Virtuoso Traveler - August/September 2018 - 40
Culture Stop narrow, winding roads that feel more like tunnels carved into surrounding forests profuse with elephant grass, bamboo, and banana trees. As we pilgrimage to a string of the region's cultural gems, white herons take flight from terraced rice fields, women stroll through village streets balancing tiered baskets filled with fruit and flowers on their heads, and incense wafts from ornate roadside shrines. By midafternoon, we've visited the eleventh-century Pura Kehen, Bangli village's oldest and most sacred Hindu temple; the largely undiscovered Tukad Cepung waterfall (a trek down steep paths and through knee-deep pools is well worth the effort, as you're likely to have the place to yourself); and pedestrian-friendly Penglipuran village to see its traditional homes, gardens, and shops. The journey also provides chances to meet with local artisans, such as I Made Ada, a master woodcarver from Garuda village whose friendly welcome is as trip-worthy as his work. Expect the same focus on Balinese culture back at the resort. Guests connect with its artists-in-residence, for example, during exhibitions and workshops, prepare flower tower offerings using locally grown blossoms and coconut leaves, and, within Mandapa's own rice fields, learn to sow the crop while discussing its significance HERITAGE HOTELS Each of Virtuoso's 13 Balinese properties features immersive experiences steeped in local customs. Here's a sampling: FOUR SEASONS RESORT BALI AT JIMBARAN BAY Denpasar Resident experts lead art walks and reveal the symbolism behind 1,500 shrines in the resort's water gardens. THE OBEROI, BALI Seminyak At its on-site temple, a Hindu priest blesses sarong-clad guests during a Balinese full moon ceremony. BULGARI RESORT BALI Uluwatu Eco-initiatives include mangrove planting and saving Bali's declining apian population by maintaining bee colonies at the resort. AMANKILA Manggis Cultural experiences range from beachside yoga classes to cruises in jukung-style Balinese boats. SOORI BALI Kerambitan Customized activities connect guests with locals to Sacred perspectives: Temple views at Mandapa and (right) Bangli village's Pura Kehen. Below: John Hardy's Kapal Bambu Boutique. learn about rice cultivation and wayang-style artwork. ROADSIDE ATTRACTION "Everywhere you turn in Bali, there's something beautiful," says Polly Purser, director of heritage at the John Hardy jewelry workshop. Though she's describing the island's aesthetic, her words could just as well be about this studio-cum-cultural experience on the road from Nusa Dua to Ubud. Visitors can take a guided tour of the campus, set amid rice fields and built with low-impact materials, to see its artisans bring handcrafted jewelry to life (all pieces are made from recycled gold and silver, and the company is Responsible Jewellery Council-certified). Allow time for lunch with its staff, almost all of whom come from local communities. A new half-day master class lets guests design their own jewelry; the artists will later finish your work and ship it home to you. 40 V I R T U O S O T R A V E L E R