Our story
Tirtala was not designed and then sited. It was sited, and then everything else followed from the water.
The Bukit has been built on hard and fast for fifteen years. Most of what has gone up is larger than the land can carry, and the people who lived there first were rarely asked.
We wanted to find out whether a small place, built slowly with the village rather than around it, could still work as a business. So far it does.
2016
The land was bought for the water on it. A freshwater spring surfaces at the base of the northern cliff and has been used by the neighbouring banjar for longer than anyone kept record of. The condition of sale was that it stay open to the village. It still is.
2018
Every structure was raised by craftsmen from Pecatu and Ungasan using coral stone, ironwood and alang-alang thatch. Nothing was shipped in that could be made within an hour of the site. The joinery in the main bale was cut without a single steel fixing.
2019
Five villas, no sign at the road, and no intention of adding a sixth. We opened without an announcement and filled the first season entirely by word of mouth. That has not changed.
Today
Ninety percent of the team live within four kilometres. The kitchen garden supplies most of what Api cooks. The spring still runs to the village first and to us second. We think that order matters.
The agreement was simple. The water goes to the banjar first, and to us with whatever is left.
No check-in desk, no schedule pressed under your door. Arrival happens sitting down, with tea, at whatever pace you arrive at.
Balinese-owned land, Balinese-built, Balinese-run. We are guests on the Bukit the same as you are.
Capacity is capped at eighteen people. It is the single decision that makes everything else about Tirtala possible.
If you want the long version, ask for it when you enquire. Someone who was there in 2016 will answer.