Orient-Express Hotels has today announced the opening of a new resort property, Ubud Hanging Gardens, on the Indonesian island of Bali. This is the sixth property in the Pansea Orient-Express Hotels’ portfolio and sister to the beachfront property, Jimbaran Puri Bali.
Perched adjacent to steep rice terraces with sweeping views across the Ayung river gorge to the ancient Pura Penataran Dalem Segara temple on the opposite hillside, Ubud Hanging Gardens derives its name from its 38 villas, which are all constructed in contemporary Balinese style on gravity defying wooden pillars with thatched alang-alang roofs. The resort’s accommodation, restaurants, pool and spa cascade down the hillside to the valley floor below and can be reached by a unique private funicular.
The hotel has three categories of villa-style accommodation: 30 deluxe Pool villas, of approximately 100m², six deluxe Suite Pool villas of 160m² and two 2-bedroom Family Pool villas of 160m². The villas were designed by Anglo/ French architect Gordon Shaw and all have king sized four poster beds, handmade batik cotton fabrics, an interior bathroom with hand moulded bath, terraces with open air showers and dramatic Java stone plunge pools with adjoining Bales (a traditional Balinese relaxation area). Shaw used precious woods throughout the property, including Merbau flooring for the interiors, Benkirai for the exteriors and wooden furniture with sculpted doors in the Balinese tradition.
The resort’s garden was conceived by the landscape architect William Warren (author of “Balinese Garden”, Thames & Hudson), together with John Pettigrew, (another devotee of botanical gardens who created the garden at Begawan Giri). It is planted with exotic trees and tropical shrubs such as cocoa, coffee, fruit trees, durian, rambutan, lychees, a variety of tropical bamboos, flame trees, bird of paradise flowers and orchids.
In addition to the private plunge pools in each villa, there is a vast elliptical infinity pool, which hugs the natural curves of the hillside and the surrounding rice terraces.
The gourmet Béduur restaurant features both Balinese and French cuisine and has a dramatic view of the far side of the valley from an al fresco dining terrace. The more informal Diatas Pohon Café serves a light and healthy menu. The resort’s Bukit Bacik bar near the main pool down by the river offers an excellent setting for a relaxing long drink at sunset.
The Ayung Spa is also located on the riverbank amid rainforest and waterfalls and has three restful spa pavilions. Each pavilion comprises two large therapy areas: one with two massage beds and a Balinese sofa, the other with a dressing area and bathroom with a bath overlooking the river.
Ubud, named as a place of healing or "obat", has long been a retreat for those seeking peace of mind and artistic inspiration. This vibrant and bustling little town has a wonderful variety of studios, galleries and restaurants and a seemingly endless calendar of traditional festivals and the religious ceremonies.
The hotel is only 15 minutes from the centre of Ubud, with free shuttle buses available for guests. The airport and Ubud Hanging Garden’s sister hotel and recently refurbished Jimbaran Puri Bali, are 90 minutes away by car.
Notes to Editors:
In 2004, Orient-Express Hotels invested in Hosia Ltd., the Hong Kong holding company which owns or part owns and operates 6 unique hotels in Southeast Asia under the brand name Pansea Orient-Express Hotels. Under the terms of the deal, Orient-Express Hotels will invest up to US$8 million in the Pansea group. This is initially a loan, convertible into equity in Hosia Ltd. Orient-Express has an option to buy 100 per cent of the shares in Hosia over a period of five years. Pansea has a number of development plans and this partnership will accelerate those plans.
There are now six operational Pansea Orient-Express hotels:
• La Résidence d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
• The Governor’s Residence, Yangon, Myanmar
• Napasai, Koh Samui, Thailand
• La Résidence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos
• Jimbaran Puri Bali, Bali, Indonesia
• Ubud Hanging Gardens, Ubud Bali
For further information, please contact:
Pippa Isbell / Fiona Duthie
Orient-Express Hotels
Sea Containers House,
20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PF, UK
Tel: 44 20 7805 5069 Fax: 44 20 7805 5938
Pippa.Isbell@orient-express.com fiona.duthie@orient-express.com
Contact details:
Ubud Hanging Gardens
Email: ubud@pansea.com
Telephone (+62-361) 701605 Fax: (+62-361) 701320
Internet rates as of 1st July 2005 from 220US$ + 21% tax, or US$266 for two people
www.pansea.com
