Beachfront villa – Berawa. 6 bedrooms
Low: US$ 2,000 High: US$ 2,200 Peak: US$ 2,700
The price is nightly price, subject to 15,5% tax and service
Location and distance: Berawa, beach front villa. 10 minus drive to Oberoi and 15 minutes away to Seminyak and Tanah Lot. From the airport, it is only about 35 minutes drive.
Service and facilities: 6 air-conditioned bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, open living and dining, satellite in every bedroom in every bedroom, free Wi Fi, satellite TV and DVD player in the living area, private swimming pool, fully equipped kitchen, sauna, private tennis court, huge garden, full staff.
Detailed description: Villa Gajah Putih is a Bali classic. This 6-bedroom estate is set on over 1.85 hectares (4.5 acres) of beachfront land, with a tennis court, home cinema and 20 staff. One of Bali’s most prestigious properties, Gajah Putih brings the comforts of home to a luxury estate. With its old world design and impressive hand selected collection of Asian antiques and fabrics, Villa Gajah Putih is truly one of Bali’s finest luxury estates. The villa is set on a gorgeous sprawling property, the gardens of which have been maturing for over a decade. To the left of the building is an immense vegetable garden, large yard, and tennis court. Between the main structure and the beach is a swimming pool and indoor sauna set within a manicured lawn strewn with coconut palms and two relaxation bales. The first area is the dining room, which boasts a massive teak table that seats twelve and looks out over the blooming gardens to the ocean. The fully equipped kitchen is set off to the side of the dining room and can be reached by way of a small bridge. Many of the fresh ingredients used for cooking are gathered daily from the villa’s organic vegetable and herb garden.
Each of the six bedrooms consists of an enclosed air-conditioned room with its own en suite bathroom. The floors and ceilings are made of ironwood, and each of the bedrooms have at least one glass wall overlooking the ocean-side gardens of the estate. Set off to the right of the living room when walking straight from the dining area is the first bedroom. The entrance to this bedroom is a traditional Balinese variegated carved doorway, which opens up to reveal two queen sized wooden canopy beds with blue cotton bedcovers from India. The room is flanked on one side by glass, which looks out over the living room and pool table when the white draperies are opened. Within the spacious marble bathroom, a large mask of a meditative face with closed eyes hangs on the wall behind the double showers, mounted on square marble pillars. A wooden towel rack and copper elephant stand sit by the stairs leading into the sunken marble tub which can be filled for a luxurious bath. On both sides of the doorway to the second bedroom are two majestic red lion-like sculptures. Two wooden queen sized beds with red bedcovers sit on either side of a small table and lamp, behind which is a wall of windows overlooking the garden. The front windows look out to a lily pond filled with fish and two fountains in the form of carved stone tortoises, spouting water from their mouths. To the immediate left of the staircase, one walks past another large painting and through a set of picturesque carved doors into the first master bedroom. This sublime room is walled on three sides by sliding glass windows with white linen drapes that can be drawn for privacy. The entire bedroom is surrounded by a balcony, which overlooks the front and back gardens, and the vegetable garden to the side. The tremendous bed sits in the middle of the room with a view of the ocean, and boasts a finely dyed cotton red and white bedcover made in India in karma sutra style. Imported Oriental carpets encircle the bed, and an elaborate Chinese style sofa from Java sits off to the side. The en suite bathroom is another symphony of marble and indulgence. The fourth bedroom overlooks the balcony to one side and offers a sea view to the other. The most notable decoration in this room is the complex mirrored wall hanging from India. As in the other bedrooms, a table and matching sitting chairs and a standing wardrobe make up the rest. The second master bedroom is boasts sliding glass doors overlooking the ocean open up to expose the elegantly carved canopy bed. The sixth bedroom was added in early 2006 and designed in keeping with the original house. The large suite has an impressive carved wooden wall and luxurious en suite bathroom. Glass doors open to a large balcony area overlooking the gardens.
The spacious common living areas of the villa are floored in marble, and the actual structure is composed of white stucco ceilings framed by huge ironwood beams supported by matching columns, making the areas completely open-air. The first floor living room features wooden tables, rattan armchairs and couches situated so as to create two sitting areas. An imported pool table sits off to the side of the living room near the ironwood staircase that leads to the second storey. The stairs are divided by a small landing, over which an arched wood doorframe tactfully splits the sunlight. The entire second storey is floored in ironwood, and a timber-lined cathedral style alang-alang ceiling opens up the space. The upstairs living area consists of one main sitting area overlooking a tremendous balcony upon which are set two batik-covered massage tables.. A tall table is situated behind the sitting area, upon which a projector can be put, while a large screen can be pulled down from the ironwood columns framing the scene for movie-viewing.
Upon entering the grounds one is led down a wooden walkway past a large limestone alligator carving and elaborate water ponds. One can walk out to the actual ground of the property by way of the first floor living area, past two Chinese sofa beds and three crouching Buddha statues. The marble floor is traded for a wood-planked walkway, leading out through the flourishing gardens to the enormous swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by a wood deck, which supports numerous lounge chairs and two hammocks. The beachfront yard is studded with tall coconut palms looking down upon the closely manicured lawns. To the side of the swimming pool is an alluring indoor sauna, completely made of tropical hardwood and roofed with “alang-alang”. One way glass ensures privacy while inside, yet allowing one to look out to the left towards the vegetable garden and tennis courts, or to the two beachside relaxation bales, ideal for meditation or yoga.
Villa Gajah Putih is blessed with two in-house chefs. After over a decade of operations, and guests from the four corners of the world, they are able to prepare a variety of mouth watering dishes to tempt all. The specialties of the villa, Indonesian and Italian cuisine, reflect both its location and personal nature. A vegetable garden located on the estate enhances the menu with home-grown organic vegetables and herbs. In addition to this, ingredients for all meals are purchased from high quality supermarkets and delicatessens. 30% will be added to all grocery receipts purchased by villa staff. Where possible, the staff will shop for fresh ingredients to make unforgettable meals, such as buying fresh seafood from the pre-dawn market in the village of Jimbaran. The villa also offers a special all-in fixed price option for breakfast, lunch or dinner for USD33 per person (children under the age of ten eat for free), although this excludes certain items such as steak and lobster. Special gastronomic touches and abilities abound. Bread is baked fresh by the staff everyday. A selection of homemade desserts is one of the bonuses of residing at Gajah Putih. In addition, the villa makes its own ice cream – Italian techniques with fresh tropical fruits presented in a beachside setting – what more could anyone desire?
One of the great joys of staying in a private residence is the ability to entertain and mingle with your guests, both from inside the villa and out. Gajah Putih, with its expansive grounds, mature tropical garden, large entertaining spaces, lends itself to gatherings of any size. Intimate family reunions, informal business meetings and small conventions, birthday parties (large and small), have all been held at the Gajah Putih estate. Imagine your wedding day surrounded by your closest friends next to a beach of the Indian Ocean. Gajah Putih can offer everything to facilitate an unforgettable wedding. The villa is capable of facilitating intimate weddings and large social ones. With its expansive grounds, one can easily entertain over three hundred people.
Gajah Putih is located right on the beach side at Pantai Berawa in the district of Canggu, just a twenty-minute drive from the greater Kuta/Seminyak area where the prime dining, shopping, and nightlife in Bali are located. Because of its slightly out of town setting, it has the double attraction of being relatively close to everything one might need, while being far enough away to retain a peaceful rural feel. The surrounding village is traditional Balinese, and retains large expanses of pictorial rice fields. This six bedrooms villa and its immense property has the spectacular attribute of being set directly on the beach, and the ocean view enhances the enticing attributes of this prime estate.
