Cottages in Bali
While on “Oprah” in August, Julia Roberts said that Bali is “Heaven on Earth.” My husband, Carl, and I traveled to Bali in February-March 2010 and would agree with her!
We planned the trip, ourselves, and stayed in several places for seven to 10 days each — so we could really get to know paradise. At two places, in particular, the staff was friendly and helpful and we made some new Balinese friends.
Taman Harum Cottages (Box 3216, Mas, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia; phone [62 361] 975567, fax 975149) had been recommended by Claudia Reed (July ’06, pg. 58, and in “Massages to Die For,” Nov. ’06, pg. 48).
On the main level of our air-conditioned two-story villa was a sitting room, a bedroom and a large bathroom with one side a tropical garden enclosed by a high wall. On the second floor was a small bedroom/TV room with a balcony and views of the swimming pool, rice fields and Mt. Agung.
We paid $57 a night. Breakfast was included, either Western (eggs, bacon or sausage, toast, fruit and juice or coffee) or Indonesian (rice and vegetables). Dinner and lunch could be ordered in the outdoor dining room.
Transportation into Ubud, a 15-minute ride away, was available 8 a.m-10 p.m. and provided free, although we did tip our driver. After visiting a museum or shopping in Ubud, we would call from the information center and a van would arrive within 20 minutes.
Ubud is a wonderful tourist town with many options, such as visiting the Blanco Renaissance Museum or going on a bird walk through a rice field.
• Puri Lumbung Cottages (Munduk Village, 81152, North Bali, Indonesia; phone +62 362 70128871, fax 7005267) is in the village of Munduk in the highlands of Bali, about 50 miles north of the international airport in Denpasar.
The owner, Nyoman Bagiarta, has converted lumbungs (traditional Balinese rice barns) into cottages with balconies. The hotel is an ecotourism project, dedicated to conservation and preserving the area’s cultural heritage.
Our cottage was located a 10-minute walk through lush tropical gardens from the outdoor dining room and reception area. It included a large bedroom/sitting room with a balcony overlooking a large valley of clove trees and coffee and rice fields. It cost $70 a night, including a Western breakfast. Lunch and dinner cost extra.
Every afternoon at 4, coffee and cookies were delivered to our cottage — a highlight of our day!
There were many areas to hike and explore plus workshops in Balinese dancing, traditional coffee processing, hatha yoga, etc. Then, again, it is a most wonderful place to just relax and absorb Balinese culture.
LORNA TJADEN
New Hope, MN