after the rain had cleared, I saw nothing but slopes covered with bamboo, banana plants, and palms. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $600. —Hannah Walhout 

Arev St. Tropez, France

“Un rêve” means “a dream” in French. And indeed, a stay at the 50-room Arev—St. Tropez’s newest hideout, set on a leafy, quiet street, but only a 10-minute stroll from the bustle of Place des Lices, feels like a reverie you won’t want to wake from. Spanish designer Luis Bustamante took inspiration from the nearby Old Port, using a nautical, sophisticated, red, white, and blue palette throughout the property. I enjoyed a tasting in the outdoor Champagne Lounge (my bubbles were served from a chic vintage trolley cart). I spent my days lounging by the pool or strolling the courtyards and gardens filled with magnolias, bougainvillea, and olive trees. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $643. —Robin Allison Davis

Atzaró Okavango, Botswana

Atzaró Okavango’s inception began as an unlikely collaboration between Beks Ndlovu, the Zimbabwe-born founder of African Bush Camps, and Philip Gonda and Victor Guasch, the co-owners of the very stylish, design-forward hospitality group Atzaró. The hotel’s lobby bar and connected lounge spaces are filled with an impressive African art collection, from masks to textiles like mud cloth sourced from Benin, the Congo, Ethiopia, and the Tuareg people. The luxurious tents, ranging from 1,740 to 4,130 square feet, have bathtubs and mid-century and antique African furniture. But it’s the safaris themselves, led by some of the region’s best guides (Ndlovu started his career as a guide, so he has managed to attract and train the best) that are the reason to choose Atzaró. The animal sightings are frequent and thrilling, and the resort has fantastic post-safari cocktails; the camp’s resident mixologist might even mix you a sundowner in the bush. Doubles from $690 per person, all-inclusive. —Gisela Williams

Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico

From the plunge pool outside my villa at Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe, I could almost reach out and touch the grapevines. Channeling a sense of place in Mexico’s preeminent wine region was a goal for architect Michel Rojkind, who made the valley’s natural beauty the star of this resort. It’s 30 sand-colored villas blend into the hillside and have from one to three bedrooms; each has a fireplace and a wine bar, plus a shower that opens onto an outdoor deck. As serene as my quarters were, the common spaces are where the 16-acre property really shines. I loved stopping for a burrito or a sip of mezcal at Roka, a repurposed Airstream trailer; elsewhere, I found a yoga platform, a spa, a meditation labyrinth, and a temescal. A visit to Pictograma, the resort’s winery, which grows grenache grapes, is essential to any stay. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $599.​ —Nina Ruggiero

Borgo dei Conti Resort, Umbria, Italy

Once upon a time, in the Umbrian countryside, there was an enchanted 19th-century villa, built on the foundations of a 13th-century fortress. It was inhabited by Count Lemmo Rossi Scotti, who spent his days painting and tending to the garden. Fast-forward more than a hundred years, and now that enchanted villa is a luxury resort run by The Hospitality Experience, the hoteliers behind other Italian properties like The Place Firenze and Londra Palace in Venice. Naturally, the villa’s new owners worked to preserve its historic integrity, restoring the frescoes and wood-beamed ceilings, while still bringing it into the 21st century. Maybe it was all the lore surrounding the place, but I did feel a bit like a modern-day countess, whether I was savoring risotto with goat cheese and Mediterranean herbs or cozying up on the sofa in my spacious suite. Perugia, Umbria’s Medieval capital, is just a 30-minute drive away, but don’t be surprised if you feel an almost supernatural pull urging you to stay put and explore the 40-acre grounds instead, perhaps with a picnic in the woods. Surely, Count Rossi Scotti would have wanted it that way. Doubles from $600. —Laura Itkowitz

Clara Arte Resort, Inhotim, Brazil

After more than a decade of anticipation, art buffs can now stay in a hotel at the Inhotim Institute, one of the world’s largest open-air museums, about an hour and a half from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Clara Arte opened in December 2024 at the edge of the museum’s botanical garden, which features 4,000 tropical plant species and 700 artworks across 24 stand-alone galleries, all designed by distinct architects. Clara Arte’s 46 stilted villas spill down a lush hill by the entrance; São Paulo-based designer Marina Linhares filled each one with stone and wood furnishings that gesture to the landscape. All stays include three meals, a lavish afternoon “tea” with surprisingly sharp Brazilian brut, and the addictive cheese bread pão de queijo. As the sun sets, you listen to the chirps and croaks of the Atlantic Forest, or relax with a caipirinha at the piano bar, which hosts nightly bossa nova music. Of course, you come here mainly to browse contemporary art at the Inhotim Institute, a five-minute walk away. It takes repeated visits to fully immerse yourself in the towering installations, which include big names like Matthew Barney and Yayoi Kusama. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $410, all-inclusive. —Mark Johanson

Dunas de Formentera, Spain

I had ditched my shoes to walk the undulating dunes within an hour of arriving at Dunas de Formentera, a 45-room retreat on the smallest of Spain’s Balearic Islands. Formentera, a craggy 12-mile spit of land, is a low-key refuge from the party scene in Ibiza, just a 30-minute ferry ride away. The hotel comprises nine whitewashed bungalows, a few steps from the beach with its soft sand and clear water. Its restaurant, Caliu, specializes in wood-fired dishes, like the artichokes with cured egg yolk and ham that became a favorite during my stay. Dunas puts the eco in eco-resort: Hourglasses in the shower keep track of the time, and even the bedside phones are made of wood. I spent my days parked by the saltwater infinity pool, where the cooling breezes were more than welcome in the parched Spanish summer. Doubles from $550. —Julia Chaplin

Gundari, Folegandros, Greece

Folegandros, an unspoiled island about eight miles long, is only a 50-minute ferry ride from busy Santorini, but it feels like another world. High on a deserted clifftop overlooking the Sea of Crete, Gundari would feel radical anywhere. But in this location, the hypermodern hotel feels almost revolutionary. After opening, the property’s 30 cliffside suites and villas quickly became Instagram-famous. But Gundari’s ambitions go far beyond the visual. The main restaurant, Orizon, is run by Lefteris Lazarou, who earned the Athens restaurant Varoulko a Michelin star. Lazarou’s moussaka, made with shrimp instead of the traditional lamb, was light and aromatic; a risotto of brown orzo with Greek cheese, chili pepper, and wine from the nearby island of Lemnos was somehow both wholesome and indulgent. There’s also a striking subterranean spa where an Australian therapist gave me a world-class massage using oils infused with Greek botanicals. Doubles from $654.​ —Flora Stubbs

Hôtel du Couvent, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nice, France

Hidden away in Nice’s Old Town, Hôtel du Couvent is the chic property this coastal city craved. The 17th-century convent—home to the Poor Clare and Salesian orders until the 1980s—got a $100-million renovation and is now a hotel with 88 guest rooms. Mine had Italian flea-market finds and custom furniture made from old ceiling beams. A terraced garden contains more than 300 plant species, many of which supply the three on-site restaurants. Underground is a contemporary interpretation of the Roman baths excavated in nearby Cimiez, with a warm tepidarium, a hot caldarium, and a frigidarium, or cold plunge. The latter was particularly restorative, as was the Negroni No. 2 at Le Bar, in the cloister, which adds beets and strawberries to the classic recipe. It was a subtle reinvention that, like the hotel itself, improved upon the original without losing its soul. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $545.​ —Paul Jebara

Jannah Lamu, Kenya

For decades, on Lamu, a tiny island off the coast of Kenya that has long been fashionable with a certain free-spirited European crowd, the Peponi has been the stylish hotel of choice. Now, thanks to the opening of Jannah Lamu (the word jannah means “paradise” in Arabic), there’s another extraordinary place to stay. This elegant and quirky B&B—with seven accommodations—in the village of Shela is owned and designed by Kenyan designer Anna Trzebinski. Some rooms have stained-glass windows, others have bespoke wood-carved furniture, and all have Trzebinski-designed fabrics. While there isn’t a restaurant on site, there is a decadent breakfast, including sliced avocados, fresh fruit, samosas, and fried donut-like treats called kaimati. The property also recommends several cafes that deliver delicious Swahili dishes so guests can dine on one of the property’s wind-swept terraces. While located on Shela’s main square rather than on the beach, the property offers guests the option to spend time on one of three beautifully crafted traditional boats. There’s nothing like sailing one of the elegant wooden dhows (with a canopied deck covered in pillows) through mangrove-lined channels, then diving into the water, before a picnic of grilled lobster and fish curry back on deck. Doubles from $350. —Gisela Williams

Kibale Lodge, Uganda

Kibale Forest in western Uganda, is known as the best place in the world to see chimpanzees, and there is no better base to explore this underrated part of Africa than Kibale Lodge, a short drive away. The lodge is Volcanoes Safaris’ fifth on their great ape safari circuits through Uganda and Rwanda. Perched high on a ridge, the estate boasts spectacular 360-degree views of the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and greenery of rural Uganda. It is an intimate affair, with just eight papyrus-thatched bandas, each solar-powered and handbuilt by talented local craftspeople. At the heart of the lodge, a welcoming common area encourages guests to gather for drinks and food, including Ugandan specialities and more familiar dishes using local or homegrown ingredients. I swapped safari stories with my fellow visitors over freshly caught tilapia, firinda (bean stew), and dodo (steamed greens), while treks were fueled by freshly squeezed passionfruit juice and on-the-go “rolex” (rolled omelettes). The main draw to Kibale Lodge is, of course, the chimpanzees, but it’s well worth taking the time to enjoy the 150 acres of rewilded grounds here, along with the pool, sauna, and complimentary massages to ease post-trek aches. It’s the perfect sanctuary to retreat after searching for primates in the thick Ugandan jungle. Doubles from $990, all-inclusive. —Gisela Williams

La Roqqa, Porto Ercole, Italy

Giorgio Bonotto, La Roqqa’s simpatico general manager, supplied the words I’d been searching for. I’d arranged to meet him for aperitivi on the hotel’s roof terrace, with views over Tuscan rooftops and a harbor full of bobbing boats. The 16th-century fort that crowns the hill across the bay was soaking up the last rays of the setting sun as he said, “I like to describe La Roqqa as an urban resort in the middle of a fishing village.” I wish I’d thought of that. The contrast between the chic interior design and the refreshing authenticity of Porto Ercole, the laid-back coastal town outside its doors, makes the 55-room La Roqqa such an original arrival on the Tuscan scene. Walk 10 minutes to the port and you’re in a film about small-town Italy, where grandparents and kids stroll along the quay, gelato in hand. Walk, or be driven in one of La Roqqa’s electric cars, 10 minutes in the other direction, and you’re in a dolce vita romance set in a wild, rocky bay where beautiful, tanned people loll on loungers at the resort’s beach club. Accessible hotel. Doubles from $515. —Lee Marshall”

We’ll present Part 2 tomorrow and complete this article. If you’d like to see photos of these resorts, please click Travel and Leisure’s link here.

Although the above resorts are expensive, a traveler might consider a luxury experience during a short stay on their way to other nearby locations. Occasionally, we have opted for a luxury resort, leaving us with exquisite memories of a few-night stay.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, May 6, 2015:

A fisherman was casting toward the huge surf in Kauai. For more photos, please click here.

Where is Easter observed worldwide?

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Happy Easter, Everyone!

People who celebrate Easter around the world are incredibly diverse, but they’re often tied together by a few beautiful common threads: community, tradition, hope, and renewal. Let me paint you a little picture:

  • In Europe, you’ll see grandmothers in Poland carrying baskets of food to be blessed, kids in England chasing chocolate eggs across village greens, and entire towns in Spain solemnly marching in centuries-old processions, wearing traditional robes and carrying statues of saints. Some people are deeply religious, while others enjoy the festivities and the sense of springtime.

  • In Latin America, Easter feels almost like a full-body experience. Streets fill with color, music, and devotion — think families weaving huge palm fronds in Guatemala, or entire neighborhoods in Mexico creating carpets of flowers and colored sawdust for processions to walk over. It’s emotional, joyful, and very communal.

  • In Africa, Easter is often a mix of deep religious observance and vibrant celebration. You’ll find congregations in Nigeria dressed in their absolute best, wearing brightly patterned and embroidered clothing, as they sing and dance in packed churches. In Ethiopia, after weeks of fasting for Lent, families come together to feast and pray, connecting generations.

  • In North America, it’s a blend — you’ll see families getting dressed up for Easter Sunday services, parents hiding colorful eggs in parks, and huge brunch gatherings. Some people focus on the religious meaning, while others see it as a time for family, joy, and the beginning of spring.

  • In Asia, especially in the Philippines, Easter Sunday can feel like a joyful explosion after a long, serious Holy Week — big, outdoor masses at dawn called Salubong celebrate the meeting of the risen Christ and his mother Mary, with singing, dancing, and sometimes fireworks. In other parts of Asia where Christians are a smaller group, Easter is quieter, celebrated mostly within tight-knit communities.

  • In Oceania, Australians and New Zealanders might be off camping for the long Easter weekend, bringing chocolate eggs to the beach, or attending relaxed church services. There’s a laid-back, outdoorsy spirit to the way they celebrate.

At the heart of it, Easter people — no matter where they are — often celebrate life, hope, and new beginnings, whether through sacred rituals or simple, joyful gatherings.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, April 19, 2015:

Formerly, Taylor Camp in Kauai, beyond the second row of trees, is a. dense forest and cliffs that we weren’t about to tackle. For original photos of Taylor Camp, please click here.

Part 3…Kruger National Park photos…Grocery and egg prices…What are we spending on food?…

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This mom elephant and her two youngsters were a delight to see.

The photos from Kruger weren’t as clear as they may have been if the wildlife had been so far away. It was a tough day in the heat when the wildlife tends to stay undercover to stay cool. Surely, we’ll return to Kruger each week as the weather cools and hopefully take better photos.

On another note, we grocery shopped last Sunday at Spar in Komatipoort and spent a total of ZAR 4867.67, US $264.90 plus another ZAR 1162.94, US $63.29 at The Butchery, the meat market in Marloth Park at the Bush Centre.

Elephant moving further into the bush.

The total for the next two weeks, considering we dine out two nights a week, is ZAR 6030.61, US $328.19, averages ZAR 3015.10, US $164.10 per week, assuming we selected the finest meats, vegetables, and dairy products we consume regularly.

Plus, with dining out at Jabula every Friday and Saturday, our bill is typically ZAR 918.78, US $50 each night. Thus, we spend another US $100 weekly, making our weekly food bill, including dining out twice weekly, ZAR 3934.07, $262.10. When we dined out in Minneapolis or  Lake Las Vegas, typically we spent at least twice as much for dining out.

It wasn’t easy to get good shots of the wildlife when it was a very hot day and the wildlife were readily visible, as they hid under cover in the bush.

When we compared our weekly grocery bills in the US, we paid at least twice as much as we do here. It’s incredible how much less costly it is to live here.

Of course, from time to time, we will go to the local SaveMor market in Marloth Park for fresh veggies for our salads and side dishes. We purchased these when we first arrived for US $12.90.

Spoonbill stork: The African Spoonbill is a long-legged wading bird. Its height is 90 cm (36′). Its body is predominantly white, except for its red legs, face, and bill. Its wings are 365-403 mm long. This bird can be easily identified by its uniquely spoon-shaped bill. At birth, the African Spoonbill’s bill does not resemble a spoon. It is born with a short beak that gradually develops into its spoon-like shape. It usually resembles a spoon right before it is time to leave its nest. Both the male and female birds are similar in appearance.

Yesterday, we had a fantastic time seeing Kathy and Don at their home on the Crocodile River. We arrived at 11:00 and left around 1:30 to allow them to get back to unpacking. It was wonderful to see them when it had been over three years since we dropped them off at the airport in Nelspruit to return to Hawaii for Don’s US medical care. They are thrilled to be back in the bush.

Surely, we’ll see them regularly during the remaining nine weeks until they return to the US. We have lots of plans to see friends while we’re here and then, the arrival of our friend Lisa in the beginning of April. We won’t be short on social activities, much of which transpires when we are at Jabula.

Notice the last item on this list is for a 24-pack of Alzu free-range eggs. They don’t carry pasture-raised eggs, so this was our best option. The price for the 24 jumbo eggs was ZAR 72.99, US $3.97, or almost US $2 a dozen, the same price we paid two years ago.

Last night, we booked our flights, hotel, and car in a good package deal with Expedia on our site. We’ll be leaving South Africa for Minnesota on May 24, arriving on May 25 (considering the seven-hour time difference), and fly back to Marloth Park on June 17, arriving on June 19.

Notice the circular marking on the waterbuck’s rear end. This is seen on both females and males.

We booked the same hotel we stayed in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a rental car, and our round-trip flights. Fortunately, Maisie’s graduation isn’t until May 29, and the graduation party is on May 31. We’ll have four days to recover from the long flights before the festivities begin.

Waterbuck: This is a large, robust female antelope. Bulls have a shoulder height of 1.4 metres and can weigh up to 260 Kg. Cows are smaller than bulls. Waterbucks have a brownish-grey shaggy coat. The eyes and nose are patched with white, and there is a white collar under the throat. The rump has a characteristic white ring. The large rounded ears are a prominent feature. Only the bulls have long, forward curved horns. Both sexes emit a, not unpleasant, musky smell which typically lingers at resting sites.

With the weekend approaching, we’ll see fewer animals when a new influx of tourists arrives, often feeding them foods they love but are unfit for their health and well-being. This is sad.

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, March 13, 2015:

In Kauai, Tom spotted these two chickens. “Must have been a double yolker,” Tom clucked as I laughed. For more photos, please click here.

Thinking back to where we were, as Covid-19 began to hit the world…

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Cloudy morning in Kauai.

As we approach the time when the pandemic began worldwide, as we were preparing to leave for India in 2020, I can’t help but easily recall the days leading to our departure from Phoenix after visiting with Tom’s sisters in Apache Junction for a few months.

Little did we know what was ahead, but according to a quote from our post on January 27, 2020, I think we’d already begun to prepare ourselves, in part, for what was yet to come. But, little did we know…

“Then, besides packing, we’re thinking a little about the Coronavirus, but not as much as some may. There have been only a few cases so far in India, and they’ve been testing all arriving passenger’s temperatures at all major airports. So far, they’ve sent 12 passengers back to China, refusing entry. Hopefully, this diligence will continue.

This morning, I purchased more wipes for our hands and surfaces that we’ll wipe down wherever we go, including the armrests and tray tables on both planes and all characters in our hotel room, including phone, remote, door handles, etc.

Today, our 100 disposable face masks will arrive from Amazon. I had difficulty finding them online, including on the Amazon site. We’d seen a news report in China where people lined up hundreds deep at a pharmacy, hoping to purchase face masks when they were almost sold out.

We’re taking every precaution and striving to be sensible and practical. However, if we had planned to visit China, then I am confident we would have felt the need to change our plans.

Last night, we hosted a happy hour for our neighbors and Tom’s family. We gathered around the outdoor table and enjoyed a few hours of lively conversation, snacks, and drinks.“

Here’s what was happening with Coronavirus in January 2020:

In January 2020, COVID-19 was in its early stages and primarily concentrated in Wuhan, China, where it was first identified in December 2019. Here’s a brief overview of the situation that month:

  • Early January: The first cases were linked to a seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. On January 7, Chinese authorities identified the virus as a novel coronavirus (later named SARS-CoV-2). By mid-January, China had reported dozens of cases.
  • International Spread: By late January, cases were reported outside China, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. The first confirmed death occurred in Wuhan on January 11.
  • WHO’s Response: On January 30, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” signaling the growing global risk.

The outbreak’s true scale was underestimated at the time due to limited testing and understanding. By the end of the month, only a handful of cases had been reported in many countries, though the virus was already spreading undetected in some areas.

We’re so happy the pandemic is hopefully behind us all.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, January 27, 2015:

We posted this video ten years ago today as we first became familiar with the Laysan Albatross nesting in a neighborhood near us. For more, please click here.

Today is our 12 year world travel anniversary. Happy Halloween!

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A gnome sitting on a pumpkin with Thanksgiving decorations clipart, cozy autumn vibes, digital painting, isolated on white background
Happy Halloween!

It was 12 years ago today, Tom retired from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, and we left Minnesota. We loaded up his SUV with way too much stuff to drive to Arizona for a two-month stay to wrap up some paperwork, buy new laptops and smartphones, and work on visas for upcoming cruises and travels.

Everything we’d owned was sold and gone, albeit with a modicum of tears that flowed freely after saying goodbye to our loved ones. We knew we’d miss family, but with easy Facetime access online, it wouldn’t be as challenging to be away as it might have been decades ago, before the internet.

We chose to stay in Arizona for a few months to see if we’d like to live there when we eventually settled down. The two months in Scottsdale convinced us that Arizona was unsuitable for us. The summer heat was unappealing, and somehow, we never acquired a connection to the state.

While there, we enjoyed spending time with Tom’s sisters in Apache Junction, but again, we couldn’t see ourselves living in a retirement community in Arizona or anywhere. In time, that may change our minds about living in a retirement community, but not now.

Here we are now, after 12 years of the most exciting and adventurous times of our lives, seeking the medical care we knew would eventually come to pass. Nothing we’ve discovered about my health thus far requires us to stop traveling. In our travels over the past 12 years, we’ve met many seniors with heart conditions similar to mine who continue to travel regularly, some even full-time, like us.

We’re not done yet. We still have plenty of world left to see and feel no urgency to make any permanent decisions. It’s funny, isn’t it, that we feel totally at ease with that uncertainty? Many have said that not having a home would make them uncomfortable and unsettled. For us, it’s not an issue at all.

I suppose this lifestyle has reshaped our needs, and we no longer feel compelled to have a place we call “home.” We’ve learned that such a decision can be made whenever we are ready from wherever we may be at any given time.

What are we doing to celebrate today? Without a rental car, there are no exceptional restaurants nearby that warrant an Uber ride, and the fact that we’ve already ordered takeaway meals from the best nearby restaurants, we see no reason to venture out. We considered having cocktails tonight since I have one unopened bottle of white wine, and Tom has a bottle of brandy. But it’s been two months since we’ve had a drink, and we don’t need to do so today.

Today is special to both of us, and neither food nor drink is required to revel in the memories we created over the past 12 years, let alone the 4448 posts we’ve uploaded since March 2012, (see the first post here) months before we left Minnesota, when we wrote our first post. At any moment, we can enjoy the memories of the past 12 years with only a few clicks in our archives.

When we look back at any of those posts, we are immediately transported back to those precious times, memories flooding our minds, with smiles on our faces and feelings of warmth in our hearts. We are grateful for the experiences, the times we spent together, the people we met along the way, and the people and places we have yet to see. We are grateful for the safety in our travels, although, at times, we encountered challenging situations.

And now, as we near the end of our time at Cleveland Clinic (four months to go), we are again grateful for the exceptional medical care and upcoming peace of mind we’ll carry with us when we leave.

Happy Halloween to all.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 31, 2014:

This rooster was strutting around, showing off his pretty plumage at a vegetable stand in Maui. For more photos, please click here.

Part 2, Graduation party last night…What is a “Walking Taco?”…30 food trends from the past decade…

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Vincent and his two moms, Tracy on the left and Tammy on the right were at Vincent’s graduation party last night at a regional park.

Everyone enjoyed last night’s party for Vincent’s graduation. The food was plentiful, delicious, and catered by “We Cater to You,” a local company that may be found here at this site.

They did an excellent job preparing (and cleaning up) beautifully presented food that included the typical taco fixings, bags of chips, a fruit salad, and a colorful green salad with blackberries that I topped with the chicken taco meat, which was perfect for me.

There were party gifts, root beer on tap, canned beer for the adults, and plenty of added decor to highlight the graduation theme. Most likely, about 60 people joined in on the festivities, including several Lyman family members, Vincent’s birth dad and family, and other family friends.

This is a “walking taco” in a large-sized Frito bag. Everyone seemed to enjoy them.

Minnesota’s notorious barrage of mosquitos attacked me a few times, but when I didn’t have to be concerned about malaria, I didn’t think about it much. I wore socks to protect my vulnerable ankles, long pants, and a shirt with sleeves. Alas, the nasty little buggers bit my hands, my only exposed skin.

We arrived promptly at 5:00 and headed out around 8:30 to return to our hotel to spend the remainder of the evening relaxing before retiring for the night. I awoke at 5:00 am to the sound of hotel room doors slamming as guests were checking out, stayed awake for about an hour, and finally drifted off again, somehow managing to sleep through a lot more noise in the corridor, which continues now as I write here.

Getting back to food trends from the past decade, here are the remaining items from the story we started yesterday for Part 2:

Latte art made a splash as coffee culture intensified. Latte art, or art made using espresso, steamed milk, and frothed milk to create images in foam, took over social media for a spell in the mid-2010s. 

Latte Art
Latte art. Not our photo.

Hard seltzer will go down as one of the biggest trends of the 2010s, with consumers flocking to the lower-calorie boozy beverage. The summer of 2019 was the summer of hard seltzer. The boozy beverage was so beloved that there was even a national shortage of White Claw, the most popular hard seltzer brand. 

The fast-casual explosion hit its stride with chains such as Sweetgreen and Shake Shack. Fast-casual restaurants lie somewhere between fast-food and full-service, meaning they usually don’t offer table service with a waitstaff but are generally regarded as having higher quality food than the average fast-food restaurant. 

Soylent and other meal replacement shakes got a face-lift in the late 2010s. With its modern, minimalist branding and marketing, Soylent caters to a younger crowd looking for quick, on-the-go meals. 

Though they’ve been around for hundreds of years, macarons were popularized in the States in the 2010s. The French cookies use whisked egg whites and sugar to make meringue, the main ingredient in macarons. 

macarons french
Macaroons are still popular. Not our photo.

Food trucks have become hotbeds for chefs who might not have the resources to open a brick-and-mortar kitchen. The mobility of a truck allows entrepreneurs to reach a large audience and announce their location on various social media platforms. 

Kale, a nutritious leafy green, became a popular smoothie on social media. Leafy green became so popular that Beyoncé was even seen wearing a “kale” sweatshirt stylized in the collegiate format of Yale University. 

Edible gold leaf has become a widespread decoration for fine-dining dishes. From a $2,000 gold-covered pizza in Manhattan to an Australian burger made with 24-karat buns, the fancy ingredient has become an over-the-top addition to various foods. 

Natural Wine has both divided the wine community and spurred various young enthusiasts. Natural wine, a broad term for wines produced with minimal intervention from the winemaker, has become popular in recent years. 

Juicing fruits and vegetables has become a popular trend in the wellness scene. Juicing vegetables, including celery, carrots, and beets, made raw vegetable consumption cool and easy. However, home juicing has lost a bit of steam as many fast-casual restaurants and grocery stores have started offering pre-juiced vegetables in bottles. 

juicer

A juicing machine churns out some kiwi-lemon juice. Shutterstock. Not our photo.

Cold brew coffee is everywhere nowadays, as iced coffee lovers flock to the highly caffeinated coffee beverage. Cold brew is made by steeping ground coffee with highly caffeinated, creating a coffee “concentrate” that often has more caffeine than your average cup of joe. 

Negronis made a comeback as cocktail lovers have embraced the bitterness of various Italian liqueurs. The Negroni is made with gin, vermouth, and the bitter Italian liqueur Campari. It’s also the staple cocktail of the world’s best bar of 2019. 

Though smoked and cured meats never go out of style, charcuterie boards dominated the 2010s. Charcuterie boards often feature a selection of smoked or cured meats, various cheeses, and a sweet component — whether it be dried or fresh fruit, honey, or sweet vegetables. 

jamón ibérico and charcuterie platter
Charcuterie board. Not our photo.

Session beers, or beers brewed to have a lower alcohol content, are becoming popular for their dri. Low-ABV session beers are meant to be enjoyed in larger quantities. The lower alcohol percentage allows people to drink more of them in a “session” without getting too intoxicated. 

Mocktails and nonalcoholic beers, such as Heineken’s 0.0, also made a sober splash in the 2010s, as more consumers sober-curious” or give up booze altogether. Mocktail bars are also opening nationwide to cater to customers looking for a way to socialize at bars without alcohol.

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Founder’s All Day IPA, a low-ABV session beer. Founders. Not our photo.

Fermenting foods made a significant impact on small and large restaurants. Fermenting food, or allowing bacteria and yeast to break down carbs to preserve food, became a huge trend in the 2010s as fine dining establishments and mom-and-pop locations went into practice. The Noma Guide to Fermentation, a guide to fermenting pretty much everything, was also released by the team at Noma. 

Farm-to-table restaurants, or those aiming to shorten the distance between ingredients’ sources and the restaurant, were popular. Though its actual meaning is often hard to define, farm-to-table became a popular phrase in the 2010s as consumers tried to eat more locally-grown, organic products.

Zero-waste cooking has become a trend as professional chefs and home cooks try to lower their carbon footprints. Cooking with as little waste as possible — leftover food or plastic packaging — has become a goal for many restaurants as the industry becomes increasingly conscious of its environmental impact.”

Thanks to Business Insider for this great article, which can be found here.

Thanks to Tammy and Tracy for Vincent’s fantastic grad party!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, June 8, 2014:

A long set of stairs, without handrails, up a steep hill in Madeira. For more photos, please click here.