There
are few places in the world that are as serene and peaceful as Murni's
Houses in Ubud. (Ubud is an artists' colony an hour's drive from the
airport
at Denpasar.) For Tracy, this was a pilgrimage of sorts, back to one of
her favorite retreats in the world. For me, it was the introduction to
a wonderful little slice of paradise. Murni, the owner, enjoys a
reputation
as something of the doyenne of the town; a January 2001 Jakarta
Post article
describes her as "The Ibu of Ubud." (ibu is the Indonesian word
for mother, and a general term of respect). She is also an entrepreneur
par excellence. She runs Murni's Houses,
a small compound of beautiful guest houses, as well as two crafts shops
(Kunang-Kunang I and II), and the well-known restaurant, Murni's
Warung.
Along with other business partners, Murni also runs the more upscale
Villa
Kunang-Kunang, just outside of Ubud, which we visited later in the trip.What makes Murni's so special? Well, to begin with, it is the people! Murni, and her wonderful staff not only see to your every need, but are there to make suggestions and offer explanations. Then, there is the place itself, an intimate little enclave just above the bustling arts center of Ubud. While the compound is not particularly far-reaching, somehow you only sense solitude. Murni's Houses, as you will see in the tour below, is its own cosmos -- as much a feast for the eyes as a respite for the spirit. When Tracy visited again in 2018, she raved about the Tarmarind Spa that had been added since our last visit. Although it has been a haven for the glitterati and has enjoyed write-ups in travel magazines, the New York Times (which voted it one of the top small hotels in the world), Murni's Houses remain as hospitable and affordable as ever. Kathy Cox of Travel and Leisure sums it up well:
