All year round, Bali smells of incense and offerings, flowers and spices, coffee and tobacco, as well as scooter exhaust, trash burning, rice straw smoke and wet earth. It’s a part of my everyday life, and it’s distinctly Bali.

This year marks my 10^th anniversary of living in Bali. The island has witnessed my heartbreaks and healings, empathised with my failures and frustrations, and given me love, confidence and a sense of identity. We have a strong bond, and I would like to pay homage to Bali and celebrate our decade-long relationship. The question is: How do I capture my love affair with Bali?

Along came Nora Gasparini, a stunning Martinique native and passionate founder of L’Atelier Parfums et Créations at The Ritz-Carlton, Bali in Nusa Dua. During a visit to Bali, the perfume connoisseur fell in love with the island and its wondrous scents, so she decided to stay and explore her obsession with perfumery and Indonesia through the establishment of her perfume studio in 2010.

“I don’t have a passion for perfume. I have a passion for scents.”

At L’Atelier Parfums et Créations, customers from all over the world come to create their own scents and learn about the raw materials of Indonesia. It’s a brilliant idea as people are constantly looking for creative ways to express themselves. I have always been scent conscious and the thought of encapsulating my memories of Bali in a perfume bottle excites me.

Stepping into L’Atelier Parfums et Créations, I was warmly greeted by Nora and her friendly team who then led to my workstation for the 90-minute perfume creation workshop. Nora is the epitome of a sophisticated modern woman with her timeless beauty, effortless elegance and entrepreneurial spirit.

“This is the workplace of a perfumer at a much smaller scale. Inside, you will find all the notes that we like to work with,” she began. “There are three sets of notes in a perfume; top notes, middle notes and base notes. These are the layers that a perfume has to have for a harmonious scent.”

The workstations consist of large teakwood tables paired with Phillippe Starck-inspired Louis Ghost armchairs, each personalised with the studio’s logo. The space is contemporary: modern innovation combined with history and traditions with a touch of whimsy. Little amber glass vials of essential oils were neatly arranged on narrow white shelves.

“The top notes are the first scents that hit your nose sharply when you apply the perfume. They have lighter molecules, which evaporate within 15 minutes. These opening notes give freshness to the perfume and seduce people to buy it. Usually, we use citruses, sea breeze and all the delicate scents,” Nora elaborated.

“The middle notes are the main body of the perfume with average intensity and longevity. This is where you find pleasant smells like flowers and spices. The base notes are the dry down of the perfume. They are low in intensity but high in longevity—the longest being benzoin, which comes from tree sap. It can last on your skin for up to four days if you don’t take a shower!” she laughed.

Scent of a Woman

There was a short questionnaire for me to fill in before I began. “This is to help me get an idea of the type of perfume that suits you,” she said. “Name one of your favourite perfumes”, read the first question. “Eternity,” I muttered under my breath.

A flood of vivid memories came rushing in and transported me back to the ‘80s. Sitting on my parents’ bed, I would watch my mother get ready for a romantic night out. She would dress to the nines but wear no makeup, except lipstick. For the final touch, she would spray on her signature fragrance, “Eternity” by Calvin Klein, a gift from my father. The luxurious scent would linger, comforting my siblings and me long after she and my father left the house.

A few years later, she gave me my first perfume, “Eternity”, to mark my teenhood. I wore the elegant scent into my early twenties, carrying her with me with each precious spritz as I moved from Indonesia to Singapore, Canada and back.

Is “Eternity” one of my favourite perfumes? It certainly evokes a wistful nostalgia for my childhood. French writer Marcel Proust called it “odour-evoked autobiographical memory” or the Proust phenomenon, where the act of dipping his madeleine cookie into a cup of tea had unlocked his forgotten childhood memories.

Upon completing the mini personality test, Nora tallied my score and categorised me as “Zen” and “Mysterious”. “Zen is soft, citrusy and aquatic, like the smell of the sea. Mysterious is the complete opposite. It is woody, resinous and intense. You’ll have to find the balance between the two,” she smiled. An astrologer once told me that my life goal is “to seek absolute freedom and total security”. I’m sensing a pattern here.

“I don’t have a passion for perfume,” Nora claimed. “I have a passion for scents. My husband has a better sense of smell but I am better at blending and training.” Based on the two categories, Nora guided me through the art of perfumery and some of the 44 fragrance notes—a combination of natural and synthetic aromatics, 80 percent of which are sourced in Indonesia.

Scents and Sensibility

I wanted my ode-to-Bali perfume to include strong notes of frangipani, champaka and jasmine—Bali’s ubiquitous flowers. During the following hour and a half, I carefully smelled, squeezed and selected the notes, adding and subtracting numbers and creating various combinations that would lead to three different perfume testers. The possibilities are infinite. I could do this all day!

“The first tester is a warm-up to see how all the aromatic components blend together. The final smell is already there but the molecules are fighting with each other, so the smell has not yet settled,” explained Nora as she gently dabbed some on the scent strips and on our forearms. It was too powdery for me; I couldn’t detect the floral notes.

For the second tester, eau de toilette, Nora recommended reducing the notes I wasn’t so fond of, like aldehydes, and increasing the ones I loved, highlighting fresher ones such as aquatic, lemon, frangipani and lotus. I was pleased with the blend: floral, sweet and delicate.

The final vial was for the eau de parfum, which emphasised heavier base notes such as white musk and fougère. White musk is a synthetic aromatic created to ethically replace the original musk, a pungent odour derived from a rectal gland of the endangered Himalayan male musk deer. It certainly did not smell like my Bali.

A Moment in Time

It was decided—the standout formula was the eau de toilette. The last step was naming my new 30 ml baby. “A Moment in Time” resonated with me—a fragrance of my endearing romance with Bali. It opens with fresh lemon, oceanic breeze and dreamy lavender as top notes, unleashes a sweet floral aroma encompassing frangipani, champaka and jasmine, and slowly releases a deep rhythm of herbaceous fougère and clean white musk.

“Now, you have to wait around three weeks before you can use your perfume. This is to ensure that the maceration process is complete and the scents and essences are of the highest quality,” Nora stated as she presented my very first signature perfume, “A Moment in Time”, dedicated to my Bali with love.

L’Atelier Parfums et Créations
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
Jl. Raya Nusa Dua Selatan Lot#3
Sawangan, Nusa Dua, Bali
Tel:  +62 361 849 8988 ext. 3941
info@parfumsetcreations.com
www.perfumeworkshops.com
 
 
Notes:
This article was first published in Bali & Beyond — February 2017.
Photos by Meliana Salim unless otherwise stated.

The post Love Notes from Bali first appeared on Meliana Salim.

Here’s a question to think about: do you eat to live or live to eat? From Socrates to Buddha, we are guided to eat simply and live modestly, yet for most of us, food is more than mere fuel. “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are,” wrote French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. In our society, eating has become an intensely personal experience and an imperative language in the articulation of our identities as individuals, a society, a culture and a nation.

We live in hedonistic times of egocentric consumerism, information obesity and digital overload. This technological revolution has drastically changed our love affair with food and our dining behaviour. The joy of eating is replaced by the obsessive act of documenting it. Dining has become more of a visual experience and less of sensory indulgence. Gadgets and the Internet invade and exploit our mealtimes, turning them into a perpetual state of surveillance and culinary voyeurism.

Human beings are intricately connected with the environment and other life forms, and it is imperative to synchronize ourselves with the world around us. One of the ways is through our relationship with food. In recent years, a fundamental paradigm in the way we eat has shifted. The “farm-to-table” dining concept and the “locavore” and “living foods” movements have evolved from fancy fads and marketing strategy to food aspirations, inspiring us to make informed decisions in how we source, cook and eat our food in pursuit of a sustainable healthier lifestyle.

Raw Food Pioneer
In Bali, straddling the sacred Ayung River near the cultural town of Ubud rests Fivelements. This award-winning eco-luxury wellness destination is built around the traditional Balinese life philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which promotes living in harmony among humans, with nature and with God.

Nestled within the Fivelements area is its iconic fine dining restaurant, the Sakti Dining Room, a celebrated pioneer of innovative raw food cuisine that has been awarded AsiaSpa’s “Best Spa Cuisine of the Year” for the second year running. A true sanctuary for the senses, this bamboo-structured restaurant sits amidst trickling fountains and lush tropical gardens and is free from smoke, alcohol and stress.

Joining Sakti Dining Room’s green and chemical-free kitchen is a new executive chef, Felix Schoener from Germany. Chef Felix’s impressive resume boasts extensive international experiences in Michelin-starred restaurants and enviable training with Gabriel Cousens and Cherie Soria, both renowned leaders in the fields of living foods and gourmet raw vegan cuisine.

The Signature
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” is the famous citation by Hippocrates that is written on Sakti Dining Room’s menu, which set the tone for my three-course plant-based lunch from the restaurant’s signature Chef’s Tasting Menu. First came the refreshing Hibiscus Rose, a heaven-sent elixir on a particularly hot and humid day, accompanied by an amuse bouche of creamy cashew pâté infused with coconut milk and garlic.

The appetizer consisted of finely diced mango, tomato and jicama tartar stunningly served on chilled light-as-clouds avocado velouté, topped with micro greens, crunchy tomato chips and finished off with a surprising drizzling of kaffir lime oil. As I was focused on licking my plate clean, I could almost feel my body expressing gratitude for the pure nourishment.

For a corn and mushroom fan like me,  the main course, the Exotic Mushroom and Sweet Corn, was truly a dream come true. It features corn as the star of the dish in three unique ways—curried corn polenta, spiced popcorn and sweet corn crackers—complemented by hearty, smoky shiitake mushrooms, caramelized shallots and a medley of exotic Asian herbs.

The White Chocolate Truffle with passion fruit mousse and tarragon marked a sweet and satisfying ending to my extraordinary lunch. If this was what “healing cuisine” tastes like, I am hooked—mind, body and soul—and ready to join this culinary cult.

All About Balance
Chef Felix’s love of raw living foods and his passion in the ancient philosophies of Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine are beautifully portrayed in each dish. Embracing local, seasonal, organic and wild foraged ingredients, he has perfected the art of applying ageless Asian wisdom in his avant-garde, modernist cuisine, marrying it with Balinese culture and tradition and elevating it with innovative culinary techniques. “It’s mother nature’s cuisine,” he stated.

The Sakti Dining Room is a true sanctuary for the senses and has created a way for people to connect with the food they eat through its inventive gastronomy revolution. It is true that embracing raw food allows people to experience a whole new world with a new vision—to feel healthier, see more clearly and think more positively.

Personally, I’m a believer of renowned food writer Michael Pollan’s simple and healthy attitude towards eating, “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” After all, life is all about balance, isn’t it?



Fivelements
Puri Ahimsa, Banjar Baturning
Mambal, Bali, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361 469 260
www.fivelements.org



Notes:
This article was first published in Bali & Beyond — January 2016.
Slideshow photos courtesy of Fivelements.
Food photos by Meliana Salim.

The post The Elements of Life first appeared on Meliana Salim.

Embark on an exquisite adventure of sensual delights along Bali’s only Sensorial Hydro Trail and a holistic body-and-mind detox at the Acqua Perla Spa, a chic new spa in Seminyak that is taking wellness and beauty standards to new hedonistic heights—Double-Six style.

A day at the spa is something to look forward to, especially when it hints of a little water adventure. Upon arrival at the Acqua Perla Spa, an elegant spa located in the Double-Six Luxury Hotel in Seminyak, I was ushered into a white consultation cocoon and served a refreshing herbal drink and a cold towel.

“Today you will be experiencing the Detox and Soul Body Balance treatment designed to detoxify your body and rebalance your soul,” said a charming spa consultant in greeting, who proceeded to brief me on my 2.5-hour itinerary: a Sensorial Hydro Trail, a foot ritual, a 60-minute Balinese Microcosm Massage and a chakra balancing treatment. I had arrived in spa heaven.

The Acqua Perla Spa is a peaceful sanctuary designed to absolute perfection by Fabrice Garrigues, borrowing inspiration from the tropical beachfront and the therapeutic element of water. “I wanted to share the passion to take visitors through a peaceful journey,” he said.

The marine theme is alive and flowing in its minimalistic, fluid interiors with blue and white accents, mosaic walls, bubbling water displays with motion colour mood change and eccentric sea-themed glass art pieces by Ron Seivertson, Bali’s long-term resident and hot-blown glass artist. The lighting of the spa is set to change every three hours according to the mood of the day: blue in the morning, yellow in the afternoon, amber at dusk and purple in the evening.

The contemporary wellness space features state-of-the-art equipment, unique facilities and luxurious amenities: his and her changing lounges (with lockers, private changing rooms, showers and vanity corners), an indulgent Turkish Hammam, a nail lounge, two beauty rooms for waxing and facials utilizing premium spa brands boasting 100% natural ingredients (Valmont, Elemis and Babor), an exquisite hair spa lounge with a posh hair spa sofa, four double suites (one with a Vichy shower), two single treatment rooms, a fully fitted fitness studio and a recovery lounge filled with comfy loungers, soon-to-be-revealed resonance chambers and the highlight of the spa—the island’s one and only Vitality Hydro Trail—which I was about to experience.

After selecting my preferred massage oil, answering a few general health questions and changing into my swimsuit, a friendly therapist led me to the entrance of the Sensorial Hydro Trail veiled by a frosted glass door.

I was led to a small room where a huge wooden bucket labelled “cold water” hung high with a dangling rope. Someone has a wicked sense of humour!

The 30-minute detox journey resembled going on a dark ride in a shamanistic funhouse with components of fairy tales and added health benefits. It consisted of seven different clusters alternating hot and cold hydrotherapy, fully guided by the vocals of my therapist from a dry distance.

I entered a mysterious tunnel, treading lightly on the first cluster on a soft grassy floor with ten mini water fountains bubbling up between my legs. Beyond a metal chain curtain, I walked into a Moroccan-style “cellulite cave” with a warm, pebbled acupressure riverbed lit in cool blue. I sat on a throne, allowing the strong pressure of the water jets to massage my lower body, (hopefully) melting my cellulite away. I imagined myself as an enchanted Alice in Wonderland and a slightly confused Princess Jasmine as I looked up to admire the (artificial) twinkling starlit sky.

When the water turned blue, I moved on to a volcanic steam cave where I was encouraged to rub my body with crushed ice from a glass bowl—an experience I initially found strange but surprisingly invigorating. In the fourth cluster, I stood under a strong waterfall, letting it pound on my tense neck and shoulders. Next, I strolled back and forth between an alley of water jets blasting hot and cold streams.

The final clusters involved walking through a misty rainforest of vines and lights and surrendering on a stone bed in the glitzy Hammam for a head-to-toe Cendana Scrub Exfoliation Therapy. After a quick rinse, I was led to a small room where a huge wooden bucket labelled “cold water” hung high with a dangling rope. Someone has a wicked sense of humour! I was rewarded for being brave with a soothing 10-minute steam on the purple glass mosaic bench of the Hammam.

Following a fruit-and-chi-water refreshment and a foot cleansing, I was treated to the Balinese Microcosm Massage derived from an ancient technique of cross friction, long strokes, thumb and palm pressures to improve circulation and relieve muscle tensions. The treatment came to a close with my very first chakra balancing: seven discs were strategically placed on the energetic centres of my body from the Kundalini Chakra to the Lotus Crown Chakra for 20 minutes. With each disc, I was asked to imagine a specific colour of the rainbow.

In the recovery lounge, with my physical well-being restored, energy balanced and spirit awakened, a sense of calmness washed over me. As I sipped on my ginger tea, admiring the setting sun on Double Six Beach, I thought to myself, “I could stay here all day.”

Acqua Perla Spa
No. 66 Double-Six Beach, Seminyak
Bali, 80361, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361 849 9189 (direct line)
E: reservation@acquaperlaspa.com

www.acquaperlaspa.com 

Notes:
This article was first published in Asia Dreams, March-April 2015.
Photos courtesy of Acqua Perla Spa. 

The post A Journey of the Senses first appeared on Meliana Salim.

Designing your perfect island getaway is a breeze when you’re staying at the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, a seaside resort that epitomizes the best of Balinese cordiality in a stylish urban ambiance.

On a glorious Saturday afternoon, the grand lobby of the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana buzzed with the arrival of tourists from all walks of life: love-struck honeymooners keen to bask in the sun by the rooftop infinity pool, business travellers excited about their much-needed beach getaways and family and children eager to get to the neighbouring beach for a swim.

Conveniently located between Kuta and Legian Beach, a stone’s throw away from Bali’s bustling shopping, entertainment and recreation hub, the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana effortlessly pairs contemporary design aesthetics with Balinese hospitality, creating a chic urban oasis that showcases island living at its best.

There is an extensive array of leisure and dining facilities including three swimming pools (the garden pool, the stunning rooftop infinity pool and a kid’s pool), an upscale French brasserie called The Deli and the Balinese Sembilan Restaurant serving up contemporary Balinese cuisine.

The beachfront resort comprises 351 spacious rooms and stylish suites, each featuring a private balcony and modern amenities that allow guests to “disconnect from business, not from the rest of the world”. Watch your favourite TV shows, Skype your loved ones overseas, join the daily activities (choose from yoga, boxing, fruit carving, gym classes, Tai-Chi or Bahasa Indonesia lessons) or stay in shape with the in-room fitness and yoga kits.

Upon entering our Deluxe Ocean View Room, we were instantly drawn to the balcony beckoning us to take in the panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. On the lounge table there was a welcome fruit basket, a gift box containing a pair of Balinese statues and a couple of boxes of chocolates. Partnering with Pod Chocolate Bali, the island’s sustainable chocolate maker, the resort treated us to some artisanal chocolate delights. What a lovely gesture!

Later that afternoon, as the rain clouds started rolling in, we opted to spoil ourselves with a 30-minute hydro vitality pool session and a 90-minute Balinese massage at the Tjakra-7 Spa. Located in the heart of the resort, the spa is housed in an individual oval-shaped building, cleverly draped in lush cascading greenery and beautifully surrounded with manicured gardens. The concept of the Tjakra-7 Spa is simple: let the body’s own energy be the natural source of healing and well-being.

The spa menu includes its signature Tjakra art movement massage, Tibetan singing bowls, shirodhara, traditional body wraps and scrubs and indulgent hydrotherapy treats such as a Vichy shower, herbal steam and, the highlight of the spa, a hydro vitality pool. Outfitted with the latest technology and equipment, every treatment is designed to transfer positive bio-energy to the body via water, air and sound.

Our session began in the serene enclosure of the chi-positive hydro vitality pool, with a therapist verbally guiding us as we meandered our way through several massage stations. Each station is armed with strong water jets targeted to stimulate specific parts of the body. This workout allegedly aids in lowering overall body acidities, relieving muscle tension and improving blood circulation and skin texture.

After we dried off, our therapists led us to a double treatment room for a truly relaxing massage. The experience came to a blissful end on the posh loungers in the “chill-out space” with hot ginger teas, healthy snacks and heated blankets.

Our stay at the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana couldn’t have been better. We enjoyed each other’s company, recharged our batteries, experienced new things and came home rejuvenated and refreshed!

Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana
Jalan Melasti 1, Legian
Bali 80361, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361 762 500
E: h6556@accor.com
www.pullmanbalilegiannirwana.com

Notes:
This article was first published in Asia Dreams, March-April 2015.
Photos courtesy of Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana.

The post A Stylish Stay first appeared on Meliana Salim.

Uma means tranquillity in Sanskrit and bright in Hindi. Since its inception in 2004, the second inland luxury retreat by COMO Hotels & Resorts is indeed a bright and tranquil place, a harmonious fusion of Asian contemporary touches and a charming traditional Indonesian village vibe. Accentuated by interior designer Koichiro Ikebuchi’s simplistic approach, Zen aesthetics and love of indigenous materials, Uma hits all the right notes for a peaceful five-star mountain-village setting.

Perched above the Tjampuhan Valley with scenic views of steep hills, lush paddies and forested volcanoes, Uma by Como, Ubud’s 46 exquisite sun-drenched rooms, suites and villas are accessed via narrow winding paths shaded by tropical plants. Beneath the alang-alang thatched roofs, the 18 Terrace Rooms and ten Garden Rooms feature modern architecture and uncluttered interiors infused with traditional Balinese elements. Fresh, expansive and airy, the rooms are equipped with lavish comforts such as king-sized four-poster beds, open-air bathrooms with enormous baths, COMO Shambhala’s signature bath amenities and comfortable terraces.

Uma Ubud’s five 77sq.m. Pool Villas each come with a private plunge pool and a huge sundeck with a spectacular view of the deep gorge below. For the ultimate in privacy and indulgence, stay in one of the three spacious 94sq.m. Uma Pool Villas with an infinity plunge pool and a panoramic view of the verdant valley and meandering river below. The inside is just as impressive with a tranquil daybed, roomy seating and living areas, a king-size bed with 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton linen, fine goose down duvet and a double-vanity bathroom with a massive shower and bath.

Uma Ubud’s Kemiri restaurant serves up delicious gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-air space beside a beautiful waterfall-fed fishpond. Kemiri’s COMO Shambhala Cuisine features light sophisticated Indonesian and modern Asian dishes using locally sourced produce.

Designed by COMO Shambhala Estate’s architect Cheong Yew Kuan, the resort’s newest restaurant, Uma Cucina, is informal and social; a large communal dining table at the heart of the restaurant and outdoor terrace seating create a homely, rustic Italian kitchen atmosphere. The flavours of choice are Italian and Mediterranean with a primary focus on sourcing fresh, seasonal local produce and using traditional cooking methods: pizzas and breads are freshly baked in a wood-fired oven, pastas, cheeses and sausages are handmade in house and desserts feature classic Italian gelatos and granitas.

Uma Ubud’s holistic heart lies in the COMO Shambhala Retreat, a wellness sanctuary offering Asian-inspired body treatments and massages, incorporating natural ingredients with the wisdoms of ancient beauty rituals and the powers of traditional Balinese medicine. The spa facilities include four divine treatment rooms, an open-air yoga studio overlooking the Tjampuhan Valley, a meditation pavilion, a reflexology area, steam rooms, sauna, gym and a super sleek 25m infinity pool.

Nobody will blame you for working on your holiday tan by the pool and lounging at the pool bar all day long. But do take advantage of what Uma has to offer: complimentary yoga classes, guided rice paddy walks, holistic therapies, fine cuisines and cultural activities that bring you closer to Bali and its nature. Adventurous guests are encouraged to participate in cultural activities – temple tours, local events and festivals, gallery visits, artisan workshops – or physical challenges such as biking, white-water rafting and volcano trekking, or to design their own bespoke itineraries and expeditions.

At Uma Ubud, every nook and cranny exudes the boutique resort’s understated philosophy of quiet comfort in inspiring and culturally immersing environments. Relish the holistic connection with nature, nurture your spirit with therapeutic treatments, nourish your mind with cultural adventures and treat your body to a wholesome dining experience.

The Uma Ubud experience is all about discovering the true essence of Bali.

EDITOR’S PICKS:

• Don’t miss the complimentary yoga class at one of the most beautiful yoga studios in Ubud.
• Master the art of doing nothing. Allow nature’s creatures to surround and serenade you in the serenity of your private villa.
• Visit the neighbouring Tjampuhan Ridge for an easy trek in one of Ubud’s best nature trails. Marvel at the majestic new temple on the way uphill.

Uma By COMO, Ubud
Jalan Raya Sanggingan, Banjar Lungsiakan
Kedewatan, Ubud, Gianyar
Tel: (+62) 361 972 448
www.comohotels.com/umaubud

Notes:
This article was first published in Asia Dreams, January-February 2015.
Photos courtesy of Uma by COMO, Ubud.

The post Uma by COMO, Ubud first appeared on Meliana Salim.

The road to holistic health and spiritual balance is paved with good intentions. At COMO Shambhala Estate, the undisputed icon of luxury retreats in Bali, it meanders through misty valleys, amid the tropical jungle canopy and along the sacred Ayung River, overlooking dramatic rice terraces and majestic mountains.

The Estate, previously known as Begawan Giri, is a residential wellness haven located north of Ubud, resting gently on 23 acres of serene land. It comprises 30 rooms and suites contained within five element-themed Residences, five chic Retreat Villas and four tranquil Private Villas.

Sensitively designed by renowned Bali-based Malaysian architect Cheong Yew Kuan, in collaboration with interior designer Koichiro Ikebuchi, the various wellness, shared and living spaces of the Estate are a contemporary expression of tropical luxury and timeless elegance, marrying Balinese, Asian and European aesthetics without compromising the cultural authenticity and sanctity of its natural environment.

Strategically located next to Ojas, one of the main wellness areas, the Retreat Villas’ stylish one and two-bedroom units – Taramala (Garland of Stars), Vasudhara (Mother Earth), Kusumalaya (House of Flowers), Shantivana (Peaceful Forest) and Saundarya (Beauty) – contain spacious bedrooms, double-vanity bathrooms, private pools with jacuzzi jets, assorted living, lounging and dining areas and large outdoor decks – perfect for sharing with friends and families. Each guest is assigned a readily available personal assistant to cater to all whims and wishes.

At the Estate, the core emphasis is on encouraging guests to embrace a healthy approach to food, nutrition and wellbeing without sacrificing flavour or taste. We like to call it mindful eating. The COMO Shambhala Cuisine at the impressive glow restaurant utilizes organic, locally sourced ingredients, blending south Indian, Italian and Balinese influences and guided by the nutritional plans of the Estate’s dietician, Eve Persak. Developed by Group Executive Chef Amanda Gale, the sophisticated menu can be modified to accommodate all food intolerances and suit personal palates.

The resort’s second restaurant, Kudus House, is open for breakfast and dinner, serving Indonesia’s authentic, diverse flavours housed in an antique 150-year-old former Javanese residence with an amazing jungle view.

COMO Shambhala prides itself on its holistic concept and nurturing approach implemented by a professional team of resident experts, health consultants and visiting specialists throughout its wellness programmes and activities, dedicated to sharing their knowledge and inspiring guests to make life-changing improvements to their health and wellbeing in a home-away-from-home environment. The Estate’s six signature programmes include detoxification, stress management, weight management and skin revitalization, each featuring a bespoke, carefully curated combination of meals, treatments, therapies and activities designed for stays of three, five or seven nights.

Spa addicts and fitness fanatics are spoiled for choice with more than 20 Asian-influenced and Western holistic therapies in the ultimate facilities – nine treatment rooms, four consultation rooms, an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, steam and sauna rooms, a 25-metre lap pool, yoga pavilions, Pilates and yoga studio, an indoor gym, a jungle gym and a climbing wall.

To the romantics, life within COMO Shambhala Estate is an idyllic microcosm of the outside world – a place of respite and a rare sanctuary for the healing of mind, body and spirit. To us, the secret to a truly transformational experience lies in ‘just being’ at the sublime retreat.


EDITOR’S PICKS:

• Go for a guided, energizing Estate Walk. Dive into the natural spring — dubbed ‘The Source’, locally revered for its healing properties – to jumpstart your day.
• Join the Estate Yoga class and attend healthy lifestyle lectures. Experience the benefits of hydrotherapy and open your mind to Qi Gong.
• Meditate in one of the pavilions by the riverbank. Allow the mist to kiss your skin and the sounds of cicadas and rushing streams to lull you into a blissful state.
• We are head over heels in love with COMO Shambhala’s bathroom amenities. The signature scent is infused with a captivating formula of sweet almond, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender and peppermint. Sprinkle some scented bath salts in a hot bath and immerse yourself in the tub for mental clarity and invigorating energy.

COMO Shambhala Estate
Banjar Begawan, Desa Melinggih Kelod
Payangan, Gianyar, Bali, 80571, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361 978 888
www.comohotels.com/comoshambhalaestate

Notes:
This article was first published in Asia Dreams, January-February 2015.
Photos courtesy of COMO Shambhala Estate. 

The post COMO Shambhala Estate first appeared on Meliana Salim.

The afternoon was hot and humid; the gloomy sky threatened to unleash some much-needed rain over the island. Beneath the looming grey clouds, a tranquil spa in downtown Seminyak, Bali’s vibrant hub, lured me in, promising a refuge from the impending storm.

A warm welcome to the Eastern Garden Martha Tilaar Spa was promptly followed with a brief introduction of the chosen Ocean Dream Serenity treatment, a refreshing glass of lemongrass tea and a cold, scented towel. I handed over my completed standard health questionnaire, along with the well-being of my body, mind and soul to my designated massage therapist for the next three hours.

Martha Tilaar is as much the quintessential spa queen of Indonesia as Martha Stewart is the domestic goddess of America. The mother of Indonesian natural cosmetics is also one of the most powerful women in the country, having founded The Martha Tilaar Group some forty years ago and developed it into a multi-brand beauty empire. In the heart of this successful global business lies the founder’s lifelong philosophy: to preserve Indonesia’s rich nature and cultures and accentuate women’s inner and outer beauty, utilizing the best-kept ancestral secrets of traditional healing treatments and natural, holistic remedies.

Ocean Dream Serenity is a sea-inspired treatment designed for detoxification and rejuvenation. It began with a 30-minute guided hydrotherapy in a bio-energized Aquatonic pool reserved all for myself. In a calming indoor tropical garden setting, I worked my way through five hydrotherapy Aquatonic massage stations, each equipped with water jets targeting and stimulating different parts of my body. I felt my muscles relaxing, my skin rehydrating and my tension dissolving into the positively charged Chi water.

After a swift shower, my pampering continued with a reviving sea salt and lime foot scrub, a cooling peppermint and lime body scrub and an invigorating body mask in a private room. Most of the products featured in Ocean Serenity are freshly hand-blended and 100% natural, consisting of sea salt crystals and indigenous plants.

The highlight of my treatment was the Ocean Serenity body butter massage (made of rice and spirulina extract) performed by the healing hands of my therapist, incorporating special techniques and secret formulas derived from deep-rooted ancient wisdoms.

The finale was no less rejuvenating: a 20-minute bath in an enormous marble tub infused with aromatic bath salts and fresh rose petals that left my skin perfectly moisturized, glowing and tingling with a lingering scent of the ocean. The afternoon came to a close in the spa lounge with an organic lunch menu of a bottle of chlorophyll, a generous bowl of raw garden salad and a tall glass of fruit juice.

The Eastern Garden Martha Tilaar Spa is a rare oasis that offers authentic Indonesian spa experiences strongly influenced by old Chinese and Indian traditions. The whole experience was sheer indulgence in every sense that had me in a perpetual state of total bliss: body balanced, mind comforted and spirit nourished.

Eastern Garden Martha Tilaar Spa
Jl. Camplung Tanduk No 5A, Seminyak, Bali, 80361, Indonesia
T: (+62) 361 731 648
F: (+62) 361 731 637
www.easterngardenspa.com

Notes:
This article was first published in Asia Dreams, January-February 2015.
Photos courtesy of Eastern Garden Martha Tilaar Spa.

The post Take Me to the Ocean first appeared on Meliana Salim.