Little things mean a lot in making a great hotel in Bali
This is a time of crisis, yes, but that does not mean everything has come to a complete stop. Life continues, although for many it means a cut in their spending. The Oberoi Resorts Indonesia, a division of the Oberoi Group of Hotels, belongs to the optimistic fold, and invited a group of journalists to its resorts in Bali and Lombok from Feb. 24-Feb. 27. The promotion trip was organized in cooperation with Merpati Nusantara Airline. The Jakarta Post was represented by Lela E. Madjiah, who wrote the following stories.
LEGIAN, Bali (JP): A gentle tapping sound brought me back from sleep that morning. I opened my eyes, trying to locate the sound. Once I had adjusted my senses to the waking world, I realized it came from the front porch.
I walked to the door, drew the curtain open and saw a small black bird pecking at the glass pane. I returned to my bed, and lay there watching the bird working its tiny beak on the glass. Apparently, the reflection tricked it into believing that it was seeing another tree.
What a nice little surprise to wake up to in the morning!
I was not the only one fortunate to have that morning encounter.
"Julia Roberts had a similar experience and, of all the things she encountered here, she told me she would never forget that small bird," said Kamal K. Kaul, general manager of The Oberoi, Bali.
Kaul is proud of the fact that his hotel offers Balinese nature at its best. Green flowery shrubs, tall coconut trees, birds and squirrels are all part of the hotel's charm. The constant sound of the waves breaking at the beach in front of the hotel adds to tranquility that no one has the heart to disturb.
Indeed, this is one of The Oberoi's characteristics. Given the level of its guests, privacy and discretion are well-kept here, even if it is to the hotel's "disadvantage"; it cannot flaunt the names of its famous visitors who often request anonymity.
Just consider this partial guest list: Jean Paul Belmondo, David Bowie, Iman, John Denver, Henry Kissinger, Claude Montana, Christopher Patten, Sidney Sheldon, Gianni Versace, Robert Wagner, Denzel Washington and Richard Von Weizsaecher.
"Also, a lot of government and embassy people from all over the world would like to come here and slip in quietly," said Kaul, who has been the hotel's general manager for the past 14 years, one of the longest-serving general managers of any hotel in the country.
"The Oberoi is frequented by people who don't want to be on show. They come to relax. A lot of our guests want to maintain discretion and a sense of privacy."
The hotel management trains its staff in the art of being present without being obvious. Guests can see hotel employees everywhere, either tending the gardens, changing the bedsheets or carrying food and beverages on their trays, yet they do not make noise. The staff also speak in soft voices to match the pitch of the guests. It is quite an experience to be in a crowd who speak and chat and laugh without being heard.
Despite the high level of guests and the matching atmosphere and service provided, The Oberoi is far from being elitist.
"For dinner, for example, guests wear smart dress. No bow ties are required," said Kelly.
"We are elegant but not stiff, exclusive but not elitists," Kaul added.
Originally built in 1974 as a private club named Kayu Aya on the site of an ancient villa, the resort was a multimillion dollar cluster of cottages for the world's wealthy and famous. A team of skilled Balinese craftsmen and artisans labored for more than two years to combine the comforts of the West with the mystique of the East.
In February 1978, Oberoi Hotels signed a management agreement with PT Widja Putra Karya to operate Hotel Bali Oberoi, as it was officially known. The property was closed for six months for renovations and upgrading of facilities to international resort standard.
On Aug. 5, 1978, Hotel Bali Oberoi opened for business with 63 rooms, one restaurant and one bar. It was the island's first exclusive beach resort under the personal guidance of chairman Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi, who oversaw the opening of the hotel and stayed in Bali for the first three months of operation.
In 1980, the second upgrading of the hotel was undertaken with the addition of 12 lanais, bringing the total room count to 75. Last year, the resort opened the Lotus Arts de Vivre boutique as an additional facility for guests offering unique objets d'art. Pieces include coconut shells transformed into jewelry and seashells metamorphosed into caviar spoons. Old rubber tires are reborn as champagne buckets. A diamond-studded toothpick can be created to order; a singular book marker will be contrived in gold; a gold buckle designed for one.
"Lotus is a Thai-based chain of boutiques selling objects d'art with an accent on cross-cultural tradition," Kaul said. "It is frequented by famous and wealthy people, and its clientele includes Liz Taylor. Through Lotus, we bring Bali and Asia to our guests."
The Oberoi, Bali, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, offers more than just a peaceful respite that is far from the sometimes madding media scrutiny for its guests. Sprawling across 15 acres of tropical gardens on Legian Beach, the most beautiful on the island, its 15 villas and 60 lanais cottage rooms are a refined version of a traditional Balinese life.
Each villa has a walled courtyard that ensures absolute privacy, a dining pavilion for intimate dining and bathroom en suite. Most have their own full size swimming pool. The 60 lanais cottages feature a terrace for outdoor dining and a luxurious air-conditioned bathroom with sunken bath.
Once inside the hotel compound, guests enter a world of its own, and yet the resort is only 25 minutes away from Denpasar Airport, a 35-minute drive from shopping and cultural centers as well as nightlife.
The resort's main facilities face the mile-long beachfront. The swimming pool, the Kura Kura restaurant, the Kayu Bar, the Amphitheater and the Frangipani Cafe all face the beach. You would not want to miss cocktails at the latter, which caters to a variety of the tastiest hotel cocktails, or themed buffet at the Amphitheater where guests are entertained with traditional Balinese dances.
At night, carefully installed bulbs create a romantic atmosphere. The beach spotlight is simply magnificent. The light falls where the wave breaks in the sand, creating a painting-like effect that takes your breath away.
"Nothing here happens by chance. Everything is carefully planned, such as what bulb to plant at what tree," said Joy M. Kelly, director of sales and marketing.
Except the birds and squirrels, right Julia?