The one thing about doing this job, if you could actually call it a job, is that we are lucky enough to visit some of the finest beaches in the world, so the temptation to declare every one of them the best we have ever seen is overwhelming at times, kind of like the touring band that declare every crowd the best they have ever played for. So, we have decided to shy away from this obvious tactic and judge every beach on its individual merits and with that in mind, I have to say, Nammos Beach in the Karma Resort of Kandara could actually be the finest beach I have ever set eyes on!
Kandara is built into a tropical jungle on a cliff top in Bali looking out over the Indian Ocean, talk about being born with a silver spoon and all that! As if that wasn’t enough to take your breath away, it shares the resort with the local wildlife so monkeys can often be found swinging around the trees or, if you are kind enough to leave your villa lounge doors open, sitting on your sofa eating all of your food! There are also certain vantage points from which you can spot the odd whale or two, if you are there at the right time of year. It is from one of these vantage points that you have the choice of collecting the cable car to the Nammos Beach club or choosing the 350-step decent down a winding path through the bush. Yes, you guessed it; we opted for the cable car. Steep drop and fear of heights aside, the view is amazing, almost good enough to take the racing mind off of the thoughts of the rather thin cable that stands between us and a hefty plummet!
What lies at the bottom, however, is worth every second of the journey down, the private beach is big enough to accommodate a crowd comfortably and small enough to maintain its exclusivity. Nammos sits at the side of the beach looking across, providing some shade if needed and a great spot to sit, eat lunch, grab a cocktail and unwind with the Indian Ocean as a crystal green backdrop. It’s a popular spot for parties, Jon Sa Trinxa often delivers the ultimate beach set from the both at the side of the bar and this afternoon it’s where Essentialibiza will get involved in the recovery sessions, alongside Shane Barnes, born and bred Aussie who has spent more than his fair time in Ibiza, and we can’t wait.
One of the great things about a beach set is that you are creating more of vibe than an atmosphere, with license to go wherever the mood takes you, from classical chill to seventies rare groove, musical muscles are being flexed, the sun is out and the view is unlike any other DJ booth we have set foot in. The barman has rustled up a pitcher of Bloody Mary and it this point I think it is fair to say that life is good. Shane is effortlessly building a cool vibe, keeping it chilled before gently edging into deep house territory. Toes are taping against the side of sun beds, which in dancefloor speak means the floor is packed! The crowd is varied, from cool club kids getting their sun on while appreciating great music to some more refined, linen wearers enjoying a spot of brunch, the beach has an uncanny knack of bringing everyone together.
Next up is Ani, Australian based singer songwriter who is going to perform for those lucky enough to be on this heavenly beach. We love a bit of live entertainment at Essentialibiza, Ani plugs in her backing tracks and without ceremony begins to sing. It takes the first couple of lines of her first song for the beach to realize what is going on and all attention turns to the area in front of the DJ booth. What an amazing voice! I’m trying to think of a clever comparison but to compare it to anything else wouldn’t do it justice. It’s the perfect addition to the chilled soundtrack. A chilled out party on the beach might not have the same intensity as a pitch-black club and booming soundsystem but there’s definitely room for both of them in our world. If you are lucky enough to get to Bali, look out for Nammos in Karma Kandara, the beach is normally reserved for residents in the resort but on the occasion of their parties everyone is welcome and you owe it to yourself to see it. You won’t forget it in a hurry!