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.’

Grace pulled out her iPad to show him some new images of the hotel. ‘This might give you some idea of what they’re building.’

Steve nodded as he skimmed through some photos and drawings of the complex.

‘You’re right, it’s different from the glitzy, rich, tropical extravagance I’ve seen in some of the resorts up there.’

‘Yes. And even though they’re not finished, you can see how stunning the gardens will be. It’s natural and wild, but cleverly cultivated into these amazing, almost theatrical landscapes,’ said Grace.

‘Ah, no doubt inspired by the work of Made Wijaya,’ said Steve. ‘He was a Sydney boy named Michael White, who jumped off a ship and swam ashore to Bali in the early 1970s. He found his calling in Bali, and changed his name. He established most of the fabulous gardens in big homes and in the first resorts and hotels. He died quite young; a big loss. I can imagine what he would have done with your paradise.’