When Barack Obama came to Indonesia recently, he knew where to meet the region’s leaders, writes I.T.B and Anne Anderson. Bali is the island of the sarong and the smile, and a world-class tourist destination, with something for everyone.
Obama grew up in Indonesia, a country of 240 million people where the global financial crisis barely created a ripple. Space and seclusion lies just twenty minutes from Bali’s airport. Before Obama landed, the island closed its airport to all other planes. As lesser travellers bedded down on airport tiles, many of the Pacific’s most important leaders sat down to set a new standard. Doing business, surrounded by beauty…
Away from Nusa Dua’s five star hotels, Kuta’s swamps of suburban Australians swarming on a famous surf beach, and Padang Bai’s ferry terminal, a group of private villas nestle in a world apart. Well separated from the crowded Australian high streets spotted with Hindu temples, Seminyak is the new playground of the über-trendy sunning by the surfing bay.
But be warned, Seminyak is a bungy-jumping place to be seen, not to surf. In its streets statues hammered by stone sculptors raise swords at cars passing glass galleries of figurines forged by silver smiths. Tailors, and high-end clothing boutiques, take the place of T-shirts and bikini sellers.
Well, after working in Jakarta’s crowded streets and expat bars, we really needed some pampering. We decided to check out the Villa culture of Seminyak. And the charming and cosmopolitan Villa manager Johana Thomas held the keys to a former home, the Bli Bli Villa and Spa.
Bli Bli has expanded into a boutique hotel where a courtyard spills into a pool and leads to one, two and six bedroom pavilions, each with its own entertaining area. It’s style, with service, and aromatherapy support. “We have guests from all over the world stay here,” says Johana. “The location is great – quiet and within a few minutes walk of those nice restaurants and shops.“
For those with time to relax, its spa offers beauty treatment and massages, pedicures from the trained in-house health specialists. Johana tells us that Bli Bli Residence is very popular with newly weds.
Sanity prevailed. We had Jakarta copy still to finish.
Johana nodded. She directed us two hundred meters down a rutted lane, and into a secluded oasis. Discreet and private, only the Balinese gatekeepers know who comes and goes from the Orchid Villa, and neighbouring Maple Villa.
Behind the eight-foot walls of Maple Villa, a pool separated duplex pavilions in a courtyard garden and a pool. Buddha rose in a bust from an indoor pond. He meditated in a Balinese sitting room open to air like a warm blanket. To his left, a fully equipped kitchen closed our eyes and ears to siren calls to fine-dine and laugh the night away in the streets.
Our mobile phones worked. So did the broadband Internet password. Circle K minimarket lay just down the street, and the off switch worked on CNN and a hundred other channels to choose from.
Like foreign ministers and the world’s banking leaders, here in Bali, surrounded by Balinese art, bird song, and breezes, we had found the perfect place to finish our business and connect with family and friends back home.
Tomorrow, we can leave its safety sanctuary, and enjoy being tourists again. There’s nothing like being recharged in a Villa ensconced in Paradise.
GETTING TO BALI
International direct and indirect flights (Visa on Arrival, $US25, no photos needed, for most nationalities), or by 1.5 hour domestic flight from Jakarta, watching Java’s mountains catching sunlight over the clouds, on Indonesia’s national airline, Garuda.
http://www.garuda-indonesia.com/
GETTING TO SEMINYAK
Taxi from the airport, 70,000 Indonesian rupiah ($US8), 20 minutes,or by arrangement through your tour operator or travel agent
GETTING AROUND
Walk, rent a bicycle, taxi, rent a car, with or without driver, using the British system of driving on the left
CHOOSING YOUR VILLA
Style with service
The Bli Bli Residence
One, two and six bedroom villas and spa.
Airport pickup available.
Reservations:
Homestay discrete discretion
The Villa Maple
Three bedroom private pavilion complex, self catering.
Minimum stay two nights, drinks on arrival, airport pickup available.
Reservations:
http://villamaple.com/booking.php
The Villa Orchid
One and two bedroom pavilions, self catering.
Minimum stay two nights, drinks on arrival, airport pickup available.
http://www.villaorchidbali.com/
Reservations:
http://www.villaorchidbali.com/booking.php
English language enquiries about Seminyak, and its villas:
Real Estate and Marketing Manager Johana Thomas
Telephone +62-361-736711, Fax +62-361-735329,
Email [email protected]