Russell and I haggled over which property in Bali to go to. We were only going to be there for six days, and since it takes a day to get there, we wanted to ensure maximum relaxation. We weren't going there to see temples, museums or shrines. The only shrines we'd be paying homage to would be the pool and the bar.
In the end we decided to spend three nights at the Four Seasons Sayan river property and two nights at Jimbaron Bay on the beach.
Upon arriving at the airport we were immediately solicited by "government" workers to come to their window to pay for our "Visa". Unlike most countries where you have to apply in advance, in Bali, you pay when you arrive. California should consider this; it might ease some of the budget issues.
Temporary Visa - aka toll.
Then we were accosted by seemingly hundreds of taxi drivers. It was beginning to feel like Cabo; I held my purse tighter. But thankfully the Four Seasons representative met us and lead us through the labyrinth of an airport, apologizing for the construction and consequential long walk. He handed us off to the driver.
The parking lot was filled with more mopeds and motorcycles than I've seen in my entire life. The roads were crammed with them as well. They were everywhere, zipping in and out of traffic indiscriminately, some with two, three, even four people hanging off them. "And what's the deal with the jackets?", we wondered out loud. It's 90 degrees outside and these people are dressed for Fall in Maine. We asked the driver. He told us they were wearing jackets because in the morning it gets cold. Really? You mean 80? It was 4pm with 80% humidity. I concluded he was seriously wrong, perhaps the government required them as a rash guard. But this seemed unlikely, considering it was obvious helmets weren't required.
More motorcycles than a Hog convention.
They're everywhere!
Are there no traffic rules here?
Where'd this come from?
Suddenly we're in Rome.
It took an hour and a half from the airport to get to the property and we saw more than I wanted to see along the way. The buildings were interesting and the multitudes of shops selling statues and shrines were intriguing, even the side walk markets selling odd fruit were fun, but in all my fantasies about Bali, cabana boys, exotic drinks, lush jungles, none of them included piles and piles of trash, emaciated stray dogs, wild chickens, or women washing clothes in suspiciously murky gutter water. This was not the Bali from Eat/Pray/Love. The over-ladden motorcylces and filthy villages filled with diseased dogs made me wildly uncomfortable, and Russell had been concerned about tourist bombings. Ha!
I was relieved when we finally made it to the property. It was beautiful and clean. Thank goodness. We both breathed a sigh of relief, determined to get a cocktail as soon as humanly possible.
Entry to the hotel.
Me, inquiring about the nearest bar.
Welcome lily pad.
After offering us a chilled drink at reception, (tragically non-alcoholic), and an even cooler towel, they transported us, in a golf cart, to our riverside villa.
The design of the villas was clever. It had its own lily pad on the roof. You entered from the roof and traversed a spiral staircase down to your villa below. The plunge pool awaited.
Our outdoor living room.
Uh yeah, this will work.
Just look at that jungle.
Sleeping arrangements.
I do love a bath.
We quickly unpacked our bathing suits and the bottle of wine we had brought from Tokyo. The plunge pool went perfectly with the Chardonnay. They were both chilled just right.
The hotel lobby had live entertainment in the form of traditional Balinese dance that evening, so we started our first night off with that. The dancing was what I thought Thai dancing would be like. The women wore brightly colored sarongs and shimmering head dresses. They told stories with their eyes and hands. They seemed like cartoon characters the way they over-emphasized their eye movements. It suddenly occurred to me, they looked just like those ancient statues from India. Hmmm, now I get it.
Shifty eyes
and hands
After the dance we ambled down to the hotel restaurant where we were both presented with a flower. Pretty Balinese girls placed them in our hair, even Russell's.
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
Suddenly I feel I'm on vacation.
Could be the flower.
Russell had the special roast suckling pig and I had the special roast duck. Both were accompanied by a cornucopia of Indonesian side dishes, including shrimp chips. They were especially addictive. After dinner we walked around the property and took pictures....
Nice lighting.
This is the fitness center.
I'll be here tomorrow morning.
Our villa top lily pond
We spent about 20 minutes watching the frogs and fish at our rooftop lily pond. I do like frogs.
Turn down service.
With flowers for the bath.
Now, that's nice.
The next morning I woke up early and let Russell sleep while I took pictures and worked out in the fitness center. I was the only one there, except for the attendant who kept coming over with chilled towels and water. Was I sweating that bad? Apparently, yes.
The deck was covered with water from an overnight rain.
Just like Camelot.
Rooftop lilys in bloom
This looks fake.
Neat jungle flowers.
Walkway from our villa.
Care for a banana?
Morning sun streaming through the jungle.
We're not in Kansas anymore or Tokyo.
The river below.
After breakfast, which was great and included in our package, we spent the rest of the day at the riverside pool. It was very surreal listening to the roar of the river, reading the Hunger Games, and watching the occasional Japanese rafting group squeal by.
Our private spot on the deck just above the river.
Yeah, this don't suck
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