{"id":55521,"date":"2026-08-24T15:00:57","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T05:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/?p=55521"},"modified":"2026-08-24T15:01:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T05:01:03","slug":"anantara-ubud-bali-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/luxuryescapes.com\/inspiration\/anantara-ubud-bali-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"Hall of Flame: Offbeat Wellness at Anantara Ubud Bali Resort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In northern Ubud, fire ceremonies, rice paddy hikes and a home base hidden in impenetrable tropical jungle highlight the spiritual side of an otherwise buzzing Bali. Paul Chai gets his guru on at the Anantara Ubud Bali Resort.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s getting hot in here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My family and I are gathered around a fire pit in Ubud Bali<\/a>, the flames fanned by Idha Guru Sri Empu, a revered Balinese priest who chants as the fire grows in intensity. Idha Guru has ash daubed across his face, a sage-looking beard and his family acts as the back-up band banging drums and singing along. Glowering over this cross-legged fire circle is a large, carved idol of Kali, Hinduism\u2019s \u201cblack god\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As instructed, at each pause, we \u201com\u201d and throw fistfuls of rice into the fire; the rhythmic nature of the offering, the rising emotion of the chants, the searing heat and the clouds of smoke; I think briefly this is what taking peyote must be like and it\u2019s the closest thing this avowed atheist has ever come to a spiritual high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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