CLOCKWISE: COURTESY OF THE OBEROI; COURTESY OF AYANA KOMODO RESORT“L
ife, religion, and art—all
converge in Bali. They have no
word in their language for ‘artist’
or ‘art.’ Everyone is an artist,” said
Anaïs Nin. Many an artist has found
a haven in this tropical wonderland.
If you feel like following in their
footsteps, pack your bags and slow-travel on these serene shores of
Indonesia. Go on a digital detox,
ditch the popular itineraries, and
just savour the views.
The Oberoi, Bali on Seminyak
Beach is a good option to soak
in the vibes of a traditional
Balinese village, with the living
and dining spaces bearing
heavy local influences like
thatched roofs, polished wood,
and natural fabrics. The villas
and lanai rooms, spread over
landscaped gardens, create a
sense of plentiful space with
their floor-to-ceiling windows
bringing in natural light and
offering abundant views of the
surrounding greens. Whileyoumightnotwanttostepout
of the cosy rooms, it’s a good
idea to check out the numerous
Balinese temples dotting the
hotel grounds, watch local artists
perform to gamelan music at the
natural stone amphitheatre (also
inthehotelcomplex),ortakea
stroll on the private beach.
If your travels are driven
by food cravings, chances are
the resort’s open-air thatched
pavillion restaurant, Kura Kura,
beachside Frangipani Café,
and Kayu Bar will be revelations
for their Indonesian cuisine,
breakfast spread, and inventive
cocktails, respectively.
oberoihotels.comWORTH A TRIP
Tropical Find
T
he stunning Waecicu Beach on Flores
Island, Indonesia is all set to get its first
five-star property this month with the
launch of AYANA Komodo Resort. Located
an hour’s flight from Bali, the resort sits
pretty on the white-sand beach, while also
enjoying close proximity to the Komodo
National Park (40 kilometres).
Each of the 13 suites and 192 rooms
at the resort open up to postcard-perfect
views of the cobalt blue waters of the
Indian Ocean dotted with stylish yachts
and jetties. The Full Ocean View Suite is
the most popular among the options for
its impressive views from all quarters. The
open-air, contemporary design extends
to its F&B outlets—RINCA, Kisik Bar &
Grill, and HonZEN—that serve Indonesian,
Japanese, Asian, and continental cuisines.
The best offering by the resort,
however, is its luxury phinisi (traditional
Indonesian two-masted sailing ship),
AYANA Lako di’a. Touted as the world’s
largest specially built phinisi, the sailing
beauty offers nine plush bedrooms, and is
available for two- and three-night charter
voyages across the archipelago. ayana.com
—SHIKHA PUSHPANAPicture-PerfectHoliday
TheAYANA Komodo Resort, near Bali, is a promising new
destination for a superlative beach vacation.Go on a digital detox, and enjoy the pleasures
of slow travel at The Oberoi, Bali.From left: The resort’s decor borrows heavily from traditional local architecture;
comfortable four-poster beds feature in every villa and lanai room at the resort.Each room at AYANA Komodo Resort
looks out to the ocean.travelandleisureindia.in