The interior of our holiday villa

In January 2001 we visited Bali for the first time and spent some time finding a fine location to have our holiday villa built. Only when we came across the present project, we found our Balinese paradise.

The smell and sounds of the Far East with all its mystic and customs as well as all kinds of ceremonies used on Bali touched us deeply and we immediately thought: "This is it!". Contracts were signed in May and already in the following month of September we could return to be present at the delivery of our holiday villa. During the two weeks that followed we completely fell in love with Bali and especially the area around our villa.

Bukti and in fact the whole of northern Bali has not been a destination for mass-tourism so consequently the local population live their lives as they have done for thousands of years. Bali's around 3 million inhabitants are 95% Hindu and the remaining 5% are either Muslim or Christian.

Now back to our holiday villa and its guest-home, and what to expect.

Our holiday villa was built on a property of about 1400 m2, fully enclosed by pillars and fencing. The villa itself covers an area of approx. 200 m2, all single-storey.
You will find:

Living-room:

A spacious living- & dining-room with a dinner-table for 10 people plus high chair. Comfortable chairs, TV, dvd-player with lots of dvd's and a playstation with a large number of games are also at your disposal.

We also have a mobile phone [+62(0)8123862950] which can be used for local calls on Bali and for receiving calls from abroad.

Two airconditioning units are also available but you won't need them very often as life on Bali mostly take place outside!

Next to the living area is an open-plan kitchen with a scullery, a very large frigde and a washing-machine and cupboards. Moreover ther's an installation for hot & cold water to which 5 gallon bottles, which you can buy, can be connected. There's also an oven/microwave combination.

You won't neccessarily find yourself in the kitchen very often, for actually it is the domain of our Iluh and Moni who will do the cooking, washing and ironing for you!

Finally the kitchen is equipped with a small medicine cupboard with some useful first-aid items. 

The bedrooms 

From the living area you enter a corridor and you'll see the master-bedroom of approx. 5 x 5 metres. Inside you'll notice a great four-poster bed (2.10 m. long x 2.00 m. wide) and 2 foldings beds.
Also in this room are a 4-door wardrobe and a dressing-table with mirror and 2 chairs.
There's an en-suite bathroom with shower and toilet.

The 2nd bedroom measures 3.60 x 3.60 metres and is furnished with a 2.00 x 1.80 metres double bed, 2 pedestal cupboards, 2 folding beds and a 4-door wardrobe.
This room also has its en-suite bathroom with shower and toilet.

The 3rd bedroom also measures 3.60 x 3.60 metres, has a 2.00 x 1.80 metres double bed, 2 pedestal cupboards and a spacious wardrobe.

Adjacent to this bedroom is an en-suite bathroom with washing-basin and toilet.

All bedrooms are fitted with air-conditioning.

Back in the corridor you will find a separate toilet and a number of fitted wardrobes.

Beach-towels, towels, washing-gloves, dish towels etc. as well as bed linen are available in double quantities, so there’s no need for you to bring them along.

Moreover all sorts of games and plenty of books to read are at your disposal.

The guest-home is situated at the front of the garden, about ten metres from our villa and has a small terrace with table and chairs.
Inside a spacious area with double bed measuring 1.80 x 2.00 metres, a pedestal cupboard, a four-door wardrobe and its own air-conditioning.
Furthermore a small open-plan kitchen with some kitchen-utensils and also a hot- & cold water installation for 5 gallon bottles.
There is a separate bathroom with wash-basin, shower and toilet.

What about the possibility of an hour of Balinese massage at home ?
Via Sudi of the helpdesk you can ask Komang (Sudi’s sister) to come over for this massage. At a cost of approx. 65,000/70,000 Rupia (6,00 euros, dependent on the rate of exchange), this is a real bargain. Komang also gives head- and neck massage and pedicure.

All in all this is a completely furnished holiday villa and guest-home with every convenience enabling you to do what you came for: to relax and enjoy a carefree holiday!

The exterior of our holiday villa.

First of all there is a large private swimming-pool (9x5 metres). Depth is 1.40 metres for the first three metres, gradually sloping to 2.20 metres. At the deep end is a diving board.

Adjacent to the swimming-pool is a large terrace with a basketball board, so this game can be played from the pool.

The large sheltered terrace with a round (dining-) table and six chairs plus a lounge set on the other side of the terrace, makes this a very cosy spot commanding wonderful views of the Balinese Sea and, of course, our beautiful and well-kept garden.

Next to the swimming-pool is a large sun-terrace, while in the garden you will find six reclining-chairs fitted with cushions that can be placed all over the garden.

Also near the swimming-pool is an open-air shower which we hope you will use before entering the swimming-pool, thus ensuring optimal hygiene for all. 

The Garden.

In the garden there are two Bale BenGongs (small Balinese rest-homes)

The little Bale Bengong actually is a large bed with soft pillows and cushions, making it an ideal spot for reading or lazing with great sea views and always a nice cooling breeze.

The large Bale Bengong contains a round table with settees for some ten people so that you can have a barbeque, play family games or relax in a cosy fashion.     

Our garden is fully equipped with all kinds of trees, plants and flowers (some 800 in all) and as a result, butterflies and birds often visit it.
We hope to have made it a little paradise because we have tried to capture Bali’s nature on a small but controlled scale.

At the front of the garden is our guest-home with adjoining storage space (gudang) where our private possessions are situated.
Our staff have a key to this gudang in order to fetch necessary tools or the engine of the boat.
Your suitcases can also be stored there during your stay.

At the entrance of our grounds a small shed was built. 

Adjacent to our holiday villa you will observe a separate exit with steps leading to the small beach. Normally spoken the gate is locked but you will find the key on a nail at the door-post beside the back exit of the living-/dining-room.
On this beach, which we actually regard as a private beach because only locals sometimes come there, is our Balinese boat with sun-shade. This boat can be used by you without further obligations. Let Ketut inform you and assist you to see how the boat and its engine work.
This boat is ideal for fishing,snorkling, diving or just making a trip along the coast.
As far as snorkling is concerned, it’s not really necessary to take the boat.
From the beach, the reef can be reached by swimming some 60 to 80 metres and there you can see all kinds of fish and coral. The latter must, of course, not be broken off or taken with you!

In case you enjoy fishing you are advised to bring a casting rod with you. Alternatively, you can go fishing the Balinese way with a “fishing spool” plus some rope and hooks which can be obtained in Singaraja’s main street.
Gede, a local fisherman can assist you and is even prepared to join you during your fishing-trips. Just ask Ketut how to contact him.
While at sea, always take tides, currents and sudden changes in the weather conditions into account !!

What can the immediate surroundings of our holiday villa offer you ?

The north of Bali has definitely not yet been discovered by mass-tourism, so in case you like to go out, visit disco’s or enjoy a lot of hustle and bustle you’d better not rent our villa !
In that case you are advised to book something in Kuta, Nusa Dua or Sanur in the southern part of Bali.

However, with us you’ll enjoy peace and quietness and every day you will be surprised by the local population with its ceremonies, all kinds of customs and way of life.
95% Of the population is Hindu and if you want to know more about this religion you will certainly not be disappointed in our region.

What can you do and visit in the neighbourhood of our holiday villa ?

Our villa is situated close to the sea, so apart from swimming in our private pool you can also have a wonderful swim in the sea. Snorkling and even diving can be done directly from our villa. Moreover, as already mentioned before, we own a small Balinese boat with engine which is ideal for trips along the coast or to take on a fishing-trip.

When you cross the road at the front of our property you will enter the mountains so hiking in the mountains with regular wonderful vistas is really at your doorstep.

UTogether with Jos Ketut, our chauffeur, you can make really superb trips by motorbike/scooter over the mountains to paddy-fields, waterfalls, Balinese mountain villages, breathtaking views etc.
When you have a normal physical condition, you are well advised to do this.
The costs for motorbikes and fee for Jos are to be arranged with him.

Do visit the waterfalls of Les at about half an hour’s drive from our villa. You will have to walk the last part of the trip (approx. 20 minutes) and don’t forget a towel and plastic shoes because you’ll want to stand under and behind the waterfall, of course.

Another possibility are the waterfalls of Gitgit at about a 45 minutes’ drive. These are
somewhat more tourist than those at Les, but certainly well worth a visit.

The nearest big city of Singaraja, which is well appointed to do your shopping, is half an hour’s drive away and is worth visiting a number of times.
Especially the market (pasar) is a real experience.
Singaraja used to be the focal point and even the capital of Bali. For centuries it was the meeting place for different cultures from all over South-east-Asia.
This past is still reflected in the many places of worship of various religions. For example, apart from Hindu-Balinese sanctuaries you will also see Chinese temples and Islamic mosques.
Gedung Kirtya, a historic library, contains a unique treasure: a collection of about 3,000 lontar(=palmleaf)-manuscripts and numerous metal sheets from the 14th century, written in ancient Balinese, on which royal laws were depicted.

In the area between our villa and Singaraja there are a number of temples of great importance,viz.:

In Sangsit – the Puri Beji, dedicated to the rice-goddess Dewi Sri.
In Sawan – the Pura Dalem Jagaraga, the temple of the underworld , with its great excess of ornaments.
In Kubutambahan – the Pura Meduwe Karang, dedicated to the “lord of the fields”, with its very elaborate ornaments with statues. The best-known relief in the temple depicts a Dutch cyclist with a bike using flowers as wheels.

Some distance beyond Singaraja you’ll find Lovina ( North Bali’s tourism hot spot) and a sunset near the statue of the dolphins is not to be missed. There are quite a few restaurants and shops to look around. You’ll also find a number of diving-schools there.

A real must is “dolphin watching”, which involves getting up early for at 06.00 you can book a place on one of the many boats that will search for groups of dolphins about 2 miles off the coast. With a little luck you will see whales as well.
Have some breakfast afterwards and then return to snorkel and feed the fish. They are so used to this ritual that they will eat from your hand !

Be sure to visit Banjar with its natural hot water springs, a small distance from Lovina.

From our villa, just stroll along the road in the direction of Bukti or Air Sanih and be surprised at the kindness and spontaneous reactions of the local population. A small number of restaurants are available in Air Sanih.

There is also a public tennis-court in Air Sanih that can be used by you at a small compensation. During some weekly afternoons the locals play there too and they appreciate it if you join in a game of double or mix.

Opposite the tennis-court you will find a unique fresh-water swimming-pool. Unique because it’s situated close to sea and therefore definitely worth a visit.

For those of you who are divers, Amed and Tulamben will be places for diving not unknown; at about 1 hour’s drive. Tulamben in particular, with the wreck of the US Liberty at only 30 metres off the coast at a depth of 4 metres and sloping.
Naturally, Bali boasts places for diving and firms to assist you all along its coastline.

For those of you who are keen on playing golf there is a magnificent 18-holes golf-course called “Bali Handara Kosaido Golf and Country Club” in Bedugul at approx. one hour’s drive.
This golf-course belongs to Asia’s top-5 courses and is beautifully situated against a mountain slope at an altitude of more than 1,000 metres. It was designed by the famous architect Peter Thompson.
Also phone Komang Sujana, the local pro there, in order to check if there is no tournament on the day you would like to play or maybe to play with him. He enjoys going with you to play a round and he can also give you lessons, of course.

By the way, there is a complete set of Wilson clubs at you disposal in our villa.

Bedugul is a place certainly worthy of a visit. A great Pasar with especially lots of fruit, vegetables and souvenirs and then next to Lake Bratan, called “the holy lake” by the locals.
Halfway this lake you will find the temple of Pura Ulun Danu, in which Dewi Danu, goddess of lakes and rivers is worshipped.

Near Bedugul, in the village of Candi Kuning, you will find a 130 ha. botanical garden in which you can get a good impression of the wealth of tropical mountain flora. Numerous wild orchids, among them very rare species, are on display there.

On your way to Bedugul you will pass colonies of monkeys on the top of the mountain. It’s quite an experience to feed them as they are used to all those foreign visitors.

As a last tip we can recommend Kintamani at an hour’s drive. Not so much because of the village of Kintamani itself, but rather because of the fine view of the still active Gunung Batur volcano as well as Bali’s highest mountain, the Gunung Agung.
From Kintamani you drive in the direction of Ubod on the Tegalalang, a long road with a great many shops where you can buy many pleasant and low-priced articles.

Jos the chauffeur is well acquainted with all these trips so he can take you there without any difficulty. While on your way, enjoy the wonderful views of the Sawah’s (terraces of paddy-fields).

Please note that when visiting temples and the like a sarong is obligatory, also for men and children, so buy them and take them with you on your day trips or rent them at the temples.

In our holiday villa you will find a number of travel-guides containing hundreds of other tips to explore Bali.

What does the island of Bali have to offer?

They live in paradise on earth – the Balinese are convinced of that. They call their island in the Indian Ocean Pulau Dewata (“Island of the Gods”)

Man and nature together form a huge diversity on just 5600 square kilometres.
Tropical temperatures prevail both in the deep green terraced paddy-fields in the south and in the inaccessible jungles in the west. In the highlands with their mist-enshrouded mountains and ravines it’s moist and fresh. In some parts, glowing streams of lava have devastated everything. The ashes have coloured the beaches in the north black. Yet connoisseurs know to appreciate this coastal area, for it’s not so frequently visited by tourists as the bustling south with its white beaches, coral reefs and often stormy surf.

In hardly any other part of South-east Asia, art and culture have so richly displayed themselves as here. Bali is the last Hindu enclave in the Islam dominated Indonesian archipelago. Thousands of temples testify the importance of their religion in the alinese way of life. Everywhere, one comes into contact with religion and rituals. The silence of meditation is as natural as the turbulent festivities – contrasts that the Balinese don’t seem to mind.

 

Some remarks about Bali are:

• The land of smiles
• Indonesia’s supplier of rice
• The new paradise on earth
• Artists of the Far East.

(source: Discover and experience Bali by Delta)

First of all we have a number of books about Bali in our holiday-villa, so there’s no shortage of information but still, here are a few musts:

PURA BESAKIH, mother temple of the Balinese. It’s the largest and most sacred temple of Bali and lies at a height of about 1,000 metres beside the highest mountain Gunung Agung.

Between Padangbai and Kusamba is the cave of the bats called GOA LAWAN. On its walls hang thousands of bats, sleeping there by day and flying out in the evening, just before darkness falls.

At 30 minutes from Candi Dasa is TENGANAN, an original Balinese village. Through a narrow gate one enters a still untouched world. By means of the village wall the inhabitants, members of a Bali Aga-tribe, have managed to keep modern civilization
outside their village.

Also visit Bali’s capital, DENPASAR. As the name (pasar=market) implies, the town is a great centre of commerce. The market is situated in the centre of the town and everything the island has to offer in both arts and crafts and fruit can be bought here.

KLUNGKUNG is well worth a visit too for once this place was a glorious residence of monarchs. What has outlived the colonial time from this period is clearly a must see. Tips are Taman Gili and Kerta Gosa. The lakes and islands of Taman Gili ( Garden of the Island) in Klungkung were artificially laid out. To the immediate left of the entrance to this complex is the Kerta Gosa, the court of justice. It was built at the end of the 18th century and consists of two buildings. The court of justice properis in an elevated position and is worth seeing on account of paintings of its ceiling in Wajang-style. On the lower half the accused, while waiting for his verdict, was shown which punishments were in store for the “poor sinner”. On the upper half the heavenly joys for the “good souls” are depicted. The second hall was meant for the judges.

KUTA/LEGIAN/SEMINYAK. Bustling with life every hour of the day. Those looking for “action” will be pleasantly surprised on beaches, in markets and in the many shops and disco’s. A paradise, both for shoppers and party-goers, for which you’ll have to plan a full day, despite the fact that you have rented our villa in the quiet north.

MENGWI, 20 km north of Kuta. The state temple, Pura Taman Ayun, is the largest but one and also one of the finest. It was built by the king of Mengwi in 1634 and expanded in 1937.

SANGEH, 11 km north of Mengwi, is visited by many tourists for its “monkey forest”. Hundreds of half-tame monkeys live here, according to legend the army of monkey-general Hanuman as described in the Ramayana epos.

PURA TANAH LOT is one of six national temples on Bali, worth seeing for its idyllic location. The sanctuary was built on a rock, enclosed by the sea at high tide. Late in the afternoon the sun sets behind the temple – a spectacle most visitors won’t be
eluded from, and rightly so.

NEGARA. When you want to discover the beauties of the national park, come to Negara, a dreamy little town, forgotten by mankind. Negara lies in the west and is the capital of the province of Jembrana. In Taman Nacional Bali ( West Bali National Park) you will find monkeys, hornbills, porcupines, wild boars and rare species of birds. A jungle area covering 80,000 hectares, founded in 1983, the peninsula of Teluk Kelor as well as the island of Menjangan also form part of this park.
Diving also is a favourite pastime there and you might encounter turtles and stingrays.

SERANGAN TURTLE ISLAND, which is small and palm-covered, can be circled on foot in approx. 2 hours. Swimming is very pleasant there too. Giant turtles are bred in the island’s only village.

UBUD is an artists colony and starting-point for trips to the beautiful natural scenery. Like it was in the past, this place still forms Bali’s artistic centre. Ever since the German painter Walter Spies settled there in the 1930s, lots of European artists have influenced the art of painting. Be sure to visit the Neka Museum.

GOA GAJAH (elephants’ cave) can be found in the vicinity of Ubud. This cave is one of Bali’s most ancient monuments. dating from the 8th century. Near the Goa Gajah are the GUNUNG KAWI ( graves of the kings). They are the resting-places of king Anak Wungsu and both his wives and sons. The king reigned over Bali from 1049 to 1077.

You are also advised to visit Bali Zoo, make an elephant safari or book a wild water rafting trip. Also have a look at http://baliadventures.com where lots of such trips are mentioned, e.g. a helicopter flight over Bali.