Fragrant Rice - Janet de Neefe

I bought this at the author's stunningly beautiful restaurant "Indus" in Ubud, Bali because something about her story touched me. It was also a token of the beguiling beauty of Bali and my lovely time there. I found the first half of the book more interesting, as it was her story of falling in love with Bali as a teenager, then returning about a decade later when she met and fell in love with her husband, a Balinese. The part about when she first brought her husband-to-be to visit Australia, and her early experiences living in Bali, was funny and heartwarming. Mouthwatering and exotic recipes are generously detailed throughout the book, and the latter half describes the many wonderful ceremonies which are such an integral part of Balinese life.