After our first night of utter amazement of our surroundings, see here, we happily got into the slow vibe of Puri Ganesha. Our days started in a calm and serene manor and pretty much continued that way until we retired to bed.  We had many an idea every morning to do this and see that that but for some reason we weren’t very successful but were more than happy and content hanging out in our incredible Villa Santai, (Santai meaning relax- need I say more.) It is almost as if we just floated through the days at Puri Ganesha. Very rarely is my body and my mind in the same place but I feel mine rendezvoused in this quiet part of Bali, and greeted each other once again as long lost friends.  The aura, the environment, the energy of Puri Ganesha was enchanting, compelling, balmy and undisturbed in the most graceful way.

We took our mornings very slowly, after long lie ins and dips in our private pool. I loved the pool in Villa Santai, so warm as you walked in, I spent hours dipping in and out, watched over by the Ganesha Muriel at the end of the pool, taking in the garden which was so pristinely kept.  I chilled out on the traditional day beds (how can I get one of these for my garden) and watched a raft of different bird life, getting on with their every day. Quite lovely to sit back and watch a little bird find, carry and create its home…..amazing!

We had breakfast in our garden, apple pancakes and fresh fruit for me and traditional Indonesian breakfast for Wes.  This led to more relaxing and chilling around the pool and in the garden, walks around the grounds and along the sea front.

 The grounds at Puri Ganesha are full of Hindu statues and it even has its own small but beautiful temple.  The library, Sunyi Spa, the restaurant and kitchen are so brightly painted, every pocket a picture, with the pallet of colours in perfect symmetry with the bay and the mountainous backdrop.  I very quickly created a habit of ordering banana cake and fresh ginger tea every afternoon, the banana cake actually stopped me in my tracks, quite literally the most delicious cake I have ever had, who knows what they do to it.  Once again that magic sprinkled in the mixing bowl.  On our first full day I took my new little ritual in the library, surrounded by antique furniture, bright coloured Indonesian prints and art work from Java.  Looking over the water, in the breeze (a huge comfort in the Bali heat), I just sat there and took it all in.  I am a huge book reader and love to  get right into a book or two on holiday but here, I just sat, uninterested in reading,  why, when your surroundings are as captivating and enchanting as any read. That there, that moment, that was my favourite!

The beach at Puri Ganesha, Pemuteran Bay, is full of life and colour.  Although it is black sand the water is so clear, families from the village hang out, swim and relax on the sand, it’s the perfect spot for diving and snorkelling. As the sun goes down the light is  alluringly calming, almost spell binding, a spell I’m happy to be castaway with.

The bay has nearby temples and as there was a Full Moon while we were there, ceremonies were taking place all over the island, so slow, early evening strolls came with a sound scape, of waves, drums and chant mantras.  This day, known as Purnama Kedasa, is considered highly significant amongst Balinese Hindus, thousands flock to the temples  inviting the Gods for their blessings. Celebrations starts at end of  the Full Moon day,  and are full of colour, with offerings of food and flowers, a promising day full of rituals and blessings.  Possibly a time for a prosperous new start, new and favourable beginnings.

On the evening of the full moon, Diana arranged a Full Moon feast.  Diana von Cranach is a well known food explorer and creator.  A publisher of many cookbooks focusing on raw food and flavours of South East Asia, as well as her own restaurant the Herb Library in Ubud.  We were more than happy to tuck into her Full Moon Dinner creation with Meg’s Ginger Flower Shrimps on Baked Tem and Chicken Rendang in Bamboo.  Not only was the food delicious it was presented so beautifully, plates of art work full of pallets of colour, too perfect to eat….Well, for a few seconds.  All this under the moon with the chants and voices from the surrounding temples, was pretty incredible.  But all evenings with Diana were this, Diana is  a walking story in herself and a more interesting human being you will struggle to meet, with a warm, charming and oh so funny and quick personality.  Thinking about these evenings will alway give me a warm smile.

Sometimes you can take more home from a holiday or an escape than just a  good sun tan, some memories and a camera load of photos. There are times, not often,  that you can take something elemental and sometimes that special thing can bring you back to life.  You can find a peace, a symmetry and a state of balance.   So alongside the full moon celebrations and the spirit of Ganesha, the Lord of new beginnings and remover of spiritual obstacles, we had fun, we laughed, we forgot and we repaired….

Sometimes you can take much so more with you, which is what I did on leaving Puri Ganesha…..Magic!

Thank you Diana for hosting us and for our incredible stay. We will be back. xx

 

We booked through Diana but you can go via the Puri Ganesha website and also through are firm favourites at i-escape.com

Diana arranged all our travels from the port to the hotel.  You can even be picked on a Harley if that suits….

We were insanely lazy, but there are many amazing things to do, from Rice Fields, To Temples, to snorkelling, cooking classes.  Diana can arrange and advise at your will.  Do have a massage though, Wes did and after an eventful Snow boarding holiday 6 weeks prior to Bali, finally felt put back together- MAGIC!

I wore:

Red dress: Topshop

Blue Dress: Brought in the Gilis

Bikini: Oysho 

Black cami top: Topshop

Pink Skirt: Vintage

Thank you for reading x