Description
The American owners’ spiritual leanings and passion for Indonesian culture and surfing is evident throughout this delightful property which is named after Hansa, the swan that transports Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge.
It’s therefore no coincidence that Villa Hansa is within easy access of a string of some of Bali’s finest surfing beaches; Pererenan Beach is a mere 300m walk away and legendary surfer’s haunt, Echo Beach, ten minutes by car. But for guests who prefer more leisurely, home-based pleasures there’s always the 18m infinity-edge pool, centre-stage of pretty gardens leading down to a river and terraced rice-fields, or the yoga room, which also doubles as a TV / entertainment room.
Spirituality is a recurring element, from the four ensuite bedrooms named after Hindu gods to Tibetan prayer flags and constantly burning incense, chosen for its therapeutic qualities. Manager Asmara is also the villa’s spiritual advisor and expert on Balinese traditions. He is more than happy to impart his wisdom and arrange guest participation in traditional Hindu ceremonies, such as the villa’s monthly full moon blessings or rituals at the village temple.
As avid collectors of Indonesian art and antiques, the owners’ personally sourced Indonesian pieces, including fine old textiles, antique furniture and objects, are tastefully displayed in all rooms. Committed to eco-friendly practices and a healthy lifestyle, food is predominantly local organic, recycling is encouraged and household cleaning materials are biodegradable. Supporting the local community, the villa established the Hansa Foundation, helping fund village children in the arts, sports and environmentally-aware education.
With its positive energy and genuine Balinese hospitality, Villa Hansa offers a relaxed escape, where the extremely friendly staff of ten, as well as three resident dogs, are all part of one big happy family.
Accommodation
Contemporary Balinese style with traditional touches, Villa Hansa comprises a main open-air pavilion with serap (ironwood) roofing, containing the living-dining room, kitchen and adjoining staff quarters. This building looks out over lovely tropical gardens with infinity-edge pool, balé and wooden deck area. Just outside the pavilion, to the left of the kitchen, a stairway leads to the detached yoga room.
Within the gardens and beside the pool, a detached one-storey wing contains bedrooms one and two. Further down on the same side, a double-storey, contemporary designed block contains bedrooms three and four. The pool and bedrooms extend to a lower lawn section and gardens flanking a small river; to the right stands the villa’s shrine.
The villa front entrance is accessed via an outer compound comprising manager’s office and parking area. Through traditional wood doors, stone steps lead down to a Balinese-style pond, filled with lofty lotus blooms and koi fish, surrounded by a moss-engulfed high wall with water feature. This section backs on to the main pavilion and living-dining room.
Bedrooms
All four ensuite bedrooms are located in two, separate outdoor wings in the gardens, flanking the pool’s left side. Each is individually named after a Hindu god and varies in character and décor, but all are exquisitely furnished with antique pieces personally sourced by the owners. Rooms feature dark wood floors and king-size beds with four-poster frames and attached mosquito nets. Quality white bed linens are draped with old, hand-woven Sumbalese throws, while soft furnishings vary in colour in each room. All rooms supply safety deposit boxes and air conditioning (apart from bedroom three, all have traditional high ceilings with fan).
Bathrooms, especially those of bedrooms one and two, are a strong feature. All are fitted with stylish stainless steel his n’ hers Grohe sinks, white stone floors and separate stone wall partitions disguising the toilet and shower. Centre-stage is an indulgent circular stone bathtub.
Villa Hansa sleeps eight guests, and an additional baby cot and rollaway bed can be provided upon request.
Lying close too the main pavilion and right beside the pool, these two bedrooms are contained in a one-storey wing with serap roof. They are entered through glass patio doors.
Bedroom one, Brahma (‘God of Creation’) offers a creative mix of old and new, with striking contemporary Balinese art contrasting with antique pieces such as stone Buddha heads. Traditional wooden doors lead through to a tropical outdoor bathroom, comprising high walls encircling a lush garden area with simple Balinese-style shower, – as well as the features common to all the bathrooms mentioned above.
These two bedrooms are housed in a double-storey modern wing beyond the pool, surrounded by tropical foliage. Contemporary in design, rooms here contain more understated, traditional art and décor. On the ground floor, bedroom three, Ciwa (‘God who destroys negative energy’) features floor-to-ceiling windows and a low, flat ceiling without ceiling fan. Leading out from the bedroom, the large porch with poly-rattan daybed and antique Javanese wooden chairs offers views of the gardens and terraced rice fields opposite. The bathroom is also more contemporary than those in the other wing. Apart from a small outdoor shower area, the grey-hued room is indoors. Facilities follow the other bathrooms’ format, but with only one sink.
On the first-floor, bedroom four, Ganesha (‘God of wisdom and prosperity’) is reached by an outer stone stairway. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows look out over the pool, and the large private balcony with outdoor furniture offers the best views from the villa, overlooking the terraced rice fields, river and gardens. The bathroom is similar to that in bedroom three.
Living, Dining, and Kitchen
The property’s heart, an open-plan and open-sided living pavilion, is edged at the rear by a stunning water-wall feature which provides a constant soothing backdrop. A lounge area on the right is furnished with two white leather sofas and contrasting antique wood chairs and table, all arranged on warm Borneo-wood flooring; Indonesian artifacts, stone statues and vases of exotic blooms add a decorative touch. From the traditional vaulted ceiling hangs a huge lamp made with Tibetan characters encased in shell pieces – this Tibetan element is a recurring theme throughout Villa Hansa.
The central dining area comprises an expansive table crafted from solid teak wood, seating ten. To the left and on a lower level, the open-plan kitchen is contemporary in style and well equipped; a small guest washroom plus staff quarter’s leads off from here.
Being open to the elements, this pavilion doesn’t have air conditioning, but is kept cool by ceiling fan and natural breezes; bamboo blinds run along the entire front length, which looks out across the garden and pool. In keeping with the spiritual ambiance of the villa, this pavilion is without a TV or DVD player, but an iPod and dock is provided for musical diversion.
Yoga and Entertainment Room
The stand-alone yoga room is situated behind the kitchen and accessed via a high-walled stone corridor and up a staircase. Sunlight streams into this glass-encased, lofty-ceilinged room which comes tastefully decorated with antique pieces and furniture, including a Javanese carved wood table and Buddhist stone statue. Floors are of polished dark woods, littered with Balinese floor cushions. Continuing the spiritual theme, a striking chandelier-style ceiling lamp features 108 miniature Buddhist characters in individual glass pieces.
Although designed for yoga (several yoga mats are supplied), this multi-functional room also contains the villa’s only TV (29-inch plasma TV with 380 channels), plus DVD / CD player and Bose sound system. DVDs are also provided.
Pool, Garden and Bale
From the living-dining-kitchen pavilion, manicured lawns and lovely gardens of exotic blooms and leafy trees stretch down to the infinity-edge pool (18 x 6m, 2m depth) where the shallow end doubles as a customized whirlpool. Six sunbeds and one daybed furnish the deck area while antique wood chairs and tables sit below a frangipani tree. Across the pool rests a spacious serap-roofed balé for quiet reads and contemplation.
Beyond the pool, lawns edged by tropical foliage leads down to River Tibu, marking the property boundary. Stone steps lead across this small river to a steep bank of terraced rice fields and the local farming communities beyond. The villa can arrange hikes through this scenic rural landscape. The garden is dotted with stone bas-relief murals and Hindu and Buddhist stone statues; a traditional shrine on the riverbank is used for daily prayers and ceremonies.
Hansa
Pool view at dusk
Hansa
The villa in the afternoon
Hansa
The villa at dusk
Hansa
Pool and garden
Hansa
Dining area
Hansa
Living area
Hansa
Shiwa bedroom
Hansa
Ganesha bathroom
Hansa
Ganesha bedroom
