NEWS

ISSUE 105

HAPPY NEW YEAR LOMBOK!

It’s the festive season in Lombok and it seems the whole island has been partying up a storm! Now that the presents have been unwrapped, the turkey has been eaten and the Christmas trees are looking a bit worse for wear, we are all gearing up for the extravagant New Year’s Eve parties that are planned at top venues around the island.

No matter where you stay in Lombok, New Year’s Eve is a big occasion! Whether you’re dancing on the beach in Kuta or on one of the Gili Islands, or jostling with the crowds in Senggigi, you can’t help but be swept up in the fun and excitement. For the best places to kick off the New Year, see our special features on pages 10 and 16. Wherever you choose to celebrate the start of a new year on Lombok… The Lombok Guide wishes all of our advertisers and readers a magical festive season and a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012… Selamat Tahun Baru!

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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WHERE TO START THE NEW YEAR!

The whole world celebrates on New Year’s Eve and Lombok is no different! The streets of Senggigi will be packed, the Gili Islands will be rocking and all around the island people will be celebrating as we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome in 2012.

For many people, the start of a new year symbolises the year to come… and our ideas of the perfect beginning to a new year are as unique as our individual personalities. For some, it may be the exhilarating freedom of being on top of Mount Rinjani when the first new dawn breaks over the mountains, or on board a boat off the Gili Islands preparing to dive over a fabulous reef, or poised to catch the next magnificent wave off the beaches on the south coast.

For others, it may be the closeness of an intimate dinner for two in a superb restaurant, dining on fresh seafood and sharing a bottle of champagne as the clock ticks toward midnight. For many, it is dancing to great music, surrounded by other happy people and the shared fun as the countdown begins, joining in the shouts of “Happy New Year!”

However you start your new year, Lombok has the activities, places and parties to satisfy everyone’s personal desires. In this issue, we list some of the parties on offer to get your year off to a happy start!

Café Alberto celebrates New Year with a fabulous Beach Barbecue – sure to be one of the hottest parties in town! Enjoy a delicious barbeque on the beachfront, complete with a bonfire, and be entertained with live music and dancing, guest artists and fireworks at midnight.

Tickets are Rp 350 000 (with the chance to win door prizes!) Phone 693039 or 693313 to book.

The Holiday Resort in Mangsit always kicks off the New Year with a fabulous night of wining, dining and entertainment and this year they celebrate with a “Lombok Country Party” featuring country dancing, music by Neo Marina Band, bartender juggling and a lucky draw.

Price, including a huge gala buffet dinner, is Rp 850 000 ++ per person. For reservations, phone 693444.

If a romantic dinner under the stars is more your style, you can’t go past the New Year’s Eve menu from Quali Restaurant at Qunci Pool Villas, on the beachfront in Mangsit. Bookings recommended on 693800.

If you’re lucky enough to be staying on the south coast, the Novotel Lombok is the best place to start the New Year in style. From the welcome cocktail, gourmet buffet or table d’hote dinner, through to the varied entertainment and fireworks, Novotel Lombok is the perfect location to welcome in 2012.

Guests can choose from the gourmet buffet in Spice Market Restaurant or enjoy a romantic 5 course table d’hote menu at Vue Restaurant, overlooking the upper pool and the magnificent beaches of South Kuta. Each restaurant will showcase entertainment to complement your dining experience as you prepare say goodbye to 2011. 

After dinner, guests will move to the private beachfront where traditional, contemporary and DJ entertainment will welcome in 2012 with a Bang.

In order to create a memorable occasion for all, there are a limited number of seats available for each venue. To reserve your booking for New Year’s Eve, email hotel@novotellombok.com for menu, pricing and booking forms.

For a different and unique start to the New Year, why not escape to your own secret island? Every year Secret Island Resort on Gili Gede (just off Lombok’s beautiful southwest coast) celebrates New Year’s Eve with an exclusive and intimate party far from the madding crowd.

Enjoy a traditional roast turkey dinner for just Rp 200 000 per person including rum punch, and afterwards gather under the stars for a fantastic fireworks display over the water. There are only two small resorts on this large, peaceful island, so it’s easy to relax into the quiet charm of the southwest Gilis.

Simple but comfortable accommodation starts from Rp 200 000 per night (see discount voucher). In the morning, watch the sun rise over the Lombok mainland, walk along the deserted beach, or charter the Resort’s speedboat and go fishing, snorkelling and island hopping around the stunning secret islands of the southwest. Ph: 0818 03762001

Another perfect escape option is a stay at the lovely Bumbangku Beach Cottages. Set on a glorious stretch of undeveloped beach at Bumbang, just east of Gerupuk, on Lombok’s south coast, Bumbangku has a range of thatched beach cottages and comfortable deluxe rooms right on the water’s edge. 

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START THE NEW YEAR ON GILI T!

For many, there’s no better place to be on New Year’s Eve than on Gili Trawangan, the most popular island of the three Gili Islands.

Famous as a party island, the last night of the year sees almost the entire island become one big party, as all the crowds and parties merge together along the beachfront. Join in the fun at any of the numerous hotels, restaurants and bars or choose to celebrate in style at one of the island’s top venues below:

The Beach House needs no introduction as one of the most popular beachfront restaurants and bars on the island. For New Year’s Eve they are offering diners an even more extravagant version of their famous Seafood Barbeque, with the best selection of local seafood on the island including lobster swordfish, yellow fin tuna and an array of freshly made salads and accompaniments. They will also be showcasing a great selection of Indonesian favourites prepared by their local chefs, with live cooking.

The resort has an extensive selection of imported Champagne and wines to toast in the New Year and, at midnight, enjoy the big fireworks show on the beach, held in conjunction with Irish bar, Tir Na Nog, with VIP viewing area on the upstairs deck at The Beach House. Bookings essential: 614 2352.

Ko-ko-mo Resort offers guests an evening of fine wining and dining under the stars, with a special five course gourmet menu prepared by Australian Executive Chef, Josh Job, all inclusive for Rp 700 000 ++ per person.

Relax at elegant tables on the beachfront with Amuse Bouche and a choice of entrées including Spanish Seafood Broth, Freshly Shucked Oysters, Slow Cooked Pork Belly,
Sashimi Plate, or Vegetarian Beetroot Carpaccio; followed by a Green Tea & Ginger Sorbet Palate Cleanser.

Main courses include Individual Beef Wellington, Roast Spatchcock, Lamb Shoulder, Tuna Prepared Two Ways or Wild Mushroom Risotto. Finish with Lemon Myrtle Crème Brulee, Chocolate Mousse or a Fresh Fruit Basket for dessert, and a selection of teas and coffees with biscotti.

After a fine feast, join the happy crowd at The Beach House for the midnight countdown and fireworks. Bookings recommended on 614 4169.

Party central, Horizontal, is sure to be packed with movers and shakers at the “The Party” – now in its 7th year of being one of the biggest and best ways to usher in the New Year.

Horizontal kicks off its annual New Year's Eve celebrations with sunset cocktails on the beach, followed by a special 5 course gala dinner for an amazing Rp 150,000 + per person.  

The gourmet menu includes Horizontal’s signature dishes such as Chicken Liver and White Wine Pate with Rosemary Crostini and Caramelised Onion Marmalade and Pan-fried Fillet of Local Marlin with Prawns in a Citrus Cream Sauce.

The celebrations continue after dinner with Horizontal’s now legendary NYE party featuring a world class DJ playing the best funky house on the island! Free canapés, drink shots, a beach bonfire and fireworks will make this a night to remember. It’s best to get there early, as this is always one of the most popular parties on Gili Trawangan.  Ph: 613 9248.

Gili T’s only authentic Indian restaurant, Pesona, also celebrates the festive season, with a spicy twist.

Enjoy Special Indian food set menus, Sheesha and Cocktail promotions all day long and a New Year’s Eve Beach and Pool Party at night! The beach restaurant will be open until late on New Year’s Eve… giving guests the perfect chance to lie back on cushions under the stars and share an authentic sheesha with imported fruit tobaccos.

Watch out for the discount vouchers being handed out on the beach during the festive season and stop in for late night / early morning kebabs after party night! Ph: 612 3521 for bookings.

New Year’s Eve at Hotel Vila Ombak is a legendary event. This year, Gili T’s top resort ushers in the New Year with the “New Year’s Pirate Feast and Party” and a full night’s entertainment on the beach in front of the resort.

Start with sunset cocktails and a sumptuous banquet with an amazing variety of foods including a huge selection of entrees and salads, lots of fresh fish and seafood dishes, a fresh pasta station, barbeque and carvery, and delicious international dishes prepared by the award-winning kitchen team.

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FAREWELL GREGG AND LEIGH!

Friends, colleagues and hundreds of students from Sekolah Nusa Alam – Lombok’s only genuine International School – bid a sad farewell to school Principal, Gregg Renneberg, and his wife, Leigh, this month.

Gregg and Leigh, together with their family, moved to Lombok in January 2009, with Gregg taking up the position of International Principal at Sekolah Nusa Alam.

Gregg has been teaching for over 30 years; 16 of those in leadership roles at secondary schools in Canberra and Sydney, Australia, as well as postings in overseas locations such as Brunei.

Under his guidance, Nusa Alam opened its first senior secondary department in 2009 and, in the same year, introduced the Cambridge Curriculum at the school, providing education up to Cambridge A Levels for Years 11 and 12.

Leigh is also a teacher, with a background in special education, student services and art education. During her time in Lombok she gained a reputation as a talented artist and a popular special needs teacher.

Their son, Jacob, has also won the hearts of many on the island, and is known as a gentle giant with a smile as big as his heart.

• Laut Biru Café, at Sempiak Villas on beautiful Selong Belanak beach, has added more delicious dishes to their menu including Tempura Vegetables (Rocket, eggplant, plus other vegies fresh from the garden, in crispy tempura batter), Mie Goreng Bakso, Thai Green Curry, BBQ Stuffed Squid, Pad Thai and more. Old favourites such as the Butter Chicken, Cumi Cumi, and Beef Rendang, are still available, as well as home-made French Fries, plus Iced Coffees, Cheesecake, Pavlova, and Chocolate Mousse. The fishing season is particularly good at the moment so lots of fresh fish straight from the boat to LBC!

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THE CHANDI… A Peaceful Beachfront Sanctuary

The word Chandi (spelt Candi in Bahasa Indonesia) usually refers to an ancient temple or sacred place… so it is that “The Chandi” embraces the concepts of peace and sanctuary at its newly-opened resort in Batu Layar, just five minutes south of Senggigi.

Set in a one hectare coconut grove fronting on to an undeveloped section of beach, The Chandi looks out across the ocean, with panoramic views of the Lombok skyline all the way to the southwest coast. The sunsets across the water to Bali on the horizon are just one of the glorious features of this space dedicated to relaxation and tranquility.

The Chandi is managed by Living Asia Resorts and Spas, who are also developing the Living Asia Resort in Lendang Luar, just north of Senggigi. Stylish design features and attention to detail seem to be a hallmark of the group, which is investing in Lombok’s future.

“We are building our brand, so it doesn’t matter if it takes a while to get everything just right. We are in Lombok for the long term,” Living Asia Manager, Mehdi Tabka, said when we visited The Chandi last week.

Inside the walls of the resort, spacious green lawns and the luxurious use of wood, stone and natural materials harmonise with the environment and allow the natural beauty of the setting to create the overall ambience. Although not far from the main road to Senggigi, the coconut grove is filled with a gentle hush and at night the only sound is that of the waves on the beach.

Seventeen comfortable villas offer luxurious accommodation for guests. Each of the ten ocean view rooms and seven garden view rooms are spacious, light and airy; featuring contemporary furnishings and all modern amenities. Cushioned lounges on the private terraces allow guests to lay back and look out over the lush gardens and beach beyond.

Just near the reception area, a beautiful old wooden Joglo house, transported from Jogjakarta in Java, is being lovingly restored and re-assembled. When complete, this building will house the resort’s luxurious Spa, scheduled to open in March 2012.

The Chandi boasts a lovely beachfront swimming pool with adjacent pool bar, a beachfront restaurant and, currently under construction, a purpose-built beach bar.

This unique structure combines elements reminiscent of a Sumatran Long House, with parts of its wooden roof extending down to form the sides, while overhead a tinted glass central roof panel opens the bar up to the sky and allows natural light to flood in.

On the opposite side of the property, Meru Fine Dining Restaurant sits right on the beachfront, providing diners with fabulous views during the day and at night, when the lights of the fishing fleet twinkle across the ocean.

A brief glance at the menu shows that Meru is about to become an exciting contender to the Lombok dining scene. Under the management of an expatriate Executive Chef, the extensive menu combines Mediterranean and Asian Fusion elements typical of Bali’s better restaurants, such as Metis and Warisan.

On the menu, “Tunisian Brick” pays homage to Living Asia’s Tunisian roots and features Beef Cheek, Tuna or Shrimp in spring roll pastry with lemon, mixed greens and wasabi mayonnaise. “Croque Monsieur” is a rustic combination of Home-baked bread with double aged Cheddar, honey baked country ham and Béchamel sauce. “Wagyu Beef Sirloin” is served with roasted pear, saffron, potato puree, glazed shallots, Brussels Sprouts and port wine jus.

It’s exciting to see a total departure from the usual fare available in Senggigi restaurants, in particular, and if the menu continues to develop along these lines, Meru promises to be a major player in a fairly limited fine dining scene.

“We are really ambitious to have top fine dining restaurants at both The Chandi and Living Asia,” Mehdi said, “That is why we dare to hire an expatriate chef, to ensure we become the very best in Lombok.”
The Chandi is currently celebrating its “soft opening”, although its success already seems assured with a large group of Russian guests enjoying the pool and restaurant on the day we visited.

In neighbouring Bali, the trend for some time now has been away from large hotel chains and towards villa developments and smaller resorts that provide a sense of intimacy and personalized service for a growing specialty market.

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BLUEWATER EXPRESS CELEBRATES 6TH ANNIVERSARY

On 26 November 2011, BlueWater Express celebrated 6 years of service to the Gili Islands with its biggest party to date, at Paramitha Restaurant in Bali.

The event was a huge success, with over 120 staff and families attending to enjoy some excellent food and entertainment laid on by Paramitha restaurant and the BlueWater organizing committee. The evening comprised games, singers, an MC, and a prize draw which enabled all staff to go home with some sort of prize.

“We were amazed at the response we got from sponsors, people were very generous.

We had restaurant vouchers, room nights in hotels and villas, spa treatments, household goods, tours in Bali, loads of cool stuff”, explains Jeremy, owner-operator of BlueWater Express.

On the day prior to the party, staff at BlueWater-Express delivered a truckload of goods and money to Dharma Jati 11 orphanage in Bali.

“We asked staff if they’d like to make some contributions and everyone gave something – food, noodles, unused goods from around the home – these things mean a lot to the kids and it was such a pleasure to do something to help”, expains Wayan Sudana, General Manager of BlueWater Express. “Huge thanks to all our staff for their generosity, and special thanks to Nina, our dynamic DSOM, for organizing this. We hope to do more of this kind of thing throughout 2012 and beyond”.

When asked about the Anniversary date, owner-operator Jeremy Wort is hesitant to put an exact date on the beginning of operations, “We evolved gradually rather than starting with a bang on a certain date. Actually the party was not to celebrate a specific point in time, but more the evolution of a boat and a nice idea into a well-established going concern, and especially to thank all the staff we have who have played such a key role in our evolution. It was a celebration of teamwork and commitment. We’ll probably make a post-high season bash a regular annual event in the future, all being well. The exact date of our anniversary is unclear in fact, but end of November seems as good as any”.

BlueWater Express started running trips to the Gili islands at the end of 2005, in conjunction with Island Promotions, who were just starting to represent various businesses in the Gilis Islands in Bali. However the enterprise originally started at the end of 2004 with the acquisition of an eight-seat X2K from Northsea Boats.

“I was a Jakarta refugee with a few ideas,” explains Jeremy. “In fact in the early days I just intended to do some casual fishing charters and have a nice boat related life-style in Bali.”

That was pretty much the story throughout 2005, until the Gili Islands gradually grew in importance throughout 2006. But it wasn’t until early-mid 2007 that BlueWater operated on a daily basis. The blacklisting of some Indonesian airlines around the same time also threw the spotlight onto the BlueWater service, as many of the hotels in Lombok found they were unable to transport people to Lombok from Bali.

“Suddenly we were getting huge demand from Lombok hotels and overseas travel companies,” Jeremy said, “It was pretty crazy for a while, we had anticipated a more gradually increasing demand but suddenly were faced with a tsunami”.

A few hectic years later, and BlueWater now operates two 30-seat boats from both the south Bali port of Serangan Island and the East Bali port of Padang Bai, with offices in Serangan, Gili Trawangan, Teluk Kode, Ubud, Padang Bai and soon Kuta, with 10 other companies now operating in the same market.

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LOCAL SCENE

BUZZ'S PIRATE PARTY @ THE BEACH CLUB

Dashing pirates and buxom wenches, pirate poison, "the plank", jigs, and sea shantys - all at the swash buckling pirate party to celebrate Buzz's birthday!

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

QUESTION: I have been living in Lombok for several months now and I think it is about time I learned to speak Indonesian. I have heard about various language schools but would prefer to learn during my spare moments or whilst I am doing other things. 

I have bought a language CD and have downloaded it to my IPod. If I play the CD whilst I am asleep, will I absorb the information subliminally?

MR FIXER: A friend of mine tried that recently and the disc got stuck. He can now only speak Indonesian with a stutter.

QUESTION: I am a 63 year old male who has come to the sunny shores of Lombok to take it easy and retire from my hectic professional life as a government office worker in Holland. 

The internet technology of today is so bewildering! I have just got used to emails and Google, but now the social networking sites have got me flummoxed. Do you think that the likes of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter will ever consolidate, to make it easier for people like me who skipped a generation of IT knowledge?

MR FIXER: An interesting idea.  If they ever do join together, it might be called My Twit Face!

QUESTION: My mother always said, “The fastest way to a man's heart is through his chest with a sharp knife.”  I’m beginning to see her point of view since my last husband just left me for a younger model. 
Just because I have cut my hair short, put on 45 pounds and fart a lot in bed doesn’t mean I have changed. It is still me. I’m still the girl he married! Why is it so hard for women to find men that are sensitive, caring, and good-looking?

MR FIXER: Because all those men already have boyfriends.

QUESTION: As the New Year approaches, my thoughts turn to New Year’s resolutions.  
For the last few years, I have been making resolutions and each year, have been forced to lower my expectations of my ability to keep them. 

For instance, a few years ago, I resolved to not spend my money frivolously. The next year I resolved to pay off my bank loan promptly. Then it was to pay off my bank loans promptly. The year after that, I resolved to make a strong effort to be out of debt before the year ended. That changed to promising myself that I would resolve to pay the interest on time. 

This year, I am thinking of leaving the country before next year comes around! Can you suggest any New Year’s resolutions people can actually keep?

QUESTION: I am a frustrated musician and I have come to Lombok to learn to play an instrument. My previous profession was as a car mechanic. I could tune a supercharged V8 so it could catch pigeons. 
I have bought a cheap car and continue my passion with fast cars as a hobby. I would still like to play a musical instrument but my car passion keeps me too busy to practice. Can you suggest a musical instrument that will compliment my car?

MR FIXER: Why not try the harmonica? You could drive real fast and stick it out of the window – it will sound amazing!

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LOCAL SCENE

FAREWELL PARTY @ VERVE VILLA

Friends and colleagues from Nusa Alam International School farewelled Gregg and Leigh at a wonderful party hosted by Nadine and the team from Horizontal, Gili T, and Heidi at the stunning Verve Villa in Mangsit.

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GILI AIR

Did you have a good Christmas? Did you make lots of lists and check them all twice?

Gili Air is busy and fun at this time of year. It’s fun all year round, of course, but seeing the New Year in on the warm sands of a tropical island is pretty special.

Before I get to the New Year nightlife, I want to tell you about something else that can be truly special at this time of year – the diving. This, too, is great all year round but for the two months of December and January it can get extra special!

The increased rains washing into the ocean right now lead to a surge in the underwater food supply.  This, and the small seasonal drop in water temperature (from around 31 degrees Celsius to around 27 – which is still bathwater warm), often brings in larger sharks and rays.

I have even heard tell of whale sharks passing the islands at this time of year. I can’t vouch for these sightings but I can vouch for the fifteen devil rays that we saw flying through the waters near Halik; an excellent dive site. These amazing creatures stayed with us for nearly twenty minutes; at times they seemed almost as excited about seeing our group of divers as we were about seeing them!

The downside of all this is that the water around the Gilis clouds a little. This drop in visibility is primarily caused by the increased rains washing silt into the water, plus an increase in plankton growth.

Usually we get twenty metre-plus visibility but, at this time of year, the visibility can drop to around ten metres. This isn’t actually that bad: I did a lot of diving on the Pacific coast of Mexico and on our best days we would be lucky to get that much visibility, yet the diving was still excellent.

On the subject of limited-visibility diving, the Gilis have a very special dive site that is currently little known.  I am sure 2012 is going to change that, when word of Teluk Nare’s excellent diving makes it out into the world. 

Teluk Nare is a harbour on Lombok, right across from Gili Air. It’s a special kind of diving called ‘Muck Diving’.  This is different from the usual reef diving that you find around the Gili Islands. Teluk Nare is a harbour, so there can be a little garbage in the water and the site has a sandy bottom so, if you are not careful, you can often stir up the sediment and face extremely limited visibly.  

I am sure you are wondering why anyone would bother to dive such a site. The main reason is the chance to see the rare, the weird and the unusual. The key with this site is to see it as a treasure hunt: if you are lucky, there is the chance to see the amazing blue ringed octopus, there are stone fish, ghost pipe fish and freaky looking frog fish. This is the perfect site for photographers, so take your time, try something different and enjoy this world-class dive site.

The other plus about doing some diving at this time of year is that it does count as exercise and that’s always useful in this wonderful season of excess!

So my message to you is that, while this may be the season of Christmas cheer, don’t let all the great food, the parties and the endless relaxation let you miss out on some great diving.

And now, as promised, I will turn to my review of the coming New Year. If Christmas Day is about the food, then New Year is about the parties.

You can see in the New Year in virtually anywhere in Tourist Town: the main bars and restaurants there will be open until well after the start of 2012.

If you want to carry the party on deep into the night, then the fun doesn’t have to stop at midnight when the clocks turn to 2012.

Scallywags is a great place right on the beach and always has a good atmosphere. The food is really good and the menu is a bit different from other places. Make sure you try some of their excellent cocktails to get into the party mood!

Space Bar is having an all-night party entitled ‘Change your Mind’ – a psy-trance-fest of extra loud music and partying until well into the following day.

Legend Bar is another choice, if reggae is more your thing. There’s a fun atmosphere here and New Year’s Eve will draw a good crowd.

Or if parties and crowds aren’t your thing, you could just sit on the beautiful beach and watch the stars as one year passes into the next.

As the old year passes and a new one begins, remember to make a few resolutions. If you are coming to Gili Air here are a few easy to keep suggestions:

• If you can’t already, learn to dive.  It only takes a couple of days and it’s an amazing investment in adventure. Plus, once you have your PADI card, you can dive pretty much anywhere in the world.
• You really have to try the local food when you’re here! Gado Gado is my current favourite; the peanut sauce is delicious.
• After a day of excellent diving or snorkelling, you can have a relaxing treatment at The Natural Spa or relax your mind and take a meditation session at The Yoga Centre.
• As the day drifts into evening, walk five minutes past Villa Karang and watch the sunset over Bali’s volcano.
• Then wander on down to Tourist Town where you can have incredible BBQ fish or perhaps a pizza baked in one of the huge stone ovens that you’ll see dotted about.

Whatever you do this New Year, I hope you have an amazing time. Me, I’m going to do what I do most days: eat, sleep and dive. The only resolution I make that I know I can stick to is to do my best to make my life an adventure!

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