Udayana Lodge offers true eco-atmosphere

Udayana Lodge offers true eco-atmosphere

By Grace Segran

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A friend of ours heard we were going to
Bali (again) and sent me the website and e-mail address of
Udayana Lodge. Seventy hectares of bushland, 50 species of birds
and as many species of butterflies.

Seems a far cry from the opulence of Nusa Dua hotels and the
shopping obsession that seems to inhabit us when we stay in Kuta.
Why not, we thought, and made reservations immediately. We have
been there many times since.

The Lodge, as it is simply called, was the idea of Australians
Alan and Meryl Wilson. "In a small way, we hope to support
Indonesia through this University linkage," Alan said.

Meryl designed and built The Lodge, with an African flavor
showing the influence of its designer's past.

The Wilsons resided in Africa before being driven out by the
political antics of Idi Amin and, via Australia, have been in
Indonesia for the last 20 years. You can read all about their
escape from Africa in the book Shadow of Flight, in which Meryl
journals their adventure. The book is available for sale at The
Lodge.

Alan is a veterinarian whose main interest is the protection
of the environment. Meryl is a physiotherapist who has become a
builder of buildings and institutions. Their kids speak
Indonesian and love the country.

"Indonesia has given us much and we see The Lodge as a means
of giving back to the country some of the funds we have earned
here," said Alan.

The Lodge was officially opened by the rector of Udayana
University on July 31, 1996. The Wilsons have a 15-year lease on
the land, and after this time The Lodge will become university
property. The university suggested they call it Wisma Udayana in
honor of a king from long ago.

The Lodge is an attempt at a true eco-lodge. It fulfills the
five main characteristics of eco-tourism and is thus a true
example of an environmentally friendly building and business. The
Wilsons concentrate on giving guests good service, peace and
quiet at a reasonable price. Guests come for either business or
pleasure.

The Wilsons work hard on protecting the environment and have
over 50 species of birds and 60 species of butterflies on the
grounds.

"We are also the only hotel in Indonesia which specially
caters for cricketers," Alan, an avid cricketer, added.

The Lodge has had guests from over 30 countries from around
the world. "Most have to be slightly eccentric to find us and
most come for the peace and quiet, and personal and friendly
service offered by the staff," said Alan.

The Wilsons have built up an e-mail database of guests who are
willing to tell others about their experiences. Some guests have
likened The Lodge to a "home away from home".

Many have returned numerous times, including the mandolin-
playing Desmonds from New Zealand, the Swofforths from Seattle,
who mainly come to study Balinese culture, a group of zoo
professionals from the U.S., including Johnny Bintang, en route
to study Komodo dragons, and the two Tims from the United Kingdom
who just love the place.

Others come for specific reasons, such as the Haatelas from
Finland to photograph butterflies, Yves Blanc from Switzerland to
look at birds or Jungle Jensen from Australia who comes for the
friendship found at The Lodge.

The dining room and the lounge, airy and spacious, are like
one gigantic verandah that opens on the sea. The view is
spectacular.

A fairly large variety of items are available on the menu. The
staff is quite happy to oblige your every wish, provided you give
them sufficient time as all orders are cooked from scratch.

The rooms are comfortable and air-conditioned. When you go
through the Balinese door which is latched with a bar of wood,
you will find an outdoor shower area. This was one of the thrills
of our visit.

The room rate includes breakfast. The marmalade made from
local oranges is excellent with toast. The rate also includes
laundry and transfers to and from the airport.

The Wilsons were given two beautiful owls to look after -- a
barred owl called Darwin and a bufffy fish owl named Wallace.
Both are on the endangered species list.

"We adapted both to the environment and they began to live a
life and coming and going and talking with guests," remarked
Alan. Wallace one day became very sick with a disease
characterized by total paralysis. "We thought he would die but by
determination and good nursing he has largely recovered and can
be seen at The Lodge any day," said Alan. "We never give up hope
that it will fly on it's own."

Darwin became a much-loved bird and it was with great sadness
that one day he was found drowned in the swimming pool. "We felt
we had lost a dear friend and he will always be remembered," said
Alan sadly.

These owls have become famous all over the world and almost
every day the Wilsons receive e-mails asking for news about them.
"These birds have taught us what fantastic characters owls are
and they can teach us so much about ourselves," marveled Alan.

The Lodge is wonderful if you want to come and just vegetate
and get away from it all, or take long hikes in the bushland and
take lots of pictures. It may be a long way off the main
thoroughfare in Bukit Jimbaran, but a taxi is just a call away to
bring you out for a seafood meal at the beach or for shopping in
Kuta.