The journey from the hustle and bustle of Jakarta to Ubud felt like stepping into another dimension. The presidential plane landed gracefully at Ngurah Rai Airport, and as soon as the door opened, the warm, humid Balinese air, thick with the aroma of incense and frangipani flowers, immediately enveloped them. Unlike the more formal first welcome in Jakarta, the atmosphere this time was much more relaxed. Nisa had deliberately requested no excessive ceremony. Only a few local officials offered brief, friendly greetings and presented them with fragrant frangipani garlands, which promptly made Andrea sneeze (again!).
The overland journey to Ubud took about an hour and a half, winding through increasingly narrow roads, weaving between traditional villages, art galleries, and vast expanses of green rice paddies that began to dominate the scenery. The private villa chosen by Nisa and Reza was somewhat secluded, down a small road only accessible by one car, promising absolute tranquility and privacy. The building was a blend of modern Balinese architecture with natural wood and stone accents, surrounded by lush tropical gardens and an infinity pool that seemed to merge with the green valley before it.
"This place... it's like a postcard come to life!" Sharon exclaimed as she stepped into the villa’s open-air lobby area, her eyes wide with astonishment at the view.
"Better than a postcard!" Caroline chimed in, already pulling out her phone. "My Instagram is going to explode today!"
Jim, meanwhile, was engrossed in examining the wooden carvings on one of the pillars. "This dragon carving... does it symbolize the spiritual guardian of this villa, or is it merely an aesthetic ornament?" he asked one of the passing villa staff, who could only smile back in confusion.
After a smooth check-in and a welcome drink of fresh soursop juice (which led Andrea to ask if it was a real fruit or a result of genetic engineering because of its strange shape), Nisa announced their first agenda in Ubud.
"Alright, my favorite Irish rock stars," Nisa began with a knowing smile, "after a rather tiring journey, it’s time to harmonize our energy with the peaceful nature of Ubud. Let's start our first day here with... Morning Yoga!"
On the very spacious back terrace of the villa, facing a spectacular view of the terraced rice fields and the faint silhouette of Mount Agung in the distance, yoga mats were neatly arranged. Ibu Wayan, the petite yoga instructor with a smile as bright as the morning sun, who successfully (half-way) calmed The Corrs during their failed meditation attempt at the Palace yesterday, was back. This time, she seemed more mentally prepared to face her unique VVIP 'students.'
"Good morning, everyone," Ibu Wayan greeted softly, her voice like calming musical notes. "Today we will try some basic Hatha Yoga poses, focusing on breathing and gentle stretching. Let us release all tension, inhale the fresh Ubud air, and allow ourselves to merge with nature."
Nisa and Reza, who were regular yoga practitioners, immediately took their positions gracefully. Alex, who was coaxed into joining with the promise of a delicious smoothie bowl afterward, tried to follow in a slightly lazy but earnest teenage style. Sharon looked serious, attempting to mimic Ibu Wayan's movements with a musician's precision.
But not the others. Andrea, wearing a brightly-colored pink branded yoga set (a sharp contrast to the green rice fields), was more preoccupied with ensuring her appearance remained on point in every pose. Is this angle good for a photo later? Is my hair messy? Ugh, does this pose make my stomach look chubby? she pondered internally.
Jim, attempting the Trikonasana (Triangle Pose), looked more like he was trying to solve a complex geometry equation with his body. His long legs looked stiff, his hands trembled, and his expression was full of intellectual concentration. If the angle of my foot is 45 degrees and my hand forms a straight line upwards, does this mathematically create perfect balance, or is it just an optical illusion? And how does the concept of a triangle relate to the trinity in Celtic cosmology?