Firstly let me state that I have such a hectic life that I come to Bali with my best friend and leave my husband and three kids at home. We have a great time and for a little while I get to forget about life, and the only two decisions I have to make are: how do I want my eggs at breakfast and what to eat for dinner. We like to stay in nice places where someone looks after my needs and wants. A bit like staying at Mum's since I don't have that kind of Mum. So 12 wonderful nights in Bali is just what the doctor ordered!
We had heard of some lovely villas in Tanjung Benoa called Rumah Bali. The chef and owner of Bumbu Bali restaurant, Heinz Von Holzen, own them. We looked at the web site and had been to the restaurant the first time we went to Bali and stayed at the Aston. I'm afraid that since then everything is compared to that wonderful stay, (including being upgraded to business class!). Butch (a former) had actually asked about them and to my delight he stayed there before us and said that they were great and that I'd love them. There were many emails sent to Rumah Bali, of which were all promptly and courteously answered. This was a great start.
We booked cheap flights that included a few nights at the Buking Sari hotel of which we were going to book into and use to sort of stay over during the day or to shower/nap/swim in, etc.
Got up at 3:30am to drive to the airport for 6am for an 8am flight. Flew Garuda. Small plane and got the back row! Of course our seats can't go back as the toilet is there. The people in front put their seats down and there we were, pinned to our seats and couldn't go anywhere! The poor chap next to us in the aisle seat had to put up with a small aisle (which with the trolley in there you couldn't get past), and had all of those who lined up for second drinks and going to the toilet standing just about on him. The poor guy had lots of things at eye level and people pushing into him. We left and arrived on time. I joked that the last time I was on the back row, they actually let us out the rear of the plane and the chap said 'no I don't think so', 'oh come on!' I said, 'we have to get some reward for sitting here.' And guess what?! they were letting people off from the rear of the plane!!! We were straight on to a bus to be transported about 50m to the terminal. First through Immigration got our luggage and first out the doors to be met by Kade our housekeeping manager at the Rumah Bali and off we go.
Rumah Bali is exquisite. You get booked in at your villa, no hotel foyers. We were, as Butch said, spitting distance from the pool (and like he, no we didn't try either, so you'll just have to take our word for it!). We had breakfast at our villa; what ever we wanted at what ever time we wanted. The presentation was beautiful. The rooms- huge. We had an outdoor bathroom with an adjoining change room. We had an outside, fully equipped kitchen with a dining setting for four and a balcony out the front with reclining chairs and another little table with chairs overlooking the pool.
Included with our stay was a complimentary cooking class for both of us. This was the highlight of my trip. Up at 5:30 to be at the front by 6am to have Heinz drive us to the markets to explain so much to us about what the ingredients they cook with and how he came to find the different recipes. At about 9am we had a Balinese breakfast (yum) at Rumah and then on to cook! We all donned aprons and we just did everything. The helping cook was Made. They actually call him Made Santan, Santan meaning coconut milk. He was great. We then had a late lunch there. Everything was beautiful and they presented it so lovely. We were so full.
It was people like Made Santan that made our stay there great. We were the longest guests besides two Australians that were the General Manager and Director of Sales and Marketing for a new resort called Conrads. We actually met Michael the GM at the Expo in Fremantle a few weeks before we left. It will be finished in Dec but the grand opening will be in Feb. He showed us around. It was awesome! We hope to stay there in September next year with my two sons. Well, maybe half time there and half time at Rumah. The people at Rumah would love my boys especially since they learn Indo at school and have done Indo cooking at school as well.