At this time of year when the rest of the world is back to its’ furious pace after the celebrations of the New Year the island of Bali celebrates a very different style of New Year with the celebration of Nyepi. Nyepi is a traditional Balinese ceremony that effects everyone on the island and while it is sometimes seen as reason to depart for other shores there is nothing quite like being on the island for this magical, colourful and sometimes quite raucous event that descends into silence on its second day. The first day is the parade of the Ogah-Ogahs’ giant monsters with garish forms and colours that embody the dark spirits, these are banished in great fires or left to wither in the fields as Bali on the appointed time is wrapped in a blanket of silence, marking the arrival of the second day. The second day is spent in contemplation and silence, no cooking, no lights, no noise bar the odd dog barking. And, the third is spent with family and friends making reparation, expressing love and gratitude, praying for good fortune and welcoming the New Year.
This year Nyepi falls on a Tuesday, a perfect time to take advantage of a long weekend and stretch it to Wednesday spending your time in one of the wonderful residential spas on the island. All hotels have the ability to provide for their guests so comfort levels are maintained with an added sense of serenity and the delightful sounds of surrounding silence.
In Kuta, a normally busy hub, the Villa de daun is an oasis on any day, but over Nyepi it has a particular appeal as the regular rush subsides. Visitors out and about on the two days pre and post the day of silence will see the spirit of Kuta Village emerge as the Balinese of Kuta come out in traditional dress to celebrate.
The DaLa spa offers guests a menu of treatments that range from the delightful High Tea to the elegant Empress Facial, or, to acknowledge the ritual nature of the day, why not take part in DeLa’s very own Royal Wedding Ritual Spa that indulges guests, married or not, in a treatment that recreates the elaborate beautification rituals of the ancient royal palaces of the Kingdom of Java.
In Ubud Taman Rahasia is located in the lovely artist’s village of Penestanan. Suites and rooms are set around a lush tropical garden that sooth and nurture by their very nature. And despite the ‘silence’ of the day the sounds of nature carry on a rich tapestry of activity as squirrels run across branches, birds call and the breeze rustles the fronds of the palm leaves. The spa area is divided into to two spaces, one outdoors discreetly alongside the flowing water feature and the other indoors where massages and body treatment can be taken in the soft light and cool air.
Taman Rahasia is about creating spaces to discover the self, to enjoy and relax, to let go and unwind, and this time over Nyepi provides everyone with the opportunity to have no place to go, no one to call and nothing to do but be…
Take the time to nurture yourself with one of the Taman Rahasia’s rejuvenating treatments like their Balinese Mandi Lulur body scrub and massage combination.
On the day following Nyepi get up at dawn and take a walk into the village and watch the community gather as Bali heralds the beginning of a New Year.
For a deeper silence contact Escape the World retreats and enter your own journey of meditative celebration. Any time of year you can join these energetic journeys that offer joy for the body mind and soul through the practice of yoga and meditation, the enjoyment of spa and the adventure of walking, hiking and cycling through breathtaking, uplifting and majestic scenery. Escape the World offers a vibrant and challenging way to make the most of a Bali vacation which can bring you closer to understanding the spirit of Bali as well as your own. Led by the charismatic Iyan the retreats are bathed in a gentle laughter with the end bringing a real sense of fulfillment and appreciation for the human connection. [NOW]
Villa de daun and DaLa SpaJalan Raya Legian, Kuta, Bali, 0361756276www.villadedaun.comTaman RahasiaPenestanan, Ubud, 0361979395www.balisecretgarden.comEscape the World Retreatswww.oneworldretreats.com