Balinese Luxury
Time seemed to sit still as we neared the timeless Balinese luxurious resort Amandari, passing through lush vegetation before arriving at the welcoming open-air thatched roof pavilions of the resort’s lobby. The authentic design of the resort using local materials like coconut and teak makes the Green Globe certified Amandari a perfect fit into the local Kedewatan Village. We soon found out that Amandari is more than a neighbour in Kedewatan, as the majority of the staff at the resort come from the village. The stone steps leading from the hotel to the Ayung River below are actually used by villagers to make offerings at the local temple, part of the Hindu tradition adopted by the majority of Balinese. Coincidentally, we arrived to participate in Purnama, a special full moon ceremony during which which we were blessed by performing rituals using holy water, incense, fresh flowers and rice grains. It was the most beautiful and unique welcoming experience. We felt right at home when we sat down to enjoy some curry chicken puff pastry soup and iced roselle tea in the lounge overlooking the gorgeous infinity pool, which is an excellent spot for watching sunsets. The terrace shaped pool is reminiscent of the communal pond found in Bali’s villages.
Passing through stone walkways and volcanic rock walls, we were guided to our Pool Villa. When we opened the artistically carved wooden door to our villa, we were in awe. The spacious villa opens to a reflective private pool through sliding glass doors where we spent most of our time relaxing either by the pool terrace or in the loungers when the sun was out. Beautiful frangipani and heliconia add a colourful and magical touch to the pool surroundings. The Balinese touch can be found in the bamboo-frame roof of the villa which is layered with alang alang thatching along with the rattan chairs for curling up in with a great book. On the marble table is a refreshing fruit platter including some of our favorites like passionfruit and mangosteen along with a detailed calendar of events guests can participate in at Amanadri. Looking out the set of sliding glass doors in the other direction from the comfy day beds, we saw local villagers working on their harvest, making feel as though we were part of the village. Being a city dweller, we soon looked for a TV and found none! Instead, we were treated to an iPod with traditional Balinese music. We were delighted to see that the bathroom amenities are all in refillable jars to minimize waste. Another set of sliding glass doors by the shower space lead to an outdoor sunken bath where you can listen to birds chirping and breathe in fresh air while enjoying a sea salt bath. A set of stairs of this stunning duplex villa lead to a private sleeping area where a four poster bed with an artistic batik above can be found. Looking out at the lush vegetation outside and the glistening pool outside, it felt as though we were living in a treehouse!
With a list of great activities, active guests certainly won’t get bored at Amandari. The cooking class is not to be missed. We set out bright and early at 7am with our informative guide to the local market and were equipped with a shopping list, basket and some change to look for our fresh ingredients. Bringing the spices, herbs, and fresh produce back onto the van, we were whisked away to a traditional Balinese home where we were treated to some lemon ginger tea and delicious fried banana before we set out on our tasks of chopping, pounding and cooking with the help of one of Amandari’s very own friendly chefs. After a few hours of hard work, we were treated to a delectable meal of green papaya soup, chicken curry, sautéed fiddle head fern tips, and black rice porridge with coconut cream in a bale overlooking the rice paddies. Our favorite part was the coconut utensils, including the coconut shell spoons and coconut leaf spoon-what a resourceful and eco-friendly way to eat!
After a fun day in the kitchen, we had a relaxing start the next morning. On the lovely walk from our villa to the restaurant, we came across a blooming lily pond and naturally aged stone statutes which can be found throughout the numerous temples in Bali. We had a healthy breakfast at the restaurant with drinks such as beetroot and ginger which is great for detox, as well as muesli and yoghurt. We were accompanied by a row of chirping birds perched on the edge of the infinity pool overlooking the Ayung river valley. For some local Balinese treats, guests are invited to the daily afternoon tea with lemon ginger tea and coffee and sweets prepared by a lovely mother-daughter team from the Kedewatan village.
Amandari offers complimentary rides to Ubud town which is just a 10-minute away. Here you can find all sorts of organic cafes, yogawear shops, Balinese trinkets and a monkey forest! If you prefer to stay at the resort, there’s also a gym to keep you active during your holiday. The health facility also includes steam and sauna and of course a spa for pampering treatments.
The Amandari experience is all about the people. We felt at home the moment we arrived with the welcoming smiles. The staff even packed delicious homemade brownies for us to enjoy at the airport when we left. What a heart-warming experience! We can’t wait to return to this home away from home when we come back to spiritual Ubud in Bali!
Time seemed to sit still as we neared the timeless Balinese luxurious resort Amandari, passing through lush vegetation before arriving at the welcoming open-air thatched roof pavilions of the resort’s lobby. The authentic design of the resort using local materials like coconut and teak makes the Green Globe certified Amandari a perfect fit into the local Kedewatan Village. We soon found out that Amandari is more than a neighbour in Kedewatan, as the majority of the staff at the resort come from the village. The stone steps leading from the hotel to the Ayung River below are actually used by villagers to make offerings at the local temple, part of the Hindu tradition adopted by the majority of Balinese. Coincidentally, we arrived to participate in Purnama, a special full moon ceremony during which which we were blessed by performing rituals using holy water, incense, fresh flowers and rice grains. It was the most beautiful and unique welcoming experience. We felt right at home when we sat down to enjoy some curry chicken puff pastry soup and iced roselle tea in the lounge overlooking the gorgeous infinity pool, which is an excellent spot for watching sunsets. The terrace shaped pool is reminiscent of the communal pond found in Bali’s villages.
Passing through stone walkways and volcanic rock walls, we were guided to our Pool Villa. When we opened the artistically carved wooden door to our villa, we were in awe. The spacious villa opens to a reflective private pool through sliding glass doors where we spent most of our time relaxing either by the pool terrace or in the loungers when the sun was out. Beautiful frangipani and heliconia add a colourful and magical touch to the pool surroundings. The Balinese touch can be found in the bamboo-frame roof of the villa which is layered with alang alang thatching along with the rattan chairs for curling up in with a great book. On the marble table is a refreshing fruit platter including some of our favorites like passionfruit and mangosteen along with a detailed calendar of events guests can participate in at Amanadri. Looking out the set of sliding glass doors in the other direction from the comfy day beds, we saw local villagers working on their harvest, making feel as though we were part of the village. Being a city dweller, we soon looked for a TV and found none! Instead, we were treated to an iPod with traditional Balinese music. We were delighted to see that the bathroom amenities are all in refillable jars to minimize waste. Another set of sliding glass doors by the shower space lead to an outdoor sunken bath where you can listen to birds chirping and breathe in fresh air while enjoying a sea salt bath. A set of stairs of this stunning duplex villa lead to a private sleeping area where a four poster bed with an artistic batik above can be found. Looking out at the lush vegetation outside and the glistening pool outside, it felt as though we were living in a treehouse!
Amandari offers complimentary rides to Ubud town which is just a 10-minute away. Here you can find all sorts of organic cafes, yogawear shops, Balinese trinkets and a monkey forest! If you prefer to stay at the resort, there’s also a gym to keep you active during your holiday. The health facility also includes steam and sauna and of course a spa for pampering treatments.
The Amandari experience is all about the people. We felt at home the moment we arrived with the welcoming smiles. The staff even packed delicious homemade brownies for us to enjoy at the airport when we left. What a heart-warming experience! We can’t wait to return to this home away from home when we come back to spiritual Ubud in Bali!
