If you are planning a trip to Bali, Indonesia, then Ubud needs to be added to the list of places that you are planning to visit. I had the pleasure of spending a week in this beautiful country, and fell in love with Ubud. The rich culture, the kind people, the food, the jungle and the peaceful air was an incredible experience. I stayed at the Viceroy in Ubud, which is in the middle of the jungle.woke up to the peaceful sound of birds chirping, and fell asleep to the sound of crickets. The air was refreshing, and it was the most peaceful, beautiful setting. During the day, I visited the Saraswati Temple, a beautiful, ancient Hindu temple that is still attended daily by the locals.
Saraswati Temples in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Hindu offerings at the Saraswati Temple in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Kate Stoltz at the Saraswati Hindu Temple in Ubud, Bali
Breakfast at the Viceroy was fresh fruit from the jungle, fresh fresh ground coffee and local eggs.
Breakfast at the Viceroy
The view from the breakfast table
The rice fields are just as peaceful and beautiful as the temple and the hotel. The amount of labor that the farmers put into maintaining their rice fields is impressive. Each patty needs to have enough water, but not too much... The farmers work the fields by hand and get up very early in the morning to maintain these fields.
Kate Stoltz by the rice fields in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
I want to do yoga here every morning, then sip tea and listen to the birds..
Yoga mats by the rice fields in Ubud Bali in the jungle
The Hindu and Buddhist culture was integrated into the land and people. The kind way they treated me and each other, the statues and the ancient carvings was all so real, inspiring and incredibly natural. I left a big piece of my heart in Ubud, Bali <3
XO-Kate Stoltz
Buddhist statue at the Viceroy in Ubud Bali
What is there to do in New York City? The many museums in Manhattan are a great place to start.. I've been visiting museums every day for the last couple of weeks for an art class. Yesterday, we visited the Frick Collection, which quickly became my favorite museum. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a close second, but the Frick collection offers a more private experience. It's definitely worth seeing. 
Indoor Courtyard at the Frick Collection
Just a little background: Henry Frick was a wealthy merchant that built an elaborate mansion on 5th Avenue in the late 1800's. He built the mansion to live in, but intended it to eventually become a museum. Frick loved art, especially pieces of beautiful sceneries and women. The walls are lined with incredible works from the likes of Claude Monet, Vermeer, Van Dyke and many other masters. The Frick Collection doesn't allow photos to be taken inside the museum, only in the courtyard. Photos don't do the Frick Collection justice though. You really need to go yourself to enjoy the mansion, the valuable art and the courtyards 
Frick Collection outdoor courtyard
Imagine if ten percent of Manhattan residents left their buildings at one time and tried to drive out of the city as fast as possible. That's what it feels like if you leave the city at 4pm on Independence Day Weekend. I left right after class, but still didn't beat the evening traffic. Traffic was so slow that I jumped out of the car to grab food at a deli while the driver kept driving. Five minutes later, I was back in the car- ready for the road trip.
Even though the traffic can be horrendous, the drive to the Hamptons is worth it. I had the pleasure of staying in Montauk for the Fourth of July Weekend. The Hamptons are incredible for a good dose of visual inspiration. A casual and cool nautical theme is consistent through the towns, boutiques, homes, restaurants and of course, the outfits of the stylishly dressed visitors and locals. There are designer boutiques, delicious restaurants, barbecues, beach bonfires, and pretty much anything you could want at a beach except for Uber drivers....
Storm clouds at Flying Point Beach, Southampton
Pretty dunes on the beach and the beautiful sunsets make up for the fact that the water is too cold for most to go into. I made sure to take my camera with me wherever I went to capture the pretty sunsets and storm clouds. Here are a couple of my favorite snaps of the beach and of Hampton's nature.
XO- Kate Stoltz
Calm sunset in Southampton
XO- Kate Stoltz
Established in 2011, Governors Ball has quickly become the best festival in New York City, and one of the top music events in the United States. It is an annual summer concert that had over 60 acts in 3 days. The action packed event happens a short ferry ride off of Manhattan on Governors Island. The Governor’s Ball 2016 lineup included Kanye West, The Killers, Haim, Of Monsters and Men, The Strokes, Mac Miller and many others.
People often ask me what inspires me. The answer is simple: Travel. I love traveling, and get inspired by the different cultures, landscapes and lifestyles. Here are a couple of photos that I took while I was in South Kuta in Bali, Indonesia. ❤ XO, Kate Stoltz
Donkeys in Aruba Posted on 6 Jan 08:00 , 0 comments
Aruba is a small island with a beautiful beach, great food and a quick flight from New York City. Things you need to do while you're in Aruba include renting a Range Rover and exploring the island for a day. Take a short twenty minute drive to the eastern part of the island, and you'll come across cliffs, rocky beaches, cactus, and wild donkeys. The freely roaming donkeys were the most unexpected part of the trip: they ambled about munching on grass without a care in the world...
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Fireworks are legal in Aruba, so a couple of families were hanging out on the beach setting some off in the evening. Never afraid of trying something new, I lit a couple fireworks myself.
Time feels quicker while traveling.
Near the sea, we forget to count the days.
XO, Kate Stoltz
Saraswati Temples in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Imagine if ten percent of Manhattan residents left their buildings at one time and tried to drive out of the city as fast as possible. That's what it feels like if you leave the city at 4pm on Independence Day Weekend. I left right after class, but still didn't beat the evening traffic. Traffic was so slow that I jumped out of the car to grab food at a deli while the driver kept driving. Five minutes later, I was back in the car- ready for the road trip.
