Apparently I am a very happy and amusing drunk. Well this is what Mr NQN tells me. I’ve only been drunk three times in my life. Twice this year and twice it was because I ordered cocktails on an empty stomach and they were so good that I slurped them down and then turned bright red and swayed and talked a lot. About silly things. Oh and I’m a cheap drunk. Half a cocktail and I am yours.
I should explain. In order to avoid the inevitable weight gain that seems to come from this job, I try to avoiding snacking during the day in order to arrive at dinner hungry so that I can enjoy the food. So that afternoon we spent some time shopping up a storm in Seminyak which was a twenty minute drive away from the idyllic village life where Villa Sungai was located. I managed to buy a gorgeous beaded dress with beaded sleeves for $80 (the one I wrote about before where I accidentally dunked the sleeve in some sauce), a garbage bin (but a glam garbage bin, yes!), some coasters for a criminally low price of $4 for a set of eight and three cute bird decorations for $7! Mr NQN had to pull me out of a shop and into the car where Made was waiting to take us to our dinner date tonight at Ayana Resort and Spa where I arrived hungry and eager for dinner.
I resist all urges to slip into this bath…the force is strong though!
Formerly the Ritz Carlton, Ayana Resort is a stunning 77 hectare resort with over 300 rooms. You can of course stay in a regular room which is all very nice (and they do have club rooms which look perfectly lovely) but the pick most definitely is a private villa with butler service (can you tell I’m well and truly spoilt by now?). We’re shown one of the villas and it is sumptuous and spacious. Balinese architecture is one of my favourites and it is just splendid.
There is also a spa where couples can have treatments that range from 1 million rupiah (don’t worry that’s only about $100AUD for a massage for two people) but the piece de resistance, if you have the cash, are the cliff massage rooms. There are only three cliff edge massage rooms and they only book six bookings a day.
The price for this is a cool $1,000 USD per treatment but when we see what they look like from afar we’re struck at how James Bond it all looks. Like you’d imagine Daniel Craig in there getting a massage and then a speedboat driving up to it and someone in scuba gear appearing. OK or maybe it’s just my imagination…
We arrive at the Dava restaurant, one of their 12 restaurants. It’s all white with an outdoor terrace and a floating garden. As we are a little early and the restaurant doesn’t open until 6:30pm they ask us if we would like to take a seat at the Martini Bar and have a drink while we wait. Uh oh…
Lemongrass martini 135,000 rupiahs
Lemon vodka muddled with Grand Marnier and fresh lemongrass.
Lychee daiquiri 135,000 rupiah approximately $15AUD
And then comes my undoing. There is a list of 50 items on their Martini menu alone and Mr NQN orders the lemongrass martini. I go for the lychee daiquiri which is so ludicrously appealing in this heat that my eyes widen in utter lust as it is set down in front of me. It is made up of white rum and triple sec blended with fresh lychees. I proceed to slurp at it on an empty stomach finishing a third of it quickly in this heat until I realise that my face is totally bright red and I feel everything spinning a bit. Mr NQN for his part just finds it quite funny. And I realise why I should try and sober up soon as I start writing my notes and the letters become oddly large and all powers of spelling elude me.
Oh dear…can you tell when I started feeling a bit tipsy? Check out my spelling of words like “muddling” and “triple”
Amuse Bouche: prawns in a tomato jelly
Our amuse bouche is prawn in a tomato jelly which is a welcome repast and refreshing. The tomato jelly is made up of tomato water which is delicious and the white shapes are the prawns and it sits on a lick of horseradish creme fraiche. It takes a few goes back and forth with the staff to find out how it is done. The staff are friendly but we suppose not used to being asked how things are made or perhaps something was lost in translation.
Borneo crab and salak salad, avocado mousse, chilli lime 145,00 rupiah, approximately $16AUD
Salak is an Indonesian fruit called snakefruit which has a brown snakeskin like exterior and slightly crunchy white interior. It’s slightly sweet but not overly so and I would describe as close to the nashi pear but less juicy. This salad has a good serving of Borneo crab meat (plus a bit of the shell), some slices of sweet snakefruit and some tang from lime and heat from chilli. And I’m feeling much better now that I have food back into me and I have control of all of my senses.
Vibe Hills cocktail
Mr NQN removes my cocktail from underneath my happy fingers and orders the latest house speciality. They’re clearly proud of their bar and their bartender had recently invented a cocktail that rated in the top 5 of Bali cocktails. There are two parts to it: a blended lychee, lime, mint leaf and sugar syrup and muddled fresh blueberry, vodka, lime juice, triple sec and syrup. But rest assured that this cocktail is deeelicious! And that’s not a drunkie talking but Mr NQN who can actually hold his alcohol.
Salak snakeskin fruit juice
Probably one of my favourite discoveries on this Bali trip is the Salak or snakeskin fruit drink. It’s like a cross between a pear juice and a cane sugar syrup-absolutely divine and thirst quenching. And something that I suspect I won’t be able to find back home so whenever I see it here, I order it.
Seared pacific scallops, Tasmanian smoked salmon wrap and avocado cream 140,000 rupiah, approximately $15.75AUD
The seared pacific scallop is fat and well cooked and wrapped around it is a slice of Tasmanian smoked salmon. The avocado cream isn’t bad but the avocado tastes quite under ripe which gives it that distinct mouthfeel.
Grilled organic Angus beef tenderloin, young potatoes, glazed leeks and jus 395,000 rupiah, approximately $44AUD
Grilled medium rare just as ordered, this Angus beef tenderloin is juicy, tender and delicious and paired with small baby potatoes and thin, glazed leeks (which are more spring onion sized).
Paprika crusted tropical lobster, orange glazed scallops, baby fennel, red radish and orange lobster sauce
I just had to order the lobster. You see the last time we were in Bali which was about 5 years ago, I ate nothing but lobster in every possible variation. You name it, I am that obsessed with it. This is a lightly crumbed and grilled lobster tail cut into three sections. It is perfectly cooked so that it isn’t rubbery at all although there we don’t taste much paprika or heat. There is a side salad of scallops with a sweet orange sauce and orange segments and braised baby fennel and slices of radish and orange lobster jus based sauce which provides a lovely counterpoint
Another cocktail for Mr NQN. He loved it here, can you tell?
Strawberry trio 80,000 rupiah, approximately $9AUD
The strawberry trio comprises of a frozen strawberry souffle, a warm upside down cake with a chocolate sorbet on top and a strawberry soup with lime meringue. Out of the three, I preferred the strawberry soup which is the right amount of sweetness with a little lime to lift it but the other two parts didn’t particularly have me going back for more.
Pineapple ginger steamed pudding, orange anglaise 80,000 rupiah, approximately $9AUD
The pineapple ginger steamed pudding is quite firm, usually steamed puddings can be light and fluffy but this is quite dense with a strong ginger flavour and diced pineapple on the top. We both like the flavours to this although we thought that making the anglaise either ginger or pineapple might have been very nice too.
Passionfruit souffle , ginger ice cream 80,000 rupiah, approximately $9AUD
I know, we’re ordering a lot of ginger but Mr NQN is a ginger freak and he has to put up with a newly drunkard wife 
I’m glad that we ordered this souffle as it was lovely (although I stand by my claim that the best part of the souffle is the top with the icing sugar 
) and it’s airy and light. It is perfectly paired with a ginger ice cream which is strong in stem ginger and puts us firmly in our tropical surroundings.
But apart from James Bond experiences, what Ayana resort is probably best known for is the Rock Bar which is an incredible multi layered bar perched right on the side of the cliffs. A funicular elevator takes you up and down (or your legs can but I wasn’t ready to do that!) and takes you to an incredible bar where huge waves splash up the side of the bar.
Every evening before sunset, crowds flock here to watch the white water hit the side of the wall and explode into the air and the sky to turn from blue to orange to black. It is the place to visit in Bali and the “door” staff reflect this with an attitude to their manner although the waitresses are friendly. Customers perch and pose at the bar and it does remind me of a typical Sydney bar (except with perhaps more smokers!).
Rock my world 140,000 rupiah, approximately $15.76AUD
The Rock My World cocktail featured vodka, Grand Marnier, pineapple juice and grapefruit and was refreshing and soothing not to mention served in a cute glass.
Cucumber on the rock 140,000 rupiah, approximately $15.76AUD
This was my favourite with Grand Marnier, apple juice, cucumber and sprite, it was one of those dangerously easy to drink cocktails that could land me in even more hot water!
After nursing our drinks and lying back and watching the surreal sight of waves crashing right in front us we reluctantly leave knowing that come another trip to Bali and a sunset, we will be similarly perched and posing here.
So tell me Dear Reader, how many cocktails can you hold?
NQN and Mr NQN travelled and explored Bali as a guest of Villa Sungai. They dined at Ayana Resort as a guest of Ayana Resort
Ayana Resort
Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera
80364, Indonesia
Tel: + 62: (0)36 170 2222
If you enjoyed this post, why not share it with your friends?
What is NQN up to now? 
NQN on Facebook
RSS
57 Comments | Add your own
This all looks so amazing! I don’t think I could of said no to that bath with such a lovely view!
Hi there sweet girl! Hope you are doing well…OMG What an amazing time you must have had. Just used your macaron masterclass info on my blogpost today and everyone is loving it…THANK YOU!!! Cat xxoo
Wow. Just … wow. How incredible. Do you ever pinch yourself as it seems that you lead such a gifted existence?
Amazing. A just asked me what’s wrong as I’ve stopped talking and have been totally focused on reading this 
The lobster looks amazing. I would have to try that house cocktail and strawberry dessert too.
Oh – and I can handle 2 or 3 cocktails even on a belly of food. They go straight to my head!
Thanks for this great post about this beautiful place. I just told A that if we get married that is so the honeymoon destination. Thanks!!
I am the same as you Lorraine, I love my cocktails but just one and I’m off with the fairies.
Sounds great! I may have to check it out when I visit in June
I can’t hold many cocktails either but these ones look and sound so good, I would definitely give it a good try!
Beam me up Scotty! I want to be there – just the cocktails and dessert please. (I can only probably hold 2, but no matter.)
I went to Rock Bay while I was in Bali and loved it! Aww this makes me miss Bali
You had me at cliff edge massage room
oh and lychee martini
Looks stunning Lorraine! My bf and I don’t drink so we stick to mocktails mostly but those look delicious
I want to go get a massage on a cliff now haha. Bali is just stunning! Good idea taking notes at the table.. i should probably try doing that cos i forget everything after a day haha
Wow….beautiful! Cocktails are always dangerous…especially when you just taste the beautiful fruit and not the alcohol! Similar to you, an inexpensive and happy drunk! LOL
Approximately none – I am hopeless. A tiny girl with no capacity for alcohol at all – I say that but my sister is that same size as me and can drink giant rugby players under the table!
Haha you’re too funny!
I’m so glad you posted this, although I’m now starting to regret that we didn’t get here on our honeymoon as planned (we were being too sloth-like
)
I would love to try snakefruit! Everything looked lovely
When I was in high school I would bring a bottle of Smirnoff to house parties and drink half of it straight before feeling the effects. But that was a few years ago, and now after about 3 cocktails in a karaoke bar I start getting tipsy.
I need to get me a fish eye lens… it’s been a wish for many many year!!
oh.. and a holiday! looks lovely!
wow wow wow Lorraine= looks AMAZING. It is very bondesque!
What an absolutely unbelievably glorious spot! This armchair traveller thanks for the experience!!
The food looks imaginative, and, oh so appetizing, and the cocktails appealing! But stick-in-the-mud me will stay with her dry white wine or a G&T, ’cause my handwriting unbeknownst at the time, kind’of resembles yours!
What a great article Lorraine ! Loved the pics of the cocktails and food, i thought the mains were a wee bit pricey (as it still is Bali and not Sydney after all) Another establishment you may like to visit next time in Bali is KU DE TA, http://www.kudeta.net/ it is a beautiful establishment, and I recommend it highly. As far as cocktails go, I am a sucker for Margaritas … Have been known to pack quite a few away with my brother in Cairns!
Dear NQN:
This is a request, please. Have you visited as yet Paddington Alimentari? It is owned and operated by Laraine Kay Russo and her son. She and I were great pals back in the late ’60s while studying in Italy. I have been unable to get a hold of her, but I thought that, since she owns a cafe, you might not mind doing a review and attempting to reconnect us. It is my heart’s greatest desire.
Sincerely,
Linda Becker Madura
Naperville, Illinois, USA
Oh my goodness everything is so cheap there! Hooray for exchange rates!
I’m much like you, Lorraine although being an engineer has definitely increased my alcohol tolerance!
Everything looks so beautiful, and I’m not just talking about the food! Cocktails are a force unto themselves, and can even feel like a meal in themselves! To me, they are the ultimate in slow and tasty enjoyment.
I can hold a few cocktails down in fact, but the trick behind that lies in the timing. Pace yourself, and you can savour all that you like 
And, now I’m daydreaming about getting a massage in that cliff-side room. The food looks lovely too. The smoked salmon wrapped scallop and the lobster caught my eye. As for cocktails, I can no longer drink like a fish as I did in my college days. Now, one or two drinks is all I can handle!
Hehe, reading over tipsy journals/notes when sober is fun
I’m probably a 2 cocktail girl, then I start to get bubbly myself. Lemongrass martini, yes please!! This place looks so stunning. The Rock My World cocktail also sounds delightful, I love Grand Marnier & grapefruit.
Heidi xo
you’ve been drunk three times in your whole life? Well, I’ve already been drunk three times this week! But it is my birthday week, so I have a good excuse
Wow! That bar is amazing! I wanna go!
Lorraine, I think you’ve told us the wrong address for this. Shouldn’t it read “heaven”?
Lorraine, the whole place, food & drinks just look divine, I shall have to investigate further, has jumped to the top of the list of possible honeymoon spots!!! Mel.
Hilarious! Am sitting at my desk at work reading your blog with everyone around me wondering why I’m laughing out loud! Oh dear…. cocktails, I too am a cheap drunk NQN when it comes to cocktails but how on earth can we resist all those beautiful creations!
THIS WAS ON OUR AGENDA…before the Darwin abort saga began…so jealous. Your pics are beautiful. Guess next trip is the go!
Wow, those are some truly amazing surroundings…what a life you lead!
I can hold a large number of drinks, at least 6 before I begin to feel them. And a few more to be drunk. Gorgeous location, amazing looking eats… I am so jealous.
Awesome
Lobster, sunset, cocktails, waves crashing, doubt if I’d ever get sick of that combination. I think I can handle more cocktails than you but probably not as many as I’ve sometimes had & thought I could if you know what I mean 
That place looks amazing! All those cocktails! I would be in heaven.
If I had that daiquiri in that petal-filled tub, I’d be there ALL day!
I have heard about this place. Reading this makes me realise how much i miss Bali and i need to get back ‘home’ – pronto!
will definitely check this out when i am in Bali.
Lorraine, I’m getting married there in September. I’ll let you know how many cocktails I can drink … if I can remember at all
Another elegant little hideaway with fabulous food! (The ginger ice cream had me sighing enviously.)
I’m not really a cocktail drinker, but I’m usually fine with two dark beers. Any more, and I’ll be singing – and that’s pretty much a horror story. :p
Hee hee at your note book. My cocktail limit is dependant on how delicious and fruity it is, but I don’t realise my limit until I can hear that I’m laughing a little louder than everyone else…
What a lux trip you have!
I have only been totally drunk once, and that’s more than enough!
I would love to have one of those massages, then sip a fancypantsie cocktail in that bath, then wander down to the Martini Bar(shaken,not stirred)to meet my Mr Tall Bald and Handsome for a fantastic seafood dinner. Yumm…
Hi Christie-I know! I just wanted to climb in
Hi Caterina-darling Caterina! I am very well!
Oh that’s so wonderful, thankyou so much! Your macarons look amazing! :O xxx
Hi Jenn-Hehe absolutely I do!
haha you are too cute 
Wow, you’re doing much better than me! you’re welcome and I hope that you get to go there on your honeymoon! 
Hi Belinda-haha we’re such lightweights aren’t we!
Hi Erin-Thankyou! Absolutely, Rock bar is such a must visit
haha A for effort! 
Hi Cakelaw-Haha you are too funny
Hey the fun is in trying!
Hi Petra-It’s really amazing isn’t it! Just surrealy beautiful!
Hi Lisa-haha I wish I had given that a go! Except errm I don’t have $1000USD spare
Hi Christine-You’re much wiser than I!
Me too, why aren’t more massages given on cliffs? I so needed those notes 
Hi Katie-I know! It was so hot and the fruit was so delicious….ah well!
Hi Shan-Oh I’m so glad that you said that, I started to feel like I had no capacity at all! She’s doing well!
Hi Chanel-hehe thankyou! Maybe for a second honeymoon?
Hi JasmyneTea-It’s really lovely-I loved it in juice form!
wow, that’s amazing 
Hi Shellie-I looove my fish eye lens! So much!
Hi GG-hehe yes Daniel Craig just missed his cue!
Hi EHA-You’re welcome! Haha it’s hard to stick to regular drinks with all of those lovely fruity cocktails in the heat
Hi Linda-Thankyou Linda!
yes that’s true, these were more Sydney prices rather than Bali prices. Oh I’ve heard so mcuh about Ku de Ta-thankyou for the recommendation! 
Hehe good on you!
Hi Linda-I haven’t visited yet but if I do hopefully I’ll meet her!
Thanks for letting me know!
Hi Lucy-haha yep hooray!
Haha really? Well it’s better than getting tipsy on half a cocktail 
Hi Roxana-That’s so true! They’re deceptively strong!
it sounds like you’ve got it all sorted! 
Hi Lisa-haha me too!
Ahh why is that I wonder! I used to be able to drink more too!
Hi Heidi-I know, it’s funny in retrospect
They definitely have cocktails sorted here 
xxx
Hi Kay-Yes strange but true! haha you’re hilarious!
Happy Birthday to youuuuu!
Hi Jen-Oh you so should! It’s gorgeous
Hi Hannah-haha you’re absolutely right!
Hi Mel-Absolutely, a need to research this up close I think
How wonderful! 
Hi I wish-Hehe why thankyou!
I know, it’s so hard to say no to a lovely, icey fruit cocktail when it’s so hot! 
Hi Tenina-Oh no really? What a shame! Absolutely, next time Tenina!
Hi Leah-I am truly fortunate!
Hi Chocoholic-Wow, that’s amazing! Thanks, it’s such an amazing place to visit
Hi Anna-I agree, I could have that every day!
Haha I know what you mean! 
Hi Susan-it was really a wonderful night!
Hi Carolyn-I hear you girl!
Hi Gastronomous_A-yep I realised how much I missed visiting Bali too!
Fabulous! I’d love to hear your take on it 
Hi Miffy-Oooh how exciting! What a beautiful spot to get married!
Hi Midge-I know, it had everything going for it!
Haha I bet you’re a better singer than me 
Hi ToniTones-Ahhh I wish mine was!
haha well it’s good that you can tell yourself. Not many people can!
Hi Michelle-Absolutely!
Hi InTolerantChef-Haha really! yep I like your itinerary there except of course with my Mr Tall, Dark and handsome
I’ve yet to travel to Bali – or even in that general area – but I think that it looks really beautiful and relaxing. Thanks for sharing with us.
It looks so good!
The picture of your notebook is just hysterical! Loved it. Not to mention how much I loved this place…
A lovely beautiful place and a lovely meal here! I like the sound of paprika crusted lobster!
Oh my, that bath is calling me in as well! And I love your James Bond imaginings…I definitely see what you mean!
Delicious-looking food…the lobster sounds perfect!
I had a lot of cocktails everyday when i was in bali. Fell in love with Ku De Ta and spent most of my time there. lemongrass martini = YUm,….. I miss Bali.
That photo of your notebook cracked me up! I used to have the same problem when trying to take notes whilst nodding off in lectures… my writing would start off normal and become progressively smaller, ending up in random scrawls I could make NO sense of whatsoever after the class was over. Ah, fond memories.
What a beautiful place, hubby doesn’t seem that keen on Bali but this place looks stunning.
I love my cocktails too and I can normally handle around 3 before I’m starting to visit the fairies
ah, good ol’ tirple sec. that’s tasty stuff.
i’m a lightweight and goofy drunk myself, and i think it’s safe to say that that’s the very best kind. 
I can handle quite a few cocktails before I start going all fuzzy! … Looking forward to my first ever trip to Bali in June.. will have to make sure I try the lobster somewhere over there
good drinks great view—perfect life isn’t it?
Wow – great shots of the water! Hehe… I can’t really drink much at all as I react badly to alcohol! The sound of that lychee daiquiri is lovely though!
Wow, what a place, it’s amaaaaaaazing as my daughter would say
Lucky you.
Cocktails , love them and can probably drink three before I start to feel the effects. Just spent a week in Fiji and we drank way too many cocktails, haha. I’ll take a notebook next time Lorraine to determine sobriety because that’s probably the best indicator if your writing is anything to go by. Lol.
That lobster looks divine! As does the lychee daiquiri. Yum!
Wow, I didn’t know the Ritz-Carlton is now called Ayana. A true sign that I’ve been away from Indonesia (or Bali for that matter) for too long! Very cool that you get a writing task from them.
2 Trackbacks/Pingbacks
[...] steal floor tiles! The Lantern Bar is the Fullerton Bay’s top floor bar. As I am a teetollaer (see previous embarrassing incidents getting drunk on 1/3 of a cocktail) I have a mocktail version of the red berry drink which is just the ticket. The red berries lend a [...]
[...] and well seasoned.Ahh cocktail my old nemesis…The Honeycomb DelightIt’s cocktail time! You know me and cocktails. It’s a love hate relationship-actually a love drunk relationship! Mr NQN orders a lychee [...]
Post a Comment