How long would you endure to escape to your idyllic destination? A two-hour flight? six? Perhaps combined with another 6 of overland car ride?
What if we told you there’s a destination mere hours away from Jakarta, that checks all the boxes for a perfect getaway: peaceful surrounding, warm people, relaxed lifestyle, great food, and most importantly, a breathtaking scenery just outside your window.
H.E Cesar Esteban Grillon, Paraguay’s Ambassador to Southeast Asia has quite the experience of searching for the perfect getaway in Indonesia. As an expat who has been living in Jakarta for about 6 years, he knows well the highs and lows of living in the city. Like many that want to take advantage of living in one of the country with abundant tourist destinations in Indonesia, Mr. Grillon loves exploring exotic destinations every time he get the chance.
Although most of the times, you still can’t really escape. “From Jakarta, Bali is close, but you still get the macet!” the ambassador complained. To reach the really idyllic locations like Pulau Weh in the western tip of Indonesia or Morotai, Ternate, all the way to Raja Ampat in the far east– which Mr. Grillon has all visited– one would need to spare a lot more travel time.
Until recently when he was introduced of Mesa Stila, a luxury resort that was once known as Losari Coffee Plantation perched in the highland of Magelang, Central Java with a seriously impressive collection of remarkable antiques and enchanting buildings including a Colonial railway station; historic Joglo-villas, until recently when the property was transformed into a world class retreat that offers no ordinary ‘luxury’ experience.
The property has twenty-three unique villas set within an area of twenty-two hectares of outstanding natural beauty; surrounded by cooling highland-air, eight mountains, tropical gardens and the said coffee plantation that still produces up to seven tons of quality coffee per year.
The best part of Mesa Stila, Mr. Grillon passionately explains, is how easy it is to reach the resort; “I never would’ve expected such a tranquil place, just less than 2 hours away from where I live!” Perfectly put indeed. From Jakarta, you would only need to take a 35 minutes plane ride from Soekarno Hatta airport to Semarang, from where you will be assisted by a Mesa Stila staff, all the way to the doorstep of your villa, in approximate 1 hour.
Each of the twenty-three unique villas were brought from other sites around Java and reconstructed, on site, in their original Limasan or Joglo form. Seemingly as traditionally Javanese as it gets, don’t get fooled too quickly of what meets the eye. Among the well-curated antiques, guests are pampered with modern amenities and facilities, a large living area and outdoor veranda, with breathtaking views across the coffee plantation. “From my villa, I got to see the beautiful Merapi every morning. Such an amazing experience.”
Mesa Stila’s guests are free to rest and relax, but are more than welcomed to partake in the many activities that the hotel offers. Walk through a labyrinth shaped reflexology walk consists of thousands of smooth- pebbles in different patterns to stimulate and massage all the reflex points on the soles, take part in the yoga classes every morning, swim in the infinity pool overlooking the mountains, and retreat to the Hammam spa, the only authentic one in the country, where steam bathing combines functionality with decadent cleansing rituals.
For Mr. Grillon, who is an avid tennis player, nothing makes his getaway more perfect than the fact the MesaStila has a 24 hour tennis court ready, complete with a tennis sparring partner that is on call any time of the day.
For many, a stay in Mesa Stila, is a healing experience, where your body, mind, and soul is totally taken care for. From the soothing tranquility, the nature, the abundant option of outdoor activities, the traditional Javanese flavors prepared with a healthy twist, to the most important, the sincere hospitality of the people, and as Cesar likes to consider it, “Now, he said, “Mesa Stila is my new home away from home.”
We couldn’t agree more.
We’d like to thank H.E Cesar Esteban Grillon for his time to share his Mesa Stila experience with What’s New Jakarta readers. For more information about Mesa Stila, visit http://ift.tt/1IwhGdd.
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