SECURITY AND PRIVACY

Desa Bulan rests within the village of Lodtunduh and we have an excellent relationship with the local ‘banjar’ chief and the community. Many locals were involved in construction of the Villas Our staff live in the village and are very proud of Desa Bulan We are very much a part of their community and are a welcome presence in the area Part of the appeal of staying in Bali are the beautiful rice fields and the indoor/outdoor style of living This can pose some challenges regarding security as we are living on the edge of the rice fields where people may walk past at any time. Please also be aware of this in relation to your own privacy whilst staying at the villa.

At night we encourage all guests to lock the doors of the villa, and keep the key with you, rather than in the door This acts as a deterrent to "would be” burglars For your security, we have three security men, or Satpams, at Desa Bulan who are on duty from 7pm-7am Their names are Pak Pendi, Nyoman and Komang. The Satpams patrol the grounds nightly and should you come in late, will show you to your Villa. They are also available to help you in case of any emergencies overnight. If you need to reach out to the night security on-duty, please call: +62 821 9495 5132.

The saying “you are never alone in Bali” is true as locals here live in family compounds Keep that in mind while relaxing at your villa with the indoor/outdoor style of living Should you wish for privacy, please let Yudi know or simply lock the door to your villa Unlock the door should you wish staff to be able to enter to make breakfasts and clean your villa

Wildlife

Your villa is nestled on the edge of a rice field in the tropics of Bali. We have built on land which was not used for farming so we are not taking away from the livelihood of our farmers by building on rice paddies.

The surrounding ecosystems of the rice fields and river are very healthy which means that you will see small geckos climbing the walls and the occasional salamander which is a slightly larger lizard

All of the lizards are completely harmless and they are more scared of you than anything else

The geckos will make a characteristic “geh – oh” sound In the Balinese tradition, if you are having a conversation and you hear the Geh-oh sound it means that someone is speaking the truth!

The geckos and lizards also eat mosquitos So if you see or hear them you can be happy that there are several less mosquitos now and one happy lizard

The same goes for the frogs which love the river and the ponds. They eat the mosquito larvae before they hatch and are again a sign of a very healthy ecosystem.

All the animals you see in the villas are completely harmless. If you’re worried about the lizards you can have a chat with the staff as well.

We have many guests at the villas who say that they are “mosquito magnets” and that mosquitos love them

To reduce the impact of mosquitoes we have the following in place for your safety and comfort:

The grounds are seasonally sprayed for dengue mosquitos

We have mosquito nets on all the doors

We have mosquito nets which cover all of the beds

The ceiling fans are actually the best protection against mosquitoes as they blow them away and they cannot settle on you

We have plug-in mosquito coils in all of the rooms

We also have electronic mosquito zapper machines for the patio and other living areas

We provide mosquito repellent spray for your use

Beyond that we recommend you buy some loose-fitting long sleeve clothes and pants. You can find these in any of the markets in town and they are inexpensive and cool to wear.

Rain

When it rains here it can really pour! If that happens, close all the doors and enjoy the scene Often the humidity will build up through the day until the afternoon when it will rain about the same time every day and afterwards it will be cooler and more pleasant January is known as the “windy season” when you are likely to have more rains

Ricefields

Rice growing is the essence of all Balinese life Each of the five phases (preparing, planting, growing, harvesting, fallow) are different and yet fascinating in their own way You might be visiting when the paddies are water filled like lakes, when noisy cultivators are at work, when villagers are shooing small birds away from ripe crops or during months of vivid green all the way to the horizon Watching the locals work the fields is an enchanting scene

Eatlocal

I love to eat the local food It’s cheap, fresh and tasty There are buttery cubes of home made tempeh, fresh greens, real curried eggs, jackfruit curries and other tasty treats.

Called Padang, it’s the local food from Sumatra and can be recognised by the plates of food piled up in the windows. It’s very cheap at around IDR 30,000 per person

Traditional Indonesian fried rice (nasi campur)

This is available in hundreds of local cafes (warungs) around Ubud The best is Warung Teges on Jalan Teges, Teges at IDR 30,000 per person

Traditional Balinese suckling pig (babi guling)

Ibu Oka has been featured on international TV programs and is famous for daily suckling pig is at two locations: off Jalan Suweta in central Ubud, and a large modern restaurant on Jalan Teges, Teges (a 10 minute drive from Harvest Moon). The dishes start from IDR 55,000 per person.

Organise your own Traditional Balinese Feast

Call Wayan Suriani from the village to cook for you - her menu is in the information pack at the villa It’s something I look forward to every time I come to stay and a great way to treat new friends She makes a fresh home-made feast of traditional Balinese food to order Reach her at +62 813 3737 5227 the day before to order your food . She will deliver it when you wish. She also takes individual market tours and Balinese cooking classes (vegetarian or meat-based meals) in your villa.

Homedelivery

Please download the Gojek app or Grab app from your phone’s app store These are super apps that can be used for both transport and food delivery You can order many different types of meals from nearby restaurants in Ubud through the app Just add your delivery location as Desa Bulan, Harvest Moon, villa no 5, Jalan jineng Banjar Abiansemal Kaja Kauh, Lodtunduh , Ubud , Gianyar

We have a well-equipped kitchen in the villa and you are welcome to cook for yourself.

Bakery And Deli

Kue on Jalan Raya has very good organic breads and sourdough and also excellent cakes and chocolate

Organic Produce

Bali Buddha is a great little health food shop, grocery, bakery and café on Jalan Jembawan 1, Ubud. They will home deliver groceries as well as meals. +62 811 395 1202

There are a number of small, but well-stocked organic markets in Ubud. The key is to arrive early (9am) before all the good produce is sold-out.

Saturday morning: Pizza Bagus, Jalan Pengosekan is the largest, followed by Wednesday morning: Warung Sopa Garden Jln Nyuh Kuning No 2, Pengosekan The others are much smaller stalls, but well worth visiting as the quality of the produce is superb: Tuesday morning: Warung Alami in Penestanan and Sunday morning: Behind Sisi Bag Shop on Jln NuKuning

Local Ingredients

There are markets nearby selling local food Ask the staff where to find them Both the Ubud and Mas central markets are worth a walkaround just for the sights and smells, but you need to get up early. It’s all over by 9am.

Western Style Supermarkets

There are three large supermarkets in Ubud: Coco, Bintang and Delta Dewata. The closest is Coco, about 5 minutes by car on the way to Ubud The others are about a 15 minute drive from Harvest Moon Bintang carries a larger range of Western produce and their fish and meat are also higher quality You’ll have noticed that Ubud is saturated with convenience stores, where you can buy drinks, snacks etc

Food in Ubud is incredible – Here are some of our favourites:

Alchemy

The latest addition to the Ubud health scene is this juice bar, raw food café and health store It’s become a mecca for raw foodies with offerings including Almond Feta, Cumin Biscuits and Kale Chips Even if you are not a raw-food devotee, it’s still worth visiting for the juices on offer. Jln Penestanan Kelod. +62 821 4690 8910

Casa Luna

An Ubud institution on the main street of the town Owned and run by an Australian-Balinese couple, Casa Luna has a relaxed raj-style atmosphere with swirling ceiling fans above, marble-topped tables and teak chairs Famous for its bakery and the menu consisting of both Balinese and Mediterranean food Jln Raya +62 361 977409

Clear Indus

This has amazing juices, drinks and delicious organic and raw food on Jalan Hanoman, Ubud +62 878 6219 7585

With its spectacular views it's best to go for lunch or early dinner Indus is the big sister of Casa Luna Excellent Balinese food served in a stunning location Jalan Raya Sanggingan +62 821 3877 3739

KAFE

Has a wide range of largely organic and vegetarian food and excellent juices on Jalan Hanoman, Ubud. They also have an outlet, Little K, at the Yoga Barn, Jalan Hanoman, Ubud You can also get home-delivery. +62 811 1793 455

RYOSHI

The place to go if you are craving some sushi Jalan Hanoman, Ubud. Two people can eat well for IDR 400,000. +62 361 978524

Melting Wok Warung

This is a small restaurant in the heart of Ubud The menu is small and excellent Run by a charming French couple Our favourites are the curries and the chicken cooked in soy 13 Gootama, Ubud +62 821 4417 4906

Mozaic Restaurant

Award winning Mozaic Restaurant serving a degustation menu at Western prices, and quality (upwards of $250pp). You need to book at least a few days in advance. It’s a treat, but really worth it for anyone who is interested in cuisine. Jl. Raya Sanggingan. +62 821 4723 5550

SARI ORGANIK

A 15-minute walk through the rice fields to arrive to Sari Organic, an organic permaculture farm with an open-air restaurant serving refreshing drinks and mouth-watering breakfasts and lunches The Raw Thai Soup and the Babaganoush served with freshly made pita bread and salad are worth the trip +62 851 00801839

SENIMAN KOPI

They are serious about their coffee here Single-sourced Indonesian beans are on offer, and coffee is made using the syphon technique, regarded by coffee connoisseurs as the superior way to extract flavours Not surprisingly, Seniman attracts coffee lovers from all over the world With your coffee you get a glass of water and complimentary Balinese cake. Antiquities and found objects from Java and Bali, which are for sale, decorate the space. Jln Sri Wedari. +62 812 8338 6641

Siam Sally

Excellent Thai food in a lovely environment on Jalan Hanoman, Pengosekan. Fabulous cocktails. +62 361 980777

Wellness

Ubud is renowned as a centre for yoga, natural therapies, organic and raw food, and other interesting stuffThe healer from “Eat, Pray Love” lives close by to Desa Bulan as does another healer whom the locals recommend (just ask the staff)

Being in the tropics is often great for rejuvenating in itself. The heat may take a little while to get used to – use it as an opportunity to slow down from your busy life. Drink more water, take more naps, arrange massages in the heat of the afternoon and you may find that you will effortlessly start to lose weight, your skin becomes clearer and you’ll slip into a more relaxed pace of life

Massage

Massages can be a little hit and miss in Ubud Our favourite masseuse is Nyoman Surpasa, one of Ubud’s best massage therapists One of his staff will come to the villa with his own portable massage table Massages for an hour are IDR 250,000 with Nyoman, or less with his staff. They charge a small fee for coming to your villa. You pay him directly. Ph: +62 812 3600 9610. Or you can visit him at Iman Spa which has great ratings on Tripadvisor It’s 63 Sri Wedari, just north of Jl Raya If you don’t have transport he will arrange to pick you up at your villa

Photoshooting In The Villa

We are happy to provide you with our villa’s interior and exterior for your photoshoots. We request that you tag our villa on social media when you share the images

IG : @harvestmoonubud

FB : @harvestmoonvillabali

Yoga

Yoga is everywhere in Ubud Two of the most popular locations are the Yoga Barn and Radiantly Alive We are close friends with several of the teachers at Yoga Barn including Les Leventahl, Emily Kuser, Bex Tyrer and Sugeng Madeira. They are simply world class teachers