Upacara for Villa & Spa

What's an "upacara" (pronounced "oopacharra")? A Balinese Hindu ceremony. On Friday, April 28, an upacara was held for the new spa and the first villa, both of which are almost complete.



The four priests are in front.









A group of offerings.















Here's me in traditional sarong (this one happens to be silk batik) and kebaya (lace blouse) and sash walking between the villa and spa.











After the ceremony: Wife of the Owner / Managing Director on the left, then me, then Managing Director Nyoman Suweta & his mother (also a priest). On the floor in front, another priest.




For my friends and family who have been wondering how I'm doing, I think this photo provides the answer - relaxed, happy, peaceful.

Progress on Villa & Spa

The first villa and spa are starting to look like real buildings!
There are no doors / windows yet, but the villa openings have been framed.
And looking uphill... The spa is the first set of buildings (the roofing tile is still work-in-progress), then the villa, then the back of the hotel building.
The kitchen counters are shaping up. The counter tile is a bit darker than the floor tile, which is a light pink/brown granite color.
Here is the pool - not yet filled, but tiled! And the "infinity edge" is on 3 sides at the end of the pool, overlooking the stream.
Another view, showing the steps that extend the full width of the pool for easy in-and-out. No more hauling oneself up on a shakey ladder with a bottom rung almost too high to reach, like at some hotels! The large opening is to the master bedroom, which will have sliding glass doors opening to the pool. Only a couple of steps from bed for an early morning swim. And past the ladder, the next opening is onto the private garden beside the master bedroom - no flowers yet, just the white-painted wall. And above the wall, you may be able to just make out the umbrella of one of the tables at the hotel pool, and the glass doors of one the room that overlooks the hotel pool.
View of the temple wall from the back of the master bedroom.
Another angle on the temple wall, this from the gate out of the master bedroom garden.

Update on Spa

Construction continues on the spa building.
The walls are going up.
And here's another look at the view you will see when you enter the room for your massage.

Front Entrance, Spa, and Landscape

As mentioned in the previous post, they continue to add landscaping - and, thanks to the season and Ubud climate, it continues to grow in rapidly.
Here's a new-and-improved view of the front entrance.
Construction has begun on the Spa. Again, please use your imagination. You have just entered the room for your massage, and this is the view you see!
Mt. Agung decided to be completely visible this morning, so I took a new photo.
And here are some of our ""neighbors", relaxing, enjoying the view, or just playing.