Spare the rod, Spoil the Parent...or something like that.

"巴厘岛" - my mom told me when she was young and living in Hong Kong, she'd always heard people talking about a place called "巴厘岛" (Bali Island). She knew it was where all the wealthy people went to holiday and that it was a beautiful place.

She spoke of how she never even fathomed that she'd ever have the opportunity to visit Bali given her situation; her family had very little money, they were a single parent home, they lived in government housing, my aunts all had to work as children, and my mom even had to spend time living in a convent because my grandmother couldn't afford to feed and take care of 4 children on her own.

Fast forward to 2013 and she and my dad, who was in a similar situation as a young person in Hong Kong, are spending their days lazing away in a poolside cabana at a resort in Jimbaran with the Indian ocean just a few yards away.



It's not too rare a story; immigrants who came from nothing, moved to the US to give their kids a better life. And that they did. I can write for ages about how my parents have supported and sacrificed for my brother and I for the last 36 years - and how they've extended their support to Brian as we entered B-school. Words can't really express how grateful we are now as adults, in great places in our lives thanks to them. We feel so incredibly honored to be able to pay them back in as many special ways possible.

So, Brian and I treated my parents to this trip (including their FIRST business class trip - let me tell you, they know how to work a b-class lounge) to thank them because hey, if you can't spend your adult life spoiling your parents, what can you do?

So here's a collection of photos from Edwin and Louise's first time in a luxury hotel in Bali! We stayed for 4 days at the Intercontinental at Jimbaran, South Bali. They were like two little kids going to the park for the first time. It was kind of adorable...can you say that about parents? I suppose so when they are this cute...

Welcome drinks in the lobby of the Bali Intercontinental

Never too old to share a bedroom with my mommy and daddy

A bathroom!

We walked along the beach several times. This next series of photos is my favesies - my mom saw tiny little crabs scampering on the sand and decided to catch one.

She's going to eat me!

 The pools! Oh the pools. We spent every day at the pool for at least a few hours.

Cabanas are so hard...

First time ordering food poolside. My dad said, "I didn't even know you could do that!"...and mom can't be bothered. 

First time ordering poolside drinks!

And everyday, we played by the ocean. Oh joy, it was so warm I could have bathed in it.

First time in the Indian Ocean

Bought mom a new bathing suit with butterflies because ladies need to look cute while sun-bathing.

I am my father's daughter. He gave me his mouth. Look at our teeth. We have the same teeth! Thanks for that, DNA.

Staying VERY close to the safety of the shore.

My mom would like you all to know that she is better at jumping than my dad.

Awesome.

Coral, rocks, shells...nature.

My parents aren't really cold-water pool people, but they sure love to take pictures. Here's a collection of poolside posing.

The hotel offered a lot of other great activities and entertainment too - Fresh coconuts, cooking classes, yoga by the beach, le sigh!

Veggies for a Balinese dish.

Pops favorite part of the cooking class was eating it!

Mom is so Zen.

and this guy...

We didn't stay at the hotel the whole time. When we were feeling adventurous, we spent a little time in Kuta, saw some temples, ate delicious food, and watched the sunset Kecak dance.

Mom's wearing a romper. adorbs.

This looks 'shopped, but it's not...the sunsets are just THAT awesome.

A herd of cows just walking down the road.

Then, dinner at our favorite restaurant in Bali, Metis! They have their own Foie Gras menu - yes we all ordered the same thing.

A restaurant employee giving offerings - overlooking the rice paddies

The sunsets in southeast Asia are the most beautiful I've ever seen in my life.

Parents, this one is for you. Thanks for being awesome and we hoped you enjoyed your trip to Bali as much as we enjoyed being able to give it to you. (Helminski parents - you're next!)

We are pals.