Como Shambala Estate At Begawan Giri
In December 2005, the COMO Group opened its first residential health retreat, Como Shambala Estate at Begawan Giri in Bali, Indonesia.
The Estate is the flagship for COMO Shambhala, the award – winning holistic health company owned by Cristina Ong , which operates four world class COMO Shambala Retreats.
History the Estate occupies the former property know as Begawan Giri, created by Bradley and Debbie Gardener in 1998, with an extraordinary 23 acre(9.3 hectare) location on a jungle – covered riverbank a 15 minute drive from the inland town of Ubud. In 2004, the COMO Group assumed management and majority ownership, and have since changed the property to launch it anew – with a completely altered purpose supported by substantial health facilities and extended accommodation, allowing the Estate to become the world’s first full service residential health retreat.
Ubud, a small but lively town regarded as the island’s cultural hub, derives its name from ‘Ubad” meaning medicine in Balinese. This is because of the profusion of unique medicinal plants that grow wild in the dense green forests. In addition, The Estate’s specific site utilizes water from The Source, a natural spring locally revered for its healing properties. COMO Shambhala Estate is extraordinary, a deeply resonant landscape and natural sanctuary, untouched, raw and beautiful, bordered by the sacred Ayung River, surrounded by terraced rice fields and jungle covered mountains. The property is a 15 minute drive from Ubud, and a one hour drive from Denpasar, Bali’s International airport with direct flights to Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Tokyo, Bangkok and Sydney.
The Estate’s architecture has been overseen by Cheong Yew Kuan, who designed the original Begawan Giri. Materials are in keeping with the established aesthetic of the five four and five suite Residences, which made up the original Begawan Giri Estate, combining local stone, wood and traditional alang – alang roofing. Interiors of the COMO Shambhala health facilities and new accommodations – these include five one, two and three – bed room villas, three two bedroom Garden Villas, and two one bedroom Retreat Villas (each with a private therapy room and pool) – are by Koichiro Ikebuchi’s uncomplicated, succinct approach to design allows guests to engage with COMO Shambhala’s greater purpose, which is to clear the mind of all but thoughts of better physical, mental and spiritual health. Facilities, which include Ojas ( the principal treatment area), Shikara (where the Consultants and the COMO Shambhala Activity Centre are located), and Kedara( the water gardens positioned beside the river Ayung, and providing four further treatment rooms with rest areas, baths, showers and hot tub) use water from The Source, the Estate’s natural spring. In total, there are nine treatment rooms( including three for couples), and outdoor hydrotherapy area, swimming pool, yoga room, Pilate’s studio and a separate male/ female steam and sauna, a fully equipped indoor gym with dramatic views, an outdoor jungle gym with a climbing wall and four consultation rooms.
Room description:
All rooms are individually controlled air-conditioning, Internet access, dual line phone with voice mail, satellite TV. DVD player, electronic personal safe, private bar, yoga mat, COMO Shambala bathroom amenities.
Facilities and services:
- Concierge
- Secretarial services
- Travel and tour assistance
- Limousine
- Foreign currency exchange
- Personal shopping assistance
- Multi-lingual hotel staff
- Swimming pool
- Airport transfer
Restaurants:
- In- Room dining
- Glow Restaurant (all day dining)
- Kudus Restaurant (breakfast and dinner only)
- ‘CUISINE” focus on organic, fresh and nutritional COMO Shambala Cuisine – seven years in development and low in sugar, salt and fat.
Notes:
- All rates include 21% Gov’t Tax and service charge
- Rates include daily breakfast
- Rates include complimentary return airport transfers
- Rates subject to change without prior notice
- Check-in: 14.00 hours
- Check-out: 12.00 noon
- Credit Cards: Master card, Visa, JCB, Diners, AMEX
Special packages:
- Please contact us for the packages rates from 3 or 5 or 7 nights program, which includes:
- Accommodation
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Wellness consultation
- Treatments
- Therapeutic Yoga
Family policy:
- One Child under 12 years old sharing the same room with parents free of charge inclusive breakfast
Key Biographies:
COMO Shambala Estate at Begawan giri, Bali.
Michael Stevens, General Manager:
Michael Stevens is a Swiss Hotel School graduate and an MBA holder. Having worked extensively in several award wining Hotels in Europe and Asia, He is a veteran in the hospitality industry.
Most recently, He was General Manager, Cocoa Island in Maldives, which is another COMO resort, under his management, Cocoa island has flourished to become an exclusive resort for the discerning and sophisticated leisure traveler. His background in Food and Beverage, marketing and Operations has put him in good stead to oversee both Bali properties: COMO Shambala Estate and Uma Ubud.
Chris Miler, Executive Chef:
Australian-born Chris Miler comes to The Estate after launching Uma Ubud, COMO Hotels and Resort’s other property on Bali. This followed a one-year stint with Amanda Gale at Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos. Prior to that, Miller worked with Neil Perry at Rockpool and Wockpool in Sydney (consistently voted among the city’s top three restaurants). Millers style of cooking combines Pan-Asian influences with a deep respect for sourcing ingredients. He also has a keen awareness of intelligent nutrition, his research and interest in healthful eating absolutely central to The Estate’s identity.
Monica Barter, The Estate Manager:
Monica Barter has been with COMO Shambala since its inception, initially working as Health Club Manager for the Metropolitan Hotel in London, before spending five years as COMO Shambala Operations Manager, based at Parrot Cay. Barter, who is a graduate of Loughborough University in the UK and the Esalen Institute in California, is knowledgeable in both sports sciences and alternative forms of therapy. She is a trained masseuse, an advanced yoga practitioner, equally involved in The Estate’s daily operations as she is in COMO Shambala’s continued develpment.
Koichiro Ikebuchi, Interior Architect:
Japanese interior architect Koichiro Ikebuchi is difined by his sesitive appraoch to nature and respect for cultural authenticity. All that he creates is entirely appropriate to its physical content. This is achieved with an uncomplicated, succinct approach design, which gives a strong flavour in the fewest strokes possible. It is for these reasons that his extensive reataurant work, including Aoki in singapore, has set new benchmarks in interior design. Uma Ubud was his first resort project. At The Estate, he has been responsible for the Garden and Retreat Villas, in addition to the Lobby and Spa facilities.
Cheong Yew Kuan, Architect
Yew Kuan divides his time between Bali and Singapore. His past projects for COMO Hotels and Resorts include Parrot cay in the Turks and Caico, Uma Ubud in Bali, and Cocoa Island in the Maldives. He has also worked on a number of high profile private houses. Formerly with Kerry Hill Architects in Singapore, his style is defined by a keen awareness of indigenous traditions, creating satisfying, sensitive volumes for modern living. His work at Begawan Giri has been universally acknowledge as the best of its kind-tropical architecture that is both luxurious and sensitive to the environment that it occupies.
Trevor Hillier, Landscape Architet:
Currently working out of Bali, Hillier is a South East Asian tropical landscape specialist, with a strong conservationist leaning.
His work shows a keen sensitivity to architecture and context, his designs incorporating agriculture into the landscape wherever possible. In the Resort sector, he has been responsible for extensions of both Four Season Hotels in Bali, as well as the landscaping of Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos. For COMO Hotels and Resort, he has worked on Uma Ubud in Bali and Uma Paro in Bhutan.
Sally Halstead, Spa Manager:
Halstead is a qualified nurse with experience in acute care settings (including Emergency Department and Intensive care in both the UK and Australia). She has a background in complimentary therapies, including Reiki, reflexology, crystal healing and aromatherapy.
Philip Bowen, Group Activity Director:
Bowen has travelled the seven continents. He is also a pearl diver, rally driver, windsurfing instructor, school teacher, trekking and adventure guide, and a keen mountain biker. As the COMO Group Director of Activities, he has develop programs for guests in Bhutan, Bali and Maldives. At The estate, he looks after climbing, hiking and biking.
Carla Halfor, Nutritionist, Naturopath and Iridologist:
Halford (ND, Dip ION) trained in London and comes to Bali after 16 years practice in the Uk. She offers Nutritional programmes and Naturopathic treatment with the emphasis on individually-tailored eating recommendations to increase vitality and prevent disease. Halford originally trained at the London College of Naturopathic Medicine in Prostatics and Naturopathic Philosopy.
Dr. Deepak G Deginal, Ayuverdic Doctor:
Dr. Deepak graduated from Mangalor University, India and can give advice on nutrition, yoga therapy and osteopathy. Dr. Deepak is able to help you put together a comprehensive programme for detox, rejuvenation os simply to relax and feel well again. He is also a qualified Yoga Instructor and practices therapeutic yoga for health and wellness.
Fiona Paton, Counselling Psychologist:
Paton is accredited as Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychologist Society. She has extensive experience working in both public health and private practice, in addition to lecturing and supervising trainee psychologists.
Christina Curry, Yoga Master:
For the past 8 years Christina has been practicing, studying and teaching yoga in both the US and Asia. Christina’s teaching style is grounded in Vinyasa Yoga with attention to Pranayama, the practice and focus of correct breathing, Hatha, the physical postures and movements, and Raja Yoga, known as the Yoga of the mind or Meditation practices. Christina was formally the resident yoga teacher at ou COMO Hotels and Resorts outsports in Bhutan called Uma Paro.
Ethan Balno, Martial Arts Teacher:
Ethan has been studying and teaching many styles of martial arts all over the US and Asia for 20 years. He also has a school for martial arts in Bali. For COMO Shambala, Ethan runs classes in internal Martial Arts (Chi Chigong, Tai Chi and Wing Chun) that can be practiced for health and meditative purposes as well as slf defence.
Pak Wayan Mudra, activities Guide:
A veteran of region, Mudra has grown up with COMO Shambala Estate at Begawan Giri and knows the local landscape like the back of his hand. He is responsible for guiding guests through the Balinese hinterland on bikes and foot.
Pak Dewa Bawa, Fitness Trainer:
Our Balinese Fitness Trainer has spent 9 years working in the health and fitness industry and offers a wealth of experience in personal fitness training and developing programmes.
