MINI Adventure 2016 - Urbanites go big in island paradise

When most 'laymen' think of MINI - the British automotive marque owned by BMW - rarely do 'razor-sharp dynamics' and 'performance' come to mind. Instead, most car buyers nowadays imagine a MINI as a car for those who listen religiously to Mumford & Sons, hang out at Drinks & Co, are fond of photography, fashion and cute cats on Instagram.

As our fellow writer Desmond describes, a MINI is a motoring cum lifestyle statement for the young and hip.

But the latest generation of MINI cars are now presented in a far more sophisticated style thanks to the introduction of the company's new premium and comprehensive brand identity. While they remain superbly stylish and sporty, two symbols of MINI's refined brand philosophy - the new MINI Cooper Clubman and the new MINI Cooper Convertible - boast extra maturity, and demand to be a taken a bit more seriously.

As we've already experienced from local test drives, any MINI is a ton of fun to drive but to properly enjoy one, we wandered to the exotic island paradise known as Bali for a couple of days for the MINI Adventure 2016.

Space

For cars bearing the MINI moniker, it's surprising to know just how spacious the cars are. On the trip was a mix of the Convertible, Clubman and the respective S variants. There is a stigma, which dictates cars such as the Convertible aren't 'practical' but the belongings of my co-driver and I - a number of camera bags, laptop bags and backpacks et cetera - fit snugly in the 215-litre trunk. There's also enough space and comfort for two more in the second row. In the Clubman, there's 360 litres, enough stowage for a company of four.

Pace

Our first day in Bali saw us driving the cars from Tanjung Benoa, famous for water sports and wonderful sunrise views to our first stop in Secret Garden, Baturiti, about an hour away. Just like the design of a MINI, the amazing design of the Secret Garden is made up of traditional structures and modern geometrical shapes.

The place is home to mini beauty factory and store and a fancy restaurant, which towers over a beautiful rice field. As I enjoyed a hot cup of Balinese kopi, staring at the beautiful landscape, I was pleased and strangely at ease.

The roads from Baturiti to our next destination, Krisna beach, meant jaunting our MINI up twisty, demanding Balinese mountain roads. And while the up-slopes and sharp apexes would've troubled many a car, our MINI was performing surely, dancing around the tarmac and exiting each corner valorously, like a go-kart on steroids. On such snaking roads, the playful dynamics of a MINI truly come to shine.
On the other end of the racetrack-like mountain was Krisna Beach, a quieter side of the island where we recharged over a cup of tea and enjoyed a slow sunset. Against the backdrop of the sea and the sun going down, the gang of MINIs parked by the coast was truly a sight to behold. On hindsight, I should've made postcards and sold them for money.

The last leg of our drive for the day was a 63km journey to the Naya Gawana Resort in Menjangan, where we basked in rustic bungalows, about 17km from the historic Pulaki Temple and 18km from the West Bali National Park. For couples intending on a quiet retreat, there's no nicer place to be and for an even nicer experience, drive yourselves there in a MINI - if there are any for rent.

Grace

A bunch of us got up bright and early on day two to catch the sunrise (or tried to, at least) and prepared for another day of MINI driving pleasure. The scenic route this time, would take us 134km, back through the mountainous roads to the luxurious town of Seminyak - think glitzy hotels, atas restaurants and the Potato Head Beach Club.

Along the way, we detoured to a central, must-go part of the island; Ubud, away from the beach party scene in Kuta for a traditional Balinese lunch by a gorgeous rice field. Ubud is known as Bali's centre for traditional crafts and dance, temples and shrines, remarkable architectural and must-try restaurants.

Because the locals and tourists alike in Ubud are probably fond of art, the advancing MINI convoy was a welcoming sight and many raced for Instagram-deserving shots. Smile and wave boys, smile and wave...

So as I was saying, the end point of our drive was Seminyak and we wouldn't have had it any other way. Home for the night in Seminyak was a boutique hotel made by artisans named Katamama, which is also designed by the guy who created Secret Garden. A night's stay here is a tad pricey (think half a grand) but the details and craftsmanship displayed in every inch of the place is top-notched and the materials and decor are handmade or handpicked, just like the fascinating cabin of a MINI.

Katamama is located right next to Potato Head so heading over for a drink by the beach is but a two-minute saunter away.

It isn't a place where you'd find much older people - many of them opt for quieter retreats - and most of the hotel's residents are noticeably younger, ahead of the game and have a taste for the finer things in life. Quite similarly, that's the sort of drivers you'd expect to find in any new MINI. Like Katamama, a MINI is something you'd like to be driving in and hanging around.

Most people head to Bali to escape when the going gets tough but few explore the quieter but more beautiful places as we did on this trip. It's an island blown over by modernity, so much so that many forget its clandestine gems. But at the same time, you can't deny that Bali is aging with grace. In that sense, while the MINI is no longer 'Mini', the very spirit of the brand isn't lost in translation. They're as much of a visual treat as ever before and you can bet they'll continue to crack a grin on your face each time you get behind one.