As I am writing this I am 35,000 feet in the air on my way home from an out-of-this-world trip to the beautiful island of Bali, where I stayed with my family and family friends for seven nights. It was a truly magical experience...
After you wander past the rice fields and up the narrow path you find yourself standing in front of the faded blue wooden doors. Although only a short 50m walk, you now feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the chaotic and busy streets of central Ubud.
The blue doors open to reveal a wonderland of green plants, tall trees and a stream flowing throughout the gardens. Step by step you walk across the stepping stone path narrowly avoiding small animals like frogs and lizards.
Off to the right a small fork in the path takes you to the first of 3 bedrooms. It's wooden exterior is nothing compared to what lies behind the carved doors. A king sized bed in the centre of the room is surrounded by local wooden furniture and the walls lined with antique travel posters. Next to the bed a small door leads you to the bathroom complete with it's very own oudoor shower, which is often shared with the local frogs and lizards.
Further down the path you find yourself walking across a bridge, underneath koi fish swim left, right and centre. Beyond the bridge is the second bedroom. Similar to the first but a bit larger, this room is just as rustic and luxurious as the last. The large bathroom window in this room opens up to let in a cool breeze and once again immerses you in nature. This room, along with the third, has a large copper bathtub, perfect for an evening soak.
The third and final bedroom can be found near the bottom of the garden. Its patio chairs are the perfect place for a morning cuppa or afternoon drink. Outside the doors of this room a small patch of grass with table and chairs is also an excellent place to settle down for shelter from the hot Balinese sun.
Your final stop down the path is that of a fantasy. Large double doors open to reveal the huge communal living space. A rustic chic kitchen to the right and a modern sitting area to the left are made complete with tall timber pillars, high ceilings scattered with fans, and Moroccan style pendant lights hanging from carved timber beams.
As you make your way across the cool tiled floors, the entire west side of the room opens up to reveal a breath-taking view of the Balinese jungle which can be overlooked from your very own private infinite pool. Perfect for relaxing after a quick dip, a large Balinese bale is situated among the palm trees. The cascading sounds of a waterfall can be heard in symphony with various birds and insects singing and chattering throughout the tropical rainforest.
The last thing on your mind when the whole of Bali is at your doorstep is cleaning. And to ensure you don't have to worry about this the entire indoor areas are maintained by Chok, a lovely lady who cleans and tidies daily. The extensive gardens are maintained by Pak Iman, a young man who lives in a small house at the top of the gardens and is happy to help with whatever you need. When the heat gets too much and you can't bare to walk any further or you want to venture further into Bali, Made, the neighbour and driver is more then happy to drive you where you want to go. His happy and enthusiastic personality makes every trip enjoyable.
Only a short walk into the heart of Ubud means you will never go hungry or bored. The traditional art markets were a regular stop for us, with everything from wooden carvings to clothes to fresh produce. Spoiled for choice with day spas we made sure we sampled more than our fair share, a favourite being Iman Spa, only a 2 minute walk from our haven. We also enjoyed the wonderful variety of food Ubud has to offer, from the street sellers to the high end restaurants. Each day was spend exploring the beautiful Ubud and surrounding villages or relaxing by the pool, often a combination of both.
Over the next week I will be posting my adventures day-by-day covering what we got up to...
If you simply can't wait to see more photos from the trip, go check out my Instagram for some to-die-for pics or just keep scrolling.
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