Postcards from Rachel: Ubud, Bali

Bali is a magical island that needs no introduction. They call it the 'island of Gods' which can only be felt and understood once you travel there and experience it on your own. If you want to dive deeper into the culture and spirituality of Bali, Ubud would be a good destination to start with. Famous from the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love', there's something really mystical about this little town. Maybe the fact that it's located at 200m above sea level that brings this natural sense of relaxation. I have once read somewhere that mountains are attributed to a high vibratory frequency which is why a lot of sacred temples and monasteries of the world can be found on higher altitudes. I am not sure if it's a proven theory but I can validate that theory by how I feel when I am high up on the mountains. 

If you ever get a chance to travel to Ubud, you must take time to discover the beautiful houses and villas tucked away in an oasis of greenery. Recently I packed my bikini, sarong and a good book for a weekend retreat to indulge in tranquility by the pool at Ubud Mana, located in a quaint village called Penestanan. With the sound of nature, swimming in a natural salt pool, it was all so serene and peaceful. With a beautiful weekend spent revitalizing for the week ahead, I am reminded about the simplest things in life we take for granted - gratitude. I believe it's important to make time for the Self to reflect and observe your thoughts and emotions after a week of productivity. If you need suggestions on where to go in Ubud town, just get in touch and I'll point you to the right directions. Namaste!

Inspired by The Sarong Girl: Dorothy Lamour

Island fashion is timeless. While most would think that sarong fashion is a modern trend in the Western world, you’d be surprised to find that the art of sarong wear has been around for decades and is a pop culture that never goes out of fashion.

We are so star struck by this beautiful American actress and singer from the 1930s. Her trademark image of the girl next door with exotic Polynesian features has contributed to her film career where she typically played most of her film roles clad in a sarong. “Lamour appeared in a sarong in 11 of those films, meaning that fully two-thirds of her roles during that ten-year span did not call for her to wrap herself in any manner of South Seas attire”.

The biggest impact of her Hollywood career would be her famous role as "Ulah" in classical film The Jungle Princess (1936). “She publicly burned a sarong, the skimpy South Seas garment with which she had been inseparably associated since her first starring role, in Paramount’s 1936 tropical romance The Jungle Princess (Wilhelm Thiele) (Head and Calistro, 67)”

Looking at these vintage photos, we find her to be very fitting and attractive in a sarong. It’s almost like that everlasting advertisement of all time to show what a sarong represents on a woman’s body. “There was something indelible about the connection between Lamour and her trademark garment: audiences seemed to remember her not for the variety of roles she played, but for those roles in which she appeared in a revealing sarong.”

This South Sea heroine is a reminder to our love and passion for Sarong fashion and as the saying goes, “You Can’t Go Wrong with a Sarong!”

So tell us, what do you think about this sarong beauty icon?

(Text source: http://sensesofcinema.com/2002/22/lamour and note: these images does not belong to us)