Bringing Back Cocktail Hour - Rotorua, New Zealand

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour in Rotorua!People do not tend to give the North Island of New Zealand enough credit.  It possesses a different kind of beauty and allure than its neighbor to the south.  One North Island town we loved is Rotorua, an "active" town...Active with geothermal activity.  Bubbling hot springs and steam vents can be found next to the streets, in parks, and by homes; it's literally everywhere you look.  One other thing Rotorua has going for it is a selection of great restaurants.

Scott, our Bring Back Cocktail Hour sponsor, helped us end a hectic day with rewarding food and drink at the Leonardo's Pure Italian, a top spot in the heart of this hot town.  While enjoying a delectable bottle of 2011 Renzo Masi Chianti we read through a bit of Italian trivia - Did you know that in Italy the primary lucky number is 17 and if you order a pizza with pepperoni you will receive a pie with peppers?

We were in the mood for healthier, heartier fare, so we ordered a large Italian salad bursting with peppers, olives and 2 giant mozzarella/prosciutto rolls.  We then moved on to a main course of lamb stuffed with spinach placed atop of variety of vegetables.  It was a filling meal and with no room left for dessert we closed the evening enjoying the last sips of wine.

We would like to thank Scott for feeding our bodies with a delicious dinner and scrumptious wine while also topping off our minds with fun trivia-Italiano.

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour - Marlborough, New Zealand

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour in Marlborough!Back in January we had a blast touring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  Jenn's brother Brent planned the route and blazed the trail along with Matt, Jenn, and Jenn's stepdad, Bill.  When Brent sponsored Bring Back Cocktail Hour, we thought it would be fitting to apply it to another libation-related tour...This time on the other side of the world.

New Zealand is known for its quality wines and we were keen to sample a wide variety. We drove to Blenheim, New Zealand, rented two bikes, and spent a fun-filled day visiting a variety of tasting rooms.  When lunchtime arrived, we were fortunate to be close to The Brothers winery where we paired a 2011 Pinot Noir with their more-than-generous charcuterie plate which contained a selection of breads, meats, cheeses, seafood, pate, olives, and mixed greens.  We left energized and fortified, ready for a riverside path peddle before proceeding to another winery known for its sparkling wine.

We extend our deepest appreciation to Brent for his "Include an Appetizer" contribution.  It helped us create new memories while reminding us of the good times we shared this past winter.

Bringing Back Cocktail Hour - Coral Coast, Fiji

Line 'em Up!

We caught the attention of several vacationing Australians, the hotel's owner, and Mateo, the friendly bartender at the Talanoa Bar, when we politely asked that he "please line up shots of Fiji's local liquors along with their bottles".  The place was quiet as Mateo raised an inquisitive eyebrow and poured the colorful libations into tiny stemware.  Is this not traditionally requested in Fiji?  Who cares?!  We were on island-time and knew that our Bring Back Cocktail Hour sponsor was ready to see what we would do with her contribution to "Include an Appetizer".

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor Yvonne, we not only sampled the local gin, vodka, rum (white and dark) and the whiskey, but also enjoyed a traditional dish of Coconut Pancake Rolls before dinner.  This appetizer consists of fresh local fish sauteed with garlic, onion and lime juice, topped with a delicate mornay sauce, then wrapped in a thin coconut pancake.  One word - Delish!

Our gratitude goes out to Yvonne for helping us Bring Back Cocktail Hour while also providing an appetizer capable of absorbing our selection of island favorites.  The entire experience will never be forgotten.

The Finer Things - Staying in Indonesia

An Unbelievable View from Ayung Resort!TripAdvisor informed us of a special promotion at Ayung Resort Ubud; it was a sign of relaxing days ahead.  This 4.5 star resort had amazing reviews which described tranquility, luxury, and an amazing restaurant...All of which turned out to be true.

We treated our four days in Indonesia as a vacation and indulged in poolside reading, wonderful wines with dinner, and restful nights in our deluxe room.  We participated in morning yoga class, took in endless views containing terraced rice patties and distant mountains, hiked the extensive grounds, and watched playful monkeys traverse treetops and rooftops before several enjoyed cooling plunges in one of the resort's swimming pools.  We ventured outside of our accommodations to visit the town of Ubud, a cultural center for creativity and spirituality, and we rafted down the Ayung River, a relatively calm stretch of water when compared with the rapids in Colorado.

In general, the people at the resort and in Indonesia were warm, welcoming, and willing to accommodate all reasonable requests put forth with a proper smile.  Our last day at the resort preceded a red-eye, overnight flight.  The resort's facilities were made available to us after our midday checkout and extra steps were taken to ensure our comfort prior to our evening departure.

We left Indonesia with an honest desire to return, knowing that we have only scratched the surface of what this country has to offer.

Striking Balance in Singapore

Singapore is a city of contrasts.  Tall, modern buildings cast shadows over little houses which seem to exclaim, “Ha ha city – I will not yield!”  Skyscraper designs include some very unique structural attributes…We photographed one example in which three buildings were connected by what appears to be an entire city suspended many stories above the pavement below (See The Trip – Photoblogging Our Trip).

Coming from KL (Kuala Lumpur) where all the parks were being overtaken by urban sprawl, it was refreshing to see Singapore’s dedicated and significant expanses of parks, a valuable resource in this vibrant city.  If seeking solitude, one can conveniently visit many beautiful green-spaces or take the train to Sentosa Island for a bit of beach time.

With millions of residents, you might expect Singapore’s public transportation to be a bit “scary”, but it isn’t at all.  The subways and railways are very clean, extremely well organized, and easy to use.  Additionally, rules of the road were respected, so we didn’t feel like we were playing Frogger when crossing streets.  Were these the only things we noticed about Singapore?  No. 

Singapore is a hodgepodge of different cultures and people, each contributing to the unique food offerings such as chili crab, duck porridge, dim sum and chwee kueh (water cakes). These dishes and many others are affordable and conveniently available in markets and food courts throughout the city.  Was there a Hooters?  Yes, down by the touristy riverside; it offered dining diversity, but it would be a pity to eat there with so many other amazing flavors so close at hand.  ;)

P.S. – We have to give a special shout out to our new friends Ivan and Susan.  They took time out of their busy schedules to introduce us to their city for an entire evening.  They are truly two of the nicest people and we feel fortunate to have met them when we did in Manila.