Sahaja and Sawah Villa Retreat & Spa @ Bali and Beers!

Bali was my next destination just after 2 days I came back from Langkawi. For the past 1 month, it had been really a hectic travelling schedule from Belgium to Singapore, then home and a day trip to Malacca followed by 4 days in Langkawi. Bali was an impromptu trip for my sisters and mom because my sister has 2 weeks of "holiday" before her new job commences and she decided to be generous and paid for our accommodation.  

But of course a last minute air ticket is not cheap. Air Asia gives a better flight schedule and we each paid RM1000 for the air ticket to Bali which normally could have been much less if we book it earlier. It was mom's first trip by Air Asia and she hates it already. I guess at her age, Air Asia is not a friendly airline for her. I missed their Pak Nasser Nasi Lemak onboard (not that it tastes very good but it's always the dish I will order for my flights on Air Asia) and I counted that they gave me 7 miserable peanuts on my rice dish. If you order it onboard, it's going to cost you RM15... gone are the days when it costs RM10.

Anyways, it's just a 3-hour-flight and I don't have much complaint. Yiling booked us a Villa at Sahaja and Sawah located in the Tabanan area for 5 days 4 nights. She managed to get the villa at a good deal through Groupon and we thought it was a good idea to give it a try. But what we didn't know is that the journey from the airport to the villa took us 2 and a half hours and with the addition of poorly maintained roads towards the villa at the paddy field area, we were bumping on the car seats for half an hour. I really hope that their government would do something about those roads.

After such a bumpy ride, we were relieved that we finally arrived at Sahaja and Sawah which is a boutique retreat that offers a beautiful view of the Tabanan paddy fields. There's an air of tranquillity at the retreat and it's no surprise that this area is used as a shooting location for "Eat, Pray, Love".

The consolation to such a long and bumpy journey would be their helpful and smiling staff. They were very nice in introducing the place and also helping us with our bags and luggages. We were given the end Villa and there are only 4 units of the Indah Villa with 2 bedrooms. It has a very nice view of the paddy fields and a faraway beach (which is not for suitable for swimming). All the Villas are decorated in Balinese style furnitures and lots of wood and timber are used to give it a "resort" ambiance.

Our Villa comes with a private pool (with a 1.5m depth), 2 double bedrooms, 2 open air showers with bathtubs, a kitchen and living area. The refrigerator, gas stove, cookery and cutleries are provided so that you can also cook your own meal at the villa. Most of the days we eat out (or you can also dine at their restaurant) and there were two nights where we stayed in for dinner. Their in-room menu is also commendable and there is free wifi in the villa and also at the lobby.

The Sunset View

Breakfast is provided every morning and there are a few items to choose from. My favourite is their Mie Goreng which tasted like Indomie Goreng and for a few days, I prefer their eggs, bacon and toasts menu. You can also have a glass of fruit juice, tea or coffee to go with the breakfast. The breakfast is carried into our villa by the staff every morning after we have placed an order the night before or the morning itself.

I prefer swimming with my sisters in the morning and afternoon because it can be quite chilly in this area. I found that this place is less warm and sunny compared to the Ubud and Kuta areas. Ziling enjoys sun-tanning while I enjoy swimming a few laps at the private pool.

This is definitely a nice All-Ladies-Holiday including my mom. The Lim sisters and Mommy had fun and lots of shopping. We went out on 2 days by using the transport from the hotel. It costs IDR$800,000 for a 8-hour day out and the hotel driver will take us to anywhere we like. The driver has been really nice and he even helped us to bargain at the markets and he also volunteered to carry our shopping bags. This is really a hotel with great service and staff.

I don't mind to come back again provided that something is done about the bad road conditions. This is a nice retreat away from the tourist areas in Bali and if you like tranquillity and unparalleled views of greenery, this is the place for you. If you like going out and roam around the island, then this is not recommended because going to Ubud takes almost 1 and a half hour too. 

Banjar Kelecung Kaja, 

Desa Tegal Mengkeb  Kecamatan Selemadeg Timur, 

Tabanan, Bali 82164, Indonesia
Tel: +62 361 8747489

Website

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When I came back from Bali, I immediately asked my friends to come out for a beer. I have not seen them for a few months as I was in Belgium spending time with my partner and I missed hanging out with them. One couple recently got engaged and planning to get married next year and I wanted to take this night out to congratulate them too. There's always a reason to indulge in a pint!

I chose 42 East at Taman Tun because it's less crowdy and they are my friends' favourite football viewing place. But the best part is that they serve Kilkenny draught at a good price from 11am to 10pm at only RM55 for 3 pints! The service was very good and they allowed us to "park" our drinks too. I think that night, we easily drank 20 pints of Kilkenny.

Of course we have to have some "beer food"!!! The BBQ ribs is quite good which comes with a choice of sauces. I like the crispy bacon and the chicken wings. These are definitely good complimentary dishes to the ale. Just look at the perfectly poured Kilkenny with bacon strips... makes me want to have one too now as I was writing about this beer party with my friends.

All my Kilkenny Beer Kakis...

I miss working with them and some of them has left my previous workplace but we continue to meet up even when we are not working under the same roof. It's the camaraderie that keeps the group together. It's funny how a bunch of co-workers can turn out to be great friends instead of us killing each other in the process of climbing that corporate ladder. And for this very reason, we cheers to that!

Club Med Spa @ Bali

A visit to exotic Bali will never be complete without a rejuvenating spa experience. Spa to Bali is like Nasi Lemak to KL, well, almost. I don't go to spa very often and I'm a little embarrassed to admit that throughout my 27 years of life, I've been to a spa less than 5 times! Usually once in a while I would go for a massage but even then, it's probably less than 5 times a year as well!



As I was writing this post, I am reminiscing the fun times I had in Club Med Bali where the days seemed to short and the Spa experience I had was unforgettable. The ambiance sets me in the right mood, the masseuse hands were gentle, the strokes and kneads were smooth and stress-relieving and the aromas of ginger and lemongrass soothes my soul.



The Club Med Spa has its own quiet pool, out of the reach of screaming kids. They offer 9 single treatment rooms and 5 double rooms.



Managed by Mandara Spa, everything is designed to ease one's mind and let your spirit relax amidst the tranquil setting. Their famous Four Hands massage which blens various massages styles - shiatsu, Thai, Swedish and Balinese is the ultimate indulgence for anyone! Aromatheraphy footbaths, body scrubs, herbal steam baths, manicure and pedicure sessions are available too for a fee.



During my stay, I had a Balinese massage which is one of the most relaxing massages with therapeutic properties that has been used for centuries to renew, strengthen and healing of both body and mind. This traditional theraphy combines stretching, long strokes, rolling, and putting pressure to relieve the tensed body parts while improving blood flow and easing the stress. The 50 mins gone by really fast!

When you have read this post, I'm already on my way to another great getaway at Club Med Cherating. I'm probably playing with the monkeys or having a tan under the beautiful private beach! Won't be back until Wednesday - wohooo!



For previous Club Med Bali posts- visit here.

Things I did at Club Med Bali

A continuation from the previous post...

Club Med Bali never sleeps or rather I don't really sleep when I was there! There was just so much to do and honestly I felt the 4 days 3 nights stay were tad too short. It seemed that days were too few, hours were insufficient, minutes were flying pass and seconds meant nothing. It's true that they say time flies when one is having fun!

The amount of activities you could do in Club Med was enough to keep you busy throughout the day. My day started with Power Walk at 8am where you'll be taken on a 5km journey walking through the gardens in Nusa Dua and then passing by some of the 5 star hotels by the beach which took me about 50 minutes. After that, I farctate myself silly at the breakfast buffet due to low resistance towards temptations. Who could resist having freshly baked croissants, platter of cold ham and cheese, porridge with century eggs and maybe some korean steamed egg?

The highlight of this resort was the Trapeze where if you stay long enough, you might be good enough to audition for Cirque de Soleil. I caught Kenny Sia having a go at the Trapeze when I was having a dip at the pool. He did it twice! I didn't try it because I still horripilate at the sight of people hanging up there and swinging from side to side.

After breakfast, I went for some golf lessons at the driving range. There is a 9 hole golf course, driving range and a putting green for you to play with minus the exorbitant green fees you'll have to pay at a golf course. If golf wasn't enough, I moved on to tennis imagining myself playing for Wimbledon only to realise I can't even hit the ball properly! If these two aren't your cup of tea, don't worry, there's also yoga, gym, badminton, squash, basketball, archery, snorkeling, swimming and futsal.

And if you want sight seeing, outdoor activities or even water sports, all could be arranged but it comes with an additional fee. Information could be gathered at the Discovery center at the resort. I did a temple visit at Tanah Lot while the guys had a good time at water rafting at the Ayung River.

The theme for 1st night was BLACK

When night comes, you can dress up in accordance to the day's theme which would be displayed in the window of the shop. Don't think that you can go back to the room and retire after dinner because the theatre show at the resort is really a must-see!

I think Club Med has a midas touch. It is not your usual holiday getaway resort and certainly no other resorts you can experience such warmth, joy and happiness that fills the day. The heartbeat of this resort, was indeed its Gracious Organisers (G.O) whom played a vital role in ensuring that we, the Gracious Members (G.M) are happy! I enjoy the fact that they treated us like friends, ate with us and played with us!

Mayan, was my golf instructor when I was there. During the night, he turns into Michael Jackson and does his signature moonwalk for the theatre show. Since I got to know him through golf, when he sees me around, he would actually greet me by my name. And I told the group that Michael Jackson remembers my name! LOL ... The amount of talent shown by the G.Os were really amazing. I think all of them could have joined either American Idol or Britain Got Talent!

Some of them were really good with acrobatics, which awed me the most. I think I ooohed and aahhed throughout the whole circus performance on the 3rd night. Those are the very people you see mending the Trapeze during the day! Kenny, whom comes from Mauritius could teach you a thing or two about archery, spins on the rope for the circus show and then he could be your DJ for the night. Wow...

After the show, everyone will start dancing on the spot led by the G.Os and then we move on to the main bar where the party starts. Liquor is free flow and you can drink till you drop... I wasn't sure about the availability of wheel chairs to wheel you back to your room if you're pissed drunk but I certainly don't mind if there's a good-looking-6-pack-abs guy would want to carry me back!

You might also get to spot Justin Bieber lookalike (right) on the dancing floor. This 13-year-old boy was dancing every night while we were there. He does look like Justin Bieber right?!!

And if you're lucky enough like us, there were 300 over Japanese girls on an incentive trip to Club Med Bali during our stay. Sugoi!!

And among all the things that you can do at Club Med Bali,
DON'T ever do what I did!

You won't be this lucky like me! Muahahah...

P/S: For the first post, read here.
Some pics are courtesy of Kenny Sia & Official Photographer

Maiden visit to Club Med Bali @ Indonesia

The year started on a good note with an awe-inspiring trip to Bali. Ending the year with a trip to Europe and then keeping this Bali trip a hush-hush until my manager gives me the green light to go on a 3-day-leave was all happening too quickly for me. There had been quite an extensive traveling for me for the past few months and Bali was timely as I needed a break from the subject called stress.

"Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach."

~Michelle Held

Having nothing to expect for my maiden visit to Club Med, I arrived at the resort greeted with big smiles and welcoming faces. Men & women dressed in crisp orange Polo tee and white bermudas were lining up to greet us with fresh wet towels and a cup of aromatic tea.

The 20 ha resort located in Nusa Dua, a pristine location that hosts both 5 star international hotels and conference centre has a 0.8 km beautiful sandy beach lined with tall swaying coconut trees surrounding the sea, where gentle stirrings of the waves seemed to convey some hidden soul beneath beyond my capable vision. It was just the perfect view I'll need for my tired soul.

They are referred as G.O - "gracious organisers"

and we are G.M - "gracious members"

Arrangements were smooth with the Club Med driver picking us up at the airport right to the doorsteps of the resort. Luggages were tagged at the airport and the staff knew which room to sent them to without us having to lug our bags the moment we board the vehicle. After a welcoming greeting by Phillipe whom is the Chef de Village (GM) of Bali, we were ushered to our rooms by the G.Os.

The resort & my deluxe room with a balcony

Then it was time to explore the resort. It has a Balinese architecture with elegant roofing made with wooden tiles, quaint brick work, and also a pond where fishes and lotus plants cohabitat, all oozing with charm eventhough the village was built some 30 years ago. There were also 3 original Balinese temples within the resort. If you're lucky, you might get a sight of the resident monitor lizard which roams around the corners or islands in the pond. Noooooo...........

I know architecture certainly doesn't sound synonymous with my name nor my work but I have learnt to appreciate the wonderful work of architects and interior designers over the years when my cousin exposed me to works of the famous architects like Santiago Calatrava and Frank Gehry when we went to Bilbao.



The design and architecture of this place is not restricted to traditional Balinese concept but the recent extensive renovation reveals a much bigger and better upgrade for the resort. A breath of new life and modernity is given to all communal areas from reception, pools, bars and the restaurants. What attracted me most was the poolside and the main bar.

The main bar, located at the corner of the swimming pool and overlooked the beach was the focal point of the resort. It was spectacular in a way which its circular design brings out the convivial atmosphere and the impressive chandelier that hangs from the top of the ceiling cascading down the pillar is made of metal and resin teardrops inlaid with mother-of-pearl that flutters and dances in the wind creating a soothing sound just like a wind chime.

I was also impressed with the dining concept at Club Med. Food is very important, well, at least for me! There were 2 restaurants in the resort which serves buffet-style dining and the other a fine-dining ala carte style. When we were there, we had the opportunity to try both restaurants.

The Malaysians...
(clockwise from top left) Kenny Sia, Ian from Expatriate Lifestyle, Mayanne from West Coast Communications (PR), Edward Chin (Marketing & Sales Manager Club Med Malaysia), me, Kenn from Newman and Kiwi from Citta Bella.

I was spoilt for choice the first night I was there. Along the buffet lines, there were Balinese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Italian and also Western cuisine. We all know that most of the buffet food doesn't taste good nor appetising but I was amazed that the quality of food here is indeed above average and the presentation of food is just as good. Ok, apart from the choice of wines, I have nothing much to complain about. They serve wines (a choice of red or white) but the wines are local Balinese wine labels so don't expect to drink your Bordeaux or burgundy here.



The day does not end after dinner. You'll be surprised that Club Med keeps you awake till the wee hours of the morning with the spectacular theatre shows, party at the bar and then the last dance at the Night Club. I was capernoited every night I was there because the booze is free flow and all inclusive! I used to think that Club Med is an exclusive club for members only but it was not what I thought. Anyone can have a holiday at Club Med if you're into exclusive holidays where everything is taken care of and all you want is to be happy and have a peace of mind. That's how I felt when I was there. No money to carry around and I don't even want to have my mobile with me.

With such great facilities and fun I had at the resort, I might have to quomodocunquize for my next holiday with Club Med!

The next part of my Club Med Bali experience here.

A little info about Club Med...

All is taken care of with Club Med premium all inclusive holiday when you book your holiday with them. This includes return flight transfers, twin share accomodation, all-day dining, open bar and snacking, sports and leisure activities, night live entertainment and supervised activities for children. They now feature a more inclusive innovations which includes Baby Welcome (0-23 months where child care equipment are provided in the package), Kid's Nature Concept, Bar & Snacking and Passworld for teens (14 to 17 years old) and more exclusive innovations such as upgrading their 4 ΨTrident resorts to 5 ΨTrident resorts. It is a very family oriented resort where children right through to teens have their own clubs and activities taken care of.

At Club Med Bali, the 4 ΨTrident resort has 3 swimming pools, 91 G.O from 18 nationalities, 9 suites, 87 deluxe rooms and 297 superior rooms that houses a maximum capacity of 800 guests at one time. With 80 resorts worldwide, you can now experience Club Med at every corner of the world.

P/S: This is a media trip and I was lucky to be invited to experience the 4D3N "all inclusive holiday package at Club Med Bali"