| The almost three hours drive was completely paid off | | | | opened directly to the living area opening to spacious |
| with the good time I had. It was a really sleepy fishing | | | | terrace at the back, overlooking the beach through its |
| village with only a few modest accommodations | | | | indigo swimming pool. On the left hand side was a |
| available. Even my cell-phone, subscribed to the widest | | | | huge LCD-TV with state of the art sound systems |
| network provider, could not get a signal. I stayed at a | | | | equipped the living area furnished with modern |
| very modest bungalow called Three Brothers, less | | | | comfortable couches. On the right hand side was a |
| than $8 for an absolute beachfront bungalow with | | | | dining table and fully equipped kitchen. At the same |
| private bath. Whilst it did not have luxurious amenities | | | | floor there were a study room with a double bed, and |
| like TV, AC, or hot water, it is nice and clean, but the | | | | a private home gym with complete set of body-building |
| more impressive thing of friendliness of the staffs | | | | equipment and a mini-pool table. |
| treating guests like old friends. | | | | The stairway next to the front door leaded to a hall at |
| Just a few weeks back we got in touch with Scott, a | | | | the upper floor, which housed all the remaining three |
| Seattle based American furniture exporter, who has | | | | bedrooms. The spacious master bedrooms enjoyed |
| just completed a beachfront villas at Amed. His | | | | both ocean views in one side and mountain views in |
| invitation to visit his new villa was really appealing. But I | | | | the other side. Both views are magnificent, however, |
| was calculating about the chance that we can rent it | | | | after a while stunning at the ocean views I found the |
| out to our mostly Seminyak-minded clientele, and the | | | | mountain more appealing. The two smaller guest |
| time I had to spend to pay a visit. No other holiday | | | | bedrooms enjoyed either one views, a bedroom |
| rental agency listed villas outside the greater South, | | | | enjoyed the ocean views while the other enjoyed the |
| literally means "close to Seminyak". No one has ever | | | | mountain views. All bedrooms had adjoined western |
| inquired villas at those remote areas. It was simply just | | | | en-suite with bath-tub and running hot water. Functional |
| like a question of who came to earth first between a | | | | minimalist furnishing suggested the guest to enjoy |
| hen and an egg. | | | | outdoor living. However, the master bedroom had a |
| A few days back, we rented out a villa Talia Vasthi at | | | | wide LCD-TV. |
| Candidasa for two weeks. I felt this occasion like a | | | | While the upstairs balcony offered spacious space |
| moment to clear the cloud out. It proved that there | | | | gazing at the stunning views, the downstairs terrace |
| were certain holiday makers who are interested in | | | | offered even more space for more purposes, with |
| off-the-beaten-track areas. So decision was made, I | | | | large daybeds, lounging chairs, and dining table. At the |
| would drive east to meet Scott at his villa. | | | | opposite of the swimming pool, very close to the |
| I was surprised that things have been progressing quite | | | | beach was a garden gazebo. A small pathway leaded |
| quickly. The new bypass connecting Sanur to the East | | | | to a small door to the beach where hundred of |
| has now been completed. They even started | | | | traditional boat decently parked nest to each other. |
| construction to make it four ways instead of two. This | | | | There was nothing special about the beach, really. For |
| new road ended just a few kilometers away from | | | | lovers of underwater world, the treasure was hiding |
| Padang Bai, the main ferry port to Lombok which was | | | | under the calm surface. Boat parked just in front of |
| very close to Candidasa. It cut out the traffic hassle at | | | | the villa to transfer you to chosen diving spots. Scott, |
| Batubulan, Celuk, Sukawati, Gianyar, and Klungkung. | | | | the owner, was a well-seasoned scuba diver who |
| Only a few minutes over one hour I have passed | | | | managed a diving operator in addition to his main |
| Tirtagangga. The traditional fish-market which was the | | | | furniture business. I would personally suggest that he |
| entrance to Amed was reached within less than two | | | | owned it more for his personal enjoyment than to |
| hours. Turning right from the fish market, I just followed | | | | deliver decent income. However, the point was that |
| the road along the beach. Everything remained the | | | | the he offered package of daily diving to various diving |
| same, nothing seemed to change compared to my | | | | spots in the area to guest renting his villa. |
| previous visit almost two years back. There was | | | | He should be away when you stay at his villa. That |
| nothing to notice until the road hiked up hill and sloped | | | | was the reason why you could rent his villa anyway, |
| back down, I saw a big house on the beach. The road | | | | because he left the villa vacant while he was away, |
| hiked-up again after the house, so it was in between | | | | either taking care of his business or dive other |
| the two hills. | | | | underwater treasures in the other sides of the globe. |
| Built on roughly 5,000 square meters of land, it has | | | | But Wayan, his right-hand aide would do his best to |
| spacious parking space at the front. Entering the gate, | | | | pamper your stay in and out of the villa, on the surface |
| narrow pathway leaded to the house through soothing | | | | or underwater. |
| freshwater pond full of koi fishes. The main door | | | | |