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Archive Tagged ‘ubud’
No Bling or Fanfare On the Menu…
Just like the pink lotus ponds that greet you upon arrival at Amanusa, a perfected subtle luxury can be found in all aspects of the resort's landscape, service and ambiance.
The resort's luxe boutique offers guests a perfect island wardrobe including immaculate Panama hats, Indian inspired caftans, silk cocktail dresses, and of course an array of DHR peek-a-boo sheer cover ups and strapless tunics.
The Aman must think Bali is a pretty special place as they have built three successful getaways here that also include the Amandari, renowned for helping put Ubud on the map, and Amankila, the crown jewel of the up and coming East Coast of the island.
Everyone Loves Bali in the Summer
Summers are a great time to visit Bali - the days are warm and sunny, but not scorching hot.
The nights cool off enough to wear something light around your shoulders which if you live here year round is an amazing feeling.
As we come to a close on our very first year on the Island of the Gods, I thought it would make sense to jot down a short list of a few of our favorite things to do here so that you don't find yourself in a traffic jam for nothing.
1. Uluwatu: Think North Shore, Hawaii; Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa or Bells Beach, Australia - Uluwatu is up there with the world's most famous surf spots. Take in the energy and watch in awe from the cliff front warung or take a dip in the mystical beach cave at low tide.
2. Ubud: This place is absolutely nuts during the summer. Tour busses clog the streets and tourists crowed the sidewalks. Skip the mess and meander instead among rice paddies to the Sari Organik restaurant, located right in town yet in the middle of what feels like old Bali:rice farmers, dirty ducks, and coconut groves. Experience it at night and you'll be greeted by thousands of twinkling fireflies who also love Bali summers.
3. Padang-Padang: Definitely one of my favorite beaches especially during the summer as the white sand and turquoise Indian Ocean are pristine and perfect. It will be crowded this time of year, but in a fun way: surfer hotties of all levels paddling in and out, couples canoodling under umbrellas, kids running around exploring rock formations and secret coves and travelers from all over the globe showing off their country's unique beach style.
4. Sanur: Rent bicycles in town and ride a couple of miles along the famous beach board walk, Bali's first expat resort town established in the 1930's. Stop in at Hyatt Reef Izakaya (a few restaurants north of the Bali Hyatt Hotel) for lunch or dinner and enjoy freshly grilled mahi mahi or prawns caught that day.
5. Canggu: Enjoy yet again more continental surfer vibe at Echo Beach House on the glistening black sand of Echo Beach. This is a great home base to explore rivers coming down from the mountains, pick out your favorite beach front villa and again watch great local and world class surfers do their thing. Sunday afternoons have a fun party atmosphere with live music and a standing room only crowd so get there before five. Nearby Sea Sentosa also does movies on the beach every weekend through September.
Eco-Luxury Minimalism in Ubud
Mixing business with pleasure is a favorite past time in Bali and no one does it better than uber eco-preneurs, John and Cynthia Hardy.
This summer the couple is hosting a series of speakers at Bambu Indah, their eco-resort located right below the Amandari in Ubud.
Meandering through the resort grounds with a glass of fresh arak madu before the presentation, I thought to myself that I have never seen so much reclaimed wood in my entire life.
The entire property - from the traditional Javanese houses that make up the resort's rooms to the decorative, yet working agricultural plots that grow in between them - sets a new standard for what John refers to as 'primitive minimalism' albeit with a luxury twist.
Fantastic Balinese food, an eclectic and friendly audience along with a humorous presentation by 'shopping anthropologist' Paco Underhill, set the stage for a perfect night with all proceeds benefiting the Balinese scholarship at Green School, allowing more local children to enjoy a global and sustainable education.
On a road to somewhere yummy…
Get your rice paddy fix as well as a good meal in a very eclectic setting on the road to Sari Organik restaurant in Ubud.
Located almost directly across the street from Jalan Bisma, this delightfully well maintained path leads you along a Disneyland-esque stroll through rice paddies and coconut tree groves, working farmers and playful ducks doing their thing walking in a row or splashing in the mud.
Originally developed as a community project to help Balinese farmers learn about non-chemical farming, the trail provides little recycling bins, a small compost area and rubbish bins made from reclaimed basketball hoops.
Local Girl Goes Global with TULOLA
A year ago, Sri Luce decided to turn her eclectic childhood into a business and created Tulola; a jewelry line fusing traditional and contemporary Balinese design inspired by Sri's personal global style.
After all it's in her genes: her Balinese mother is originally from Ubud and is well known as Bali's first female painter to have held a private exhibition of her artwork; her American father was one of Bali's first silver jewelry exporters having discovered the island's expert craftsmanship in the late seventies.
Having grown up between Queens and Indonesia; with a three year stint at a Quaker boarding school, Sri finally settled on NYU for university. Anyone from an island knows that it's not always easy to spend too much time away from home. Bali soon beckoned and Sri's parents made a deal with her.
She could leave NYU but only if she agreed to work for the family's jewelry company. So after two years as an assistant and designer, Sri took over the biz and managed the company for four years.
Twelve months after taking the plunge on her own, Tulola's stunning brushed gold plated cuff bracelets have been seen on the wrists of Courtney Love and Penelope Cruz.
live well…love much…laugh often
Whether you're planning a fun getaway with the girls or a much needed escape from stressed out mom-dom, Bali is a nourishing hotspot for soul, mind and body.
The epitome of spa culture, you can't visit Bali without indulging in several spa treatments as there seems to be one or two or three on every corner.
An expat friend turned me on to the Japanese inspired creambath, a delicious hour long deep conditioning hair treatment that involves lots of scalp and shoulder massage. (Warning: You may be asking me about long term house rentals after this one.)
It's fun to find your own favorite spot, but for starters try Sanur's classic oceanfront resort Tandjung Sari which offers a lush & traditional Balinese setting. The 2.5 hour full body massage, scrub and creambath for US$100 is a winner.
Self described foot pamperologists, Fabulously Feet, recently opened in a fun, contemporary venue set beneath a sea of brightly hued paper lanterns, an eye popping candy bar and hot pink nanopods featuring Punjabi Lounge music.
For time on the mat and a view of vibrant jade green rice paddies, head to the Yoga Barn in downtown Ubud. In trendy Canguu, a must see is the open air studio at the Desa Seni eco-village. Both offer authentic and restorative environments offering a variety of practices as well as meditation and let loose creative dance.
As for eating well, Bali is an amazingly self sustainable island: watermelons, strawberries, beautiful lettuces, herbs and greens of all kinds grow in abundance here almost all year long.
Juicing is a very common feature on almost every menu with fresh fruit, vegetable and specialty cleansing drinks available morning, noon and night. My favorite, the detox me, is infused with mint, lemon and aloe vera all grown by the Swedish inspired Cafe Smorgas in Sanur.
Of course, the signature passion fruit martini at Metis Restaurant is also chock full of good for you antioxidants and rounds out any Bali based wellness program.
We're not in Kansas anymore
When I finished reading "Eat, Pray, Love" a couple of years ago, I fantasized about moving to Ubud; finding a cozy Balinese cottage in the middle of a rice paddy with a yoga studio right down the street.
When we actually landed in Ubud for the first time this summer, I couldn't believe my eyes: the quaint artists' village I had envisioned is actually a bustling mecca of restaurants, art galleries, jewelry shops, cafes and spas - not a yoga studio in sight let alone a spare square inch on the topsy turvy sidewalk we attempted to maneuver with the kids. Note to self: Ubud is not the place to bring a stroller; better off with a Kelty backpack carrier, for sure.
Even in the "slow" season which is regarded as October thru April, Ubud is a beehive of activity. Despite the pace though, there is a different energy here that feels deeper, more grounded than many of the coastal towns; you climb the mountain and the temperature drops a few degrees, coconut, banana, banyan and plumeria trees hover along steep precipices overlooking rocky, flowing streams. You have to take your time in Ubud. It is not the kind of place to spend half a day and feel like you've really seen what she has to offer.
The best strategy is to spend a few days and take each street slowly; shop for an hour then people watch inside a cafe and have a fresh watermelon juice or ginger tea. A fantastic souvenir that a few of the shops specialize in is a double-ply parachute fabric hammock; they are bright, durable and will remind the family of Bali for years to come. The jewelry selection is mind boggling, loungy; eco-fabric clothing shops for men and women as well as really fun children's lines such as Dandelion Baby tempt you in every turn.
There is also art everywhere; good and bad. Dismiss the oversized, beret sporting Che Guevara portraits and duck into one of Ubud's smart little art galleries such as T-artspace which features temporary exhibits of contemporary Indonesian artists. Right around the corner you'll find Ganesha Bookshop which has a fabulous collection of Balinese Books and Bali Buddha; where Ubud's "hippy set" go for a great vegetarian meal, organic necessities and locally made products.
If you're in a heartier mood, head to the bright and beautiful two-story Laughing Buddha Bar for a delectable bowl of shrimp wonton soup and live music most nights of the week. And if you're feeling really frisky, head to standing room only Naughty Nuri's which boasts the most famous martinis and ribs on the island.
Chocolate is Good For You
It has been almost four months since our family arrived on the island of Bali. I have to say that I'm already feeling like a local. I know where to go for the best cup of coffee, freshest grilled mahi mahi, shadiest spot on the beach, and even the best place to buy diapers in bulk.
There's no question that the hands down winner of our favorite restaurant; especially for the mind blowing chocolate desserts goes to the Casa Luna Restaurant located in the bustling mountain town of Ubud. Chocolate mousse, chocolate decadence, flourless chocolate cake - you name it, they make it and along with the ambiance, it's magical!
Built on a lush, steep ravine; Casa Luna is the successful dream child of powerhouse Bali expat, Janet De Neefe, who arrived on the island in 1974 and has built an iconic empire that includes two fabulous restaurants (Casa Luna & Indus), a world famous cooking school, and a charming hotel in downtown Ubud called the Honeymoon Guesthouses. She is the author of a delicious book called "Fragrant Rice" and also spearheaded the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival which is gaining tremendous momentum. Last October, the festival attracted internationally acclaimed guest writers including Fatima Bhutto and Wole Soyinka.
