The world of Kittyism's
Ideally I would wish to be back in Bali. Ubud to be precise where I spent 8 magical days for my best friend Andrew Glenn and his partner Jonathon Rutherford Best's Civil Union.
I wish I managed to stuff these beauties in my 28kg weight suitcase which was 6kg overweight before I landed in Bali!
This straw boater from my boy Corto Moltedo is reminiscent of my school days except our boaters were burgundy, yuk!
Corto Moltedo straw boater
I would rather be wafting around The Linda Garland Panchoran Bamboo estate in Ubud where we stayed, with this fabulous topper and my Issa Kimono.
View from my bed
The pool
Corto Moltedo makes the most exquisite bags which manage to be chic, quirky, unique and deadly cool all at the same time. These little babies would have been a perfect accent to the plush greens surrounding us.
Corto Moltedo mini Cassette clutches
My days were spend practising yoga with Dylan Bernstein on the outdoor pavilion surrounded by bamboo trees and the sound of the meandering river which cuts through the estate. Dylan was an incredible gift, having not practised yoga for a year Dylan had me back into the primary series and doing headstands in no time at all. A funny coincidence was that he had taught my friend Chomwan (who stayed with me on the estate) in Thailand 2 years ago! Dylan teaches across Asia in the the summer so if your in that part of the world check him out www.stillnessinaction.com.
Eating was a big part of my stay and to quote from Chomwan, many days were spent in a food coma. So mouthwateringly delicious I relished lunch and dinner and wished to eat this everyday.
We were treated to a personal tour of the Palace by the Prince Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa of the Ubud Royal family, a wonderfully engaging and eloquent man who explained the religious beliefs of the Balinese people and his role as the head of the Ubud community. The palace was a network of small buildings each an open air pavilion with a room at the back, the epitome of outdoor indoor living.
Prince Tjokorda Raka Kerthyasa
The oldest structure in the Palace compound
Balinese gongs
Me on the Palace steps
We had a full day, after our wonderful morning at the Palace we were guided through the streets of Ubud by Susi Johnston to her fabulous gallery and shop Macan Tidur where we were given a lecture on the origins of Balinese art and textiles and the influences it had from India, China and the West. I wish I had with me these incredibly clever wedge trainers from Isabel Marant on my feet for our tour, they are the hottest trainers this season and so comfortable and stylish.
Isabel Marant trainers
Balinese fabrics
Antique Monkey carving
Next stop was a wonderful journey through the rice paddies and small roads of Ubud littered with temples and beautiful stone carvings to the John Hardy Jewellery Workshop near Ubud in Badung. We were led by the Creative Director Guy Bedarida to the largest bamboo structure in the world and what a magnificent piece of architecture it was.
The largest bamboo structure in the world
Bamboo columns
If I ever have a party in Bali this is where it's going to be, the setting is incredible and the acoustics in this structure are sublime. This shows the companies commitment to conservation, sustainable living and using natural resources. The workshop and buildings are surrounded by working fields which produce rice, vegetables and house livestock which provides the staff of over five hundred people and us with a healthy organic lunch from these fields. John Hardy's commitment to all things Balinese is reflected through his jewellery which uses traditional Balinese jewellery making techniques all done by hand.
Exterior of the bamboo structure
John Hardy jewellery shop
Back to the reason why we are all in Bali everyone from the 27 different countries around the world, Jonathon actually recited everyone of them but I think the Vodka shots had taken effect on me by then for me to remember. This Louis Vuitton bag would have been the perfect accompaniment to my Giambattista Valli dress and technology overload, Lumix camera, Nokia mobile phone, Blackberry and Flip Mino HD camcorder.
Me and Andrew's Mother Ruby aka "Tinkers"
Pochette Nightbird bag by Louis Vuitton
The spot where the ceremony took place apparently had 9 channels of energy going through it, which I'm sure radiated throughout the whole estate.
The setting for the civil union
9 channels of energy
Flower girls
"Tinkers" in an Issa Goddess dress
The festivities carried long into the next morning to the sounds of DJ Sandra Nerdrum Gutman. The whole wedding party with sore heads and feet congregated again the next day at the Villa Puri Tupai for a farewell lunch with the 2 grooms. There I spotted Jsen Wintle's popping Lomography Fisheye camera which is already etched on my wish list.
Balinese style dining
Jsen Wintle's Lomography Fisheye camera
Jonathon had a large group of friends and family from New Zealand, one of which was Felicity Morgan Rhind who sang a rousing Waiata at the ceremony and wore a different Hei Tiki necklace everyday I loved the red resin one she wore to the farewell lunch.
Felicity Morgan-Rhind's Hei Tiki necklace
Chomwan won the best hat of the day in this elegant Corto Moltedo wide brimmed sun hat, I wonder if he still makes this?
Chomwan's sun hat by Corto Moltedo
Our final day in Ubud and the famous market garnered a few gems, especially from this fantastic woman who was bright, so sharp and selling from her stall at the grand old age of 90! Can you believe it?
Me and the 90 year old market seller
We travelled down to the beach in Seminyak and stopped by a few boutiques on the way, Joy had the prettiest jewellery especially these Buddhist beaded necklaces. I wished I had room in my suitcase for this lamp by Press Ban Cafe which was decorated with plastic childrens toys, mugs etc...
Buddhist beaded necklace by Joy
Lamp by Press Ban Cafe
Last stop on our journey was to fill the car with petrol and what a chic way to refill on the roadside with Absolut Vodka bottles filled with petrol.
Last stop on our journey was to fill the car with petrol and what a chic way to refill on the roadside with Absolut Vodka bottles filled with petrol.
Roadside petrol stand
Bye, bye Bali you'll live on in my heart, head and psyche for a long time.
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