BALI: Part 3

Candidasa (and by that I mean the one long road with all the tourist shops and accommodation next to the beach) has one saving grace which is that you can leave it. So while you leave Candidasa, if you happen to know the way, you can turn down ever more obscure roads, alongside crop fields and over small bridges until you find yourself on a tiny road in a forest which ends at Villa Campuhan. I'm unsure how the bridal couple found this place, but they are prolific travellers. (Villa info at the bottom)

Villa Campuhan is not only a fantastic guesthouse, but it was also the venue for the wedding.

The Wedding

Dave and Leanne have know each other for a long time. Dave is a New Zealand Maori, while Leanne is Canadian. They both currently live in Taiwan and so the guest list included people from all over the world, both friends and family. Having only known them couple a few years, I was fortunately to be considered close enough to invite to the wedding for which I am very grateful. It allowed me to share this special time with them as well as getting me to explore a country I might have overlooked.

  

This sign, loveling created on the day, is the work of Roelien Booysen; artist, photographer and friend. Although her primary focus is design and art (I believe), her photography is also wonderful and I've nicked a few pictures of hers to add below.

 

The end of the road brings you to this portal. It is the entrance to Villa Campuhan. Over the threshold  lies grass, palm trees and splendour.

 

 

One of the rooms and where the bride stayed before the wedding.

 

The view from that room's verandah.

 

On the other side of the river lies the main part of the villa. The central lengthways building is where the speeches were held and where food was served from. 

 

The building to the left was accommodation for certain family members. Candels were laid out and lit at night. 

 

 

Here's that same building with the dinner table laid out before it.

 

 

Behind the main building is a large pond flanked by the guesthouse's rooms, all on stilts and of a beautiful design. 

 

 

A view from upstairs. 

 

To the right of the central building was a small pool and where the wedding took place.

 A few paces from where we sat for the wedding is a small drop down to the rocky beach. The sea provided an endless, gentle murmur to the evening and later at night a great orange moon rose from it directly opposite us.

 

The obligatory wedding paraphernalia for the aisle. 

 

After the wedding the chairs were moved to the dinner table and some musicians came to play traditional music for us.

There are two stories to the main hall. The first one is this:

 

This table was set up for the guests with two important things in mind. The first had to do with the pictures flying between the pillars.

 

Gathered here was a collection of photos of Dave and Leanne as a couple. On the table was a polaroid camera. The idea was through the course of the day, everyone would take a picture of themselves (individuals, couples, familes, etc.) and switch their picture for one of Dave and Leanne. This was Dave and Leanne could have pictures of everyone.

 

The other part was this book. It was the book for guests to write well-wishes to the couple in. As you may have noticed, my paper cranes decorate the table and join the hanging ranks with the pictures above.

The picture at the back left of the table is one of Dave's father. He passed away a year ago and this was Dave's way of having him present at the wedding.

 And, most importantly, the pictures of the couple getting married. I must once again thank Roelien Booysen for the use of these pictures. (@unrouxly)

Villa Campuhan

www.vliiacampuhan.com

villacampuan@gmail.com

+62-818053 86053