As the part of its World’s Best Award 2007, the prestigious New York based travel magazine Travel + Leisure has just named Bali as The World’s Top Island for the sixth consecutive years.

Despite of our pride in getting such a glorious International appreciation, it is interesting to find out why Bali has been so attractive to International holiday makers, this way all stakeholders of travel industry in Bali can work out the right way to make the interest even higher.

As expressed by the editor-in-chief of the magazine Nancy Novogrod, the choice of the islands was based on the natural attractions, activities, sights, restaurants, foods, people, and value. In addition she also cited that 2007 result underlines the magazine’s readers’ ever increasing embrace of global travel in their search for distinctive and authentic experiences.

Quite interestingly, officials and executives of Bali tourism industry have different opinion. As quoted by the Island’s only English newspaper The Bali Times, Cok Oka Arta Ardana Sukawati, deputy head of the private run Bali Tourism Board, said “Why most distinguishes Bali is its culture, which is why Bali keeps being named the world’s best island.”

However, difference is not something to set us back, it is indeed to strengthen us even more. Preserving natural attraction, increasing quality of tourism services including food, accommodation, transportation, and activity operation, as well as better presentation of rich Balinese cultural heritage remain the main keywords.

The main question remains to address is how we translate this prestigious appreciation into real figure in number of visitors and their spending, which immediately related to flow of wealth into the island which its economy is very much depend to tourism industry. Wisna Wedhana, the MD of Private Leisure who operates online holiday rental business in Bali and other Asian island destination confirms that inquiries for Phuket is higher than Bali, regardless Phuket’s eighth position in L+P nomination.

Following are the top 10 in consecutive order: (1)Bali, (2)Maui, (3)Kauai, (4)Glapagos, (5)Santorini, (6)Vancouver Island, (7)Dalmatian Islands, (8)Phuket, (9)Hawaii, (10)Great Barrier Reef Island.

… luxurious sanctuary where time is suspended - giving you as much time to enjoy ultimate tropical bliss as your body, mind, and soul desire. With the whole property and all oft its staffs are solely dedicated to your personal indulgence, your satisfaction is guaranteed. The only drawback is that your reluctance to leave is also assured.

Set amidst thousands of swaying palm trees and rice field spreading through the horizon you will enjoy 360 degrees of magnificent views around from almost every corner of the house. With nearly no other property within your sight, your stay at Villa Kanti is giving you more than just a private holiday home, but virtually the whole world at your private disposal, letting you to completely dissolve yourself to the mother nature.

Five spacious luxury bedrooms each with enchanting en-suite bathroom come with either terraces or balconies overlooking the river and the ricefield are housed in three different pavilions. Huge open air living and dining area comes with private library and entertainment studio. Private spa with massage area, sauna, and jacuzzi. On the ground facing the river are large infinity-edged lap pool and a soothing gazebo floating on the river. Full time dedicated staffs including on-site villa manager, private chef, bartender, butler, maids, gardeners, and security guards are at your command. What else you could ever expect to have at your home?

Located in traditional Balinese farming village of Lodtunduh, Villa Kanti sits in the middle of lush infinity rice field, enjoying continuous changing colours along the years. From the dark brown soils during preparations, glittering waters during the early days, green whilst grown up, yellow closing to the crop, gold at the harvest time, and light brown afterwards. An amazing cycle rounding back two to three times a year. When the rice is grown up to nearly harvest time the villa looks like floating up the rice field from a distance. There are no other properties close by, allowing you to enjoy unbstructed 360 degrees views, feeling like having the whole universe all to yourselves instead of just a private holiday home.

The cultural town of Ubud is les than 10 minutes drive away. As home to numerous local and foreign artists Ubud offers a number of fine-art galleries, fine-dining restaurants offering excellent traditional culinary experience, the island’s best spas for health and well-being indulgence, and best meditation and yoga classes. Ubud is also inherits rich Balinese traditional treasures ranging from the Royal Palace of Ubud Kingdom, various ancient temples, and local tradition artist which you can meet either at the art market as well as their modest work-space at their home.

Fast-pacers can enjoy numerous tropical adventurous activities like country trekking, white-water rafting, mountain-biking, quad-bike adventure, kayaking, and many more. Families with children can take their juniors to various themed-park like The Bali Bird Park, Reptile Park, Zoo, Botanical Garden, Elephant Safari, and more other options.

A brand new addition to the portfolio of finest Ubud villas.

Located hidden in traditional Balinese village of Berawa in Canggu area, Villa The Beji definitely not for hippy-chic expecting to be close to happenings of Seminyak nor the beach-lover expecting to bake their skin on the sand every day. It is indeed dedicated for those seeking for elegance, luxurious sanctuary where they can enjoy their holiday at home, definite solitude for hard-earned rest and relax. With this concept in mind, close proximity to both downtown Seminyak and the beach are just some decent extra advantage. The new exclusive sport and social venue Canggu Club and one of the world’s best golf courses Nirwana Golf and Country Club at Tanah Lot are also within only a few minutes drive away.

Sits on 4,000 square meters of land bordered by a river and rice terraces gently steeping down to the beach which is reachable within only a few minutes walk, the property comprises of ten single-storey pavilions, one double-storey building, 27-metre swimming pool, ponds, all leisurely spread throughout lush expansive tropical gardens. Constructed of premium quality local materials including ironwood shingle roofs, the style is restful with a fresh cool decor and contemporary furnishings.

The centerpiece is the two-storey building housing the common areas. Elevated open-sided living area allows unobstructed views of the surrounding over the garden. Ideal for entertaining and relaxing, this ample lounge is cooled by natural breezes and paddle ceiling fans. Surround-sound music speakers are fitted in the high roof. On one side of is a wooden deck with an open-air sunken lounge presenting built-in cushioned seating at a lower level. The elegant open-sided dining area showcases a huge teak dining table comfortable for up to 18 people. Air-conditioned entertainment and media room boasts state of the art home cinema system with wall-mounted, electronically-operated 1.5 meters cinema screen, hi-tech surround-sound and audio system, premium quality projector, DVD player, and satellite TV channels.

There are six air-conditioned bedrooms at Villa The Beji, each with its own en-suite bathroom, walk-in closet, and open-air relaxation deck. Each bedroom is equipped with flat screen TV featuring international satellite channels, DVD player, high quality sound system, and safe deposit box. The two master suites are located on either side of the pool, accessed by sliding glass doors with wooden shutters. Each of these sizeable bedrooms presents king-size canopied four-poster bed. Each sumptuous bathroom is dominated by an oversized terrazzo bathtub, surrounded by raised wooden deck. Large walled garden features spacious rain shower with a pebbled surround completes the picture of bath-time opulence. In front of each master bedroom is raised wooden deck overhanging the two shallow areas of the swimming pool furnished with a massive 3.5 x 2 meters daybed.

The gardens encompass a clipped velvety lawn. The splendid 27 x 10-metre swimming pool is the focal point; it is 2.2 metres deep, with two segregated shallow areas for kids, positioned at either side. The timber pool deck appearing like an island comes with triple-sun-lounger-chairs and parasols. Speakers positioned beside the pool carry music around the garden.
Extensive open spaces within garden, numerous terraces, and spacious living areas, makes The Beji an ideal tropical setting for parties, weddings, celebrations, barbeques and other event functions. The sizeable modern kitchen arms the staffs with sufficient equipment and facilities to cater wide variety of events and many guests. A family group can be indulged with a sizzling barbeque beside the pool at sunset, the smooth lawn can be utilized as a stage for Balinese dance performances, and the garden is large enough to comfortably accommodate well over 100 guests. There is a spacious and secure car parking area at the front.

Additional recreational facilities include a tennis court and a gym.

It was a bit discouraging to find that nearly all travel agents advised that different from other tourist areas in Bali, Ubud does not have moderate holiday accommodations they are either cheap motels affordable for backpackers or super-luxury like the Amandari with guest-to-staff ratio of 7. Imagine, seven well-trained staffs dedicated to serve each guest. I started wondering on what I want to order them to do if I am rich enough to taste the such luxury. At the price ranging between $700 to $1,100 per room, I did not even dare to imagine.

On the other side we are now addicted to the new style of holiday experience, private villas. The last time we spent our holiday in Sanur we learned that renting a private villas is not expensive at all. With less than $200 a night we got a villa with two en-suited bathrooms with AC, private pool, garden gazebo, spacious living area with large LCD screen, modern kitchen, and dedicated maids. We wondered if we would find something similar up there in Ubud.

Thanks God that we live the age when we have the wizard of unlimited resource: Google. Our research leaded us to talk to some holiday rental agencies offering wonderful options. It was a surprise to learn that renting through agents not a dime more expensive than directly talking to the owners. Finally through Ubud Villas Online we found a huge private villa with 700 square meters building sitting on a 2,200 square meters plot of land. I fact, as we were not seeing any neighbor, we actually got the whole world solely on our own.

Perching on a river valley Villa Isabella features unobstructed view of the river, valley, tropical forest, and rice-field. Without any other premises through the distance of our sight, we truly felt complete seclusion to dissolve ourselves to the nature. The two storey house was composed in a way to enjoy the view from almost every corner. For $250 a night we have three spacious bedrooms with terrace overlooking the valley, a salon with daybed which can serve as a bedroom as well, living and dining areas, kitchen, private swimming pool, and staffs which include a dedicated in-house cook.

The bedrooms and their adjoining garden bathrooms are all located in self contained thatched pavilions. Each air-conditioned bedroom is entered by double doors showcasing engraved brass handles, and each is characterized by dark reddish brown bengkirai wood floors under soaring roofs. Every bedroom boasts an LCD flat screen individually controlled satellite TV, enabling guests to watch satellite channels independently of each other. Each is complemented by a DVD player, quality sound system and iPod dock.

Picture windows capture the riverside views, and opulent open-air bathrooms boast cream terrazzo floors, twin washbasins, daybeds for lounging, and large terrazzo bathtubs. The tubs are sheltered from the elements yet positioned within private walled gardens enhanced by soft lawns, frangipani trees, and stone carved ornaments. Each bathroom also features a toilet with an intercom, and a shower in a cubicle that is open on one side to the garden. Furthermore, every guest need is considered with the provision of storage space, wardrobes and mini bars in each room.

The Master Bedroom features a deck-style balcony on two sides, with steps that lead down to a riverside bale relaxation pavilion. The bedroom is notable for the Buddha head and soft panels behind the double bed, flanked by two polished solid wood tree trunks, lit with discreet lighting. There is also a desk, and a dressing area with a huge mirror and a padded ottoman. The bathroom and outdoor Jacuzzi is accessed by a covered walkway with wooden pillars and spring water ponds on either side. The Jacuzzi rests within a thatched pavilion, surrounded by flowering shrubs and overlooking the river. The bathroom features arched open doorways, comfortable furnishings, twin washbasins, a toilet, and a shower big enough for two.

The spa sits on the triangular piece of land at the point where the two rivers meet. A sacred underground spring was recently discovered on this enchanted spot, making it the perfect setting for a spa. On the opposite side of the river is Batur Sari Temple, where the local Balinese people make offerings of flowers and fruit to the gods. The spa area is accessed via a little bridge under a pergola dripping in cascading thunbergia, bounded by torch ginger, giant taro leaves and frangipani trees. Guests will be greeted by a pair of open-air, raised, stone bathtubs exquisitely hand carved, each in the shape of a 2-headed elephant with water spouting from the trunks. The tubs, complete with ornate floral patterns on the sides, are set within a spring water pool and accessed by a wooden deck. This is a magical place for a splash or a soak after a spa treatment.

The spa is comprised of five open-sided roundhouses complete with conical thatched roofs following the architectural style of Irian Jaya. There are two raised massage pavilions, one with a single treatment bed and the other designed for couples, with two treatment beds. Rustic and very romantic, the pavilions are furnished with chunky hand carved furniture and diaphanous drapes that can be drawn for privacy. Set right beside the river, guests will be massaged to the constant gurgle of the water. Two more pavilions house a pair of hot and a cold Jacuzzis fashioned from dark grey lava stone; each circular Jacuzzi is big enough for six people, and looks directly across the river to the temple and the holy spring. The final building is the main spa reception, where guests can enjoy a ginger tea or healthy juice drink and canapés after their treatment. Behind the Palimanan carved fretwork screen is a small timber deck facing a gentle water cascade, designed specifically for yoga and meditation. There are also two rainshowers, toilets, a sauna, and an outdoor shower.

This luxury is offered between $1,450 in low season and $2,350 in peak season. Whilst it may sounds expensive, in fact, it is not for this level of luxury. How much would you have to spend to accommodate 10 pax in The Bvlgari resort or others at the similar class? Will you get the same level of ultimate luxury and dedicated services?

Advancing into a new level of luxury holiday makers has been introduced to private villas, a rather new alternative to luxury holiday accommodation previously served by five-starred resorts. Private villas offer the sixth star to the meaning of luxurious holiday accommodation, total privacy. When resort hotels only offer only the bedroom and sometimes the balcony at your private disposal, private villas offer the whole house, including staffs, dedicated for you.

Most private villas are also private holiday home of the owners which they only use a few weeks every years, leaving most of the time remain unused. Many of them are remotely managed by the owners from abroad whilst some are managed by professional property management companies. Of course, in both cases their ability to provide ultimate holiday experience during your stay could not be as trustable as well-known five-starred brands like Sheraton, Hyatt, Intercontinental, Westin, and others alike.

Ensuring that you are getting the sixth star without compromising the other five – which are guaranteed by resort hotel chains – can be a challenge. Whilst you can start your holiday plan by searching for private villas available for holiday rental on the internet, ensuring that the quality of both the villa and its services is not as easy as typing “private villa rental” on Google.

A few weeks back a group of young families from Singapore rented a luxurious five bedrooms villa close to the famous Seminyak beach in Bali. After convincing communication and looking into the pictures they were finally assured that the villa was exactly the one they want. Their feeling got even stronger at the day they arrive. An air-conditioned bus awaited them at the airport to transfer them to the villa. They found the villa amazing, wide yard for the kids to play on, large sparkling swimming pool, wide pool-deck, and most of all, romantic bedrooms with lace mosquito nets for the parents and bedroom with multiple trundle beds with TV, DVD player, and even a game console for the kids.

Nightmare started when they went into shower late at night after dinner at one of the island’s most famous beachfront fine dining restaurant. The hot water does not work. The annoyance increase even more as when reported to the staff, they had to wait until the villa manager came the next morning before they can have it fixed.

After the hot water installation fixed they thought everything would be doing all right. Unfortunately they were wrong. After enjoying the first splash of the hot water and applied some soap, the water suddenly stopped. The story went over again. They had to wait until the manager came the next day to get it fixed. You may imagine how they flushed the soap from their body and shampoo from their hair.

Of course, for nearly a thousand Dollars a night, those annoyances should have never happened. The villa management should know how to prevent these, and manage an immediate fix if they still arise. But blaming the villa staff, the villa manager, the management company running the villa, or even the owner would not wipe the bad experience from your holiday memory.

How do you prevent this from happening? One way you can do is by renting it through a professional rental agency. Whilst your first encounter can be through the internet, you should look at the website, its sleekness, information it provides, the way it composed, these all reflect their professionalism in their business. Furthermore, don’t just immediately book one. Try to communicate with their representative to get a personal feeling if they really do care about your indulgence more than your money. More than just read testimonials on the website, ask them to give you contact of their previous guest having experience in both dealing with them and staying in certain villa. In most of the cases, if they had good holiday experience, they will be excited to tell you.

Never think that dealing through agents will cost you more money. You will get the same price even if you contact the owners directly as they are bound in a business agreement with rental agents. Agents do not charge you for their services. Owners pay them the commission out of the price they set. In fact, you have to be careful if an owner allows you to pay less by booking direct as it indicates that the villa is not professionally operated. You can shop around the net to find a trustable rental agent. If you are planning your holiday in Bali, you may want to start with Villa Rental Bali.

Immediately after the occasion, thousands of tourists were rushing out to depart from the island only international airport, foreign governments issued travel warning, thousands of confirmed arrivals cancelled, hotel occupancy plunged down from nearly 90 to less than 20 percent, even the only Bali based international airliner stopped their operation. Business players in Bali confirmed that the effect of the second attack was far worse that the previous one.

In some ways, the terrorist successfully fulfill their objective in spreading fears. The whole picture led to global psychological fear, which was worse than, and definitely worsen its economical effect. Not only foreign tourists, local residence also avoided crowds, especially those where Western tourists and residents used to hang around. Supermarket, shopping malls, hotels, airport, tourist spots, cafes and restaurants, were just to name some.

Now things seemed to slowly get back to normal pace. The most obvious evidence was weakening security check in public places. In many shopping malls, security guards started to hang their metal detectors. They did not check visitor belongings any longer. Closing to the holiday seasons, international airliner operating flights to Bali confirmed their fully booked status well in advance, as well as hotels and private villa rentals.

Last week our company held a little farewell party for our resigning team members. With a courageous spirit of fighting the terror fear, we decided to go to Menega, one among tens or hundreds of beachfront fresh-sea-food huts along Jimbaran bay, which has been one of the ground-zeros of the second bomb attack. Two years ago, many of visiting foreign and local tourists as well as locals working at the restaurant were killed and severely injured in this place.

The scene was surprisingly different from what I expected before. On a small motorbike, I struggled to find a little parking space which was already full with hundred of not only cars but also big tourist coaches. When I finally got together with the group, we were sent out from Menega, the extended restaurant did not have enough space to accommodate all of us. Almost all tables spreading from the entrance to the sandy beach steeping to the water were occupied.

We were lucky enough to get a space at another restaurant next to Menega. Those who are used to this place would understand that next door here means different cashier while the beach tables are borderless. Whilst other restaurants were also having decent number of visitors, Menega was definitely the one enjoying the most of them. That was possibly the reason the terror executor had in mind when selecting it as a target of his suicidal attack. But something which remains my mind until now is whether they choose Menega to memorize the tragedy or it has just simply forgotten.

Anyway, for whatever reasons, this popular sunset dining spot is still offering its extraordinary culinary experience. Magnificent sunset in your eyes, smooth ocean breeze on your skin, laughter on your ears, the smell of grilled fish on your noose, and taste of wine and wooden-grilled oysters on your mouth are fabulous combination which is just too good to miss out. For those who are still keeping a little fear, your little courageous gut to pay a visit is definitely worthwhile.

The almost three hours drive was completely paid off with the good time I had. It was a really sleepy fishing village with only a few modest accommodations available. Even my cell-phone, subscribed to the widest network provider, could not get a signal. I stayed at a very modest bungalow called Three Brothers, less than $8 for an absolute beachfront bungalow with private bath. Whilst it did not have luxurious amenities like TV, AC, or hot water, it is nice and clean, but the more impressive thing of friendliness of the staffs treating guests like old friends.

Just a few weeks back we got in touch with Scott, a Seattle based American furniture exporter, who has just completed a beachfront villas at Amed. His invitation to visit his new villa was really appealing. But I was calculating about the chance that we can rent it out to our mostly Seminyak-minded clientele, and the time I had to spend to pay a visit. No other holiday rental agency listed villas outside the greater South, literally means “close to Seminyak”. No one has ever inquired villas at those remote areas. It was simply just like a question of who came to earth first between a hen and an egg.

A few days back, we rented out a villa Talia Vasthi at Candidasa for two weeks. I felt this occasion like a moment to clear the cloud out. It proved that there were certain holiday makers who are interested in off-the-beaten-track areas. So decision was made, I would drive east to meet Scott at his villa.

I was surprised that things have been progressing quite quickly. The new bypass connecting Sanur to the East has now been completed. They even started construction to make it four ways instead of two. This new road ended just a few kilometers away from Padang Bai, the main ferry port to Lombok which was very close to Candidasa. It cut out the traffic hassle at Batubulan, Celuk, Sukawati, Gianyar, and Klungkung. Only a few minutes over one hour I have passed Tirtagangga. The traditional fish-market which was the entrance to Amed was reached within less than two hours. Turning right from the fish market, I just followed the road along the beach. Everything remained the same, nothing seemed to change compared to my previous visit almost two years back. There was nothing to notice until the road hiked up hill and sloped back down, I saw a big house on the beach. The road hiked-up again after the house, so it was in between the two hills.

Built on roughly 5,000 square meters of land, it has spacious parking space at the front. Entering the gate, narrow pathway leaded to the house through soothing freshwater pond full of koi fishes. The main door opened directly to the living area opening to spacious terrace at the back, overlooking the beach through its indigo swimming pool. On the left hand side was a huge LCD-TV with state of the art sound systems equipped the living area furnished with modern comfortable couches. On the right hand side was a dining table and fully equipped kitchen. At the same floor there were a study room with a double bed, and a private home gym with complete set of body-building equipment and a mini-pool table.

The stairway next to the front door leaded to a hall at the upper floor, which housed all the remaining three bedrooms. The spacious master bedrooms enjoyed both ocean views in one side and mountain views in the other side. Both views are magnificent, however, after a while stunning at the ocean views I found the mountain more appealing. The two smaller guest bedrooms enjoyed either one views, a bedroom enjoyed the ocean views while the other enjoyed the mountain views. All bedrooms had adjoined western en-suite with bath-tub and running hot water. Functional minimalist furnishing suggested the guest to enjoy outdoor living. However, the master bedroom had a wide LCD-TV.

While the upstairs balcony offered spacious space gazing at the stunning views, the downstairs terrace offered even more space for more purposes, with large daybeds, lounging chairs, and dining table. At the opposite of the swimming pool, very close to the beach was a garden gazebo. A small pathway leaded to a small door to the beach where hundred of traditional boat decently parked nest to each other.

There was nothing special about the beach, really. For lovers of underwater world, the treasure was hiding under the calm surface. Boat parked just in front of the villa to transfer you to chosen diving spots. Scott, the owner, was a well-seasoned scuba diver who managed a diving operator in addition to his main furniture business. I would personally suggest that he owned it more for his personal enjoyment than to deliver decent income. However, the point was that the he offered package of daily diving to various diving spots in the area to guest renting his villa.

He should be away when you stay at his villa. That was the reason why you could rent his villa anyway, because he left the villa vacant while he was away, either taking care of his business or dive other underwater treasures in the other sides of the globe. But Wayan, his right-hand aide would do his best to pamper your stay in and out of the villa, on the surface or underwater.

Leading hotels in Nusa Dua and Kuta are in average recorded 85% of occupancy for the period, the remainder will be well sold in the upcoming weeks. The surge does not only affect those popular areas. Matahari Beach Resort at the north shore, with prices soaring up to $466 expects a full house.
The new style of holiday accommodation, private villa rentals, has started identifying the surge even well before. Villa Rental Bali, one of Bali leading holiday rental agents representing virtually all the luxury villas on the island, confirms that large private villas, especially beachfronts are well booked.

We started running out of villas since two months back, especially the large ones with four bedrooms or more. Exquisite properties like beachfronts and those at Uluwatu clifftop booked out even earlier. Most are aftering anywhere near Seminyak, however, as none are any longer available, we start sending guests to remote areas like Candidasa and Amed” confirmed Wisna Wedhana, the managing director of the agency. “They mostly research the internet and find that options are running out, so they do not really care about price any longer” she continued.

Recreation operators are no exceptions. Bali Adventure Tours who has hosted celebrities like Claudia Schiffer and David Beckham, receives thriving bookings both through their website and a wide network of travel agents, for its wide range of activities from elephant safari of taro to adrenaline taking like white-water rafting, paragliding, and mountain-biking.

Most holiday makers make between three to seven days. Hotels, mostly those with Russian clientele expect longer stays. However villa rentals show different pattern. Clients stay in a range of seven days to two weeks. “Mostly ten days, but some go up to a month” confirms Villa Rental Bali.

Any plan to make a holiday in Bali? Hurry up, both flight and accommodations are running out quite quickly. For those thinking of villa accommodation, only small private villas with one or two bedrooms are still available, if you come in large group, the chance is hosted in a number of small villas next to each others in a complex, or Villa Rental Bali still has a beachfront four bedrooms villa at Amed, scuba diving capital of Bali.

The long winding country road from Seminyak offered picturesque views of infinity rice-field gently sloping down to the beach. Close to the horizon was the soaring wall of Uluwatu cliff at the South peninsula. The combination of golden paddy closing to harvest time and the azure of the Indian Ocean behind is nothing less than magnificent. Tourists might find it appealing, but I have been seeing these views almost everyday for the last five years. I needed something different to get impressed.

Before long enough, I turned right entering a serene farmers’ traditional Balinese village of Tibubeneng. Each modest house built from traditional material like bamboo-sheet and wooden frame, has its own shrine, where people put offerings to the Gods. Hiding behind the village I found a small thumb with the villa name, the only mark I found of its existence. There are no buildings, no soaring walls, no security post, nothing. Unlike many other villas soaring up to the sky compared to their surrounding, Sukhavati Retreat appeared as humble as the rest of the village.

Driving along narrow shady path I finally got to a small lobby hidden under shading trees and lush shrubs. Dan, the young Australian owner, and a few of his staffs greeted with their smile. So, no doubt, I haven’t been lost. “But where is the villa?” was the first question glanced in my mind. Dan must have been seeing my expression a hundred times, and with a grin on his face he said “Hold your breath!” before leading us to the inner entrance.

Stunned at what I saw, I was completely speechless for a while. I guess my mouth was wide open with a long wow. It was really hard to find the right word to tell you what I saw and the first impression I got. Within the lush tropical forest steeping down to the river, scattered the separated pavilions in traditional thatched roof, partly hidden under shady large trees. On the other side of the river the forest hiked up creating an image of a soaring green wall separating us from the bustling world outside.

As far as my eyes could reach, there were no other buildings of any kind around. Dan explained that for the sake of environment, in addition to the two hectares built as the villa and its perimeters, he bought eight hectares along the river as a buffer. It is really a complete solitude to dissolve ourselves with the mother-nature and temporarily forget the world behind.

Hundred steps led us down to the centre of the estate, the main swimming pool. Each bedrooms and functions were housed in separated building, mainly to conserve the land topography. In addition to the six separated bedroom pavilions, it has kitchen and communal area with comfortable lounge and dining tables.

The last pavilion caught my attention more than the others, it was the meditation pavilion. Separated with more distance from the rest, this open pavilion can comfortably accommodated yoga for 20. Wide lawn with soaring shady trees going down to the river allowed us to completely cleanse our busy mind. Flags of pray form Tibet spread the wish to the world by the wind breeze.

Decoration of each bedroom pavilions was a proper blend of luxurious comfort without creating distance to the nature, with wide openings and private garden terraces. All en-suited bathrooms were open to the sky, in a small garden covered by terrace perimeters.
Two of the bedroom pavilions were set as villas within a villa. Hidden behind its own gate, these pavilions enjoyed their own private swimming pool and garden gazebo. You can choose the one at the top of the estate, or the one at the bottom closer to the river. Just the matter of distance to either the entrance gate at the top or living pavilion closer the river really, both enjoys superb views. Even from the one at the top your views would not be bothered by other buildings.

As a sanctuary to separate yourself from the rest of the world, it made sense that Dan do not put TV in all bedrooms or provide wireless internet connection across the estate. However, for those who still want to keep connected or just couldn’t live without modern entertainment, there were huge plasma TV with international channels at the living pavilion and a computer with internet connection at the lobby.

Well, Dan, now I understand why you got that glorious title for the villa. Sukhavati Retreat was not a holiday accommodation, at least not to my eyes. It was not a place for you to sleep at nights for exploring all the beaches Bali has to offer during the daylights. It was a place to cleanse your mind and soul by temporarily separating yourself from the bustling world by being closer to the nature and the holy spirits commanding the universe. Not only mind and soul, but body as well. The kitchen was staffed with professional chef to cater your culinary experience with healthy organic ingredients. The villa also provided some high quality mountain-bike so you can either hike or bike the natural countryside around the villa, and experience the real traditional Balinese living.

It’s time to hike the steps up, back to the real world now. Among shortening breath when hiking up the steps Dan explained that in addition to in-house security he employed, he also maintained very close relationship with the neighboring villages. People have accepted the villa as a part of their family, making them willing to voluntarily took care of the villa and its guests.

I believed after a week or so in Sukhavati Retreat, I would have come back to the real world as a different person, with different way of seeing the world around me. Unfortunately I did not have that much of money to buy that luxury. It was mainly for discerning clientele I had, those successful wealthy people who care about the health of their body, mind, and soul.

While you can rent the villa by room, you are encouraged to rent it as a whole. If you are traveling in a small group which needs less than six bedrooms, you still can block the whole estate with an extra surcharge. I have been hearing its name for quite a while. But invitation to visit this villa has never been so appealing until I noticed that Sukhavati Retreat has just been listed as the world’s best 50 villas by the prestigious Travel & Leisure magazine. With so many beachfront luxurious establishments on the island, what this villa had to offer making it deserved such a glorious honor?

The long winding country road from Seminyak offered picturesque views of infinity rice-field gently sloping down to the beach. Close to the horizon was the soaring wall of Uluwatu cliff at the South peninsula. The combination of golden paddy closing to harvest time and the azure of the Indian Ocean behind is nothing less than magnificent. Tourists might find it appealing, but I have been seeing these views almost everyday for the last five years. I needed something different to get impressed. Before long enough, I turned right entering a serene farmers’ traditional Balinese village of Tibubeneng. Each modest house built from traditional material like bamboo-sheet and wooden frame, has its own shrine, where people put offerings to the Gods.

Hiding behind the village I found a small thumb with the villa name, the only mark I found of its existence. There are no buildings, no soaring walls, no security post, nothing. Unlike many other villas soaring up to the sky compared to their surrounding, Sukhavati Retreat appeared as humble as the rest of the village. Driving along narrow shady path I finally got to a small lobby hidden under shading trees and lush shrubs. Dan, the young Australian owner, and a few of his staffs greeted with their smile. So, no doubt, I haven’t been lost. “But where is the villa?” was the first question glanced in my mind.

Dan must have been seeing my expression a hundred times, and with a grin on his face he said “Hold your breath!” before leading us to the inner entrance. Stunned at what I saw, I was completely speechless for a while. I guess my mouth was wide open with a long wow. It was really hard to find the right word to tell you what I saw and the first impression I got. Within the lush tropical forest steeping down to the river, scattered the separated pavilions in traditional thatched roof, partly hidden under shady large trees. On the other side of the river the forest hiked up creating an image of a soaring green wall separating us from the bustling world outside. As far as my eyes could reach, there were no other buildings of any kind around. Dan explained that for the sake of environment, in addition to the two hectares built as the villa and its perimeters, he bought eight hectares along the river as a buffer. It is really a complete solitude to dissolve ourselves with the mother-nature and temporarily forget the world behind.

Hundred steps led us down to the centre of the estate, the main swimming pool. Each bedrooms and functions were housed in separated building, mainly to conserve the land topography. In addition to the six separated bedroom pavilions, it has kitchen and communal area with comfortable lounge and dining tables. The last pavilion caught my attention more than the others, it was the meditation pavilion. Separated with more distance from the rest, this open pavilion can comfortably accommodated yoga for 20. Wide lawn with soaring shady trees going down to the river allowed us to completely cleanse our busy mind. Flags of pray form Tibet spread the wish to the world by the wind breeze.

Decoration of each bedroom pavilions was a proper blend of luxurious comfort without creating distance to the nature, with wide openings and private garden terraces. All en-suited bathrooms were open to the sky, in a small garden covered by terrace perimeters. Two of the bedroom pavilions were set as villas within a villa. Hidden behind its own gate, these pavilions enjoyed their own private swimming pool and garden gazebo. You can choose the one at the top of the estate, or the one at the bottom closer to the river. Just the matter of distance to either the entrance gate at the top or living pavilion closer the river really, both enjoys superb views. Even from the one at the top your views would not be bothered by other buildings. As a sanctuary to separate yourself from the rest of the world, it made sense that Dan do not put TV in all bedrooms or provide wireless internet connection across the estate. However, for those who still want to keep connected or just couldn’t live without modern entertainment, there were huge plasma TV with international channels at the living pavilion and a computer with internet connection at the lobby.

Well, Dan, now I understand why you got that glorious title for the villa. Sukhavati Retreat was not a holiday accommodation, at least not to my eyes. It was not a place for you to sleep at nights for exploring all the beaches Bali has to offer during the daylights. It was a place to cleanse your mind and soul by temporarily separating yourself from the bustling world by being closer to the nature and the holy spirits commanding the universe. Not only mind and soul, but body as well. The kitchen was staffed with professional chef to cater your culinary experience with healthy organic ingredients. The villa also provided some high quality mountain-bike so you can either hike or bike the natural countryside around the villa, and experience the real traditional Balinese living.

It’s time to hike the steps up, back to the real world now. Among shortening breath when hiking up the steps Dan explained that in addition to in-house security he employed, he also maintained very close relationship with the neighboring villages. People have accepted the villa as a part of their family, making them willing to voluntarily took care of the villa and its guests.

I believed after a week or so in Sukhavati Retreat, I would have come back to the real world as a different person, with different way of seeing the world around me. Unfortunately I did not have that much of money to buy that luxury. It was mainly for discerning clientele I had, those successful wealthy people who care about the health of their body, mind, and soul. While you can rent the villa by room, you are encouraged to rent it as a whole. If you are traveling in a small group which needs less than six bedrooms, you still can block the whole estate with an extra surcharge. Find detail of Sukhavati Retreat through our website Villa Rental Bali - Sukhavati Retreat.