Archives for May 2015

The Anantara Uluwatu Bali: Putting the P in Panoramic

May 28, 2015

The Anantara Uluwatu in Bali… you know which hotel I’m talking about, chances are you’ve seen the architecturally designed glass-fronted chapel featured in countless Bali #inspo posts on Instagram. The resort, hugging south Bali’s rugged limestone cliffs and providing uninterrupted views of the awe-inspiring surf and sunsets across the Indian Ocean, is inspirational indeed. But what makes the luxurious Anantara Uluwatu stand out from the other five-star resorts of this ilk that dot the Balinese coastline is not the endless in-suite infinity pools and spa baths that seem to melt into the glistening ocean (although they are epic), or the convenient location close to world famous Padang Padang beach (yet far enough away to relish in some peace and quiet). The very thing that makes this resort so special is its most unpublished, most unassuming, most rustic asset: the little slice of wooden-and-bean-bag paradise that is the ‘Surfari Surfdeck’, jutting out from the cliffs like an extra limb over the crystal clear sea below. Accessed by a travelator from The Anantara Uluwatu pool, this private deck is just about the coolest place in Southern Bali. You can chill-out and read a book while working on your tan, watch the surfers catch the big waves of the Impossibles surf break right in front of your eyes or sip on a Bintang and munch on some spring rolls from the restaurant above (they have butlers who come to you so you won’t need to worry about hauling-ass up and down that vertical lift like a yo-yo just to get served)! It’s also the best place to go to witness absolute unrivalled sunset perfection. I’m talking magical fairytale sunsets that might incite a ‘happily-ever after’ proposal of sorts if you happen to be there with your significant other…don’t say I didn’t warn you! If you’re feeling a little more reclusive and want to spend the morning on your balcony with some breakfast and a newspaper then no problems – each suite (note: they don’t actually have normal sized ‘rooms’ at the Anantara Uluwatu) affords head-on collision-worthy views of the ocean as well – you’re just not going to be able to dip your toes in the sea like you could on the Surfari Sundeck. But the gigantic hot tub on the balcony provides the perfect setting for pure unadulterated relaxation and more than makes up for missing-out on that tangible and refreshing feeling of…

What To Do When You Get Sick While Traveling

May 20, 2015

What To Do When You Get Sick While Traveling… It’s every traveller’s worst nightmare: after spending months on prepping, saving and packing you’re finally on the road, fully immersed in a far off land. Suddenly, on the fifth day you feel a foreign rumble in your tummy and you’ve got a fever that’ll launch you to the moon. Or perhaps you’ve come down with a simple holiday flu, which, thanks to Murphy’s Law, often tends to happen on much-needed vacations. Whatever the symptoms, the outcome is still the same. You’re sick. You’re travelling. And it sucks. If you want to chat travel-sick stories I’m your go-to-gal… I’ve had food poisoning in Mexico…twice, a malaria-scare in Cambodia, spread tonsillitis all over Europe and on my latest jaunt to Lombok I caught a live stomach-sucking parasite from god knows where which kept me glued to the toilet for an entire week. Fun times. Not so coincidentally, this latest bout is what inspired this post. So count yourselves lucky my friends; you can learn from my bad luck! Sometimes, no matter how careful you are about the food and water in foreign countries, you still get sick. I’ve been sick abroad so many times I’ve written a fail-safe plan on how NOT to get food-poisoning while you travel. You can read it here. Pity I hardly ever take my own advice… there’s just something about grabbing a new country by the horns – steak tartare and all – that makes me feel alive. I’ll eat seafood, raw salads and drink fresh juices, but I stop at downing water from the tap in most places. Evidently I have paid for this type of holiday style on several occasions. But only sometimes, it’s a numbers game. Whether you’re sick from the food, the water or the fact you were just so run down from daily life at home that you needed a holiday but you ended up actually getting sick on your holiday – there are ways to promote a speedy recovery and still have a decent(ish) time abroad. Pick and choose the ones which apply to you… What To Do If You’re Really Really Sick… Numero uno – don’t stress! Stressing out about getting sick and searching “Dr Google” like an OCD hypochondriac will not make things any better. In fact, numerous studies show that by focusing on the negatives in a situation you…

A Secret Garden: The Santai Villas Bali Review

May 18, 2015

I must admit I hadn’t really done my homework prior to pulling up to the enormous stone columns marking the entrance of The Santai Villas in the laid-back suburb of Umalas, Bali. The Amala Villas, The Santai’s sister retreat and the place I’d just arrived from, was the hotel I was dying to experience after hearing some fantastic reviews from fellow travellers. The Amala was the escape I had been looking forward to and The Santai was an afterthought, a small blimp on my Bali-adventure radar. But after getting-out of the retreat’s complimentary transfer car and climbing up the cascading steps to the open-air reception, what I saw put a huge grin on my gob-smacked face. The expansive reception, built high above the rice-paddies to catch the light afternoon Balinese breezes, was both simplistic and high-design. A visually stunning combination of modern-Asian architecture with intricate woodwork mixed with stone pillars inscribed with ancient Balinese script as well as a glass-panelled rooftop made for an inviting and impressive introduction to the retreat. It also made for a curious one – my first question, as I pointed in utter disbelief to the glossy-see-through roof above, was: “how do you actually keep that thing clean?” The friendliness of the staff and the delicious bite-sized Indonesian snacks and fresh juices I received at check-in were a nice little touch and made me feel relaxed and right at home. But the real surprise came when I walked to the end of the structure and fixed my peepers on what lay out across the property in front of me: a luscious, manicured-to-perfection garden, complete with stone pathways, bubbling streams of water, wooden trellises and tropical flora a type of high-visibility green colour that could blind someone without specialised sunglasses. The setting was way too Secret Garden-esque to be real. And yet there it was, laid out right in front of me like an orchestrated landscaping seduction. And I hadn’t even reached my Villa yet… I was ushered down the steps by my personal Butler and led through the newly dubbed ‘Secret Garden’ past a couple of very large vine-covered villa walls. My anticipation was pretty high at this point. I snaked around the labyrinth-like retreat following my Butler like a loyal puppy until I arrived at a big wooden gate – the entrance to my massive two-bedroom pool villa. The first gate took me through a…

The Amala Hotel Bali: A Fine Romance

May 7, 2015

The Amala Hotel Bali is the perfect setting for an intoxicating Balinese romance. Hidden at the end of a lush vine-fringed driveway peeling-off one of Bali’s chicest shopping and dining streets in Seminyak, these intimate one and two-bedroom villas are like beautifully designed hugs for your senses. The bali boutique hotel takes the concept of holistic living to a whole new level, thatched wood and concrete structures fused with meticulously manicured grounds, water features and feng shui symbols dotted around the communal areas produce an overwhelming sense of calm within The Amala grounds. It certainly makes for a much welcomed reprieve from the busy urban streets outside. The twelve modern yet minimal villas with their plunge pools, giant open-air spa baths with rose petals and showers which turn into herb-infused steam rooms at the flick of a switch are more than enough to delight. There’s even a frangipani tree perched proudly above each villa’s pool which produces the most delightfully smelling flowers each day. You couldn’t really get any more Penguin romance paperback if you tried. But more “Love Story” less “End of the Affair“, I promise. The villas are a private little oasis perfect for honeymoons or long weekends away for couples. But the hotel’s soulful seductiveness doesn’t stop with its design aesthetic. The on site restaurant, Bamboo, is a relaxed and minimal open-air dining room focused on sustainable, raw and seasonal produce. If you ask me it’s the surprise package of the entire hotel – the food is absolutely divine and I love how it’s still a secret among in-the-know travellers! Of course you can order room service in your villa too – it’s the same yummy cuisine just a different location on those balmy days. Munch on one of the best Nasi Goreng’s in Seminyak or organise some healthy smoothies in the morning after Yoga in the wellness studio, Tai Chi in the garden or Water Pilates, then reward yourself with a restorative massage at the recently opened spa. Bliss. The Amala Hotel Bali Seminyak: The Lowdown Vibe Heavenly and holistic honeymoons. Think Tranquil oasis for a modern day romance.. Sound “Breathe” – Telepopmusik Crowd Young honeymooners and couples. Highlights -A ‘Masters in Residence’ Program offers the services of Bali’s finest wellness gurus and healing hands. Consider booking and Aqua Wellness and Yoga Day with water woman Elisa Senese and Yogi Beate McLatchie.- The Indonesian-inspired cuisine at on-site…