Ladybamboo: Photo comment on Flickr

Andy Croll, Singapore - February 2008 in Ladybamboo

Australian-German Bali cooking course

Jessy, Dave heavy learning
click above link to see more!

Our Australian-German Bali cooking course at the Ladybamboo Villa was well organised. First all of the ingredients are purchased at the markets of Ubud, which is a fantastic experience. On our return to the hotel all of the spices and other ingredients are explained. Everyone then participates and starts preparing the ingredients. The best part comes when everything is finished and we are able to sample all of our dishes that we have prepared.
Anja, Jens, Jessy, Dave and Angelica

Enjoying Cooking

An important priority at LadyBamboo, we offer wonderfully enjoyable onsite cooking classes enabling guests to bring back touches of this fine Balinese art to their own culinary experiences at home.

Ken Parker, another of those fine art photographers revisiting Bali after many years, recently stayed here with his lovely girlfriend Inge blissfully occupying our plush River Suite. Together they participated in four of our regular cooking classes with Villa owner and instructor Reki. Inge says : "What a privilege to share the kitchen with such a good-natured and calming teacher like Reki. It was so much fun to cook beside her playfully joyous sweet self, soaking up all the great tips I possibly could!"

By the end Ken could only agree with what is being discovered again and again by our contented visitors. "There is a subtlety and sophistication in the preparation -- and presentation -- of Balinese food that recalls what I experienced here during my first magical visit almost 11 years ago. The entire staff of LadyBamboo were so delightfully skilled, so warm and friendly, and eternally helpful with anything we ever asked. But now I can only hope that after these excellent classes we will be able to cook these fantastic spicy dishes together in our own kitchen when we're back home in Carmel, California -- missing Bali!"

Wonderful spot

Your place is a wonderful spot in Bali - we enjoyed staying here so much! Thank you all for your attention and help - and the delicious food! Be assured: We will back soon.

Christiane & Andreas - Berlin

Truly wonderful stay

The serene beauty of your home and the charming and friendly staff and your gracious hospitality make our stay truly wonderful. The impromptu Sushi+Bali-food dinner is most appreciated, as was the stimulating conversation,
The excellent taste of Lady Bamboo lingers on...

Flo and Frank - New Caledonia and Namibia

Ladybamboo's kitchen is open from 7 a.m. till 8 p.m. While Japanese food is not a regular menu item it can be ordered and prepared on request. In addition Japanese specialities from the islands prime Japanese Restaurant can be ordered till 10:30 in the evening as part of our room service. Ryoshi offers several styles of Japanese cooking: sashimi, tempura, sushi, mochi, teppanyaki, robatayaki and noodles. The affordable prices and a reliably consistent menu, supported by a constant supply of fresh fish, are what made Ryoshi an island icon. Some of our guests enjoy it even more if combined with delights from our own kitchen.

Hidden Paradise

We actually planned a stay in Ubud, but we barely saw anything of it as we were staying at the most beautiful place you can imagine. We were welcome in such a warm and friendly way that we hardly wanted to leave this paradise. Now we know a place we would always like to return: Lady Bamboo is a heaven hidden from the public eye. I can honestly say that I'd like to stay for much longer time, but as this time it is not possible for us. I can only hope that I will be able to return to our wonderful host and this fascinating place.

Fransiska & Lina - Bonn, Germany

Riding the vulcano - downhill!

After several cool and delicious dips in the pool and soaking in the still, quite nights in Ubud we decided to go on a bike ride. We were driven to the top of the volcano for a breakfast of pineapple pancakes and sweet tea, all with a sweeping view of the crater and lake. Then, off we went – down hill to Ubud!

Seeing Bali by bike is a great way of experiencing life here.

We stopped to look at vanilla pods growing, to savour cool tropical fruits in a paddy field and to take pictures of the many happy children running in the streets after our bikes. After several miles of downhill we hit our first uphill, the guides were greeted with the shouts of ‘I thought this was all down hill’ as we slowed our pace and puffed up hill!

But, we were never disappointed as our friendly guides yelled ‘next left’ and we went rushing from concrete roads onto bumpy, muddy paths. These were the greatest parts of this trip as we ventured onto paths less travelled and were rewarded with seeing animals, birds, and Balinese people getting on with their daily lives.

By 1pm we had reached a temple, surrounded by huge trees and we rested here for a while. The air was so fresh and clean, and the temple seemed to be more about rejoicing in nature – a beautiful place to think and appreciate life. When we looked up to the sky, however, we saw dark clouds forming and knew that we were likely to get wet! Off we went, choosing the muddiest path possible of course!
A short way on we took shelter in a building whilst we watched the rain come down and sat with artists who were making their wooden handicrafts. We finally made it back to Ubud, hungry but happy. Our guides hadn’t finished with us yet though, as we were whisked off to have a banquet at Roda Restaurant on Jl. Kajeng. This was the perfect ending to a day that I think one we will all remember. After eating as much as we could, back to Lady Bamboo we went. Happy to shut out the noises of Ubud and welcome back our sanctuary, away from the worries of the world.

On one of our walks starting directly from outside of the Ladybamboo Villa

My husband, Stuart and I work in Banda Aceh, at the very tip of Sumatra, where the tsunami devastated so many lives in 2004. My parents, Pat and Chris always make it out to wherever we are working and this year was no different.

We booked to stay at the Lady Bamboo in Ubud because it looked so inviting on their website. When we arrived, we were not disappointed. Lady Bamboo is an oasis within an oasis. Ubud is a magical place, full of surprises and delights and Lady Bamboo was our tranquil refuge. The staff at Lady Bamboo are attentive, but not over whelming and blend into your own style of relaxing.

Pat, Chris, Ruth and Stuart. UK and Banda Aceh

Such an harmonious environment

Thanks for all your attentions and this place is so wonderful and unique! It's amazing! It nearly feels like home, away from home, all the personnel has been marvelous and make me feel welcome. The decoration is beautiful and the way you had taken all the elements and combine them to create such an harmonious environment is delicious!
I look forward to come back and share this experience with my loved ones. At least I could make my granddaughter happy with some Balinese cloth I brought home.

Laura - Baja California, Mexico

A magical holiday

On arrival it instantly felt that we had "come home" to LadyBamboo. The warmth and friendliness of your welcome set a scene for a wonderful stay. We have been enchanted by the joy, laughter and genuiness of everyone! LadyBamboo staff are just delightful. They are all so helpful and attentive.
Thank you VERY much for a magical holiday and a wonderful experience for us. One which deepens even further our admiration for the Balinese people and our love of Ubud. Your hospitality created a second home for us and has ensured that our trip will stay in our hearts forever.

Sue Lazenby, Principal, Australia

Rafting Challenge on the Telaga Waja River

Exited from the rafting on the Ayung river we were told by Ladybamboo to try the second rafting offering from Sobek, a more rough experience on the Telaga Waja River east of Ubud. A 45 minutes drive from Ubud awaits you at 430 meters attitude another well organized starting facility where you change into rafting gear.

The excellent english speaking guide explains the handling of the raft, which have a maximum capacity of four persons, plus the riverguide. And down 160 steps to the river, where the most important commados “duck” and “boom boom” are repeated. And you better remember them when the raft hits the sidewall, that is “boom boom”. If you do not hold to the raft you will find yourself in the swirling river. “Duck” is even more essential. Quickly duck and take shelter in the raft to pass under low bamboo bridges and tree branches.
The river is challenging, with 14 km to cover in about two hours, descending 200 meters from the starting point to the finish line. One rapid of 3.5 meter awaits you within the first 15 minutes and closer to the end, a drop of 4 meters over a water-dam raises your heart beat. One will only realize the size of this waterfall once one is over it. Very impressive!

At 12.30h the rafts arrive at the landing point, a walk 120 steps up is exhausting, but gives you amply time to enjoy the very beautiful view over the valley with steep rice terraces. On top a changing room with showers and a nice Balinese restaurant with an Indonesian buffet which awaits the rafter. After a leisurely lunch the minibus drives you back to Ladybamboo, arriving at 14.30h, in time to to hit the shops in Ubud. We enjoyed the trip even more than our first rafting trip on the Ayung river, much recommended for those brave people like us.
Nancy and Jo