It's all about location when it comes to vacation, says yours truly. So for my second trip to fabulous Bali, I chose
Fave Hotel in Seminyak which sat smack in the middle of pretty much everything - Seminyak beach is 10 minutes by foot, night entertainment is a mere 5 minutes walk, and a 24-hour convenience store is just across the street.
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| Fave Hotel in Seminyak is brand new and is within walking distance to the shops, beach, restaurants, etc. |
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And for you shopaholics out there, the whole stretch of the main streets
Jalan Raya Seminyak and Jalan Raya Legian await your very presence! I should know since I spent 2 hours scouring the shops only to end up buying a unisex-looking head-turning basket-like bag (seems to be my new rage, these basketry things), an original-looking fake designer satchel (sorry, Paul Smith), and a touristy-looking bracelet made of polished striped glass pieces (cheap and chic) - all done while waiting for my 3.30 pm appointment with an expensive-looking Australian-owned hair saloon. On another note, eateries are abound, both halal and non-halal, so no worries about going hungry.
I was here this time around to attend a dear friend's wedding, actually. But not in bustling Seminyak, na-ah. It's in Uluwatu, an area where the hotel rates were as steep as the cliffs they were built on. So after a Saturday night's stay at the less-than-a-year-old Fave Hotel, it's time for me to sit on the lap of luxury at
Alila Villas Uluwatu. A 5-star boutique resort with several international accolades only within its few years of opening, no wonder it is the most expensive accommodation I had ever stayed in to date!
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| Alila Villas Uluwatu. A taste of the high life for ordinary people like me ;) |
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| The iconic sunset cabana. |
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| An impeccable attention to detail is what makes this place so special. |
Greeted by a gentle spritz of refreshing tonic onto my face and a sea view to die for, I was then whisked away to my one-bedroom villa on a buggy. The floor-to-ceiling door opened up to a huge living space with sleek modern furnishings. It came with a daybed which seconded as a viewing deck to enjoy the panorama of the blue sea (albeit a wee bit far depending on your villa's location) from which you can jump straight into your private swimming pool (also award-winning apparently), and not forgetting the now standard outdoor rainshower to suit your naturalistic cravings ;)
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| A hermit crab in my villa (looks big but it's less than an inch actually). You're too far from the beach, my friend! |
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| Lounging before going to bed. Goodnight, people... |
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| Sunrise at the sunset cabana. |
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| Good morning, Alila! |
Plus, this helluva resort was only a 10-minute drive from my friend's equally impressive wedding reception venue,
Semara Luxury Villa Resort. Alas, I still managed to arrive fashionably late (in Dior Homme, nonetheless) hence missing the part where the bride and groom came out at sunset (sorry you guys)!
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| Guests waiting for the bride and groom at their garden wedding reception in Semara Luxury Villa Resort, Uluwatu. |
The wedding reception itself was a blast (I don't know about the 2 other weddings going on in the resort that same evening, though). Customarily greeted by the bridegroom's father at the villa entrance, I handed the wedding present I bought in KL and hurried past a corridor of beautifully lit white flowers above my head to the cliffside private garden. A moment later, the couple and their parents gave their short speeches on a specially built floating stage atop the swimming pool following a performance by Balinese dancers. After the couple sat at the main table for dinner, a live band serenaded us with love songs whilst I enjoyed my food and chatted with old friends. The sweet smell of white flowers lingering around the dining area really was a nice surprise for me (aaah..). The couple mingled with the guests for a while before changing into their third outfit for the cake cutting ceremony at the edge of the cliff, followed by 5 minutes of lively fireworks.
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| That's a really nice dress, Mae. And a really nice man to go with it :) |
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| This slice is chocolate. The next slice is strawberry. Yummy! |
Ate my slice of the yummy 3-tiered chocolate and strawberry cake while children danced to current music hits, took some photos and bid farewell to the lucky couple. It was 8 years ago since I last saw them and this night will surely be remembered. Thanks for the invitation and lovely reception, Mae and Rameysh. It's been a
long way :)
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| Thanks for the invitation and lovely reception :) |
