Tag Archives: Asia

Fooding at The Awesome Sungai Gold, Bali

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Lunch-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Foodies, enjoy!  

I had an amazing stay at Sungai Gold, a beautiful rental villa where every meal was a feast for the eyes and palate. Every morning, the chief asked me what I wanted for lunch and dinner.            

I like eating light and prefering the quality of ingredients to a complex cooking. Mostly I wanted to discover Balinese specialties. What interest ordering pizza whe you’re in the Balinese countryside? So here are some of my meals. 

Let’s begin with the famous Nasi Goreng (on the photo above, the No. 2): steamed rice with leeks, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, chilli and oyster sauce and fish sauce. Fried chicken and an egg on the rice. A delicious dish very nutritious, served with sauces, including one very spicy (3). 1. Fresh coriander juice (I think) with lime, the whole is very bitter.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Breakfasts-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

The breakfasts   

(pictured above). I always had the same breafast, enjoying sun-drenched fruits with a fresh fruit salad and orange juice (1).   

Depending on my activities, when I didn’t have lunch at the villa, I added a bowl of whole grains (2) or scrambled eggs with mushrooms sprinkled with parmesan (3).

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Dinner-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

The  dinner of my arrival    

When I arrived after more than 20 hours of flight, I was not hungry. Unable to resist, I ate because it was so good (ten times too much for me alone)! And the setting was magical!     

Photos 1, 2 & 3: the starters. 1. Scallops with chilli and cream of coconut. 2. Tempura barramundi (a fish of Southeast Asia and Australia) with a Thai salad. 

3. Spring rolls of lamb with cumin seeds. 4. The main course: grilled chicken salad with green mango. In all the dishe, there are coriander and chilli. A divine meal!

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Dinner-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Do you know the Barramundi and some Asian fruits?   

Above, photo 1: steamed Barramundi with lime sauce and coconut, with mashed sweet potato. Among the ingredients: lemongrass, coriander, ginger, palm sugar, coconut milk, lime juice, garlic and “green bird eyes” chili.     

2. The dessert! What a dessert: a plate composed of dragon fruit (white flesh dotted with edible black seeds and pink skin not to eat), passion fruit (viscous seeds in the strawberries) for those I liked.

I really liked the dragon fruit, mixed with a scoop of homemade coconut ice cream​​: a real treat! This became my favorite dessert (usually I’m not dessert)! 3. Passion Fruit.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Lunch & Dinner-2A-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Pleasure for the eyes       

At lunch: grilled chicken with vegetables (carrots and cucumbers) marinated in white vinegar, small chillis and sugar. The chicken has also marinated in fish sauce and shrimp paste, long hot pepper, garlic, tomato and oil. It’s great and beautiful to look at (1)!       

For dinner: baby snapper with Balinese spices, garlic, chili, lime, shrimp paste, tomato and oil, plus lemongrass (2). This dish is served with steamed rice with coconut that I found pretty dry (3).   

Big surprise when I saw the dessert (which I couldn’t finish!): banana fritters served with ice (4)! Two million calories, lol! If you say fritters, you mean: rice flour, topped with a sauce made from palm sugar, cream and butter !!! Really not good for any diet ; )

Sungai Gold-Bali-Fooding-Snack & Dinner-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Hearty dinner after a sightseeing day  

I did the visit of two temples quite distant from each other, without having time to lunch. When I got home in the early evening, the chef prepared me some spring rolls to snack before dinner.       

I used to dine late. 1. Spring rolls & 2. Typically Balinese: corn fritters made of maize, sweet chili sauce, garlic, pepper, celery, egg and rice flour. A very filling dish that peasants cook when they do not have enough rice.     

3. Dinner with a classic Nasi Goreng. Well I hope this gives you want to taste some Balinese dishes (do not miss the Balinese chicken Satay)! Suksma to the entire team of Villa Sungai Gold and especially the chef for this delicious culinary journey!        

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.    

Informations

Sungai Gold

To go to Bali : Qatar airways  

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I was invited by the Villa Sungai Gold Bali and as always these are my opinions.  

Sungai Gold, Bali: A Luxury Villa in The Countryside

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-5-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

The VIP Treatment       

organized by the Sungai Gold, started from my landing in Bali. Very quickly, I found myself sitting in a mini van just for me towards the villa.        

We are blocked by congestion in Kuta that I will  meticulously avoid throughout my stay! For my first time in the island of gods, I wanted a meeting with an intimate authentic Bali.      

It’s dark but I can see decorations on the side of the road. My driver told me that the island has recently celebrated an important Hindu celebration. I’m lucky to see these decorations which will be removed soon.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

Now we drive on a narrow road lined with paddy fields.      

First  we cross a sleepy village and another one equally quiet. Then the van bypasses a temple and stops. We arrived at Villa Sungai and Sungai Gold, two luxury villa rentals (picture 8: the input to the two properties).        

After a warm welcome, I go down a flight of stairs lined with lush vegetation and lit by torches leading to the Sungai Gold villa. Instant effect: the unreal feeling of being somewhere else, like teleported into a magical setting!   

Nothing compared to my surprise when I discovered the villa lighted by candle lamps around the pool. A chic and intimate villa! I entrust to Made, the manager who came up to me that the villa is even more beautiful in real life than in pictures (picture 2: the entrance of the villa).

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

Above: the best place to chill out. Selfies facing the pool and the lush vegetation around the house and pool.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservésSungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

Photos above: the wide Balinese bed became our headquarters, for my laptop and me (lol). Every detail is chosen with taste: beautiful traditional Balinese roof made ​​of dried herbs. Unfortunately it is no longer used in current constructions.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-8-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

Photo above: the very nice outdoor dining area, where I’ve never eaten! I prefer staying by the pool.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

The omnipresence of trees. The Black and white checkerboard fabric represents the colors of Bali. Surround a tree of this fabric allows to symbolically express one’s attachment to the tree and nature.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-7-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservésSungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-11-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

Photo taken from my favorite angle. The glass door opens onto one of the two bedrooms (the one where I slept. You can see more in a coming up post).   

Last picture: the life of the villa. The big difference of the Sungai Gold is the incredible kindness and efficiency of its smiling staff.

Sungai Gold-Bali-Cepaka-9-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-Tous droits réservés

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations :

Sungai Gold & Villa Sungai      

Fly to Bali : Qatar airways  

Related posts :    

 

HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS  

I was invited at the Sungai Gold Bali where I had an amazing stay! As you know, being invited does not change my opinion. SUKSMA to the Sungai Gold team and Qatar Airways!  

Qatar Airways: My Flights to Asia in Business Class

Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

I fell in love with the Dreamliner,

the Boeing 787-8: what a fantastic flying experience in both directions! Qatar Airways offered me a round ticket Brussels-Denpasar/Bali in Business class.

The one way trip includes two stops: a first trip with the famous Dreamliner aircraft to the Hamad International Airport (Doha), where is the hub of the ailine. Then a second trip from Singapore to Denpasar in another plane more “conventional”.

My first impressions of the flight from Brussels to Denpasar: great cabin with a minimalist design that inspires comfort, wide windows and especially the amazing LED lighting (pictures 1 & 2). The service on board is also excellent: discreet, friendly and efficient.

Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Comfort, high tech & gastronomy

As always the day before departure I slept little (3h!). That morning, there were still details to finalize this express presstrip to Bali, “tailor made” for the blog.

Do I need to add that a Business class on a long haul – more than 20 hours one way trip (including stops) – is not a luxury but a fantastic way to not feel jetlag and to be optimum at the destination arrival!  

Quickly I got familiar with the different audiovisual and seat remotes (picture above and pictures 5 and 1). What a pleasure to watch a program on the large TV touchscreen! And the seat combining comfort and intimacy (without feeling confined in a box), is difficult to leave! Believe me!

You can also use the Internet, I did not. On my Twitter (@ Mademoisellelek), I was against the Internet in flight. Why? By peace! But now, not so sure, LOL … For me the most important: I could recharge my electronic devices in my seat during the flight. I’ve also found the best sound proof cabin.

Icing on the cake: the food presentation and quality of meals. Foodies, famous international chefs have especially designed or adapted some of their specialties for the menu. Picture below: main dish with rice, lentils, fish, asparagus and spices of the Indian chef, Vineet Bhatia.

Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-Food-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Qatar Airways-Deamliner-Business Class-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

First stopover at Hamad International Airport (Doha)

Arrived at 11.30 p.m., I leave at 2:25 a.m. to Denpasar via Singapore. Not really the time to visit the airport, even if  the shops and restaurants are open (pictures below).

After the security check, I head straight to the Qatar Airways lounge for the First and Business travelers, where I quietly rest. 

The lounge space is quite small, but it seems that the new (huge) lounge will be operational in a few days. Good point: I’m five minutes from the gate of my second flight.

Another aircraft (Boeing 777-300ER) with a much greater capacity than the Dreamliner. Another design more conventional, but the comfort and service of the Business class remain excellent! As soon as I received my pajamas, I wore it! It always amuses me (sorry I’m not a fashionista anymore)! 

To reduce the jelag effects, you have to set up the hours the destination where you are going. Drink plenty of water and sleep a maximum. I opted for a very light dinner, with a fisrt meal of the Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhira and a salad. And in bed (picture 7)! 

Qatar Airways-Lounge-Business Class-Doha Airport-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014.Qatar Airways-Business Class-1-Doha to Singapore-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Second stopover at Changi Airport (Singapore)

I was really excited by a stopover in Changi Airport (Singapore), the most awarded airport in the world: 420 awards since 1981 (Le Figaro)! But the stopover is too short (1:30) to visit at least one of the airport’s gardens.

In fact, passengers to Denpasar must also leave the plane. Pass the security check and wait to board again. So it is recommended to stay close to the boarding gate. The second image (right) of the photo below: the lounge.              

If the Changi Airport is huge, everything seems to have been designed to make the traveler’s experience easier and enjoyable. As I haven’t had time to visit, It’s just my first impression. 

Back on board, in the same aircraft, sitting on the same place. Denpasar Arrival at 7 p.m. local time. Time for a lunch and then we land! 

And guess who comes out of the plane fresh and smiling? Of course me! Another pleasant surprise after being pampered by the crews of my different flights, I enjoy the VIP treatment on arrival at Denpasar. To be continued… Selamat datang di Bali, welcome in  Bali!

Qatar Airways-Business Class-Singapore to Bali-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Qatar Airways-Business Class-Denpasar Airport-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés.

Informations  

Qatar airways 

More informations about how to organize your travel, here.  

Related posts :

  

How To Prepare Your Travel & DESTINATIONS

Many thanks to Qatar Airways. As always all my opinions are mine!