Villa Belong Canggu

Villa Belong Canggu is an enchanting two-bedroom holiday villa in Bali, located in the heart of the tiny fishing and temple village of Seseh on the southwest coast. Resting on 1600 square metres of land in a beautiful walled garden complete with 20-metre swimming pool, the traditional architecture and artefacts celebrate the heritage of Bali, incorporating the symbolic elements of Balinese Hinduism. A series of five stand-alone pavilions are positioned in accordance with ancient cosmology, while the interiors are contemporary, stylish and romantic, incorporating both modern and antique furnishings as well as 21st century facilities. This includes WiFi internet access, LCD screen satellite channel TVs and DVD players, an iPod and three docking stations, imported kitchen equipment, and a genset to ensure that the villa always has electricity in case of power failures. There is also a secure covered car-park and a staff service area.  

The living pavilion is located close to the main entrance, overlooking the garden and pool. Distinguished by a vaulted roof supported by eight wooden pillars, and open on three sides, it is furnished with a comfy, oversized daybed, and a low dining table sourced from a Javanese ‘warung’ (eatery), surrounded by floor cushions. A large mirror reflects the sunny garden, and the pavilion is beautifully lit at night.



Behind the living pavilion is an air-conditioned media room, which doubles as an office It is fitted with built-in desks, sofa area equipped with a Satelite TV and DVD player.

The semi-open-air dining room shares a pavilion with the kitchen, and the two rooms are linked via a service bar that can be closed for privacy. The dining room is furnished with an antique table, six chairs, and an antique wooden chest on wheels, known as a ‘gerobog’ originally used for storing rice. There is also an iPod and dock. The room is cooled by ceiling fans and natural breezes, and has the provision of electric blinds on the two open sides in case of rain or strong wind. A guest washroom is positioned to one side of the dining room. The immaculate polished kitchen is fully equipped with a five-burner gas hob and oven, fridge and everything else that the cook needs to create delicious meals.



The two bedrooms are in separate stand-alone pavilions named ‘Menaga’ and ‘Bangkat’, these names that go back to the time when the village of Seseh was much bigger and administratively divided into three ‘banjars’ or local village councils.  Each bedroom features an open-air terrace at the front, lit by colonial-style bell-jar lanterns; Bangkat’s terrace is furnished with an antique daybed on wheels, and Menaga’s terrace with a built-in cushioned daybed. Each romantic air-conditioned bedroom is furnished with a king-size netted bed upon a wooden floor complete with a shagpile rug, under a soaring roof. The walls are cream with terracotta tiling behind the bed, and each bedroom is equipped with a wall-mounted LCD screen satellite-channel TV and DVD player.

Sliding doors can be opened for cross ventilation and the rooms also have the additional facility of ceiling fans. Each bedroom opens into a delightful, air-conditioned bathroom, decorated in earthy tones. Bangkat’s bedroom has a charming, spacious dressing room off the bathroom, furnished with a wardrobe, chair and a dressing table that doubles as a desk. Bangkat bedroom boasts a recycled timber floor, and a dressing area with a built in wardrobe, a long mirror, and an antique dressing table. Each ensuite bathroom is fitted with a sculptured terrazzo bathtub for two, and double washbasins upon a terrazzo vanity unit, which faces a window to ensure plenty of natural light.  Glass doors can be opened for a semi-alfresco bathing experience, complete with an outdoor rainshower set in a private walled courtyard with a pebbled floor and a serene Buddha statue. There is also a handheld shower in each bathtub, and a circular skylight that channels the moonshine.   

The antique ‘bale gede’ is a traditional open-sided pavilion, originally used for Balinese ceremonies such as the Potong Gigi (Tooth Filing Ceremony), and now rests beside the swimming pool. Furnished with two timber built-in beds, some step stools taken from an old sugar cane press and a prayer table, it is a perfect spot for couples to enjoy a massage, or just chill out with a good book. It is constructed of twelve wooden pillars resting on paras stone plinths, which support a roof of radiating beamwork crowned with alang alang thatch.

The large garden at Villa Belong Dua is gorgeous, characterised by mature trees and open skies, with a dazzling 20 x 4 metre swimming pool as its central feature. The slate-lined pool is presided over by a Buddha head statue; it presents a separate shallow section for children and is bordered by a candi stone deck furnished with one double and two single Sunbrella sunbeds. There is also the thoughtful provision of an outdoor pool shower. The fragrant landscaped garden has a velvety lawn, and is planted with coconut palms, frangipani, lemon and mango trees, pineapple plants, ginger and lemongrass. It is surrounded by a rustic wall crafted from crushed paras stone applied by hand and unpainted. A Balinese temple shrine rests in the northeast corner.