Book a room
Raffles Bali - Raffles Bali joins Virtuoso Travel Network to enhance luxury guest experiences

Raffles Bali joins Virtuoso Travel Network to enhance luxury guest experiences

Raffles Bali, a stunning luxury resort on the island of Bali, has recently announced its membership with Virtuoso. This is exciting news for the resort, as it will now be part of a prestigious network of the world’s top luxury travel advisors, hotels, and destinations.

Virtuoso is a by-invitation-only travel network that consists of over 1,000 agencies and 20,000 advisors worldwide. The network is renowned for its expertise in luxury travel and personalized service. Virtuoso’s partnerships with the world’s top hotels, resorts, and destinations allow its members to offer their clients exclusive access, upgrades and perks that are not available to the general public.

Raffles Bali’s membership in Virtuoso will provide its guests with even more personalized and luxurious experiences. The resort already boasts stunning oceanfront villas and suites, a private beach and a luxury wellbeing spa. With Virtuoso’s network of advisors, Raffles Bali’s guests will have access to tailored experiences that cater to their unique interests and preferences. These experiences could include private tours of Bali’s cultural and natural wonders, exclusive access to top restaurants and nightlife spots, and more.

Raffles Bali’s General Manager, Katya Herting, expressed her excitement about the resort’s membership in Virtuoso, saying, “We are thrilled to join Virtuoso and be part of such an esteemed network of luxury travel advisors and partners. We are committed to providing our guests with exceptional experiences and personalized service, and we look forward to working with Virtuoso to achieve this.”

Raffles Bali has cemented its position as one of Bali’s top luxury destinations, having been recognized with multiple accolades. The resort has been awarded the title of Bali’s Luxury Villa by the World Travel Award, Hotel of the Year by Destination Deluxe, and Indonesia’s first and only Krug Ambassade. It has also been honored with the Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator. Currently, Raffles Bali is a nominee for three prestigious categories in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023. The resort’s membership in Virtuoso further underscores its commitment to providing its guests with exceptional experiences and personalized service.

In conclusion, Raffles Bali’s membership in Virtuoso is exciting news for the resort and its guests. With Virtuoso’s network of luxury travel advisors and partners, Raffles Bali’s guests can expect even more personalized and exclusive experiences that cater to their unique interests and preferences. As Bali’s top luxury destination, Raffles Bali continues to raise the bar for luxury hospitality in the region.

Raffles Bali has recently received exciting news: it has been nominated for not just one, but three prestigious categories in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023. The categories in question are Best Beach Resorts in Indonesia, Best Hotel Spas in Indonesia, and Best Experiences in Region-Wide for its Five Senses of Wellness package. It is a testament to the resort’s dedication to providing guests with the best possible experience, whether they are looking to relax on the beach, unwind at the spa, or enjoy all the incredible activities the region has to offer.

The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023 is created to celebrate the best of the hospitality industry in the region. Nominees were chosen by experts and editors, without any paid promotions. There are various categories, including luxurious urban escapes, private-island beach resorts, spas, airlines, airports, travel agents, and immersive travel experiences. Audience can vote for their favorite nominees until April 22, 2023, and even submit nominations for any worthy ideas.

Raffles Bali is a luxury resort located in the heart of Jimbaran, one of Bali’s most sought-after destinations. Boasting a beautiful beachfront location, the resort offers unparalleled views of the ocean and some of Bali’s most spectacular sunsets. It is the perfect place for travelers looking for a tranquil and serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

The resort’s Best Beach Resorts in Indonesia nomination is well-deserved, as it offers guests a range of facilities and activities to enjoy on the beach. From swimming in the ocean to sunbathing on the sand, guests can indulge in the ultimate beach experience. The resort’s beachfront villas are a favorite among visitors, offering direct access to the beach and private pools for a truly luxurious stay.

The Best Hotel Spas in Indonesia nomination is also fitting, as the resort’s spa is a haven for relaxation and rejuvenation. The spa offers a range of treatments, from traditional Balinese massages to rejuvenating facials, all designed to help guests unwind and leave feeling refreshed and revitalized. The spa’s tranquil setting and expert therapists ensure that guests can enjoy a truly luxurious and indulgent experience.

Last but not least, the Best Experiences in Region-Wide nomination is a reflection of the resort’s commitment to offering guests an unforgettable stay. From exploring Bali’s breathtaking natural beauty to immersing oneself in the local culture, Raffles Bali offers well-traveled connoisseurs Five Senses of Wellness experience. Curated by healer and medicine woman Ida Dayu Alit Sumiati, Raffles Bali helps you rediscover your whole self by harmoniously blending serenity rituals and ancient healing wisdom with local excursions, artful therapies and health-conscious cuisine. Inclusions such as 7 Chakra Balancing, Singing Bowl Therapy, Fire-Cleansing Ritual and much more.

CHECK-IN

Raffles, the grand dame of colonial hotels, known for its Singapore Sling cocktails and decadent hospitality, is still an iconic destination today. The brand’s long-held reputation for exceptional quality and immaculate service has been brought to Bali since private owners bought land here 39 years ago and opened the property at the end of 2021. Like the original suites at Singapore Raffles, each of the 32 villas on its sprawling 23 hectares has its own butler at the ready to chauffeur golf buggies, retrieve a left-behind phone (mea culpa) or organise cultural activities. That said, the resort emits more of a Bali villa vibe than one of high teas and hatted doormen. This is never more evident than when you’re indulging in a plate of lime-drenched tropical fruit, slipping into the cool waters of a private pool and lazing on a lounger in the humidity.

THE LOOK

Jimbaran Bay is on the western side of south Bali’s Bukit Peninsula, known for its limestone cliffs, white sand beaches and cracking surf. The resort sits on a hillside at the southern end of the bay looking across the sheltered boat-specked water to Mount Agung rising behind. It’s a 25-minute drive to the big name tourist spots of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, and 75 minutes to Ubud. Ngurah Rai International Airport is just 20 minutes away. In fact, the airport’s western runway is visible from the resort. You rarely hear the planes, so it can be a thrill seeing them touch down in the distance.

The resort is designed like a Balinese village with each of the 32 villas neatly placed estate-like around the hillside. They’re surrounded by lush greenery and ornamented walls with double entry gates that mimic those of traditional compounds. Heavy hardwood floors and walls, and dark-toned fittings and furnishings dominate the restrained Balinese interiors, a masculine ambience only marginally offset by lighter-toned rattan, beige fabrics and a surplus of sunlight. Blue batik tapestries behind the king beds in odd-numbered villas mark a rare (and welcome) stray from the muted colour scheme.

THE ROOM

I’ve been upgraded to a “hilltop panoramic” pool villa – a palatial 375 square metre one-bedroom suite. These premium suites feature uninterrupted views of Jimbaran Bay, but if it’s space you’re after, the entry level “ocean” and “panoramic” pool villas are 470 square metres. The two-bedroom pool villas and presidential villa are a whopping 900 square metres.

In all suites, luxury, quality and attention to detail are where it’s at. Little Balinese culinary offerings such as dadar gulang and ginger and padan herbal tea are delivered to the room unrequested. The bathroom features a half-egg shaped bath, a toosh-warming Japanese toilet and bottom-drawer treats including eye contour cream and mini bathroom bags. The mini-bar has full-size bottles of quality gin and whiskey for self-mixing. Outside, it’s all about lounging around the private pool on umbrella-shaded recliners or the cushioned Bali-style gazebo.

FOOD + DRINK

Indonesia’s remarkable cuisine is often overlooked on a world stage. Newbies like Rumari, the resort’s signature restaurant on a terrace overlooking the ocean, might be championing the change. Chef Gaetan Biesuz has created a degustation menu that takes tastebuds on a regional journey around Bali. It’s exceptional. For more casual dining, Loloan Beach Bar and Grill, the guest-only beachfront restaurant overlooking a 25-metre pool, serves up the likes of grilled fish tacos and fresh rice paper rolls. Eating brunch poolside is a treat, but so too is breakfast on Rumari’s terrace. Indonesian dishes such as bubur ayam compete for your stomach’s attention alongside lobster omelette. The service is so efficient and generous, it’s easy to over-indulge.

OUT + ABOUT

With such a high-end price tag, guests might be more interested in getting their money’s worth by staying put at the resort. If you do leave, Jimbaran Bay is home to Kedonganan Fish Market, the largest traditional seafood market in Bali. It’s a feast for the senses with tubs of iced fish and crustaceans being bartered and sold inside and cooked on hot grills outside. Jimbaran Beach is another must-do. Its white sands are home to dozens of local seafood restaurants that serve market fish-to-order on beach tables as the sun goes down.

THE VERDICT

Raffles Singapore is famed for having unobtrusive service “like a soft breeze”. Those forking out the lofty price at Raffles Bali with a similar expectation might find the butler service wanting. But considering the pandemic’s toll on staff and training, Raffles Bali has done an exceptional job maintaining quality standards and luxury service during tough times. Honeymooners and anyone with an excuse to spend big on a luxury flop and drop, won’t be disappointed.

THE ESSENTIALS

Villas from $1850 a night including breakfast. Raffles Bali, Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera 1A Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia. Ph +61 800 1723 3537. See https://www.raffles.com/bali/

HIGHLIGHT

The Writers Bar, adjoining a cosy library, is the perfect place to sample handcrafted Indonesian spirits including Balinese arak made from grape and aniseed.

LOWLIGHT

The resort has big plans for its Emotional Wellbeing program but the seven chakras balancing treatment that I tried remains a work in progress.

OUR SCORE OUT OF FIVE

★★★★½

 

For more information please visit TRAVELLER

BALI – When you stay at Raffles Bali, which opened in the Indonesian island’s Jimbaran Bay in 2020, your welcome starts well before you step into the resort.

That is because every villa in the luxury resort, the latest in the home-grown Raffles brand, is assigned a butler whose job is to cater to all your requests during your stay.

My Raffles Wellbeing Butler is Ms Ariyanti, who sends me a welcome e-mail the moment my room is confirmed, introducing herself and asking if I need any special arrangements and if I want to make reservations at the restaurants and spa.

That in itself is not unusual because most premium hotels these days would send you a similar e-mail. Except that you usually never actually meet the person who contacted you. And you still need to consult the concierge in the lobby for services that cannot be settled over the phone.

But Ms Ariyanti is not only at the entrance to meet me when I arrive at the resort, but she is also with me throughout my two-night stay – acting as my resort guide, buggy driver and overall assistant.

The first WhatsApp text from her arrives the day before my flight to Bali, so when I touch down at the airport, I can confirm with just a quick text of my own that the resort’s driver is already waiting to pick me up.

Everything I need is at my fingertips – delivered subtly and with as little intrusion as possible.

That seamless service extends even outside the resort when my suggestion to walk from one restaurant to check out another is quickly vetoed by my driver. “It’s too hot to walk,” he says. “Just text Ariyanti and I’ll come to fetch you.”

And he did. Granted, the resort is just a 10-minute drive from those restaurants but, for me, that is beyond the call of duty.

My stay at Raffles Bali is memorable in many other ways too.

Like many luxury resorts on the island, there are only villas here that are furnished like suites. The rooms come in calming hues of wood and fabric, with views of the private garden and the pool outside.

Each is equipped with its own swimming pool and tanning bed on an outdoor terrace as well as a shaded daybed in a gazebo.

That leaves you with seemingly little reason to venture out other than for meals, even though there is a main pool by the beach for guests who want a change of scenery.

But with only 32 villas in the resort, which straddles a staggering 8ha of land, chances are, you will not see many other guests during your stay.

I certainly do not, and it is not like I am hiding away in my villa. I am planning to check out as many of the resort’s activities as I can fit into my stay.

First on my itinerary is a guided botanical tour of the resort. While it does not cover all 8ha of the resort, it is a good way to see part of the expansive grounds.

There is a herb garden that includes a stingless bee hive where the honey is harvested only after the insects abandon it for a new home.

You do not need to be a botany expert to recognise the names of plants scattered around the area, such as moringa and cashew, though that is the first time I get to see what the trees look like.

But I easily identify the Traveller’s Palm at the driveway entrance as that is the logo for the Raffles hotel brand. Many of the trees that originally grew there are also retained, albeit in a more manicured landscape.

I also plan a morning meditation session the next day, but when I wake up, it is drizzling. However, a quick text to Ms Ariyanti confirms that it is still on and a buggy arrives at my villa on the dot to transport me to The Secret Cave location.

It turns out to be an actual cave, hidden on a hill slope that is accessed by a flight of wooden stairs. Despite the wet weather, my buggy driver leads me there, sheltered under an umbrella, with little difficulty.

There, my instructor Komand, a local young man from Jimbaran, takes me through an hour of meditation that is so relaxing, I am glad that I did take the effort to wake up early.

I learn some stretches and breathing exercises and how to clear my mind of distractions as Komand gives his instructions in a mellifluous voice, sometimes breaking into a chant aided by a singing bowl. It is the best way I can think of to start the day.

The second best way is, of course, breakfast at the Rumari restaurant, where some of the best croissants I have eaten await me. It is a la carte, but servings are kept small so that guests can sample multiple items.

I have a delicious lobster omelette served in a rock lobster bisque, then decide to go local with a soto ayam kudus and tipat blayag ungasan, which is rice cake served with braised organic pork leg and long beans.

Rumari transforms into a fine-dining restaurant in the evening and my nine-course menu is a marvellous modern interpretation of Indonesian cuisine by chef Gaetan Biesuz.

Equally impressive is that the restaurant has a commitment to source at least 80 per cent of its ingredients locally. The set dinners range from 1,150,000 rupiah (S$101) for five courses to 1,750,000 rupiah for nine courses.

Chef Biesuz also collaborates with other chefs on four-hands menus under the Rumari And Friends programme, and on my last night at Raffles Bali, chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive from Singapore’s Basque Kitchen by Aitor is in the kitchen. So even though I have dined at the same restaurant on consecutive nights, I have two very different experiences.

sunset in raffles restaurant | raffles hotel bali

For a casual lunch, the casual Loloan Beach Bar and Grill on the waterfront offers an a la carte menu of artisanal pizzas and seafood.

But there are other dining venues that can be set up on request for small groups.

These include The Farm Terrace (from 12,800,000 rupiah for four persons), which offers a dinner for up to six guests with a curated menu of organic vegetables, cold cuts and meats set in a garden.

Or have a table set up on the highest rock on the resort’s beach and enjoy the Purnama Honeymoon Bale’s seafood menu (from 6,000,000 rupiah a couple) to the sound of waves in the evening.

And The Secret Cave can be turned into a romantic dinner venue (from 7,000,000 rupiah a couple), where sandalwood scents and music accompany a dinner using seasonal ingredients that are sourced locally.

Each is magical in its own way and reserved only for guests.

There are also plenty of dining options just outside the resort. Jimbaran is a well-known fishing village and the area boasts many local grilled seafood restaurants, as well as those serving international cuisines ranging from Indian to Italian.

For me, a resort holiday is not complete without a visit to the spa. But make sure you make an appointment at The Sanctuary, preferably before you arrive, because the spa treatments are usually fully booked.

My one-hour massage, which is preceded by a foot detox on a balcony overlooking a verdant landcape, is so relaxing that I wish it can go on forever.

treatment suites fitness centre wellness resort | raffles bali

But all good things must come to an end and so does my stay. Check-out is just as stress-free as all I have to do is pass Ms Ariyanti the villa key when she arrives with the buggy to take me to the main lobby, where my drive to the airport is waiting.

And just as she is the first to greet me on arrival, her smiling face is the last I see, waving a cheery goodbye as the car pulls out of the driveway.

Tip: If you plan to visit one of the restaurants in Jimbaran for lunch, try to leave a little earlier and visit the fish market, which is along Jimbaran Bay beach. The market is one of the busiest in Bali and many restaurateurs come here to get their seafood.

Tourists can buy what they fancy and get it cooked at the stalls and eateries nearby for a fee. But even if you do not buy anything, it is an interesting way to sample local life.

 

For more information please visit The Straits Times

 

If ever a destination spoke a wellness language, it is Bali — shrouded in mystery and mist, and known for its haunting gamelan music, fresh cuisine, and exotic flower bath rituals. Raffles Bali, set high on a hill overlooking Jimbaran Bay, is one of the country’s most wellness minded. Serving as the flagship property for Raffles Emotional Wellbeing program, this stunning resort is an intimate oasis for well-traveled connoisseurs seeking space, privacy, and cultural discovery. And the experience comes with your own personal wellness butler.

The Reset: For the ultimate indulgence and reset, pad your way past lush foliage to the Sanctuary treatment suite set high in the hills. Here you find authentic Balinese healing experiences, similar (just more luxe) than those found in traditional Balinese villages. Experience the ancient Javanese Lulur, an over 400-year-old tradition that includes a full-body massage, exfoliation, and warm flower bath. This mind-, body-changing ritual was historically performed every day for 40 days on royals leading up to their wedding day.

For more information please visit Travel Curator

Bali, widely known as The Island of The Gods, is a place steeped in history and culture. As a surviving fragment of a once-mighty Hindu empire, Bali enchant in its spiritual feel at every moments.

When you walk around Bali while enjoying your holiday, you probably notice at least one small square palm leaf made, filled with colorful flowers lying on the ground either in front of houses, shops or temples. It is called Canang Sari, daily Balinese offerings. The phrase Canang Sari is derived from the Balinese words means essence and canang means a small palm-leaf basket as the tray. It is the symbol of thankfulness to the Hindu God, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa.  It is offered every day as a form of thanking for the peace had given to the world.

Canang sari is normally filled with a multitude of colorful flowers. The colors of the flowers are white, red, yellow, and either blue or green. The colors are not randomly chosen; they have different meanings and are placed in specific directions in the Canang.

  • The white-colored flowers that point to the east as a symbol of Iswara. Iswara is regarded as one of the primary forms of God.
  • The red-colored flowers that point to the south as a symbol of Brahma. Brahma is often referred to as the progenitor or great grandsire of all human beings.
  • The yellow-colored flowers that point to the west as a symbol of Mahadeva. Mahadeva means “Great god” also one of the main deities of Hinduism.
  • The blue or green colored flowers that point to the north as a symbol of Vishnu. Visnu is conceived as “the Preserver” within the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the divinity.

Normally, Canang Sari stays for one night after it is being prayed and offered before it is being removed to be replaced with the new one. After all, Hinduism is very concerned with the relationship between humanity and the environment. Whatever comes from nature, it has to be back to nature. Our Raffles Wellbeing Butler will be happy to assist should you wish to learn on how to make this offering and any other cultural activities.

Jimbaran Bali is home to a number of luxury resorts, including Raffles Bali Resort. The area is best known for its gorgeous sparkling bay with iconic sunset views making it one of the most desirable holiday destinations in Asia. The beauty of Jimbaran itself might be enough, but there is plenty more in the area for guests that enjoy exploring outside their resort as well. Art, culture, and social experiences are right at your doorstep when you choose Raffles Bali, so we’ve put together a list of our top 7 tourist attractions close to Jimbaran.

Balinese House Visit

Raffles Bali has collaborated with the local community in Jimbaran to give guests a deeper dive into Balinese life. Just 5 minutes from the resort, guests will be welcomed into a traditional Balinese home where they can learn about the layout of Balinese compounds on a house tour, make some of the offerings presented in Balinese Hindu ceremonies, and try traditional snacks and jamu, a health drink made of natural herbs and spices.

Kedonganan Beach and Fish Market

Kedonganan is the true name of the village, white sand beach, and famous fish market often referred to simply as Jimbaran. During your stay at Raffles Bali it is definitely worth a visit to see the fish market in full swing and have a stroll down this beautiful beach. Early morning is a wonderful time to visit to see a Balinese life in action, and sunset is a good time to watch Mother Nature showing off at her most colourful. Kedonganan is only a short 10 minute drive from Raffles Resort.

Jenggala Ceramics

Established in 1976, Jenggala is Bali’s foremost producer of handcrafted ceramics in Indonesia. Whether you are interested in shopping, visiting their workshop, making your own ceramics, or painting one of their ready-made pieces, it is an easy 10 minute drive to Jenggala Ceramics from Raffles Resort. This is a wonderful place to see artisans in action and buy or have a go at creating your own souvenir of your time in Bali.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

Garuda Wisnu Kencana is a 60-hectare cultural park just 15 minutes’ drive from Raffles Bali. Home to a towering 120-metre high statue of the Hindu God Wisnu atop his mythical mount Garuda, it is an iconic landmark in Bali and one of the tallest statues in the world. GWK is also host to cultural performances, and has incredible panoramic views of the south of the island.

Balangan Beach

The picture perfect white sands of Balangan Beach is just 20 minutes by car from Raffles Bali. Popular with both surfers and sunbathers, the 200 metre stretch is beautiful for a stroll or a swim in the crystal clear waters. The panoramic views also make this beach the perfect destination for romance or just an ice cold drink while watching the sunset paint colours across the sky.

Museum Pasifika

For lovers of art and culture, Museum Pasifika is a short 20 minute drive from Raffles Resort. The museum showcases over 600 artworks from local and international artists that reflect and are inspired by both Bali and further afield in Indonesia and the Asian Pacific. The collection includes the Indonesian masters Raden Saleh, Lempad, Affandi and Hendra as well as Bali‘s most famous foreign artists in residence Walter Spies, Miguel Covarrubias, Jean Le Mayeur, Willem Hoffker, Rudolf Bonnet, Arie Smit, Charles Sayers and Theo Meier.

Uluwatu Temple and Kecak Dance Performance

For one of the most indelible experiences of Bali, Uluwatu Temple and the evening kecak dance performance is not to be missed. This temple is around 40 minutes from Raffles Resort and is one of Bali’s oldest and most important sea temples with incredible views out to sea. Every evening a spectacular kecak dance performance is held at the temple with the sun setting in the background. This rhythmic chanting dance is based upon the HIndu epic the Ramayana and is absolutely entrancing. This will be a cherished memory of your holiday in Bali.

With so much to see and do so close to Raffles Bali Resort, it is the ideal place to base yourself for your explorations of this extraordinary island.

One of the most essential parts of Balinese culture and religion is the traditional blessing ritual. This profound ritual, done by a Balinese Priestess, Healer, and Medicine Woman, is designed to cleanse and purify our mind, body, and soul in preparation for the new and a deeper connection with ourselves and others.

We greet our well-traveled connoisseurs at Raffles Bali with a Sunset Blessing Ceremony at the resort temple. Prior to the ceremony, there will be a reading session with the Balinese Healer to evaluate your past, present, and future by listening to the universe’s whispers. Following this session, you are ready to renew and remove the negative influences and energies by conducting the Melukat Ceremony, which includes a holy water bathing ritual followed by the Blessing Ceremony.

The Balinese healer was gifted the ability to listen and channel the whispers of the universe. She will guide you to solve your problems, heal your traumas, and, if presented to her, deliver and tell you the answers you seek from the universe.

Water is the most abundant natural resource on the planet. Water has a deep philosophical meaning in Bali and is deeply embedded in the local community’s culture. Melukat is one of the rituals performed with water to bring one closer to the Almighty. Melukat is a soul purifying ceremony known as tirthayatra in Balinese mythology. In Hinduism, this holy water ritual, or tirtha, is conducted as a form of devotion.

In the concept of Balinese cosmology, the universe has two properties, namely sekala and niskala. Sekala is real and can be captured with the five senses. Meanwhile, niskala is believed but is beyond the five senses.

Balance in the concept of cosmology is obtained when the macrocosm and microcosm are harmonious. The macrocosm is a very wide world that has regular boundaries. Man as a replica of the vastness of the universe is called the microcosm.

When humans experience bad things, such as pain, misery, anxiety, accidents, and death, it takes effort to return and surrender to the Almighty. The ritual of surrender to harmonise the microcosm and macrocosm as well as physically and spiritually, or sekala-niskala, is carried out by melukat.

Curated Cultural Guest Activity at Raffles Bali.

Bali, widely known as “The Island of Gods,” is a place steeped in history and culture, a surviving fragment of a once-mighty Hindu empire, enchants in every moment with its spiritual feel.

Raffles Bali is a place where stories are told, cultures collide, and it is an oasis of emotional wellbeing, providing discerning travel connoisseurs with the luxury of space and time in sublime Raffles style. The luxury hotel has curated one of the favourite cultural guest activities, the “Balinese House Visit.” Embark on a cultural exploration journey and marvel at the sight of a stunning Balinese traditional house. Learn the immaculate concept of Asta Kosala Kosali, where each and every compound constructed has profound meaning and values.

Asta Kosala Kosali is the vernacular architecture tradition of Bali that follows a strict ancient architectural guide characterised by its reliance on local needs, construction materials, and traditions specific to its particular location. Therefore, you will see different Balinese house architecture in different regions of Bali. Traditional Balinese buildings seek to be in harmony with the environment and are built almost entirely of organic materials such as thatch roofing, bamboo poles, woven bamboo, coconut wood, teak wood, brick, and stone.

Balinese people are known for their artistry. They have developed a sophisticated sculpting tradition that manifests in architecture rich with ornamentation and interior decoration. Balinese temples and palaces are lavishly ornamented with rich ornamentation, both wooden and stone sculpting, and typically depicting floral patterns.

As with most traditional houses in Indonesia, spatial orientation and hierarchy are crucial considerations. The concept is based on the Hindu dharma principle: every object in the universe is conceived as having an ideal location, which must be correctly aligned at all times in order to achieve harmony with the universe, and thus moksha—the point of liberation where a human achieves a perfect state of being—can be achieved. The placement of objects in Balinese architecture naturally plays an important role in achieving this.

A typical Balinese residential compound is dominated by pavilions (bale), which surround a central courtyard (natah). These pavilions acted as rooms in the western equivalent of domestic houses; each pavilion had its own function. Different architectural elements within the compound are laid out according to the Balinese conception of the sacred and profane within the cardinal points. Each Balinese house mostly has Natah (courtyard), Sanggah Kemulan (family shrine), Bale Daja (north pavilion), Bale Dangin (east pavilion), Bale Dauh (west pavilion), Bale Delod (south pavilion), Paon (kitchen), Lumbung (harvest storage), Kandang Celeng (pig stable), Lawang (main entrance), Aling-aling (barrier), and Sanggah Pengijeng Karang (guardian temple).

In Balinese culture, the first day of the construction of a new house pavilion is a crucial matter. Before construction begins, the prospective house owner will consult an expert to choose the most auspicious day in the Balinese calendar to start construction. Ritual will also be enacted just before construction; offerings are placed in the foundations with the hope that the construction will go smoothly. The ceremony is called Mendem Pedagingan.

Finally, after the completion of a house’s construction, a final cleansing ritual called the Melaspas must be enacted in order to prepare the new house pavilion to be occupied.

Raffles Bali is delighted to welcome Melinda Taylor as its new Director of Sales and Marketing. Born in Singapore, Melinda offers more than 30 years of hospitality expertise to the resort, having worked with some of Singapore’s most prestigious brands, including the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Pan Pacific, and Intercontinental Hotel. Melinda has had the privilege of working for some of Bali’s most renowned resorts like Banyan Tree and Bulgari Resort Bali.

Melinda is well-known in the luxury hotel business for her results-driven skills. She has effectively delivered strong top-line results year after year and established a reputation for honesty and integrity among stakeholders, owners, clients, and colleagues; quality is central to her personal brand, which has taken her to where she is now. She is a leader that firmly believes in uniting her team and creating an environment that values diversity. With her maturity, confidence, positive energy, and hardworking attitude, she is committed to achieving her best and exceeding Raffles Bali’s best performance.

In the next chapter of her professional endeavor, Melinda will oversee all sales and marketing activities for Raffles Bali while playing a key role in familiarising the world with the resort’s position as an ultra-luxury brand with legendary service since 1887.

Melinda commented “I am both elated and excited to start my journey with such an iconic brand and to contribute to the continued success of Raffles Bali in the years to come”