by James Carys

So, you're in Bali for Valentines 2007. You've got the girl/guy on your arm, the resort is booked and dinner plans are already taken care of. What's the missing part of the heart shaped jigsaw puzzle?

Picnic On A Palanquin - A Designer Picnic

Taken as a champagne breakfast, or a sunset picnic, this designer picnic creates a romantic adventure for two (or more). A 30 minute drive brings you to a secret location, through a very pretty back road to where the guests are greeted by Alila staff and a traditional colonial palanquin. Wow! Four hearty Alila lads stand ready to take the guests on a short ride to the tented picnic site. A beautifully arranged, designer tent awaits, where woven baskets, mats, pillows and of course the obligatory safari hat and sarongs are designed to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

The champagne and picnic is freshly made and attended by eager staff, while the sounds of Balinese rindik ring softly through the valley. Whether through storm clouds or sunshine, the valley view is incredible - a truly remarkable picnic location. The event is gently performed with delicate style and finesse, a perfect picnic for two

 

Horse Riding on the Beach

What, I asked myself, could possibly be less romantic than waking up early and strapping yourself to a dangerous looking beast, then gallivanting through West Bali's rice fields uncontrollably?

As it turned out I was in for a pleasant and very captivating surprise.

Having almost no equestrian experience excepting a nasty allergy to horsehair it was with some trepidation that I mounted a disgruntled mare and trotted off along the Canggu coastline, through the pounding surf and into the padi fields with my partner in tow a few hooves behind.

What a way to catch the break of a Canggu day, cantering through the undergrowth, unearthing hidden temples and a pace of life that is far more in tune with being discovered by horseback than being plundered through on board a motorbike or jeep.

Surprisingly it's also a wonderfully romantic venture and one I can't wait to repeat.

Once I've stopped sneezing that is.

A two-hour ride (with or without accompanying guide) is US 50.00 and can be booked directly with the stables or alternatively through Tugu, Canggu if you're staying with them.

Tarukan Equestrian Centre
Jl Nelayan No.63 Canggu (0361) 747 0644

 

Holy Trek to Heaven

A romantic spiritual trek to visit the holy site of Lempuyang is offered by the Alila Manggis. After a one hour drive from the hotel, the leisure concierge starts the trek from Jumenang with glimpses of Bali's holy mountain, Gunung Agung and on a clear day, even views across to Lombok's Mt Rinjani. A holy man will give a blessing before you step onto the holy mountain and continue the trek through pandang forest filled with abundant varieties of tropical flora and fauna. On reaching the top of Lempuyang Hill, guests rest while enjoying the view. Then the cultural concierge will assist as you dress in traditional Balinese attire and sarung in preparation to visit the special temple.

A local priest will meet you at this hilltop temple, Lempuyang Luhur to give a Hindu blessing in full traditional custom. After the blessing our leisure concierge will tell the unique story of holy water and the holy bamboo in the temple while climbing the many steps down again, passing other Balinese temple visitors along the way.

While a meal is not included, guests can request a romantic picnic hamper which the hotel will be only too happy to arrange.

Contact Alila Hotel Payangan, 0361 975963 or Alila Manggis 0361 363 41011

 

Spa A Deux At The Four Seasons

Valentines wouldn't be valentines without the chocolates, but if you're up for wearing the cocoa bean rather than ingesting it this year, then The Four Seasons is the place to go. Spa treatments are something I've been meaning to investigate in Bali for a while now but frankly, I have a problem with sitting still for more than half an hour.

I think it may be a mild bout of ADD but I haven't sought medical concurrency as yet, that would necessitate a wait in a doctor's surgery thus antagonizing my suspected condition further. However, actually having a scheduled spa treatment to review has somewhat forced me out of my frenetic Bali bubble and into new, far more relaxed territories and for that I'm grateful to The Four Seasons Jimbaran, and their very alternative ‘Passion Potion' treatment for couples.

It's a two-hour sensory overload, a Roman orgy of chocolate and truffle body scrubs, mint and caviar creams and a particularly interesting strawberry body pack which requires visitors to be trussed up in hypothermic blankets and left to the mercy of tranquility for a whole twenty minutes.

Any busy work thoughts occupying my mind flew out the window in a hot nutmeg-scented second and I thought we'd been duped on the time when the masseuses coaxed me back to life two hours later.

I could quite happily have passed a day in here toying with the variety of spa treatments on offer but instead settle for a dip in the plunge pools and a lengthy session in the Jacuzzi with a glass of Champagne to cap three very decadent hours of candied pampering.

The Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay
Tel: (0361) 701010