Home & Away with Robert Walshe
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Holiday Hotspot – Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay
AS probably the most famous island in Indonesia, Bali blends spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful beaches with warm and friendly people, a vibrant culture and out of this world resorts. Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay close to Waterbom Park, Balangan and Dreamland Beaches is by far the island’s most exclusive hideaway on the Bukit Peninsula. Their incredible thatched roof villas feature an expansive living area, walled tropical gar-
den and plunge pool with private porch that are simply wonderful to wake up to in the morning. Views spill out over the Indian Ocean and the soaring peak of Mount Agung, with many enjoying private access to the resort’s private, whitesand beach. Dining facilities include outdoor restaurants with traditional Balinese and Italian fare and a pool terrace café offering themed barbecues weekly. “Sundara” is the full makeover of the resort’s former legendary beach club known
■ Sundara at Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay
as PJs, now adding more chic to the Jimbaran Bay beachfront dining scene. The Sanskrit word for “beautiful,” Sundara describes the lush flora and sparkling surf at this hotspot. During the day expect beach-club fare for lunch, with light, casual cuisine but at sunset Sundara’s winning formula transforms into Bali’s most unique dining destination offering modern Asian cuisine in a chilled seaside ambience. The dinner menu divided into three sections (cold, hot and sweet) is available in three sizes (small, medium and large) allowing guests to choose their style of service and personalise their experience to suit any occasion. Sundara’s cocktail menu created by Barcelona master mixologist Javier de la Muelas combines avant-garde preparations using local Balinese ingredients such as star fruit, passion fruit and chili. With themed cooking classes five days a week, including spa & pan Asian cuisine guests learn to cook many dishes from the menus
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at the resort, including the favourite Sate Lilit, or grilled Balinese mixed satays with pickled vegetables and peanut sauce. Jimbaran Bay’s spa inspired by the ocean focuses on healing and cleansing traditional treatments incorporating essences of plants, flowers, herbs and spices. Guests can also choose to sample the hotel’s water sports, fully equipped ■ Four Seasons gym or play tennis. Bali at Jimbara n Bay One Be Children will love droom Villa the fantastic children’s to see at least one club where games and acish airtemples tivities will immerse them of Bali’s famous temples. lines fly daily from Dublin into the local culture. www. “Tanah Lot” one of island/s to Jakarta via Istanbul. Intermost important stands on a fourseasons.com Jimbaran nal flight providers from Jabeach itself is a sleepy cove rock a short distance from karta to Bali include Garuda where fleets of fishing boats the shore allowing limited ac- Indonesia, Lion Air & Air colour the scene. With a cess at low tide. A multimil- Asia. www.turkishairlines. slower pace than Kuta and a lion-dollar restoration effort com relaxed friendly atmosphere, in the 1990s saved Tanah Lot Robert Walshe is a travel the shores of Jimbaran pro- from falling into the sea. At broadcaster with Q a netvide a peaceful respite. The Bali Coffee Plantation you will work of seven radio stations perfectly shaped bay is also see various tropical products across all of Northern Irespared the crashing waves of such as Robusta, pineapple, land. He is also Travel Editor nearby beaches, providing a snake fruite (salak), Balinese for River Media newspaper safe haven for leisurely swim- potatoes, fruit stars, cacao, titles on the island of Ireland. ming. No visit to Bali would jack fruit and durian tree. www.robertwalshe.com be complete without a trip www.indonesia.travel Turk-