HOTLIFE

HOT!LIFE B A L I

ARE YOU E XPERIENCING THE BEST OF BALI LIFEST YLE?

Volume 1

GOLFING BALI Bali courses offer breathtaking scenery and a great way to spend 4 hours

LUXURY AND EXCLUSIVITY 48 hour romantic hideaways around Bali A change of scene without being seen

19 REASONS TO VISIT FREE with HOT! Property Bali Magazine |

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HOT! contents B A L I

Editor’s Note HOT!LIFE, the lifestyle magazine that offers you a glimpse at a few of the elements that have won Bali the title of The World’s Best Island for the fifth year running. We bring you a selection of action, accommodation, spas, shops and restaurants on Island in the hope that it will create in you a surge of excitement and desire to enjoy these glorious shores. Just how good is the Bali lifestyle? Well, we love it so much we live here all year round! Come see for yourself.

Welcome to HOT!LIFE www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/

Cover Photograph Tara Palmer-Tomkinson at Karma Kandara, Bali Subscriptions, Information and Editorial

WHY BALI? 19 REASONS

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FOR YOUR GOLFING PLEASURE

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ROMANCE IN AMAN

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Tel : +62 (0) 817 067 0069. info@hotpropertybali.com HOT! Property Online www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/ Advertising Tel : +62 (0) 818 350 515 sales@hotpropertybali.com Publisher PT. Dua Dewata Bali, Denpasar, Bali 80030 Indonesia Fax : +62 (361) 703 336 Creative Director Clinton Albuquerque Design Creations Design Lounge info@creationsdesignlounge

Disclaimer HOT!LIFE is a supplement of HOT! Property Bali with the sole purpose of enhancing your experience while staying in Bali. All reviews are those personally experienced by the HOT! Team and may differ from your own personal tastes. Publishers accept no responsibility or liability in such cases unless you have a seriously good time, in which case we shall accept full responsibility and credit.

Thank you in advance.

HOT!LIFE Bali is published quarterly by PT. Dua Dewata, Bali, Indonesia, No. 220817003302, ISSN 1858-0939. We cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited contributions. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or part in any manner, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without permission.

The opinions expressed in the magazine may not be that of the publisher and the publisher cannot be held responsible. HOT!LIFE expressly advises seeing a legal professional before entering into any contractual agreements.

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Asia is rice, and there is no agriculture more indiscriminately demanding of water than rice farming.

So, how does a small volcanic island keep itself so well-watered as to produce rice all year round, especially through the long seven-month dry spell from April to October?

This summer was my first experience of a Bali rainy season and all I can say is ”was that it?” Friends told me to get a good raincoat, abandon my motorcycle and be prepared to build an ark, but as I waited, and waited, nothing really happened. Maybe my expectations were too high but it was all a bit lacklustre and hardly a Biblical experience. I suppose the silver lining is that it was of great benefit to the sun-loving tourist, but man cannot live on Bintang sales alone and low lake-levels are potentially disastrous for the continuation of the island’s food supply. So how does Bali do it?

It’s no big secret, it’s all about balance, an idea central to the Balinese way of life. The answer lies in an elaborate centuries old system of irrigation and water diversion controlled by community organisations called the Subak, which consists of groups of landowners who control the flow of water in Bali to ensure the equitable and even distribution of this precious resource to all of the island’s farmers. www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/

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Over the centuries, Balinese farmers have dug tunnels, carved channels and constructed complex bamboo piping systems to divert water from the rivers and streams that flow from Bali’s crater lakes in the central highlands. This unique system combines engineering with elaborate social structures and religious elements to ensure the even distribution of water throughout all the arable land on the island.

Using gravity, water is channeled into the upper most sawah (rice field) and then drains downhill through each sawah ensuring that each farm is flooded in turn before flowing on all the way down to the sea.

The Subak is not only responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the channels, tunnels and aqueducts, but also coordinate the planting and organization of festivals and ritual offerings. A Subak can even decide the type of rice to be grown depending on how much water is available, and in extreme cases of lower than normal water levels, can also decide as a group to grow other less water intensive crops.

Judging by the state of the weather and lack of decent rains this year, it could mean a lot more potato being offered up with your babi guling and padung over the coming months.

Let’s hope not, it tastes so much better with rice.

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Swimming for a Better World

FREEHOLD ARCHITECT DESIGNED VILLA, LOCATION: BATU BELIG (nr Petitenget) A unique opportunity to acquire this stunning, GFAB Architect designed villa. Finished to excellent standards in a contemporary modern style. Situated at the end of a quite lane off Jl. Petitenget, the property offers spacious family accommodation. The villa comprises 3 en-suite double bedrooms (master with bath), a generous dining area and open plan island kitchen, enclosed media/TV

room, guest cloak room, massive living pavilion, upstairs decked roof terrace with sumptuous daybeds for BBQ entertaining and bar. Additional features include an unusually large lawned garden, a well positioned lap pool, extensive staff quarters and further pantry/prep kitchen. Gated parking for two cars. POA

Email: twoislands@dps.centrin.net.id

Tel: 0818 350 515

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Only 8 degrees off the equator and basking in sunshine, Bali is the World’s most popular island destination and it’s easy to see why. In no particular order, HOT! has compiled 19 reasons why you should visit now...if not sooner.

01.

Weather

02.

Culture

Bali is blessed with a long hot dry season so reliable that weather reports are redundant. Hot and sunny, hot and sunny with more hot and sunny to follow. Ideal for lying on the beach. Sure, there is the summer rainy season but the downpours are brief and beautiful and the best excuse to head inside for that refreshing Gin & Tonic!

A Hindu island in a sea of Islam, Bali has a unique and rich blend of traditions and culture inspired by centuries of history. Fiercely guarded by a proud people it is as much a part of the waking life as it is ceremony and ritual.

Everywhere you look you will see deep elements of Balinese culture being practiced in people’s day-to-day lives. Watch, feel, admire and respect it all. It is the cement that holds together the foundations of what Bali is, has been and will become.

03.

Accessibility Right on the doorstep of some of Asia’s biggest cities. Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong or Sydney, Bali is the perfect choice for a tropical getaway. Never more than a few hours flight time away and only a couple of hours time difference, there is no need to waste your energy or time on jetlag. Spend it wisely lazing right here on the beach.

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Rice Fields

Mountainous and with a lack of flatland, rice growing is confined mainly to terraced rice fields on the rich alluvial slopes of the island’s volcanic terrain. The ubiquitous rice terraces are famous worldwide, not only for their colour and beauty but also for the ancient water management system that makes it all possible. No camera has ever left these shores alive without a huge cache of photos of the rice, Bali’s lifeblood.

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Underwater

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Resorts All the major players have a showing in Bali. Bvlgari, Aman, Conrad, Four Seasons, Alila, Ritz-Carlton. Everyone! That has to tell you something. Dotted all over the Island, in the green rice-terraced valleys of Ubud, on the dry dramatic cliff tops of the Bukit and fronting the white sandy beaches of the Indian Ocean, there is 5-Star beachside or jungle draped luxury wherever you want to look.

Bali’s seas have some of the best diving in the world. The deep waters of the Lombok Strait and surrounding seas create strong up-welling currents that make the waters of Bali some of the richest feeding and breeding grounds in Asia. Manta rays, whale sharks, sunfish, sharks, barracuda or turtles, Bali’s waters give you the chance to see everything you want to be awed or scared to death by. www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/

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08.

Surfing

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Affordability Backpacker, heiress or wage slave, everything is as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be in Bali. The food, the shopping, even the roof over your head. From street stalls to gourmet restaurants, traditional markets to Prada boutiques and $15-a-night cheapie hotels to $5000-a-night, 5-star ultra-luxury resorts, Bali can please any credit limit.

Since the heady days of the 60s when the surf pioneers went out in search of the perfect wave, Bali has been a mecca for surfers the world over. Bali is unique for the huge swells that rise deep in the Southern Ocean and travel hundreds of miles north to die, creating some of the most spectacular breaks in the world. With a 360 degree coastline the surf wraps around the island ensuring that somewhere, sometime, somehow there will always be the perfect wave.

09.

Suntan There are many who still want for nothing more from their tropical holiday than to laze for hours under a tropical sun in pursuit of a rich golden tan. Bali is for people who aren’t afraid of the sun.

People who refuse to cower in the shade and give in to the belief that a pale complexion is the height of fashion. In fact, Bali has almost too many hours of uninterrupted sunshine to easily satisfy anybody’s lust for the sun.

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Shopping So many creative minds call Bali home. Artisans, painters, jewelers and traditional craftspeople and all the fruits of their labours are produced right here in Bali at low cost and high quality making it almost too easy for you to look your best and surround yourself with beauty. Furniture, fashion, fabrics, antiques and luxury brands - real and imagined - all combined with a blackmarket underworld of extremely cheap knockoffs from DVD’s to Gucci. All major credit cards willingly accepted.

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12.

Romance

Nightlife

Honeymoon, anniversary, or even travelling alone, let the sunsets, moonrises, and beautiful energy of Bali ignite or rekindle your deepest passions. Allow yourself to be caught up in the tropical island enchantment that has bewitched lovers for centuries. Whether it’s for a lifetime or a short time, all love is heaven-sent, and Bali is the Island of the Gods.

Well entrenched as a primo destination on the international DJ circuit, Bali offers up some of the best, most sophisticated nightlife to rival anywhere in the world. From Sunset till well after sunrise Bali’s restaurants, bars and clubs offer a staggering array of delights to sate every hunger. Be it food, drink, music or love, everyone goes to sleep satisfied.

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13.

Beach The endless surf of Kuta, the dazzling whiteness of Nusa Dua and the coral seas of the Northeast.

It’s all here in Bali. Palm-fringed and soaked in sunshine. A no-brainer really!

14.

Adrenaline Fancy yourself as a modern-day Hemingway? Catch a marlin or spike a barracuda. Wrestle crocodiles, snakes and dragons. Shoot the rapids on the Unda river, climb to over 3700m up Mt. Agung, then bike vertically down again at MACH 1, parasail at Nusa Dua, or simply do a 2am Bungy at Double Six into a pool surrounded by crazed party people, the most dangerous of all the animals in Bali.

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Spa

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Taste Rich volcanic soils and bountiful seas combine to provide Bali kitchens with a seemingly endless supply of fresh top-quality ingredients for their dishes.

With the huge numbers of top-class international restaurants on offer, diners will find themselves in gourmet heaven and eating in a different country every night of the week. Home to some of the best chefs and most critical diners in South-East Asia, we know that you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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Holidays should be all about relaxation, and being covered in mineralrich mud, bathed in essential oils and massaged with strong knowing hands is about as relaxing as it can get. Bali is the ultimate spa destination and prides itself on the use of exotic tropical ingredients and luxurious environments designed to enliven your body and soul and give a totally holistic and nurturing experience that will change your day, if not your life.

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Sunset The daily ritual of the Balinese Skyshow draws hundreds to the waters edge each evening to watch the changing shapes and colours of the clouds and sky over a flat and fiery ocean. The end of a perfect day or the beginning of an uncertain night? It doesn’t matter, just kick back, enjoy the moment and let the day’s fading beauty wash right over you.

18.

Architecture What constitutes Bali Style? Pavilions in walled courtyards? Alang alang roofs supported by ornately carved pillars? Not so long ago this was the case, but Bali Style is an evolving animal heavily selected for by the global interest of designers and architects the world over.

Traditional elements of Bali are mixing with and reflecting a disparate range of design philosophies resulting in a haven for connoisseurs of architecture and tropical style everywhere. Be you eccentric or traditional, Bali and its artisans can create a dream house for you. Check out HOTPropertybali.com/blogging/ for inspiration and information when buying and building a property in Bali.

19.

Service

Bali’s service industry is its money train. Anywhere, anytime, anyhow and always with a healthy dose of slow pelan pelan island time. You will always get what you want or at least someone who will help you find it. The service may not always be as fast and efficient as your home city but the smile is genuine and it’s the biggest that you will ever see in your lifetime.

So, there you have it. If you’re not convinced then go back a few pages and read again.

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tried and TASTED Just back off the bottom of Jalan Oberoi, Danielle Vanneque has created The Living Room, an eclectic mix of modern and Asian architecture, exquisite cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere with the express purpose of indulgence. On weekends it can be the most happening scene on the island as the DJ’s start playing and a heady mix of tourists, locals and expats take the Back Bar to its limits.

The Living Room combines dishes with well-recognised international ingredients with just a hint of spicy Asian reminders.

Mashed potato with wasabi or warm chilli vinegar on the foie gras to name but two. These unexpected little touches challenge and excite the palate helping to create a near-perfect dining experience.

The Living Room Where : Seminyak Tel : +62 (361) 735735 www.thelivingroombali.com

It is hard in this part of the world to derive any kind of advantage from being a non-smoker but thank god my regular dining partner finally gave up so we could at last sit in the tobacco-free upstairs at La Lucciola and enjoy the setting sun from its vantage point.

I’ve sat downstairs with her on many a Sunday morning watching her chain smoke her way through our hangovers and wondered what it must be like to eat sitting up in the ‘first class lounge’ and actually see the ocean from on high. I mean, this is why people come to Bali in the first place, isn’t it?

La Lucciola has one of the best dining locations on Island, right on the water’s edge with the perfect sea breeze and its own designer coconut trees. It’s both upscale and its casual but more importantly, it’s consistently good. You could bring Prince Charles or you could bring your Mum, both would be over the Moon.

Fine food, great wine, and with one of the best appointed non-smoking sections in Bali.

It may even help you quit.

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On the occasion of our visit a tasting menu was created over five courses, liberally lubricated of course with a fine choice of wines.

Just for a giggle all dishes were graded on a scale of 1 to 5. Out of the ten dishes, and numerous wines, that were consumed, only one scored less than four…proof perfect that it must really be a great place to eat.

La Lucciola Where : Seminyak Tel : +62 (361) 730838

New York City Chef Serves Modern Mediterranean Cuisine

di Mare Restaurant & Lounge located at Karma Jimbaran Resort Jalan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran Bay 200 meters south of the seafood warungs

708 848 dimare.com.au www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/

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tried and TASTED

King Alaska Crab Millefeuille Fondant of Leek, Crab Emulsion and Soft Shell Crab Tempura For 4 Portions - 250g King Alaska Crab meat - cooked - 150g Sliced leek - 8 pcs Wonton skin - 2 pcs Soft shell crab cut in half - 12 cl Crab emulsion Recipe Crab Bisque Emulsion 1 Recipe = 700 ml - 500ml Crab bisque - 300g Cubed butter - 100ml Vegetable stock - Reduce crab bisque for 10 min - Add vegetable stock - Remove from heat, add butter cube and then stir - Chervil leaves to decorate

There are moments in time when two people meet and the course of history is changed forever. People like Lennon and McCartney, Moet et Chandon, even Butch and Sundance are just some of the names that have made the World a more interesting place, and when chef de cuisine Nicholas ‘Doudou’ Tourneville formed a business partnership with French chef Said Alem, they became a part of this tradition and ensured that the map of Bali dining would never be the same again.

Method • Cut four pieces of wonton skin in half and fry.

• Julienne four pieces of wonton skin and fry.

• Sauté sliced leek with a little butter and cook until still a little crunchy.

• Fry the soft shell crab in a tempura batter till crispy.

• Divide the King Crab meat into 8 portions and place it with a little butter into oven for a few minutes until hot.

• Preheat four plates and place a layer of leek on each plate, followed by the half wonton skin on top, then add the leek and the crab meat. Add more wonton skin, leek and crab meat and place the soft shell crab tempura on top. Pour the hot crab bisque emulsion on the plate, and top with chervil leaves.

Serve HOT! www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/

Where : Kerobokan Tel : +62 (361) 731175 www.kafewarisan.com

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Their restaurant Warisan in Bali rose to become the place by which all others would be judged, and quickly developed an international reputation for its sophisticated French Mediterranean cuisine, its vast selection of fine wines, its irrepressible staff and their total attention to detail. But the true proof of Warisan’s excellence is in the testimony of its patrons. The loyal locals, expats and tourists who keep coming back time after time to indulge in the duo’s excellence.

C’est Magnifique!

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Customised solutions

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5 Star quality service

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Fine International cuisine

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Weddings

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Private parties

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tried and TASTED If it’s romantic sunsets, namesake ocean breezes, or the sound of crashing waves you are after there are many choices, but none so luxurious as Breezes at the Samaya Resort.

Having just been voted the best restaurant in Bali, getting in the mood for the culinary experience that awaited us was easy. We asked Torsten Schubert, the talented star chef to prepare us a platter of his own personal favourites from the menu while we chose the wine. A delightful Pinot Noir was selected from Chef Torsten’s extensive cellar covering 150 labels, 15 single malts and many fine Cuban cigars, and it kept us in good company throughout the night.

Breezes Where : Seminyak Tel : +62 (361) 731149 www.thesamayabali.com

We were consumed by hunger and desire as Torsten kept us waiting for just the right amount of time before it started. We nibbled on crab cakes baked in filo with basil-chili aioli. We feasted on morsels of smoked duck and mushroom quesadillas. We downed lobster bisque with smoked goat cheese springrolls, and we finished up by devouring roasted lamb loin on wild forest mushrooms followed by crisp, panseared, wild barramundi. When the dessert menu came, it made us fat just reading it - but I just didn’t care.

Service was first class and we felt like King and Queen for the night.

Our only complaint, if we even want to call it that, was that the service was a little fast. It made us forget we were in Bali.

The problem with di Mare is that you could just eat everything on the menu, which makes it extremely difficult to choose from the 12 starters and eight mains. It’s not that it’s a lengthy tome but everything just sounds so damned mouth-watering – even the eggplant! They also have a great wine list featuring a fine mix of European and New World reds and whites and quality champagnes. A bottle of which we just had to start the evening with.

We decided to get ex-New Yorker, Head Chef Raymond’s suggestions, as 30 minutes of deliberation had only added to our dilemma and we were now starving and seriously considering the nine dishes over 3 courses, cuisine in miniatura.

We ate Jimbaran Bay Prawn Trio and Seafood Melange to start, then I moved on to a succulent crispy-skinned sea bream for my main, while my partner had an equally luscious pan-roasted salmon. God it was good. A Who’s Who of a cheese list was presented at our bursting points - and vowing to return very soon, we not only lacked the willpower to skip the chocolate soufflé, but we asked to take it with us for an indulgent, next-morning reminder of an exquisite dining experience.

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Where : Jimbaran Tel : +62 (361) 708848 www.dimare.com.au

beach front land for sale

Prestigious Neighbours and exclusivity in Taban Rural Beach and River front land available near Taban near the new Alila Resort escape to the real Bali only an hour drive from the airport. This land is perfect for a resort or some super duper private villas, why not throw in a Helipad for extra quick transfers. A beautiful and private part of Bali with none of the feverish development of the south which is accessed through picturesque little villages and communities. With rice fields and permanent ocean views you can have it all.

Location:Tabanan in north west Bali Land Size: 370 are Zoning for Residential & Tourism Tenure: Leasehold Price Rp 85 Million/are More information on this property contact: twoislands@dps.centrin.net.id

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golfing pleasure for your

Photo courtesy : Bali Golf and Country Club

Photo courtesy : Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club

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There are some people who say that golf is a great way to spoil a good walk. I can understand that, I mean, you can’t like everything can you? I don’t like tennis for example.

It’s not that’s it’s a bad game, I just don’t like it.

Golf though, I love.

Spending time and playing your sport in some of the most beautifully manicured real estate on Earth as opposed to a small rectangle of grass or asphalt, is exciting, exclusive and best of all, doesn’t take too much effort and energy on the part of the ’athlete’ involved.

I only wish it were cheaper.

Photo courtesy : Nirwana Golf and Country Club

Not only does Bali have beautiful beaches and endless sunshine, it is also blessed with many challenging options for golfers of all abilities and talents with four very beautiful and very different golf courses; Nirwana Golf and Country Club near Tanah Lot, Bali Golf and Country Club at Nusa Dua, Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club high up in the cool air of the mountains near Bedugul, and Bali Beach Golf Course in Sanur.

I recently played all four within the space of a week under the guise of ‘research’ and was in sporting heaven.

We started Monday morning at Bali Golf and Country Club at the southern end of the millionaires playground of Nusa Dua. This course boasts one of the most exclusive and beautiful settings for tropical

golfing that the mind can conjure. There are ocean views, whitesand beaches, creeks, canyons, lush native vegetation, and designer terracing to emulate the famed rice terraces of the Balinese countryside.

One-hundred-foot tall coconut palms line the fairways and provide the most perfect vertical definition to the course. As you hit the last two holes, you are served up sumptuous sea level views of the Indian Ocean and Nusa Dua beach to accompany you on your drive back to the clubhouse and that well-earned Gin & Tonic.

Wednesday had us taking a beautiful two-hour drive from town, through rice fields and jungle, to the Bali Handara Kosaido Country Club near Bedugal. Eleven hundred metres above sea level the air is much cooler and more comfortable making for a much different kind of game with less sweat and a reduced risk of heatstroke. www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/

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Located in the crater of a hopefully extinct volcano, the course has sweeping views of the lush tropical rainforest all the way down to Lake Buyan. The deep greens of the jungle and the pale blue of the skies create a Jurassic Park like, lost-world feeling, making for a very different style of Bali golf altogether.

There is nothing more you could ask for in the Bali world of golf. Everything one could expect in an Asian paradise is here; volcanic backdrops, coconut palms and wild ocean views. Bali is in my humble opinion, the piece de resistance of the international golfers wet dream.

If you still don’t like it, all the resorts have tennis courts.

Thursday afternoon was an excellent time for us to visit the Bali Beach Golf Course and slot in nine holes before heading out for the night.

It’s a great course with beautiful tree-lined fairways, plenty of bunkers and water hazards with only one par three and one par five. Nineholes in the late afternoon is great when you have little time and not much energy to burn but still want the thrill of the chase. The air is cooler and the shadows longer and whether you are on holiday or not, it always feels like you are skiving off work.

Friday afternoon and the end of our long and hard ‘working week’ we teed off at Le Meridien’s Nirwana Golf and Country Club. Nirwana is perhaps the jewel in the crown of Bali golf and Australian golfing legend Greg Norman must be immensely proud of his involvement in its design. Once again in the World Travel Awards for 2006, Le Meridian received the dual accolades of both Asia’s leading golf resort and Indonesia’s leading golf resort for the second time running. Off the black tees, it can intimidate and infuriate, but what it steals from your constitution it delivers back with some of the most memorable golf you will ever play.

Photo courtesy : Nirwana Golf and Country Club

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Photo courtesy : Bali Beach Golf Course

“City Golfing Adventure�

Photos courtesy : Gustra

The Bali Beach golf course now offers exceptional golfing and clubhouse facilities following a multi-million dollar refit. The course is set in an environment of very tall mature trees and has been given an extensive facelift with the introduction of lakes, moulding and features newly designed and constructed greens, all of which add to the aesthetic beauty of the course. Club rental, golf lessons, golf vouchers, golf shop and tournament packages are all available.

Rates: 9 holes US$46.75 18 holes US$58.30.

The Sector bar & restaurant has had a chic refit and has designed a delicious new menu and is available for weddings, birthdays, gatherings and meetings.

For reservations please contact: Bali Beach Golf Course, Jl. Hangtuah No 58 Sanur, Bali.

Tel: +62 361 287733, Fax: +62 361 285488. email: info@balibeachgolfcourse.com or info@sectorbarrestaurant.com So come see us soon, and see if you can stay out of trouble!

playing around

There are over 18,000 islands in Indonesia and only a handful of them have airports, so what better way to explore and discover the vastness of the East Indies than by boat?

Indonesia Cruises have been sailing the waters of Eastern Indonesia since 1997 and are the most established sailing cruise company in this part of the world. Their fleet consists of two classically styled wooden schooners, the Ombak Putih and the Ombak Biru, offering live aboard dive trips and cruises to some of the most untouched and breathtaking parts of the planet.

Cruises on the 24-berth Ombak Putih follow a variety of routes organised to avoid the monsoon. From April until October during the Sight Cruises program, it sails the waters of the Lesser Sundas - Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and Komodo. From November through March during the Adventure Cruises program, they sail along the more eastern coasts of Sumbawa, Komodo, Flores, Savu and Sumba and beyond. Sailing is mostly done in the afternoons and at night, leaving you plenty of time to visit the beaches, enjoy the various cultures and flora and fauna, or just relax on board and chill.

For divers, Ombak Biru is one of the finest dive liveaboards around.

This 14-berth vessel is ideal for both experienced and novice divers and offers unparalleled levels of service taking you to some of the best tropical diving spots in the world. The Ombak Biru sails seven22

and eleven-night liveaboard cruises year-round with professional dive instructors and the most sophisticated air and nitrox systems available.

Nowhere else will you encounter such a diversity of marine life and underwater adventure.

Both vessels are designed to offer you maximum comfort with great food, very comfortable accommodation, large decks and spacious lounges overlooking the sea. Laze away the day in a sun-drenched deckchair, relax in the shade of the canopy, or if privacy is what you want, head below decks to your private and spacious cabin. Designed with touches of the old and the new, bunk beds or double, each has its own port holes, air-conditioning and en-suite bathroom. The whole ship is yours to enjoy.

The Ombak team are dedicated to ensuring that your holiday is a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. With years of experience sailing the waters of Eastern Indonesia; from Timika to Ambon, Sarong to Minado and Flores to Sawu, Indonesia Cruises allow you to see the world as only you imagined you could.

Welcome Aboard!

Where : Kuta Tel : +62 (361) 766269 www.indonesiacruises.com

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playing around

Rip Curl School Of Surf

Seventeen years ago I took up surfing to impress a girl. Things were ok for the first two days but then I saw a shark. It was swimming along minding its own business but it was doing so between me and the safety of the beach. It was probably only about a metre long with no teeth but a shark is a shark in my book and I just freaked right out and haven’t been on a board since. She wasn’t impressed.

Seventeen years later and enter Jonni from Rip Curl School of Surf. I explained my plight and he took it as a personal challenge to get me up and standing and loving the water without fear. Not only that but he would have me surfing the notorious Canggu break within three days - I accepted.

Jonni learned to surf in the coldest waters in the surfing world, the lower east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. A place of squalls, seals and sharks; great big white ones…and bloody cold water. He knows his stuff!

Rip Curl School of Surf has inspired thousands of people to get out on the water and ride the waves, and they offer all sorts of classes for all levels of surfer on all the best breaks in Bali. Holiday beginners to seasoned professionals alike.

Decked out in my bright red RIPCURL boardies I spent a few hours in the water with patient and instructive Made and Indah who taught me confidence, balance and the physics behind the breaking waves. I paddled, I stood, I lost my balance, I bent my knees, I regained my balance, I stood again, I fell off, I got back on, I stood up, I shifted my weight, I turned left, I turned right, I turned left then turned right, I stopped falling off. Day three we rode Canggu, and I did it well. This time the girl was impressed.

Where : Legian-Kaja Tel : +62 (361) 735858 www.ripcurlschoolofsurf.com

Oh, what a day! The sun was shining, the river was-a-calling and my adrenal glands were crying out to be set free! Sobek were taking us on a rafting trip on the Telaga Waja to feel the power of what nature can do when she turns her designs on a river. Riding through the rapids, waterfalls and weirs surrounded by fertile rice fields and deep-green tropical jungles, we felt like Stanley in the Congo. Great white hunters we were, and loving every minute. Sixteen years in the business have honed Sobek’s skills to such a level of professionalism and safety that they have become market leaders in rafting in Indonesia. Thorough safety instruction, top-class equipment, highly-trained guides and stacks of fun ensured that we were around to tell the tale after it was all over and the adrenaline had worn off and we gently came back down to Earth.

Where : Sanur Tel : +62 (361) 287059 www.balisobek.com

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are we there yet?

Waterbom is an unrivalled day out of excitement, adrenaline and fun for the kid in everyone.

There are 15 waterslides to terrify and entertain for hours, from kiddies pools with mini-slides to the death defying Kamikaze slides. The newest is the Boomerang which hurled me down through a covered slide before I emerged into the light and up a sheer 60 degree wall before gravity took over and pulled me down again at breakneck speed into the splash zone. Incredible!

It’s not all high adventure and thrills however, there is also a pleasurable side to it all for the less adventurous. After all the excitement I tried the Lazy River, which wound me through a relaxing 250 metres of slow, flowing water and gentle rapids, then I retreated to the Pleasure Pool where I played volleyball and chilled out at the swim-up pool bar. My kind of place.

Where : Kuta Tel : +62 (361) 755676 www.waterbom.com

Kids! Don’t you hate going places with your parents that lack the right facilities to keep them interested and out of your hair? At the Canggu Club there are loads of things to keep the olds out of your face and out of trouble for hours. From the many dining facilities and bars to the tennis courts and gymnasium, you can have as much time as you like to have fun whilst knowing that your parents are out of harms way and being well looked after. Time to enjoy the adventure playground, time to relax at the swimming pool or in the Splash Park. For those more mature of you with a liking for the finer things in life, time to check out the Movie Room and Games Area, loaded up with X-box games, board games, DVD’s and TV. Perfect for hanging out, chatting and doing that all-important networking. Then, when you are ready to leave, you can take your parents home safe in the knowledge that they have been having almost as much fun as you.

Where : Canggu Tel : +62 (361) 8446385 www.cangguclub.com

On a recent hot and sunny thursday morning I dragged the kids north to the Bali Bird Park to give Mum a chance for a well-deserved lie in. We were greeted at the gate by the sight and sound of a thousand birds showing off every colour and song under the avian rainbow. Home to the largest and finest collection of Indonesian birds in the world along with a variety of birds from faraway Africa and South America, the park is heavily committed to bird conservation and has a strong captive breeding program for endangered birds to try to halt the decline in species numbers in Indonesia and beyond.

Designed and built in 1995, the park was created with both education and entertainment in mind and their success is evident with over sixty aviaries housing birds of such beauty you have to see it to believe it. And as for their song, Mozart himself would cry. We fed them, laughed with them and watched them play and we loved it. But if you go, just remember to wear a hat. Poor little Sam forgot hers and found out why the hard way!!!

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Where : Batubulan Tel: +62 (361) 299352 www.bali-bird-park.com

NEVER miss out on a HOT! Property in Bali Visit the HOT! Property Blog. Here you will find information and inspiration for buying or building your dream villa in Bali. HOT! Property Bali is not available outside of Asia and we hope that for those of you who would like access to it’s information this will become a valuable resource for you as we grow our content on a regular basis.

We are also happy to respond to your comments and try to answer questions regarding any of the articles and features or Bali property related questions. This is a work in progress and we hope you enjoy it as much as the readers of HOT! Magazine. www.hotpropertybali.com/blogging/ Editor

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Get to the

seaside

EXTERIOR BUILDING

TWO LEVEL PENTHOUSES

Amankila

28 OPEN PLAN LIVING

OPEN PLAN LIVING

THE RESIDENCES Seaside offers 24 beautifully appointed 1 and 3 bedroom suites including six exclusive 3 bedroom penthouses, each arranged over 2 floors with private elevator access, private rooftop pools and garden terraces.

Built to the highest specifications for year round luxury living and proximity to the beach (only a 30m leisurely stroll away). In-house leisure facilities include lap pool, tropical landscaped gardens, relaxing spa, underground parking, on-site restaurant and a fitness centre.

PENTHOUSE MASTER SUITE AND PRIVATE ROOF TOP POOL

Sleek and contemporary, Seaside epitomises classical beach side luxury.

Each residence is equipped with large restful beds and sofas you can sink into, soft fluffy towels and crisp sheets make this a true home-from-home.

All the interiors and furnishings are completed to the highest specifications, for your ultimate comfort. Soak up the spectacular views across Legian beach from the floor-to-ceiling windows or lounge on the private terraces or pool side. The beach is a heartbeat away - the choice is yours.

The project is designed by Archform architects, a respected international “green” architectural company with a strong design portfolio of high end villas, resorts, restaurants and galleries that blend style and nature to create a truly world class property.

The unique architectural design emphasis is on stretch curves and horizontal lines broken by lush vegetation and tropical plants. The building facades are slightly curved blending the design with the beach front environment.

For more info email: twoislands@dps.centrin.net.id

Experience Legian/Seminyak, whether by day or night. Either on the beach with a huge choice of water activities, boutique shopping or the many cafes thronging the street. At night, sample the fine dining, trendy bars and clubs that come alive once the sun goes down.

Ranging from one bedroom suites to exclusive duplex penthouses, all options can be rented out as part of the hotel rental pool or choose to be a full time resident, there is something for everyone.

SURF, SEA AND SAND MINUTES AWAY

... you’ll never want to leave

get Closer to heaven on earth

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson at Karma Kandara, Bali

Already heads are turning to the south with Karma Kandara set to be the next major resort opening on Bali’s Bukit peninsular in July. With a spectacular cliff-top setting and boasting one of the most eagerly awaited restaurants in years, a spine-tingling spa on the cliff edge and a super-chic beach club, the resort poses the first viable challenge to Seminyak’s restaurants and clubs as the chill-out destination of choice.

For a sneak preview of Karma Kandara, and to see the last remaining villas for sale, contact +62 (361) 8475475

Meanwhile as Kandara approaches completion…

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Karma Developments goes from strength to strength as Kandara nears its grand opening this quarter, and mumblings have now been confirmed on the stunning location of their next high-end resort.

Karma Agung - Manggis Karma has been threatening to develop their next Bali resort next to Amankila on the East coast for the past year or so and has finally launched its most impressive villa designs yet.

Adapted from an original plan for a secret location in the Seychelles, the Karma Agung villas will take Bali architecture to a new level. Each beachfront residence will feature three pools, four grand detached bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and pool access and a vast central living pavilion with lounge, bar and dining area. Kitchen facilities and maids quarters will be located back-of-house. The icing on this real estate cake will be the stunning panoramic views over Candi Dasa bay to Nusa Penida and Lombok.

“Spec’d to the limit” these villas are for serious investors who demand only the very best on offer. Priced at “around $2.5mill” they obviously aren’t within everyone’s reach but Karma has said they are already receiving large amounts of interest from Eastern European clients and others who would prefer to remain anonymous.

So, if you are looking for the ultimate second, third or fourth home in a spectacular tropical setting with privacy, security and service of the highest level, then Karma Agung is probably the only viable option in South East Asia. One hour from Ngurah Rai airport by road, the estate also features a yacht-berthing area for approach by sea and the indispensable helipad for aerial access, cutting journey time down to just 20 minutes. I’m sure the majority of their discerning owners will definitely opt-for the latter option.

Karma Resorts, the Group’s management arm, is to provide 24-hour reception, butlers, chefs, and housekeeping in addition to the estate’s central clubhouse facilities angled towards exclusive events and private guest entertainment.

Exclusive and über-luxurious, Karma Agung will be setting the standard for years to come.

For reservations visit www.karmadevelopments.com

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Romance

in

aman

... three new positions for lovers

Amannusa

Amankila

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Amandari

AMANNUSA Some of the best views in Bali are found here. So much blue and green from high on the hills of the Bukit looking North towards Mt Agung and across the entire Southern arc of Bali. The beach club here is Amannusa’s treasure. Empty alabaster beaches, clear blue waters and secluded bale’s (pavilions), where you and your significant other can relax away from the hustle and bustle of the sands. And later, back at the villa, you can experience possibly the best bathtubs in Bali, a perfect open-air indulgence for two under a starry night sky.

Amannusa

If it’s Romance you’re looking for then Bali is the place. If it’s romance you already have, then Amanresorts is definitely the place. Once you and your lover step into the omnipotent serenity of one of Aman’s three resorts in Bali, you will find yourselves falling in love afresh each day for the rest of your life, such is the power of the luxury and sensual beauty that are Amanresorts three Bali jewels, gloriously set amid sublimely different parts of Indonesia’s golden crown.

Amannusa; ‘peaceful isle’, takes you to the gentle crash of the ocean and the white sand beaches of Nusa Dua, Amandari, ‘peaceful spirits’, is nestled amongst the emerald rice terraces of lush, watered and tropical Ubud and Amankila, peaceful hill’, an off-the-beaten-track paradise on Bali’s East coast of dry, jungled hillsides above the deep and mysterious Lombok Strait. Each has a magical pull and offers its own unique opportunity for romance.

AMANDARI Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, David Bowie and Claudia Schiffer are just a few of the high profile and high-living figures who have given in to Amandari’s irrepressible draw. Sumptuous foods, romantic river walks, discreet but attentive staff, beds so big that they take a week to cross and early morning sunshine that filters through huge panorama windows, gently waking you to your lover’s peaceful sleeping form.

Spend your days voluntarily trapped by your private poolside, swimming and staring through the splendid rice fields that terrace the hillsides down to the Ayung river gorge below, or simply stay in bed.

It’s that simple.

Amannusa beach club

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Amankila

AMANKILA Evening time is a time for two at Amankila and they turn up the heat by offering you a magical dining experience right on the beach. The entire beach club, pool and beach are reserved for just you and your lover. A table for two, candles, flowers, music and a bonfire to light up your sky. A private chef and butler cater to your nearly every need and you are afforded complete privacy in a seductively draped cabana should your amorous urges become irrepressible.

Should you have any trouble deciding which of these stunning resorts to choose from, Amanresorts can ease the pain by offering you the Aman Bali Break, which gives you three nights at one or any combination of the three Aman resorts in Bali.

For more information contact www.amanresorts.com 34

Amandari

There is no pressure at Aman, you feel so pampered and so tranquil that you just forget what day it is. Luxury-car pick ups or private helicopter, attentive staff, gorgeous food, pools, beaches, bales or just holding hands and staring into each others eyes, there is so much luxury, so much peace, so much time. Time to once again embrace, kiss and make love forever.

When Alila first came to one of Bali’s most devout and ancient kingdoms they knew they would have to combine the needs of both the local people and their customs with the needs of their guests to succeed. When I first came to Alila Manggis, I could see that they had managed to pull it off.

One of Bali’s best kept secrets, Alila Manggis is a secluded, stylish seaside resort in Manggis, East Bali. Set amidst a coconut grove, the resort is nestled between the sea and the majestic Mount Agung, Bali’s most sacred mountain. As well as all that tranquility they have a list of activities as long as your arm to excite everyone’s tastes. From adrenaline junkies to food and culture lovers, It’s all here.

Having neither the energy nor inclination to climb a mountain or ride a bike I instead chose to be guided through an Indonesian cooking class with their star chef. We visited the local market and their hillside organic gardens to select our produce before spending an engaging couple of hours in humour and good company preparing some of the best food these humble hands have ever made. I forgot learning could be so much fun.

Alila Manggis is a special kind of place and it will show you the sights and experiences that the less bold Bali tourists so often overlook.

Where : Manggis Tel : +62 (363) 41011 www.alilahotels.com/manggis

Alila Manggis

between the SHEETS The beauty of Jamahal Private Resort and Spa is a joy to behold and is an invitation to honeymooners and lovers everywhere to give themselves over to the perfect romantic hideaway experience of a lifetime. Lauded as one of the finest luxury boutique resorts on Bali, Jamahal will transport you to paradise.

Imagine being pampered in your private villa surrounded by the sweet fragrance of a lush, manicured garden and with private beach access a mere stones throw away. Set in the charming fishing village of Jimbaran amid lush gardens and a free-flowing lagoon pool, Jamahal - “precious time” in Sanskrit - is truly a gem in the Balinese boutique resort scene.

Service at Jamahal is flawless and at any one time there are only a maximum of 12 couples staying at the resort. Dining is an exquisite East meets West journey utilizing only the freshest organic produce and Jamahal’s spa will pamper and indulge you with Balinese, Indian and Polynesian massages and treatments. There is even a two-hour “chocolate” treatment, which even the strictest diet will allow …

While at Jamahal you will find it difficult to tear yourself away from this truly unique jewel resort to discover the rest of Bali.Not surprising really considering you have found Heaven on the Island of the Gods. ... hide away in privacy, find yourself at JAMAHAL Where : Jimbaran Tel : +62 (361) 704394 www.jamahal.net 35

Bali is undoubtedly a shopper’s paradise, but deciding what to look for and knowing the right place to look, can be both daunting and frustrating! Here is a rough guide to the main areas of interest in Bali.

h Rac el G ves rea

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Kuta You won’t have to look far to hit on the shops and malls of Kuta.

Jl Legian and Kuta Square present a hotchpotch of trendy brand name outlets, souvenir shops and fashion boutiques, together with gargantuan surfwear concept stores that stock everything you could possibly need to do with surfing and its all encompassing slacker lifestyle.

For a shopping mall excursion, you might want to visit the beachfront ‘Discovery Mall’, the biggest and the most complete one-stop shopping mall ever built in Bali. Fully air-conditioned, the three-floor mall attracts plenty of custom with two department stores, global lifestyle branded boutiques, local retailers, beachside cafes and more.

‘Mal Bali Galeria’ boasts covered walkways set around attractive garden courtyards. Outlets include international and local stores, a department store, supermarket, and food courts.

‘Istana Kuta Galeria’ is also well worth a visit, and notable for its specialty shops complemented by funky architecture, attractive promenades, shaded street cafes, and a pleasant laid-back ambience.

Kerobokan and Seminyak In Kerobokan and Seminyak, you can rummage for treasures through cluttered little stores and dark junkshops crammed to the ceiling with curios and ‘made-to-order’ antiques! Derive inspiration from classy homeware shops, or wander through huge odoriferous warehouses displaying an orderly selection of high quality furniture. Traditional furniture designs are Dutchcolonial Javanese, enhanced with whimsical Balinese charm and garnished with beautifully intricate hand-carvings. Everything is available from afternoon tea cabinets to roll-top desks, telephone-sofas to kissing-chairs. Contemporary furniture designs are sleek, sophisticated and minimalist, featuring clean lines, resourceful storage concepts, and smooth-as-glass finishes.

Over the last two years there has been a flood of new designer boutiques to the Seminyak area.

Jl Laksmana, otherwise known as ‘Eat Street’, is now the street to “shop between courses”!

Tropical panache collections feature chic ethnic designs executed in richly garnished silks, diaphanous chiffons and strong, deep colours, perfect for Bali’s glamorous night scene!

Ubud Art is omnipresent in Bali. Inseparable from the cultural and religious life of the communities, it plays an intense role in daily life, and can be seen everywhere from elaborately-carved doorways, stone statues and wood sculptures, to temple architecture, magnificent paintings, masks, textiles, jewellery, and beautifully-crafted offerings to the gods.

If you are looking to purchase paintings, Ubud is the place to conduct your search. Classic, contemporary and abstract artwork, fine art, folk art and decorative wall panels can all be found in the town’s numerous galleries and art shops.

Bali’s famous Pita Maha style depicts human figures and scenes from everyday Balinese life, while other classical artwork features wayang puppet figures, rich floral designs and flame-andmountain motifs.

Meet the artist – the person who knows his artwork better than anybody else! Commission a painting! Prices may not be negotiable in the fine art galleries, but for commercial artwork figures are always “open to discussion”. If it speaks to you – buy it!

Denpasar Unadventurous consumers will not be attracted by the prospect of a shopping trip to Denpasar.

However, if you are a bold and brave bargain hunter, a spree within the heart of Bali’s bustling provincial capital will probably prove to be the most rewarding experience of all. Visit Denpasar’s vibrant markets, where everything and anything, including handicrafts, artwork and even a wild

animal or two, is available somewhere amid the rich aromas and chaos of the heaped stalls lining the narrow, crowded alleyways.

Jalan Sulawesi is the textile street, devoted to cloth of all descriptions, but don’t expect the fabric to be well displayed. Take your time; for amid the clash of colours and jumbled rolls of materials you will be spoilt for choice!

Jl Hasanudin is the glittering locale of Bali’s gold shops. As is the case throughout Indonesia, gold jewellery (mainly 22 – 24 carat) is purchased by weight. The ratio is generally three grams of gold to one gram of copper.

Bali’s Hinterland Intrepid shoppers may also wish to visit the stone and wood-carving villages in Bali’s hinterland. Batubulan is renowned for its stone carvings, which are exhibited all along the main road, while the village of Mas is famous for woodcarving, its thoroughfare solidly lined with craft shops where you can watch the carvers at work.

Alternatively, you could plod the never-ending main street of Tegallalang, where you will find candles, mirrors, painted balsa-wood cats, flowers and frogs, batik lampshades, wrought iron photo-frames, banana-leaf boxes, dreamcatchers and bamboo wind-chimes galore, at half the price you’d pay in Kuta.

Finally, visit the silver emporiums of Celuk strung along three kilometres of main road flanked by a maze of backstreets chock-a-block with workshops and smaller outlets. Here, ornate silver rings, bangles, necklaces, bracelets, pendants and accessories, set with precious and semi-precious stones, are produced by master craftsmen, whose sterling skills and trade secrets have been passed down through generations of families.

Happy Shopping 37

spend it...

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spend it...

Home interior store, Disini, presents an innovative range of bed and table linen, towels, bathmats, bath mitts, sandal racks, lamps, laundry baskets, candle holders, vases, jewellery and bags galore. The chic and unique linens are enhanced with a mixture of handcrafted techniques including patchwork, screen printing, appliqué and embroidery. The shop is a living space, and the collections, with names such as ‘Full Moon’ and ‘Pohon’, are arranged by colour and motif to facilitate mixing and matching. Organza cushions are subtly garnished with shell edges and chain stitching, white towels are embellished

When the Body & Soul empire opens its new branch in Bali Mal Galeria at the end of April, the company will be stronger than ever, boasting nine retail outlets in Bali. The concept is simple; high-quality, Australian-designed fashion clothing for women, kids, and young girls on the cusp of adulthood. Body & Soul women’s collections range from sexy beachwear, through casual streetwear and smart daywear, to sophisticated and feminine eveningwear. Body & Soul Girls provides a range of funky and cheeky clothing for girls aged 8- to 14-years, and Body & Soul Bambini provides for kids aged from 3-months to 8-years-

Where : Everywhere Tel : +62 (361) 733564 www.bodyandsoulclothing.com

Their first big experience came with the Indian Ocean Tsunami, which affected Indonesia far worse than any other country in the region. Together with OMBAK PUTIH cruises and in conjunction with the Bali Hotel and Restaurant Association, they put together six large containers of food, medical supplies and clothing and bedding in just ten days. A few years later with that experience under their belts, it was easy to collect funds and goods for the earthquake victims

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Where : Seminyak / Kerobokan Tel : +62 (361) 731037

old. All complemented by stacks of accessories.

Body & Soul makes shopping a breeze for mums and daughters alike where both can shop till they drop. ln fact, Body & Soul even invites mums to bring their daughters in for a makeover! Fresh and inspirational stock is continuously appearing, with the designs changing from week to week to set and keep ahead of the trends.

Right from the time DIJON opened in 1999, they wanted to feature the best products available both locally and from overseas while providing the best service. They also wanted to be an integral part of the community with all the give and take that it implies.

Helping out was just a natural extension of their desire to put something back.

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with patchwork cotton, a polished teakwood vase flaunts a rich grain, and a large lamp is the perfect complement for a table cloth. Colour themes are seemingly unlimited; baby blue is married with apple green, violet with khaki, and bordeaux with beige.

Products can be made to order, and Disini also offers a complete design service for hotels and villas.

in Yogyakarta.

Their commitment to the local Bali environment is as strong as their commitment to the region. For instance they are very concerned about the amount of plastic entering the environment and are doing their part by now charging for their plastic bags.

A discount of 2% is given to those who bring their bags - or the opposition’s - back. They hope that by charging people for old plastic, they can change the mentality of folks who automatically use plastic when it isn’t needed. After all, every little bit helps.

DIJON is indeed more than just a store!

Where : Kuta Tel : +62 (361) 759636 www.dijon-bali.com

feel it...

Luxe Lounge Spa

Prana Spa at the Villas

Espace

That Sentosa is so HOT! right now.

Wild parties, wicked Thai food, and now a chic new spa straight out of the pages of Vogue.

Prana inspires me to wax lyrical about sages, magic and Mogul Emperors. I just can’t help it. An oasis of the imagination, Prana is, in my mind, the most mystical and ethereal spa in Bali. It’s not uber-chic nor is it post-modern, it just feels ancient and otherworldly. The mood, the music, the lighting, the Middle Eastern mystery; all mesh to create a dreamy ambience to softly ease you away from the realities of the outside world.

Shopping in Seminyak is fantastic but the shops are all a bit too spaced out to make it comfortable. You’re hot and tired, your feet hurt and tensions start to fray as the endless hum of traffic and the relentless noonday sun beat down upon you. It’s time for a respite. It’s time for relaxation. It’s time for Espace.

High ceilinged with mirrors and dark wood, wideopen and brightly lit, Sentosa’s new spa is heavy on high-society social. Sure it has its beautifully appointed upstairs private therapy rooms, but Sentosa is not only about the silence, it’s not only about the serenity, it’s not only about being alone with your thoughts, it’s also a place to visit with good friends to be pampered, plucked and painted back into reality.

Reclining on white leather like an heiress you can receive reflexology, pedicures, manicures and massages whilst ordering drinks from the Champagne Bar and sharing all the latest news and topical society chatter with friends, acquaintances and strangers.It’s worth the trip just to see the fully mirrored black-marbled bathrooms for they are an indulgence unto themselves. And when you’re done getting beautiful, it’s just a short walk to Blossom to indulge in some of the greatest Thai food in Asia.

Heaven on a plate.

Where : Petitenget Tel : +62 (361) 730333 www.balisentosa.com

An hour of deep tissue massage followed by an hour of warm Ayurvedic oil poured drop by therapeutic drop onto my forehead allowed me to leave my body and travel around the Universe to places I had never been able to imagine before. From start to finish I was only aware of pure relaxation and the inside workings of my mind. The only sound I heard was the softly accented voice saying, “Finish Sir” when it was all over.

Espace is a Zen-like retreat right in the middle of Seminyak offering unique, quality treatments. All the staff are well versed in the fine art of massage and body treatments thanks to the extensive training given by their European master trainer, Mr Jean Marie Peloni, who has been providing professional training to Balinese and Indonesian massage therapists in the top resorts since 1991.

Where was I? What place had taken me to such glorious heights of ecstacy and relaxation? Ahhh, Prana...just not too sure about those black pants though.

They offer reflexology, aromatherapy massages, body scrubs, body wraps and facials right down to the ever-popular manicures and pedicures. They will even come to visit you in your private villa.

Clean, comfortable, reasonably priced and with its own front lawn, it’s perfectly situated to relax, calm and rejuvenate you and get you back into spending mode once again.

Where : Seminyak Tel ; +62 (361) 730840 www.thevillas.net

Where : Seminyak Tel : +62 (361) 730828 www.espacespabali.com

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how

“

not to make an entrance

What started out as a dream holiday in Bali became a fight to walk again for 11-year-old Michelle*

Michelle: “On the 3rd of January this year, less than twenty minutes after reaching my long awaited dream holiday destination with my Dad and older sister to visit my mum, there was a terrible accident… I had run straight through the glass doors of my mother’s beautiful villa and was severely cut by the falling glass. Luckily for me, I was not aware at the time of how seriously I had been injured and just followed what I was told to do by my parents and my mum’s fiance.They lay me down on a duvet and carried me to the car to take me to the BIMC.” Michelle’s mum: “The most important thing was to keep her very still while getting her out of the door as quick as possible without injuring her further, due to the sharp shards of glass embedded in and around her. She was trapped halfway through two overlapping sliding glass doors. We covered her legs to quickly hide the horrific injuries so as not to panic her. I tried hard not to be sick. Big lumps of flesh were missing and it looked like some madman had chopped up her legs with an axe. It was hard to meet her questioning look… she had no idea.”

Michelle’s dad: “We pulled the large pieces out of her thighs and lower legs so we could lift her out. There was so much blood pumping out of such a little girl that our chief concern was that it was a major artery and we needed to stop the bleeding before she bled to death on the

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* Name changed for privacy

”

living room floor. Ripping up sheets, I tied tourniquets at the site of the large wounds on her legs and thighs. Her face was also covered in blood and but we were relieved to find just one deep gash to her forehead. Her arms and body however, were covered in lacerations and horrendous cuts, and at first glance her right foot seemed to have been severed at the ankle with just the skin holding it in place.”

Michelle: “At the BIMC the nurses had to cut my clothes off and clean my wounds so the doctor could examine me. She said that I would need a plastic surgeon to work on me and I was a little worried that my face was cut up and really wanted a mirror to see it.”

BIMC: “We quickly assessed Michelle’s injuries, stopped the bleeding, stabilized her and briefed her parents on the options available to them.

After reassuring Michelle and her parents, we immediately arranged for a specialist plastic surgeon, experienced in tendon and nerve repair, to be available for Michelle at Prima Medika.”

Michelle: “Shortly after, I was put into an ambulance to take me to a bigger hospital where an experienced surgeon was waiting to operate.

The ambulance ride was not very comfortable but it meant I could lie down and was supportive on my cut legs. When I got to the big hospital, I was put into an emergency room and given first aid as my

healing... legs were bleeding again. I was taken into surgery, which lasted four hours. But it felt like I had just closed my eyes then opened them again! It felt so short. I was also in a lot of pain though and my whole body hurt and I could not feel my feet.”

Michelle’s mum: “They estimated the surgery would take about two hours, but the four hours outside the surgery doors were the hardest and longest of my entire life, the work was complicated as tendons and nerves particularly at the ankles, had been severed and needed rejoining.

My thoughts ranged from elation that she was being so well looked after to whether they could save her feet or she’d even survive the surgery.”

Michelle: “I was in the hospital in a large private suite for three nights wired up to several drips, during which time I was well treated. The nurses came, fed, dressed and bathed me, as I could not bend my arms and they were very helpful and just a call away. It was quite hard to get the holiday insurance company and the doctors to understand each other but after they had the insurance sorted, I was given a wheelchair, as I was not allowed to put any weight on my feet. I thanked the doctors and nurses and was once again put into the outside world! I still had to go to hospital every three days for check-ups and new bandages.”

Michelle and her family were flown back to the UK First Class by Thai Airways and met by an ambulance at the airport to take them home.

Michelle then spent two months using a wheelchair and crutches.

Doctor’s at BUPA UK say the surgery performed by surgeon Nyoman of Prima Medika was world class.

Michelle has now made a full recovery and looking forward to visiting Bali again this summer, and has asked her mum to put conspicuous stickers on all her glass door to prevent any more nasty surprises.

Sincere thanks from the publishers and Michelle’s family for the help of BIMC, Prima Medika and in particular to plastic surgeon Nyoman and his team for their fast reactions, professionalism and skilled care.

BIMC is a 24-hour medical and emergency centre and since Michelle’s emergency has acquired a hospital licence that now allows them to perform operations such as Michelle’s on-site.

Where : Kuta Tel : +62 (361) 761263 www.bimcbali.com

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43

tried and TASTED

dimana?

playing AROUND Bali Beach Golf Club | Sanur | +62 361 287733 | info@balibeachgolfcourse.com Bali Bird Park | Batubulan | +62 (361) 299352 | www.bali-bird-park.com Canggu Club | Canggu | +62 (361) 8446385 | www.cangguclub.com Indonesia Cruises | Kuta | +62 (361) 766269 | www.indonesiacruises.com Rip Curl | Legian-Kaja | +62 (361) 735858 | www.ripcurlschoolofsurf.com Sobek | Sanur | +62 (361) 287059 | www.balisobek.com Waterbom | Kuta | +62 (361) 755676 | www.waterbom.com

between the SHEETS Aman Resorts | www.amanresorts.com Alila Manggis | Manggis | +62 (363) 41011 | www.alilahotels.com Jamahal | Jimbaran | +62 (361) 704394 | www.jamahal.com Karma | Jimbaran | +62 (361) 8475475 | www.karmadevelopments.com

spend it...

Body And Soul | Seminyak and Everywhere else | +62 (361) 733564 | www.bodyandsoulclothing.com Dijon | Kuta | +62 (361) 759636 | www.dijon-bali.com diSini | Seminyak/Kerobokan | +62 (361) 731037 / 7464260 Espace | Seminyak | +62 (361) 730828 | www.espacespabali.com Luxe Spa | Petitenget | +62 (361) 730333 | www.balisentosa.com Prana Spa | Seminyak | +62 (361) 730840 | www.thevillas.net

healing...

BIMC | Kuta | +62 (361) 761263 | www.bimcbali.com 44

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FEEL IT...

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45

sail dive explore o m b a k

p u t i h

o m b a k

b i r u

never forget...

PT. Ombak Putih, Kuta Poleng D-7, Jl. Setiabudi, Simpang Siur, Kuta, 80361 Bali - Indonesia t. +(62) 361 766269 f. +(62) 361 766546 46

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info@indonesiacruises.com www.indonesiacruises.com