After travelling home to Indonesia with my wife to Surabaya for 3 weeks to visit her family and friends, and then up to Cirebon
on the SLOW ! EXPRESS TRAIN (took about 8 hours !!!!)
to visit her sick Aunty.
Things there were VERY HECTIC going out for meals etc. with friends & family every day !
WE WERE IN "DIRE NEED" OF SOME RELAX TIME !!!
On 27th March we flew back to Bali with Merpati Airlines
and were met at the airport by "Life in Amed" manager / driver.
About a 2 1/2 hours drive from the airport to "Life in Amed"
which is located about 120 kilometers from Denpasar in Lean Bay,
up on the east coast of Bali.
We travelled via Candi Dasa & Almapura etc.
some of the roads went high into the hills with fantastic views
through lush tropical rainforest, rice terraces etc. with
views to the ocean.
Our driver stopped at his home in Almapura for Coffee and Biscuits, we met his wife (she also works at Life in Amed) and kids.
Delightful people.
We arrived at "Life in Amed" mid to late afternoon,
the grounds at Life is situated on absolute beach frontage
e.g. 1/2 a dozen steps from the door of one of the two Villas
and you are standing on the beach sand !!!!!
We stayed in one of the six, Ocean View Cottages.
All the accomodation there is airconditioned and with ceiling fans too.
Our cottage had a huge Kingsize bed on the ground floor level,
and 2 single beds in a loft area via a staircase on the top level.
The grounds, gardens, rooms cleaned daily - EVERYTHING !
is emaculatly kept by the wonderful friendly 17 staff there.
The Villa's and Cottages are surrounded by Beautiful lawns and gardens, wow ! so many different flowering tropical plants, bushes, and trees.
There is a paved footpath that leads from each Villa or Cottage through from the beach to the Restraunt / Reception area at the front.
There is a lovely small swimming pool, maybe 5' deep max,
with easy access steps, the pool is divided into three areas,
deeper water, 2 small kids pools - one maybe 2' deep and a shallow splash pool area. 8 large adjustable reclining deckchair lounges with
large umbrellas beside.
As I said before "Life in Amed" is situated in Lean Bay, Amed area covers quite a few miles and different bays along this coastal area of Bali.
Lean Bay is also a small fishing village. The fishing boats
"Jukungs" are parked often 3 deep along the length of the beach !
The fisherman go out every morning at about 5am or just before daylight to check their nets and longlines in the deep ocean straits between Amed and Lombok. Their traditional boats "Jukungs" are like a
large wooden canoe with a outrigger on either side, a sail, many have
outboard motors. They catch mostly small mackeral, sometimes small tuna.
One afternoon we went out for a cruise along the coast in one of these boats for about 1 hour. Scenery again was marvelous with fantastic views up into the high mountains inland.
Cost us 140,000 Rupiah. We went with the husband of one of the cooks at "Life". They will take you out in the mornings too when they go fishing, or arrange a individual fishing trip etc. Just ask the staff.
Anyhow, back tracking here now to our arrival at "Life"......
Oh, no TV !!!!! Shock Horror, after Busy, Busy, Full On Hetcic in Surabaya.....we wondered if we would be OK for 5 nights stay.
Anyhow, truly our Holiday at "Life in Amed" absolutely Chilling Out doing hardly anything at all, but eat, sleep, pool, bintangs, cocktails, read a book from their library, eat, pool, eat, sleep !!!!
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST RELAXING NICE PLACES I HAVE EVER STAYED.
Thank you so much Sarah !!!!!! (owner),
we were so lucky to meet Sarah whilst we stayed there,
she is a fantastic person whom treated us just like a friend.
All sarah's personal touches from the ground up !
when building "Life" I must say has been done very well.
The attention to detail and design etc. for the ergonomics of everything working properly and being very comfortable etc.
is spot on.
The food at Life's Restaraunt is Superb,
we did not travel anywhere else to eat.
The menu was a fantastic mix of Indo Dishes
and some Western dishes.
My favorites were the Fish Curry,
and Black Rice Pudding with Icecream........
the pudding was sooo good, after trying it, I had it every time for my last three nights !!!!)
In summing up, if you are looking for a very quiet place to stay for total relaxation, look no further. We were definately not dissapointed in any way staying here !!!!!
If you have children, maybe take a portable DVD player to amuse them?
The beach is not that fantastic for swimming, shallow, reefy.
Good for snorkelling.
The local girls do great massages, the staff will arrrange for you.
Costs about 70,000 Rp. for 1 hour. The massage girls were so good
"Magic Fingers !" I cheeky told one, that was so good, I want to take here home with us LOL !!!!! :)))))
You can buy very basic supplies from the warungs across the street,
water, snacks etc.
Hope you enjoyed our report.