Villa Bodhi
What You Get
Internet (WiFi)
Swimming Pool (Private)
TV (Satellite/Cable)
The Experience
Remarkably, many of Bali’s guidebooks continue to describe Ubud as a ‘sleepy artist’s village’. In reality, it’s a buzzing hive of activity. From boutique-lined Jalan Hanoman to the hilly Campuhan area that personifies this mystical, mossy-stoned, stream-drenched centre, you will find world-class restaurants, cultural activities ranging from silver-smithing to batik painting, spa experiences fit for a queen, and some of the best people-watching available on the island.
Less than 20 minutes from the centre of Ubud, however, village life remains virtually unchanged and the realisation of a creative dream is still very much a possibility. Inspired by the beauty and artistic prowess of the Balinese people and their culture, Villa Bodhi’s owner, Amos Kotomori, designed his dream home overlooking an untouched river valley just north of Ubud’s luxury five-star resorts.
The road that leads to Villa Bodhi winds through open rice paddies and coconut groves, arriving at the villa’s well-maintained driveway and a large parking area. From here, an elegant stone archway leads guests into a Walter Spies-like painting, and the outside world melts away. White cranes fly by against a backdrop of mango, avocado and coconut trees, soft chanting emanates from your only visible neighbour, a red-roofed temple across the river gorge, and whimsical touches of colour and texture throughout the villa’s architecture and interiors let you know you’re in the home of an artist.
Each one of Villa Bodhi’s four air-conditioned bedrooms is like a private suite, and has views that rival The Four Seasons Sayan – but at a fraction of the price. In the centre of the compound, two open-sided Javanese pavilions serve as eclectic living and dining areas that look out over the pool with panoramic views. From the perfectly blended icy mint welcome drink, to the daily round-trip transfers into Ubud, the staff is professional and typifies Balinese charm. Wonderful breakfasts of fresh tropical fruit and eggs prepared to your preference are included in the villa rate. For lunch and dinner, a varied set price menu features both Western dishes - such as salads and sandwiches – as well as Indonesian classics. Perfect for multi-generational families and friends travelling together, Villa Bodhi is also an ideal spot for small wedding ceremonies and special celebrations.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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8.4
- Reviewed:
- 01-Apr-2013
An exquisite artist's residence in Ubud with five-star river valley views.
Being the consummate artist, Kotomori has done things a little differently at Villa Bodhi. Instead of the quintessential frangipani flowers found everywhere in Bali, I am greeted by the cheerful sight of vibrant marigold blossoms, carefully placed along stone ledges and statues. The garden is alive with butterflies and dragonflies in a rainbow spectrum from butterscotch to pomegranate. The villa manager, Made (pronounced mah-day), welcomes me with a cold towel and refreshing drink, and as he gives me a tour of the villa I feel like I have stepped back in time to the 1930s, when the likes of European painter Walter Spies spent languid days at Ubud Palace, capturing on canvas the never-before-seen landscapes that lured the West to explore this side of paradise.
A perfect blend of traditional and modern, the villa’s antique joglo structures are enhanced with contemporary polished concrete floors, air conditioning, modern timber and glass construction to showcase the outstanding views, and well chosen teak accents that uplift the ambiance. Kotomori’s style is whimsically elegant: antique stone statues wear colourful beaded necklaces, reclaimed sailboat wood in royal blue and sea-foam green add playful character against museum quality pieces, and the mesmerising views from the swimming pool make attending that wood carving class in Ubud seem less of a priority.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 8 | Outside Area: | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 9 | Bedrooms: | 9 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 7 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 8 |
| Value: | 9 |
Highlights
Truly a break from the real world, Villa Bodhi offers mesmerising views, enchanting décor and softly spoken staff; it’s the perfect sanctuary from which to explore the comparatively fast paced lifestyle of Ubud.
Surprises
It’s a good 20-minute drive into Ubud, so plan your round trip carefully (daily return journey included in the villa rate), and then retreat to Villa Bodhi’s blissful pool or the air-conditioned comfort of your suite.
PROs
- Pristine and authentic Ubud
- Pool with a view
- Architectural artistry
CONs
- Creepy Crawlies
Guest reviews (1)
- IV, France checked out on 01-Aug-2012
- Overall Rating:
-
8.1
- Reviewed:
- 08-Aug-2012
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 8 | Outside Area: | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 8 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 7 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 9 |
| Value: | 7 |
Gallery
Location
Villa Bodhi is located within the village of Bukian, two kilometres from Payangan market, and 20-minutes from the centre of Ubud. A newly paved road winds through rice paddies and coconut groves. Very much at the centre of a traditional Balinese environment, the entrance to Villa Bodhi is flanked by the community’s gathering hall on one side and a small stall selling necessities to local residents on the other. A temple sits across the street. From the property itself, the only building visible is another temple located across the river valley.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Elephant Safari Park | 2.0 |
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| White Water Rafting | 3.0 |
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| Ubud | 7.0 |
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| Ubud Palace | 12.0 |
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| Goa Gajah Elephant Cave | 17.0 |
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| Sanur | 32.0 |
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| Seminyak | 37.0 |
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| Kuta | 42.0 |
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| Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) | 45.0 |
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| Jimbaran Bay | 54.0 |
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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
With a charming, compound-style layout comprised of seven pavilions, Villa Bodhi is inspired by traditional Javanese architecture mixed with indigenous Balinese artistry. Complemented by luxurious interior amenities, including 1000-thread-count bed linens and conveniently stocked mini-refrigerators, each air-conditioned bedroom suite is decorated with meticulously hand picked antiques including golden bridal headpieces, collectible teak armoires and reclaimed wooden wall hangings and doors.
Jaya House is a two-storey structure with a media room on the ground level and the master suite up above. With an intricately carved four-poster king-size bed, ample living and work space, a balcony overlooking the grounds and an ensuite with stone bathtub and standing shower, the master suite feels like a personal mini-villa. The lower level media room has three seating areas, a dining table for four and a 21-inch flat-screen television with international channels, DVD player and an adequate DVD collection. A daybed here can be converted into a large single bed (at an affordable nightly premium) for extra guests or children, and the room comes with its own ensuite..
Menala House is an adorably restored nineteenth century cottage built completely of teak. It sits on the edge of the property with its own small fishpond and a covered porch overlooking the jungle. Twin beds can be converted into a double if preferred. The garden ensuite has a stone bathtub as well as a standing shower with views of towering cacao trees.
Sri House is perfect for seniors and guests who require wheelchair access. With cheerful sea green Balinese doors complemented by matching polished concrete floors, Sri House has two double beds, an elegant dressing area and a garden ensuite with generous rain shower. Laba House is situated poolside with wrap-around windows that showcase the dramatic surrounding views. The walled ensuite has a standing shower and an organically shaped stone bathtub with shuttered windows that open out to garden views.
In the centre of the compound, a generous open-sided living pavilion features four separate seating arrangements as well as a games table set below an ornately carved ceiling. A covered wooden bridge leads from the living pavilion to the dining pavilion furnished with a dark honey-hued teak table with seating for ten. Through decorative sliding doors, the simple kitchen is fully appointed for self-catering, with a five-burner gas stove, oven and large refrigerator.
Key Amenities
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Internet (WiFi)
-
Swimming Pool (Private)
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TV (Satellite/Cable)
Other Amenities
- Air-con (Bedrooms)
- Baby Cot
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Car Parking
- Coffee Machine
- DVD Library
- DVD Player
- Equipped Kitchen
- Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress) (Extra)
- Generator
- Hairdryers
- High Chairs
- iPod
- iPod Dock/Speakers
- Laundry Service (Extra)
- Main Dining (10 persons)
- Microwave
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Toiletries
- Towels
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (Extra)
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Garden/Pool Staff
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager
- Masseuse/Spa Therapist (Extra)
- Security (Night time only)
- Shopper (Extra)
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Villa Bodhi is the artistic realisation of Hawaii-based clothing designer, Amos Kotomori. The 4-bedroom, fully staffed estate showcases several modernised joglo-style pavilions set within manicured tropical gardens. Overlooking one of Ubud’s untouched river valleys, the organically shaped 18m saltwater pool truly defines infinity edge with its dramatic, seemingly endless views.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/villa-bodhi.aspx
