V&T Daily
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bali bliss
Published in the April-June 2011 issue.
Indonesia has some 17,000 islands, but for many travellers, there is only one. Bali attracts sybarites, party people, surfers, hippies and naturalists in equal measure, its allures spanning luxurious resorts and spas through to lush jungle and smouldering volcanoes.
Getting Your Bearings
Ubud is known as the cultural hub of Bali for good reason. Galleries line the streets of town while health and wellness retreats overlooking river valleys and rice fields offer yoga and meditation and indulgent spa packages. Closer to the airport, Seminyak and Legian attract Bali’s beautiful people with hip restaurants and boutiques, not to mention ample after-hours offerings. Families and beach babes will want to make a beeline for Nusa Dua, southeast of the airport, where a long stretch of white sand and kid-friendly resorts await. The Bukit Peninsula is known for its dramatic seascapes, and it’s here that you’ll find remote resorts enjoying vistas over the ocean from their cliff-top perches. If you’re looking to catch a wave or two, drop past the popular surf beach at Uluwatu.
Read on to learn more about the hottest places to eat, drink, sleep and party when you’re visiting this blissful Indian Ocean isle.
Food Glorious Food
From a slap-up seafood barbecue on the beach to French fine dining, you won’t go hungry in Bali.
Sarong: Indian, Thai and mod-Balinese fare star on the menu of this lovely, semi-open eatery in Seminyak. Begin your evening with a charred-fruit cocktail before moving on to delicacies like salmon wrapped in betel-nut leaves or moreish Keralan curries. sarongbali.com
Sardine: Overlooking rice fields in Kerobokan, Sardine serves up simple but tasty seafood dishes complemented by organic vegetables and herbs plucked from the restaurant’s own garden. Water features, candles and swathes of draped fabric add to the allure. sardinebali.com
Métis: More akin to a lifestyle complex than a restaurant, Métis sprawls over a double-story building looking out over rice fields in Seminyak. There’s a boutique selling local crafts and a petite deli, but the real reason you come here is for the consistently good French cuisine. Linger over cocktails and enjoy live music well into the wee hours of the morning at the alfresco bar area. metisbali.com
Mozaic: Consistently rated as one of Bali’s best restaurants, Mozaic serves impeccable western and Indonesian tasting menus in a semi-open Balinese house in Ubud. Meals may feature Indian Ocean rock lobster roasted in a banana leaf or chilled duck foie gras terrine with seasonal marmalade; if you like what you taste, book yourself in for a course in the adjoining culinary school. mozaic-bali.com
Jimbaran Beach BBQ: There are few better places in Bali to enjoy a sunset than from one of the alfresco seafood restaurants lining the beach in Jimbaran, just south of the airport. Menus are minimal – instead, wander up to fish tanks and choose your dinner, be it a platter of prawns, grilled fish or delicate clams. Then there’s nothing left to do except order a beer and sit back and watch the sun sink into the Indian Ocean.
La Luciola: Overlooking the beach in Seminyak, this breezy restaurant serves up fabulously fresh salads and seafood and wood-fired pizzas. Bookings are not accepted, so get here early if you want to be guaranteed an ocean-front table.
After Dark
Potato Head Beach Club: Riding the wave of success enjoyed by its older sister in Jakarta, the newly opened Potato Head Beach Club shakes and stirs some seriously good cocktails. The food can be hit and miss, but the beach-chic décor and well-mixed drinks are reason to return. Did we mention it overlooks the ocean? ptthead.com
Ku Dé Ta: Arguably Bali’s most acclaimed restaurant-cum-lounge, Ku Dé Ta is the place in Bali to watch the sun set. Sip icy cocktails on oversize sun loungers facing the ocean, a view made all the more dreamy by the chill-out beats spun by DJs on a nightly basis. kudeta.net
Cocoon Restaurant and Beach Club: One of the island’s newest bars, Cocoon enjoys an enviable spot in Legian, sprawling above the crowds on a rooftop overlooking the beach. The design is very San Tropez – all white and aqua with alfresco dining and DJ booth. cocoon-beach.com
Rock Bar: If you’re not at Ku Dé Ta watching the sun set, then you should be here. Cascading down a cliff at the Ayana Resort, this open-air bar serves good, strong cocktails and canapés. Arrive before 5 p.m. to guarantee yourself a sofa, order a fruity margarita and enjoy the show. ayanaresort.com
Naughty Nuri’s Warung and Grill: With two locations (the original hole-in-the-wall establishment in Ubud and a newer incarnation in Seminyak), Nuri’s draws crowds with its killer martinis paired with equally moreish pork ribs. There are no tricks or gimmicks or lavish flower arrangements, just great food and drinks that will knock your socks off. naughtynurisbali.com
Sleep Tight
Whether you’re looking for a private cliff-top aerie or a resort retreat amid the rainforest, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in Bali.
Villas
Sungai and Sungai Gold
Nestled amid rainforest and frangipani trees away from Seminyak’s madding crowds, Sungai and Sungai Gold are as exclusive as they are elegant, both offering five-star trappings with traditional Balinese overtones. Sungai’s three villas are beautifully appointed, overlooking an infinity pool and living area where staff prepares fresh Balinese fare with a twist. Ideal for honeymooners, the single villa at Sungai Gold sits above a river enveloped by a towering canopy of palms. Regardless of which property you check in to, you’ll have access to the best of everything – Bose sound systems, Aqua de Parma amenities, Nespresso machines and faultless service. One of Bali’s gems.
bali-villasungai.com
Panchoran Retreat
It’s used in the flooring and furniture, it’s infused in the bath amenities and it forms the main construction material of six villas… bamboo is the star of the show at this property on the outskirts of Ubud. Conceptualised by Linda Garland, an Irish expat who has called Bali home for more than 30 years, the shabby-chic Panchoran nestles amid a forest of mature – you guessed it – bamboo, with each of the accommodations offering a different design experience. Some of the villas come with a private plunge pool, but there’s a communal swimming pool as well as Jacuzzis and a yoga and spa pavilion should you wish to get back to nature in style. panchoran-retreat.com
Villa Des Indes
While many of Bali’s villas enjoy remote locations, the two Villa Des Indes complexes are set in the heart of Seminyak, within walking distance of the island’s hippest restaurants and shops. Rooms occupy two century-old antique Javanese houses and are fitted with Balinese art and artefacts sourced from the owner’s extensive private collection. A butler is on call around the clock, whether it be to prepare a lavish breakfast, mix sunset cocktails by the pool or whisk you around the island on a bespoke tour. villadesindes.com
Ketapang
Overlooking a black-sand beach on Bali’s central-west coast, Ketapang is not easy to find. But make the effort, because this beautiful property is as stylish as it is secluded. Seven guest rooms designed in stone and wood radiate from a central dining and lounge area, set in an antique Balinese house. Luxuries range from a 50-metre pool and twin Jacuzzis to a private cinema, helipad and spa facilities. Bliss. ketapangvilla.com •
Photographs courtesy of Indonesia Tourism and respective hotels, villas and restaurants.
Hotels and resorts
Kamandalu Resort & Spa
Designed to resemble a Balinese village, this five-star boutique resort is located in Ubud, the artistic heart of the island. Each of the 56 villas blends harmoniously into the surrounding fields of rice and tropical forest. Those staying in Pool Villas can look forward to exclusive personalised services at de Village Club while all guests can enjoy four-poster beds and natural finishings of wood and stone.
For a unique lunch experience, the resort offers picnics for two amid fields of terraced rice while an alfresco dinner under the stars is an experience not to be missed. Guests can also dine in complete privacy with an in-villa barbecue.
The Spa at Kamandalu features two treatment villas overlooking tall stands of palm and papaya where you can enjoy a complete series of rejuvenating experiences inspired by Ubud’s unspoiled scenery.
Kamandalu Resort and Spa also offers several unique site options for an intimate open-air wedding as well as luxurious honeymoon packages, cultural and nature-based activities.
how to book
Jl. Andong, Banjar Nagi, Ubud; 62-361/975-825; kamandaluresort.com
Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa
Located on one of the most stunning beaches of the Benoa Peninsula, Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa offers a combination of traditional Balinese hospitality and casual elegance.
Each of the newly renovated rooms at this smart waterfront resort features its own private balcony and spectacular bathrooms with separate bathtub and shower.
Giorgio Restaurant offers a memorable culinary experience with authentic and sophisticated Italian cuisine served in an intimate dining room, complemented by five additional bars and restaurants across the property.
The resort offers a large choice of attractive all-inclusive packages, room and breakfast offers, and romantic packages that can be customised depending on your needs. Newlyweds will want to make the most of the Honeymoon Suites, offering a private verandah with shaded bale, Jacuzzi, sunbathing deck and a stunning view over the Indian Ocean.
At the Biwana Spa, skilled therapists restore harmony to the body and soul with a tempting array of Balinese and Hawaiian massages, pampering body wraps, scrubs, facials and more.
how to book
Jl. Pratama 68X Tanjung Benoa, Nusa Dua; 62-361/773-577; astonbali.com
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua
Nestled on a white-sand beach on Bali’s southern Bukit Peninsula, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua provides travellers with the highest level of comfort together with the soft touches of Balinese hospitality.
Each of the resort’s newly refurbished guest rooms is designed in a contemporary style with touches of nature and traditional Balinese accents reflecting the local surroundings. Spacious and modern, the accommodations also offer views over the ocean, pool or manicured gardens.
If you are travelling with children or friends, the two-bedroom Ocean View Suite is the perfect choice. It comes designed with spacious living and dining areas, a study, lounge room and flatscreen TVs.
Sybarites will be delighted to learn that guest accommodations now come with a bath menu, allowing you to pamper yourself in the privacy of your own room. Or, restore your inner tranquillity with soothing wellness treatments at the Westin Spa, offering a range of lavish therapies and rituals.
Conveniently located, the resort is within easy reach of Bali’s best golf courses, shops and restaurants. But if you can’t tear yourself away from the hotel, there’s a state-of-the-art fitness centre, lagoon-style pools and numerous bars and restaurants to keep you entertained.
how to book
Nusa Dua; 62-361/771-906; westin.com/bali
Karma Jimbaran
Dramatic architecture, luxurious amenities and traditional hospitality combine at this stunning resort at Jimbaran Bay, just south of Bali’s airport. Karma Jimbaran’s 40 beautiful villas spill down a gentle hillside, each appointed with a private pool and Balinese décor and design including traditional alang-alang thatched roofs.
Guests can drift away to the sound of flowing water and enchanting music at the Karma Spa & Wellness centre, where staff train under the guidance of a Chinese health practitioner and offer everything from reiki to massage, yoga to facials.
Gourmands can enjoy fresh and thoughtful cuisine at Karma Restaurant, featuring a menu blending a variety of European and Asian dishes. Families can also relax at Karma Jimbaran thanks to the Kids Club, where children and infants are encouraged to enjoy a range of interactive facilities and activities.
how to book
Jl. Bukit Permai, Jimbaran Bay; 361/708-800; karmajimbaran.com
Karma Kandara
Set atop the sweeping cliffs of Uluwatu and overlooking one of Bali’s most beautiful beaches, Karma Kandara is blessed with a dramatic landscape and azure ocean views.
Each of the 46 two-, three- and four-bedroom villas is designed in traditional Balinese style with thatched roofs and sirap wood tiles. With an uncluttered Mediterranean ambiance, the rooms are fitted with richly upholstered furnishings in shades of chocolate, cinnamon, copper, bronze and amber, accentuated with local artworks and unique artefacts.
Karma Spa offers a boutique menu of curative sessions that can be experienced in-villa or at the sublime Spa Shacks or Healing Huts built on the cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean.
An array of dining options includes the signature restaurant, di Mare, where chef Simon Blaby creates modern Mediterranean cuisine using fresh, local ingredients. If you can tear your eyes away from your plate, you won’t be disappointed by the view here either.
how t obook
Jl. Villa Kandara, Banjar Wijaya Kusuma, Ungasan; 62-361/848-2200; karmakandara.com
Maya Ubud Resort & Spa
Maya Ubud Resort & Spa sprawls across 10 hectares of hillside gardens, high above two river valleys. On the outskirts of Ubud, popular for its cultural and dining attractions, the resort is one of the most luxurious, not to mention exclusive, properties in the area.
Accommodation options include Superior and Deluxe Pool Villas, each of which comes with a private tropical garden studded with flowering trees and coconut palms. Deluxe Pool Villas have the added indulgence of private plunge pools overlooking the river below.
Maya Sari Mas is the signature restaurant with covered and open-air dining rooms adjacent to the main swimming pool. There’s a wonderful à la carte menu offering international favourites and classic Balinese cuisine for lunch and dinner.
The Riverside Spa at Maya is a tropical heaven, located in open-air villas perched over the gushing river. Specialty treatments include a gentle four-hand massage, a relaxing Balinese massage, natural facials and body scrubs utilising organic herbs and ingredients, many of which are sourced from surrounding fields.
how to book
Jl. Gunung Sari Peliatan, Ubud; 62-361/977-888; mayaubud.com
The Legian
The Legian is an exclusive, all-suite hotel set in landscaped tropical gardens overlooking the beach in Bali’s bustling Seminyak district.
Conceptualised by applauded Indonesian designer Jaya Ibrahim, the hotel’s 67 suites deliver the finer pleasures of resort living with spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, separate living areas and private balconies. The appeal of the 35 Deluxe Suites is their likeness to a stylish apartment, boasting large exteriors perfect for sunbathing and well-appointed dining areas for entertaining.
Enjoy relaxing Balinese therapies and rituals at the Spa at The Legian, located in a verdant garden setting. A high-tech gymnasium, steam room and pedicure lounge round out the pampering options.
When it comes to wining and dining, The Restaurant serves lavish buffet breakfasts, light lunches and modern European cuisine with Asian influences for dinner. End your evening on a lounger by the pool where you’ll be lulled into a state of bliss by cocktails and a cool ocean breeze.
how to book
Jl. Kayu Aya, Seminyak Beach; 62-361/730-622; thelegianbali.com
Nikko Bali Resort & Spa
Experience exceptional hospitality at the five-star Nikko Bali Resort & Spa in Nusa Dua, on the east coast of the island’s Bukit Peninsula.
Offering stunning views over the Indian Ocean from a perch atop a 40-metre cliff, the resort’s 389 well-appointed rooms are finished in a timeless design, complemented by modern comforts and thoughtful hospitality.
Dining is exceptional with fresh dishes full of flavour served amid beautiful surroundings. Japanese, Indonesian and western favourites are all on offer across four restaurants. Or, experience a traditional Balinese dance performance over dinner at the Kupu-Kupu Amphitheatre.
The Mandara Spa offers a wide range of Bali massages and body treatments that can be enjoyed in one of eight spa villas or at the beachside bale. Other facilities include a well-equipped fitness centre, water sports, beach equipment and a children’s
jungle camp.
how to book
Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan, Nusa Dua;
62-361/773-377; nikkobali.com
Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua
The first Marriott-branded hotel in Bali and the 900th Courtyard hotel to open globally, the brand new Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua is among an exclusive cache of properties to call Nusa Dua home.
Located on the stunning southeast coast of Bali, just a few minutes’ drive from one of the island’s loveliest beaches, the property is ideal for those looking to relax and re-energise. As well as an 18-hole championship golf course, a number of cultural attractions and entertainment options are within walking distance of the hotel. If that sounds like too much effort, the Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua features plenty of its own diversions.
The hotel envelops a lagoon-style swimming pool, with additional facilities including a fitness centre and spa. The poolside bar is the ideal spot to enjoy fresh juice and cocktails in the sun, while Momo Café serves up bountiful Balinese and international favourites. Children will love the soon-to-open Kids Club, while those planning an event will find the hotel’s function space with surrounding landscaped grounds an inspirational space for teambuilding, social gatherings or weddings.
Covering four floors, the 250 guest rooms and suites each feature either a private balcony, garden or pool terrace. Contemporary and spacious marble bathrooms have rain showers or large bathtubs, complemented by a full spectrum of mod cons, from broadband Internet access to flatscreen TVs.
how to book
Nusa Dua; 62-361-3003888; marriott.com.au
Padma Resort Bali at Legian
Enjoying an enviable location in the heart of Legian, within walking distance of some of Bali’s most acclaimed restaurants and shopping precincts, the Padma Resort Bali sprawls over landscaped gardens just steps from the sand.
Among the many varieties of accommodation available, Deluxe Rooms have customised furnishings, unique pieces of art and private balconies while Garden Club Chalets utilise contemporary Balinese designs complemented by modern amenities and warm, earthy tones. Or, enjoy Club benefits when you check in to one of the Deluxe Suites, with spacious living areas adjoining light-filled bedrooms.
With seven restaurants and bars, guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to wining and dining. The Taman Ayun Café & Lounge serves Indonesian and international cuisine while the Sunset Bar is the perfect place to witness one of Legian’s famous sunsets. There’s also Italian cuisine, Japanese fare and a poolside bar serving cocktails and fresh juice throughout the day.
Padma Spa by Mandara adds an extra touch of paradise with a comprehensive selection of delightfully indulgent treatments including various massage therapies, facials, exotic body scrubs and aromatherapy.
how to book
1 Jl. Padma, Legian; 62-361/752-111; padmaresortbali.com
Meliã Bali
Located on the shores of Nusa Dua, this beachfront resort occupies nine hectares of lush tropical gardens enveloping a large lagoon-style swimming pool. The contemporary tropical architecture, bold décor and tranquil grounds are the epitome of island life on Bali.
The property features 494 rooms and suites, all offering the height of contemporary luxury. There’s also a luxury villa replete with a private terrace, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor bathrooms and separate sitting and dining areas. But why eat in your room when you have nine restaurants and bars to choose from? Whether you’re in the mood for tapas or tepanyaki, you won’t be disappointed with Meliã’s offerings.
This pampering theme is continued in the YHI Spa, where innovative treatments are utilised for the purification of the body, balance of the mind and cultivation of the soul.
The resort is just 11 kilometres from Ngurah Rai International Airport and within walking distance of Bali Collection, Nusa Dua’s main shopping centre, as well as the 18-hole Bali Golf and Country Club and the Bali International Convention Centre.
how to book
Nusa Dua; 62-361/771-510; meliabali.com
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V&T Takeoff
Updates from our editors and writers
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The team from the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau were in town last week to update Australia on some of the BIG things happening in the Texan state. |
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V&T mag dropped into Bali last month and helped the W Retreat & Spa celebrate their 2nd anniversary and what a splash it was. With local and international fashion designers on display, the W Lounge was transformed into a catwalk party zone. 2500 people flowed through the resort late into the night, moving to NYC DJ Sandy Rivera. This was the biggest ticket in Bali for some time and the resorts pulling power is a testament to just how hot this property and international hotel brand actually is.www.vacationsandtravelmag.com/Mca/874/765/3/0/0/#takeoff1 How did we cope the next day? Poolside. Don’t wait until their 3rd anniversary as the vibe, sound and style of this resort makes for a very cool holiday. In the heart of Seminyak and right on the beach, Bali beckons. |
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Thanks to our friends at Air France we got out of the office for the day and enjoyed a great round of golf at the annual Financial Markets Charity Golf Day and Gala Dinner. Held annually in February, this event as well as the Financial and Media Markets Charity Sailing Regatta in October raises AU$1.2 million for a wide range of charities.The ASX Group and Thomson Reuters Australia (formerly Reuters) joined forces in 1999 to form a Charity Foundation with the objective of helping Australian-based children, disability and medical research charities by organising fundraising events in conjunction with the Financial Markets. Pictured here: Thomas Reeves Air France, Middle, Patrick Benhamou, Atout France; Anthony Gallagher Vacations & Travel magazine. |
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Vacations & Travel magazine rubbed shoulders with local and international buyers and sellers of travel from around the globe at 2013 AIME (Asia Pacific's Incentive Meeting Expo). This is the biggest event on the Australian travel industry calendar, where key decision makers congregate to network over a three-day event of hosted parties, trade and leisure travel meetings and press conferences. |
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The who's who of Sydney's entertainment industry turned up for the recent opening of the city's newest hotel to receive a makeover, The Parkroyal. Located in Darling Harbour, the property has just emerged from a milt million-dollar makeover to reveal striking rooms and seriously sexy public spaces. Speaking of sexy, some of the celebs on hand to celebrate the re-launch included Casey Burgess, Danielle Blakey and Amy Milne, not to mention Timomatic who entertained the crowds into the witching hours… |
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