Where can we get a local cheap meal in Ubud, Bali we asked our friend? We wanted authentic fare not a for tourist only resto, so buddy suggested Bu Oka west of the town market(for tourist) and across from Ubud Palace. We walked by and it was just what we were looking for and they sold ice cold Bintangs too, hello!

The sight of a freshly roasted pig stuffed with spices then slow roasted over a fire pit with glistening dark coconut water basted skin was very exciting. We ordered up 3 plates and jostled for a spot streetside. You can sit inside(which is just roofed, sans shoes) but we like the pig carving action and the thought of catching a breeze that never came.

As you can see from the photo, our plates did not disappoint. Flavour of the pork was piggy-li-cious, it was moist and skin cracked between your teeth, veggies were spicy, random fried innards were tough but good(but what were they?), there was some blood sausage thingy, all washed down with a frosty beer and a cheers to good health etc., all was good.

Also check out Anthony Bourdain’s Bali/Indonesia episode for his experience at Bu Oka.

Note: not open for dinner

Misty, co-founder of 4thworldlove arranged for me to meet Am, her man on the ground in Lombok and they set up accommodations for me at the local homestay in Sembalun Village as well as a car to lug my too big luggage.

When I first spoke to Am on the phone he he sounded so friendly and familiar, when I met him my assumptions were validated, from there, all the people I met in Sembalun were equally as friendly and welcoming, really awesome people with the brightest smiles. They really left a huge impression on me, so much so I hope to be working with them in the future. I’m definitely planning on going back.

In the classroom at the 4thWorldLove community centre, people were eager to attend, no matter how much English they understood, it was great to ‘teach’ them my little lesson on global warming. After class we were treated to a lovely lunch cooked by Upa, her husband is a local Mount Rinjani trek guide, and their baby Azizi is the sweetest little who needs heart surgery that 4thWorldLove is facilitating.