The other Four Seasons Resort in Bali, "Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan" (hereinafter referred to as "Sayan"), is located just over an hour's drive from "Jimbaran Bay" and about 15 minutes by car from the center of Ubud. It is a scenic resort nestled on a gentle slope overlooking the Ayung River, and is known for being where Julia Roberts stayed during the filming of the movie "Eat Pray Love" and where the Obama family vacationed in 2017.

The site area is about 7 hectares. There are also rice terraces on the premises, and rice is actually cultivated. I wonder if it's because I'm Japanese that seeing the rice growing towards the sun in the paddies soothes my soul.

Now, about my first encounter with "Sayan." Reading other people's articles and stay reports, I've seen expressions like "surprised by the floating lotus pond" or "like a giant UFO hovering over the valley." However, my encounter with "Sayan" was a little different.

Indeed, the entrance with its "floating lotus pond" is one of "Sayan's" greatest features. Crossing a teak suspension bridge over the enormous (852 square meters!) lotus pond, where lotuses bloom in profusion, leads you to the main building. This is the rooftop of the cylindrical main building, and descending the stairs near the center reveals the lush palm forest and the Ayung River valley beyond the picture window of the semi-open-air bar. This dramatic staging instantly captivates guests, a perfectly orchestrated scenario! Incidentally, the design was handled by British architectural designer John Heah. The large lotus pond and bridge are said to be inspired by chopsticks placed on a rice bowl.

I could easily use up an entire article just talking about the entrance, but actually, this time I approached "Sayan" not from the entrance, but from the Ayung River (ahem)!

One of the recommended activities at "Sayan" is "Private Rafting," and I decided to try it during my transfer day from "Jimbaran Bay" to "Sayan."

I was dropped off by the shuttle from "Jimbaran Bay" at the rafting start point. My luggage was sent ahead to "Sayan," and I headed to "Sayan" while enjoying the rafting. Guided by a private tour guide, it was a truly luxurious time to see the sacred Ayung River, as well as the wild jungles and rice paddies on either side of the river, from a new perspective while enjoying the rafting. Oh, and the Obama family also experienced this rafting!

Excuse me, I'm intruding. First, I need to deal with my wet body! With some playful "pranks" from the cheerful staff, I fully enjoyed playing in the water like a child and ended up completely soaked. It wasn't even check-in time yet, but the staff guided me to a jacuzzi with a view of the valley below. Ah, pure bliss. I want to live here.

It's not just the jacuzzi. After staying for about half a day, I realized that at "Sayan," you can feel the Balinese forest and valley up close from anywhere on the premises. The main pool, designed like rice terraces and overlooking the Ayung River, is also superb! I want to take it home with me.

Shall we move to the rooms now? The resort is designed like a valley village, with a total of 42 suites in the main building and villa-style rooms. The villa-style rooms, situated on the gentle slopes of the valley, come with private pools. The suites also have separate bedrooms and living rooms and are spacious enough.

This time, I stayed in a Riverfront 1 Bedroom Villa. It's a approximately 340-square-meter room with a semi-outdoor living area, a private pool of about 15 square meters, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The bathtub is designed so you can bathe while overlooking the valley. It's also great that the private pool faces the Ayung River. Since I was there, I also tried the "Floating Breakfast," a very popular breakfast in Bali right now, enjoyed while in the pool. The outdoor living space is also very pleasant.

There are two restaurants: "Ayung Terrace" in the main building and "Riverside" located by the main pool along the Ayung River. The main building also has the "Jati Bar." "Ayung Terrace" has an attached wine cellar and hosts themed dinners that change daily.

Like "Jimbaran Bay," "Sayan" also offers many activities besides rafting. When I asked the staff about popular recent activities, the immediate answer was "Sacred Nap." It is said to be a sacred nap held at the "Dharma Shanti Yoga Bale," which stands alone amidst the rice terraces.

The "Dharma Shanti Yoga Bale," built entirely from bamboo, offers various yoga classes, including antigravity yoga using hammocks. Many are free, so even yoga masters can be satisfied, and beginners can easily try it.

As for the "Sacred Nap," you are cradled in a 100% silk aerial hammock suspended from the ceiling, listening to the life story of Buddha narrated by Four Seasons Wellness Mentor (Eve Fera) while sleeping amidst the sounds of nature. Getting into the hammock was a challenge, and honestly, at first, I thought, "Can I really sleep here?" But embraced by the comfortable texture of the hammock and rocked gently (the staff occasionally rocks the hammock!), I lost consciousness in no time. It's a strange, cocoon-like comfort that I wish many people could experience!

I also participated in a program called "One Day Farm Experience." This involves touring and experiencing the resort and the surrounding village. First, we strolled through the resort's rice terraces. We learned about rice cultivation in Bali and the "Subak" irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage site (a water management cooperative and system of farmers). The resort grounds have rice terraces and herb gardens, and the herbs are used in the restaurant and spa products.

The staff member who guided us through the village behind the resort lives there and commutes to the resort. Everyone we passed seemed to know them and greeted us with big smiles. I got a small glimpse into the lives of people living on a farm in Bali.

After returning to the resort, breakfast awaited us in a gazebo surrounded by a lotus pond by the Ayung River. After filling up on chicken porridge and plenty of fruit, it was time for the main event: "Rice Planting Experience." Wow, rice planting was hard work! First, I struggled to use the hoe. Once I got a little used to it, I picked up the hoe and cautiously stepped barefoot into the paddy field, surprised by the warm, slippery feel of the soil. I quickly got used to the slippery sensation, but it was so difficult to balance and cultivate the soil with the hoe! Planting the seedlings evenly was also quite a challenge. Needless to say, this experience deepened my love for rice. It was a valuable experience. And how delicious the coconut water was, expertly cut by the farmer after the work!

The finale of the activities was a spa experience at "Sacred River Spa," located by the rice terraces. I experienced the signature treatment, "Chakra Ceremony," in a treatment room surrounded by a lotus pond. "Sayan" offers a range of treatments focused on the mind, including chakra balancing, Balinese Ayurveda, yoga, and meditation.

The "Chakra Ceremony" offers seven ceremonies corresponding to the seven chakras. The one I received was the "Muladhara Chakra Ceremony," themed around connecting with the earth. After a purification ritual using incense, I received a deep full-body massage using an oil blend of ginger, cinnamon, vetiver, patchouli, and jatamansi, enveloped in the vibrations of singing bowls. My mind and body calmed, and I felt a deep sense of peace and oneness with the earth.

By the way, my muddy clothes from the farm work (though brief) were washed and dried during the two-hour treatment. They were even ironed and looked cleaner than before I wore them, which was incredibly impressive! That's the Four Seasons' hospitality for you.

The experiences at the two Four Seasons resorts, each with its own unique character yet both full of Balinese charm, the sea and the forest, were happy memories even after returning to Japan. I could probably have a drink just reminiscing. Of course, the dynamic and modern architectural beauty in harmony with nature was captivating, but the warm and sophisticated hospitality, a tradition of Four Seasons, also captured my heart.

Oh, speaking of hospitality, something that was convenient during my trip was "Four Seasons Chat." You can request wake-up calls, buggies, and more via messages on the app or social media. It even supports Japanese! Four Seasons really knows how to impress!

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Address | Sayan, Ubud Indonesia, Gianyar, Bali 80571
Tel. | +62-361-977-577
HP |www.fourseasons.com/jp/sayan

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