On 5th March 2011, while the people of Bali pay homage to the New Year Day of Silence, guests who hideaway at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa are treated to the kind of exclusive amenities and indulgent experiences that make it difficult to leave after just 24 hours.
In contrast to most cultures’ New Year celebrations which are characterised by parties of great gusto and revelry, Bali opens its New Year quite uniquely with a Day of Silence, or Nyepi. Following colourful ceremonies where effigies are cleansed in rivers or the ocean and a carnival to ward off evil spirits, Nyepi is a day to start afresh, contemplate and reassess one’s values in life. As a day of solemn reflection, Balinese people abstain from travelling, working and all forms of entertainment, instead spending the day quietly at home engaging in minimal activity, fasting and meditation. No flights depart from or arrive at the airport, the streets are closed to pedestrians and vehicles, and even street lights are turned off for the evening. Such prohibitions are undertaken seriously, with the exemption of hotels, whose guests, though not allowed to step outside, may enjoy all the in-house pleasures.
Hideaway along Bali’s most sought after stretch of shore at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa. Choose your perfect private haven from a sumptuous Anantara Suite spanning 80 square metres of modern comforts nestled harmoniously within contemporary Balinese design, including a signature deep terrazzo tub, an Anantara Pool Access Suite with semi-private pool, or an Anantara Ocean Suite boasting exceptional Indian Ocean views. Alternatively raise the roof on the height of luxury by booking into the resort’s one-of-a-kind 420 square metre rooftop Penthouse with private butler and endless VIP treatment. Comprising two en-suite bedrooms and spacious living space which can be transformed into a private spa haven or eclectic event, the lifestyle opportunities are further enhanced by a high tech kitchen and private vintage wine cellar. An eight metre private infinity pool stretches from the suite’s interior and out into the 120 square metre al fresco which invites guests to sink into a hydro tub to gaze down at trendy Seminyak Beach.
When guests can finally tear themselves away from the high tech entertainment and plush comforts of their Suite, Anantara Spa offers a restful sanctuary of sensual aromas, luxurious elixirs and a vast range of soothing treatments. Guests can take time out with an expert therapist to tailor a package according to their individual needs, to be enjoyed in one of two single or two couple’s treatment suites, each complete with private terrazzo showers or bathtubs, a personal iPod connection, and views of verdant tree tops and Mount Batukaru.
Dining at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa offers an equal wealth of diversity. Savour all day dining at Wild Orchid, where international cuisine is accompanied by Thailand’s regional specialties in a beach-style lounge with ocean views. For those who desire to master the culinary skills behind one of the world’s most popular cuisines, Anantara’s Thai Culinary Journey offers a cooking class guided by Wild Orchid’s experienced Thai chefs, followed by a lunch of the students’ own creations.
Balance gourmet delights with refreshing hours of exercise and the freedom of the great outdoors. Get into shape at the fitness centre, or rebalance body, mind and soul with an energising yoga session. Tune into Bali’s Silence Day by floating quietly in one of the two beachfront infinity edge swimming pools.
Experience the luxurious silence of Bali’s New Year and so much more, at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa.
