THE
FAMILY COTTAGES
The Ganesha was followed by the construction of three cottages
for Hadiprana's children and seven for guests. Their names are
an amalgamation of the names of various family members. The
first three Miraben, Wesindhu and Puripram have each two bedrooms:
one with a double-bed and the other with two single beds on
a raised platform where an additional mattress can be inserted.
The cottage has a shared bathroom, kitchenette and sitting room
and is ideal as a family unit. The remaining four Mitaher, Notara,
Barisa and Karaya-each has one large bedroom curn sitting room
with a double-bed. The last addition to the compound is a group
of three similar units under one roof.
All
The Chedi Club At Tanah Gajah cottages are exquisitely decorated with Indonesian
antiques and works of art most of which are Balinese and all
of which. have been personally chosen and lovingly decorated
with painstaking attention to detail by Hadiprana himself. They
are also equipped with every modern convenience including air-conditioning,
hot and cold water, television, telephones, refrigerators and
in the kitchenettes modern cooking facilities.
THE ANGELS PAVILION
IN FRONT OF THE cottages is a rocky pool richly stocked with
water plants accompanied by the gentle gurgling of water as
a stone Ganesha, the Elephant God, pours forth water from its
trunk into the shaded pool. Nearby stands a gazebo with four
beatific Balinese angels gazing down from each corner on elephants
with pink umbrellas and piles of pink cushions on gray weathered
antique sofas. In the center stands an old gray table surrounded.
by Raffles chairs-the ideal place to read a book, write a letter
or simply dream away the hours; a cool garden. refuge in the
heat of the day especially in the dry season. This is the Balai
Bidadari or Angels Pavilion.
PONDOK
MARGIN
AFTER CONSTRUCTION of the cottages Hadiprana created a house,
for himself and his wife called Pondok Margin. The word "Margin"
was created by combining the names of both Mr. and Mrs. Hadiprana's
mothers: Marna and Ginawati. "Pondok" means a house
surrounded by rice fields and accordingly the gardens of Pondok
Margin merge with the neighboring rice fields. In order to reach
it a walk is necessary along a stone paved path through the
rice fields and then through a green and white garden to a house
decorated in pastel shades also of green and white. In this
house the lotus reigns supreme. In its gardens stand two large
lotus ponds and between these is a pool with six swans and two
little Balinese ducks with white powder puffs on their heads.
In
the living room the ceiling is painted, in softest hues of green
and covered with drawings of tender water plants and lotuses.
White carved herons fly suspended through this elevated landscape
and in the living room below stand huge jars of white carved
lotuses amidst turquoise green Raffles chairs and an enormous
painting of white herons feeding among pale green reeds. All
the rooms are decorated with antiques and the lotus motif comes
out again and again in the furniture and artwork. There is a
wall size painting of white lotuses nestled amongst green leaves
in one of the bed rooms.
Huge
jars of white hibiscus add a touch of soft purity to this most
romantic of houses. Pondok Margin is a sunrise house for all
the buildings in The Chedi Club At Tanah Gajah were built to pay homage to the
dawn. They all face cast and next to Pondok Margin is a small
pavilion called the Balai Angin or Wind Pavilion. Here one can
sit in the early morning to catch the dawn as it rises over
the Gunung Agung and Gunung Abang mountains and watch the world
slowly come to life. At 5:30 a.m. Pak Gianyar, the caretaker
of Pondok Margin who has been with the family for close onto
twenty years.
Now
will already be there, sitting on the steps to the pavilion
preparing the white hibiscus flower arrangements for the house.
Meanwhile from all around come the sounds of life awakening.
The dawn chorus of birds 'A and roosters. The soft quacking
of ducks in the rice fields and the gentle tinkling of the wind
chimes. Pondok Margin is open to guests for viewing and guests
are welcome to enjoy the Wind Pavilion when Hadiprana is not
in residence.
THE
HUIYAM PAVILION
The newest component of this estate is the Huiyam pavilion.
This new house is most unique in its setting within The Chedi Club At Tanah Gajah,
as it has the most dramatic view to the bright sunrise pea-king
above the distant volcanic mountain, called "Gunung Agung".
Equally interesting is its closeness to the lush rice paddies
directly in front of the entry to the house.
The
name of the house "Huiyam", is the creative combination
of the father's names of Mr. Hadiprana and his wife, Jennewati.
"Huiyam" embodies a cozy and lush feeling, surrounded
by the sounds and sights of the morning air, and further supplemented
with the quiet and very efficient works of the gardeners and
house staff. The construction of "Huiyam" started
in 1993, initially as a residential house for long-term stays
by the family and special guests of Mr. Hadiprana, however "Huiyam"
is often reserved for the public on a rental basis. By incorporating
this dual function, the components of the house are much more
complete and flexible to accommodate the needs of the guests.
This
experience will be very exciting and refreshing, within an atmosphere
of comfort, that is appropriately screened by the rich blue
sky in the background. The dominate color scheme of "Huiyam"
is glossy white; with two(2) large bedrooms, complete with all
of the amenities found in a star-rated hotel. The bathrooms
(next to each bedroom) are unique in that the smallest accessories
were carefully designed by Mr. Hadiprana as a significant compliment
to the theming of "Huiyam".
This
Balinese house, has been completed for eight (8) months, and
includes very spacious rooms for relaxation,- dining and rest,
with operable panels surrounding these spaces, allowing cool
morning breezes and the striking sunlight to filter through,
without limitation. The panoramic views to the rice paddies,
coupled with the sounds of the farmers working the fields and
the everpresent birds chirping loudly above, adds to the fascinating
aura of "Huiyam".
This
house would not be complete without a water feature to compliment
the feeling of elegance and comfort. "Huiyam's" pond
is relatively small for a house of the size, however the location
on both sides of the entrance door is sufficient for the scale
and traditions of Bali. The lining of the pond has blue tile
to enhance the freshness of the water and the pond also has
a large rustic tree with hanging green leaves surrounded at
the base with colorful red and yellow flowers.
"Huiyam"
is a class of its own, encompassing traditional Balinese styles
with a touch of modernism found in more urban settings, yet
well-designed and serviced for the needs of all guests. The
panoramic views; the exposure to the natural settings; and the
completeness of the overall space, makes Hendra Hadiprana's
dream house vastly unique and interesting.
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