Yesterday, accidentally I listened to a song entitled “Moon River” by Andy Williams. It brought back my own “Tom Sawyer” memories. Back in 80s when I was a little boy, my friends and I used to take bath in Ayung River that runs on the western part of our village. We swam, played, or did various mischiefs while taking bath in our “Moon River”; and for the adults, they were busy washing their clothes or having a little chitchat about the current gossip in the village. Boys and girls, men and women, crowded the river late in the afternoon up to the evening. The river was our public meeting place where we had a chance to mingle with other villagers.

However, nowadays, rivers in Bali are losing its unique function as public meeting place especially in south Bali, such as in Denpasar and southern areas of Badung regency and in other areas in Bali, the number of the people who taking a bath in the river diminishes greatly in two decade. These drawbacks are the result of many factors such as the volume of the water in many rivers in Bali has decreased makes it quite difficult for bathing and washing activities; some even cease to flow. The quality of the water also contributes to these drawbacks; clear and healthy river water can only be found in the mountainous regions; pesticide and pollution decrease the quality of river’s water. Last but not least, most of Balinese have their own bathroom and taking a bath or washing in the river become impractical since we have to walk or ride a motorcycle to reach the river.

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Located on the slope of the Ubud valley facing west (and the sunset), Villa Melati features a beautiful landscaped garden, with an abundance of tropical plants. A beautiful collector’s-piece “sakenam” pavilion overlooking the rice-terraces, the valley, and distant volcanoes is perfect for breakfast, or for just daydreaming.

A bridge over cascading pools leads to Villa Melati and beyond to the inner garden and overflow swimming pool, daringly set on the edge of the property and overlooking the valley. From Villa Melati pool and its spacious terraces it offers breathtaking views of the river, the rice terraces and the distance volcanoes.

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The COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, the company’s flagship residential health retreat, has launched a Vitality Pool.

This cutting-edge facility was originally created by European scientists following nearly 20 years of research. It is located at Ojas, the Estate’s principal treatment area occupying a clearing high up in the forest above the River Ayung.

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Surrounded by ancient trees and gravity-defying terraced gardens, Ubud Hanging Gardens nestles on a dramatic hillside overlooking the Ayung river gorge.

Perched adjacent to steep rice terraces looking out to a temple on the opposite hill, this breathtaking property’s individual Villas are all constructed in contemporary Balinese style with thatched alang-alang roofs and private plunge pools.

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Ubud Hanging Gardens is situated in Ubud, surrounded by ancient trees and gravity-defying terraced gardens. Ubud Hanging Gardens is a unique haven nestles on a dramatic hillside overlooking the Ayung river gorge. A private funicular permits easy access to the Villas, the restaurants, bars, boutique and library.

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