Aug 16, 2011

Do you remember the last time you went on a tropical island holiday? Lying on the beach or lounging by the pool all day? In the heat island that is Tokyo I sometimes find myself recalling the wonderfully relaxing times we had at the Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali. The hotel has several pools and a pretty little beach. Here are some tips on making the most of...

Jul 5, 2011

Formerly the Ritz Carlton Bali, five-star AYANA Resort & Spa re-branded itself under new management in 2009. I thought that it would be a good experience to stay at a freshly relaunched hotel that chose a well-known Japanese graphic designer, Hiromura Masaaki, to create its resplendent new logo. We stayed at a Resort View Room, a beautiful 48 sqm (517sqf)...

Jun 18, 2011

This is not about sunset at one of Bali’s most iconic bars, the Rock Bar at the luxury AYANA Hotel and Resort. So much has been written about watching the sun set on this unique outdoor cocktail lounge that it makes one want to write about something else: the Rock Bar at night. Decidedly much less busy late at night than early evening, the Rock Bar is an...

Jun 2, 2011

During our stay at AYANA Resort and Spa in Bali, we were thinking of where to have dinner one day and picked up some tips from available hotel literature. My husband loves seafood so the Kisik Seafood Grill and Bar was an immediate candidate. The hotel’s in-house magazine glowingly described the restaurant as follows: “It is really the stuff dreams...

Jun 1, 2011

When we arrived at the Jimbaran village that is home to the sprawling 5-star resort that was formerly The Ritz-Carlton in Bali, we were driven for more than a mile through plenty of greenery. The hotel itself finally came into view after a few minutes of driving, and we were greeted by a smiling staff ready with plumeria leis and the sound of live gamelan music....