Green and red graphs appeared on the computer screen in front of me. I was sitting in a white room at the Six Senses Spa, with two sensors on my forehead and one on my finger, while my blood pressure was being checked, part of an in-depth Wellness Tests of my heart rate, breathing and brain waves followed questions about my diet, exercise regime and lifestyle, all analysed and discussed with a wellness expert. The result? An (optional) plan to follow in order to raise the wellness levels of my mind and body, with ideas to take with me beyond my stay at the resort. Being on a clifftop in Bali, overlooking the Indian Ocean and surrounded by the wholesome energy that characterizes this Indonesian island, I couldn´t think of a better place to have a fresh start.
Six Senses Uluwatu, which opened in August 2018, is on the southernmost tip of Bali, around an hour by taxi from Denpasar International Airport, depending on traffic. Limestone monkeys and stone statues similar to the ones guarding at the nearby Uluwatu Hindu temple guided our way into the reception. From the white lobby building, where we were greeted with a tamarind welcome drink, we saw greenery and blue vastness in front of us, a panoramic view of the shining ocean, with villas and their pools descending the sloping clifftop.
A golf cart carried us down through the resort’s ‘streets’, past white frangipani trees and the colourful Balinese doors for each villa. Entering our Cliff Pool Villa, I noticed a little Balinese temple on a corner of our patio with an offering of fresh flowers. Out here, we had our own private infinity pool, a big day bed, a coffee table and an outdoor shower under the shade of a frangipani tree, all overlooking the magnificent ocean. It’s a peaceful area that we spent plenty of time relaxing in, whether enjoying a morning coffee and the view, reading or swimming.
The bedroom had a traditional, Balinese, high wooden ceiling. There was plenty of space inside for a large bed and living room area, furnished with locally sourced throw pillows and rattan rugs in cool shades of blue. There was also a large desk in a corner and two comfy sofas, one by the bed and another in front of the wall-mounted TV. With large windows, the room filled with natural light.
The minimalist bathroom area was almost as big as the bedroom, containing two rainshowers, one indoors and another outdoors that was surrounded by plants. The room contained His and Hers closets and sinks, as well as a standalone bathtub and a couch. One side of the room had a lovely ocean view. There were cool touches too, from recycled glass bottles (rather than plastic) containing water filtered by the resort to cotton bags labelled ‘the dirty stuff’ to put laundry in.
After a dip in our pool, we got ready for an evening in Rocka. The restaurant has been constructed from local wood, from ceiling to flooring, except for a glass wall around a wine cellar. The menu had helpful hints, classifying some of the dishes as ‘trim and fit’, ‘cleanse and detox’ or ‘sleep and resilience’ for anyone following their Wellness Screening’ plan or just trying to be healthy, though there are also plenty of indulgent options, from cocktails to hearty mains and enticing desserts.
My boyfriend and I ordered the Western Tasting Menu, though we were also tempted by some of the Balinese options, like a Perkedel Jagung (corn cake topped with spicy Indonesian) or Nasi Campur (yellow rice with toppings of steamed veggies or chicken with lemongrass). Our starters had Michelin star-esque presentation but with good portion sizes, including a forest mushroom ravioli and a creamy tomato soup, both packed with flavour. As a main, I had the Steak Frites, a juicy, tender, seared striploin with vine ripe tomato salad and French fries, while my boyfriend had pan-fried snapper with pistachio couscous. The waitress was friendly, carefully introducing each dish. We ended dinner by sharing an apple and sourdough dessert, with cinnamon ice cream and a sourdough crisp surrounded by caramelized apple and nutmeg crumbs. Before going back to our room, we took a few minutes on Rocka´s terrace to look at the stars and feel the ocean breeze.
The resort offers complimentary yoga or meditation classes each day at the spa. But after a comfortable night’s sleep, I instead opted for a run in the gym, which is spacious and equipped with new machines.
Afterwards, we made our way to Rocka for breakfast. At the entrance, there was a recreation of a ‘street stand’ offering fresh pink dragon fruit, watermelon, kiwi, snake fruit and more. Inside, juices were arranged according to their wellness properties, like a ‘trim and fit’ mix made with kale and berries, or ‘resilience’ with almond milk, kale and coconut. There’s a large buffet selection of breads, from sourdough to rye, as well as cheese, ham, salmon, cereals, honey, salads and several varieties of yoghurt. A Western corner offered classic baked beans, potatoes and sausages, while an Asian corner had the famous Indonesian Nasi Goreng, noodle soups and more. On top of all that, there was a menu with freshly prepared hot dishes to choose from, from crab omelettes to gluten-free banana bread French toast.
After a ‘stressful’ morning having to choose between so many breakfast options, I made my way to the Six Senses Spa, just a few meters from Rocka, where water flowed around elevated walkways. After a welcome drink of coconut water with turmeric and lime, I sat on a swing overlooking the pond for a while, before being shown through to my Wellness Screening, which was insightful and provided useful advice. Afterwards, my boyfriend and I opted for a couple´s treatment. First, our feet were bathed and scrubbed in water with relaxing salts and flowers. Then, we lay down on the separate beds for a 60-minute Holistic Treatment. I felt the vibrations of a singing bowl, which the therapist moved around my head and body. The therapist was attentive and thorough, applying just the right amount of pressure during an excellent full body massage.
The star of Six Senses Uluwatu though is the swimming pool, one of the largest in Bali and one of my favorites from any of the hotels I’ve stayed in on the island. The 434-square-metre, incredibly stylish infinity pool is on the cliff´s edge, overlooking turquoise waves crashing 70 meters below. There are views to either side of the cliffs that run along this beautiful, quiet stretch of Bali’s coastline. On one side of the pool, there’s a large screen, with movies, such as ‘Cinema Paradiso’, projected onto it each evening. There’s also a kids’ pool and a separate relaxation pool nearby, as well as an ice cream cart offering complimentary ice creams to guests, just outside the boutique shop.
The afternoon went by fast, relaxing by the pool, swimming a few lengths and reading our books until the sky turned pink and purple, the clifftops a prime spot for watching Bali’s sunsets. We moved from the spot as darkness fell, making our way to Crudo for dinner. Inside the restaurant, hundreds of silver fish decorations hung from the ceiling. Although this is the resort’s signature restaurant, the ambience felt more casual than at Rocka. The menu is predominantly Japanese, including sushi, with Latin American dishes also included by the Mexican chef, such as tiraditos and pork tacos. We started with tempura udon and a maki roll with spicy tuna, following them with ramen noodles with clams and mussels. The service was excellent and the food hit the spot, satisfying but not too heavy after a day in the sun.
On our final morning, we were woken by the arrival of our ‘floating breakfast’. Waiters arranged dishes on a tray that they left floating on the pool before leaving. We also had a large selection of pastries, coffee, tea and veggie omelettes, as well as tropical fruits whose colours looked intense against the light blue of the pool. We enjoyed the relaxing start to the day with a memorable view and the sound of birds along the cliffs.
It’s said that blue has a relaxing effect on human beings. I certainly felt more relaxed having been surrounded by the blue touches of décor in our villa, the Balinese skies and the deep blue ocean around Six Senses Uluwatu. But I’m absolutely sure that the food, the spa, the attention from staff and the beautiful infinity pool are also responsible.
Six Senses Uluwatu, Jalan Goa Lempeh, Uluwatu, Bali 80361, Indonesia +62 361 2090300 www.sixsenses.com/resorts/uluwatu-bali/destination
Rates start from $575 based on two sharing a Sky Suite on a B&B basis. Rates start from $850 based on two sharing a Cliff Pool Villa on a B&B basis.
Andrea Moreno is a travel writer and photographer. Follow her on Instagram @tripsandcolors (https://www.instagram.com/tripsandcolors/).
