Ubud Hanging Gardens hotel of Bali

With a backdrop of emerald green terraced rice-fields and the tumbling waters of the Ayung flowing below, Ubud Hanging Gardens is set at the heart of Bali.

The hotel is only 20 minutes from the centre of Ubud, accessed by a complimentary scheduled shuttle bus service. The airport and Ubud Hanging Garden’s sister hotel and recently refurbished Jimbaran Puri Bali are 90 minutes away by car. A 15 minute helicopter transfer to Denpasar Airport can also be arranged.

 

Perched adjacent to steep rice terraces with sweeping views across the Ayung river gorge to the ancient Pura Penataran Dalem Segara temple on the opposite hillside, Ubud Hanging Gardens has 38 villas, which are all constructed in contemporary Balinese style on gravity defying wooden pillars with thatched alang-alang roofs. The resort’s accommodation, restaurants, pool and spa cascade down the hillside to the valley floor below and can be reached by a funicular.

The resort’s garden was conceived by the landscape architect William Warren (author of “Balinese Garden”, Thames & Hudson), together with John Pettigrew, (another devotee of botanical gardens who created the garden at Begawan Giri). It is planted with exotic trees and tropical shrubs such as cocoa, coffee, fruit trees, durian, rambutan, lychees, a variety of tropical bamboos, flame trees, bird of paradise flowers and orchids.

The hotel has four categories of villa-style accommodation: 15 deluxe Pool villas, of approximately 100m², 15 panoramic view deluxe Pool villas, of approximately 100m², two panoramic view suite pool villas of 160m² and six 2-bedroom Family Pool villas of 160m².

The villas were designed by Anglo/ French architect Gordon Shaw and all have king sized four poster beds, handmade batik cotton fabrics, an interior bathroom with hand moulded bath, terraces with open air showers and dramatic Java stone plunge pools with adjoining Bales (a traditional Balinese relaxation area). Shaw used precious woods throughout the property, including Merbau flooring for the interiors, Benkirai for the exteriors and wooden furniture with sculpted doors in the Balinese tradition.

Ubud Hanging Gardens The uber-luxurious hotel of Bali.

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West Lake In Hangzhou With Ten Scenic Beauties

Visitors to Hangzhou must travel to West Lake. This fine lake is nestled to the west of ancient town of Hangzhou and north of the Qiantang River. The Lake is rectangular in shape and stretches 2.8 km from east to west and 3.3 km from north to south with a total area of 566 hectares.

 

West Lake is the heart of Hangzhou. Nearly 1,000 years ago, when the South Song dynasty settled in Hangzhou, the town became known as a sparkling diamond. Under the direction of nobles and scholars, West Lake evolved into a site of great sophistication, known far and wide for the "Ten Scenic Beauties of West Lake”.

These experiences were: 1. Spring dawn on the Su causeway; 2. Curved Yard and Lotus Pool in the summer, 3. Orioles singing in the willows, 4. Leifeng Tower at sunset, 5. Fish viewing at the Flower Pond, 6. Three ponds mirroring the moon, 7. Twilight bell a Nanping Hill, 8. Autumn moon over the Lake of Peace, 9. Winter snow on Bridge and 10. Two mountains piercing the clouds.

The "Ten scenic beauties of West Lake” have remained unchanged since the South Song dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, Emperor Kangxi was enraptured by West Lake’s view and erected a private place on the Isolated Isle. Emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong recreated the Ten Beauties of West Lake in thier Bright Garden and Summer Peace Garden in Beijing.

I woke early and took a stroll along the Su causeway, which runs for nearly 3 km. The causeway was built during the North Song dynasty when Su Dongpo was governor. This poet showed great foresight in building this long causeway, which divides the lake into two parts. Peach trees and willows line the causeway. Six graceful stone bridges connect the two halves. On the southern end of the causeway stands the Su Dongpo Memorial Hall, a major tourist attraction. On the northern end, slightly to the west of Su causeway lies the Curved Yard, a 23 hectares garden that boasts a bamboo forest, a rock garden and a lush redwood forest. However, the Curved Yard is best known for its lotuses. Ponds and rivers cover most of the grounds. Visitors can see up to 200 species of water lilies.

Looking west from the Curved Yard, visitors will see two blue mountains piercing the sky. These mountains add to the charm of this already enchanting lake. They are collectively called the Peach Garden Mountains. An easy way to enjoy the view is to climb Leifeng Tower to the southeast of Su causeway. Built around a thousand years ago, Leifeng Tower at sunset was a famous beauty spot during the South Song dynasty. The old Leifeng Tower, which was clad in brick on the outside and included wooden pillars and a high pedestal, collapsed in 1924. The new tower was erected at the same location using modern materials. Elevators carry visitors to the top floor. The foundations of the old tower were preserved and now house a museum. From the top of the new 70 m - tall Leifeng Tower, visitors can admire the sparkling lake and its three lushly forested islands.

In the western half, slightly south of the Su causeway, lies the Flower Pond. This 20 hectares park is a lovely place to stroll. To the south of Leifeng Tower, on Nanping Hill, stands the colossal Jingci Temple. This Buddhist pagoda was built to protect West Lake. Leifeng Tower was believed to be a guardian tower and a dungeon for the sacred White Snake, who repented from her evil past and became a good person thanks to her love for the disciple Xuxian from Jiangnan.

Walking east from Leifeng Tower about I km along the bank, visitors will reach a stunning garden known for its willow species. In the middle of this park lies a meandering lake with little canals, sophisticated bridges and diverse plants, many of which are native to Jiangnail.

  

From the Flower Pond, you should visit the Three Ponds, which mirror the moon on West Lake's largest island. The three islands are named Heaven, Scepter and Ouzhou. With pavilions, mansions and flower gardens, these islands have an otherworldly beauty. An old saying about the reflected moon states: "Gardens in the garden, lakes in the lake". At the heart of the island lies a big pond divided into four parts with causeways and bridges. Visitors must to cross a nine-arched bridge.

The other two scenic views of West Lake are the "Autumn Moon over the Lake of Peace and "Snow on the Bridge". These scenes are associated with the Isolated Isle northeast of Su causeway. The Lake of Peace lies before Wenxue Pavilion and was regarded by scholars as the best place to view West Lake in the autumn. It features a water pavilion and a stone stele that dates back to Kangxi's reign. In the autumn when the lotuses wilt, the lake grows calm. When the moon rises, the lake glints, casting the moonlight over the three looming islands. The Ending Bridge is at the end of the White Causeway, which connects the Isolated Isle to the eastern bank. It was built of stone and stands above the causeway. Song scholars considered this bridge the best place to view winter snow around West Lake. Visitors will find countless places of interest around Hangzhou.

West Lake In Hangzhou With Ten Scenic Beauties.

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