First Full Day in Tembok

Tembok  

Tuesday, November 30

I started my day with my own yoga practice in the exercise room.  Then Barbara and I borrowed snorkel masks and went for a swim in the ocean.  With our snorkel masks and even with our own swim goggles we could see swarms of colorful tropical fish, even a few feet from shore.

Then we went for a swim in the pool.

And had breakfast.

The coffee was the best I have ever had – and they don’t even have a resident luwok.  I usually have cream in my coffee, but this coffee was too good to spoil.  As we sat around enjoying the view and the afterglow of breakfast, I was expecting a waiter to come around with a carafe and offer a second cup.  It didn’t happen.  When I asked for a second cup, I found that each cup is brewed separately.

Another special treat with breakfast and lunch is the amazing selection fresh fruit drinks (drinks are extra, about $5).

Juices and blends

Pineapple, orange, ginger & lime
hydrates the body and acts as a general digestive tonic

Watermelon & fresh mint

cleanses the kidneys and reduces summer heat

orange, aloe vera, papaya & lime

heals the skin and digestive membranes

fresh young coconut water, aloe vera, ginger & lime

cleanses and rejuvenates the body

carrot, apple, beetroot & ginger

clears acidic blood conditions and improves liver and respiratory functions

banana, coconut, wild Balinese cacao, vanilla bean & honey

soothes tired muscle and induces relaxation

avocado, bana, wild balinese cacao & honey

nourishing and rich in essential oils

rejuvenation elixir

fresh young coconut water, fresh you coconut jelly, aloe vera, dalumen, daun piduh, ginger & lime with  a sprinkle of Balinese sea salt

In the afternoon we went for our first spa treatment – the ‘standard’ Balinese 50-minute massage.  First we went to the prep station.  We were met by our two massage therapists.  Each woman kneeled to remove our sandal and wipe each foot with a hot towel.

Then we were led to the prep room to change into a robe.

We were baffled by the bamboo covered tub.  What could it be?  Maybe a bath?

It turned out to be a steam bath for the feet and legs. 

After we got settled in, our hostesses returned.  They placed cold towels on our shoulders and served us “Balinese snow cones” – crushed ice in a banana leaf bowel covered with cane syrup. 

We cooked in the steam bath with our feet sitting on a thin bed of fine black sand and enjoyed the four frog fountains and the view of the coconut palms.  While we were watching, it started to rain.  After about twenty minutes our hostesses returned, helped us out, cleaned each foot with a towel, and had us step into the frog pool to rinse the black sand off our feet.

 Then we went back to the dressing area, where our feet were again dried with a towel, and we changed into a new dry robe and sat down outside.  Here we were served a small glass of water with a fragrant ylang ylang flower and frozen fruit on skewers. 

After we had finished our fruit and drink, our hostesses led us to our massage room.  Because it was raining, our hostesses sheltered us with umbrellas.  We laid down on our tables and enjoyed an incredible massage.   

Afterwards we changed back into our clothes, which had magically appeared in our dressing room, and sat down outside, where we were served a special elixir – one made especially for me, and one for Barbara.

On the way back to our room, we noticed the employee parking lot.

And just on the other side of the fence, a young barefoot woman was plowing a field using two cows and a wooden plow.

Two young calves frolicked around, and happy chickens ran along behind the plow eagerly gobbling up bugs and worms.

Yoga with Wayan

In the afternoon I had a one-hour yoga class in the exercise room with the resident yoga instructor, Wayan.  We had a lovely practice, and I was happily drenched with sweat at the end.