The Viceroy Bali: They Got Us At ‘Apa Khabar’

It takes about one hour and forty five minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport to The Viceroy Bali, criss-crossing the typically harum-scarum Bali traffic, from the wide dual-lanes to single-lane traffic. The cold towels and bottles of chilled water prepared for us in the hotel car offered a bit of relief from the heat of this tropical island. The journey was nonetheless, thrilling.

The landscape gradually changed as we travelled deeper into central Bali. The view of massive buildings and structures vanished and sights of smaller houses and lush greenery emerged. We passed through a plane of paddy fields before reaching the hotel lobby. We were greeted by the warm, smiling faces of the staff who eagerly hanged a garland of fresh frangipani around each of our neck while offering us refreshing orange juice. We were charmed – The Viceroy Bali definitely got us at ‘Apa Khabar’!

A Walk Into Dreamland

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Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

‘Viceroy’ means a ruler exercising authority on behalf of the king. We found the property aptly named since it sits along what the locals call the Valley of the Kings, where generations of Balinese royalty used to reside. Perched on a steep hillside, The Viceroy Bali is designed according to its natural topography and made to blend with its surroundings. It brings pleasant harmony between nature and man, tempting guests to explore more of its surroundings. Its architectural design is a blend between contemporary and native Balinese – a mix of modern design using materials such as wood, water and stone structures, including thatch roofing with bamboo poles. The landscape are well-maintained, bedecked with variety of flowers that are accustomed to colder climate than the other parts of Bali. There is also a river that passes through the valley, which is inaccessible to tourists due to safety reasons.

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

Exploring the resort on foot requires some degree of fitness, given its hillside landscape with steep walkways and flights of staircases. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t stop guests from starting their morning with a brisk walk around the property while savouring the fresh, unpolluted air. Better still, take a stroll outside to relish the view of the yellowish green paddy fields. For the less abled, worry not – the hotel does provide an on-call buggy service to ferry guests around.

Sleep Like A King

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

Viceroy takes great pride in its luxurious private villas. Built in terraced format, the private villas offer unobstructed view of the area’s stunning landscape, comprising mainly of lush, unblemished green forest. Each villa is equipped with sofa set, king-size bed, sun loungers, bath tub and private infinity pool facing the dense forest. There are two separate dressing areas to give couples more space. The standard deluxe villa is luxuriously spacious, leaving guests breathless. The pool is only a mere feet away from the bed that guests can literally roll into the pool when they wake up in the morning.

The villas are havens to those who seek calm, tranquil and restful atmosphere. Each of the twenty five private villas has its own private pool. The gazebo, which the locals call baleh-baleh, is our favourite spot, occupying one of the corners close to the pool. We can sit there all day, tuning in to nature, listening to the sounds of the running stream accompanied by the chirping birds and gibbering monkeys. Savouring the afternoon coffee and staring at the mesmerising greenery while lazing at the gazebo was indeed the highlight of our stay.

The villas are built to be self-sufficient, nullifying any reason to leave the hotel. Satellite TV, DVD players with latest array of movies, iPhone docking station and speakers, full mini bar and a startlingly easy-to-operate espresso machine are the few essentials provided. Personal grooming needs are neatly arranged in custom-made wooden box. Laundry and buggy services are a phone call away.

The Viceroy Bali’s painstaking attention to detail is notable. The scents from petals of frangipani on the mattress runner filled the room as we entered. Personal greeting message from the hotel manager was a delightful touch. Umbrellas are readily placed outside the room for immediate use. The cheery staff personally briefed us on some key pointers about the villa, and had us laughing when he described the toilet as a ‘meditation space in the morning’. They even lit the mosquito coils around the hotels at dusk.

Sumptuous Dining Experience

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

CasCades Restaurant is dubbed as one the most perfect dining venue for lovebirds and honeymooners in Ubud. The location is strategic and offers the diners an equal share of the view of the lush green forest carpeting the valley. The combination of dimly lit space, scented candles, decorated flower petals and gentle evening breeze creates a stunning romantic atmosphere.

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

CasCades Restaurant is helmed by Executive Chef Nic Vanderbeeken who puts out complex, refined fusion of traditional European cuisine and unique Asian flavours. Nic’s twenty-year culinary experience in Belgium, France, U.S and Vietnam has allowed him to seamlessly create cuisine that stand out with the unique Asian touches infused in selected dishes.

A great chef, an amazing venue – both are key recipes for excellent fine-dining experience. And we can vouch for it. We started off our meal with tomato follies, which are thinly sliced tomato carpaccio with marinated cherry tomatoes topped with parmesan panna cotta as appetiser. Next was the freshly seasoned seared scallops with a touch of belimbing wulluh, a local fruit. The dish was followed by asparagus veloute dipped in truffle oil and rich crème.

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

But the star of dinner was the main course: roasted squab, a slow-cooked house farm pigeon marinated with tasty blend of seasoning and spice, with pumpkin and beetroot on the side, smothered with raspberry honey sauce. Bits of expensive black truffle shavings on the meal elevated the taste to a different level. This fowl is traditionally a Chinese delicacy.

Another main course that we recommend is the crispy barramundi, a skinned sea bass fillet on avocado tomato salsa, which is made up of shreds of Sumatran crab meat served with intensely-flavoured basil mash potato and typically South Indian savoury tomato chutney. We finished off the meal with red bell pepper sorbet, common in the Mediterranean, with delicious strawberry crumble and beetroot sauce. Another set of dessert that guests can try is the sweet and rich chocolate and caramel mousse served with meringue made from egg white and sugar.

For wine lovers, CasCades boasts a selection of superb quality wines from various parts of the world. Its wine variety fits a wide array of tastes and budgets. As a glowing testimonial of its success, the restaurant received the prestigious Award of Excellence by Wine Spectacular USA for its quality wines.

The Green Mile

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

One of the true charms of The Viceroy Bali has long been its role as the venue to witness sunrise. Try to wake up early in the morning and ask the friendly staff to guide you to the nearest open space. While waiting for sunrise, guests should breathe in the crisp air and do a bit of stretching. For yoga enthusiasts, they can lay out their mattresses and get ready to indulge yourself with one of the best therapies that nature has to offer.

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

Over the eastern horizon, the upper edge of the sun gradually appears. The rays of yellow light slowly emerges in between the hills – the border of darkness steadily retreats as the sun nonchalantly surfaces. As the heat begins to caress the skin, it sends a momentary jolt of joy, much to guests’ gratification. To us, the sunrise was indeed a spellbinding experience.

If you prefer a more rigorous workout, the gymnasium in the hotel provides a descent array of cardio and muscle-building equipment: treadmills, swing machines, exercise bikes, weights and dumbbells. It is also equipped with air-conditioning and cable TV to take your mind away while working out. Clean towels and water bottles are included.

Alternatively, you can head to the swimming pool near to the restaurant. The pool is actually one of the hotel’s signature. Designed as an infinity edge pool, it produces the illusion that the water extends to the horizon, vanishing into infinity. Connected to the pool is the bar that offers variety of refreshing beverages within guests’ reach. Guests are encouraged to get a bit of tan by this pool while sipping freshly served fruit juice and enjoying the lull.

Unique Healing Experience

Photo Credits : Aizizul Arkaan & The Viceroy Bali

The name Ubud, where The Viceroy Bali is located, is synonymous to the word obat, which means herbs or medicine. This probably explains why Ubud is known as the centre of healing in Bali, giving it a reputation amongst spa practitioners worldwide.

Based on this underlying spirit, The Viceroy Bali has been constantly pushing hard to showcase their very own Lembah Spa – a sun-drenched sanctuary facing the unobstructed landscape of captivating greenery overlooking the Petanu River gorge. The opulent stonework, soaring atrium, rare cantilevered patio with infinity pool and fountain creates a heady and entrancing brew. The spa houses treatment rooms, dressing room, dry sauna rooms, a Jacuzzi pool, private couple’s soaking tub and warming pool.

Lembah Spa offers a refreshing and uplifting experience. The spa packages are plenty, but we decided for the one that includes traditional massage, body scrub with lulur, yoghurt cream bath, warm flower bath, steam bath and Jacuzzi pool. We were truly hoping to emerge brighter and shining at the end of the session.

Guests need to fill in a simple form before their session, which spells out the kind of massage oil that guests prefer (jasmine, rose, frangipani, lavender, nutmeg, clove, ginger or orange), areas of the body that needed focussing and the kind of pressure needed to apply. Lembah Spa attempts to personalise the spa experience for each of its guests.

The treatment room is clean, cosy and dimly-lit, creating a Zen-like feeling. The therapists were attentive, constantly checking on our comfort and pressing ahead with minimal interruption and noise. We could tell that the therapists are well trained based on their touch. The finger-and-palm massage is delicate through the use of varying techniques such as acupressure, skin rolling and flicking, firm and gentle stroking. The massage was relaxing and rejuvenating at the same time that we both hoped it wouldn’t have to end. The closure was memorable: by laying down on the relaxation deck overlooking the Petanu Valley, while slowly sipping cold, fresh juice. The experience, like the rest of The Viceroy Bali, was magical…

Text by: Nawar Anisah

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