One week in Spain: wonders of Barcelona

We spent four full days in Barcelona and three days in Ibiza where we explored, ate delicious food, and most importantly, tried our best to capture the beauty of the city and landscape forever in our memories and photos. I like the quote from the World of Wanderlust, the only thing you buy that makes you richer is traveling :) The more we see, we can learn, grow and understand other cultures. The world is not just about us and despite feeling the weight of the everything on your shoulders sometimes, there are far greater issues and concerns if you take a step back to look at the world through the eyes of another.

We bumped into Jason's cousin who was on exchange in Barcelona studying architecture. What are the chances that you stumble into someone half way across the world. 

Views from Mount Tibidabo mountain.

On the cute blue cable car :)

Casa Batllo - pretty touristy I have to admit but was my first time laying eyes on Gaudi's works in the city. Redesigned by the designer in 1904 the local name of the house means 'house of bones' which is amazing to spot out in the exterior. 

Doing touristy shots :P

We didn't realize how far W hotel was located at the every southern tip of the beach under 38 degrees heat..

yay we finally made it to the bronze fish structure..

 In a spur of the moment, we decided to hop on those double decker tour buses to relieve our tired feet.

Thank goodness we bought our admission tickets online. The line-up outside was ridiculously long, definitely over 90 minute wait. Nevertheless look at the lens flare on La Sagrada Familia's interior. Amazing design..looks like you're gazing up at the stars above the trees :)

One of my favorite stops. Clear blue skies and magical rooftops, almost want to have a ice cream cone while you enjoy these views.

Next stop, Casa Mila or La Pedrera

How do you stay in the moment, look up and what do you see?

According to our guidebook it says medieval or warrior-like figures on the rooftop but we were like...aliens? 

Views from Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.

One last snapshot of Las Ramblas.. P for Peggy :)

Coming up, foodie shots!

Part two: Bali from dusk till dawn

. beautiful . appreciation . luscious . infatuating . When will we meet again?

A misty morning on Mount Batur, an active volcano located in Kintamani. While we were en route to the northern region of Bali, it was drizzling and then pouring in Ubud. O_o" We were praying and crossing our fingers that the rain would stop after breakfast because it would definitely be...interesting biking in a yellow poncho. :P

Something I rarely eat for breakfast: rice :P It was pretty tasty and much sweeter than any nasi goreng that I've tried. After this I had some piseng goreng, aka bananas fritters and thin banana crepes drizzled with honey.

After the kopi luwak consumes the best coffee fruits, it becomes undigested in their droppings coming out like chunky granola bars as seen in the photo above. Their stomach's acid and enzymes does its work to ferment the beans exterior helping it break down the proteins. The Indonesian luwak coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world, like who would have thought that these creatures could lay little golden eggs? :P Anyways we paid 50,000 rupiahs to give it a try which is equivalent to 32 HKD (same price as a short Starbucks) while my dad paid something like 200 HKD for a more 'sophisticated' version in Sai Kung. Anyways, I'm not a coffee expert so I thought it tasted good but not WOW.

Trying a good variety of Balinese coffee, cocoa with cinnamon, chocolate coffee with coconut, gingseng coffee, ginger tea and lemongrass tea.

After checking out the coffee plantation, we started our 25 km downhill bike ride through the country side. We visited a local family's compound and made our own offerings. It was a very very modest home with the kitchen under the same roof as the bed with no chimney or windows.

Yay we made it through the rice fields without falling into the muddy fields.

Ahh we didn't have lunch until 3pm so we couldn't wait to dig into this nasi campur. As were were biking there were so many children running out from their homes to say hi to us. It left me with a warm impression of this friendly community. :)

 

Next day, time to indulge in an afternoon tea for lunch. Paid 10,000 Rupiah (66 HKD) for an afternoon tea for one while J had something more traditional but felt like sweets for me!

Look it even comes with a little ginger bread man. hehe How I enjoyed these soft fluffy scones with cream and jam. 

Tanah Lot was pretty commercialized tourist spot with a bunch of souvenir shops around it and Canon sponsored photographers to help you take pictures. Our taxi driver says a lot of locals from Java come here to see the sunset in the evening so it gets really busy.

A zesty simple octopus and papaya salad with lemon sauce from Metis.

Last night in Bali.. feeling sad already to leave this beautiful place. :(

For dinner we went to Merah Putih just 5 minutes down the road :) The babi ruling was great but the 5 choice sambal (spicy chili sauce) and the braised veal cheeks was thee best. *nomnombom

hehe they change the carpet in the elevator every night.

Checking up on Speck on our izon. Looking good, yay!

On the plane going home, check out the view of the mountain peak protruding from the clouds. Really breathtaking. Until next time ;)