THE LUXURIOUS TASTE OF THE ORIENT ENJOYED IN UBUD’S SHIMMERING RICE FIELDS
Immersed in the culture rich heritage and luscious countryside of Ubud’s fringes, the former private estate of Hendra Hadiprana – esteemed Indonesian architect and owner of one of Indonesia’s largest private art collections – has magically morphed into a GHM-brand luxury boutique retreat, The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah.
The estate’s five acres of seclusion includes working rice fields that surround the 20 villas and suites, then stretch out to the coconut palms and mystical volcanoes, providing a mesmerizing distraction and connection with nature. That goes for The Spa as well, with two private Spa Suites, spacious and open sided, directly facing and edging those emerald green paddies.
Both luxurious suites come equipped with a separate bathroom, which includes a steam shower and grooming area (with a choice of three different styles of disposable underwear!) and a treatment room that extends out to a verandah with a sunken terrazzo bathtub and unobstructed views.
Like other GHM brand spas, the therapeutic massages, treatments and indulgent rituals are inspired by the healing traditions of the East. GHM prides themselves on using pure, organic and sustainably sourced products and boutique brands such as ILA. This superior UK spa brand’s organic products are harvested in select regions of the planet using the most ethical and environmentally sustainable methods.
HEAD TO TOE
Each GHM menu presents a core range of treatments, but each individual spa offers unique signatures that refl ect the destination. Here the signature treatment is The Chedi Oriental Ritual (150 minutes for US$ 230/ Rp. 2,700,000++), a holistic yet utterly lavish head-to-toe indulgence that kicks off with a cleansing Aromatherapy Foot Polish and chilled herbal drink out on the open verandah.
Retreating inside to the treatment beds, fanned by field breezes, the deliciously soothing The Chedi Jade Massage has two therapists massaging the upper and lower body with balanced movements, incorporating lomilomi, Balinese, Thai, Swedish and Shiatsu techniques, then slathering the skin with essential oils that are bursting with sandalwood and ylang ylang and infused with energizing jade stone.
The Naturelle D’Orient Facial, with organic Argan oil sourced from Morocco, is filthy rich with Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids and minerals for anti-aging and cell renewal, mixed with orange blossom essential oil. Essentially a “dry” oil, Argan is one of the most benefi cial and purest of moisturizing oils, so this facial is the ultimate for a replenishing boost.
Simultaneously, the second therapist administers a Thai-style Foot Refl exology. Thank the Gods, it is more forgiving than the familiar Chinese version! By gently pressing the feet’s Marma points (linked to problematic zones in the body) with a wooden dowel, it helps to increase blood circulation.
Then it is back to just a single therapist for the half-hour Himalayan Crystal Body Polish. Besides some serious detoxifying and exfoliating, this invigorating, mineral-rich scrub with pure Himalayan salts assists the lymphatic system, balancing the body’s bio-energy field, taking out nasty positive ions, reloading healthy negative ions and feeling oh so good.
All of this leads to the finale – the blissful Oriental Bathing Ceremony. Revel in twenty minutes all to yourself, luxuriating in a decadent blend of cedarwood and rose otto aromatherapy oils and Himalayan bath salts in the verandah’s couples-sized bathtub strewn with rose petals.
Left alone with a pot of ginger tea and tropical fruits to contemplate up-close the lovely rice fields (the ripe stalks end up served as organic red rice at The Chedi Club’s excellent restaurant), it is like being on the set of your very own nature film. At sunset you’ll watch the rice field workers and a flock of birds overhead close out the day. After darkness descends, the paddies are illuminated by lanterns and fireflies that will accompany you along with a nighttime soundtrack of croaking frogs and village Hindu ceremonies.
If you’re too “loved up” as a couple – especially honeymooners – you may prefer the privacy (but alas, not the open rice fi eld views) of one of The Chedi Club’s three, one-bedroom Spa Pool Villas (from US$ 670++ per night, minimum four-night stay with inclusive Club Benefi ts). The villas have been recently renovated and the nightly rate is inclusive of one-hour daily Balinese massages for two in your own personal massage room; outdoors, a private pool and terrazzo tub await for deep soaks a deux.
The Spa at The Chedi Club
Tanah Gajah
Jalan Goa Gajah,
Tengkulak Kaja, Ubud
(361) 975-685
www.GHMhotels.com
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