Villa Mako is a peaceful 3-bedroom retreat, complete with swimming pool, located in a quiet traditional village above a small river valley. The single-storey villa is neo-colonial in style, similar to the Dutch guesthouses of the Javanese and Malay hill stations, characterised by louvre shutters, old teak doors, and spectacular high wooden ceilings built of seasoned timbers. The eclectic interiors reflect the travels and passions of the owners, introducing Balinese and Javanese antiques, combined with a bold use of colour to create a very personal atmosphere.
Designed to maximise the natural light, and catch the cool breezes even at the hottest time of year, the property offers a blend of air-conditioned comfort and open-air tropical living. Its elevated position, meanwhile, affords beautiful open views over the pool to a jungle canopy against a backdrop of rice terraces.
The furnishings and decorations include large mirrors, armchairs, cushions and loungers that focus on comfort as well as style. There are numerous relaxation areas, together with a huge amount of covered space, so guests will always find a private spot for peace and quiet. In fact, a large family or group of people could stay at the villa and still lose each other within its depths. In addition to this, guests have the choice of three different eating areas, all of which present a unique ambience.
An advanced water filter system is used throughout the villa, raising the quality of the tap water to provide a pure drinking water source in the kitchen, with drinking water also supplied to the bathrooms and bedrooms. There is an on-site laundry and plenty of storage space for luggage.
Entrance
The villa is approached via a private driveway with a secure car parking area. Two Chinese welcome statues guard the entrance beside a set of double Balinese doors, which open to reveal a covered walkway with a pitched roof, ensuring that there is no danger of getting wet during the rainy season. The walkway circumvents a lotus pond complete with a bubbling water feature in its centre.
Kitchen
Unlike many villas in Bali, where the kitchen is tucked away at the back of the property, the large and immaculate open kitchen at Villa Mako is a feature in itself, situated on one side of the lotus pond. Cream terrazzo work surfaces are flanked by well-stocked glass-fronted cupboards full of sparkling tableware. The kitchen is fully equipped with a sizeable refrigerator, an oven with a large gas hob, and everything else that the staff will need to create delicious meals. Wayan is an excellent cook; a menu is provided showing the dishes that she can prepare, and she is also very happy to work with other recipes and ingredients.
Breakfast area
To one side of the kitchen, overlooking the lotus pond is a breakfast area.
Javanese-style glass lanterns hang from the ceiling, together with paddle fans. The circular marble-topped breakfast table is flanked by six chairs with brightly coloured yellow green and orange cushions matched by a decorative panel on the wall. A guest washroom is located next door.
Media Room
Bordering the lotus pond is a cosy media room, reminiscent of a wooden chalet, and furnished with an oversized sofa with deep cushions in gorgeous shades of green, turquoise and orange. Colourful artwork adorns the walls, and there is also a sofa-bed, a leather lazy rocking chair, a double-decker coffee table, some attractive lamps, shelf units, and a leather woven mat on the floor. The room is built around four recycled timber pillars that support the roof. Folding doors open directly on to the lotus pond, so that the pavilion appears to float. Guests can relax in air conditioned comfort or they can open the doors wide and be cooled by ceiling fans and natural breezes. The Media room is equipped with a TV together with DVD/CD players, and dial-up Internet access. A small Vaio laptop computer has been installed for those who would rather not bring their own. The high quality sound system is linked to speakers all around the villa, or alternatively music can simply be contained within the media room. There is a connection to the amp for those who want to listen to music stored on their personal iPods or laptops.
Main Hall
The central focus of the villa is the magnificent main hall, an expansive living and dining area with folding doors on either side that open wide to allow the cool breezes to circulate. The soaring roof in this splendid pavilion is 8.5 metres high, and supports paddle ceiling fans. The hall is furnished with a formal teak dining table that comfortably seats ten and is lit by pendulous globe-shaped lanterns. Traditional Indonesian artefacts are displayed on wall shelves, while chairs and a huge daybed, complete with an abundance of cushions, is positioned around a funky coffee table. Lamp-stands in the form of wooden Javanese statues, together with a huge, crystal wall mirror, complete the picture of luxury. Folding doors composed of wood and glass open onto a sunny Batu Yogya stone terrace, which doubles the living space of the hall making it a perfect venue for parties.
Bedrooms
Each of the three air-conditioned bedrooms presents a theme; each boasts an en-suite bathroom, and each is equipped with air-conditioning, ceiling fans and a mini E bar/fridge and safe deposit box. The two master bedrooms enjoy soaring roofs and magnificent views together with sunny balconies at the front, furnished with lazy chairs, overlooking the garden and pool. Fitted with ceiling fans, the balconies are great spots for relaxing with morning tea or afternoon cocktails.
The Bali Room is furnished with a super-king-size four-poster bed canopied with the traditional hand-woven textile known as ‘ikat’. The room features polished teak floors and French windows with louvre shutters, which open out onto the terrace and balcony. Antique furniture, bedside tables and lamps create a romantic ambience. Timeworn stained glass doors lead into a large dressing room with a Batu Yogya stone floor, a massage bed and an abundance of cupboards with antique louvre doors. This room can also be used for nursery, and a cot can be provided. Another colonial style door leads into the expansive cream-coloured terrazzo bathroom, featuring ‘his and hers’ washbasins resting upon a terrazzo vanity unit. There is also a huge wall mirror, hanging lamps, ceiling fans, an alcoved toilet, and a powerful overhead rainshower complemented by the thoughtful provision of a handheld shower. A glass skylight in the roof allows the sunlight to stream in above a sunken sculptured terrazzo bathtub, which is big enough for two. Decorative green bamboo trunks in terrazzo pots add to the tropical feel.
On the opposite side of the terrace, double doors open into the Colonial Room with its lovely polished teak floor, and a super-king-size four-poster bed with white drapes and snakeskin cushions. A gold-framed mirror hangs on the wall and French windows with louvre shutters enhance the colonial theme. The bedroom is furnished with a desk, armchairs, and an ottoman at the end of the bed, and there is a dressing area with fitted cupboards. The en-suite bathroom is L-shaped; fixtures and furnishings include an oversized sunken sculptured terrazzo bathtub, ‘his and hers’ washbasins, a toilet hidden within an alcove, hanging lamps, a rainshower with a handheld shower, a massage bed and ceiling fans. The bathroom has an open air feel, due to the provision of glass windows in the roof, maximising the natural light.
The Bamboo Room is accessed by double antique doors, and can be set up with two beds for younger guests or as double room. The en-suite cream terrazzo bathroom features twin washbasins, a toilet hidden within an alcove, ceiling fans, and a rainshower with a handheld shower. Glass windows in the roof maximise the natural light.
Garden & Pool
A wrought iron gate heralds the entrance to a central flight of steps leading down to the pool through an avenue of umbrella ferns. The beautiful garden then rolls down to a river located behind its boundary walls. The garden is dotted with sweet-scented frangipani and orchids, and bordered by mature trees including teak, coconut palms, and a towering breadfruit tree. On either side of the garden is a banana, palm and pandanus plantation. Although the gate is an attractive feature in itself, this with an adjoining fence separates the main house from the pool to ensure the safety of any young children staying at the property.
The 18-metre mango-shaped swimming pool is 1.5 metres deep with a large platform area just 15 centimetres deep for kids. The cobalt-blue tiled pool is filled with light salt water instead of chlorine, and is equipped with an innovative filtering system utilising pure water from the villa’s own bore.
The stone pool terrace is furnished with six sunloungers, table and chairs, four large Balinese parasols, and two poolside statues of Balinese gods and goddesses. On one side is a barbeque ‘bale’ pavilion, with a thatched ‘alang alang’ roof, a dining table for six, a fridge, a fan, an intercom to the house, speakers for the sound system, and a sink. A washroom is located behind the pavilion, and the staff will prepare barbeques beside the pool. Additionally, there is a poolside reading bale, fitted with bamboo blinds, a fan, and a colourful mattress and cushions.
Twelve flaming torches at night cast a stunning reflection of the Balinese parasols within the still water of the pool, turning the scene into a romantic little paradise, serenaded by a chorus of frog song.
At the bottom of the garden is a rustic brick wall with a door opening onto the river bank; here guests will find a simple and private riverside bale, perfect for meditation. This is also the site of a holy spring, where offerings to the gods are made by the local villagers. Eighty metres along the river-bank is the village temple. Guests will be welcomed at temple festivals, some may even be lucky enough to witness a barong dance or other Hindu ceremony. The villa staff will be happy to help with ceremonial clothing and advice on etiquette.
Location
Villa Mako is hidden away in the traditional village Tiyingtukul, just five minutes’ drive from the beach at Canggu on Bali’s south west coast. This out of town setting offers the double attraction of being close to everything that guests might need, while also presenting a fascinating insight into the traditions of rural Bali. The neighbouring Echo Beach, with its world-class surf breaks and panoramic coastline views, is the place where the local community gathers in the evenings to watch the legendary sunsets. The trendy Seminyak area is just twenty minutes’ drive from the villa, presenting an exciting nightlife, together with an abundance of trendy boutiques, luxurious spas, and internationally acclaimed restaurants – including the famous ‘Ku Dé Ta’, ‘Kafé Warisan’, ‘Living Room’, ‘Hu’u’ and ‘La Lucciola’.
The location of Villa Mako offers easy access up to the mountains and rice terraces on the western slopes of the island, and is just twenty minutes’ drive from the Sunset Route, gateway to the eastern side of the island. The international airport is between twenty-five and thirty-five minutes’ drive depending on the traffic. The location is also convenient for all of the shopping malls and main tourist attractions. Easily accessible sporting amenities include the ‘Canggu Club’, just eight minutes’ away, and the nearby ‘Nirwana Bali Golf Course’. Designed by Greg Norman, this was voted the number 1 golf course in Indonesia; it is situated beside the dramatic, waved-lashed sea temple of Tanah Lot.For horse lovers, the ‘Umalas Equestrian Centre’ is just a few kilometres away.
