Ibu and I arrived a few days ago. This is one of the great resorts in the world. For Hubertus-no lychee sorbet yet, but I did have avacado sorbet in my Gazpacho soup today! For Amanjunkie, the Amankila Suite is occupied, we are in the Ocean Suite right behind and above it and have a great view. Also, we had breakfast in the bale this am, just wonderful! Cocktails and canapes in a bale later. Anyway, for those who have never been, this is paradise at a very personal level--and for those that have been everything is just as you remember it!
Later,
Onvacation59

Sounds wonderful! Do try the private barbecue on the beach for two, if you haven't already booked it yet. It's a fantastic experience, and you get full private use of the beach club and pool as well which is sublime for a midnight dip after dinner. ^

I'll second that!

How was the rest of your stay?

Stayed at Amandari just as it closed -- we were the last to check out on Sunday, 26 October. Per Liv Gessing, and as previously noted, the renovation will not alter the look and feel of the place. Thatch on some of the roofs gets replaced (including the main building); toilets and plumbing fixtures replaced; wiring replaced (maybe some of the AC units, too?); new kitchen equipment; lots of little stuff, like worn door latches and closet switches.

Most of the staff not working directly on the renovation will be on extended leave; some will fill in at Amankila or Amanusa. She doesn't expect much turnover. About three months' work, all in............................

Scheduled to re-open 22 January under Liv Gussing.

Well after 15 nights at Amankila we feel we know the resort and the people really well. I am very hesitant to compare resorts but clearly the Amandari is a bit "tired", while the Amankila has held up better. The big advantage these resorts have over others is the genuine desire of the employees to keep their customers happy and make you feel part of the family. Everyone, without exceptions, spent their time making sure we got whatever we needed whether we ask for it or not. When asked by the manager, Tracy, "how is everything?" the only response could be "wonderful and consistent with Aman tradition".

We have now moved and will be spend 10 days at "that other resort" in Chiang Mai. From here we will go to Amansara. Ibu has placed me on restriction so I am not allowed to use the Iphone to send chatter on the internet--I am currently using the library computer.

Back to Amankila, as previously reported the food was good, not great, but there was an excellent range of choices and if you could not find what you wanted James, the chef, would make anything you requested. We did the bale in the mountains for breakfast, the bale in the mountains (different bale) for cocktails and capanes, we went out on the boat aroud the famous island (the name of which I can not remember) then snorkling and lunch on the boat, massages, shopping with driver for a day in Seminyak (sp?) and alot of lying in the bale by the pools staring into air! A wonderful place with wonderful people.

So, one late afternoon (5:30pm) I am sitting on my porch (Ocean Suite #5) quitely reading the paper and all of a sudden out of the corner of my eye on the railing I see a cat--I thought--what is a cat doing here? I was partially blocked by the table and plant, when I looked around the table --it was a monkey!! A wild monkey(4-5 foot tail)--well, when he saw me he took off into a tree--I ran to get a camera figuring nobody would believe this and when I returned with camera and Ibu the monkey was no where to be seen--about that time here comes some new customers with porter and bags headed to their room and of course I said "there is a monkey down there!" pointing to where they were going--Ibu just stared at me. Anyway I guess it has been at least 5 years since they have seen a wild monkey on the property so this was a big event -- the theory is that because it has been dry the monkey came through to eat and drink--whatever--it will never be forgotten.

All-in-all, as I have said before the Amans in Bali and especially Amankila are special places that should be experienced. If there are any follow-up questions or thoughts, I hope to check the website in the next day or two. Next report from Amansara in about a week or so, I hope!
Onvacation59

Well you certainly are ONVACATION !
Amankila sounds great, just as I remember. I didnt do all the activities you did (but then I never stayed for 15 nights !) so I have to go back.
Please continue to report on your trip if Ibu lets you !

What's Kevin's last name?

i believe GM is kevin brooke

Yes, Kevin Brooke. Nice guy and very good attention to detail. We had been emailing him about a 2009 trip including the Komodo Expedition and an extended Amanwana stay but I don't think we can spend the money next year. The way we'd want to do it, it'd be our most expensive trip to date. The expedition alone is over $15k...though I'm sure its worth it.

for those that missed the thread >
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=827327

K:
Thanks much. We were just at Amanana, and Kevin was very kind and most hospitable.

For Ericka or others interested, the cruise to/from Komodo and Flores takes 5 days each way. You can do it either eastward (jumping off from Amanwana) or westward (with a stop at Amanwana before flying to Bali).

We didn't go to Flores, but the ship -- which is a sort of pirate-ship lookalike sailing vessel, with engines -- arrived while we were there, so we got a report. Highly recommended, from those on board.

The seaplane connection to/from Bali is, as usual, not operating on a schedule -- charters only -- until the Christmas peak. It will also not operate on the Amanwana schedule during the post-New Years' northern winter.

But we took the Trans-Nusa connection via Sumbawa Besar, plus the Amanwana boat ("Aman XI") to the resort, and actually recommend that option, at least one way. It's even more interesting, if a good deal slower, than the seaplane.

In all other respects, Amanwana remains the same -- and highly recommended, for those who haven't been. It's definitely not like any other Aman.

If you want to see Amanmonkeys, you should head to Amanwana. There a couple of troops of wild macaque monkeys that come out to hang out with their (supposedly) more evolved primate cousins paying good money to relax among them.

Monkeys hang out in families, so you'll see gramps and his adult children chilling out while the grandkids horse around. Sometimes you'll also see the adults "horsing" around, with the end result that later on there will be some more little monkeys running around. They'll use the canvas roof of your tent as a trampoline (starting at 7:00 AM), and they will stare longingly at the fruit basket visible from the outside, so watch out, the little feckers are quite wily!

All in all quite memorable.

The macaques are the ones at Amanbagh that go villa to villa, checking for unlocked doors. When they find one open, they head straight for the cookie jars above the mini bar. Mmmmm....homemade cookies.