 Bali spas are a place to restore mind, body and soul   |
ACROSS the lush valley high above the raging Ayung River, the resonant call of the drums beckons the villagers to the temple. The rhythmic beat soothes me like a mother’s heart beat reassures her child.
The sweet smell of incense fills the air as the dawn of a new day casts a glow over the centuries old rice paddies. Here, far from the madding crowds, I am reminded why so many have become enamoured with this enchanting island. Walter Spies, Rudolf Bonnet and later Spanish artist Antonio Blanco helped put Bali on the map in the early 1900s with their sensuous paintings of Balinese women and portrayal of local life. Thousands followed in their footsteps, lured by the island’s cerulean seas, emerald green rice fields and charming Bali smiles.
Dig a little deeper and a lesser known side to Bali waits to be discovered at a growing number of luxury spa retreats that have flourished on the island since the late nineties, joining established operators Nusa Dua Spa and Bali-based Mandara Spa – early pioneers of the tropical Asian spa style.
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