Designer Destination

Hoihnu Hauzel got a taste of Balinese hospitality at its luxurious best at the uber plush Bulgari Resort

At dawn, Bali was a picture of perfect tranquillity. I opened my window and let in the fresh breeze that came blowing in straight from the Indian Ocean that lay sparkling in front of me. The gentle winds ruffled through the lush greenery planted in rows all around the resort which was my temporary home.

At the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Bali the air was filled with the perfume from a profusion of white, red and pink frangipanis. And, if that wasn’t enough, I was resting in our private villa next to the lap pool. We had an al fresco dining area for when we wanted to have a meal by ourselves. And our personal butler was hovering around ready to obey our every command.

Soon after breakfast, I wandered down to the resort’s private beach. The resort is perched at the top of a cliff and you can only get to the beach in the hotel’s inclined elevator which makes it way down through a carpet of trees and shrubs. From the elevator landing zone it’s just a short walk to the beach itself.

It was still early in the morning and I had the beach to myself. Well, I was all alone except for scores of baby crabs and starfish shell that are washed up by the waves.

Paddy’s Pub in Kuta is a perfect hangout for tourists; Pic by Hoihnu Hauzel
This is the best time to get a feel of the spirit of the island. Later, as I ventured outside the resort, I wandered past rows of paddy fields. The lush terraces of green crops give the island an unmatched beauty.

This is Bulgari’s second hotel and it has pulled out all the stops to up the luxury quotient and make it a stand-out experience. One special feature of the property is its secluded location. To get there, we made our way through narrow, empty lanes and finally reached Pecatu village. Soon afterwards we arrived at the hotel’s grand entrance. And no expense has been spared. Scattered all around are exquisite Balinese antiques and exotic art pieces. I got a hotel staffer to count all of them and he returned to tell me that there are about 90.

Every object in the resort has received the designer touch. The woven fabrics, for instance, have been exclusively customised by the resort’s Italian architects (Antonio Citterio and Partners) in collaboration with local artists and designers.

The resort’s 59 luxury villas have walls lined with superior bangkiray hardwood (highly-rated timber). And the outdoor showers and, the plunge and swimming pools are finished with natural green sukabumi stone which is special to Indonesia. The electronic gadgets in the villa were the best on offer from Bang & Olufsen.

Tranquil paddy fields and quaint villages dot the island of Bali
I spent many hours lounging about, with a book in hand, on our villa’s wooden sun deck. The large lap pool stretched out into my private garden dotted with seasonal flowers.

But we didn’t eat in our villa too often. It was worth taking the walk to the resort’s specialty restaurants for sumptuous Italian and Indonesian spreads. The restaurants have an extremely stylish all-black décor. And there’s a bar in the middle of a huge water body where I spent many hours nursing a drink.

But Bali’s a lovely place and there was no point in spending all my time in the resort. At Jimbaran, which is known for the seafood shacks and restaurants, I made a smart move: befriended a chef who cooked us fresh seafood whenever we visited. Then, there’s Kuta, the most popular beach in the region which has hordes of tourists, pushy hawkers and local masseurs roaming with bottles of herbal oil for a Balinese massage.

Nearby there’s the memorial site for the 2002 Bali bomb blast. I joined many other tourists who gathered around the memorial to read the names of the victims. Paddy’s Pub, where the blast took place, is up and running once again and it has the national flags of many countries flying outside.

The white-sand beaches of Kuta in southern Bali are considered the best on the island
At Legian, another beach, you can have a good Balinese spread served in a quieter ambience. Or, there’s Seminyak which is the ultimate upscale hangout. It’s a hub of luxury accommodation, fashionable high-end restaurants, bars, boutique and spas. It’s laid-back with a different energy.

Here you’ll spot only the smart set in stylish outfits. On a friend’s advice, I patiently waited for a table at Ku De Ta — a restaurant that was buzzing with activity. After the wait I got a genuine Balinese meal. And, believe me, like all of Bali, it was well worth the wait.

TRAVEL TALK

Getting there: Jet Airways, Air India, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Malaysian Airlines all operate Delhi-Bali flights via their home bases.

Where to stay: Book in advance at the Bulgari Resort, Bali, for villas overlooking the Indian Ocean (www.bulgarihotels.com) or at the Four Seasons (www.fourseasons.com)
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The Telegraph, Sunday, August 26, 2012 |