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Redefine Luxury and Incomparable Bliss at AMANKILA

 

Continuing in the tradition of Aman Resort Worldwide and their reputation for luxurious facilities, exceptional locations, impaccable service and fine cuisine, Amankila did not disapoint durng my recent stay. set on a hillside on the south eastern coast of Bali and overlooking the Lombok start the resort is surrounded by the stunning scenery of the historic Karangasem Regency.

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The resort is hidden away in the Eastern part of Bali and on arriving you realise why, it has been placed in its own corner of paradise in a beautiful tranquil place. Amankila offers 31 elegant freestanding suites 9 of which have private pools that are elevated to maximise their ocean views. To blend in with its Balinese spiritual surroundings, the architecture takes its inspiration from the Royal Water Palace of Ujung in nearby Amlapura.
I stayed in a luxurious Pool Suite, 204 square metres of luxury complete with a 9.7- meter private pool enclosed by a paras-stone courtyard. The suite is spacious, extremely comfortable and tastefully designed with a perfect blend of Balinese ornaments and modern amenities. The suite can be connected to an Ocean Suite to accommodate larger groups.
The central feature of the resort is a magnificent three tiered infinity edge pool which tumbles down the hillside like a flowing rice field towards the sea below and all surrounded by the peace and charm of its picturesque setting.
A nice touch is a library conveniently positioned near the pool which provides a cool sanctuary furnished with a selection of books, newspapers , magazines, games and CDs. Afternoon tea is available daily on the steps of the library where staff dressed in traditional dress serve Indonesian snacks, honey ginger tea and Bali coffee.

If you feel like relaxing on the beach, there is a beach club just minutes away, by foot or buggy, from the main resort. Featuring a 41-metre lap pool, the beach club is set on the volcanic- sand beach with eight lounging bales and offers Indonesian and light western dishes during lunchtime.
You can dine wherever you like, Amankila has 2 restaurants: the main restaurant which is popular for breakfast and dinner, and a more casual terrace for lunch. I opted to have my
lunch in one of the bales in the pool area. During my visit the standard of cuisine was a real high point of my stay. The chef has creatively crafted some delicious Indonesian dishes based on traditional recipes such as the ayam taliwang and gulai ikan both of which are beautifully presented without sacrificing the authenticity of the original dish.
While at the resort, I pampered myself with an excellent one-hour tailored treatment in the spa pavilion. A rejuvenating treatment applied by an attentitive skilled therapist we started with a 30-minute Aman signature massage which was then augmented by a 30-minute scrub using sea salt and lavender oil.

This is the 4th Aman property I have had the pleasure to experience and my stay at Amankila was nothing short of wonderful. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Mt Agung, Bali’s sacred mountain, enveloped by lush vegetation and overlooking the Lombok Strait, the resort is a truly beautiful place to stay. That unique Aman atmosphere which is so hard to find in other resorts has, once again, won my heart. Outstanding service, a view to die for, and the friendly and attentive staff are just a few of the things that stood out for me.
The small details also make a difference and before leaving, as usual, a luggage tag in blue leather with my name on it, was attached to my bag and a blessed Balinese string bracelet was tied to my wrist. A delightful end to a magical stay but, as always, too short and it is always hard to leave a resort that makes you feel that you have visited the home of a dear friend rather than staying in a hotel. A truly wonderful experience!

Amankila Manggis, Bali Tel. +62 363 41333 www.aman.com/resorts/amankila