Some people believe being eco-friendly is extremism, or just a marketing ploy, or somehow robs you of life's creature comforts. Although we do not consider ourselves extremists, we certainly went to great lengths to ensure we are truly eco-friendly at Agung Bali Nirwana. And the reason we did it, was because we were fed up with seeing the destruction caused by tourism in other areas. As we were moving into such a unspoiled area, we felt it was our duty to protect the local environment and coral reef.

Our policies are not marketing and no bite. We do not just offer an organic tea and then claim to be an environmentally friendly resort because of it, as one 5 star hotel in the south does. Nor do we put signs in our bathrooms asking guests not to have their towels changed every day. On the pretense it saves the planet (when in reality, all the hotel cares about is having to do less work). We provide you with fresh towels up to twice a day, automatically. But when we do laundry, we do not use commercial detergents. We make our own, out of natural ingredients. We deal with the problems at source, not expect the guest to accept second best. If these hotels really cared, they would not use industrial detergents.

The villas were built over lotus ponds for a number of reasons, including the sensational effect. But one important reason is it creates a barrier for crawling insects. If ants can't get to your kitchen, we don't have to put ant poison down. The roofs of the villas are tile and the villas have internal ceilings. Why? Well, part of the design concept is minimalism. But also this type of roof is not so appealing to flying insects and preying lizards. The ponds have a recirculating system that feeds the water back and then over little waterfalls (like you see in the rice fields), and through a fountain. This aerates the water and makes sure it is less appealing to insects to lay their larvae. And even if they do, the various fish (including Coy Carp) soon polish these off.

Although we do not have a mosquito problem (areas with mosquito problems tend to be areas where rubbish gets left and stagnant water can be found), we do not leave it at that. We buy Chrysanthemum flowers (the area around Munduk is famous for them), both for their grace and for their natural "Pyrenthins". Once the flowers wilt, we turn them upside down and soak them in water overnight. We then spray the grounds with this solution. Unlike man made Pyrenthins which stay in the soil for years, these are completely harmless to man and decay in 2 days. This process is further enhanced by the installation of the world's most proven mosquito trap, "Megacatch", an ingenious (and expensive) device.

Megacatch does not use chemicals, but gives off carbon dioxide and heat, just like a mammal. It even has a small light that mimics the movement of an animal. Any mosquito in the area will find this very enticing. Once the mosquito gets close enough, it is too late. The small fan inside deposits the unsuspecting creature into a water trap. This device has proven so successful in many field tests, especially in the USA (although the device comes from New Zealand). We "hide" this behind the middle villa and it effectively covers all three.

The swimming pool you can read about separately. The kitchen does not use artificial flavoring, colorings or preservatives. This means you will never eat anything with monosodium glutamate (MSG), which attacks the nervous system, fact. You will also never eat any of the colorings banned in European countries due to their links with cancer, yet are still available in Asia. In fact, you will never be offered any food that is not 100% natural. Even our iced lollies for kids (and big kids) are made from pure frozen orange or watermelon juice. And our frozen bananas are rich in vital potassium, and nowhere near as bad for you (or the kids) as ice cream (although we have that too).

It is important to understand why restaurants use the likes of MSG in the first place. It is because they can then buy second rate meat, vegetables, etc. As MSG makes bland food taste "good". So not only do you digest something that attacks your body, but you get far fewer nutrients from the food itself, as it is not fresh. So without MSG et al, you know why our food tastes so good. Because it is fresh and the best we can buy.

Finally, all the cleaning agents we use at Agung Bali Nirwana are made in house, from natural ingredients such as baking powder, vinegar and lemon juice. If you want to know the exact ingredients / proportions to use at home, just ask the staff. And as you have seen, none of this means any sacrifices by the guests, far from it.