Ubud villas attract art lovers, honeymooners

Ubud villas attract art lovers, honeymooners

The Jakarta Post, Ubud

Lovers of art, culture, traditional villages or outdoor
activities might well choose Ubud village to spend their holiday.

The once quiet, pristine Ubud has now been transformed into a
dynamic and vigorous settlement filled with a wide range of
activities from the arts and culture to business and sports.

A haven for both local and international artists,
intellectuals and budget tourists, Ubud is now a paradise for the
rich and famous, young executives and honeymooners.

The increasing number of new niche markets has encouraged the
rapid development of luxury accommodation. The sprawl of villas
along the Ayung and Petanu rivers is an obvious sign.

Onny Djatmiko, owner of Villa Anahata, located on the banks of
the Petanu River, said that Ubud, as the heart of Bali's cultural
center, was increasing in popularity among more sophisticated
Indonesians and foreigners.

"Ubud has always been a source of inspiration for artists and
lovers of art," said Onny.

First-time visitors to Bali will definitely choose to stay in
Kuta, Nusa Dua or Seminyak. Many other places in the world offer
beautiful beaches, such as Hawaii, Florida, the Gold Coast, the
Maldives or Mauritius. Those who have done a lot of traveling
might not find beach resorts in Bali anything special.

"But Ubud is indeed a unique place with its rich, unique
culture and natural beauty that cannot be found anywhere else in
the world," she added.

The flood of affluent clientele has affected the growth of the
luxury villa business in the area. "The villa business is quite
strong in Bali. Staying at a villa is becoming a trend in Bali,
as it offers a different holiday experience," she added.

Even though the prospects for villa businesses are good at
present, one has to be extremely careful now because there is
dangerous tendency of a "me-too" business mentality.

"We can now see that many new villas are being built all over
Bali. If we are not careful, there will be a serious oversupply,"
she maintained.

Kamandalu Villa and Resort general manager Wawan Dharmawan
believes that the villa business is still healthy and the market
is not yet saturated. "It is encouraging to see new market growth
since early 2005," Wawan said, adding that the number of Japanese
tourists willing to stay in luxury villas was increasing
drastically, followed by Australians and Europeans.

"What's more, visitors from Malaysia and Singapore are
beginning to find peace in Ubud," he noted.

Travel agent from the Netherlands, Cornelis Klesman, found
that trekking along the yellow paddy fields was a soothing
experience. "For many Europeans, getting involved in village and
artistic activities of the Ubud community is a memorable
experience," he said.

Chinese painter Yu Xiaou Fu extended his stay in Ubud to find
more inspiration and to experience the tranquil atmosphere.

To attract clients to their villas requires a special strategy
since hundreds of beautifully built villas are available in Ubud
and its surroundings.

Onny of Villa Anahata said most villas in Ubud target newlywed
couples, international movie stars, and top businesspeople." Our
major target is families," Onny stressed.

Yoga courses are a unique activity offered by Anahata to its
guests. "Moreover, we offer many other activities, not only for
adults but also for the children, together or in solitude, such
as barbecues and picnics in the garden, paddy field trekking or
horse riding, as well as DVD players and video games in the
villas."

Kamandalu divides its complex into two areas: garden villas
for families and pool villas for couples and honeymooners. "This
division will allow both types of clientele to enjoy a memorable
holiday," Wawan said.

Yoga, meditation, body and soul treatments, paddy-field
trekking, cycling, bird watching and rafting are among programs
offered by most villas in Ubud.

Paul Blake, general manager of the award-winning Maya Ubud,
for instance, said the property offered "To do Today" guest
activities including pilates, a form of physical exercise
designed to coordinate mind, body and breathing movements.

"In such a tranquil environment, away from the bustle of daily
routine, the Maya Ubud creates the ideal setting to engage in
light, healthy activities while vacationing on this magical
island," Blake commented.

Numerous beautiful villas and resorts including the newly
opened Ubud Hanging Garden are available if you decide to stay in
Ubud.

Welcome to the village of the arts.