06 June 2018

Heavenly Stay at Element by Westin Bali Ubud



Ubud is not a strange place for me. I have been going in and out from Ubud for sometimes. I was there for my Yoga Teacher Training, for my volunteer works at Bali Spirit Festival, and many more. Many good memories have been created in this place, and I have met good people that have become my good friends too. 


One day, I have this willing to spend some quiet moment in a good place I know. Jakarta is not my choice. When I plan my quiet journey, my mind goes to Ubud. Why Ubud? Maybe because I know this place very well. So I start to look for a place to stay there. Then I remember that I have visited a new hotel in Ubud when the last time I visited Bali in February. The name of the hotel is Element by Westin Bali Ubud. That time when I visited Element, the hotel was still under construction and had not opened yet. And I think it is always a good experience to try something while it is still brand new and fresh from the oven. Okay, let’s try this brand new hotel!

To book the room at Element by Westin Bali Ubud is easy. I can book it directly at the website of the hotel or at the third parties that usually sell hotel rooms and flight tickets. After I book the room and buy the flight ticket, the exciting journey shall start now! 

Flying from Jakarta to Bali takes around two hours, and going to Ubud from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar takes between one to two hours depends on how the traffic is.

After I land in the Denpasar Airport and finally enter the area of Ubud, all the happy memories start to rise again. I love the feeling of it!


Front Yard / Dropping Off Area at Element by Westin Bali Ubud 



It only takes 10 minutes to reach Element by Westin Bali Ubud from the center of Ubud. The hotel is located around the green scenes of Ubud. The location is very perfect for the people who are looking for something natural away from the city life. 



When I arrive at the dropping off area at Element by Westin Bali Ubud, my car passes a Big Ganesha statue. Yes, I can feel the sense of Bali as a holy land where its people respect and honor the Gods and Goddess who protect the land. Amen!



At the left side of the dropping off area in Element by Westin Bali Ubud, I see some bicycles and a Jeep! Later on, I find out that the guests of the hotel can use the bikes for free if they want to ride around and have some adventures in Ubud area. What a nice service! And the Jeep is owned by the son of the owner of the hotel. The Jeep is parked there to cheer up that front yard. Cool! 



Before entering the lobby area of Element by Westin Bali Ubud, two small ponds are located on the left and the ride sides of the pathway to the lobby. Of course, I see fishes in those ponds. Nice, right?

From the outside as you see in the picture that I place at the beginning of this story, Element by Westin Bali Ubud looks very humble and simple. But when you see the inside, it is a fabulous hotel! Let me guide you to this new fantastic hotel in Ubud, Bali!


Lobby Area at Element by Westin Bali Ubud 






At the lobby of Element by Westin Bali Ubud, I see something unique in the middle of it! I see a huge Bamboo Artwork in the middle of the lobby. Wow! The Bamboo Artwork covers a sofa under it. The artwork is a unique signature of the hotel. By seeing this Bamboo Artwork, I know that I will be surrounded by the nature when I stay in the hotel. Love! Love! Love!



The check in process at Element by Westin Bali Ubud is quick and simple. As I have booked the hotel via online, all I need to do is to just mention my name, and the staff at the hotel give me the room key. Very express! As I decide to walk around the hotel to get to know this new hotel better, the staffs at the hotel offer me to deliver my suitcase directly to my room. Very nice service, right?


At the right side of the Reception Desk at Element by Westin Bali Ubud, I find two Welcome Drinks that I can take all day when I stay in the hotel. One is Infused Water from Mint Leave and Lemon, and the second one is a drink made from fresh Ginger. The Infused Water is fresh, while the Ginger Drink is warm and sweet. I like both of the drinks.



I find another unique thing under the Bamboo Artwork at Element by Westin Bali Ubud. I see a Bird Doll on the sofa. The doll is made to honor Kokokan Bird - the local bird living in Petulu Village, Ubud, Bali. Kokokan is the Balinese language for Storks. The birds live peacefully in this village and their numbers are hundreds now. Everyday the birds are seen going in and out of the village, but in the afternoon they gather back to the village. The birds can no longer be found in the territory outside of Petulu Village. The birds seemed to be used to interact with humans. They live on the trees, the yards, along the road and the rice fields. According to the beliefs of the Balinese, the Kokokan Birds is the bodyguard of Lord Ida Bhatara at the local temples and the village guard from the rice pests. Kokokan Bird is also believed to be the sign of blessing and prosperity for Petulu Village.

I visit Petulu Village on the second day I stay in the hotel. The village is located around 5 to 10 minutes from the hotel. So, if you stay in Element by Westin Bali Ubud, don't forget to visit the Kokokan Birds in Petulu Village in the afternoon, especially during the sunset. You can use the bicycles from the hotel. Remember, the bicycles are free to be used if you stay in the hotel. Yeay!


Walking around Element by Westin Bali Ubud






Walking inside Element by Westin Bali Ubud is like an entertainment for my eyes, an exercise for my legs and a source of smile for my face. The hotel is very beautiful, the size of the hotel area is big, and the staffs of the hotel are very friendly. When I walk around the hotel, some hotel staffs greet me, and we have friendly conversations. I love the hotel and its friendly staffs!

After walking around the hotel, it is time for me to come to my room. My room is located at the very end of the hotel, away from the lift and nearby the Sky Bridge. What is Sky Bridge? I will explain you later.

My journey to explore Element by Westin Bali Ubud with some interviews with the General Manager of the hotel - Stephan Faessler, and some of the management of the hotel can be found at my Youtube channel here:


For Indonesian people, my journey to explore Element by Westin Bali Ubud - Part 1 - in Indonesian Language can be found at my Youtube channel here:


For Indonesian people, my journey to explore Element by Westin Bali Ubud - Part 2 - in Indonesian Language can be found at my Youtube channel here:



My Room at Element by Westin Bali Ubud 








My Deluxe Room at Element by Westin Bali Ubud is spacious and luxurious. It has a very nice balcony facing the nature and the sky of Ubud, Bali. I can see some other stuffs too, like a long working desk and its drawer, a suitcase holder, television, and coffee and tea set and maker. The bathroom inside has big glass window. Through the glass window, I could see the bedroom and the balcony area. Isn’t it beautiful?

When I sit at the working desk, I can see the green trees view from the small window behind the desk. Can I say that the room that I have might be the only room that has this view? It is because the room is located at the very end of the hotel. Yes, I stay in the best room in the hotel. You can send me an email to find out which room it is :-D







The bed is big enough for two people. At the left and right side of the bed, I can see two small tables. The table on the left side is a place where I can find standing lamp, a remote control for television, and a device that can be used as clock, alarm, and radio. The table on the right side has a standing lamp too, notes, pencil, and a desk phone. Between the bed and the door to the balcony, there is a reading chair with its lamp.

For the power socket, the left side of the bed has a power socket for USB. It is very perfect corner for a person who prefers to go to the bed with the gadget while charging it like me :-))    
  
  






The balcony has the sense of nature. There are two chairs and a coffee table made from Rattan. The balcony is facing the nature of Ubud nicely. I can see the green trees and the swimming pool down there from the balcony. I will explain about the outside view later. Read more, and you will find it :-)

There are two unique things about the balcony. One is that there is a hanger for drying up our clothes, but it looks like a traditional music instrument from Indonesia called Angklung. The second is that the balcony has a separator to separate my area and the neighbor's area, so I have my privacy when sitting and enjoying my Zen moment. Yeay!









The bathroom is big too, because the hotel place the wardrobe inside the bathroom. There is a glass window that separate the bedroom and the bathroom. I guess the glass window is made so the guests can enjoy watching the view of the balcony and watch the television too. The glass window is equipped with a rollable curtain to close the glass window when the person inside the bathroom needs a little bit of privacy. The washing stand is completed with toiletries and racks to place towels. There is also a cabinet to place Ironing Set, Hairdryer, Safe Deposit Box, Hangers and Flip-flops. 


View from the Balcony





The view I see and the sound I hear from the balcony in my room are very beautiful. I see a combination of the beautiful swimming pool at Element by Westin Bali Ubud and the beautiful view of trees in Ubud, and I hear the sound of the waterfall from the swimming pool. Totally a healing moment for my sore soul. Amazing!


Swimming Pool Area at Element by Westin Bali Ubud








Element by Westin Bali Ubud has three beautiful swimming pools. One swimming pool is for children, and two swimming pools are for adults. They are located between the Andong Teras - the only restaurant in the hotel - and PancaMaya Wellness - the spa and massage center in the hotel. Between the two swimming pools for adult, there is waterfall from the first pool - which is located on the top - that runs down to the second pool - which is located on the bottom. I can hear the sound of the waterfall from my room upstairs. It is very calming and relaxing sound. I feel like I am in paradise.

Later on I find out that the swimming pools in Element by Westin Bali Ubud use Saline Water for the better health of the guests and the better environment. The natural water will surely keep the guests and the environment happy and healthy!


Free Yoga Class at Element by Westin Bali Ubud








The best thing about staying in Element by Westin Ubud Bali is that I can practice yoga for free twice a day. Yeay! The hotel provides free yoga classes for its guests at 7 AM (Sunrise Yoga) and 6 PM (Sunset Yoga). The yoga teachers work at the PancaMaya Wellness, the massage and spa center at the hotel. The yoga style they teach is the classical Hatha Yoga. The style is good for all level of practitioners, from the beginner to the advanced ones. So for all the guests who are still new and still learning about yoga practice, the yoga classes in the hotel is the perfect classes for you.


Andong Teras at Element by Westin Bali Ubud











Element by Westin Bali Ubud has only one restaurant called Andong Teras that is open daily for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, happy hour, and dinner. The restaurant also serves in-room dining service for the guests who stay in the hotel whenever they want to eat in their rooms.

When I visit Andong Restaurant, I can see that it is a half open space and feels like a terrace back at my home. That is why it is called "teras" - the Indonesian language of terrace. Andong Teras is filled with tables, chairs and sofas made from wood, a few bigger tables for buffet breakfast and a bigger space at the back for its open kitchen.

The dishes in Andong Teras are mainly focused on Balinese and Indonesian dishes, but of course the restaurant has other choices of international dishes. The dishes in the restaurant are freshly taken from the hotel's garden, and strictly from local markets in Ubud, Bali and Indonesia.


One of the best thing about the restaurant is that I can have that beautiful swimming pool view whenever I sit there. For the hotel guests who want to enjoy drinks, coconut, mocktails and cocktails, Andong Teras in Element by Westin Bali Ubud has its bar called Pool Bar. Yes, it is located just next to the beautiful swimming pool at the hotel.


Breakfast Buffet at Andong Teras at Element by Westin Bali Ubud























Breakfast Buffet at the Andong Restaurant in Element by Westin Bali Ubud is a delicious experience for me. When I arrive at the restaurant for the very first time for the breakfast, a friendly female staff at the restaurant explains me about the food the restaurant serves that morning. Yes, the service in the restaurant is as good as the food there! The number of the food in the restaurant is good enough for a good breakfast in the morning!





There are so many food to choose, like American Breakfast, Indonesian Breakfast, Eggs (like Omelette, Sunny Side Up, Hard Boiled Egg, etc), bread, jam, cheese, cornflakes, oatmeal, waffle, potato, corn, sausage, ham, beans, Chicken Porridge, Noodle Soup, fresh vegetables, fresh salad, cooked vegetables, fresh fruits, Indonesian Traditional Snacks (like Fried Banana, Black Sticky Rice Porridge, etc), yoghurt, fresh juices, coffee, tea, and many more. Whatever you want, the restaurant has them. Be careful, you will end up dying in happiness. LOL!


Lunch and Dinner in Andong Teras at Element by Westin Bali Ubud


One of the reasons why I spend most of my time inside Element by Westin Bali Ubud is that I want to experience the food in Andong Teras. During the lunch and dinner at the restaurant, I experience some of the best food and drinks there. I ask the Chef in the restaurant about the food that he recommends, and these are his recommendations!

Note:

  • All the food I eat in Andong Teras should come with one serving of rice, but I ask that the rice is replaced with salad or vegetables because I am on a Keto Diet where I try to limit the consumption of carbohydrates and sugar. So for Indonesian people and all the rice-eaters, don't worry! You will get these dishes with the rice next to them.
  • All the dishes come with Sambal. Sambal is an Indonesian hot sauce or paste typically made from a mixture of a variety of chili peppers with secondary ingredients such as shrimp paste, fish sauce, garlic, etc.



Kuah Be Pasih is a Seafood Soup from Tuna, Tiger Prawn, and Squid in Balinese-spiced and herbed Seafood Broth with Cucumber. I like this Kuah Be Pasih because I always like broth and seafood. The taste of this dish is like a mix of Tom Yum and Soto (a traditional Indonesian soup mainly composed of broth, meat, and vegetables). Very savory and delicious!


Iga Babi Bakar is Grilled Pork Ribs with Balinese Barbecue Sauce, Sweet Corn Fritters and Sambal. For a person who practices Keto Diet where I only eat fat, protein and vegetables, this dish is a paradise. It is a perfect nutrition for my body. The ribs are juicy and tender, and the sauce is perfectly tasteful.


When I order Grilled Fish Jimbaran, the Chef serves a Fillet of Red Snapper with Kangkung Plecing, Sambal Matah, Sambak Ulek, and Fried Nuts. Kangkung Plecing is an Indonesian cuisine from Bali consists of boiled Water Spinach and served with tomato sauce, cayenne pepper, salt, shrimp paste, etc. Sambal Matah is a uncooked sambal originated from Bali that is made by slicing some Red Chili, Red Onion, Lemongrass, Citrus Leaves and adding coconut oil, salt and lime juice. Very rich dishes in a plate!


Sate Babi Tajen is Grilled Pork Skewer with Aromatic Sauce, Rice Cake, Urap Pakis, and Sambal. Urap Pakis is boiled vegetables mixed with spicy coconut flavored. This dish tastes appetizing and tasty. Yum! I like this Sate!


Andong Teras has many version of Sambal. All of them are hot and spicy! If you like chili, I bet you want to taste all kind of Sambal in this restaurant. 


Andong Teras in Element by Westin Bali Ubud serves varieties of healthy drinks. My favorite healthy drink in the restaurant is Laksita, a juice made from Pokchoy, Pineapple, Honey, and Lime. The other juice I like is Andong Street, a juice made from Melon, Ginger, Lime juice, and Honey. I am sure all the people who are concerned about their health and those who are in the process of detoxification will find these healthy drinks as their remedy.


Sky Bridge at Element by Westin Bali Ubud


One of interesting spots in Element by Westin Bali Ubud is a hanging balcony made from glass. They call it Sky Bridge. It is located at the 7th floor and at the very end of the hotel building. It is a challenging spot for me as I am afraid of height. The balcony just sticks to one side of the hotel, and there was no pillar underneath to support the other side of the balcony. It is truly hanging! Very scary! But it is beautiful too as I can see everything from the Sky Bridge. I can see the hotel and surroundings, especially the garden underneath the bridge because it is a see-through balcony.














After standing near the Sky Bridge for a few minutes, I manage myself bravely to stand there and practice some yoga poses there. I feel very good to beat my own scare feeling and I feel so beautiful to stand and practice yoga in this exciting spot!

My Yoga Practice - Part 1 at the Sky Bridge in Element by Westin Bali Ubud can be found at my Youtube channel here:



My Yoga Practice - Part 2 at the Sky Bridge in Element by Westin Bali Ubud can be found at my Youtube channel here:



PancaMaya Wellness and Motion Fitness Room at Element by Westin Bali Ubud





If you stay in Element by Westin Bali Ubud, you can't miss PancaMaya Wellness, the spa and massage center in the hotel. It has five treatment room to pamper you very well and make you feel relax. They use fresh products to massage the body, exfoliate the skin and and many more. Before the massage treatment starts, the Spa Associate will explain about the ingredients featured in its Herbology table. PancaMaya Wellness provides various Detox Programs too assisted by a clinical nutritionist doctor. The doctor will provide a program for vitality, weight management, etc. It is the center for other activities too, like Yoga Practice, Meditation, Aquarobic, Pilates, and Zumba. Wow! What a complete service!

When I come there, PancaMaya Wellness is fully booked! Wow! I can't find any perfect time to do any treatment there. I feel a bit sad, but it is a good news as it means that many people like the spa and massage treatments there. Don't worry, someday I will be there!

The Motion Fitness Room is located next to the spa center. It is open for 24 hours. The number of the equipment is good enough for the people who want to be fit during their holidays.

My journey to explore PancaMaya Wellness and Motion Fitness Room in Element by Westin Bali Ubud can be found at my Youtube channel here:



Business Center at Element by Westin Bali Ubud









Near the lobby, I can find a business center for people who still want to work and do their business. The business center is equipped with a computer that is connected with free high speed Internet access, printer and fax machine. It is open for 24 hours.

The business center is also filled with beautiful paintings on its wall which I guess are the private collections of the hotel's owner. So, is it a business center or an art gallery? Never mind. I don't mind to look at these beautiful paintings for hours. LOL!     


Smoke Free Environment in Element by Westin Bali Ubud !!!


There is a good policy applied in Element by Westin Bali Ubud. No one can smoke in this hotel! Yeay! This is a good news for a person who hates smokers like me. It means I can breath the fresh air in this hotel. I heard those people who smoke will be fined. Very good policy, Element!


Heavenly Bed in Element by Westin Bali Ubud





From all of the things I experience in Element by Westin Bali Ubud, the very best one is its Heavenly Bed. I feel very comfortable sleeping on this fluffy bed.

One night I plan to work on something from this bed at Element by Westin Bali Ubud, but then the plan becomes just a plan. Because when I jump into the bed here, I suddenly feel very comfortable and relax, and my mood starts to be very easy. I totally enter my Zen moment. My eyes start to feel so heavy and very sleepy. Directly, I fall asleep without touching any work that I plan to do. I sleep for eight hours nonstop and I woke up at 7 AM naturally without setting up any alarm. Ah! This is heaven! Now I know why it is called Heavenly Bed!

The Westin Heavenly Bed consists of 10 layers of comfort and happiness to guarantee your restful sleep every night, so you can restore and recharge your body and your mind.


Friendship Created in Element by Westin Bali Ubud



One of the beautiful things I get when staying at Element by Westin Bali Ubud is that I make new friendship with many guests staying in the hotel. All start from the yoga class, the table we share for dinner and breakfast, and when we say hello to each other.

After a yoga class, I meet a lady - Laydes Pimenta AKA Pepper from Brazil - who invites me to her table to celebrate her birthday. (Happy Birthday, Pepper!). On the table, I meet another lady from the yoga class and her friends - Lelia Rotaru from Belgium and Jessica Westphal from Germany. On another occasion, I meet a guy - Nick from the USA - while I am on my way to my room. He stays in the room next to mine. He says hello and I say hello back to him. I meet him again in the lobby and at the breakfast. We all have very good conversation, share some experiences and share some laughs. I still continue my conversations with these new friends even after we leave the hotel.

One thing I learn from this is that sometimes the good place we stay can bring some good mood to us, and the good mood can bring out some friendliness inside us. That friendliness can introduce us to brand new relationships with others. Thank you, Element by Westin Bali Ubud, for creating a good space for me to meet all of my new friends.

Note: The first picture of 5 of us is taken from Pepper's phone. Thanks a lot, Pepper! 




After staying and resting at Element by Westin Ubud Bali, I feel very fresh and alive. I am so very ready to jump and kick again. Yes, I think my "me time" here in this hotel works very well. The hotel is a perfect place to rest my body and mind, and recharge the power and energy inside me. I feel like having my own small retreat. Wow, thank you, Element by Westin Bali Ubud.



I must say Element by Westin Bali Ubud is awesome. It successfully amazes me and blows my mind away. The services are very super, the staffs are very very very friendly, and the facilities are fantastic. I feel comfortable staying there and I really enjoy my time there. I definitely will come back again very soon.

Congratulations, Element by Westin Bali Ubud. Your service is amazing! Keep up the good work! Hope to see you again very soon! Cheers!





Element by Westin Bali Ubud
Jl. Raya Andong No. 88, 
Petulu, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, 
Bali 80571
Indonesia 
Phone: (0361) 3088888
Website: http://www.elementbywestinbali.com/