Sanctuary from The Mad World
Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch. - Orson Welles

We landed in Bali from Singapore on Monday morning, picked up our rented car at the airport and drove straight to the resort.  Parking our car in the small gravel yard (very Provence, by the way), we entered a narrow wooden Balinese gate onto a stone path which delivered us to a small garden dotted with coconut trees and frangipani.  The garden opened up to an infinity pool and, eventually, the clear blue sky and the dark Indian Ocean.  As I breathed in the ocean scent, I could hear the soothing waves crashing on the cliff below. The gamble against yellowed photographs on the resorts’ web site paid off.

We - or rather I - quickly unpacked and poked around.  We decided to stay for the afternoon to get acquainted with the surrounding and have dinner in the premises. 

The next day, waking up late as always, we went to Chandra in Denpasar for lunch.  In 2004, Chandra was highly recommended by the locals for a place to sample the Balinese ‘nasi campur’ which normally consists of steamed rice topped with lawar, urutan, pork meat, pork skin, and sambal.  However, this visit proved to be a disappointment.  The flavours were harsh and the texture tough.  We crossed Chandra from our must-eat Bali list. 

Thereafter, we drove to Seminyak for shopping.  After an hour, the crowd and the cars’ exhaust won the battle.  We took refuge in Chill Reflexology with its soothing interior and innovative foot-wash area - where feet are dipped into a long, slim pool with fountain instead of tacky, plastic buckets.  While listening to Ipod stocked with songs for all taste - from Balinese to Jazz - in a large cool and darkened room, our feet received the treatment they deserved.  We left refreshed and hungry.

We decided on the highly recommended Menaga Cafe on the Jimbaran beach.  While loving the ambiance, - dining outdoor with feet firmly planted on the sand - the food was lame.  Expecting minimally seasoned grilled seafood, ours arrived drowning in thick sauces.  That is not the way to treat fresh and flavourful seafood!

Wednesday was dedicated to Ubud.  My husband had to have his fix at Ibu Oka, the famous roasted suckling pig stall, while I had silver jewelleries and ethnic fabrics in mind.  As we decided that this holiday was about laziness, we went straight to Gemala Jewellery (where I got several good stuffs but overall was a mixed bag) and Ubud Market for our shopping.  Despite having a reservation for dinner at Mozaic, Indonesia’s brush with Thomas Keller, we agreed that sampling Mozaic was not worth the sleepy drive on un-illuminated roads back to our resort.  We cancelled our reservation and doggy-bagged some more Ibu Oka for dinner.

Thursday was drenched so we switched our spa-day to Thursday instead of Friday.  After another lunch at Ibu Oka, we entered Uma Ubud.  I appreciated the luxurious greenery which resembles tropical forests, loved the simple yet dignified reception area with its white theme, and understood the need for quiet and privacy.  But I imagined much more panache from the place (It is part of the Como Group afterall) and guess that the open space and the roaring ocean at Mu is more my style.

We both had the Shirodhara treatment and I added a Como Shambala Bath as I love a salt-scrub.  I’ve always been curious with this Ayuverdha treatment and was eager to experience it.  After a short but thorough and skilled massage, warm oil stored in a copper pot was slowly drained onto my forehead.  The effect was calming and relaxing. I think I even snored for a few minutes.  While waiting for me to complete the other treatment, my husband took a plunge in their pool and then surfed the internet in their lobby.  We both exited looking relaxed and clean.

Good thing we switched our spa day because the weather couldn’t be more perfect on Friday.  Starting with an hour of yoga - offered three times a week on the premises for a very reasonable price which we followed religiously while we were there -, the day was followed by breakfast, tanning, and more massaging.  I always find it hugely satisfying to spend at least a full day in a resort, from breakfast to dinner, rather than exploring around all the time. 

We left Mu early Saturday morning for Jakarta with a heavy heart but I have ticked all my to-do list for a happy holiday.  I encountered the warm tropical deluge I missed and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on my back.  I looked slimmer due to the darkened skin despite the delicious food I consumed.  I exercised and relaxed.  I shopped.  But the holiday was officially over.