The interplay between subdued Balinese motif and minimalist charm of the resort is so dramatic that we are forced to keep silent as we entered the lobby of Conrad Bali though what we wanted to do was to shout for joy for discovering this place. From the lobby, the view of the Indian Ocean is fantastic. We inched our way to the verandah to catch the sweet breeze of the ocean made cooler by the blowing Darwinian wind. To our surprise, turquoise swimming pools as far as the eyes could see awaited us after a four-hour flight from Hong Kong to Denpasar.
Created by some of the world’s best architects and designers, the Conrad Bali Resort & Spa is structured in a fashion which allows glorious ocean views in every room and suite: All rooms are located in three wings over four floors, in an E-shaped structure. The resort reflects a contemporary style composed of attractive colors and rich woods. The latest technology, including broadband, featured in all rooms with wireless Internet access.The resort, according to Anastasia Lijadi, director of public relations, is the newest kid on the block of resorts cum spas in Bali. It opened in March this year and since then, more and more tourists have trooped here, giving them the feeling of dreaming on top of a hill.
Anastasia said that this early, Conrad Bali is enjoying a lot of good feedback from their discriminating guests. Sales manager for weddings Yoan Irma Suryajie added that many weddings have already been booked at the hotel for the succeeding months. Since the Conrad is the newest inclusion in the constantly growing number of resorts in Bali, the management made sure that it would really be different from the rest. Given that the style, ambience, and architecture of the resort are different, Conrad a little bit further by choosing to clad its staff and officers in khaki trousers and white shirts, a simple yet elegant sartorial attire compared to the traditional Balinese ensemble worn by staff in other resorts.
"We made sure that everybody – from the staff to the general manager – would wear the same type of uniform. Uniformity is tantamount to saying that unity and equality exists," philosophized charming Ruth Zukerman, sales and marketing manager of the resort.
At night, the sound of the waves lapping the beach lulled us to sleep. The décor of the deluxe ocean and garden guestrooms where we stayed was very restful. The guestroom design is contemporary, with features and artwork including tribal works. Floors are of either light cream marble from Ujung Pandang in Sulawesi or of Bangkirai-Indonesian hardwood from Borneo. Roof tiles are terra cotta and handrails are coconut timber. Bathroom fixtures are so enjoyable like the bathtub that is symmetrically shaped for a relaxing soak. We slumbered like newborn babies on a soft bed. Lest I forget, there was a pillow menu where guests could choose from bolster pillow to goose feather, from the very firm to the very soft.
From the bedroom to the ballroom to the boardroom, the resort impeccably gives the enticing and uplifting mood. Our favorite dining place was Suku. This open concept restaurant, set in the heart of the resort with panoramic views of the ocean, earned the moniker "primitive modern" restaurant because traditional Indonesian fare like gado-gado, nasi goreng, mee goreng, chicken and beef sate (which we all ate with ketsup manis and chopped green chilies on the side) are enjoyed in al fresco elegant setting that gives a fresh, modern and vibrant atmosphere with contemporary décor. For an added treat, we had a traditional Dutch-Indonesian lauriat Rjitstaffel where we sampled many Indonesian specialties specially prepared by their chefs.
The 8°South, subtitled as "Latitude with an attitude," is a restaurant that serves an absolutely beach front flavors. Bali is located eight degrees south of the equator and hence the name of the open-air beach-side restaurant with alang-alang balés and a central open kitchen. Lunches are offered here that include delicious BBQ grill cuisine and a variety of salads, gourmet pizzas, sandwiches and Asian specialties.
Other food stops are the Spice for ethnic cuisines; Azure, a cool pool bar located next to the long and winding lagoon; and East, the lobby lounge that is garlanded with art deco overtones, combined with a spectrum of earth-tones and a rich wood ceiling set against dramatic patterned fabrics and carpet.
The wellness center of the resort also changed my view that only adults can have a spa treatment. Here, children eight years old and above can also avail of spa care at Jiwa Spa that provides aromatherapy treatments that awaken and indulge the five basic senses of a human being in every treatment offered to bring joy for the jiwa or soul in Indonesian word. The spa menu for the children includes a 30-minute massage, foot bath and masque, coconut tangerine hair crème wash, and special 1,000 bubbles children’s bath play menu with tempting flavors such as Double Chocolate Fudge or Banana Split Milk Bath.
For us, we tried the resort’s signature massage, the kind wherein the masseusse performed "yoga" on our back. My sister Michelle Soliven and I had our massage in the comforts of the center’s room. My only brother Mark Dayrit and my bestfriend Büm Tenorio Jr. had their signature massage in a Bali hut fronting the Indian Ocean. When we finished the treatment, we were so recharged and reinvigorated that we forgot the tiresome yet cheap shopping activity we did on Legian road a few nights before.
After the massage, off we went to see other fascinating places in Bali, the island with a thousand temples. We visited Uluwatu, cliff-top temple with spectacular views, and Pura Besakih, the holiest temple in Bali located on the slopes of Mount Agung. Since Bali is recognized for its arts and crafts, we went to Kuta, a busy market and tourist area. Of course, our willing and able Balinese driver, Iwayan, who also owns a big restaurant on Jimbaran Bay, drove us up to Ubud for beautifully manicured ricefields (which are considered sacred by the Hindus), the monkey forest, art and craft galleries.
At the end of the day, we would retreat back to Conrad Bali. Going up to the hotel’s driveway was in itself an experience. Fountains shoot up everywhere. By the lobby, we were welcomed again by a gigantic vase filled with long-stemmed white flowers that almost touched the ceiling; symbolic of our high praises for God, for making us feel safe and comfy in our home away from home.
If you want a guided tour in Bali, call Iwayan Sunarya at (62) 081-2391-1929.
Cathay Pacific flies to Denpasar, Bali daily via Hong Kong. For more information, ask for Afro-Asian Travel and Tours at 523-7501.