Home Alone at Villa Asante Bali

Bali is known as the island of the Gods. A small, volcanic sea mount in the middle of both the 17,508 islands that make up the Indonesia archipelago, and the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is a holiday mecca - from party town Kuta where the worlds cultures join in one big mosh pit, to 5 star Nusa Dua where western soccer mums and their “dahling” young charges dominate, to Ubud where artists and artisans create their magic far from the madding crowd that is the rest of this crazy little planet

And then there is 'Canggu' (The Nav's Ed note : Pronounced Changgu). A small expat enclave tucked up against the world famous amongst surfies 'Echo Beach', just up the west coast from Kuta Beach. Here amongst Hindu temples and rice paddies and coconut trees and frangipani flowers is the magnificent ‘Villa Asante’. A stunning homestay development built by The Nav's HK friends 'Mr & Mrs Asante Villa Owners'

With an ecletic mix of Balinese architecture and Thai serenity and European style, when you walk in to this magnificent accommodation, you are immediately put at peace - and then a beer is thrust into your hand. Sometime Heineken, often Bintan, always cold. For an honest, down to earth bloke like The Nav, this was heaven. Quietly sitting in the glorious garden, listening to the pool water lap against itself, the sea breeze wafting through the building eaves, and the aroma of cold hops tantalizing the taste buds. When you are this happy - who needs a church !?

On a recent long week-end visit to stay with 'Mr & Mrs Asante Villa Owners', The Nav had a magic few days of beach walks, cold beer, pool swims, cold beer, reading, cold beer, mountain biking, cold beer, body surfing, and cold beer. All was well until a particularly disturbing event on Day two of four. Having joined five families for this holiday, there was an abundance of adults and children everywhere. You could see this from the multitude and myriad assortment of sand shoes cast asunder at the front door - the aroma of sweaty socks stifling in the early afternoon heat

On this day the plan was to load fifteen people into four taxis and head down to the magnificent ‘Changgu Sports Club’ for a swim, sundowners, dinner, and cold beer. Of course the taxi loading proved chaotic, with sound bites of communication yelled through half open taxi doors as to who was with whom, which child was in what, and were we all ready. Unfortunately 'Mr Asante Villa Owners' sister was in her room drying her hair with an electric hair dryer - that most herculean of feminine activities - and could not hear the human hub bub just outside her door

30 minutes later, with the sun setting lower in the Indo-Pacific sky, the children causing sports club staff to have apoplexy, and the adults by the pool with cocktails and those cold beers in hand - all were at one. But something just wasn't right. Call it a sudden spike in intellectual clarity brought on by a heady mix of sunshine and the constant ocean breeze, earlier sporting efforts, and the effect of cold hops, but there was a sudden hiatus in the conversation, a pregnant pause, and then shocked realization - "Where's Mr Asante Villa owner's sister !?"

Seconds passed. Nobody said a word. A look of shock the universal theme. And then as one all looked at her brother, all mentally questioning his administrative capabilties. And then, like all men of substance, bereft of guilt, he uttered one word with hands outstretched, palms skyward - "What ?!" Thankfully five mobile phones were proffered towards him, quick calls made, a taxi sorted, and within the hour the serene sibling was delivered safe to the club and to our table. Appearing philosophical, with body-language that suggested this was not the first time, the sibling settled in to cocktails and shiraz and a tandoori chicken wrap, not a raised word spoken to her brother. The Nav reflected had this been him - he would have had his ears ripped off !

So what has The Nav learned from this tale of familial fortitude ? Well firstly your immediate family are so familiar that they are like a family pet - close, quiet, and never noticed. And secondly if ever you do holiday with your immediate family, expect to have to hitch hike

This is The Nav. Safely home alone from Villa Asante - sign still in hand saying "Hong Kong.........please?!"