WeekendinFEATURE
WeekendinFEATURE
HOLIDAY
A charming outdoor pool
Travel to the
Centara Taum
This boutique hotel is conveniently located in
the heart of Krobokan, Seminyak, a 15 minute
stroll from Bali’s most renowned leisure and
night-life area. Shops, restaurants and bars are
spread along the beachfront, flags waving at
passers-by, calling them closer, inviting them in
to sample their wares.
The Centara Group has an impressive portfolio
of properties in Thailand which have tiered ratings, ranging from 3-5 star accommodation. The
Bali Centra is one of the group’s first international franchises. The building towers over the rice
paddies, forming a convenient landmark with
which to find your bearings, housing a total of
90 studios and suites, a spa and fitness centre.
The Taum restaurant, overlooking the swimming pool, is undoubtedly the heart of the
hotel. Catering to both Asian and western appetites, it comes alive at breakfast with a substantial well devised menu, delivering in both
quality and presentation.
The hotel’s designers have maximised this area
to house not only the restaurant and pool,
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but also business facilities and a lounge on a
counter-levered mezzanine floor. The division
of space using stairs, ramps and block walls is
ingenious. In a lay-man’s hands this 3.5 acre
property would have been claustrophobic and
unwelcoming, but clever design has rendered
it free-flowing and easy on the eye. The finishes
are uncluttered yet still attractive with wellplaced aesthetic features in the woven window
shutters, rattan cladding, bright summer colours and innovative pieces of furniture.
Every room has either a patio or a balcony;
some have a plunge pool and others house a
fish filled pond. Suites are equipped with cooking facilities, a flat-screen TV, microwave and
internet.
Transfer services are available to and from the
airport as well as shuttle services into Seminyak
and Petitenget Beach.
Centara Taum Bali makes for a great holiday
base from which to explore the Island. The hotel
has alliances with a number of tour operators
and will gladly assist you in planning and book-
Family Residence with Private Pool
Centara Taum Bali’s warm reception
A Studio with Pool View
By Tanya Micallef
ing your adventures. I recommend a 2 hour
horse-back ride along the Tanah Lot beach – an
amazing experience for the whole family – if
good holiday food leaves you a little too heavy
for the thoroughbreds (there is a weight restriction) the heavy metal variety are available – you
can choose between dirt-bikes and quad bikes.
Another great holiday treat is the Bali Waterbom. 3.8 hectares of landscaped tropical gardens providing fun and entertainment for the
young and young at heart.
This waterpark boasts 21 world class slides and
a number of food and beverage outlets so that
there is no need to leave the premises. A full day
of laughter and family bonding is a given. We
arrived at ten and left at six and both boys could
have stayed for more.
We return to the Taum as the sun is setting.
After dark, the hotel ups its sophistication quotient through the use of well-placed spotlights.
The pool lighting contributes to creating an
atmosphere of charm and romance – speaking
of which, couples celebrating their honeymoon
can get great package deals that include: a
4-day stay, a romantic dining experience, airport transfers and a few personal touches to
their room, courtesy of the management team.
restaurant is a must-visit. From a distance, the
building looks like a huge glass cathedral – this
is what caught my eye and curiosity drove me
to investigate.
As the Christmas season is just around the corner, the hotel has festive season packages that
include a family suite, airport transfers, Christmas dinner and gifts and activities for the little
ones (who stay free of charge.) Similar newyear packages are also available.
For those who take food seriously and consider
dining out a religious affair, look no further! The
interior of this restaurant is inspiring and echo
friendly - the roof is designed to catch the rainwater, which is then funnelled down majestic
interior columns into a central, underground
reservoir, wh ere it is filtered and used in the
bathrooms and indoor water features – all in
an inspiringly beautiful aesthetic. Merah Putih
is the epitome of elegance and setting and has
successfully wooed tourists and locals alike to
the extent that evening bookings are essential.
Centra Taum Bali will also allow you to see a
side of Bali that many might never get to see:
Take a wide-eyed ramble into Seminyak main
road and find some surprising spaces along the
way… we punctuated our wanderings with a
rest-stop at the “Ippolito Coffee shop” (the best
Cappuccino on the strip!) Other note-worthy
locations are “The Gourmet Café and Catering
Company” and “La Lucciola Italian Restaurant”
on the beachfront .
For gourmet-obsessed foodies, 5-star dining
includes “The Breeze,” “Potato head” and “Ku
De Ta.” Our best dining experience on this leg
of our Bali tour, was lunch at Merah Putih. This
The first in a parade of indigenous dishes, was
chicken soup. The lemongrass and shavings of
crisp cabbage lift mama’s traditional healing
broth up more than a few notches, leaving the
palate fresh and ready for the next course: chicken curry served in coconut, leaks, tomatoes and
fresh herbs. The serving size is as it should be
- just enough to feel satisfied, but wishing you
could taste just a little bit more.
Breakfast is served at Taum Restaurant
The chef’s attention to detail and balance in the
flavours and spices redefines the art of cooking… and who could have thought that the
simplest of desserts – Lychee sorbet atop fresh
cut fruit salad, would make so perfect an ending
to this culinary affair!
We also sampled pork belly, gourmet chicken
nuggets and chocolate fudge slices off of the
“Mini” menu (of course for the “mini-me’s”).
They say that home is where the heart is and
that the way to a man’s heart is through his
stomach. If these be true then I am home indeed!
Centra Taum Seminyak Bali | 37-39 Lebaksari
Street | Petitenget Kuta Utara | Badung, Bali |
T +62 36 1473 1797 | www.centarahotelsresorts.
com/CTB
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