By Jill Birch
Issue 87 - October 2009

The website promised the earth, so when the family set off to Karang Kembar Villa in Bali we had high hopes...

For the last stretch of the 30-minute chauffeur-driven ride from the airport, we bobbed over jungle tracks and through a disused limestone quarry to our secluded cliff-top destination. This was on the southernmost tip of the island in a region known as the Bukit Peninsula, famous for its swanky boutique hotels and glamorous villas.

The Villa
As you step into this cool, dazzlingly white contemporary villa for the first time, the piercing blue sky and sea view hits you first. It’s unusual in Bali to have uninterrupted sea views, and the villa’s clever layout lets you enjoy the eye-popping vista from every angle.

At 90 meters above sea level, our high expectations were more than met. Perched above the beautiful Kutuh beach below, the villa’s outlook was as breathtaking as the website had promised.

No expense has been spared. No only is it uber-luxurious, but the stamp of the owners’ personality shines through in distinctive antique artefacts and gorgeous paintings by local artists.

Comfortably accommodating eight adults and two children, the villa’s five plush bedrooms all have sea views, except for a playful, nautical-themed children’s bedroom that’s cleverly tucked behind and within earshot of the master bedroom. The bathrooms, like the rest of the villa, are contemporary in design yet capture the essence of Bali. Their beautiful, deep bathtubs are big enough to get lost in. The outdoor master bathroom was our favourite, the tub set in a pebbled garden underneath a frangipani. And we put the massage room to good use by hiring a first-rate masseur, a must-do in this land of spas.

While we allowed ourselves to be pampered, the kids were more than happy to be entertained by the villa’s attentive staff. Constantly on hand, the staff went the extra mile to ensure that we had a relaxing break.

Play Time
Much of our time was spent splashing about in the 21-metre infinity pool. It was in the shade from 3pm onwards, a bonus for parents of young children. From the pool you can peer down at the pristine beach, which was empty apart from a group of farmers in conical hats harvesting seaweed.

Out to sea, we spotted surfers riding some of the world’s best waves. We could also see the villa’s own private beach house nestled between seaweed farms. A real sanctuary, it features a garden pavilion and a plunge pool right on the shoreline. It overlooks the reef and is perfect for barbecues and generally soaking up your own piece of paradise.

For more child-friendly waters, your chauffeur will drive you to nearby Geger Beach in Nusa Dua. We spent a morning there, blissfully bobbing in the calm Indian Ocean or making sandcastles.

The Food
We knew the food in Bali was going to be good, so we’d excitedly deliberated over the villa menu before leaving Singapore. The choices for both adults and children are extensive, including both Western and Asian options. I tried a local dish of pepes ikan, fish cooked in banana leaves and burstingwith exotic flavours. This was hardly what you’d call home cooking. It was gourmet at its grandest.

It’s worth noting that the villa is owned by a mother who understands the needs of expat families with young children – Wendy Wilcox, a British hotelier who lives in Singapore.

Things to Do
We spent most of the weekend idling at the villa or playing on the beach, and this was enough for us. If you want to venture further afield, though, there’s plenty to do and see in this area.

Wendy recommends: Uluwatu Temple, one of Bali’s finest and a ten-minute drive away; Bali Golf & Country Club in Nusa Dua (20 minutes away); the new course at Dream Land New Kuta Golf Resort (15 minutes away), which hosted the Indonesia Open earlier this year; and surfing on Geger Beach, where you can catch some of the world’s best waves.

www.bali-karangkembarestate.com