Karma-refic

I was a new man later the second day, fresh and ready to participate. It was then the hotel’s manager suggested we hire their chef to come to our private, well-stocked kitchen and give us cooking lessons. She suggested we take their car to the Jimbaran fish market and pick out a few live ones, and bring them back in their cooler. We sliced and diced and put it all together into a fantastic meal. Their chef, Made (Maw-day’) spoke great English and entertained us with tales about family life in Bali. And he talked about the subtle art of spicing— “not too much pepper, only compliment, not cover, the flavor,” he gently taught.

We prepared and barbecued cumi-cumi (squid) and red snapper. I couldn’t get enough of that pineapple chili sauce we’d made for it. And the pisang goreng (banana fritters), crispy and sweet (yeah, I have a sweet tooth!)

But after five days of great villa life (yes, I was thinking retirement in the tropics might not be so bad, Bali perhaps?) Tricia suggested we go up to Ubud and explore a little. The Sacred Monkey Forest was steamy and crazy with monkeys and everything hand made for sale. And the Kecak dance, with a hundred dancers in sarongs, chanting rhythms that shook my bones under moonlight. I learned there the ancient Balinese culture is one of the few that thrives, has actually strengthened, from tourism. Mutually-beneficial tourism. Hmm. I like the sound of that.

And from there they arranged a walking tour through rice paddies and a small village. My wife and I cherished glasses of Balinese coffee a woman along the way served. She said they first ferment the beans, then roast them over coconut shells. Makes the coffee not so strong, but with a brisk flavor. My wife found a beautiful painting of Balinese village life that we all now treasure back home.

After seven days we were rested and had all gotten to know each other once again, it was home for us. Then the manager there, a remarkable young lady named Pingkan, talked about their other nearby resort, called Karma Kandara. “What the heck,” we said. So they packed us up and transferred us there, only took 20 minutes for a place that was lifetimes away.

What a place! High on a cliff, overlooking the Indian Ocean, the view was clear for at least a hundred miles. The Kandara has a Mediterranean feel to it. Walkways and buildings were made of white rock mined right on site from where they carved-in the spacious villas. My wife and I visited their spa and I their well-equipped gym every day. And each late afternoon, we took their tramway down the steep slope to the beach, absolutely loving the private white sands, on a beach known for its high waves and big caves.

Well, in any case, we found a great home away from home. The Karma Jimbaran, and the Karma Kandara on the cliffs, are by the far the best places we’ve ever stayed, literally anywhere in the world. We’ve already booked another stay around the New Year.

In my view, the Karma Hotels are as perfect as Bali villa hotels can get. May I suggest you spend the extra money for that once-in-a-lifetime experience!

By the way, we’re saving the Air Bali Helicopter tour for the next visit!

Karma Resorts

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