Villa layout
Villa Maya comprises a two-storey villa and a self-contained antique timber joglo house; each is set in its own private seafront garden complete with swimming pool. The main three-bedroom villa offers a choice of living and dining areas-one in an open-sided beachfront pavilion next to a relaxation bale-a massage pavilion, and a seaside sun deck.
Perfect for honeymooners, the joglo presents an open-sided sitting/dining area with kitchenette, behind which is a bedroom and bathroom. The joglo boasts its own swimming pool and bordering the beach is a large deck for wedding ceremonies.
Living areas
Main house
Villa Maya’s main living and dining room welcomes in the outdoors – and even a section of the swimming pool-via folding glass doors. This eclectic fan-cooled space is outfitted with comfy chairs, a satellite-channel TV and a formal dining table for six alongside a pond filled with fat happy koi fish. The room is completed with artwork, antique carvings, two ornately carved doors and a funky floating staircase spiralling up to the master suite.
At the front of the garden is a charming living and dining pavilion, open on three sides but protected from the elements on the seaward side by sliding glass doors. A deeply cushioned daybed runs along the back wall, and two circular tables at the front offer a more casual dining option. Colourful beaded lanterns hang from the high roof, and the picture is completed with soft white drapes and a tablescape of traditional artefacts.
With its 14-metre swimming pool, double jacuzzi, sundeck and spa pavilion, Villa Maya’s gorgeous garden is bordered by towering coconut palms, pandanas, fragrant frangipanis and flowering shrubs.
At the end of the garden, a large timber deck rests upon a beachside bluff with steps leading down to the black-sand beach. Furnished with a daybed, a balé relaxation pavilion and an alfresco dining table, this is a place to enjoy the cool breezes, afternoon tea, a cocktail, or even breakfast or dinner beneath the coconut trees while gazing at an awe-inspiring picture of the ocean waves, the coastline or the night sky.
Joglo
The open-sided living and dining space at the joglo welcomes guests with cool sea breezes and a dining table for six overlooking the garden, the pool and the sea. A precious feature is the richly carved centrepiece within the soaring trapezium-shaped roof, beneath which a huge daybed filled with cushions presents a wonderful spot for lazing while being lulled by the sound of the surf. Additionally, an integrated kitchenette offers simple facilities for guests who choose to cook.
The joglo’s garden introduces a private 8-metre swimming pool, a large lawn bordered by brightly coloured tropical plants, frangipani trees, and a mesmerising vista across the sea. Balinese statues and orchids hug the garden walls and a temple rests to one side. In front of the temple is a large, elevated beachside deck – an enchanting spot for a truly romantic wedding ceremony. Beyond the deck, steps lead down to the sand.
Bedrooms
Master bedroom
Villa Maya’s opulent, air-conditioned master suite is accessed via its own floating staircase, regally decked out in dark woods and rich fabrics, and furnished with a king-size bed and framed photos from Bali’s golden age. Sliding glass doors lead to a wide, shaded balcony overlooking the pool and with ocean views accompanied by the sound of the pounding surf. The ensuite bathroom consists of two sumptuous areas – one with a bath, shower and twin basins, the other with WC and washbasin – linked by a timber walkway and enclosed with attractive fretwork screens.
Guest bedrooms
Two mirror-image air-conditioned guest bedrooms flank the living room accessed internally via magnificent carved doors or alternatively from the garden through glass doors which should be thrown open wide during the day to enjoy a lazy tropical experience. Each room is furnished with a king-sized bed under a soaring wood-and-bamboo-lined ceiling. The semi-open-air bathrooms are a dream in black polished concrete under a pergola roof, with seductive hidden lighting, sunken tub, rain shower and tropical plants.
Joglo bedroom
A stunningly-ornate antique door in the garden wall slides open to reveal the one-bedroom honeymoon joglo, a century-old timber house that was imported from Java and retrofitted with all the comforts of modern-day living to provide a private space for newlyweds and couples. Beautifully embellished with intricately carved doors and wall panels, the bedroom is cosy and intimate with a king-size bed and a flat screen satellite TV. A sunken bath and monsoon shower are incorporated within the room.
Location
Majapahit Beach Villas are located at Pabean Beach, near Ketewel, on Bali’s south-east coast. Bounded by the River Wos, rice fields, tobacco plantations, papaya, banana and coconut groves, the area is blessed with spectacular views extending across the ocean towards the beaches of Sanur and Nusa Dua, the islands of Lembongan, Ceningan and Penida, and the mountains of East Bali. The glistening black sands along this stretch of coastline are popular with surfers and beachcombers.
There are plenty of local warungs (eateries), and international restaurants and shops galore can be found just 11km away in Sanur. The villas are only a scenic 19km from Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital, and a short drive from the villages of Mas, Sukawati, Batubulan and Batuan, famous for their traditional handcrafts and fascinating to visit.
