Marti Morenings

So how was it that I was so fortunate to be able to spend a whole month in Bali?   In my earlier blogs I mentioned that after 29 years of day-to-day entrepreneurship, I decided it was time for a change.  Leaving my capable team in charge, I stepped away from being involved in the operational details of Universal Companies and have since been learning the art of letting go of many of the things I used to do.  Add to the fact that my son is now away at his first year in college, so if there ever was a time to take some “me time”, it is now!  So when the invitation to attend the Global Spa Summit in Bali arrived, I eagerly accepted.  I also realized that for the first time in my life, I didn’t have to rush back from my travels, so I decided to stay a month.  Bali has always been on my bucket list, it’s fairly inexpensive once you get there, and I can certainly find inspiration for two of my passions: spa products and eco-friendly solutions.  

I arrived at the Desa Seni Village Resort, located on the southwest side of Bali, in the middle of the night after a 30 hour journey.  It wasn’t until I woke up the next day that I absolutely fell in love with my new home away from home. 

Desa Seni (which translates “art village”) is a unique cluster of antique wood homes that have been imported from the many islands of Indonesia.  Each house has its own individual history and has been completely restored and decorated with original artifacts and antiques that reflect Indonesian culture.

My house is called the Rumah Mandau and dates back to the 1940s. It is a traditional rumah tinggal (or “dwelling house”) imported from West Java and is made entirely of teak. It’s quirky and rustic yet luxuriously comfortable.  The spacious front porch has been the perfect spot for lazy afternoon reading, relaxing, and enjoying the abundance of tropical flowers.  

The spa is small and intimate, and to help me nurse my jet lag on the first day, I indulged in a 3 1/2 hour Javanese lulur body scrub and organic facial. It was heavenly, but I almost felt guilty when the nominal bill for $82.00 was presented. Needless to say, the staff has come to know me well already, and it is just Day 3 of my week long stay at Desa Seni. Yesterday, I had a healing massage with a 5th generation traditional Balinese healer named Pak Sami. He has an intuitive gift with which he can feel energy blockages and physical ailments, and I must say he seemed to find every sore spot on my body.   Earlier today I indulged in a mani-pedi performed on the front porch of the spa while I lounged in a comfortable antique chair.  It was such a contrast to my usual fast paced mani-pedi treatments at home.  While I was being pampered, I peacefully read my book and heard the distant clip-clip-clip from the gardeners who were lovingly hand-shearing the grass nearby.  

In my next post, I will write about Desa Seni Village Resort’s commitment to the community and the environment. Bali is such a beautiful, magical place.

Rumah Mandau

The front porch of Rumah Mandau

Inside Rumah Mandau

Treatment room in the spa