Surfing mecca
Five-star surf and stay in Bali
Itis with some trepidation I arrive at Komune resort on Bali’s east coast. Renowned as a surfer’s holiday paradise opposite a world-famous break, I had always assumed it was no place for a beginner surfer – especially a woman. How wrong I was. A surfing mecca it may be, but Komune is also a lovely resort, so cleverly designed as to cater easily for everyone from families with rowdy children to frazzled professionals needing peace and quiet by the pool. Whether I feel like a cocktail or a protein smoothie, there is always a menu to suit, and Komune’s two restaurants offer an extensive list of deliciousness, from salads to Indonesian classics and Western-style meals, much of the produce plucked fresh from the organic gardens throughout its grounds.
There is even, to my delight, a beginner’s surf break a little further along the beach fronting Komune – a comfortable distance away
from the front of the resort and the wave so challenging that even world champion Kelly Slater rates it as one of the best.
On my arrival, the friendly smiling staff lead me to my simple resort room. Komune has 66 four-star rooms and a range of one, two, and three-bedroom villas. At the end of last year, Komune debuted its first five-star offering, 22 beautifully appointed beachview suites with sun decks and private pools overlooking the famous Keramas break.
Even the beds are placed so the surf break can be viewed from the pillow.
While my dorm-style resort room is set far back from the beach, among the gardens, and is the lowest rung on Komune’s accommodation ladder, it is comfortable, compact and refreshingly simple. Above the large bed hangs an arty photo-on-canvas of a cool surfer dude waxing his board. I feel instantly comfortable. Time to explore, and I head out, following the stepping-stone paths winding through Komune’s vast landscaped grounds flourishing with tropical plants. Fancy some retail therapy or pampering? Not a problem. The resort’s boutique is brimming with racks of attractive clothes, tasteful souvenirs and jewellery.
Adjacent, there is a hair salon that also has massage rooms.