NEWS CURRENT ISSUE

ISSUE 115

LOMBOK IS BOOMING!

Investment is the word on everyone’s lips at the moment and, judging from the amount of building going on all over the island Lombok land is the hottest property around!

A visit to the Gili Islands last week showed us that new projects are under construction on all three islands as investors race to have new businesses open in time for the July – September “high season”.

The same is true for all the tourist resorts in Lombok – Senggigi, Kuta and the southern beaches, and North Lombok are all experiencing investment booms.

None of this is very surprising to those of us lucky enough to live on Lombok. The pristine beaches, wonderful climate and the natural beauty of this island all shout “tourism development potential!”

To find out more, pick up a copy of The Lombok Guide from the locations listed on http://www.thelombokguide.com/distribution.html or visit www.thelombokguide.com and discover the magic of Lombok for yourself… like thousands of others, you’ll be enchanted!

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A ROYAL WELCOME AT QUEEN VILLAS

Gili Trawangan’s newest – and largest – resort gave a royal welcome to visiting media from around Indonesia recently. More than 80 travel agents and media representatives were hosted at Queen Villas & Spa for the “Media & Travel Agent Fam Trip” held over the weekend of 27 to 29 April.

Located on the relatively undeveloped east side of Gili T, Queen Villas & Spa enjoys a prime beachfront location with magnificent views across the ocean to Bali.

Sunsets, with Bali’s volcanoes seeming to float on the crimson-painted sea, are a prime attraction for those who stay here and delighted the photographers visiting for the media gathering.

Among the national news networks and publications represented were The Jakarta Post, The Jakarta Globe, Kompas, Venue Magazine, Hello Bali, Bali and Beyond, TVRI, RRI and many more. Around 40 travel agents from Bali and Java also attended the event.

Guests were treated to complimentary accommodation at the newly-opened resort and participated in a range of activities, including a snorkelling and island hopping tour from Gili Trawangan to Gili Meno and Gili Air to introduce visitors from Java and Bali to the beauty and attractions of the Gili Islands.

The welcome dinner on Friday, 27 April, was attended by Head of the Gili Islands, Pak Taufik, as well as the Kepala Dusun of Gili Trawangan and Queen Villas General Manager, Pak Goya, who all spoke to the visiting media about the importance of the Gili Islands to Lombok’s tourism industry.

Pak Taufik said that, while European and international visitors were already well aware of the charms of the Gilis, many domestic tourists were only just discovering the islands and that the potential for domestic tourism was huge.

Lombok is already an attractive holiday destination for those living in Bali, with flights between the two islands averaging half an hour travel time, and a number of fast boat transfers landing visitors from Bali directly on the Gilis in around one and a half hours.

Flights between capital cities in Java, such as Jakarta, Jogjakarta and Surabaya are well served by Garuda Airlines, Lion Air, Batavia and other domestic fleets, with regular flights every day; making Lombok an attractive destination for those seeking easily accessible mini-breaks from overcrowded Javanese cities.

Queen Villas is well-placed to capture this growing sector of Lombok’s tourism industry and has been designed to cater for the domestic market, particularly the lucrative MICE market (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions). Facilities include a spacious meeting room and packages tailored for the MICE market.

The resort features 125 rooms, comprising 74 Deluxe Rooms, 40 Cottages, 10 Luxury Villas and one Royal Suite Villa. All rooms are large and very comfortably furnished, with international standard facilities such as air conditioning, hot water, LCD televisions, in room safety boxes, internet access and 24 hour room service.

Extensive landscaping has been carried out throughout the grounds with lovely gardens, sculptures and ornaments creating a cool environment. The swimming pool forms the centre of the resort with decking, sun lounges and a swim-up pool bar at Taman Gili Pool Bar.

Queen’s Coffee House and Voodoo Bar & Lounge provide beachfront wining and dining options, while the resort also boasts Gili Trawangan’s only authentic Oriental restaurant at ‘Dragon Imperial’ and upmarket cuisine at Le Queen Fine Dining restaurant, in a romantic setting in the gardens.

Divers are well catered for by the staff at Bee Diving Academy, while those seeking relaxation and pampering can head to the purpose-built Queens Spa.

Although Queen Villas is an island hotel, a great deal of effort has been put into creating a distinctive star-rated resort. The thatched roofs evoke the long-houses of Sumatra, while the stylistic roof of the reception area pierces the sky with the pointed pinnacles of a crown. Inside, interwoven alang-alang thatch and bamboo creates an intricate ceiling soaring high above.

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• Our favourite “special event venue”, Asmara Restaurant, will hold a “Jazz & Blues & BBQ Night” on Saturday, 9 June.

Popular local bands Aan Tomstone & Friends, Ary Juliyant Folklub, Agus and the Pallette Band, etc., will be playing and guest stars are welcome to join the open jam session after the official concert.

Asmara will put on a delicious barbeque for the event, starting at 7pm. Those who attended the last Blues Festival at Asmara know that these music events are loads of fun and a great opportunity to witness some incredibly talented local musicians. Tickets will be available soon… don’t miss out! Ph: 693619

• Garuda Indonesia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Auckland Airport in New Zealand paving the way for Indonesian air carriers to commence flights to New Zealand in 2013. Garuda suspended its Auckland services in 2006.

Seen as part of an overall expansion of flight services in the Asia-Pacific region, Garuda signed the MOU during British Prime Minister, David Cameron’s visit to Indonesia and in the presence of New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, during the latter’s three-day visit to the Republic.

Quoted by Jakarta Globe, Garuda spokesman, Emirsyah, said, “In line with the growing market between the two countries, Garuda is seeking the opportunity to resume flights to Auckland as part of plan to increase its network, especially from New Zealand to cities in Asia and to Europe via Jakarta and Bali.”

Emirsyah said travellers could expect the service to New Zealand to come on line in early 2013 with a daily flight utilising newly purchased Airbus A330 aircraft.

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CAREER EXPO AT NUSA ALAM SCHOOL

Sekolah Nusa Alam – Lombok’s only international standard school – held its first ever Career Expo on 3 and 4 May 2012.

The Career Expo aims to assist students in planning education and career choices for the future by introducing them to local business people to gain insights into different career paths, educational requirements, and real life experiences in education and employment.

The majority of students taking part in the Career Expo were Year 12 students and other students who are approaching the end of their school years.

The Expo had a very successful turnout of Lombok business people who were happy to spend time talking to the students about their own experiences. Students were eager to know what education qualifications the different participants held, as well as discuss the successes and pitfalls of different careers.

The Lombok Guide attended to talk to students about topics such as travel writing, editing, photography, graphic design and publishing.

It was exciting to see so many enthusiastic students getting ready to take flight into the next stage of their lives; whether that will be higher education or employment.

And of course to try to answer the question that we all have asked as we prepare to leave high school: “How do I know what I want to be?”

Good luck Nusa Alam students – you have an excellent education behind you and a world of opportunities waiting for you in Lombok!

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LOCAL SCENE

Silver Jubilee @ PURI MAS

Lombok’s longest-established resort, Puri Mas Boutique Resorts and Spa, celebrated its 25th Anniversary on 6 April 2012. Guests attending the “Silver Jubilee” celebrations were treated to a gala evening of wining, dining and entertainment, with traditional music and cultural performances and international dance, with a special appearance by Latin Dance Asian Champions, Koupey and Sutatip.

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MR FIXER (Tongue-in-cheek answers to your personal and building problems)

QUESTION: 2 years ago I decided to finally put down some roots and retire to the idyllic island of Lombok. I bought some land and built a small 2 bedroom villa with pool and valley view. Nothing too fancy: just a quiet place with a verandah where I could read some books and spend some peaceful moments on my own tending my small garden and fruit trees. 

Then I met Tanti. It wasn’t long before she moved in and we were a happy fun loving couple. It was like I was 19 again!

We did everything together. We even went surfing together. Shopping for furniture, shopping for groceries, market shopping, more shopping and night time window-shopping.  

I bought her a motor bike so she would have her own independent transport. The shopping continued… this time without me. 

New cushions for the sofa, new pots and pans for the kitchen – soon we had to buy more storage cupboards for all the new stuff she kept buying. Shoes, handbags and more shoes, dresses and more shoes. 

The place is turning into a shoe factory. Clutter is accumulating on every surface and floor space. Clothes and towels are hanging on doors and windows. Knickers are everywhere. The kitchen is always a mess with half washed pots and pans clogging up the sink and surfaces. Food is left uncovered and the refuse bin is always overflowing with stinking rubbish. 

“Imelda Marcos the 2nd” came home with a puppy dog a few months ago. It turns out to be a Doberman Pincer and will end up as big as me but with sharp teeth. I swear the snarling monster in the film “Alien” was based on a Doberman!

The only blessing so far is that the “alien” likes her shoes as much as she does… it eats them! At least one pair every day and not necessarily the same pair at once. 

The dog digs holes all over the garden and poops wherever it likes. The worst is when it drags it’s behind on the entrance carpet as a show of affection whenever I arrive or we have guests, which is becoming less often these days. 

I love my girlfriend dearly but this situation cannot continue, so I have decided to sell the villa and move into a bigger one with more space for her clothes and knick-knacks – not to mention the dog from hell.  

The villa has been for sale now for over a year. Lots of viewings but no buyers. Meanwhile the shopping continues and things are now getting desperate. My girlfriend and I are intending to get married. I need to sell the villa urgently. What do you suggest?

MR FIXER: There are several ways to turn off house buyers and you seem to have discovered most of them. Nothing turns a buyer off quicker than a dirty house. 

Steam clean and jet wash and re-grout where possible. Buyers buy with their noses. If surfaces are cluttered with food debris almost to the point where the food looks like it’s moving, buyers will run a mile. Kitchen odors are a big turnoff. 

Some pet owners mistakenly believe pet smells to which they have become accustomed are okay. Nothing could be further from the truth; 50% of house buyers hate dogs and don’t want to even be near them. Eliminate all traces of pets (not just pet odors).

Have a “pet plan”. Make sure the pet is not around when the house is shown. Remove dishes and litter trays. As soon as a buyer sees the big old dog bowl, 50% will be turned off. Buyers will wonder what else the animal has done in the house. 

The same rule holds true for smokers. Remove all ashtrays, clean all curtains and smoke outdoors while the house is on the market.

If you want buyers to really roll their eyes, try leaving old fixtures on your doors and cabinets. New handles are not expensive and can make a huge difference. The same holds true for dated ceiling fans, light fixtures and kitchen appliances. If you think that buyers can take care of that, you are right – but they will expect a reduction in the asking price to compensate. 

Too many personal items are a big “No, no”. Psychologically, when buyers tour a home, they are trying it on to see how it fits. If your house is cluttered with too many items, it is like they are trying on your trousers to see if they like them. A fit is unlikely.  Remove all family photos and personal effects.

If you really want to hook a buyer, place a mirror in a strategic place so buyers can actually picture themselves living there. Employ a professional realtor to show your property.

Realtors and buyers alike generally “bristle” when a seller greets them at the door for viewings. It is understandable but unhelpful when the owner walks round showing how everything works. Professional realtors know what they are doing and know how to get people the maximum value for their home. 

Whether it’s inside or out, less is more when it comes to clutter. Your closets should be half full with nothing. Most buyers are looking for a house they have outgrown. Showing a house that is the same as what they are already trying to get away from is showing them a reason not to buy. 

Kitchens and book shelves should showcase spaciousness. No more than 3 countertop appliances is the rule. Bookshelves should be one third empty. A top tip for toddler parents is to pack away the “kiddy litter.” When you get that phone call one hour before a viewing, toss everything in the bin.

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ANZAC DAY… Dawn Service in Senggigi

Text by Mark Heyward, Photos by Jason Kelly

It was 5.30 in the morning on Sunday, 25 April. Although the sun was not yet up, a group gathered on the beach in front of The Beach Club in Senggigi. Around 32 Australians, New Zealanders and their families were there to commemorate ANZAC Day with a Dawn Ceremony.

The term ‘ANZAC’ stands for ‘Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’. Every year on ANZAC Day, Australians and New Zealanders remember and honour the men and women who served in world wars to defend a way of life; especially those who gave their lives in the fight.

The Dawn Ceremony is a tradition, held at the time when the sun comes up in the morning… a quiet reflective time. It is also the time that, nearly 100 years ago – at 4.29 am on 25 April 1915 – the ANZAC’s began their assault on the beaches of Gallipoli in Turkey.

The Lombok ceremony included songs, poetry readings, an address, and the traditional one minute’s silence of remembrance. The ‘Last Post’ was sounded – a lone bugle call – and wreaths were laid in the water by students from Sekolah Nusa Alam, where they were washed away by the sea.

The simple commemorative ceremony was followed by breakfast in the Beach Club, where old and young alike reflected on the meaning of the day.

‘At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them.’

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MOVES TO FORM SOUTH LOMBOK REGENCY

The East Lombok Regency has moved a step closer to allowing the southern region of Lombok to break away from its political ties to the east and form a new separate regency.

Plans for the creation of the South Lombok Regency (Kabupaten Lombok Selatan, abbreviated to ‘KLS’) have been afoot since 2009.

Up until 2008, the island of Lombok was divided into only three ‘Kabupaten’ or regencies: West Lombok, Central Lombok and North Lombok. Each of these is governed by an independent council and headed by a ‘Bupati’ or Regent. The cities are a special region and are governed by the ‘Walikota’ or Mayor. All in turn report to the regional government – the NTB Government (Pemerintah NTB) – headed by the Governor.

In 2008, the separate regency of North Lombok was formed. North Lombok Regency (Kabupaten Lombok Utara, abbreviated to ‘KLU’) governs the north part of the island, including the key tourism destinations of Gunung Rinjani National Park and the Gili Islands.

The formation of a South Lombok Regency, if the plans go ahead, will take the number of separate regencies in Lombok to five. KLS would be responsible for the south coast including key areas such as Kuta and the planned Mandalika Resort development, as well as other developing tourism areas on the southern beaches.

The East Lombok Regency has already prepared a budget of Rp 20 billion to assist with the establishment of the new government.

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NTT REFUSE TO SWAP KOMODOS FOR PANDAS

The Jakarta Post reports that the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) administration has refused the central government’s recent plan to exchange its famous Komodo Dragons with China for endangered pandas, an official says.

NTT Provincial Secretary, Frans Salem, said on 3 May, 2012 that the administration had pledged not to move the Komodo Dragons from their original habitat at Komodo National Park in West Manggarai on Flores to China, and was sure local residents would reject such plans.

“The NTT administration and local residents will never grant such a request. The Komodo is the province’s most precious asset. If you want to see Komodo Dragons, visit their original habitat,” Salem said.

During a visit to Beijing in April, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to swap their iconic animals as a symbolic gesture marking the improved bilateral relationship between both countries.

The plan was later followed up in a meeting held between Vice President Boediono and China’s Vice Premier, Hui Liangyu.

Salem said that the province would host the 2013 Sail Komodo with participants from more than 100 countries. “That is why moving Komodo Dragons from their natural habitat is not a good idea,” he said.

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PLN TALE OF WOE

The State power company, PT PLN, has blamed difficulties in acquiring land, time-consuming loan disbursement and technical problems in imported machinery for the continuing delays in completing coal-fired power plants throughout the country, including two in Lombok.

The coal-fired power plants are the first phase of the government’s ‘10,000 megawatts (MW) Fast-track Programme’, which began in 2006. 

PLN had predicted the programme to be completed in 2010.

Due to the land, funding and equipment problems, the expected completion date has been extended to 2014.

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GILI AIR

The island has a new regular party venue! Monday night is now Safari’s party night.

As anyone who has read previous columns will know, I am not a fan of loud music. I get up very early to open the dive shop, so my evenings are mostly about relaxing and winding down.

However, in the interests of letting people know if this party is worth attending, I have asked lots of people who went last week and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Nice food, good company, a beach-side setting; what more could you want from a party?

On the subject of parties, I went to an island meeting recently and it was agreed that full-moon parties will be allowed on Gili Air. It was said that these will raise money for the island and give young people somewhere to dance

One of the reasons I prefer Gili Air over Gili T is that there aren’t as many parties and so it attracts a different, more relaxed crowd. I like the peace and quiet here and would rather it stay that way. This is not the first full moon party of course; one or two places have them already. However, it does just feel like flood gates are opening.

I just hope someone has thought through the idea of these parties and it’s not just a money-making scheme.

There was also talk at the meeting that they might shut down Hans Reef (perhaps the best and closest reef to Gili Air) to let it recover – so no more fishing and no diving there.

I wish they hadn’t included diving in this decision. 

It has been proven that diving has very little impact on a reef system. Divers are taught to respect the environment and are often at the forefront of environmentalism.

Fishing, on the other hand, does nothing productive for the environment. I recently witnessed a huge net being dropped over the largest coral mound at Hans Reef and hundreds, if not thousands, of fish taken – not to mention the lasting damage inflicted on the coral.

There are often fifty or more fishermen trampling all over the remaining coral in the harbour. And just last night a smug man with a harpoon asked me if I’d had a nice dive and then told me he was off to kill some fish.

Closing Hans Reef will damage the dive and tourist community on Gili Air. Stopping fisherman decimating the reef can only be a benefit.

On a side note – and I’m going to move on to a different subject in a second, as I’m at risk of sounding preachy – I’ve often wondered why divers eat fish. It strikes me as odd that they want to see beautiful fish under the water and then later, see the same fish on their plate. 

Of course you can walk through a field, see a cute cow and later have a roast beef sandwich. The difference being that cows are farmed animals plus, when they are killed for food, you don’t risk mass destruction of their environment.

My final fish-related news – I promise! – is about a recent post I placed on Karang Diver’s Facebook wall saying that I had seen a cuttlefish (around 30 centimetres long) the size of a whale. I did this because many of the shops around these islands post silly claims about what they’ve seen in the water (never backed up by photos). I was, of course, joking and thought no more of it.

Two days later a colleague called me from a dive shop on Gili T and asked me if it was true that I had seen two – not just one but two! –whales around Gili Air.

Apparently, a customer had come into their shop asking if it was true because that’s what I had written on Facebook!  Some people are rather too credulous for their own good.

Now a random piece of island news: the Siti Store, the island’s largest general store, has started stocking Magnum Ice Cream! I think this is mostly down to Alex and me asking for them every time we go in the shop.  ‘Pester Power’ works and, in this instance, has been well worth it!

If you’re wondering about my regular update about the Karang Divers’ kittens: they are now big enough to be annoying but, at the same time, extremely cute. There are five of them and they have learned to work as a team to hunt our customers. They stealthily creep up on bags and feet, and then pounce!

One of the kittens is going off to live on Gili Meno with Divine Divers soon but, as yet, the others do not have homes. Well they do; they can stay with us at Villa Karang. But, if anyone would like to give a kitten a home, they are very cute and will be ready to move in with new families in about two weeks’ time.

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