Mari's Travel Blog: BALI TRIP 2014: Amandari

AMANDARI – UBUD, INDONESIA

From Amankila to Amandari, the drive takes you through rice paddies and ends in the Ayung Valley. There are two ways of getting from Amankila in East Bali to Amandari near Ubud. The fast route which takes 1.5 hours versus the slow and I mean slow route through the small villages sometimes driving at 15 km which takes 3.5 hours unless you want to see the local culture and the picturesque rice terraces. My recommendation is take the fast route – we didn't due to a communication disconnect. In Bali, there are very few traffic laws and signals. Traffic is hectic and most of the locals drive scooters like in Vietnam.

Young girls learn their dancing and music crafts
early on as a way to honor the Hindu g-ds

Amandari is known as the art center of Bali. You are in the middle of a living culture where the Hindu g-ds speak and the people offer simple offerings of woven banana leaves, flowers and rice left daily at the temples. The intent of 24 year old Amandari is that is has been designed true to the look and spirit of a Balinese village. You will find the surrounding villages house local painters, woodcarvers, jewelers and potters all practicing their traditional crafts. Dance and music is an art form in this part of the world. Young girls learn their dancing and music crafts early on as a way to honor the Hindu g-ds.

Amandari means “peaceful spirits” and I can understand why Amandari was named this way. Amandari is located 10 minutes from central Ubud with complementary shuttles available throughout the day.

open air lobby designed to be a “wantalon”
or village meeting place

When you arrive at Amandari, you immediate are amazed by the open air lobby designed to be a “wantalon” or village meeting place. You have a sense of where you are from this moment forward. The pathway that runs through Amandari down to the Valley is sacred and there are 3 modest shrines honoring this on property.

Suite Bedroom Interior View

There are 30 private free standing villas each with a Balinese stone gateway. Some offer private pools. We are staying in "Villa 14". Villa 14 has an enormous bedroom area and it's bathroom is the traditional Aman design of dual sinks, a separate toilet area from the shower all leading outside to the sunken bathtub. Outside, there is a dining pavilion overlooking the Ayung Valley as well as a private pool and lounge chairs.

There is a restaurant and bar on property as well as a library, fitness center, spa tennis and wonderfully stocked boutique.

Suite Bathroom View

The staff at Amandari can arrange your day with tours ranging from visits to the local villages, markets and Monkey Forest. Many guests enjoy learning about the flat or terraced rice paddies. Believe it or not, there is Class II river rafting available down the Ayung River. Temple tours and cultural exchanges can also be arranged.

During our visit, Jeff and I were honored to spend time with Amandari's General Manager, Mr. Siddharth Mehra. I wanted to understand why people love Bali so much as well as learn more about the Aman culture. Siddharth was a wealth of insight.

First, why do people love Bali so much? Simply, it is all about the Balinese people and culture. The people are kind, gentle and so friendly. It is in their nature to be so as they follow the Hindu faith and culture.

Spa Treatment Room

Aman fits in well with Bali. Aman's philosophy of being a part of the local community allows the GM to hire local staff, use local artisans, serve products from the local farms and thus become an integral and harmonious part of the local society.

I also learned that Aman properties in Bali, Indonesia want your experience to be seamless. The Aman properties are Virtuoso properties with programs allowing you access between the properties, upgrades – sometimes at the time of booking, one activity per visit and more.

For anyone staying in Ubud, I would ask that you consider staying at Amandari. You will be pleasantly surprised and come away from the experience more insightful and relaxed!