Romantic Dinner for Two

That night the hotel was hosting a cocktail party for those who had just arrived.  It was held at the riverside pool, where we had lounged all day.

The pool had been glamourized and glowed magically with lollipop lanterns and floating candles.  About a half an hour later we glowed too.  They kept refilling our wine glasses before the condensation could evaporate.  The wine was OK, but it didn't really matter after the third glass. 

We spoke to both resort managers and, an exceptionally knowledgeable and friendly woman, who had worked for the Four Seasons for 12 years, pretty much since puberty. Russell told her my goal of staying at all the Four Seasons and she shared her thoughts on some of the best properties.  She had actually lived for two years at both Four Seasons Maldize properties.  You know the ones in the travel magazines that look like idyllic huts suspended over mesmerizing cerulean waters - yeah those.  We were amazed and enchanted.  Course the wine helped.

Aglow with amazement

Floating candles

These look nothing like the Pier 1 kind I own.

Super friendly, super smiley, Balinese musician

But our evening of enchantment had just begun.  Russell had arranged for a private dinner at the lily pond at the top of the resort.  We had done something similar, dinner on the sand, at the Hualalai property in Hawaii several years ago.

Follow the yellow lights...to paradise.

Sounds like a Jimmy Buffet song.

Yes, we'll take the table for two amidst the candlelight.

Nice.

This reminds me of wedding cake for some reason.
Imagine if all those petals were made of sugar,
or better yet: marzipan!

Our server was a wizened Balinese guy with extra white teeth.  They all seemed to have very white teeth.  Was this a hiring prerequisite, or did their dark skin just enhance their smiles, kind of like red lipstick does mine?

The waiter was discreet.  Russell and I ordered a bottle of wine and held hands between courses.  The food was good but the ambiance eclipsed the food.  Bats flew by, sabotaging insects drawn to the light, as frogs serenaded us from the lily pads.

The moon was almost full, and it cast an ethereal glow upon us as it cascaded affectionately across the stillness of the lilypond. It was ridiculously romantic; better than the website pictures. The only thing missing was music. That's when I started singing Bali High from the musical South Pacific.  You know the one.  

We couldn't get that song out of our heads the rest of the night.

We almost look like honeymooners.

Well, except for the wrinkles and mortgage.