Is there life after the Ritz-Carlton? In the case of Bali, yes, there most definitely is! A little back story is needed: With the arrival of the new Bvlgari Resort in Bali, certain competitors felt aggrieved and decided to take the hotel group to court over various "unfair" competition issues. The net result being that the Ritz-Carlton brand (part of the same group as the Bvlgari) made a reluctant, but graceful departure from the Bali scene. Many tears were shed and the people wondered: What becomes of The Property Formerly Known as Ritz-Carlton? The answer is: The Ayana Resort and Spa.

I took a trip out to the extreme southern tip of Bali today for the purpose of trying out the Di Mare restaurant at Karma Kandara. I've heard several people rave about it lately, but as I looked at photos of the restaurant's spectacular view, I immediately had to wonder whether the praise I was hearing was based on the culinary delights or the visual. What I found was that the restaurant lacks in neither regard.