Procure Ingredients at the Morning Market and Cook at a Staff Member's Home

Siddharth Mehra, General Manager of Amandari, recommended we experience one of the resort's popular activities: a cooking class using local ingredients.


“There are several morning markets within a 20-minute drive from Amandari. They all start early, so please try to leave the hotel by 7 AM. We'll give you a shopping list, so enjoy the lively atmosphere and the crowds as you shop with our staff,” we were told as we set off.

As we neared the market, the traffic and number of people increased. It seemed preparations for a full moon ceremony were also underway, adding to the morning's bustle. Everything was for sale – vegetables, meat, fish, and even the *canang sari* essential for offerings. The market was dominated by women. Piles of fruit, deep green vegetables, vibrant red chilies, and coconut oil in plastic buckets created an atmosphere brimming with the energy of life, which felt wonderfully invigorating.


After about an hour of shopping with the Amandari staff, we procured our ingredients and headed to the home of Pak I Wayan Bawa in Kedewatan village, the same village as Amandari. The "Balinese Feast: Cooking with Amandari in the Village" was about to begin!

Let's Make Fragrant Sambal and Pastes

Bawa's home, a communal dwelling for 14 family members across five generations, was reportedly built in the 1800s. A large table was set up in the courtyard, and after being offered drinks and snacks, we settled in. We chatted briefly while looking at the ingredients and recipes laid out before us.


Today's menu consisted of five dishes: Balinese Chicken Curry (AYAM GERANG ASEM) as the main, Balinese Mixed Salad (URAP CAMPUR), Stir-fried Vegetables (TUMIS PAKIS), Chili and Tomato Sambal (SAMBAL ULEK), and Sweet Potato Steamed Rice with Balinese Rice (NASI SELA).


We were slightly surprised by the simple kitchen, equipped only with a charcoal stove, but we divided into ingredient-chopping and cooking teams and began. We started by grinding various spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits to create fragrant sambal and pastes.

Enjoying Freshly Prepared Dishes at the Guest Pavilion

While we were cooking with the staff, Bawa's wife prepared *canang sari*, the offerings essential to Balinese Hinduism, and offered prayers to the gods at the family's impressive household temple. Afterward, the "Balinese Feast" officially began.

Amandari: Where "Omotenashi" is Felt Everywhere

Fortunately, we were able to witness a Barong dance, a condensed version of the *Calonarang* ritual performed at the village temple, at the Desa Puseh Temple in Kedewatan village. Combined with Amandari's Balinese traditional music and dance performance, it offered a glimpse into the world of Balinese Hinduism.


The afternoon tea by Amandari's pool and the impeccable room maintenance after every return to our guest room were examples of hospitality delivered with a comfortable sense of distance.


KAHORI, a Japanese staff member at Amandari, mentioned, "When I'm in Ubud, I love staying home and reading on rainy days." A stay at Amandari offers precisely that kind of feeling. We recommend dedicating one day to simply doing nothing, and another to enjoying the essence of Bali and Ubud.

Inquiries

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0120-992-925

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To Amandari: Ubud, Kedewatan Village ~ A Forest Where Spirits Gather