Love & Romance Hotspots in Singapore [part I]

Anderson Bridge

Opened since 1910, Anderson Bridge was to replace the congested Cavenagh Bridge as it was unable to cope with the increasing traffic.
Lovers love to gaze at the moon or look at their reflections on the waters. The places along the river always had been popular dating spots. In the olden days, when lovers got tired, they sat on beaches and ate hawker food sold along the Singapore.
Surprisingly, on 'Chap Goh Mei', last day of Chinese New Year also represents the Chinese Valentine's Day. In the olden days, singles also get together to celebrate at this bridge. The ladies would the throw into the river, some oranges and likewise, the men threw in some apples. All in search of a good partner. This tradition is still thriving in some parts of Malaysia, and they are attaching along their names and mobile numbers to these oranges.
However, with Singapore's ever changing development in the Marina Esplanade area, the metal bridge still looks at its age. On the downside, I don't think flinging fruits down in the river now is permitted. Still, the bridge attracts couples to the Singapore River these days.

Esplanade

Opened since 5 July 2005, Esplanade is Singapore's most exciting performance. Located at the waterfront, Esplanade is known for its dome shaped roofs, where from afar they could look like a durian, or a bug's eyes.
Esplanade houses a 1600 seat concert hall, a 2000 seat theatre, theatre and studios, outdoor theatre, with their dining services. Over here, apart from theatres and studios, a small mall, a bunch of cosmopolitan food outlets and the library@Esplanade.
Well, back in the olden days, Esplanade is a recreational area especially with the upper class community. Back in the late 1800s, these people were having tea at their homes about 4 in the evening before leaving home between 5pm and as sunset to the Singapore River with their carriages. This is the time that they gather together, where the men and women would talk and chatter over news and issues of any interest. Here,
love and romance blooms as young girls flirtatiously gossip with the men, as they chew the fat.
In 1953, couples frequently sauntered along Queen Elizabeth Walk, a boulevard commemorating the ceremony of the queen's monarch. The famous Satay Club was here, where most could be seen having their supper.
With the new Theatres on the Bay, Esplanade, couples could enjoy the scenic view of the horizon. One could enjoy a myriad of international and local performances for entertainment, outdoors and indoors.

Arts House, Trendiest Restaurants
This is where Singapore's only the latest arts and heritage scene showcasing many of the artist and their works. With various programmes and events held here, these will keep you amuse with the arts and lifestyle.
Arts House also houses three trendiest restaurants. The 1827 Thai Restaurant, serving mostly Thai food from the sweetest deserts to appetizers and delicious meals. For a casual dining, lounge at café Earshot, as they offer light meals snacks and drinks with screenings of pre and post performances at this Arts House. But for intimate gathering and parties, Viet Lang is the most ideal with its warm ambience. Offering mostly, Vietnamese cuisine, ranging from the exotic seafood dishes to the plain daily home cooked dishes with reasonable prices.
Wanna make an outstanding plus artistic statement for your wedding? Once the solemnization is over, newly weds are bounced to dance away to the sounds of tango, slasa or even modern jazz, or for the really romantics, acoustically piano recitals or the chamber music. It is the trend for a video featuring the newly weds themselves showing the audiences how their power of love and romance blooms.
Restaurant 1827 Thai

1, Old Parliament Lane #01-02,

The Old Parliament House Singapore 179429
Tel: 6337 1871 Fax: 6337 1872
Opening hours: Monday till Sunday

Lunch 11.30am - 3pm

Dinner 6pm - 11 pm

(Fri, Sat & Eve of Public Holiday) Till Late

Cable Car
You are above 70 metres above sea level. And yet you could dine in the cable car with your loved ones. This Valentine would be extremely different, and especially fun.
Extended from Mount Faber to the sunny island of Sentosa, I suggest you could propose it to her, with booking of 5 cabins, you could propose 'Will you marry me? ' Cut out cardboards boldly projecting from the 5 cabins and amaze her heart as soon as she sees it.
However, dinner menus can have a dear starting price of S$88 to over S$160 just for only 2 adults. For kids who are below 12 years old, children menu are available at S$20. Here, you are served with delicious dishes prepared by a team of highly skilled chefs who are known for their western and continental cooking and they would be able to meet up with the needs of their customers. You could even order vegetarian meals for yourself!
Sky dining will be available only from 6.30pm till 8.30pm from Monday to Sunday. You will need to book one day to advance booking for weekday dining session and a two day advance booking for weekend packages.
Sky Dining EnquiriesTel: (+65) 6377 9688

Email: skydining@mountfaber.com.sg

City Hall, A Favourite Photo Location

The elegant City Hall which sits adjacently to the Supreme Court is distinguished known for its Corinthian pillars and the huge flights of steps beneath. A building with great memories.
City Hall has witnessed many great history events such as the Surrender of Japan to the British and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's declaration of Singapore's Independence in 1965. Constructed in 1939, it is now host to the President, the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament during the annual National Day Parade.
A classic design with spacious interiors featuring murals by Italian artist, Cavalieri Rodolfo Nolli, City Hall building makes it one of the finest buildings ever built during the British Rule of Singapore.
A favourite photo location, to remind ourselves of our colonial past.

Fort Canning Hill, A favourite Love Haunt Spot

Fort Canning has a long history that goes as far as the 14th century when it was still during the reign of the Malay Kingdom, Temasek.
Also known to the Malays as Bukit Larangan, or Forbidden Hill, this represents the presence of Malay royalty in the olden days. Fort Canning is now a unique city park with countless performances.
Day by day, with young couples exchanging vows at the Registry of Marriages (ROM). Fort Canning Hill has recreational gardens, filled with the sweet scent of lemongrass, cloves, pandan plants and the 'tongkat ali' plants with couples posing for pictures with scenic views of the town. This is a favourite love haunt even with tombs as these used to also be a Christian cemetery.
Want to share a private moment with your love? You can find the most private seats at the summit of the Fort Canning Hill, and you will certainly find yourselves stargazing.

An elegance from a highest class

The Singapore Hilton is a modern 24-storey hotel situated on the bustling Orchard Road in the heart of Singapore’s commercial, shopping and entertainment district, three kilometres from Chinatown. Relax by the rooftop pool and savor views of bustling Orchard Road at the Hilton Singapore Hotel. Feast on fresh oysters at the award-winning Harbor Grill and Oyster Bar, work out in the fitness center and indulge in a massage.

The hotel has an Executive Lounge and wireless Internet access throughout. Go off site for a night safari or a shopping spree in the nearby malls. Spoil yourself with Sunday champagne brunch at Checkers Brasserie in the Hilton Singapore Hotel, or savor caviar at the Harbor Grill and Oyster Bar. Opulence and elegance greet hotel guests as they arrive in the Conrad Centennial Singapore’s warmly inviting hotel Lobby, complete with a grand, curved marble staircase that conveys guests to the hotel’s stylish 2nd and 3rd floors.

Each of the 423 rooms at this fine 5-star hotel feature superior amenities. Rooms feature bathroom phone, desk, private safe, tea- and coffeemaker and air conditioning. Guests will enjoy the Hilton Hotel’s services, including voice mail, salon, dry cleaning and laundry, car rental and morning call. After a day of work or exploring, cocktail lounge, fitness center and outdoor pool are some of the ways to unwind. When you’re ready to book a room at Hilton Hotel Singapore, please enter your travel dates into the secure online booking form and click. Sit back and watch a DVD or surf the web with wireless Internet connection. Two bathrooms with granite features offer a separate tub and shower for rejuvenation. Enjoy access and full benefits of the Executive Lounge.

Special extras include: magazines, newspapers and fresh fruit Facilities at the Hilton include a swimming pool nestled in a tropical rooftop garden, state-of-the-art fitness center and award-winning restaurants and bars. The hotel also has a cool modern bar, a healthy eating juice bar and cafe and a patisserie. Business guests can enjoy access to meeting and conference rooms as well as a ballroom accommodating up to 2,000 people. Practical amenities include on site parking (surcharge), currency exchange and laundry and valet services. Orchard Street has many shops, restaurants and bars as well as entertainment venues. Within three kilometres of the hotel guests can reach the Botanical Gardens, Singapore Arts Museum and the Sri Mairamman Temple. Singapore Changi Airport is 18 kilometres away with an approximate driving time of 20 minutes.

The Secret of Singapore

Singapore is one of the tidiest places in the world. You won't find trash on the sidewalk or graffiti on the walls. The tropical flower beds that seem to be everywhere are perfectly manicured, and during the Christmas season, holiday decorations are displayed throughout the city in a festive, organized manner. You don't have to fear getting mugged in Singapore. There's a prevailing sense of safety and order in this tiny Asian nation.

There’s not an untarred road on the island. As a city it’s an incredibly efficient, well laid-out, and effective business unit. The banking district is vast, and shipping is a major industry. Still, many critics claim that Singapore has lost its soul, that flavor and vibrancy have been sacrificed in the interests of commercialism and industry.
It is a draconian state. Bubblegum is illegal. Jaywalking is illegal. Drug possession is punishable by death. An American youngster made headlines when he was caned for vandalizing cars.
Yet when I spent six weeks in the country, it didn’t take long to discover the remnants of old Singapore. And I didn’t get arrested or caned in the process.

The city-state lies at the southern tip of Malaysia. At only 264 square miles (683 square kilometres), it is one of the world’s smallest countries. However with four million residents, there are a stunning 5,856 people per .4 square mile (one square kilometer).

Singapore is an excellent example of a peaceful, multi-cultural society. Many Singaporeans are of Chinese descent; others are Malays, Indians or numerous other nationalities. It is this equable and glorious mix of languages and cultures that gives Singapore its edge. Although English is the lingua franca, Malay, Chinese and Tamil surround your ears simultaneously.

Singaporean men enjoy good conversation.
At the end of Sago Street in Chinatown is a bland concrete building called the Chinatown complex. If you take the trouble to force your way through the cheap clothing and chopstick stalls at the front you descend into one of Singapore’s jewels, the wet market.

This is where all of Chinatown comes to buy its produce, from vegetables to fish, from live eels to bunches of flowers. It’s called a wet market for one obvious reason: the tiled floor is awash with melted ice and puddles of fishy water. We were awed as a tiny, hobbled woman dispatched and skinned an eel in front of us for a young customer. The eel kept escaping, sending this bandy-legged elderly butcher scrabbling across the floor, brandishing her wooden cudgel and yelling high-pitched Cantonese obscenities at the offending eel.

Later, we sidled past a wall of baby turtle tanks marked with a bold “no photo” sign. The stall owner didn’t engage with us, but he also made sure we didn’t photograph him or his goods. Small turtles were five dollars, and big ones seven dollars each, in case we were wondering. Every conceivable fresh product is sold here. For in every corner, you will find things that are still alive, things that until recently used to be alive, and things that promise to make you come alive. And the atmosphere reveals a low ceiling, with a light hung above each stall, which all the more intensifies the noise, predictably for a basement market.

A vendor sorts fish at Chinatown's Wet Market.
Probably my strongest memory of the wet market is the fish butcher. At the back of the market is the fish loading area. Trucks reverse in under the bright fluorescent lighting and disgorge mountains of fish.

Receiving them was an enormous man with an equally huge cleaver clutched in his fist. He was dissecting and filleting more kinds of fish than I had ever seen, then placing them on an old-fashioned dish scale, the kind with a spring inside.

Dressed only in a towel and a pair of sandals, his stomach bulged down over his waistline. He must have weighed around 450 lbs (200 kilograms). Obviously we couldn’t get around him, so we just stood and stared for a bit. Until the huge man lifted a fish in one hand and turned to reveal a tattoo spread across his broad shoulders: “Patience!” Not sure whether to take it as a threat or a promise we moved on.

Also for sale at the market, but also on every street corner was what some might call, depending on your point of view, “the king of fruits” or a “curse”: durian fruit. These fruit are so pungent that they are banned in certain restaurants and hotels. About the size of a football, they have prickly spines and the texture of very old Camembert cheese. The segments inside have a smell that is likened to onion-flavored ice cream, open sewers, garlic and many other strong aromas.

Still, these fruit are said to have an excellent taste, if you can get past the smell. I gave it a try, but had to hold my nose and resist the temptation to retch after my first and only bite, although I did swallow. Durian are also renowned as aphrodisiacs. I guess something that smells that strong must be good for something.

Every September, the moon-cake festival sees Chinese people eat and exchange specially baked cakes filled with bean paste, lotus seeds and ducks egg. It also hails the biggest lantern display in the world outside China. Each year teams of lantern builders around China work on segments of massive lanterns. They bring the pieces together for the first time in Singapore in the middle of September and assemble them in the Chinese Gardens on the western side of the island.

For a week, Singaporeans spend their evenings wandering through the mythical scenes, ostensibly celebrating the overthrow of Mongol warlords in mainland China. Electrical cables run under water to light up floating lotus flowers, forests of monkeys, storks feeding in a river, and an entire pagoda lit with Chinese lanterns.

Hidden behind the bare streets are multi-story shopping malls, underground markets and more.
Many of my Singaporean experiences involve food in some way, which may say something about my priorities, but perhaps it just reflects the culinary richness of the country. Murtabak is a reason on its own to visit Singapore. In fact, the Sunrise Murtabak Shop opposite the Sultan Mosque in Little India is reason enough to visit Singapore.
Two sweaty Indian cooks in the open kitchen spin a dough ball around until it is a thin roti a half-meter (1.6 ft) wide. They fry and fold it with egg, spices and chicken or lamb curry filling. It is served with one of Singapore's favorite drinks, Teh-Tarik, a condensed milk and milky tea poured from arm’s length above the customer’s glass. The drink is poured this way for a reason: it helps mix in the condensed milk, bringing out tea's strong aroma and subtle taste. Taken together, my Teh-Tarik and roti are delicious. This restaurant is so popular they even do “drive-throughs,” Singapore-style. At lunch time, the owner sells Murtabak parcels to motorists at the traffic light outside his restaurant, with or without tea.
It's impressive how far Singapore has come during the last three decades, from its sordid past to a well-functioning society. But anyone who dares to scratch below the surface of that squeaky clean image is sure to find Singapore’s rich and rewarding soul.

Wild of Baluran National Park

The Baluran National Park is a natural preservation, located on the Eastern tip of Java. Administratively, this area belongs to Situbondo Regency, East Java. From a technical aspect, the Baluran National Park is managed by the Directorate of National Parks, and Tourist Forestry, of the Department of Forestry.
At the moment, the Baluran National National Park occupies 27,868 hectares, comprising of 23,713 hectares of land, and 4,155 hectares of sea. Compared to other conservation areas on Java, Baluran is the only area that has natural savana deserts. These occupy some 10,000 hectares, or about 40% of the total area. Besides that, the Baluran National Park has the most complete forest ecosystem, i.e. savana deserts, beach forests, seasonal forests, mountain forests, forests that stay green all year long, and mangrove forests. The focus of interest of this tourist area is Mount Baluran, which is now non-active. The walls of fits crater are between 900 to 1,247 metres high, bordering off the caldera that's 600 metres deep.
How to reach Baluran:
Surabaya - Banyuwangi (288 km) : busSitubondo - Baluran (60 km) : bus/minibusSurabaya - Banyuwangi (288 km) : bus/trainBanyuwangi - Baluran (35 km) : bus/minibusBanyuwangi - Batangan (35 km/ 60 minutes) : four-wheeled vehiclesSitubondo - Batangan (60 km/ 80 minutes) : four-wheeled vehiclesBatangan - Bekol (12 km/ 45 minutes) : four-wheeled vehiclesBekol - Bama (3 km/ 15 minutes) : four-wheeled vehiclesBama - Kajang (2 km/ 15 minutes) : boatBama - Balanan (5 km/ 45 minutes) : boatBama - Lempuyang (10 km/ 120 minutes) : boatBama - Bilik (16 km/ 180 minutes) : boatKarang Tekok - Gatel (3 km/ 15 minutes) : four-wheeled vehiclesGatel - Bilik (12 km/ 45 minutes) : boat

Baluran National Park has some of the few dryland ecosystem types in Java, consisting of savanna. It also has mangrove forest, monsoon forest, coastal forest, swamp forest, and evergreen forest.
About 40% of the Park area is dominated by savanna

type vegetation.

There are 444 species of plant growing in this Park, including curious and indigenous species like widoro bukol (Ziziphus rotundifolia), mimba (Azadirachta indica), and pilang (Acacia leucophloea). These three species are able to adapt to very arid conditions, remaining green while the plants around them wither. Other plants in the Park include tamarind (Tamarindus indica), gadung (Dioscorea hispida), kemiri (Aleurites moluccana), gebang (Corypha utan), api-api (Avicennia sp.), kendal (Cordia obliqua), manting (Syzygium polyanthum), and kepuh (Sterculia foetida).
The 26 species of mammal include the banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak muntjak), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), panther (Panthera pardus), lesser Malay mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus pelandoc), fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus); and ebony leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus auratus). The banteng is the mascot of Baluran National Park.
In addition, there are about 155 species of bird, some of them endangered species like the green peafowl (Pavo muticus), red junglefowl (Gallus gallus), malabar hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus conversus), rhinoceros hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros silvestris), barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), koel (Eudynamys scolopacea), and lesser adjutant stork (Leptoptilos javanicus).

At Km. 80 on the Batangan-Bekol road there is an old well which has become a legend amongst the surrounding community. Legend has it that long ago, people from the towns of Banyuwangi, Bali and Balurawere simultaneously digging wells in their respective cities. Whichever well was first to gush forth water meant that the city would become a centre of trade and culture.

Interesting locations/attractions:
Batangan: historical site in the form of a Japanese cave. This place is a witness to Indonesias fierce struggle for independence against the Japanese. A good place to observe animals, particularly the peacock dance in the mating season between October and November, and go camping.Bekol, Semiang: watching animals such as the barking deer, banteng, red junglefowl and green peafowl.Bama, Balanan, Bilik: marine tours, fishing, swimming, diving/snorkelling, and watching great herds of deer. During July and August, stags can be seen fighting each other. At low tide, troops of ebony leaf monkeys can be seen fishing for crabs using their tails at high tide.Manting, Air Kacip: a year-round water source, birdwatching in the early morning and afternoon.Popongan, Sejile, Sirontoh and Kalitopo: rowing on the calm sea while watching shoals of ornamental fish, watching migrant birds.Candi Bang, Labuan Merak and Kramat: sites of historical/cultural interest.
Best time of year to visit: March to August.

GUNUNG RINJANI NATIONAL PARK

GUNUNG RINJANI NATIONAL PARK

The park covers an area of 41,330 ha on the northern part of Lombok and locates the three administrative district of West, East and Central Lombok. The area covers 12,357.67 ha in the west, 22,152.88 ha in the east and 6,819.45 ha in central Lombok. Rinjani dominates the National Park of Lombok, an island east of Bali on the Indonesian archipelago. At 3726m it is the second highest volcano in Indonesia, part of the infamous ring of fire that encircles the basin of the Pacific. Within the crater is the spectacular Segara Anak lake and the still – active volcano Gunung Baru (2,363m).It is surrounded by further 66,000 ha of Protection Forest also covers the three administrative districts. The park ecosystem is in the transitional zone between Asia and Australia (Walaceae zone). Average rainfall is about 3,000mm annually.Gunung Rinjani is rich in variety of flora and fauna and vegetation types.

There are 114 families and more than 500 several of floras found and about 50 species of plant that can be used for traditional medicine. While fauna in Gunung Rinjani is about 12 mammal and reptile species, more than 50 birds species and more 50 several of butterflies which some are protected and has limited area of spread. On the South Western side of mountain is the most eastern extent of primary rainforest in Nusa Tenggara. This gives way to monsoon forest and drier climate in the east, and savannah in the north east. Notable flora includes the everlasting edelweiss flower (Anaphalis viscida), tiger orchid (Vanda sp) alang-alang grass (Imperata cylindrical), cemara tress (Casuarina trifolia and Casuarina ocidentale).Gunung Rinjani, one of the over 50 National Parks through out Indonesia and 21 become National Park model included Gunung Rinjani National Park, it was established in 1997. It is valued and protected for its spiritual as well natural values, and is worshipped by thousands of Balinese as well as Sasak pilgrims. Hot springs near the crater lake are sought after for their healing powers.

Over 38 villages spread out in 12 sub-districts surround Rinjani and there are many routes up to the mountain, but the main access is from Sembalun Lawang to the East. The challenging three-day Rinjani Trek route from Senaru to crater rim (Pelawangan), down to the stunning crater lake then on to Sembalun Lawang, is considered one of the best treks in South East Asia. Those heading for the summit usually prefer to start in Sembalun Lawang.The village of Senaru is the main gateway to Mt. Rinjani National Park, the most popular start point for the three day Rinjani Trek up Indonesia’s second highest volcanic peak (3,762 m). For the people of Lombok, Sasak and Balinese alike, the volcano is revered as a sacred place and the abode of Gods. Within the spectacular crater, the Segara Anak Lake is destination of many pilgrims who place offerings in nearby hot spring.

WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE

Gunung Rinjani National Park lies within the major transition zone (Wallaceae) where the flora and fauna of South East Asia makes a dramatic transition into that which is typical of Australasia. The Park has a rich variety of plants and animals, although they can be hard to spot due to the terrain and rainforest cover.Sometimes seen early in the mornings is the rare black Ebony leaf monkey, known locally as Lutung. The Long tailed grey macaque or Kera is common in Lombok and older males are seen on the crater rim. Rusa deer are forest dwellers and are occasionally seen along the Rinjani trek trail. The smaller Barking deer or Kijang has an alarm call with a distinct dog-like bark. Look for the disturbed ground where the Wild pig or Babi hutan has been foraging.

Also found in the forest is the Leopard cat or Bodok alas, Palm civet or Ujat and Porcupine or Landak.A variety of colourful birds live in the forests of the Park. Perhaps the best-known icon of the Park is the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo that is not found any further west of Lombok. Many of the forest-dwelling animals, insects, birds, civets and monkeys owe their survival to the wild fig tree or Beringin as a provider of food and shelter. The pine-like Casuarina species, Cemara, are a feature of the grassy higher slopes. Orchids or Anggrek are also a feature of the grassland areas, as is Edelweiss or Bunga Abadi growing above the tree line; it is a beautiful icon of the Park and one of our best-known sub-alpine plants.

hidden 'treasures.' of Lombok

Lombok Island is a mere 25-minute flight east from the island of Bali or a 2-hour, direct flight from Singapore. But don't let the flight time fool you-flying to Lombok is like being transported to a different era.
Like Bali, it has a beautiful surfing beach named Kuta. But unlike Kuta in Bali, which is densely populated with hotels ranging from the local inns to the five-star hotels, the Kuta beach in Lombok is remote and ideal for honeymooners. There is only one five-star hotel there where most up-market tourists stay.

Near the beach are several Sasak villages where the native Sasak people live. Their ancestors migrated to the island from the ancient Hindu Majapahit Kingdom in East Java at the end of the 14th century. Though the majority of the Sasak today are Moslems, anthropologists have noted that their language, songs, and dances show a strong link with the Hindu and Buddhist cultures that once dominated the Indonesian archipelago.
The Sasak people are among one of the many underdeveloped groups in Indonesia. Not many adults can speak the national language, Bahasa Indonesia. The majority of them are wet-rice farmers, though in some villages, many work as pottery makers. I once visited a village near the beach. The village was so picturesque. There were some Sasak women sitting on the veranda of their traditional Sasak huts, preparing food for their family's lunch. I was trying to speak some Bahasa Indonesia to them, but they did not seem to understand. Finally, my guide translated my questions to them in the Sasak language.

Another time, I was visiting a pottery village in the western part of Lombok. The signs of abject poverty is quite obvious here. The children were running to and fro in torn and dirty clothes. They were following us, the tourists, merrily while we roamed around their village. "There are not many tourists visiting the villages nowadays," our guide told us.
He explained that the 9/11 tragedy in New York also had an impact on this small village of Lombok. There are a fewer number of tourists visiting Indonesia and Lombok since the catastrophe. The situation worsened with the Bali bombing that shocked the world in October 2002 and the SARS issue that hit Asia severely soon afterward.

The guide's explanation matches the World Bank's assessment of Indonesia that was issued after the Bali bombing. The assessment, produced before the SARS issue hit Asia, says that though the Bali bombing hit Bali the most, the impact also affects those villages that are also tourism dependant, like those in Lombok. The poverty rate was expected to increase to about 16.7 percent in 2003 from the 16 percent in 2000, rather than declining to the 15 percent that was projected before the bombing.
"The people in this village used to sell many of their terracotas to the retailers in Bali. Presently, only a small number of these terracotas can be sold," my guide told us. He also said that the price of the Sasak's terracotas sold in Bali can be ten times more than those sold directly in the Lombok's villages.

I'm not sure whether the guide was exaggerating, but it is easy to believe considering the current difficult situation. In my second visit to Lombok, in 1999, I bought a beautiful terracota candleholder at a cheap price in one of these pottery villages. A few days later, I flew back to Bali and found exactly the same stuff with similar design and colour sold by some art shops in Kuta beach Bali. The art shop's prices were around three times as much as the one I bought directly in the Lombok pottery village.

I like Lombok pottery because the brownish colour of their terracota is darker and gives the impression of being ancient more so than those usually produced in other parts of Indonesia.
Unlike its lush neighbour of Bali, the majority of the land in Lombok is much drier and rugged like the Australian outback. The 19th century naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, theorized that there lies a border that divides the Asian ecosphere with its flora and fauna, from the Australian zone which has different kinds of species. This imaginary boundary is located between Bali and Lombok and is called the Wallace Line. It probably explains the uniqueness and the high quality of clay materials used for making pottery in Lombok.

Wallace's theory also explains the fact that though the island is dry, its weather, especially in the Senggigi bay area, is much cooler than Bali. Senggigi is a four-kilometer strip of beach front, restaurants, and luxury resorts. Located about half an hour ride by car from the airport, it was first established and developed as a tourists area in 1986 by the Indonesian government. The majority of the four- and five-star hotels in the island are located here. Its fame comes mostly from the breathtaking view of its bay facing the Lombok strait, which is also paralleled by the lush hills that blow a cool breeze to the whole Senggigi area.

My favourite activity in Senggigi is cycling along its hilly landscape and watching the beautiful sunset gleaming faintly at the Lombok strait from the top of the hills. In the morning, cycling to the eastern part of Senggigi is usually an option that satisfies my hunger for natural beauty. With the azure sky as the backdrop, the misty Mount Agung, the highest and most sacred mountain in Bali, can be clearly seen from the distance.
During my latest trip to Lombok, I noticed a cluster of bamboo structures offshore in the water nearby Senggigi. At first, I first they were the sea-fish hatcheries, but later I learned that they were pearl farms that produce high-quality pearls.

"Lombok is renowned for its pearls. There are about 15 pearl companies here. Most of them are internationally-owned as it requires a lot of capital to build a pearl farm. Many consider the quality of the pearls here as one of the best in the world," explained my guide when I asked him about it. Inilah Lombok, a magazine published by the Lombok promotion body, says that there are two kinds of pearls sold on the island: salt-water pearls and fresh-water ones.
"Salt-water pearls are generally more expensive and of higher quality than freshwater pearls. They have a good luster and the shape is more round. The more perfectly round the pearl, the more expensive it is. Meanwhile, the fresh-water pearls are characterised by their 'imperfect' appearance, having a striated surface and asymmetrical natural shapes," according to the magazine.

I never knew about this beforehand. So it was quite a coincidence that some beach-hawkers offered me these pearls the same day I noticed the existence of those pearl farms. The hawkers were selling both the fresh-water and salt-water pearls for quite a fair price. However, since I do not understand much about pearls, I was not sure whether they were real or fake. Later, I learned that there are some pearl shops along the way to the airport. It is indeed a hidden treasure unknown to many people, even to Indonesians.

I believe there are many more 'hidden treasures' in Lombok. From a hotelier in Senggigi, I learned about the secluded Moyo island, a short, 20-minute flight east of Lombok. There is a highly up-market resort in the isle where internationally renowned celebrities like to spend time. The late Princess Diana once spent her holiday there for almost two weeks before the paparazzi finally found her.

Besides the internationally famous Moyo isle, there are other small isles near Lombok, such as the Gilis (Gili means 'small isle' in the Sasak language). The biggest one is Gili Trawangan where the only international-standard hotel resides. The other ones are Gili Air and Gili Meno where various cheap inns provide shelter mostly for the backpackers visiting the isles.

I was surprised to see the internet cafes in Gili Trawangan during my last visit there. The isle is not that secluded from the outer world anymore. The Gilis offshore are the perfect places for snorkeling and diving. Guy Buckles, in his book "The Dive Sites of Indonesia," mentions at least six diving sites around the Gilis, which range from average to first class as well as two snorkeling sites that range from good to highly recommended.

Just like on the mainland, Lombok, the number of tourists visiting these isles is also dropping significantly. To some extent, it gives a nice feeling, like you own the whole isle for yourself with only a few neighbours around, but I also realize that this situation is not advantageous for many of the locals whose livelihood depends on tourism.
I believe, it is a high time to visit and re-visit Lombok and search for its hidden 'treasures.'

Moonlight Aphrodisiac

Looking for something a bit different and a bit special this Valentine's; can't stomach an over-priced twenty-hour degustation dinner with a zillion like-minded folk? You need a taste of the outdoor life, and there's only one thing for it - a good, old-fashioned picnic at the beach. Tugu style…

Never a place to disappoint; the good folk of Tugu Jl Pantai Batu Bolong, Canggu, have pulled out all the stops for Valentine's Day this year with a private bed on the beach overlooking the Canggu waves amidst a hundred twinkling lanterns and under a thousand shimmering stars.
Starting with Valentine's cocktails at the bar (the imaginatively titled Pussy Foot Sambarita and Tantric Kiss set the scene perfectly) it's a short walk through the Tugu grounds down to the private beach where oil lanterns suspended on the antique bed illuminate a dusky Canggu skyline.

One could be forgiven for skipping dinner altogether in favor of a bottle of sparkling, a warm duvet and some privacy but (having had previous experience of the banquet style portions of fare served by the Tugu kitchen team) dinner was definitely on our mind. Canoodling could be saved for later…
The idea with the dinner menu is to keep it as picnic as possible that means lots of individual dishes that could be eaten warm or cold. The clever part of this picnic idea is that every component of the menu has its own distinctive aphrodisiacal qualities, especially where the dessert course is concerned…
Starting with the crab cocktail appetizer with avocado, chilies, coconut and fresh lemongrass, the main course started to arrive served in huge ceremonial woven baskets by a wait staff ceremoniously kitted out in traditional Balinese outfits.

The main course suggestively titled Ménage à Quatre consisted of prawns flambéed in calvados and honey, baby asparagus stems, grilled scallops in fragrant herbs served with a ginger sauce and accompanied by a delicious heaped bowl of baby new potatoes with crispy anchovies, bacon and dressed in virgin olive oil and sprigs of fresh mint.
Things get kinky when the selection of desserts appear as two blindfolds accompany the four dishes, the plan being that you have to guess what you're tasting, the reality of the situation is that you end up spending an inordinate amount of time giggling as you coat one another's lips in a tasty combination of caramelized banana soufflé, tamarillo (the 'lost food of the Incas', a refreshing, slightly bitter tropical fruit commonly found in equatorial countries and referred to in Indonesian as 'Dutch eggplant'), a devilish chocolate torte and dark chocolate coated fresh strawberries.
After you've feasted there's really nothing better to do that sip some post dinner cocktails and star gaze in the comfort of the four-poster bed. Definitely one of the best ways to spend this Valentine's night in Bali and, for that matter, a wonderfully alternative dinner experience at any other time of the year.

Romantic Retreats, Eats & Treats

Time to get frisky this February as we delve into the slinkiest, hottest, most seductively fantastic romantic retreats, eats and treats in Bali. Champagne on ice ladies and gentlemen as we run you down on the most audaciously amorous activities on the island…
There's nothing like a long weekend pent up in one of Bali's nicest suites to get the romance flowing and there's nowhere that quite matches The Ritz Carlton (Jimbaran, T: 0361 702 222) for opulent luxury and five star decadence.
Taking charge of one of the newly appointed and refurbished club suites on the fourth floor with a grand oceanic view, sitting room, deluxe bedroom and sizable en suite bathroom, there's really very little to do but soak up the majestic ambience of the 192 acre resort as you ponder and plot your romantic retreat activities for the weekend.

Romantic activities
Romantic activities are top order of the day at The Ritz Carlton with every twist and turn of the sprawling resort revealing a never ending succession of distractions perfect for couples – no wonder the place is the preferred destination for many weddings, honeymoons or just good, old fashioned, passionate liaisons. Recently awarded the Travel + Leisure #1 in Asia for best service and #2 worldwide, (to accompany the other 37 awards garnered since they threw open the doors back in 2002).The Ritz excels in making each and every one of their guests feel valued and in club level like part of the family.
Bags disposed of, 50-inch plasma television toyed with briefly and laptop set up for email purposes (wi fi stretches the length and breadth of the grounds), it's off to the internationally acclaimed Thalasso & Spa for some Aquatonic revitalization in the seawater jet pools. The therapeutic jet streams, micro bubbles and geysers serve to relieve stress, rehabilitate sore muscles and relax visiting Thalasso guests. The highlight of the Aquatonic experience is the individual jets that massage (quite powerfully) from the ankles to the abdomen and, in the case of my partner, a good portion of her shoulder blades.
As the sun set peacefully in the distance we lulled ourselves into an other worldly state in the jet chairs. Really, if ever there was a champagne moment then this would be it; but try as we might, it proved impossible to flag down one of the spa attendees to plead for an express delivery of bubbly. It looked as though the sparkling would have to wait until dinner down on the Kisik Jetty where the Pesta Lobster extravaganza was awaiting, a solitary table for two right at the end of the wooden walkway to the pier, floating dramatically over the crashing waves at what seems the very edge of the Bali horizon.

the main attraction
Starting with a selection of oysters, tuna sashimi and mussels served over ice, we quickly moved onto the main attraction – three types of lobster: a consommé royale, then a duo combination of lobster baked en croute with a delectable light cream caviar sauce and veal stock reduction, and finally a classic half steamed rainbow lobster with clarified butter dressing and tofu. If beachside seafood is on your 'to do' list whilst in Bali and the sandy Jimbaran cafés don't quite match your indulgent expectations, then Kisik will certainly do the job. Back up the steps to the main grounds of The Ritz and a short hop to the Club Suites and it's lights out as we sit on the verandah, bottle of chilled Chilean in hand, as a distant electrical storm somewhere out to sea slowly makes its way inland.
I can personally testify to the fact that it takes a lot of self-determination, motivation and a roaring appetite to drag oneself from the comfy four-poster bed in the suite. But the promise of a hearty breakfast of eggs benedict and mimosas in the Club Lounge just about provided the necessary stimulation to get the day going before we took a stroll down to the Ocean Beach Pool to make the most of the glorious sunshine. The Ritz literally has a hundred poolside options dotted around with the Ocean Beach Pool affording guests a 180-degree view of the Indian Ocean flanked by a tropical rainforest of flourishing trees and natural rockery. Alas the unpredictable weather of this time of the year has other plans for us sun seekers, forcing us to beat a retreat in the direction of the spa, this time to experience the Cinta Abadi, or 'Eternal Love' treatment for couples.
The intimacy of the private treatment room for couples is an absolute treat for the senses. Starting with a flower petal foot wash and hot towel wrap with fresh red rose and frangipani petals we moved onto the massage tables, side by side for our body scrubs. My partner chose the Javanese Lulur with turmeric and I went for the popular Mineral Scrub with Lavender oil to relax every facet of my being. There's something wholly endearing about a couples treatment that makes a spa trip way more enjoyable than a solo endeavor; perhaps it's the opportunity to point and laugh at your other half cavorting around in those notorious black paper panties or, more likely, the twenty minutes of frolicking in the milk bath with hundreds of rose petals (cue repeated pleadings for champagne) that really is wasted on just one person. The 'Cinta Abadi' treatment is rounded off with an application of Lavender oil, a sensual signature Aromatic Petal Massage and a revitalizing Traditional Natural Facial. For a truly special therapy guests can pay a visit to the very unique Spa on the Rocks, a short buggy ride down to the cliffs and a descent to a private treatment room with a stunning panoramic view over the ocean. Using only the best Crème de la Mer products, couples can pamper themselves with the Aroma Sensation treatment or the truly hedonistic Diamond Miracle package with a 500 rose petal bath, a therapeutic massage utilizing oils with elements of silk and pearl and championed by the millionaires Crème de la Mer facial using a highly secretive formula of sea quartz and pure diamond dust…

Dutifully pampered it was time to head to The Martini Bar for some cocktail shaking action with the team as we partook in one of the new Martini Classes with the highly knowledgeable barman Komang. After a brief intro it was all hands on deck to produce (if we may say so) two very fine Martini concoctions – the Oyster Martini, a classic pre dinner tipple and the sublime Toblerone Martini with Frangelico, Kahlua, Balieys, fresh honey and cream, shaken and poured into a frozen glass with bitter chocolate frosted rim. Oyster Martini and accompanying fresh oysters imbibed it was ten steps to our table at the chic and celebrated Dava for one of Chef Dean Keddell's trademark dinnertime feasts. A restaurant so sleek in its dental white and spearmint green décor, the charming and discreet service staff in their Gucci-esque black uniforms could only further compliment the stylish interior of Dava as we ordered a bottle of ice cold Calittera and perused the menu for accompanying dishes.
The Dava eight course degustation menu hosts such inclusions as the salt and pepper foie gras with gingered figs in a sweet sour broth which is a must try dish here, a joy to the palate that should definitely be on the regular a la carte menu alongside other winning plates such as the quirky foie gras terrine with parsnip ice cream. For the main course at Dava the duck served three ways is recommended. A trio of duck soup with dim sum style dumplings, enoki mushroom and barbequed pork, house roasted Peking duck with crispy tempura asparagus and a show stopping foie gras apple pancake with rice wine jus. Keeping the apple theme running we chose the warm apple brioche and custard pudding with butterscotch pudding and green apple sorbet as a dessert to share before stopping back at the bar for one of the irresistible Toblerone martinis.

Pampered, fed and ready for bed, another night at The Ritz Carlton drew to a close, the rain started to fall heavily and it was a return to the comfort of the suite to ride out the storm, in one of the best seats in the house.
It's a tough call in Bali trying to choose the best romantic restaurant for that all-important Valentine's dinner date. The island is awash with a wide variety of classy, high quality dining establishments but none embodies a commitment to serving a continually evolving tasting menu quite as well as Chris Salans's Mozaic (Jl Sanggingan, T: 0361 975 768).
Take the sunken tropical garden with al fresco dining tables under the stars, the recently revamped (and enlarged) pavilion area, the option of chic private dining for groups in the Miele sponsored kitchen or the intimacy of the best table in Mozaic, the garden gazebo - perfect for a romantic indulgence this valentines.
Completely segregated from the 'hoi polloi' in the garden the gazebo affords couples the best seat in the house – certainly the most private – from which to enjoy the surprise chef's degustation menu and wine pairing, you certainly wouldn't want to skimp with the a la carte menu on a night like this, would you?
"It's all new creations tonight," beamed James, Chris's new protégé who is running the kitchen this evening, "we'll be starting with a truffle of asparagus soup, asparagus salad for the first course." Already salivating at the prospect of the soup I was even more pleasantly surprised when my wagyhu sirloin carpaccio with parmageno emulsion and Balinese rendang sauce arrived on the table. Clearly James had the notion that both my partner and myself would be sampling individual creations this evening…
Paired with a Pinot Noir 2004 the waghyu is a taste sensation but takes a bow to the hearty asparagus soup with chunks of fresh truffle and shaved asparagus teasing the palate into sensory submission.
The woody, fruity and well balanced tannins of the Chilean Tabali Reserve Especial 2004 (subsequently hunted for island wide, and later located in the fridge at Bali Deli) wooed the table, a stunning accompaniment to the dreamy confit of Tasmanian salmon and 'all things apple jelly', cinnamon emulsion, lemongrass and ginger.
What Chris and James both excel at at Mozaic is their ability to mingle authentic Balinese flavours with ambitious, cutting-edge fusion plates. Take the scallops with a spicy, nutty Balinese Rujak sauce served on a light tamarind and ginger pearl risotto and paired with a deep, dusky New Zealand Pinot Noir 2006 and the "knife clenchingly good" (so my partner described) quail, cooked sous vide with foie gras, fresh pear puree, star anise and fresh pear salad and matched with an outstanding Chateau Paveil de Luxe, Margeux 2000 - simply destructive in the marriage of textures and characteristics.
The main courses are no less rewarding to our table, the 'knife and fork clenchingly good' lamb with chestnuts, red cabbage and cranberry coulis dressed with a four pepper sauce and the baked spice nuggets of juniper, almonds, palm sugar and black pepper is a Mozaic classic. (It's taken nigh on a year to drag the components of the baked spices out of the chefs at Mozaic, reader). The loin of tuna with Balinese sambal matah (a spicy medley of shallots, garlic, lemon leaves, chilies and lemongrass), chili infused Pinot Noir reduction with endive and sweet corn, braised with vanilla and coriander seed is a new addition to the menu and comes thoroughly recommended.

As we wound down into the dessert offerings of a blimbing (very acidic berries of the East Indian sorrel family), sorbet poached in cinnamon and chili and served with slivers of young starfruit and a devilish chocolate moelleux with turmeric ice cream and a lemon tart soufflé on the side (just for good measures!), the evening fades into a surreal dreamscape of distant flavours and aromas. Mozaic provides 99% of the ingredients for the perfect romantic dinner this Valentine's, incredible cuisine, excellent wine pairing, attentive and knowledgeable service staff, a sublime setting and chic ambience. All you have to do is arrive and indulge…

Looking to push the envelope out a little further this Valentine's Day and show the person you love that, well, you really love them? Then an outing to Bvlgari (Jl Goa Lempeh, T: 0361 847 1000) should definitely be top of your list. Presuming that you aren't already an in-house guest of the Italian connoisseurs of taste then it's only a forty minute taxi ride down to the Pecatu village, near Uluwatu and the earth shattering views out over the Indian Ocean that this clifftop resort boasts, perched hundreds of feet above the surf pounding the Bukit shoreline.
So, what's on the cards for a day at Bvlgari? First things first; it's a trip down to the spa by buggy (you won't want to be huffing and puffing your way up and down the narrow, steep pathways on foot – breaking a sweat at Bvlgari would be most unsightly) and a grand entrance into the clifftop reconstructed Joglo from Kudus in Central Java that leads to the eight private spa pavilions and treatment rooms.
No expense has been spared in maximizing the awesome natural resources on offer; namely the view, as three of the treatment rooms literally overhang the cliff edge with uninterrupted views out to the horizon. Guests that are in need of some serious indulgence here can book a treatment in the Royal Private Spa Pavillion with luxurious steam shower and secluded, outdoor plunge pool.

the cliff side
For us it's a trip to the smaller treatment rooms on the cliff side where there is no music played, instead you just savor the distant lull of the crashing Uluwatu surf. After a strong, revitalizing tamarind juice with and a change into spa robes and comfy Bvlgari spa slippers it's time to select which ESPA oils to use for the 1 hour and 50 minute Balinese Single Hand Massage. Starting with a welcoming frangipani foot ritual before submitting to the deeply relaxing volcanic lava hot stone massage. By placing the stones on specific energy points (or Chakras) the stones may help clear any blockages in the energy centres, in turn inducing a deep relaxed state of being and dissolving stress along the way.

The jury is still out as to whether this technique actually produces any real results but this is the second hot stone treatment I've had in Bali and both times I've found the onset of flu like symptoms take hold within 24 hours after the treatment followed by a renewed level of energy and a healthier appearance, there may be some detoxification benefits to hot stone therapies that warrants further investigation…
After a quick shower it's back into the slippers and a healthy tuna sashimi and green tea snack in the relaxation pavilion. Freshly scrubbed and rejuvenated it's down to the poolside to catch the late afternoon rays and into the clifftop hot tubs to drain some trademark Bvlgari herbalitos as the sun glides down over the distant Uluwatu sea temples.

As daylight fades over the resort the Bvlgari bar, Sangkar restaurant and tiered thatched roofs of the guest bungalows the resort takes on a new lease of life. Subtle up-lighting compliments the minimalist layout around the infinity pool and guides us up to Il Ristorante, the (very) fine dining Italian restaurant that commands vantage over both the bar and pool. It's a breezy evening in Il Ristorante as we take our table, the icy white tablecloth seeming to float against the pitch-black restaurant interior. A waiter appears out of nowhere with perhaps the largest wine list I've yet to see in Bali and the newly appointed chef, Diego, breezes in from another part of the room to suggest some absolute 'must tries' from the evening's menu.

The Stuzzichino (pre-appetizer) of parmesan cheese and poppy seeds tempura with caramelized red onions is first to the table accompanied by a light, dry and crispy 2005 Domaine Billaud-Simon, Chardonnay from Chablis, France before the Wagyu beef carpaccio starter, brushed with tamarind oil and parmesan brittle and served with wild arugala tantalizes our table alongside a recommended bottle of 2001 Castello Banfi, Brunello Di Montalcino Brunello from Toscana, Italy.

The pan-seared scallops, field mushrooms and organic green leaf salad is my first main course (being in Italian territory there are two mains served in Il Ristorante) whilst my partner is served carnal delight on a plate in the form of a very savoury carnaroli risotto with vanilla, rosemary and foie gras. The second main courses are no less breathtaking in pleasing the palate. My imported French duck breast, potato gnocchi sautéed with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and radicchio is rivaled only by the lamb loin with baby spinach, sweet and sour capsicum cream and apple rosemary that finds its way to the other side of the Castello Banfi.

Every time that I have eaten at Il Ristorante I have been overawed by the quality of the dessert and this evening is no exception, although I do request that Diego prepare a lighter dish to accompany the 2003 Castello Banfi, Florus, Moscadello Di Montalcino from Toscana; a wonderfully rounded dessert wine that doesn't overpower the palate and lends an incredible edge to my strawberries sautéed with traditional balsamic vinegar and honey-comb ice cream. A displeasing eye greets me from my partner's direction, she has no qualms in ordering the manjari chocolate dome, a moelleux of very fine dark chocolate with a simple accompaniment of freshly made vanilla ice cream.

The final touch
The final touch to the evening is the Bvlgari blended aribica (also known as the coffee shrub of Arabia) espresso and petit fours before a short hop onto one of the buggies to cruise us once again, up the steep Bvlgari lanes to the lobby entrance.
As with everything of quality and refinement in life, it doesn't come cheap and an afternoon in the company of these Italian tastemakers is no exception. However the finesse and fine attention to detail at Bvlgari does make for the perfect romantic trip.

The streets of Legian, Kuta are hardly synonymous with discreet luxury, the grinding traffic, over zealous hawkers, tasteless bars and ghost-town restaurants immediately dispel any notion of stumbling across even the slightest hint of five star pampering in this part of town.

With this Kuta cliché firmly in mind it comes as something of a (very welcome) surprise to discover one of Bali's best spas tucked away off the main drag of Legian. Owners Michelle Tanaja and Jimmy Gunawan (of Villa De Daun fame) and interior designers Zouhara Boukhari have painstakingly concocted one of the island's most beautiful beautification havens with Da La, (Jl Legian, T: 0361 755 728) and on entering the premises you can see the devotion and attention to detail just dripping from the walls.

Each of the seven treatment rooms represent seven different exotic flowers, continuing the theme of Da La (a literal translation from Sanskrit being 'leaf') and each of the rooms has it's own character and ambience, perfectly matched to the nature of your treatment. To try out this 'ambience to therapy' matching theory we chose the Tutti Fruity spa (in the funky Cattlieya room) for one half of the reviewing team whilst the remaining two of us found ourselves ushered into the grandiose Ixora room for the Royal Wedding Ritual, the title being perhaps a little overzealous considering we are in the early stages of dating but the treatment itself being utterly conducive to some serious romantic indulgence.

Once the privilege of royal brides in the ancient palaces of Central Java in the days building up to the wedding event, this 2.5 hour wedding treatment is the last word in romantic spa indulgence. Everything from the dark, subtle red hues and hypnotic background music to the highly experienced and professional therapists make for an unforgettable feast for the senses. After a rose petal foot wash the ritual begins with a 60 minute Balinese massage using essential aromatic oils of your choice before the highlight of the treatment, the Javanese lulur exfoliation. Using a very traditional Javanese paste of turmeric, sandalwood and rice powder the healing nature of the ingredients is left to soak into and replenish the skin before a hydrating natural yoghurt polish removes any trace evidence of the turmeric and brings you back to life.

Next comes the delightful 7-flower milk bath, which handsomely recreates the Javanese passage of rights to marriage as the bride to be is bathed by her parents. With no parents in sight (mercifully) it is left to the suitor to take charge of the cleansing duties and earn some well-deserved brownie points along the way…

A calming blend of chrysanthemum and ginger tea later and our missing party emerges into the open from her Tuti Fruity treatment looking a million times fresher and happier than on earlier admittance. "The watermelon and honey facial did it for me," she beamed, continuing on to describe at great length the stress relieving orange and lime milk bath. Da La truly is one of a kind, the perfect romantic treat this valentine's day.