Ballin' Review #8 - Karma Steakhouse

Karma Resorts here in Bali is pretty top notch, with locations in Jimbaran and developments in Kandara - Bali, Koh Samui - Thailand, Margaret River - Australia, and The Seychelles its pretty obvious they got their sh*t together. As with all resorts here there is a basic competition between them as to who can be more elegant and glamorous and blah blah blah. Seriously, just have good service, good food, and a dope lobby and you will go far :) Was invited to the Karma Steakhouse which resides in Karma Jimbaran and was treated to about the best (western) meal i've had since being in Bali. The chef is Raymond Saja and i guess he is pretty famous from New York, he introduced me as being from Jersey so we hit it off pretty smoothly as being two ex-East Coast U.S.A. guys. Anyways, the FOOD! Ordered Maryland crabcakes (THANK YOU LORD JESUS!), lobster bisque, fried oysters, and two Coronas...and that was just the appetizer. Main course was a New York Strip cut of 100% imported Wagyu beef imported from Australia that was as tender as my old girlfriends...you know. Topped it off with some Tennessee-style pecan pie which i have not had in years. Staying true to their Chicago-style steakhouse name, they have a lot of different cuts of beef and fish, made me feel like i was eating back in America except the portions are way smaller, this isn't exactly Outback nah mean? Anyways, if their steak even comes close to their villa accommodation then Karma Resorts is THE place to go.

Ballin' Review #7 - Vivalavi Resort

Vivalavi Resort & Spa is this little villa complex in the middle of a Balinese neighborhood in Kerobokan, Bali. Kerobokan is right outside Seminyak so its more of a "local" part of town, very quiet compared to Seminyak and Kuta but development is slowly reaching its arms out towards the inevitable expansion of resorts and the like. A friend of mine is a member of their pool and gym so i've already been there but was still excited to finally get into one of their villas. They have a dope big pool thats pictured above, and like i said since its not really well known its a cool place to go without any big crowds. Think they just opened up in August 2008 and are still trying to get the word out. Pretty cheap as far as villas go right now, think they have a rate of $160USD/per night till 2009, all 6 villas have two bedrooms, open-air kitchen and lounge area, plus private jacuzzi/plunge pool. Its pretty family oriented there but at least they do it in style, again, a nice place to visit for a few nights.

Oh yea... Obama!

Guess i forgot to mention about Barack Obama's decidedly formal beatdown of the man everyone loves to hate, George W. Bush. As Obama had spent a part of his childhood here in Indonesia, the love for this man is a real tribute not only in America and here in Indonesia, but all over the world. People were introduced to this man on the large scale at the Democratic Convention a few years back with that jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring speech he gave, haven't been moved like that politically in a long time. So for him to win it all and so convincingly just makes the heart smile. Early congratulations are definitely in order but running America and then of course with its trickle-down effect to the rest of the world is a huge task that i would not even want for my enemies. I always said when i left the States i would not return until "W." was out of office so i guess i better start looking into plane tickets. Here is how a normal conversation goes between me and an Indonesian when i explain i'm from America...

Indo: Dari mana??
LBS: Dari America...
Indo: Obama????
LBS: Pastinya!!!

I'm sayin, the man gets love, we just painted the White House...Black. All i can say is it's about time.

Bitch You Breakfast

This is song is ridiculously dirty and dope. Just the lyrics alone make everyone stop and stare at the dj before realizing that the beat is moving their asses without them even knowing it. I don't know the original at all but apparently LeLe is a Dutch group, maybe they like breakfast just as much as everyone else. I really miss playing this kinda minimal beat stuff, reminds me of Jamie Principle's "Baby Wants To Ride" revisited. Anyhow, if you're in Bali and i'm playing you WILL hear this...

LeLe - Breakfast (Mercury Remix)

Ballin' Review #6 - Ritz-Carlton Spa

What was supposed to the be the "rejuvenation of a lifetime" at The Ritz-Carlton Bali turned into me on a purely sight seeing tour as my shoulder was still in pain from the dislocation a week ago. Damn you God of Timing!! Anyways, you know i'll be back in a month, BELIEEEEVE DAT! Their spa facilities unravel like a maze, their complex is pretty impressive as well, multiple rooms with multiple water treatments including this grand water therapy pool pictured above. As far as big resorts go, Ritz-Carlton is on par with the best, with over 60 different kinds of spa treatments and packages they really don't joke around. The also have a new feature called "Spa On The Rocks" where you literally are outside next to the ocean on a bed in a little pagoda with this view below....

uhhhh, can someone say BALLIN'!?! Was ridiculously hot that day and woulda loved to just jump in the water, any water, but instead wolfed down a huge cheeseburger and chatted up with the PR team. Will revisit this post in a month cause there is no way in hell i'm not gonna try and ball at the Ritz-Carlton.

Halloweenie

Halloween is pretty universal as it allows everyone to get dressed up, get hammered, and act the fool with no excuses. I have to admit, my last year Halloween was a nightmare, i dressed as a mummy but ended up cursed at the end of the night, had this weird rash from the bandages and fake blood combo, ruined one of my favorite tshirts, and lost my bike at the end of the night. Have no idea how i made it home but if you make it into bed then its all gravy. This year was the complete opposite, ended up ditching my costume idea and just laid out the dope jams all night long, supported by my homie Extra Low P it was definitely a make up for last year's debacle, much props to Home Cafe and Dangerzone Productions, lets do it again next year...

Dislocation

You know what's fun? Dislocated Shoulders!!!! Ended up dislocating my shoulder over the weekend to some less than stellar reasons. Some said i should make up a story so its official...i dislocated it breakdancing or doing a backflip on my motorbike, you choose. First time ever i've done this but have heard the horror stories of pain, i'm living proof to tell you that ish is REEAAAALLLL. There is a moment of clarity once you realize why the hell your arm is dangling from your shoulder, yes i cried like a bitch when they popped it back in but big ups to my main damie Chiropractor Sensei Hanoko who with calming words said, "Relaaaaaaaax" as he literally pulled my arm back into place. Oh yea, you know what else is fun? Pain relievers that are inserted anally....