A TRIO OF
PAMPERING
SPASL’Occitane has two
spa outlets on the
island: Mango Tree
Spa in Ubud and
Bamboo in Jimbaran.
The former is named
for the ancient tree
it sits atop, giving
views of the Ayung
River while you have
a peony facial or
almond body wrap.
The latter’s verbena
bamboo therapy
promotes circulation
and releases
muscular stress.The Thermes Marins
spa at Ayana resort
in Jimbaran ofers
a dizzying range
of treatments and
facilities. It’s home
to the world’s largest
aquatonic pool,
where you can move
your way around
12 hydromassage
stations. Out of the
water there are lava
body scrubs and a
jade facial; whatever
you settle on, be
sure to have it in
the glass pavilion,
which is perched on
top of a rock to ofer
endless views of
the Indian Ocean.Jari Menari (‘dancing
fingers’) in Seminyak
is not the prettiest
spa in Bali, but the
massages here may
well be the island’s
best. The team of
all-male masseuses
are masters when it
comes to stretching
and releasing the
tension in tight
muscles. The menu
is succinct, but
everything on
it is perfection.WELLNESS RETREATS
OPENED IN DECEMBER 2005, the Como
Shambhala Estate near Ubud enjoys an
international reputation as the wellness
resort to check in to. Here, nationalities
ranging from Lithuanian and Australian
to Chinese and Russian come seeking
respite and relaxation amid the famous
terraced gardens of the property.
To foster an intimate feel, the resort
includes five residences, each with a
unique atmosphere. Stay at Tirta Ening
— meaning ‘clear water’ — and enjoy
a private waterfall and Japanese-style
garden, or opt for Tejasuara’s earthy
influences and thatched roofing. Each
residence caters to solo travellers,
couples or groups. There are also six
wellness programs, each beginning with
a consultation with an expert, who will
tailor a ‘prescription’ that could include
food ideas, massages and exercise. You
can choose how closely to follow it.
In February, the Como brand will
further expand with the opening of its
Echo Beach resort in Canggu. Close to
some of Bali’s best surf breaks, it will
ofer a luxury surfing experience.
DO-GOOD DINING
If you’re excited by mention of raw wild
ferments and vegan cakes, then Seeds of
Life cafe is for you. Tucked away in the
jungles of Ubud, it has a tonic bar with
brews such as the ‘Omarom’, infused
with Tibetan mushrooms and ginseng to
boost energy levels. Also completely raw
and vegan is Alchemy; sip cold-pressed
juices while browsing natural products.
Take a stroll through rice paddies on
Ubud’s outskirts to Sari Organik, which
is on an organic farm. For an antioxidant
hit, try turmeric juiced with ginger, or
a salad made with produce plucked
from the surrounds. Not too far away
is the Green School, where Living Food
Lab has a raw-food menu of everything
from mango wraps to Mexican burgers.
Divine Earth ofers respite from the
increasingly hectic streets of Seminyak.
The smoked coconut sandwich is one
of its most interesting combinations,
pairing coconut with pickled cucumber,
cashew cream and manna bread. Nearby
is the always busy Earth Cafe, where the
vegan menu is utterly comforting, from
herbed avocado soup to tempeh sambal.HEALTHFUL BALI
Bali has every ingredient you need for a
healthy holiday — from wellness resorts
to vegan eateries.
CLOCKWISE
FROM ABOVE
A treat from the
Living Food Lab;
indulge in a shell
massage at
Ayana; tropical
interiors at Como
Shambhala Estate.
OPPOSITE PAGE
Relax poolside at
Como Shambhala.CALMING CURES
From chakra cleansing to cave meditation, there’s not much that
isn’t on the menu at Fivelements. In the jungle-laced foothills
of central Bali, the wellness resort’s collection of curvilinear
buildings, crafted from sustainable local materials, is ringed
by tropical gardens that are immediately soothing. It’s here the
staf pluck flowers and herbs — pineapples, ginger, turmeric —
used in vegetarian meals and spa treatments. Oranges and limes
are pressed for bath rituals, cucumbers are muddled for cooling
masks, and ylang ylang and frangipani blossoms are added to
tonics for fragrant facials. Between the weird and wonderful
therapies and calming rooms, you won’t want to leave.
Ashtanga, vinyasa, hatha, fly high — whatever type of yoga
you’re into, you’ll find a class ofering it at Desa Seni. Sessions
are held in open-air pavilions, made all the more serene by their
setting amid tall palms and frangipani trees. When you’re not
practising, there’s a spa where you can book treatments such
as the Balinese boreh, a traditional remedy that sees a medley of
warmed indigenous spices rubbed into your skin. An additional
reason to linger is the accommodation, set in antique wooden
homes sourced from across the Indonesian archipelago.
DECEMBER 2017 VIRGIN AUSTRALIA 061