Quotes from the past
“This memory will last a life time. I gained the ability to take a moment with myself, separate from my habits and daily routines and really think or not think or worry about anything. I appreciated how all the food is local, making it so much more real, knowing the story behind it and then actually paying attention to what I was eating. And the fire ceremony . . . I’m taking the experience with me to remember for a long time.”
“The attention to detail is worthy of a five-star resort”
(Sally wrote an extensive amount about her experience and we’ve posted it on our Blog pg. https://www.balisilentretreat.com/attention-detail-worthy-five-star-resort/)
“I wanted to end this year of travel and bring in the new year with something special and this was definitely what I needed – .relaxing, insightful and meaningful.”
“A friend who was here already, recommended I come to stay in silence. It was so lovely, staying here with other people without talking to them; just listened to my own body and mind.”
“I stayed in the dorm and it was so very clean. The labyrinth and yoga and meditation all worked well for me and shifted my perspective.”
“Amazing! So much love poured into this place. I’ll add some photos to your Face Book page.”
“A perfect place for self discovery and finding inner peace.”
“I was filled with peace and felt so ‘looked after’. Thanks for creating this safe space.”
“This is one unique place in the world where I could fully relax. Normally I am so busy with talk talk talk, but here was different. Thank you.”
“I have been traveling for 5 months and this is one of the best experiences I’ve had. For the first time in my life, I’m enjoying spending time with myself – alone! I wish I could keep this place a secret.”
“It was much more than I had hoped for . What an amazing space you all create together.”
“I will come back for the silence and respect given towards all people here.”
“One can really tell that this amazing food is filled with love.”
“I would come back just for the loving energy.”
“Perfect mix of simplicity, with attention to detail and comfort. And the food – I LOVED IT and could easily become a vegetarian with food like this!”
“You can say and feel so much without even saying a word. Thank you for this experience and giving me the opportunity of finding my inner self.”
“I must have done something right to accumulate enough good karma to have found this place!”
“I loved the food and the silence and was grateful to not have to explain who I am and what I do – ha!”
“I came to SE Asia to taste culture but not necessarily religion. This space was perfect for both the Balinese culture and a spiritual environment that fosters growth and radiates beauty and the ‘nothingness’, as well. During the fire ceremony and kirtan I loved the symbolism of transformation into light and this was perfectly aligned with my spiritual journey – just what I needed – a little out of my comfort zone, but such a pleasant place, with fresh breezes and nature noises, being comfortably led into the place of my personal spiritual growth.”
“I joined the Agni Hotra ceremony at the full moon earlier this week- what a powerful experience. Burning our barriers and burdens, clearing the way for new starts and new dreams. I haven’t slept as well as I did that night for years, and the energetic exhaustion I felt the following day just shows the intensity of this ceremony.. Now, a few days on my spirit is alive!! I feel inspired and light in thought and action, and there is more clarity to my hopes, dreams and life’s direction. I highly recommend timing your visit to join the full moon Agni Hotra if you can. Namaste!”
“I came on an impulse and am so happy I did it this way because I’ve seen, felt and experienced so so much about myself, which says something big about the vibe that hangs around here . . . the combination of body, mind & health.”
“My time here (over a week) marks an ‘after’ and a ‘before’ in my life (no exaggeration). The food really surprised me with so many delicious variations everyday and filled with so much love that you can feel it in every single bite. Thanks for that!!! I’m leaving with my heart completely full.”
“Of all the reasons to come back I’d chose the food to be beyond high quality, the spiritual books in the library so relaxing to lounge around with, and the men’s dorm was super clean and well designed.”
“The philosophy of self supply of nutritional foods and local ingredients has taught me beyond just what I eat. And I loved the unlimited dried teas and cookies.”
“The deepening programs, relaxing schedule, love-full environment, and delicious food made us feel grounded.”
“I loved the silence & food, the meditation & yoga, and especially the little bamboo leaf cups for drinking water at yoga class. I am definitely going to recommend this place- but don’t want it to become too popular – ha ha ha !”
“It’s so wonderfully serene and cleansing here – a space for reflection in the ‘silent sound’. It helped me let go of a lot of unwanted emotions.”
“I will come back for the ‘peace to just be’; no judgment or expectations anywhere. A fantastic experience and value for the price.”
“AMAZING!!! This is the closest I’ve ever been to heaven and complete mindful zen!”
“There’s an amazing healing energy about this place and its space.”
“I have a new sense of well-being and mind set.”
“I’ve decided now to dedicate more time in my life to silence.”
“It was great to discover the beauty of silence. I think the essence here is the connection between spirit and earth. There is so much love and peace in every detail and every bite of the best food I’ve ever tasted.”
“This truly exceeded my expectations. I did not expect such a big, well maintained, fantastically designed place, with so much mindfulness incorporated into everything. The gardens and so many little things enable productive silence.”
“I’m not a vegetarian nor do I typically eat very healthy food. THIS WAS THE BEST FOOD I’VE EVER HAD – ANYWHERE! Truly.”
“An absolute treat for the body and mind! After the amazing fire ceremony and a reflective evening, I awoke with true bliss.”
“I loved the teachings; the calm guided meditation and 4 very different yoga and meditation instructions. And the view from the outdoor shower – Wow!”
“Staying here has been one of the most valuable experiences in my life. I came to Bali looking for some answers. I needed silence and meditation without strict structure to listen to my inner voice. Thank you.”
“The afternoon meditations, the labyrinth, and The food the amazing food opened up a whole new world for us. Every day was bliss!!! ` Tessa and Ben, Holland I love this place!”
“I loved being able to eat slowly and peacefully without any distractions. And the yoga postures were lovingly modified to suit everyone’s ability – I liked that sensitivity.”
“I always dreamed of a retreat place like this one; no rules, no impositions, full of nature, silence and the most AMAZING food.”
“It was so wonderful and so amazing – again! It’s so easy to melt back into the beauty, stillness & space of this place. Bali Silent Retreat feels like a world size version of one of your delicious fluffy warm feather doonas or that chai latte banana pudding this evening!”
“This was amazing and exactly what I needed and more than I’d hoped for. The attention to detail is quite impressive and the ingenuity I appreciated. I loved how the smiling staff at check-in explained everything so I understood the rules of engagement.”
“Absolutely Amazing! When I arrived here it was like coming to heaven – I was overwhelmed with awe, gratitude & lightness. I found my breath again here, which has brought me home. The silence and being able to just feel & work through whatever came up, without interference, allowed me to shift my perspective on life.”
“Really lovely and exactly what I needed . . . though very different from what I thought I needed. I found it exceptionally well designed experience for whatever a person’s personal journey dictates. For me it was reading, writing, staring at the stars and nature, the silence and the rest. I’m eager to return soon.”
“As a person who’s grown up in a vegetarian household, this food amazingly outranked my Mum’s cooking – though I won’t be telling her that. Despite being almost full, it was still quiet and restful. I love the warm feather duvet – snuggly. This was the best place to unwind.”
“If I have to choose 1 thing to bring me back, there are TOO MANY things to choose!! This place is pure bliss; the surroundings, the food, the programs, the staff, the silence all make it a perfect place for peace, reflection, and rejuvenation. I LOVED IT!”
“The labyrinth was a tool for so much reflection on my life.”
“I did NOT miss meat for 1 minute. Food is fantastic!”
“I truly loved the idea of silence, allowing us to be back to basics, live in the now, appreciate all the basic things of a natural life, including the natural organic food and limited electricity.”
“It was absolute magic and bliss. 5 days blended into one long day that consisted of stretching, walking, eating, reading, writing, and napping without any distractions, which is just what my body needed.”
“I enjoyed the silence but still with interaction allowed; no strict rules or obligations . . . I liked that!”
“This experience was GREAT! I finally found my inner peace. This works for me.”
“I think that people are truly able to work on themselves and discover a new way of thinking by coming here.”
“Best food ever . . . I mean it . . . ever, anywhere, anytime!”
“I appreciated the creation of an environment that allows you to just be as you are. It was reassuring to be surrounded by people who genuinely care about your well-being and are willing to help at any time.”
“We are both food obsessed and what we’ve eaten here is on par with the best food we’ve eaten anywhere in the world. The walking through the labyrinth and everything about this place makes us want to come back but if we need to narrow it down to just one thing . . . it’s the food.”
“I don’t think my time here could possibly be put into words. It brought me to a place of spirituality I did not know was inside of me, leaving me happy and calm.”
“This is an exceptional retreat that has given me 27 hours of complete bliss. Everything has been done so well and with such mindfulness, I truly feel it is perfect.”
“This was a much needed experience for me; I will no longer take things for granted but appreciate every basic little thing, including the excellent awesome food.”
“I want to thank all the staff. EVERYBODY working here is amazing and kind, open, and welcoming. I love the philosophy of this place and I love that everybody is always smiling – and it’s not a fake smile – not even once. I learned a lot of things here that I will carry with me forever.”
“I love the whole experience, but especially the guided meditation, which took me to new heights of self awareness.”
“I had a fantastic time and I managed to make friends even though it was meant to be silent.”
“It’s such a beautiful atmosphere to slow down and wake up with the sounds of nature. The eco friendly management is seen and felt everywhere – I like that.”
“I just had a WONDERFUL time here!!! From the first moment here I felt the relaxation from very peaceful place. And I would kill for more food like this!”
“A life changing ashram with the longest conversation I’ve ever had with myself. And the best birthday I’ve ever had.”
“Some of my internal work was hard but it was very good. I realized many things that I’ve tried to keep hidden from myself.”
“This exceeded my expectations by 100%.”
“Best food ever !”
The energy and spirit of this place is PURE JOY AND MAGIC! -the beautiful Balinese staff and the western volunteers, who all work to keep everything positive and enjoyable. I will remember everything here – always. This is where I finally woke up to rediscover myself; to be aware of and present with my feelings and my life. The teachers and the energy here has guided and encouraged me to be present and accept myself and give myself permission. The clean air here soothed me to breathe. This jungle and the mountain have moved me as I see them. I am grateful for all that has been done to make this space possible and all of the details giving it a beautiful touch:
It’s the 360 degree view while eating delicious fresh garden food.
It’s the solar charged reading lights and the umbrella hooks and the gentle little mats and cushions in the Bale.
It’s the Bale! It’s the fresh herbs used for tea to be savored and the dish cubbies.
It’s the nourishing reflective and meditative walks through the rice paddies and jungle, the frogs and butterflies, dragon flies and light-bugs.
It’s the library with amazing books feeding my introspective mind. The solitude and nature sounds. It’s the energy. It’s the feeling.
I look forward to returning and basking in the joy that is Bali Silent Retreat.
— Sarah, Australia
“So Wonderful! It was so much more than what I had hoped for. It is truly a place of serenity and love. I feel that everything – from the food to the programs are done with much are and devotion.”
“This was INCREDIBLE! I planned to stay 1 week and changed my flight to stay 2 weeks. I was/am so happy and feel embraced by the spirit of Bali Silent Retreat. Amazing! There is a simple elegance of authenticity. No pretentions. No facades. But stunningly beautiful, as my breath was taken away again and again.”
“I spent 8 nights at this magical, homely, beautiful retreat. Days filled with the most amazing vegetarian food I’ve ever tasted, yoga, meditation, reading, writing, exploring the local village and the rice fields. Nights spent sitting under the moonlight looking up at the brightest stars, listening to the chatter of the animals, whilst watching the fireflies dance. There is no pressure to do anything. You do here as you please. If you want to sleep, eat, do nothing or even talk, you can. I’d go back here in a heartbeat.”
“It’s been an amazing journey, full of learnings from all aspects. My heart has been softened and opened up to hold more. What worked well for me as a yoga teacher and volunteer was the team work. Not only with the volunteers but with everyone . . . it feels like family. I also experienced the freedom to create and co-create, as well as, being true to myself. The space in itself is amazingly supported energetically and the local immersions were authentic”
“This is a magical place. It’s amazing how much can be sincerely communicated without saying anything, doing yoga and meditating, where everyone is lovingly welcome.”
“Bliss, deep relaxation. I loved the whole retreat very much, I love the space of the Bale , the sunrise on one side and a mountain view on the other.”
“I would come back for the most amazing peace – from meditating nature, incredibly healthy food and the simple silence. Settling into ‘just being’ was wonderful. Thank you.”
“There is so much abundance here every day, including the feeling of Divine Abundance – the food, yoga, meditation, gardens, everything!”
“What will bring me back is the organic green to the extreme organic plants, gardens and super yummy organic food.”
“Wonderful from the first to the last moment. Being submersed in nature and silence with such wonderful food creates balance.”
“This place allows feelings and memories to surface and be reflected upon. Amazing journey!”
“This was so relaxing and individual, while at the same time being very well taken care. Especially with those big beautiful Balinese smiles.”
“AMAZING! So much light and love!”
“These were the best meals I’ve ever had in my life!”
“I LOVED every second. I don’t want to leave! Lisa from the UK The serenity, the peace and good energy will bring me back.”
“It’s impossible isolate and describe such an amazing holistic experience. The variety of the yoga and meditation was wonderful. The actual physical spaces are amazing.”
“It was exactly what I needed and exactly what I hoped it would be – a place where can be in silence and find some structure, within an ashram like community but still have the complete freedom to embrace what is good for you at that moment.”
“This was the perfect place to come – my first holiday in 2 years. I just rested, read from the library, walked, meditated, ate & drank lots of clean water & herb tea. I felt safe and held but also relieved that I didn’t have to commit to anything. I’ve regained faith in the world.”
“I felt complete freedom within myself to feel, think and do; most important thing for me.”
“2013 – our first 3 months of being open and trying to attend to all the things details and things we forgot – ha!”
“I absolutely loved being here. The atmosphere , the food , friendly staff made my experience even better. The yoga teachers are the heroes and are the highlights of every day.”
“Staff is awesome; Food is super great!”
“What will bring me back are the Silence and the Food.”
“The rice field walk is amazing! The gardens are beautiful. The helpful and smiling staff. The views! The Silence. The sounds of nature. But the one factor that would bring me back to Bali Silent Retreat is the heavenly feeling here on earth.”
“The sustainability factor will bring me back and these were the best meals I had in Bali.”
“Bali Silent Retreat definitely exceeded my expectations. As advertised, up market “ashram style” accommodations. Fantastic! And the food – OMG!!! I dined in Michelin starred restaurants that were a joke compared to this culinary taste sensation, LOVED it!!!”
“A deeply relaxing, peaceful and restorative for the soul. The attention to every detail makes the center a Oneness of deep reconnections to inner peace”
“One of the most peaceful places I’ve been. I’m not a ‘quiet’ kind of person, but found quiet and peace here.”
“Many thanks for a wonderful break from everything, especially a short break from communication. It was something I didn’t realize I needed so much. There are few places where you can truly focus on yourself. I can’t remember the last time I switched my phone off. Brilliant! In the same respect, my wife would love to get recharged at your retreat. She would like to arrive tomorrow. Possible?”
“I found a stillness inside me on my final morning . . . thank you . . I was afraid I’d never find it again. Instead, those days at Bali Silent Retreat – painting, taking the jungle walk, completing many Labyrinth meditations – allowed me to begin again to “Let go and Let God”. Unsurprisingly, the world and I begin again to spin in harmony.”
“THANK YOU for such a wonderful peaceful stay. I feel very alive and rejuvenated. Your retreat is perfect as it is, and will always be open to change so will always be perfect! I had a wonderful “Star Meditation” yesterday which really brought me into focus with the universe and how amazing it is, so again . . . THANK YOU!”
“I’ve never had so much time Just For Myself before. It was a great experience for me and very ‘recreative’. I love the open style rooms with views. The food was absolutely Fantastic!”
