INDONESIA
239
July14
families, with beds for four, while others
are more “romantically” themed, such
as the Plantation Villa with its outdoor
shower and scenic balcony views. The
grandest of them all – the palatial Bella
Vista Villa – comprises three adjoining
villas and two adjacent freestanding
villas, and boasts a colossal presidential
suite and a private pool with a view of the
mountains. I’m told that the president of
Indonesia is a regular visitor – and I can
understand why.
No matter which accommodation you
choose, each is equipped with modern
conveniences likeWi-Fi internet, television,
air-conditioning and the like, but what
struck me most was their luxuriously
simple interiors and stunning views across
plantation, jungle and volcanoes.
The Facilities
MesaStila is well known for its wellness
retreats. Guests can choose from a
number of packages, such as Escapism,
which includes a full spa package, and
Fitness and Weight Management, which
includes an appraisal, a meal-plan, a
daily steam bath and private fitness
training. The team also runs special
programmes, such as endurance
cycling through the surrounding terrain.
Yoga retreats are led by the resident
yogi master; sunrise classes are held
in an outdoor pavilion overlooking the
expansive jungle.
For kids, the team at MesaStila can
tailor a full activities package to keep
them occupied, including arts, crafts
and fun sports. Other optional activities
for families include mountain biking,
jungle gym, trekking, traditional martial
arts or aqua gym in the large infinity pool
that overlooks the nearby mountains,
Andong, Merbabu and Merapi.
As you can imagine, I wasn’t going to
leave without checking in to MesaStila’s
famous spa, which reportedly boasts
the only Turkish-style hammam in Asia. It
didn’t disappoint. Thecylindrical hammam
steam room ticked all the boxes, featuring
spacious seating and authentic tiling.
Following that, my one-hour Javanese
body massage was utterly blissful –
perhaps the best I’ve had in Asia.
The Verdict
MesaStila oozes traditional old world
charm, seamlessly incorporating its
activities and accommodation within
a magnificent natural landscape. The
result is a wholesome experience with
a real “back to nature” feel – so much
so that, despite only having a weekend
visit, I left feeling thoroughly relaxed and
recharged.
Tours to Try
•
Borobudur temple visit:
You can opt
to visit stunning Borobudur temple
at sunset, sunrise or during the day
(and even throw in an elephant ride
through the surrounding grounds).
•
Horse-riding:
Did I mention that
MesaStila also has its own stables?
You can practise horse-riding on
site, or ride though the villages with a
qualified local instructor.
•
Mountain-trekking:
Be guided
on a day trek up one of the many
photogenic mountains surrounding
the site.
All tours can be arranged directly
through MesaStila.
Getting There
SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore
Airlines, operates weekly flights from
Singapore to Semarang. MesaStila is
situated between Semarang, Jogjakarta
and Solo airports. The drive from
Semarang airport takes an hour on
average, whereas from Jogjakarta or
Solo it takes two hours.
Offer for
Expat Living
Readers
The Collektion Hotels & Resorts
is currently offering
Expat
Living
readers exclusive rates
at MesaStila, from US$160 per
night. This includes breakfast
for two, daily scheduled
activities and afternoon tea. For
enquiries or to book, contact
6689 1042 or email info@
thecollektion.com, mentioning
the
Expat Living
offer
.
The private pool at
the Bella Vista villa