The spacious living and dining pavilion at Villa Des Indes I presents open-air tropical living at its very best. Cooled by paddle fans, with a Palimanan stone floor and spectacular timber roof that appears to extend upwards for ever, it has been furnished with comfortable rattan sofas, lazy chairs, oriental rugs and glass topped tables. Antique statues, Balinese Hindu woodcarvings and colourful pieces of artwork have been carefully placed in well-lit settings that show them off to their best advantage. An elevated area within the Joglo is furnished with a dining table and six chairs.

The bedroom suites at Villa Des Indes I are housed within three, separate, self-contained, colonial-style bungalows, complete with ensuite bathrooms and wide verandas. Two of the bungalows are single storey, each with a master bedroom and den-library. The third two-level bungalow contains a guest bedroom with veranda on each floor. All of the bungalows are fully air-conditioned. They are furnished with four-poster king-size beds – one can be split into two singles – and equipped with satellite channel TVs. The adjoining indoor-outdoor bathrooms are equipped with large mirrors, marble washstands, pedestal washbasins, walk-in rain showers, and – in three – splendidly appointed bathtubs. The outdoor showers feature timber decking, while the flow of water emanates from the mouths of stone-carved griffins. Here, guests’ privacy is protected by high walls and moss-encrusted temple guardians.

The cosy den-libraries represent a bygone era, with timber clad walls and soaring roofs. Each has been lovingly furnished with lazy chairs, deeply cushioned sofas, brass lamps, desks, oriental rugs and bookcases full of glossy books on Bali, Indonesia, art, antiques, Indonesian history and more. A fifth, free-standing pavilion houses a semi-open-air bar complete with eight bar stools, next to a wall of Balinese masks. Tucked away behind the bar, is a fully equipped service kitchen, a laundry room and the staff quarters.