‘Yes. It was a more casual arrangement in the early days, I think. The foreigners – the bule – had to team up with a local, sometimes by marriage or just on trust. They brought in the sales and marketing expertise, and the locals had the land and the labour,’ said Steve.

‘Yes, I see. The Kamasan concept took me by surprise a bit,’ said Grace. ‘I expected to see that same slick cookie-cutter tropical resort you find all though the Pacific and Asia. You know, with a superficial smattering of Balinese culture and design but otherwise no different from any other hotel or resort.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Steve said. ‘A tourist’s view of Bali with all the stereotypes attached to it.’

Grace leaned forward. ‘But there in the middle of the tourism madness is the last piece of untouched beachfront land. Serendipitously, it’s owned by a family with not only the money but the inclination, style and taste to develop it in a way that’s utterly different from everywhere else. I was blown away.’ She stopped, noticing Steve’s expression. ‘I can see you think I’m showing all the signs of someone fresh from their first trip to Bali. But I can honestly say this development is like nothing I’ve seen. It’s outstanding and original,’ she said, smiling.

He laughed, crossed his arms and tried to look serious. ‘I apologise. Bali is a mad, magical, mysterious and soul-stealing place. I love it. So what are they selling that’s different?’ he asked. ‘The ultimate experience, the latest in products, services, technologies? Robots serving cocktails?’ He chuckled. ‘Sorry, I don’t want to seem facetious, but have you seen the rollout of resorts, villas, new style losmens, everywhere? Seminyak, Kuta, Sanur . . . even Ubud in the hills. And then there are the other little islands, like the Gilis. It’s a crowded marketplace with plenty of competition.’

Grace held up her hands. ‘I know, I know.’ She leaned forward again. ‘What they’re doing is very different, and yet for those who want that high-end Bali experience it meets the brief.’

‘Yep. That set who go to the classiest bars and clubs and can drop fifteen grand US plus in an evening. I’ve seen them do it,’ he added.

Grace pressed her point. ‘Take the setting, for example. It’s magical. It’s a chance to reinvent old Bali, the lost and forgotten Bali; to be creative and bring together innovative, modern influences with traditional design and Balinese culture.’

‘That won’t come cheaply.’

‘No way,’ she agreed. ‘But the family owns the land already and it’s in a prime location.’

‘Cheaper than knocking down one of the older resorts, I guess.’

‘Its beauty is that it’s virtually untouched land, and they’ve been smart about embracing that and making it a feature, not bulldozing everything to make way for just another resort,’ said Grace. ‘It’s a remarkable situation.’

‘Okay,’ Steve said slowly. ‘How do they think they should sell this paradise? Where are they coming from? I have my own thoughts, as do you, I’m sure.’