Edison Lestari | The Jakarta Globe

‘Both of you have to move as one; if not, you fall,’ Julian warns.

My Jakarta: Julian Jansen, Barongsai Dancer

Sunday was a busy night for barongsai troupes. The lion dance, a staple of Chinese New Year celebrations, was banned during the Suharto era, but made a huge comeback thanks to former President Abdurrahman ‘Gus Dur’ Wahid.
Today, Julian Jansen breaks down the art of the lion dance and teaches us a little about its history.

Which role is more difficult, being the head or the rear?

Both are difficult in different ways. The person playing the head needs to think a lot. All the movements are controlled by the head. Plus, the head has to operate the ears, eyes and mouth of the lion. The person at the rear needs strong feet and determines the stability of the barongsai.

Do you always play the head?

We are trained to perform all the roles. Once I get tired, I will move to the rear or will play the drums, gong or cymbal.

How many people are there in one group?

Around 30 people in my group. As you see, Chinese Indonesians and native Indonesians combine well to perform the dance.

What does the color of the barongsai mean?

Nothing special. The most common colors of barongsai are black, red, yellow and white. We just have the yellow and white one.

Is there any peak season?

Orders always peak during Sin Cia [Chinese New Year]. But we also get orders for weddings or from companies.

Why do they want to use barongsai?

Barongsai is very powerful at ousting evil spirits and bringing hoki [luck] at the same time. Companies usually book us for their first day of opening.

How much do you charge for each performance?

We don’t set a price. It’s totally on a voluntary basis.

How do you divide up the payment?

We divvy it up among the group. Plus we give part of it to charity. We believe that what goes around will come around. The more we give, the more we will get later.

What do you do to pump yourself up before you perform?

We pray first, for sure. After that we will write fu [the Chinese character for prosperity] on the head of the barongsai. Some people will burn hio [incense] and put it on the head of the barongsai, but we don’t usually burn incense.

What’s the most difficult part of your act?

Salto [flip]. It’s difficult and high risk. Have you ever seen a barongsai dance competition? Usually we have to dance on pillars, it’s really difficult. The pillar we stand on is 38 centimeters wide, the distance between the pillars is around 75 cm and the pillars extend for 10 to 15 meters. We have to dance along those pillars.

Aren’t you afraid to dance on them?

I’m well-trained, but I’ve fallen many times in training. Don’t worry if you see the dancers fall from the pillars, there is a mattress below them. One barongsai has two dancers. Both of you have to move as one; if not, you fall. Barongsai is all about teamwork and trust. We communicate with each other inside. My partner’s hands are on my waist all the time to make sure that we move together as one.

Do you practice every day?

We practice every Wednesday and Sunday.

Why did you join the barongsai group?

Because it’s a hobby. I have quit school. I simply help my mother and practice barongsai.

How old are you now?

Fifteen. I finished junior high school last year and I have no motivation to continue my education.

Why?

I’m lazy [about going back to school].

Any other reasons?

I don’t want to tell you.

Do you know the history of barongsai?

Yeah. Once upon a time in China, there was a very powerful yet unruly barongsai called Kilin. He used to make trouble for the local people, so they hatched a plan to kill him. But then someone suggested that instead of murdering him it would be better to turn him into a good barongsai. So the people selected someone who was well liked because he was pleasant to everybody and dressed him up as a barongsai. The local people showed him so much respect and admiration that this caused the wayward barongsai to grow jealous. So he decided to change his behavior, becoming nicer and more protective of the local people.

Another version is that at one time the Chinese people were disturbed by many devils. So two people donned a barongsai costume and successfully ousted the devils. The lion is a sacred and powerful animal in Chinese mythology. It’s the symbol of power and authority. That’s why many Chinese houses have two lion statues outside acting as gatekeepers.

Can I join your barongsai group?

Sure. You should consider barongsai as a sport. There is no age limit. Anyone of any age can join us. But to be among the best, I would suggest starting to learning barongsai at around 10 years old. My group was formed in 2002 in Tangerang. I joined the group at that time.

source: The Jakarta Post

Desy Nurhayati

Temples across Bali are gearing up to celebrate Chinese New Year this Sunday by holding rituals and decorating places of worship. At Griya Kongco Dwipayana temple in Tanah Kilap, South Denpasar, caretakers and volunteers worked together to clean up the temple, including sanctifying statues and prayer instruments.

The cleansing ritual typically takes place a week before Imlek (Chinese New Year) with the philosophy of “starting the New Year with a virtuous heart”.

“Removing the dust is like purifying our hearts from all negative thoughts, in the hope that we can have a better life in the year to come,” said Ida Bagus Adnyana, high priest at Griya Kongco Dwipayana.

Prior to the clean up, temples usually hold the ritual of “ushering the gods”, where they say prayers to let the gods go to heaven.

This year, the rituals were held on Sunday and Monday.

“We have held the ritual to let the gods leave the temples and go to their places,” Adnyana said.

“And now that this place is vacant, we can clean it without restraint.”

While some of the temple’s caretakers were busy wiping up the sacred statues and instruments,

others installed red lanterns and a range of adornments.

Besides employing 12 caretakers, the temple welcomed volunteers to help prepare for the celebration.

This voluntary work, called ngayah, is usually carried out by Hindus and Buddhists, as a reflection of togetherness.

“Every year, we always have volunteers coming here to help out the preparation. This year, we have around 20 people,” Adnyana said.

He added the temple had welcomed all people regardless of their backgrounds to join the voluntary work.

One of the volunteers, Wayan Sukerta, felt that coming to the temple to take part in the preparation of Imlek was his duty. This is his fifth year of volunteering.

“I take part in ngayah as a form of gratitude to God for giving me health and prosperity,” the 42-year-old Hindu said while cleaning a statue frame.

“I will also come here with my family on the celebration day to perform prayers.”

Preparations to welcome the Year of Tiger were also seen at the Dharmayana temple in Kuta on Tuesday, as the work to decorate the building with red ornaments were still underway.

“We have four caretakers here to do the preparation. We are also assisted by volunteers,” said temple head Luwih Berata.

The temple, which was built around  the 1800s, usually sees thousands of celebrants coming and taking turns to perform prayers during Imlek.

“People usually come here at the evening before the Imlek day to welcome the return of gods, which were ushered to heaven a week before the celebration. They perform prayers using various offerings, wishing for better and more prosperous year,” said priest Thio Tjin Bun.

Celebrations of Chinese New Year in Bali have taken place for a long time, as Chinese cultures have acculturated with that of the Balinese, studies say.

Some of the Chinese cultures were adopted by Balinese people include the use of Chinese coins of kepeng in Balinese religious ceremonies. Some Balinese arts, such as in sculpture and architecture, were believed to have been influenced by Chinese arts.

Studies show that Chinese community was integrated into Balinese people since they both share the values of tolerance. They become members of local customary villages and have similar rights and responsibilities to local people.

Jeannifer Filly Sumayku , The President Post, Jakarta | Culture

Indonesia has embarked on a plan to enhance the charm of Borobudur and Prambanan temples as UNESCO steps in to underscore the importance of the world’s cultural heritage.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, collaborating with P.T. Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko (TWC BP & RB), recently conducted a meeting to discuss the issue. The theme was “Borobudur-Prambanan, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage: Million Looks, One Location”.

As an organiser of tour packages, TWC BP & RB wanted to inform potential buyers about the forthcoming attractions of these tourist destinations. To that end the company brought in around 400 people comprising expatriates, corporate representatives, travel agencies, hotel managers as well as representatives from the airline industry.

Member of the European Parliament and the Multimedia Winner of the Cannes Festival, Dr. Titus Leber, presented the outlines of a project he was working on to “take Borobudur to cyberspace.”

The aim is to enable Internetizens to get complete information about the popular tourist destination in an interactive way. This project also enables Indonesia to send out cultural messages for various purposes.

The film that Leber presented was entitled Borobudur: Path to Enlightenment.

Meanwhile, Toni Tack, a noted archeologist and consultant for the Indonesian private company, also presented her work, Unveiling the Mystery of Borobudur.

The audience was enthusiastic about the plan to enhance the charms of these two temples. The Borobudur is regarded as a sacred place and the effigies of Buddha therein represent the sanctity of the temple.

Toni raised her concern over the fact that some people were in the habit of smoking in front of the Buddha effigy while others rampantly urinated in the compound.

A representative of the Philippines Embassy in Jakarta responded to this by saying that the government should educate local people in order to respect the sanctity of the temple.

UNESCO, whose task is to help preserve cultural heritage around the globe, is working to make sure that the Indonesian temples will remain as the world’s cultural heritage for international tourists to visit.

The UN organization aims to prevent the temples from being damaged. It has for more than a decade included the two temples on its list of the world’s cultural heritage, and has been cooperating with the Indonesian government to preserve the objects.

Borobudur has been renovated several times. The first renovation took place in 1907-1911 and the second by UNESCO in 1972.

The largest restoration project was undertaken between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government and UNESCO, after which the monument was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once renovation activities had been completed, it became known that 27 countries had participated in the project.

UNESCO again extended a helping hand when the temples were damaged by a powerful earthquake that jolted Central Java in May 2006.

President Director of TWC BP & RB, Purnomo Siswoprasetyo, says that the company plans to implement what is called MICE, an acronym for Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition tours.

Targeted buyers include multinational corporations, professional and business organizations, expatriate communities, state-owned corporations, and other interested circles.

Travel operators are hoping to see a greater number of tourists visit Borobudur and Prambanan this year.

They expect at least a 20% increase in the number of visitors to Borobudur.

Last year, a total of 2.5 million international tourists visited Borobudur while Prambanan was the destination of more than one million tourists.

Borobudur, the world’s largest Mahayana Buddhist monument of the ninth century, measures 123×123 meters. It has 1,460 relief panels and 504 Buddha effigies.

According to historical records, Borobudur was built by King Samaratungga, one of the rulers of Old Mataram Kingdom and a descendant of Sailendra dynasty.

Based on Kayumwungan inscription, construction of Borobudur was completed on May 26, 824, almost 100 years after it began.

The monument is a shrine to the Lord Buddha and has for centuries been recognized as a place for Buddhist pilgrimage.

Historical evidence suggests that Borobudur was once abandoned after the 14^th century decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms following the arrival of Islamic traders on the island of Java.

But in 1814 Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles—the then British ruler of Southeast Asia—made it known to the world after he had learned about the precise location of the temple through native Indonesians.

(The President Post printed edition. January 28, 2010)

Source: Hello Bali Magazine

text annisa dharma images james frampton

from a pristine white sand beach to a secluded – and not to mention genuinely untouched – village, candidasa holds many a charm that can truly complement the area’s claim as “old bali”

Ireside in the island’s cesspit of modern tourism, sunburned bodies and capitalism, in the area also known as Kuta (yes, exactly), so when I was offered a chance to explore a patch of the island that is dubbed as “old Bali” by many, I jumped to the occasion and packed my bags in a record-breaking five minutes.

Candidasa, previously known as Teluk Kehen (which translates as Bay of Fire), is located on the north-eastern coast of Bali, and even though it’s the most modernised section of the area, it’s still relatively untouched and a pleasant getaway from the depraving kitsch of the 21st century.

First on my list was a trip to Virgin Beach (Desa Perasi), aptly named and purely unspoiled. Think white sand and azure waters, in its absolute epitome. Of course, untouched doesn’t necessarily mean completely secluded and devoid of hawker food stalls and lounging chairs, but these circumstances aren’t obnoxiously in-your-face, and are more of a useful factor rather than a nuisance. The waves are gentle (even for you grommets) and the beach is complete soft sand merged with coral where the water starts and land ends. A perfect spot to simply lie back and let time drift by unnoticed.

To further press my objective of escaping contemporary chaos, I headed to Desa Tenganan, a village established before the first millennium, where modernism only exists in the form of “Dora the Explorer” knock-off T-shirts on some of the children and the occasional motorbike parked to the side of the enclosed village.

Somewhat reminiscent of M Night Shyamalan’s “The Village”, this particular village is a self-sourcing, independent community, complete with its own government, traditions, crop field and cattle (in abundance, might I add), and bendesa (Balinese for village leader).

That’s not to say that no outside influence whatsoever has infiltrated the settlement, but those who have married outside the “tribe” are considered cast-offs and aren’t included in the coordinated distribution of basic needs such as rice and housing. Up to date, there are 28 “purebred” families left from the total of 250 families living inside the small town.

Another unique distinction in Tenganan Village is the double ikat (handwoven cloth) that take more than three years to produce, for each one-and-a-half metre long fabric. This is because the thread is handmade from organic cotton harvested from their own village (where else?) and tinted with all natural dyes made from turmeric, indigo juice and other seeds. The creation process itself takes approximately three to four weeks.

The making of these weavings are considered sacred, as are the weavings themselves, and each symbol on the fabric has a meaning. The most recurrent symbol is the scorpion, which signifies power, invincibility and self-control. Also, the symbols of the square cross, representing balance of the soul.

Another historical must-see while in the Candidasa area is Tirtagangga Water Palace (www.tirtagangga.nl), a majestic complex built in 1946 composed of flowing streams, lush greenery and elegant sculptures, which might remind you of a Hindu version of the beautiful fountains at Versailles or Babylon.

Owned by the Royal Family of Karangasem, this palace is located in the midst of a paddy field and gets its water from the natural Rejasa springs. The water from the springs at Tirtagangga is considered to be holy and is collected for ceremonies at nearby temples. The name Tirtagangga, itself, is derived from root words tirta (blessed water) and the Ganges River, considered to be a holy body of water in India.

From the rustic core of an ancient civilization to a lush water palace, I then proceeded to Alila Manggis Resorts (Buitan, Karangasem; T: 0363 41011,www.alilahotels.com/manggis), a very contrasting atmosphere to say the least. I was scheduled to attend the Alila Manggis Seafood Cooking School, which took place right by the beach at the resort, in the garden. Sweet.

I was guided by cooking guru Penny Williams, the executive chef at Alila Manggis, and (surprisingly) successfully

(Read more…)

Source: The Jakarta post

The Jakarta Post ,  Ubud, Bali   |  Wed, 10/07/2009 2:18 PM

More than 80 writers from 23 countries will again bring their inspiring ideas and voices to the annual Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, to be officially opened at the Ubud Royal Palace.

The opening, with Balinese art and cultural performances, will mark the beginning of the four-day literary fiesta, to be attended by Nobel laureates and international literary figures.

Janet De Neefe, the festival founder and director, said this year’s theme is based on the Balinese Hindu words suka duka, meaning compassion and solidarity.

“This deep philosophy will become the main theme of all panels, debates, book launches and other literary activities that will certainly produce thought-provoking discussions,” De Neefe said.

Located around 40 kilometers north of Denpasar, the hilly and cool Ubud has long been a haven for local and international artists.

The festival is about connecting communities and celebrating ideas among cultures, de Neefe said.

The four-day event, running from Oct. 7 through Oct. 11, will include discussions, book launches, international publishing forums and writing and editing workshops.

A highlight of the festival is the International Publishing Forum, making its second appearance this year, to be hosted by the Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI) together with the Lontar Foundation and the Association of Indonesian Translators.

Noted authors at this year’s festival include journalist and writer Fatima Bhutto, the niece of the late Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Her book, A History of Bhutto will be published next year.

Another is Riaz Hassan of Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, who wrote Inside Muslim Minds.

Other award-winning authors to attend include Jamie James, LLyod Jones from New Zealand and Hari Kunzu from the United Kingdom.

Veteran Indonesian authors include NH Dini and several flourishing young writers.

Book launches will include Left Unsaid by Margo O’Byrne and The Forgotten Massacre by Peer Holm Jorgensen, which gives a different view of the darkest periods in Indonesian history.

On the long list of writers attending the festival is also Thant Myint-U of Myanmar, the author of The River of Lost Footsteps, A Personal History of Burma.

On the 2nd October 2009 at the 4th International Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage in Abu Dhabi UAE. Unesco has accepted the nomination of Indonesian Batik as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, amongst 111 nominee worldwide.

Source:  UWRF

“Global Voices in Borobudur” will bring ten writers from around the world and five Indonesian writers to the world’s largest Buddhist temple at Borobudur to present their work on October 13, 2009, as an extension of the 2009 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival. The readings and spoken word performances will commence at Manohara at 6:00 p.m., on the Borobudur temple grounds. The presentation will be free of charge and open to the public.

The writers’ performance at Borobudur marks the first time that the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival’s organisers have expanded this international literary festival’s events beyond Bali. Borobudur lies near Yogyakarta in Central Java, the neighboring island west of Bali. The theme of the Festival is Suka Duka: Solidarity and Compassion.

“It is a big leap and really exciting to extend the Ubud Writers Festival from Bali to Borobudur in Java,” said Festival founder Janet DeNeefe. “Buddha’s spirit of compassion and his timeless teachings can help us to navigate the many global problems we face today. It is fitting that the festival, with its theme of ‘Compassion & Solidarity’ culminates at Borobudur.”

Borobudur provides a stunning and relevant setting for these reading. The temple is located in Central Java and is a UNESCO World Heritage site with a 400-foot tall mountain of stone carved in the eighth century. The temple features reliefs depicting the Buddha’s life and teaching in concentric terraces, as well as 504 life-sized Buddha statues. Its beauty and grandeur has inspired millions of visitors and pilgrims since its full restoration was completed in 1982.

Writers presenting their works at Borobudur include the following:

Fatima Bhutto, a journalist and writer, is from Pakistan. Her father was Murtaza Bhutto, who was killed by police in 1996 in Karachi during the premiership of his sister, Benazir Bhutto. Fatima’s third book, a history of the Bhutto family, will be published in the UK by Jonathan Cape in 2010.

Michelle Cahill edited the transnational anthology Poetry Without Borders (Picaro, 2008). Her forthcoming collection Vishvarupa is themed around Hindu deities. Michelle has sojourned in monasteries and ashrams in Thailand, Laos, India, Nepal and Bali, to practice yoga and vipassana meditation.

Andrew McMillan Andrew’s close contact with the people of East Arnhem Land has resulted in essential reading for those with an interest in Aboriginal history. His award winning book An Intruders Guide to East Arnhem Land tells of a moving and exciting story of warfare, loss, social and cultural struggle, and renewal.

Sophie Hackford is an academic, writer and consultant with a special interest in migration and diaspora. She now works at the innovative James Martin School of the 21st Century at the University of Oxford.

Angelo R. Lacuesta has won the Palanca, Philippine Graphic and NVM Gonzalez Awards for his short fiction. His first book Life Before X and Other Stories won the Madrigal-Gonzalez Best First Book Award and the National Book Award in 2000. His second collection White Elephants: stories won the National Book Award in 2005. He has recently published a third collectionFlames and other stories and is at work on his first novel.

Sosiawan Leak was born in Solo in 1967. His published poetry includes Umpatan (1995),Cermin Buram (1996), and Dunia Bogambola (2007). He is also playwright, director and performer. In 2006 and 2008, together with two other poets – Martin Jankowski from Berlin and Dorothea Rosa Helriany from Magelang – he has toured Indonesia giving poetry readings.

Antony Loewenstein’s best-selling book on the Israel/Palestine conflict My Israel Questionwas short-listed for the 2007 NSW Premier’s Literary Award. His second book The Blogging Revolution on the Internet in repressive regimes, was released in 2008. He is the co-founder of advocacy group Independent Australian Jewish Voices and contributed to Amnesty International Australia’s 2008 campaign about Chinese Internet repression and the Beijing Olympic Games.

Gunawan Maryanto was born in Jogya in 1976. He is director and writer in Garasi Theater, Jogja. His books include Waktu Batu (a play story written with Andre Nur Latif and Ugoran Prasad, 2004), Bon Suwung (an anthology of short stories, 2005), Galigi (an anthology of short stories, 2007), Perasaan-perasaan yang Menyusun Sendiri Petualangannya (a poetry book, 2008) and Usaha Menjadi Sakti (an anthology of short stories, 2008). He won a “Sih” award in 2007 and a poetry award from Indonesia’s Education and Tourism Ministry in 2007.

Dyah Merta was born in Ponorogo, East Java, in 1978. Her writing has won the Short Story Contest (Jakarta, 2003 and Lampung 2004). She has published two books – Hetaira, an anthology of short stories, in 2005 and Peri Kecil di Sungai Nipah, a novel, in 2007.

Omar Musa was the 2008 Australian Poetry Slam champion, who has swum with piranhas and alligators in Bolivia and taught Aboriginal children in outback Australia. The 25-year-old Malaysian-Australian baritone has backpacked almost every continent and has a treasure-trove of stories to tell. Musa was a winner of the British Council’s Realise Your Dream award in 2007.

Ugoran Prasad was born in Tanjungkarang, Sumatra, in 1978. He is coordinator at Garasi Theater in Jogya and manager of programs for the Indonesian Performing Art Society. In 2008 he was a visiting scholar in the Performance Studies Department, Tisch School of The Arts, New York University.

Jeet Thayil, born in Kerala, India, is a poet, novelist and musician. He is one half of the experimental music duo Sridhar/Thayil. His four poetry collections include These Errors Are Correct (Tranquebar, 2008) and English (Penguin/Rattapallax, 2004), and he is the editor of The Bloodaxe Book of Contemporary Indian Poets (Bloodaxe, 2008) and Divided Time: India and the End of Diaspora (Routledge, 2006).

Triyanto Triwikromo was born in Salatiga, Central Java, 1964. He is editor of Suara Merdeka daily and lecturer of Creative Writing at Universitas Diponegoro Semarang. His anthologies of short stories include Rezim Seks (1987), Ragaula (2002), Sayap Anjing (2003), Anak-anak Mengasah Pisau-Children Sharpening the Knives (bilingual, 2003), Malam Sepasang Lampion(2004) and Ular Di Mangkuk Nabi (2009).

“Talking is like playing golf, driving a car, or owning a store — the more you do it, the better you get at it, and the more fun you have dong it”.

The Beautiful 18 hole golf course with its undulating fairways, manicured greens, tees and colorful contrasting landscape makes the game of golf a pleasure regardless of your playing ability. The Borobudur International Golf Resort is open to members as well as local and internationals visitors. It is a 45 minutes drive from Yogyakarta and within easy reach of areas close to Semarang and Solo.

The warm Javanese ‘hospitality is extended and felt by all who visit. A golfing experience at the Borobudur International Golf Resort not to be missed.

Source: Hello Bali

Text john martin
images courtesy of the oberoi, sofitel seminyak, hu’u bali and divine villas

It is not entirely clear to many where the geographical boundaries of Seminyak actually lie. Then again, what was once a sleepy fishing village nestled in the shadows of touristic Kuta has, in the less than a decade, blossomed into one of the premier resort destinations in South East Asia. So what is Seminyak? Ask any of the boho ex-pats, jet setters, fashion mavens, gallerists and high-rolling hedonists that call it home and they’ll probably tell you that it’s not so much a place as a state of mind.

If any single factor sparked the evolution of Seminyak into the upscale destination it has become, it was the appearance of the trailblazing Oberoi hotel. Built in 1974 and bought by the Oberoi group four years later, it spearheaded development northward up the coast from Kuta and set a benchmark in terms of design and exclusivity that would not be matched for a quarter century.

Starting its life as a kind of peaceful suburb set apart from the bustling fairground atmosphere of Kuta, it was natural that Seminyak would develop at right angles to it. Where Kuta has long been the province of backpackers and package tourists (think high capacity hotels, global brands, large scale clubs and a veritable fraternity of touts), Seminyak evolved into a jet-set jumble of boutiquerie, crammed with high concept bars and lounges, designer shops, fine dining restaurants and ‘lifestyle’ villa resorts and residences.

The other vital thread that runs through Seminyak is of course the beach – a vast swathe of golden sand that stretches virtually unbroken from Ngurah Rai international airport in the south to the village of Pereranan 10km further north.

Here you’ll find some of Seminyak’s most refined – even iconic – tenants. Spread elegantly on a westward-facing beachfront bluff, Ku De Ta has fully lived up to its moniker since opening in 2000, earning itself international notoriety for fine dining, high design, unforgettable sundowners and cosmopolitan revelry with its legendary high season party series. Its recently added VIP rooftop lounge KUVE offers a whole new perspective on the paradisiacal location, accompanied by custom cocktails and tapas style delicacies like oysters, wagyu tenderloin and foie gras.

Just a beach stroll away is Samaya Villa & Spa resort, whose alfresco restaurant & lounge, Breeze, has become a favourite both for sunsets and dinners – think haute global cuisine amid reflecting pools, manicured lawns, pavilions and white stone verandas. A Frisbee throw further up the beach is another Seminyak institution, La Lucciola, a two storey wood pavilion that sees a steady flow of patrons from morning till midnight drawn by its immaculately turned out Mediterranean fare, sinful chocolate martinis and of course the ocean outlook.

Anantara is a relative newcomer to the league of oceanfront big hitters. The south beach style resort has been making waves with its outdoor shindigs featuring international DJs…..(read more)