The best pools at the Rimba Jimbaran/Ayana? Part 3

13 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Barneys Girl in Indonesia, Travel

Tags

Ayana Resort, bali, Bali hotels, infinity pool, pools, resort, Review, Rimba Jimbaran

One of the reasons why we decided on the Rimba Jimbaran back in Easter was because it had access to the Ayana facilities as well which means access to LOTS of pools and dining options. Not that the Rimba does not already have enough pools as it is (it has 6!), but no one has ever complained about too many pools (10 in total!). Besides who knows how crowded it will be over Easter? So in order to make the most of our stay, we went pool hopping looking for the best places to chill. Here is our conclusion:

Best for chilling and reading by the pool side: Three Monkeys at the Rimba

Yes, those are the legendary three monkeys!

This was the first pool we encountered at the resort, and ironically turned out to be our favourite (and the last one we ended up in). While there isn’t any particularly special feature to the pool, there is a magically tranquil and peaceful atmosphere to it that makes it perfect for chilling and reading. When we were there, there were only a handful of people at any given time and it was relatively quiet compared to the other pools (there’s just something in the air!).

We spent our last morning there (on these super comfortable lounge chairs under the shade), just chilling and reading, occasionally taking a dip when it got too hot (can you see how crystal clear the water is?). It was absolutely perfect and we could’ve stayed there all day!

Most amazing view: Ocean Beach Pool at the Ayana

This is hands down the pool with the most amazing view. Located on the cliffs, this infinity pool is literally right next to the ocean. If you look down, you can see the waves crashing against the cliff. And if you time it right you can even see the sunset from here! I can just lie there and stare into the ocean all day… unfortunately we were not the only ones who thought so. By the time we got there around noon (it is quite a trek to get down to the cliffs!), it was already packed – and no one looked like they were going to move anytime soon!

The pool itself, sandwiched between the infamous Rock Bar and the Kisik restaurant, is actually very small and the water somewhat murky. Also because of the cliff, it does not get much sunlight earlier on in the day. I reckon that the best time to enjoy the pool is probably around sunset. That is if you are lucky enough to snag a place then. Come early!

For those who came down via the side of the Kisik, leave via the Rock Bar. There is an elevator that takes you up back to the main pool area!

HOT TIP: The best place to catch the sunset by the ocean at the Ayana is probably the Kisik Restaurant. But it gets packed fast. So book a place for dinner around the time of sunset on ARRIVAL at the resort (or earlier!). We tried to book on the day but was unsuccessful. In fact, book ALL your restaurants. You would think that it is a hotel and there will definitely be space. But it gets booked our very early on, and they are very stringent about it. One night we ended up sitting at the bar, even though there were a lot of empty tables around!

Most Atmospheric: Infitnity Edges Pool/Main Pool at the Ayana

The good thing about the main pool at the Ayana is that it is an infinity pool with an ocean view AND it is much larger than the Ocean Beach Pool. My favourite thing about this pool though is the live traditional Balinese music they play on the side. It makes for the best lullaby for a nap. Sometimes I still dream about it…

On the other hand, this pool is also a very popular pool. Children are allowed, and they let them jump into the pool even though it says clearly that it is not allowed. But I guess children will be children. At least they are family friendly? Oh and the pool water at the Ayana in general is most definitely murkier than at the Rimba. I’m not sure if it is because there is more people here, or because the Rimba has a newer filter system.

But anyway, this is another pool which you need to come early to snag a place for!

Most privacy: Cabana Pool at the Rimba

A relatively quiet and good sized pool. For those who want extra privacy and are super shy of the sun, they have these very cool niche/cabanas on the side under the Upper Pool for you to relax in.

Each one is designed to be super comfy and welcoming. The only potential downside is that it is a bit too much in the shade, so you cannot see the sky and it makes us think that this is where the mosquitos are hiding.

Most fun: Lower pool at the Rimba

This is the main pool of the Rimba and it is super family friendly. It is huge, there is a water bar for food/drinks under the bridge, there are half submerged lounge chairs in the pool, it is very sunny and….

… there is a waterslide! Who doesn’t love waterslides? My only complaint is that I think the turn is a bit too sharp, and during my two times down the slide I inevitably hit my head/arm trying to complete the turn.

Best for tanning: Upper Pool at the Rimba

As the name implies this pool is located in the upper areas of the Rimba, so it generally gets a lot of sunlight. But what makes it best for tanning is the row of half submerged lounge chairs they have in the pool, which lets you tan without ever getting too hot! Genius! Of course I am hypothizing all this because I am of that camp that one should avoid the sun whenever possible.

More pictures of the Rimba Jimbaran/ Ayana Resort:

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NOTE: This list does not include the Kubu beach, the River Pool and the Children’s pool at the Ayana, and the Lagoon pool at the Rimba, as we never made it there. Pool hopping is tiring business.

Rimba Jimbaran/ Ayana Resort series

Part 1: Find out what the Rimba Jimbaran is really like here.

Part 2: Find out whether the Ayana spa resort is worth it here.

Part 3: Find out which are the best pools at the Rimba/Ayana here.

Rimba Jimbaran Bali by Ayana

Address: Karang Mas Estate, Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera Jimbaran, Bali 80364, Indonesia

Telephone: +62 (361) 8468468

Website: http://www.rimbajimbaran.com/en/home

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Is the Ayana Resort Spa worth it? Part 2

11 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by Barneys Girl in Indonesia, Travel

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Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pool, Ayana Resort Spa, bali, Balinese massage, resort, Review, Rimba Jimbaran, Spa, Traditional Lular

The quick answer is a resounding YES. The prices are not exactly cheap, but for the quality of service and the overall experience, the Ayana spa it was most definitely worth it! We didn’t know it before we went, but apparently the Ayana spa is world famous, frequently listed on top spa lists globally. Indeed, we actually met a couple during our treatment who lived in another hotel an hour away, who came especially for the spa. We were so lucky that the spa is part of the Rimba/Ayana complex!

The Ayana Spa is a standalone complex, located between the Rimba and the Ayana only a couple of minutes away by hotel tram. Despite being decorated in the more traditional Balianese style and being around for a long time (similar to the Ayana), it did not have as much wear and tear as we expected. We were actually pleasantly surprised to note that it was actually very clean and well maintained!

The Ayana Spa has an extensive spa menu (be sure to check out the Special Offers section too). After much contemplation, we decided to go with the Exotic Balinese Experience, because we thought it was most comprehensive for the price (and also we were feeling especially generous after finding cheaper last minute air tickets!). It is a 6-hour package and includes 5 sessions, so we started right after breakfast at 10:30am.

Traditional Lular: The first part of the spa takes place in a large private room, complete with a balcony, a shower a tub and of course a heated massage table. Mine even had a glimpse of the ocean! The traditional lular includes “a Javanese body masque and scrub, yogurt splash, flower bath, and a Balinese massage”. Basically they scrub you, lather you with yoghurt, let you wash off in the shower, and soak in the rose petal tub before giving you an amazing massage. The whole process takes about 2 hours, and it was absolutely divine. My only complain is that the massage part is too short. I could have used more of that massage.
Jamu tea break: After the massage, they lead you to a tea house sort of area within the spa complex where you are reunited with your friends to enjoy a cup of Jamu tea. What is Jamu tea? Well according to google, it is a traditioanal Indonesian tea with healing properties. I personally didn’t try it, but it looked orangey with a lot of spices. A little like curry. A choice of tea would have been nice. At this point, we were also confused as to where we are supposed to go next. Even though they handed us a schedule, a little more guidance would have been appreciated. It’s a good thing we are so proactive!
Indonesian cooking class: After tea, we changed and were driven to the Padi (Ayana’s Thai restaurant) for our cooking class. We were greeted with fresh guava juice and our very our own packages, which includes a chef’s hat, an apron and a booklet of the recipe we were going to follow. To be honest, participation is optional and is entirely up to how much you want to actually cook( i.e. from none like me to super hands on). The chef and his assistants were super nice and friendly, and went out of their ways to make us feel comfortable. We really appreciated the fans they brought out for instance, cause even though it is an open kitchen it was still super hot! It was a fun side activity from spa-ing. Though to be honest, this is probably something I would skip next time. I’d much rather be lounging somewhere.
Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pool: Located within the spa complex, the Aquatonic Therapy Pool is a semi outdoor pool (under a thatched roof) with a distant view of the ocean. When I first read about it, I thought it was just some Balinese type of hot spring, but it is actually a 2 hour water pressure massage session (the water is actually comfortably warm). To warm up, you walk through a pebbled path and swim across countercurrents. You then start a series of water pressure massage aimed at different parts of the body, starting with the leg and moving towards the rest of the body (it is incredibly thorough). Every 2 minutes, guests are then asked by staff to rotate to the next spot (like musical chairs). All the while, you can chat with your partner/friends and enjoy the ocean view. It is not all dandy though. The pressure of the water varies, and some of it can be downright painful – my friend ended up with bruises on her back (though she really enjoyed it!)! I personally skipped a few of them, but overall it was definitely an awesome experience.
25-minute Aqua Relaxation Massage: Once our skin was properly pruned, we were led to the other heated pool on the side for our aqua massage. I had no idea what to expect. Turns out they use 2 pool noodles – one under the head and one under the knees- to float you face up (obviously) in the water. The masseuse then takes your hands and legs and gently moves you around the water, letting the water pressure do the work. The feeling is quite surreal. I felt like I was a water nymph dancing in the water world and I loved it!!!! I highly recommend it. But remember to relax and not move around on your own, otherwise you’ll disturb the equilibrium and drown yourself!

Our session ended in the late afternoon, and we all felt completely refreshed and at peace afterwards. The only thing that could have made the session even better was to skip the tea, and shorten the cooking class, and extend the massage instead. I highly recommend the Ayana spa and cannot wait to be back!

Pictures from our cooking class: