Natya Resort Ubud - Paradise by the River

Bali lies in the Indonesian Archipelago like a jewel in a crown of thorns. Why do I say that?

It's because of the peace-loving populace and natural beauty, which beckons to millions of tourists from near and far,... despite the presence of active volcanoes on the island and the prospect of a rare black swan event of an earthquake/tsunami, or heaven forbid, a terrorist attack.

Therein lies its charm. Just as we have come to love Japanese culture and their respect and love of Nature, we now learn from the Balinese locals more about their life philosophy called "Tri Hita Karana". Simply put, it's about finding the 3 harmonies; harmony between fellow humans, oneness with Nature, and harmony with God.

This was especially evident in the first resort hotel we chose, up in the ricefields of Ubud. Natya Resort and Spa is specially perched on the edge of terraced ricefields, overlooking the legendary health-giving River Oos. Everywhere we cared to look, we saw green, both natural and artistically landscaped to bring one close to Nature.

The hardworking team of engineers, gardeners, concierge and wait staff, under the able leadership of Mr Laba, hotel manager, have created an idyllic 5-star paradise for city-weary tourists like us. Our air-conditioned villa suite did not lack the usual trappings expected and the special feature of each and every one of the villas was of course, a private infinity pool with panoramic views.

For sure, there was the occasional bug in paradise. But housekeeping and engineering made sure that the rare ant, bee, and the occasional skink merely reminded guests that we share our Earth with all manner of creatures in a lovingly-manicured landscape. More importantly, our main meals, which we chose to enjoy in the resort restaurant felt al fresco and breezy, yet protected from the elements. Again, credit must go to architect, developer and the tireless team who do vector-control and maintenance to keep the spell unbroken.

Two Japanese concepts that we have grown to appreciate hold true in Bali. Take for example, "Wabi Sabi" which in a nutshell means "perfectly imperfect". Everything works, notwithstanding the passage of time. Nay, I would even say, because of the love that goes into making functional and aesthetic that which Nature has given you.

"Kaizen" is another beautiful concept that can be translated into a constant striving to achieve 100% perfection. Of course, we all know there's no such thing as 100% in life. But by constantly trying, by  earnestly seeking feedback from guests, we can feel that Mr Laba and his team truly cares for everyone. What more can one ask for, in paradise?

Inaya Putri Bali - Paradise by the Sea

What's also iconic about Bali is a villa or hotel by the sea. Here, one may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices available. For a start, take a look at the difference between mega resorts - which cater to the masses, and boutique hotels with individual villas (like the Natya in Ubud) which strive to give one a bespoke experience.

There are also different types of designated beaches in Bali. Public ones in Kuta, Sanur and Seminyak, for example, are wildly popular for good reasons, like proximity to the airport, plenty of accommodations and food options and the wide range of sea activities.

We opted for a limited-access beach area, called Nusa Dua, with grand old hotels as well as newly updated resorts. It's not quite a gated community, but here, vehicular traffic is controlled and security-checked. We found it especially reassuring in these times of trouble, even in paradise.

Inaya Putri Bali attempts to be all things to all guests - regular accommodations for budget-conscious travellers as well as special villas for more discerning travellers. We chose to try out their villa option. Though priced higher, villa privileges translated to real advantages as we found out to our delight.

We loved the speedy, personalised check-in and check-out, right in one's own villa suite, a team of butlers to pamper villa dwellers and a full-service restaurant with a villa-exclusive breakfast locale. Royal treatment indeed.

In terms of physical accommodations, each villa was enormous in comparison to normal rooms, with some villas having private pools and sundecks. Inbetween the 2 rows of villas, runs a special "river" water feature, accessible only by villa dwellers. Perfect for travellers like us who prefer privacy and less noise.

Just as in Natya Resort Ubud, we could feel the hotel team seeking to find the hospitality balance of "Wabi Sabi (well-worn, well-loved and functional)" and "Kaizen (nearing perfection)".

Though it was the hot, humid and rainy season in Bali, housekeeping catered to our every concern and the kitchen staff managed to offer an amazing spread of delicious fare in a semi-al fresco setting.

Testament to the high level of food hygiene, we felt no need to fortify ourselves with probiotic supplements. Well-fed and pampered is the word.

All in all, we were able to enjoy precious moments together in this paradise by the sea, as evidenced from our happy pictures. Upon our return to Singapore, we had a nice exchange of emails with the hotel manager, Mr Morissher Loduwijk whom we thanked for helming a great team at the Inaya Putri.