What You Get
Internet (WiFi)
The Experience
Stepping on to the lawn of Atas Awan, the villa’s impressive height elicits admiring sighs; while from the third-storey master bedrooms of both of the wooden buildings (Atas and Awan), which have been reconstructed from century-old traditional Javanese joglos, there is an impressive panoramic view of Bali’s central mountain range. The height of the buildings coupled with their commanding position – high on the ridge at Payangan – gives Villa Atas Awan its apt name: ‘above the clouds’. With no other villas nearby, peace and tranquillity envelop the estate, which is reached along a road lined with natural foliage, rice fields, banana plantations and farms. The quietude is peppered only by birds calling, crickets chirping, and leaves rustling in the wind.
A unique feature is the H-shape infinity-edge pool that runs between the two main buildings. The large decks on either side of the pool are perfect for relaxing with a book, while a quaint low wooded bridge over the pool links Atas and Awan to each other. Completely open-sided, airy living areas with natural wood and rattan furnishings set atop terracotta-hued floor tiles make up the ground floor in both buildings. For entertainment, both master bedrooms have a television (local channels only), while WiFi internet plus a computer in the master bedroom of Atas allows you to stay connected to the outside world when you must. Alternatively, connect with the world on your doorstep by exploring the local villages and discovering the real Bali. Some of the villagers may be equally curious about you, but they are sure to return your friendly greetings.
This genuine attitude is reflected by the villa’s staff who inject personal charm and concern into all they do; from housekeeping to preparing your meals (breakfast included, other meals from a villa menu with provisions charged to guest account) to arranging massage treatments in your room (extra cost). Should you seek cultural, retail or gastronomic diversion, Ubud is only 16km away and a car and driver are at your disposal during the day (evenings at extra cost).
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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7.6
- Reviewed:
- 26-May-2011
An impressive panoramic from traditional Javanese joglos.
As the property has not been childproofed and presents quite a few hazards for youngsters, it is more suited for families with older kids. That said, those who are not interested in nature or cultural exchanges with the locals may become bored quickly due to the absence of video game consoles or televisions in the living areas and guest bedrooms. Those who have difficulty with stairs may have difficulty as there are no sleeping quarters on the ground floor.
The villa opened for rental only in early 2010 but some maintenance issues were already apparent when we visited (such as a faulty telephone line). However, we were assured that everything was being repaired and looked in to.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 7 | Outside Area: | 7 |
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| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 8 | Bathrooms: | 7 |
| Kitchen: | 6 | Facilities: | 6 | Staff: | 9 |
| Value: | 9 |
Highlights
Watching Bali’s distant central mountain range appear before your eyes as the sun rises from behind the house. The birds’ dawn chorus is more reliable than any alarm clock!
Surprises
Staff were humble about their limitations, yet they made up for it with their sincerity and obliging manners. For example, the cook was still trying to master some of the western dishes on the villa menu but she was happy to try new dishes if you had a recipe for her to follow. Another example of this courtesy was shown when one of the staff gave us his personal mobile phone number so that we could contact him if needed because the villa land line was down.
PROs
- Blissful remote rural Bali
- Humble but helpful staff
- Easy access to Ubud
- Complete peaceful setting
CONs
- Not child proofed
- Staff English could be better
- Not so many mod cons
Gallery
Location
Villa Atas Awan is approximately five minutes’ drive from Kebek, which is a tiny village along a ridge in Payangan district, and 35 minutes from central Ubud. The villa’s vicinity presents a small plot of rice fields, a banana plantation with some cows kept in handmade wood sheds, and the river valley with its lush greenery. There are no boutiques, mini-marts or restaurants nearby. The closest place for shopping and dining is Ubud.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Ubud | 16.0 |
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| Goa Gajah | 21.5 |
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| Bali Bird Park | 26.0 |
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| Gianyar | 28.0 |
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| Sukawati | 30.0 |
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| Denpasar | 40.0 |
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| Seminyak | 45.0 |
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| Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) | 51.0 |
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| Nusa Dua | 60.0 |
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| Kebek Village | 400.0 |
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About Ubud
Ubud is Bali’s cultural hub, a royal village situated at the confluence of two rivers in the Balinese heartland. A haven for local and foreign artists since the 1930s, it is now a conglomeration of villages and the island’s centre for fine arts and cultural performances, attracting art collectors, connoisseurs, writers, mystics, and people who are actively involved in art, anthropology, music, dance, architecture, environmentalism and alternative healing.
Ubud is the seat of the Sukawati Royal Family. The palace is centrally located and open to the public, while in the surrounding villages you can watch the island’s most accomplished painters, stonemasons, woodcarvers, mask makers and silversmiths at work. Besides numerous shops, galleries, studios and a market, Ubud even has its own sacred monkey forest. Restaurants are plentiful, but nightlife is limited with the majority of places closing around midnight.
Ubud is the perfect area to use as a base when visiting Bali. The town claims most of the attributes that entice people to this exceptionally beautiful island – glistening rice terraces, traditional art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, and breathtaking river gorges. In fact, the Sayan Ridge is home to some of the best hotels and luxury residences in the world. Ubud’s central location makes it very easy to get to the mountains and all of the major tourist attractions. It also has a cooler, fresher and generally more pleasant climate than the southern coastal regions.
About Bali
Bali is Indonesia’s most popular tourist location and is considered one of Asia's premier tropical island destinations. Steeped in history and renowned for its artistic way of life, Bali is a peaceful contrast to some of the more frantic destinations Asia has to offer.
The inner peace and creative talents of the Balinese has attracted artists the world over fascinated by local dancers, silversmiths, wood carvers, potters and painters that seem to pervade throughout the island. The abundant verdant fields and surrounding sea have long supplied Bali with an easy surplus of food leaving time for life’s more artistic past times. As a result everything in Bali has a creative and religious element centred around the local Banjar (residents association) – little, adorned temples are everywhere, doors are covered in intricate carvings, huge kites ward off evil spirits and colourful roadside ceremonies bring traffic to a standstill.
Bali is a popular destination principally from Australia and Asia but also from all over Europe. The island welcomes thousands of visitors each year to a relaxing lifestyle, stunning beaches, world class surf, vibrant villages, and spectacular scenery all with an exquisite tropical climate. Located approximately two hours’ flying time from Singapore the island is serviced by an international airport at Denpasar with direct flights to and from many major cities in Asia, Europe and Australia and many more via Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital.
The island offers an impressive range of leisure and lifestyle amenities including world-class golf courses, wonderful seascapes for surfing, diving and snorkelling as well as luxurious spas, chic boutiques, tropical forests, towering volcanoes and international cuisine.
Rooms
The layout of both Atas and Awan is similar, with ground floor open-plan living, dining and kitchen areas; second level bedrooms with wide furnished balconies, and majestic master bedrooms on the third level.
Both spacious ground floors have high ceilings and open sides, allowing the frequent natural breezes to waft through (rattan blinds can be lowered when required). Wood, rattan and bamboo furnishings accessorised with soft cushions are set out below a replica of the original joglo tumpangsari (inverted triangular structure with intricate carvings). The dining tables are cut from native wood, seating eight at Atas and ten at Awan. Although both kitchens are functional and each have their own refrigerator and water dispenser, only the one in Awan is fully equipped with crockery and utensils. At the rear of each house is an outdoor shower room, built in natural stone and terrazzo.
The two second floors differ in bedroom configuration as Awan (with one queen-sized and two twin-bedded rooms) was designed for families or for groups of friends, while Atas (with two queen-bedded rooms) was designed for couples. All the bedrooms feature antique wood or rattan furniture, and the beds are draped with cotton canopies that double as mosquito netting.
In both buildings, bedrooms feature glass-panelled walls and furnished balconies for admiring the views. The two second floor ensuite bathrooms in Awan have terrazzo bathtubs and separate rain showers while the two in Atas offer rain showers only. A third bathroom here holds an infinity-edge terrazzo bathtub.
The crowning glory of each building is the third-floor master bedroom. Sliding glass windows on three sides of the rectangular room provide wonderful 270-degree views of the distant mountains. Adding a touch of character is the original tumpangsari hanging from the ceiling above the bed (queen-size in Atas and king-size in Awan). Both rooms have a furnished terrace at the back and an ensuite bathroom with terrazzo bathtub and separate rain shower.
Key Amenities
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Car
(Extra)
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Internet (WiFi)
Other Amenities
- Baby Cot
- Bed Linen
- Bicycles (Extra)
- Car Parking
- CD Player/Stereo System
- Computer
- Food Menu
- Laundry Service (Extra)
- Main Dining (10 persons)
- Main Dining (8 persons)
- Microwave
- Swimming Pool (Shared)
- Toiletries
- Towels
- TV (Local channels)
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (Extra)
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Driver (8 hours) (Extra)
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Masseuse/Spa Therapist (Extra)
- Security
- Service Staff
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Standing high on a ridge near Ubud, with stunning views over a river gorge and Bali’s central mountain range, Villa Atas Awan is a tranquil tropical retreat. Reconstructed from two century-old wooden houses separated by a 30m infinity-edge pool, this 8-bedroom property welcomes families and groups seeking authentic, rural Bali.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/villa-atas-awan.aspx
