indian ocean – Ann Street Studio

I stood in my bedroom on the 2nd floor tower over looking the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean jousting with the rigid red rocks of South Africa’s shores. For sometime there was no noise in the solar powered accommodations I found myself in on location for a shoot. It was just me there, watching the waves out the window. I like to find myself alone in far of places. I like to be reminded in a world with 7 billion people you can hide… and up there for a moment in time I hide in a place called Lindsay Castle.

Practical information: Lindsay Castle is a historic home built in the 20th century as a petite castle with six bedrooms you can rent for your own vacation on a private strip of beach within the Noetzie Nature Reserve. It’s remote and quiet, the beaches are pristine and the fireplaces make for cozy nights. They have an outdoor BBQ and dining area as well. To be noted however, it is a very steep climb up and down from the parking area so not suitable for people traveling with heavy luggage or physical restraints.

Lindsay Castle, a vacation property on the coast of South Africa's Noetzie beach and nature reserve

Standing elegantly off a cliff overlooking the endless Indian Ocean is the amazing Bulgari Resort Bali. It is a luxury resort balancing the natural elements and Balinese traditions with the sophistication of the Italian design house complete with an Italian restaurant so wonderful it was awarded ‘Best Hotel Restaurant in the World’ by International Food & Beverage Forum.

An amazing juxtaposition of private villas and sprawling mansions sound like a mega resort but that it is certainly not. It maintains a personal sense of privacy, and most importantly for me, peace all while making nature the greatest design element of all. The natural tones and traditional building elements sit the resort comfortably into the lush green and dramatic rocky cliff location.

I started each morning jetlagged at 5am, watching the colors of the sunrise fill the sky. Always first to breakfast, I would sit and have a traditional Balinese soup of chicken broth and noodles with mixed vegetables (and A LOT of spice) to the distant sound of the ocean crashing below. Lunches down by the beach consisted of fresh squeezed juices and light fish while the afternoons were perfectly filled with dips in our private pool before a 4pm walk around the property looking for the resident monkeys to see what trouble they were getting into.

This is my second time visiting Bali. What draws one here mostly, in my opinion, is the culture. The peacefulness of the people and the spirit of the ones who have moved here to be closer to it. Yoga, organic juices, and nature are the commodities of Bali, and are served up here at Bulgari in this beautiful setting. On my first visit to Bali I explored all over the island from hiking to the the top of a volcano to shooting on the black sand beaches and sleeping in a structure made of entirely bamboo. Though on this trip we did venture out to Ubud, mostly I just wanted to stay here at the resort. The beauty and calm is what my soul needed.

So here is to another amazing experience on this little island on the Indian Ocean…

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