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HARRISON ROACH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY DODDS
KUBAN Magazine Sophie Digby, Agustina Ardie, Nigel Simmonds Marketing & Sales James Watling, Indrie Raranta Production Manager Evi Sri Rezeki Design Stuart Sullivan, Irawan Zuhri, Donny Bagus Accounting Julia Rulianti Distribution Made Marjana, Kadek Arthana, Putu Widi Susanto, Made Sutajaya, Didakus Nuba Publisher PT Luxury In Print Licence AHU/47558/AH/01/01/2011 Advertising Enquiries Tel: (+62 361) 766 539, 743 1804, 743 1805 www.kubanbali.com
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Anthony Dodds shoots Jerinx.
info@kubanbali.com, sales@kubanbali.com
You know the drill. No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced electronically or otherwise without prior permission from the Publisher. Opinions expressed within this publication are those of the authors not the Publisher. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising that does not comply with the magazine's design criteria. KUBAN will not be held responsible for copyright infringements on images supplied directly by advertisers and/or contributors. And that's that. Do it. Or don't do it.
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Putra (Pulu) Hermawan night surfing at Komune.
NIGHT SURFING
SPECTACULAR
Come and watch Komune’s amazing night surfing demonstrations at Keramas Beach, Bali. Under our custom built lights, experienced surfers take to the waves each night to put on an incredible show in front of the spectactular Komune Beach Club. Night surfing sessions are also available for guests with advance booking. Please check with us for more details.
www.komuneresorts.com/nightsurf
t +62 361 301 8888
Komune ResoRt & Beach cluB Jl. Pantai Keramas, Keramas, Bali, Indonesia e info.bali@komuneresorts.com, reservations.bali@komuneresorts.com
W www.komuneresorts.com
Sometimes on a Sunday I go to my brother’s house and we get drunk and get out the guitars from under the pool table. Then begins the hunt for cables and adaptors and all the other things you need to be a rock star in the comfort of your own living room. Finding the plectrums is always the worst, but we know that without them our fingers are going to end up bloodied and bruised from the frantic strumming, so the session doesn’t start until they’re found. Richard’s got a Gibson semi acoustic that virtually plays itself and I give that a wipe down with an old oily rag to get the rust off the strings.
He’s also got an Ibanez bass covered in black lacquer that is peeling off the wood like skin off a burns victim and he’s on that. The amplifiers wouldn’t fill a stadium but they look like the real thing in miniature and, anyway, it doesn’t matter because we’re only playing for ourselves. The best groove we get into is a straight blues in A with chords my dad taught me, then it gets a little wild after that with Police and Thieves a la Clash and I imagine I’m a kind of Elvis Joe Strummer playing the Notting Hill Carnival. I don’t know who Richard thinks he is but I suspect it might be Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy. Anyway we play on until the walls fall away and the music rocks and neither of us needs to think of anything anymore except how good it is to get along with your brother, live in the same country and share the same stupid dream. N.S.
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Luxur y. d te c u tr s n o c e D ubanbali.com .k w w w t a e n li Now on
06 IN The Editor dreams a stupid dream.
16 In The Mix News from our favourite peeps, perps and pups.
22 Komune Night Surfing. You know it makes sense.
26 Gear Stuff. Clobber. Schmatta. Bags. Strides. Gear.
28 Jerinx The legendary founder of S.I.D gives it up.
34 Dance Little Sister
This pic: Mac from Pyramid. Clockwise from top: Nias high jump (Anthony Dodds). Tie the knot by GusDe. Cloudy Rhodes shoots skaters.
Shinta and her girls strut their stuff.
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38 Ecko Aerial Crew's MC Spicy – in the house.
42 Big Mac The man who built The Pyramid.
44 Fashion Little Runaways skate the ramp.
92 Weddings If you were thinking of getting hitched on the beach . . . read this.
98 Dim Sum Traditional Chinese favourites from around the nighbourhood.
102 Aromatix Coffee – The French claim it's better than sex? The jury's still out.
54 Tattoo You Stephanie Mee gets inked at Kuta's best tattoo parlors.
86 Staying Power Villas! Katie Trueman goes high end at Kuta's hottest hotels.
66 Shapers Meet the magicial men and their mystical talents . . . the shapers who style your boards.
74 Nias Tai and Harrison lube some tubes in Nias on a swell day or seven.
84 Nippers Safety first for the beach kids of Kuta as they learn beach basics.
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Top: Hot to trot. Shinta and her girls. Above: Shape up.
106 Advertiser Directory Let your fingers do the walking.
KUBAN ONLINE
K-POD We’re doing our best to distract you from Facebook on your mobile with the K-Pod app for apple iOS. Rejoice! Let us guide you to the best bars, spas, clubs, shops and hotel pads in deconstructed style. K-Pod is the first Kuta and Tuban specific app available for Apple iOS. Coming soon.
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Mango Vision is Bali’s five-star hotel TV channel broadcast to thousands of rooms in the island’s best hotels. With award-winning documentary, travel, sport, fashion and food content, Mango makes sense for viewers and advertisers alike. Take advantage of Bali’s biggest viewing market: advertise on Mango, and reach an audience entertained by the best local content on TV. info@mangovision.tv
www.mangovision.tv
The Oakley O Store After six long months of anticipation, Oakley aficionados can now visit the fresh new interior of the Oakley O Store in Oberoi to peruse the wide range of stylish, high performance sunglasses, apparel, footwear and accessories. The unique design concept comes straight from the Oakley USA HQ , and was created to enhance the overall guest experience. Open eyewear displays mean you can pick up and try out the extensive Oakley product range to compare different frames and choose the most flattering and comfortable fit for your face and profile. Jalan Laksmana No. 34, Oberoi, Seminyak T: 0361 737 658 www.oakleyindonesia.com
White Magic Sundays What better way to finish off the week than by dancing to funky beats on a pool deck overlooking the Indian Ocean and indulging in great food and drinks while taking in one of Kuta’s legendary sunsets? White Magic Sunsets is a one-of-a-kind Sunday DJ event at the stunning Sheraton Bali Kuta, where resident DJ and producer Adrian Giordano and special guest DJs get the crowds grooving with a mix of ‘70s disco, ‘80s beats and funk, combining retro classics with a contemporary electronic twist. Cocktails and cuisine are provided by Bene Italian restaurant, and entrance is free to all from 3pm to 10pm. Show up before 6pm to get a special complimentary cocktail. Tel: 0361 8465555 www.sheratonbalikuta.com
Weekend Brunch at Jim‘bar’N Weekend brunch just got a little bit more scenic at Jim‘bar’N, a stunning rooftop lounge and dining room located at the Harris Bukit Jimbaran high atop a hill overlooking Jimbaran Bay and the north coast of Bali. Usually only open from 3pm onwards, Jim’bar’N is now offering a special weekend brunch feast every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. For just Rp. 160,000 nett or Rp. 220,000 including a glass of Plaga wine, you get free flow coffee and tea, a freshly baked bread basket, your choice of mains including the sunrise omelette with smoked chicken and hollandaise sauce, chicken Caesar salad and club sandwich, and sweet treats like chocolate mousse or crème brulee. Tel: 0361 8468777 www.bukitjimbaran-bali.harrishotels.com
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The Bene Located on Jalan Benesari, just a five-minute walk from the beach, The Bene is an oasis of cool in the midst of all the Kuta action. The brand new trendy suites and rooms here feature contemporary minimalist design and thoughtful amenities that let you kick back and relax in style without sacrificing comfort. Complementing the sleek decor and serene environment is a beautiful swimming pool with plenty of space on the sundeck for tanning, a lobby-level restaurant serving up international gourmet dishes, a chic rooftop bar and a tranquil day spa. Peaceful, modern and conveniently located just minutes from some of the best restaurants, shops and nightlife that Kuta has to offer, this is your one-stop holiday destination. Tel: 0361 8469500 www.thebenehotel.com
Authentic Italian at Prego New to the Westin Resort in Nusa Dua, Prego puts the fun back in Italian cuisine and dining with colourful decor, enticing aromas wafting out of the open-plan kitchen, vibrant Italian flavours and entertainment for young and old. The menu features a wide range of freshly baked breads, wood oven pizzas, homemade pastas and divine desserts prepared by chef Valerio Pachetti and his talented team. On Sundays Prego also hosts its fabulous Family Brunch with Bali’s biggest buffet of authentic Italian cuisine, live cooking stations, fun activities for kids and swimming pool access. Tel: 0361 771906 www.westinnusaduabali.com
The Ultimate Pecatu Experience If you could imagine the perfect holiday in Bali, you might envision staying in a gorgeous hotel, strolling along white sand beaches, playing rounds of golf at a stunning seaside course, watching the kids have the time of their lives at fun parks and entertainment venues, and having sunset drinks and dinner while overlooking the ocean. Experience all of it in one convenient package with the Ultimate Pecatu Experience at the beautiful Pecatu Indah Resort. This joint promotion between the New Kuta Hotel, Klapa, New Kuta Green Park and New Kuta Golf offers nights in a gorgeous hotel room, a romantic sunset dinner, entertainment at a water park and a golf lesson for a tailor-made integrated holiday that the whole family can enjoy. www.pecatuindahresort.com
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Block Party at Mantra On November 9th Mantra Kitchen & Bar will turn one year old, and to celebrate this milestone anniversary (as well as owner Tipi Jabrik’s birthday), the team here is throwing an epic block party that will encompass the entire space from Mantra down to Drop Coffee on Jalan Petitenget. Guests will be treated to a fabulous BBQ , great drinks, a market, exciting birthday giveaways and a raffle, and live entertainment by the ‘undisputed disco tastemaker’, DJ Kaos from Germany, and Indonesia’s own rockers, The S.I.G.I.T. The event starts at 4pm and the good food, good drinks and good times will keep going through until 2am. Rockers take note — Mantra will also be hosting the iconic LA-based rock band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on December 4th. Tel: 0361 4737681 www.mantrabali.com
All-You-Can-Eat at Sky Garden Although better known as Kuta’s undisputed epicentre of nightlife, Sky Garden also offers one of the best dinner deals on the island. Every night between 5pm and 8pm, they offer an all-you-can-eat buffet on their scenic rooftop for just Rp. 50K per person. Get there at 5pm sharp, and you can also swill as much free beer as you can drink for one hour. Grab a seat on the comfy benches or on a bar stool at one of the long wooden tables and pile your plate high with BBQ chicken, steaks, seafood, ribs, baked potatoes, salads, fried rice, smoky skewers and sweet treats like fried bananas and tropical fruit. Chill out to the beats of live DJs as you gorge yourself on good grub and look out over the twinkling lights of bustling Jalan Legian. Tel: 0361 755423 www.skygardenbali.com
Sunblast Sessions Bali Melbourne Cup Parties The first Tuesday in November is just around the corner, which means it’s time to dust of those hats and ascots, place your bets and settle in for a day of exhilarating horse racing, boozy lunches and fantastic prizes at the island’s best Melbourne Cup parties. Join Bali’s biggest lawn party at the Canggu Club, where the cocktails flow freely for a good three hours, the gourmet cuisine is plentiful, and there are over USD $15K in prizes to be had. Gracie Kelly’s also offers prizes as well as a huge Irish buffet lunch spread on Melbourne Cup day, and the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel will hold its annual Melbourne Cup party with food, fashion, fun and live coverage of all the race action. www.cangguclub.com www.balidynasty.com www.sanurparadise.com
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After last year’s massive Sunblast Festivals party that rocked the party islands of Spain and Bali, Sunblast 2013 is proud to announce the return of Sunblast Sessions Bali with a new triple shot party platform that is sure to get you moving. This year the Sunblast Festivals team has handpicked an incredible collection of artists to drop the ultimate summer party for schoolies with high energy artists like Showtek, Bassjackers, TJR, Will Sparks, Bombs Away, The Aston Shuffle DJS, The Twins, Dr Willis, Frost, Suwenda and many more. Back in Bali longer and stronger, the party marathon will take place over three nights, November 24, 25 and 26 at the official schoolies headquarters in Sky Garden. Last time around the event sold out weeks before show day, and this year with a bigger and better lineup and venue, tickets are selling even faster. Make sure you get a piece of the action and get your tickets early at moshtix.com.au. www.sunblastfestivals.com.au www.skygardenbali.com
TONY STANTON dons his night vision goggles at komune for a spot of nocturnal surf action. photo: donny Bagus
. . . it’s not for the feint hearted. It’s the kind of sport your mother probably wouldn’t want you attempting, and definitely not at a break like Keramas, where Komune Resort has added huge spots over a world-class wave to make the whole episode slightly less dodgy than it might otherwise be. And then there’s the buoys . . . bobbing out the back there all orange . . . until they disappear, which is an indication that Big Water is on its way. Without them it’s just an ocean of blackness with you waiting for imminent disaster in the impact zone. Oh dear.
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If you are in anyway feint of heart, or on some kind of medication, best you stay at the bar or in the pool and watch the pros and semi-pros show you how it’s done. Komune’s now in its rhythm for night surfing events, the most recent of which saw Bali’s best board riding clubs compete for the honours of being able to survive and blossom on an empty break normally the reserve of a couple of dozen surfers. Komune’s events play it all up into a big party, with visiting DJs, cash prizes and sponsorships on offer. And if you’re lucky you’ll catch the likes of Bruce Irons there to show you how it’s all done – properly. www.komuneresorts.com/keramasbali
Oakley Offshoot Shaun White Gold Series Polished Black with 24K lenses IDR2.360.000
Havaianas Fun White IDR199.000
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Oakley Garage Rock SW Gold Series Matte Black with Grey lenses IDR2.210.000 www.oakley.com
Havaianas Slim Cool Pool Green IDR249.000
Havaianas | Aquabumps IDR 299,000 www.universo.co.id
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Harry 7'5 Single by Rich Pavel with Deck Patch, Pin Lines, Resin Tint and Polish for Deus Ex Machina. IDR 15.000.000 www.deuscustoms.com
kuban'sstephaniemeegetsonthe kryptonite with the force behind legendary bali band superman is dead. take it away . . . one-two-three-four!
photos: anthony dodds
"These days as a band we make decisions about what we do with our influence."
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Jerinx, did you always know that you wanted to be a rock star? Not really, but I always knew that I was gonna live my life doing things that I love. How did you meet your band mates in Superman is Dead, and how did the band get started? I met Bobby [Kool] through a mutual friend in ’95. We were in different bands but not quite happy about it, so we started jamming the stuff that we loved – punk rock. Then a drugged up kid brought Eka [Rock] to our practice room and that’s how the curse of SID began. What's the most memorable concert you ever played? Probably the 2009 Vans Warped Tour all across the USA. It was insane and none of us had been to the US before. We slept in vans, on the floors of people's houses, played to crowds that didn’t even know what Indonesia was, bought the wrong weed, stayed in dodgy motel rooms, met creepy junkies. Sixteen cities in one month, and we came back home alive! What's a typical day like for you? When not on tour I like to spend my day at the beach, watching movies, cruising with my vintage car and bikes and normal stuff like that. But my days are also usually full of business meetings and organisng movement against greedy government and their greedy friends. Favourite spot in Bali to get away from it all? My room. Drink of choice? I only drink beer because liquor turns me into a really angry diva.
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Could you tell us a little bit about your tattoos? Which tattoo was your first? Ha ha, it’s quite shameful, but my first tattoo was when I was 16 and I loved the Red Hot Chili Peppers a little too much, so I decided to get a similar tattoo to Anthony Kiedis – a tribal piece on my bicep. Favourite tattoo artist in Bali? Ah - there are so many great tattoo artists in Bali! Seriously, I don't have just one favourite artist, but if I have to name one, for now it’s Sailor July from Lady Rose Tattoo. We know that you're a big supporter of environmental issues and humanitarian issues. In your opinion, what is the most important issue in Bali at the moment? Greed and slavery. Greed has turned this island into a shallow, money-oriented island with not much love left for the local people's future – it’s all about the businessman's future. And this mindset is slowly destroying everything; the nature, the culture, the social structure. Bali is nothing but a tool for the rich and the locals are the slaves. Once this island is totally destroyed, the rich will leave the locals with nothing but permanent problems in every aspect. In an ideal world, the government should protect and educate its people. Too bad in Bali the government are the rich people’s BFFs.
Singer-songwriter, social activist, son of Bali.
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Words: Danziel Carre Photos: Anthony Dodds Tired of having fun? Meet Shinta SanDroPinto Maurel and her dancing troupe. (BTW SHE'S THE ONE ON THE LEFT). 34
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Walk this way . . .
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Shinta, when was the first time you realised you wanted to be a dancer? It started when I was 13 years old and my parents thought that I was going to the Masjid to learn religion, but I was going to dance class. I first started to dance in a club in my hometown Yogyakarta. There I met professional dancers who asked me to join their company. I’ve been practicing and learning non-stop until now. It’s been said that you are the best in the business – how did you start in Bali? About five or six years ago I was dancing in a group from Yogya and we got an invitation to come here. I met Jerome, who started the company, and I started working for him. He taught me how to do the acrobatics, aerials, fire, cabaret and all kinds of dancing. And then in maybe about a year we started making everything together. He already had some fire dancers and acrobats, and my background is gogo and hip-hop dancing – sexy. So, I find the girls, we teach the girls, and slowly, slowly, we are growing. You’ve gathered a fine group of exceptionally talented ladies, where do you find your team? What skills do they need? They find me! They see the show and come backstage asking, "can I be a dancer?" Most don’t have the talent to start off with – they don’t even know how to put on high-heels when they come! We start with four months of hard training, and if they continue, we teach five days a week, three hours a day. Experience isn’t necessary, but they need to be passionate and ready to learn hard. Dancing on stage is the reward of a great training. If you weren’t a dancer what do you think you would be doing? I’d be a clothing designer. Putting together the costumes is part of my job and I love it. There's something incredibly primal, enticing, and sexy about these types of shows – the fire, the dancing, the revealing outfits . . . do audiences ever get a bit over-excited?
Yeah it’s sexy, but . . . it’s sexy if you combine your skill, how you are dancing, and the energy that you give to people . . . then, it’s not sexy – it’s AMAZING. Sometimes the guests get on stage and they want to do the show with us and those kinds of things and we don’t know how to push them off. We’re dancers so we cannot be rude to them. Have there ever been any serious accidents with the fire? Just with the aerial . . . when one of the girls was flying and dancing in the aerial and the wire from the top broke in the middle. She fell on my head. I’ve fallen once, too. But the fire, no – if you know what you’re doing, it’s safe. Who else is the behind your productions? I run "Extreme Productions" with my partner, Jerome, and we conduct a crew of 17 dancers – seven guys and 10 girls between the ages of 17 and 25. Where can we see you and your dance team perform and what can we expect? We do cabaret, Brazilian, traditional Balinese, aerial acrobatics – with fire incorporated into all. We do dinner shows for weddings at The Mulia, and in the Skydome. We also perform at Skygarden. We also do events for Warisan and next month Metis for their anniversary, and Cocoon for the Full Moon Party. We played at Ku De Ta in August for the Bikini Party and White Party. I also fly to Surabaya, Jakarta, Flores and many other places. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? Shopping! But also snorkeling, trying new restaurants and food . . . and last but not least, spending time with my fiancé, Jerome. This type of gig has got to be non-stop excitement – something you’re clearly passionate about . . . what do you love most about what you do? The applause . . . and being in the spotlight.
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Rapping it up.
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I arrived in Bali 10 years ago, in November of 2003, for the second time in four months. I was so awed by my experience the first time round I had to return and soak up more of this glorious island. On one purple-kissed sunset, early in my week-long stay, I was walking along Kuta beach and stumbled on a scene I had no expectation of encountering. There was a DJ playing hip-hop music outside the back of a Kuta Radio van, with a black and white checkered linoleum mat rolled out on the street in front of him. Surrounding the mat were b-boys waiting their turn to get on and bust some moves. Among this crew was a talented young cat named Ecko, a.k.a. “Spicy”.
kamau gives us the rap on Bali's hip-hop history. featuring meister Mc spicy, a.k.a ecko.
Because of my style they instantly recognised me as a part of hip-hop culture and invited me to join them in the session, and later that evening I went with them to Denpasar, where they would be performing. Little did I know at the time that day would change my life. A year later I returned to Bali with the idea of staying a few months. Ecko and another b-boy named Andi (Optimuzt) had started a b-boy crew called Aerial Crew and they were serious about progressing in their dancing. I vowed to assist them however I could. Since that time back in 2004, Aerial Crew has become one of the top crews in all of Indonesia, including winning the 2011 Indonesian B-Boy Championships. I’ve known Spicy for 10 years now. Born in Jakarta and moving to Bali when he was five years old, he is the primary figure in the growth of hip-hop culture in Bali. Humble and socially conscious, he is an organiser who is dedicated to bridging cultures and sub-cultures. Whether he is b-boying, rapping/ MC'ing or event organising, he moves in the true hip-hop spirit of peace, love and unity. This is my interview with him. Ecko, I hear you used to be deep into surfing. How did you get involved in hip-hop culture? Yeah. I started surfing in 1997. In 2001, I got sponsored by the Japanese brand Surf Ratz and Omom Surfboards from Italy. But I always loved breakdance. I loved to see the people doing head-spins, windmills and steppin’ and freezin’. I’d watch them on TV or in music videos, but at that time I didn’t know it was a part of hip-hop until I met with Andi (Optimuzt) who taught me about the scene.
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DJ Wilson (Wilmix) was the initiator of this event. In 2006, Kamau, Iwan KMC, Novie, Dedi Kristian and I brought together hip-hop in Bali by forming Bali Hip-Hop Community or more widely known now as the Dewata Hip-Hop. We’ve had many experiences, good and bad, but all of the bad stuff was replaced by the accomplishments we've achieved and the merging of hip-hop with other musical cultures that exist in Bali. You have a rap group called SnapBack. Tell us about that.
I loved surfing, but I loved breakin’ much more, it gave me confidence. I can express myself a great deal more with dancing. I also love urban style and fashion. When I was a surfing instructor I had a lot of Japanese guests and they gave me hiphop magazines, so that’s also how I started to learn more about hip-hop. What has your involvement in hip-hop culture taught you? Hip-hop is my second family. It has taught me a lot about music and dance . . . about history and knowledge about things from other parts of the world. It has taught me about life also. I’ve got many friends from hip-hop. Lupe Fiasco said “hip-hop saved my life”. For me that is also true, because I wouldn’t be like I am today if I never knew about it. I have been able to have a job doing what I love, using my talents and skills. I’ve been able to make my mom proud of me. The first time I started breakin’, she didn’t really like it, but after she saw me winning competitions on TV shows then she started to support and be proud of it. How did Aerial Crew begin? Aerial Crew began from hanging out on Legian Street. Andi and I started it in 2003. We had a few other names along the way before eventually forming Aerial Crew in 2004. The Aerial Crew members are me, Andie (Optimuzt), W-one, Amien (Minus), Nicky (Sick Nick), Ewox (Taste), Fance (BoogiePunch), Ka Mau (BlackGold), and then Riska (the first Aerial Crew b-girl) Rickie, Tommy, Aniel, Amad, Novie One, Mamad and Andre.
Snapback is a duo, me and K1M. We are in the process of making a mini album and supported by Antida Records based here in Bali. We write the lyrics about reality, politics and spirituality, because in Indonesia, the politics are really bad. The government doesn’t care about the minority. You can see that clearly with people in East Indonesia. When the kids go to school they have to walk around two to five kilometers without transportation and sometimes no shoes and no sensible school buildings. To me it’s not fair. Where is the government’s responsibility? CPDK (Crispy Duck) is a local clothing brand becoming popular around Indonesia. What is your role with CPDK? Maybe it’ll be worldwide soon! My role is just with the promotion. I make the events and give ideas for the new clothing, and sometimes I look for the locals who have good skills in hip-hop or street art to endorse them. Thanks to Dewata Hip-Hop and Bali Breakin’ who have really made this brand big. Ok.What are your top five rap songs? Hmm . . . Public Enemy – Fight the Power; Krs One – Step Into a World; Nas – The Message; Wu Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M; Fugees – Ready or Not; and Soul of Mischief – 93 till Infinity. Final words? It’s me Ecko aka Spicy! Thanks for taking interest in my little history. Keep reading, and knowing about the local talent. Thanks for the support, thanks to grandmaster Ka Mau for being an inspiration and all of you. God bless you all. Peace and love.
Give us a little bit of hip-hop history in Bali that most people don't know. Bali hip-hop history started from Breakdance in the 1980s and stopped in the early 1990s. Then it picked up again in the 2000s when Breakdance came back and lived again here. In 2004 hip-hop Bali organised tours to Semarang a city in Java.
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Amidst Bali’s plethora of nightlife venues, one has quickly risen, consistently drawing late night partygoers and music-lovers back for more – Pyramid. Here we chat with the man behind the monument . . . Mac, where are you from, and what’s your background? I’m originally Persian, but I was brought up in Dubai, worked A&R for Sony BMG in Miami, lived in Europe, Africa, and now Asia. I’ve had my own advertising and marketing companies – that’s how I began the whole process – visuals, cinema, editing post-production, consulting . . . a lot of consulting for a lot of people. How did you end up in Bali? I had both a franchise and advertising company doing well in Stockholm, and came to Bali for a vacation four years ago. It took two weeks, and I knew I had to move here for a reason . . . I needed to ground myself. I’ve been away from family since I was 14. When I went to the US and studied business management at Hartley & Cambridge, I was all about money – I was kind of brainwashed into the commercial side of this world, forgetting about the important side of this world. Bali balanced me up. Was Pyramid your first project in Bali? I first opened a small bar in Benasari with a former partner, and it instantly became successful because of the unique concept. It took away the business from 9-12pm from other bars and clubs on Legian street . . . the owners were wondering what happened, checked it out,
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and next thing I knew I was consulting or managing their venues and bars. I opened up Mint in 2011 as a consultant, and a furniture company also. Then I met my perfect match business-wise – my partner and Big Boss right now. Many have found Bali a very difficult place to do business as a foreigner, and the nightlife industry especially can be pretty tough, how do you manage your aim to stay grounded? I think that has very much to do with who you are as a person. I’ve seen people try their best to milk, manipulate or corrupt as much as possible. After 39 years, I’ve learned that whatever you attract is because of yourself. A few years ago I truly learned how to balance what’s bad and good in myself - subtract all those negativities and concentrate on what’s positive. I knew what I wanted, visualised it, and it came. One thing I’ve really mastered is visualisation. At the end of the day, everything’s built on energy – different vibration makes it hard, solid, soft. Basically, you can control those kinds of frequencies by visualising and focusing on that energy – through your mind and heart. And if it’s something meant for you, if the universe sees it as it is for you, if it’s not based on ego or selfishness. You have to know yourself to know what you want to bring into your life. Later, by doing that, you bring happiness to others also. Since arriving, how have you seen the club scene change and evolve - and what do you see as Pyramid’s role in that evolution?
The scene is good here and still picking up, but since Double Six has gone, we have no exact place to bring the big stars, apart from Potatohead and that can’t be classified as a club. Next year we’re going to be building an R&B club upstairs, and build an international club and raise the bar. How do you foresee handling the competition, as there are many new places rumoured to be opening up soon? I sincerely hope they all open up on our street. The more the merrier, because their business leads to our business, our business leads to their business, and our success together leads to the success of this street. What fulfills you most, being in this business? Staff management. I’ve trained over 2,000 people in Bali, and had them learn English . . . taking them from amateurs to semi- to high-level professionals. I see the guys are doing much better economically for themselves and their families, and now they can go work on a boat or abroad – something they’ve wanted to do because it’s very good money but never had the skills to do. This is one little type of raising the standards in the community here in Bali I can do. What would you say are the three core elements for the foundation of your, or anyone else’s, success? Honesty, discipline and consistency.
Mac Pedari: "Whatever you attract is because of yourself."
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STYLING - OZLEM ESEN PHOTOGRAPHY-CLOUDYRHODES MODELS - INKA, KUBA, MATEJ, ALESSIA, NATHAN, MARIA
Tops and shorts by This Is A Love Song. Bracelets throughout, Stylist's own and Ozlem Esen jewelry.
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Inka wears vintage shorts from the Denpensar markets. Matej wears Ksubi jeans and bandana Stylist's own.
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Inka wears vintage Trans M hat and sunglasses from Prisoners of St Petersburg.Coconuts top by This Is A Love Song. Skateboard available at Deus Ex Machina. Right: Vintage shorts and top from Denpasar markets, Nike shoes. Skateboard available at Deus Ex Machina.
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Minnie mouse one piece Stylist's own. All boys wear board shorts by People Vs. Masks by Prisoners of St Petersburg Shoes models' own.
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She wears vintage shorts and Harley top. He wears Ksubi Jeans.
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Inka wears top by a.muse and Nike shoes. Maria wears top by a.muse and Adidas shoes. Skateboards available at Deus Ex Machina.
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Thrasher tops available at a.muse.
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INK. TATS.. DOODLES... STEPHANIE MEE DISSECTS THE BUSINESS OF BODY ART IN KUTA. PHOTOS: ANTHONY DODDS.
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Diamond dogs.
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Tough hands make light work.
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It’s almost impossible to walk around Kuta and not see a slew of locals and foreigners rocking some serious ink. Bali is home to an extraordinary number of tattoo artists, and Kuta is the epicentre for ink on the island. From old school Sailor Jerry style tats to biomechanical pieces and everything in between, these are some of the best studios in Kuta to start or expand your body art collection. Yew.
pretty much guarantee that he’ll come up with something creative that you won’t see on anyone else. Just be sure to book ahead, as David is always in high demand. Poppies Lane 2 (at Tunjung Bali Inn) T 0813 3746 1922 FB Mad Ink Tattoo Suku Suku Tatau
Mad Ink Tattoo Studio Located down a small laneway off Poppies Lane II, Mad Ink Tattoo Parlour was recently named the most popular tattoo studio on the island for new school and old school designs by Magic Ink magazine, no small feat considering the studio is basically a tiny space with just a handful of tattooists headed by the affable artist, David. With no advertising other than simple stickers with the studio’s name, a Facebook page and an Instagram gallery, Mad Ink gained its popularity based on David’s mad skills and word of mouth alone.
Far from ordinary, Suku Suku Tatau is renowned for being one of the most artistic and unique tattoo studios in Bali. Run by the talented artists Pitzi Maudita and Albar Tikan, Suku Suku Tatau is the only studio on Bali that offers traditional Indonesian tribal handtapping tattoos as well as modern machine tattoos, body modifications like piercings, ear plugs, implants, scarification and tongue splitting, and even tribal clothing tattoo wear from Gado Gado Vienna.
He says: “I treat my customers like family, and I have a lot of respect for my clients. For me it’s an honour to create art on someone’s skin that will be there forever. That’s a challenge, but it’s also my passion. I always try to create longterm relationships with my clients, and now I have many people that keep coming back for on-going pieces or additional art. This is how I plant the seeds of something good, and from there, people spread the word and more good comes back to me too.”
Albar says: “We just want to make something different from other studios and concentrate more on the art and culture of Indonesia. From what I see right now, many people want to go back to the manual or traditional way of getting tattoos. There are still a few great artists across Indonesia who tattoo in the traditional way, but in Bali for an official tattoo studio making traditional tattoos, I think it’s only me at Suku Suku Tatau.” Albar will be heading off on a tour across Europe this summer to promote traditional Indonesian tattooing, and, he says, “I just want to try my best to show international people all over the world my art and culture, and I really hope this will be great for the future of Indonesia.”
David specialises in new traditional designs that feature big, bold outlines, and vivid colours that make the designs pop and stylized skulls, anchors, swallows and pin-up girls. Custom designs are welcome, so all you need to do is give him an idea of what you want and he can whip up a prototype for you based on your specifications. His designs recently won third place at the Magic Ink Tattoo Competition in the Fantasy Colours category, so you can
Suku Suku Tatau not only wins accolades for its traditional methods and high-quality work, but also for its high standards of safety and cleanliness. To maintain these standards, they have a few rules in the studio, including no kids allowed inside and only one guest per client to provide support during the tattoo or piercing session. Because of this attention to detail, slow days are rare at Suku Suku Tatau, but even so, the team here does its best to accommodate
Tattoo Styles DECODED Old School Also known as Americana or "traditional" style tattooing, old school stems from the early 20th century and features big bold outlines in black or blue, solid colours, and simple motifs with little shading. Some common old school tattoos include swallows and sparrows, cherries, hearts, nautical stars, pin-up girls, knives, anchors and dice. The most famous old school tattoo artist was Sailor Jerry, who later went on to mentor Ed Hardy.
New School New school tattoos take some influence from old school designs, including bold outlines and bright colours, but they also draw on hip-hop, gangster and graffiti styles, cartoon-like characters, Celtic and bubble lettering and unique freehand patterns. The motifs tend to be more modern than old school designs, the colour palette is much broader, and detailed pattern work features in a lot of new school tattoos.
New Traditional In recent years, there has been huge move to return to old school motifs and styles. New traditional style takes common Americana images like cherries, swallows and pin-up girls with bold outlines and colours, but infuses them with new techniques like shading, varied needle sizes and colours, new patterns and intricate linework.
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Steady Eddy.
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all clients. The best way to ensure you get an appointment is to contact them ahead of time via their website or Facebook page. Doodles Doodles – as in draw whatever you
Jl. Nakula No 99 x, Seminyak T 0815 9691475 www.sukusukutatau.com
want on your friend’s body while drunk in charge of a tattoo gun – are in. Go random with personal messages, daft artwork and odd positions on your body, the wackier and more unconventional the better. You didn't read it here.
Tribal If you’ve had a gander at Mike Tyson’s face lately, you have a pretty good idea of what a tribal tattoo looks like. This style has exploded over the past 20 years, so tribal tattoos are a dime a dozen these days. However, the intricate linework and heavy black patterns that are distinctive of tribal tattoos originated from ancient Polynesian, Maori, African and Asian traditional tattoo patterns, and true tribal tattoos are often steeped in meaning. Purists will tell you that the only way to get a tribal tattoo is in the traditional hand-tapping method, preferably from the place where the design originates.
Biomechanical After the release of the 1979 film Alien, a new tattoo style emerged called biomechanical, which featured exceptionally realistic designs that aimed to make the wearer look like there were mechanical and robotic parts underlying the skin. Biomechanical designs are typically done in black and grey shades, with an emphasis on detailed shading and fantasy-like 3D designs that feature bones and joints replaced with gears, pistons and hydraulics.
Shotonk Tattoos Ever since he was in junior high school, Gede Shotonk knew he wanted to be a tattoo artist. Luckily for him, a friend noticed his unique talent for drawing intricate designs, and lent Shotonk some equipment and his skin to practice on. Although Shotonk admits that his first designs were less than spectacular, he persevered, gradually improved and eventually went on to open his first tattoo studio in Singaraja. Soon after, he made the move to Kuta and worked for a number of high-profile studios, before opening Shotonk Tattoos. Shotonk Tattoos quickly gained notoriety for the incredibly tight and detailed designs that Shotonk was producing along with talented tattooist Pa’udy. The artists specialise in realist pieces that include black and white Buddha and Ganesha pieces, Japanese geishas, Balinese barongs and temples, fantasy pieces and portraits. In fact, their work has become so popular that Shotonk now has two other studios in the Kuta area besides the original studio on Jalan Majapahit. If you like Shotonk’s style and are looking for some inspiration before you go under the gun, pick up a copy of his book, Tattoo Art & Culture: Collection Tattoo Design Book by Shotonk. Shotonk Tattoos 1 Jl. Majapahit 63, Kuta T0361 758793 Shotonk Tattoo Family Jalan Legian Kuta Bali (in front of Mamas Restaurant), Kuta T 0819 36552965 Shotonk Tattoos 3 Poppies I, Gang Bedugul (in front of Kuta Townhouses) www.shotonktattoos.com
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Ibud Tattoo With award-winning artists who have been killing it in tattoo competitions for categories as broad as Realist Colour, Black and Grey and Oriental work since 2006, it’s pretty hard to dispute that Ibud Tattoo is one of the top players in the Kuta tattoo scene. Owner and artist Ibud has over 14 year's experience, so he is proficient in all styles of ink, but his passion and specialty lies in freehand tattoos. Together with resident artist Wirama, who recently nailed the numberone spot at the Bandung Body Art Festival, Ibud strives to create striking designs that fit the style and personality of the wearer. Ibud says: “In my opinion, what makes our shop awesome is that we have really friendly staff who are responsible and really take care of our customers, we work in categories and to our customers needs, we always give a friendly price, and we have the equipment to support our work. For example, we have a scanner, printers, two computers with full Internet access and good programs to edit pictures. And of course, we keep our shop and equipment super clean.” Jalan Padma Utara St (Near Jayakarta Hotel) T 0361 754162 www.ibud-tattoo.com Balinesia 2 Tattoo Studio No matter what your style is, Balinesia has you covered, as the heavily inked team here can do pretty much any design under the sun. The two main artists, Wayan Suartana (Tagel) and Ibud Nyoman, each have over 12 years of experience under their belts and are seasoned pros at intricate blackwork and tribal pieces, shading, colour tats and cover-ups. There are also artists on call who specialise in realist pieces, portraits, Japanese style, old school, new school and new traditional tattoos. With a central location on Poppies Lane II, Balinesia sees no shortage of clients seeking creative bespoke tattoos and body piercings. Wayan Tagel says, “Ninety per cent of our clients are from Australia and most of them are young guys, but lately lots of women are starting to get big tattoos in our shop too.”
Tats in the shaping bay.
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Body, mind and skull candy.
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Wayan credits Balinesia’s success not only to the superb artwork, but also to the studio’s relaxed atmosphere and safe environment. He says: “Our clients at Balinesia are our utmost priority, therefore our hygiene and cleanliness is second to none. We pride ourselves on giving clients the highest standard of work with all new equipment and new needles used at all times. Also, with two shops operating now, we can concentrate even more on quality as our prime concern.” Balinesia Tattoo Studio 1 Poppies Lane 2 (In front of Gora Beach Inn) T 0361 764 762 Balinesia Tattoo Studio 2 Jalan Pantai Kuta (Turn right @ Bemo corner) T 0361 767 394 www.balinesiatattoo.com
Bali Dreamz Bali Dreamz is the brainchild of Songcat, who got his start as a traditional Balinese painter in Sukawati, Gianyar. In 1994, Songcat shifted his creative focus to tattooing, and after honing his skills for many years, he opened Bali Dreamz in 2009 with the help of some good Australian friends. Today, his artistic talents lie in freehand tattoo designs catering to his clients' needs. Whether it’s Celtic or tribal pieces, full arm sleeves, detailed biomechanical work, portraits, old school or black and grey pieces that you’re looking for, Songcat ensures that each and every person who gets inked at his studio leaves with a unique piece that holds its own as a piece of art. Step into Bali Dreamz Tattoo Studio, and the place exudes professionalism. From the airconditioned multi-level space to the chilled out reception lounge, the glass-partitioned tattoo room with fully adjustable hydraulic treatment beds and the separate sterilisation space with its own autoclave, you know you’re in for a superior experience. No detail is spared here, as the team has gone out of their way to make guests as comfortable as possible. Take, for example, the padded massage-style chair for lengthy back tattoos or the 21-inch TV with wireless
headphones to take your mind of the buzzing of the needles. Plus, Bali Dreamz uses only Eternal Ink and has over 50 colours to choose from, so no piece is too detailed or vivid. Jl.Wana Segara, Tuban Kompleks Pertokoan Wana Segara Kav.8 T 0361 763178 www.balidreamztattoo.com
Oriental/Asian/Japanese Oriental-style tattoos draw their influence from Irezumi, the Japanese art of tattooing that dates back to the woodblock art of the Edo period. The designs are usually flat and 2D, but
Paradise Ink Tattoo Parlour Located on a quiet laneway just off the main drag in Kuta, Paradise Ink Tattoo Parlour is an oasis of calm, cleanliness and comfort. Leather sofas await in the reception room, where you can chat with owner Tirtha Ambara and the three experienced and helpful artists about custom and ready-made designs. Once you’re set you up on the comfortable massage-style table, your artist will show you the sealed, disposable needles and get you to check the packaging and expiry dates to ensure you are getting only new and hygienic equipment. Paradise Ink also uses only the best quality inks and pigments, so your tattoo will stay vibrant and crisp well after the ink dries.
feature animals, people or mythological characters interwoven with repeating patterns in the background. Oriental tattoos can be inked in simple black and grey tones or bright vibrant colours, and popular motifs include cherry blossoms, koi fish, dragons, geishas, samurai and tigers set against waves, clouds or flowing black linework.
Black and Grey Just like the name suggests, black and grey work is created using a simple palette of black ink mixed with diluted water to produce deep black lines and light grey shadows. The shading is executed with a range of needle sizes
Tirtha says, “Our talented artists do all kind of designs, such as portraits, biomechanical, cover-ups, etc., and they’ve received many awards from many tattoo conventions such as third place for Best of the Day Tattoo in the 2nd Tattoo Convention in Rudesheim am Rhein, Germany and first place in the 1st Tattoo War convention in Yogyakarta, to name a few. In my opinion, Paradise Ink is well known for the great job we do, our cleanliness and our relaxed and friendly vibe.” Jl. Legian, Cempaka Lane #1, Kuta T 081 23607362 www.paradise-ink.com
to create depth and texture. Black and grey tattoos are often extremely detailed and realistic, and can include portraits, fantasy themes and religious images.
Flash Tattoos The term ‘flash tattoos’ does not actually refer to a specific style, but rather to the pre-made designs that you find in booklets or on boards at tattoo studios. Although a common practice in many tattoo studios across the world, many contemporary tattoo artists shy away from flash tattoos and prefer to make custom designs for their clients, as they believe that
Bali Shadow Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio
there is a lack of passion in copying a pre-made tattoo design from a book.
Opened in 2007, Bali Shadow gets rave reviews for its spotless studio, first-class American inks and stellar designs by award-winning
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Deus Ex Machina Taco-n-Tat tuesdays For some, the idea of tequila, tacos and tattoos sounds like trouble waiting to happen, but it all comes together and makes sense at Deus Ex Machina’s Taco-n-Tat Tuesdays nights. As the name suggests, every Tuesday it’s all about stuffing your face with south of the border grub and grog and getting inked at Deus’ super chill space in Canggu. Grab a Taco Platter for 55K and treat yourself to two different kinds of tacos including chicken, beef, pork, fish or veggie. Pump yourself up with a few shots of Jose Cuervo or a Cuervo Margarita for just 50K a pop, and when you’ve sufficiently numbed your nerve
artists Abenk and Nyoman. Abenk specialises in freehand designs and is especially skilled at doing realist pieces with minute details and shading. Both Abenk and Nyoman excel at drawing and sketching custom tattoos and creating original designs that are adapted to suit the part of the body they are inked on and the personality of the wearer. According to Abenk, the majority of the clients at Bali Shadow hail from Australia and Europe, and they are drawn to the studio for its solid reputation for cleanliness, good hospitality and reasonable prices. He says: “Most of our customers like oriental style tattoos, and we can definitely do that, but we can also take anything that comes our way.” The combined portfolios of the artists at Bali Shadow are impressive to say the least, with an incredibly varied range of designs, including Maori and Polynesian works, Balinese script combined with mythological characters, intricate Chinese dragons and colourful fantasy pieces. Dhyana Pura Street 2200, Seminyak T 081 805411155 www.balishadowtattoo.com
endings, follow the sound of the buzzing tattoo gun to get your free tattoo. Yep, that’s right — tattoos are free on Taco-nTat Tuesdays. There are only two rules: 1. Have your art handy and ready to go, and 2. Your tat should take no longer than 15-20 minutes from start to finish. Taco-n-Tat Tuesdays takes place every Tuesday from 5pm to 10pm at the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm. Deus Ex Machina Jalan Batu Mejan No.8, Canggu 0361 3683395 id.deuscustoms.com
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Goldfinger Tattoo Studio Opened in 2009, Goldfinger Studio is a temple of black and grey and realism designs and old school motifs freehand sketched and inked by skilled artist Koko. No stranger to the tattoo scene, Koko has been cleaning up at tattoo competitions on the island, with his most recent achievements being first place in the Old School/ New School Colour category at the 2012 Magic Ink Tattoo Contest and 2nd place in the Fantasy Colour and Fantasy Black & Grey category at the 2013 Magic Ink Tattoo Contest. The Goldfinger studio may not be massive, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in cleanliness, class and professionalism. Enter the guest reception room and you get a taste of Koko’s style from the detailed designs framed and adorning the walls. The tattoo studio itself is set up for comfort with a reclining treatment table, TV, A/C, and a proper medical sterilizer to sanitize the brand-new needles and
equipment. The studio also uses only Intenz and Kuro Sumi ink, so you can be sure that your colours will stay strong and fresh, no matter what tattoo style you choose. Jl. Melasti, Gang Lebak Bena (beside Sayang Maha Merta Hotel), Kuta T 0819 99065028 Hellmonk Tattoo Studio Hellmonk Tattoo Studio may be a tad off the beaten path from Kuta, but it deserves a mention because owner and artist Marmar Herayukti has been making huge waves in the tattoo scene in Bali for quite some time now. Winner of the Magic Ink Tattoo Contest 2012 in the Biomechanic Colour category, this artist extraordinaire is the master of fantasy pieces, traditional Balinese mythological characters, Japanese motifs and detailed shading and colour. After working at some of the top tattoo studios in south Bali, Marmar set up Hellmonk Tattoo Studio in his house in Denpasar. Inside, exposed wooden plank walls sport the artist’s drawings, softly lit shelving houses kitsch sculptures and figurines, and a comfy couch in back makes for a plush place to go over designs with the artist. As the first tattoo artist to be interviewed on Indonesia’s first ever tattoo reality show, Travelink, Marmar says: “For me a studio is like a home, a place to comfort and a place to find new ideas. This is also where I can entertain guests, including clients.” After one visit, it’s easy to see why his clients rave about the chilled out space that feels more like a living room than a noisy tattoo shop, and of course, Marmar’s excellent work. Jl. Mayjen Soetoyo Gang 5, No.16, Denpasar
Treasure chest.
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Thomas Bexon.
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A surfer can’t be a surfer without a surfboard. Period. Without it a surfer simply can’t surf, can’t experience the visceral thrill of paddling out into the lineup, catching a wave and either getting barreled, making a few turns, maybe even boosting an air, or just cruising down the face of a cleanly peeling wave as the board responds to every hint of movement and the ever-changing wave like it’s a mind reader. A real surfer is by no means a “normal” person that just happens to have a surfboard and uses it once in a while as a hobby or even as a tool in a vocation . . . I think those of us who are surfers, or who know surfers, will readily agree that being a surfer is much more than a person just riding a wave on a board. Your surfboard as the medium for your enjoyment is never something you take for granted. A surfboard, to the uninitiated at least, is just a foam plank with a couple of spiky bits sticking out the bottom, often garishly painted with a rope thingy attached. But enter the world of the surfer and the surfboard creator and you will be amazed at the depth and breadth of both the applied science and the pure magic involved in the creation of what shaper, Rich Pavel, calls “an instrument for tapping a rarified experience”. Certainly the advances in technology and applied science have been a boon to the surfboard shaper, but without a doubt it’s the genius of these “magicians” themselves, who are constantly seeking to expand the frontiers of what can be experienced while riding on a plank of foam and fiberglass, that has resulted in there being almost as many styles of surfboards today as there are models of cars on the road. And those who rise to fame for their ability to share that “rarified experience” are revered accordingly. For Rich Pavel (who hails from San Diego and has been building boards for more than 40 years) it was very simple. “When I grew up in the ’70s you made your fin, you bought a blank, and then you brought it home and you built your board. And you did that because that’s how you got to go surfing. Guys that had store-bought boards didn’t even have a place in the lineup where I grew up.”
Cross the Pacific Ocean to Australia and ask Thomas Bexon from Nusa Heads about his first board: “The first board I shaped was a 7’6 eggy mid-length that was pretty ugly and didn’t work that well but it started everything. I started shaping because at the time where I was there wasn’t anyone shaping the kind of boards I wanted to ride.” Japan’s Takuya “Tappy” Yoshikawa has been shaping for more than 20 years, and got his inspiration from watching his sister’s boyfriend, Nobuyuki Tazuka, shaping his surfboards, then decided to try his hand. “I learned from Nobu, and my first board turned out surprisingly good, so I just kept doing it,” he says. Bali’s own Mochamad Yunus started surfing at Kuta Beach at nine years old, and as smaller boards were very hard to come by back then, he decided to cut down an old broken longboard and make his own custom shortboard. “It was about 5’4” and very flat, almost no rocker, kind of ugly but it worked. I was so proud of it. I used my mom’s kitchen knives and other things I found around the house to shape it, because there were no tools available. I didn’t know that I should use different resin and cloth either, so I used the heavy stuff that is for repairing boats,” he says. So a surfer gets hooked on shaping and starts to produce enough worthy product to call himself a shaper, but how do some become known for having that special ability to create those “magic” boards and others just “average” surfboards? Is it some applied scientific methodology, or state-of-the-art equipment and materials, or is it some metaphysical attribute that the shaper was born with?
Talking to Ryan Lovelace, who is just 27 years old, comes from Santa Barbara and has been shaping for almost 10 years now, he says: “My first board was a 6’4 x fat x huge twin fish that I made because a friend told me he had made one for pretty cheap and I was too poor to afford a new board.”
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Dreams are made of this.
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The long and short of it.
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The easy answer is that it’s a combination of all of the above, coupled with a bit of luck and being at the right place at the right time. Dave Verrall says: “Even after 25 years in the business I still froth with the challenge of making each individual board right for the customer, and getting feedback as they grow into the board’s characteristics.” For Ryan Lovelace, it’s like a dream come true. He says: “I still don’t believe that this is reality . . . there are so many facets of what I do that I love. The shaping of course, but on top of that the glassing I love dearly – the colours and the design work, the freedom and the perfection.” Takuya Yoshikawa adds: “I think every step of the process is exciting for me, from design to production to getting feedback on the result. From the beginning I was just a short board shaper, but now I do many other variations. So many things have changed, and now I’m even shaping boards for snow surfing.” The question often arises nowadays regarding the use of machines in the creative process of shaping a surfboard and whether it takes the “magic” out of it. In the old days it was basic hand tools, a keen eye and sensitive hands that formed the finished board out of a block of foam. A truly handcrafted product, a unique and one-of-akind creation like a sculpture or a painting, it could never be exactly replicated. If you happened to have one of these “magic” boards, and it broke or was damaged beyond repair, chances are you’d never get to experience that very same magic again. But now, that magic handcrafted board can be scanned by a computer and turned into bits and bytes that are fed into a shaping machine and duplicated forever, creating the ability to share that magic with countless others. Dave Verrall thinks it depends on what the surfer is looking for in a board, saying: “I hand-shaped for 12 years and have used machines for 13. Nowadays I drive my own machine and I get exactly what I
want from the software. It’s a great tool that helps progression and development.” Ryan Lovelace says he prefers to shape by hand exclusively, though he admits that machines do have their place. “I respect their existence and understand their necessity with regard to filling the market's needs for new boards, as well as their ability to replicate a shape countless times. That being said I find them extremely boring, generic, and sterile,” he says. “I try to be very transparent in my work at my shop – to bring people in and show them what it all means, why I like to do it by hand. I feel like that’s the best way I can convey that connection for them and involve them in it, without making them build the board themselves.” There is a direct correlation between how long a surfer has been surfing and how interested he or she is the intricacies of the surfboard itself. As their ability to surf in a variety of conditions improves, or when their progresses may be stymied, they look to the surfboard itself to provide them with a different or richer experience, much like a poker player seeks larger and larger stake games. The experience of receiving a new custom-shaped board and being able to see your own name written on the bottom next to the shaper’s name is something you never forget. When asked why shapers are often revered and given a “god-like” status in the surfing world, Rich Pavel had an interesting angle, saying: “I don’t know that it’s appropriate to worship any man . . . but if you’re looking at a creator or a creation, there is probably an appropriate context for this consideration.” Ryan Lovelace’s reply was much more simple: “Shapers are like gods to people because they somehow hand off these magical devices that bring you to a point of pure and maximum happiness.”
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Rich Pavel.
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Vision guest.
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Lagundri Bay casts a powerful spell. Full of mystique, it’s that perfect right-hander with palm trees in the background. A mellow almond eye that turns into a grinding cave as soon it’s six feet. Travelling to, and surfing, Lagundri Bay has always been the dream. Whether it’s the VHS memories of Jack Mccoy’s Storm Riders, or the more recent exploits of J.O.B and Makua Rothman, the wave beckons like no other. As a regular footer, it is the kind of place that could produce the wave of a lifetime. I have no idea why it took me so long, but what finally set my belated voyage in motion was a story I read by Kevin Lovett: “I had picked off a smaller one on the inside, and was paddling back out, when I saw John drop into a six-to- seven-foot wall that just stood up and pitched straight over him. Not a drop of water out of place. The moment crystallized. I was spellbound. As he cruised by, I stared in amazement at the ecstatic look on his face; water droplets hanging in his beard, totally immersed in the experience.”
Left and overleaf: Tubular belles . . . Lagundri Bay, Nias.
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Custodians of the Point tells the story of Lovett and his friend John Geisel’s experience throughout their life-changing expedition in 1975. It was this trip that led to the ultimate discovery of Lagundri Bay, Nias. The Surfers Journal published the story in spring, 1998. The fact that I came across it 15 years later is a testament to the impact it has had on its readers. Just as Larry Yates’ Forgotten Island of Santosha inspired Lovett, Custodians of the Point inspired me. My seven-day escapade was booked at the very last minute. I’d been hanging about Bali working on a new film called I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night when I received a call about a swell forecast. With the call came the news that Lagundri would be “off the hook” all week. Tai Graham was on the other end of the line. Having spent much of his life weaving through Indonesian water pipes – ‘Buddha’ is an easy man to trust. Just a few hours after his call we were packing our board bags. Skip the next day of Indonesian island hopping and we’re unpacking the bags in one of Lagundri’s many Losmens. Tai had packed a quiver he could trust – three Channel Islands boards, a 6’8 Allan Byrne (RIP) channel bottom and a smaller quad that Chris Garret had shaped for him. My boards were a little different. The point is a perfect wave and therefore a perfect place to test ride new equipment. Rich Pavel has been working away in the shaping bay at The Temple of Enthusiasm and I’m the lucky guy who gets to surf his boards. I had a 6’1 channel bottom single fin and a 7’0 seventies style single fin. And two 6’8 quads – one was a channel bottom and one had a spiral “V”. The first day was all pleasure. Tai and I relished in the fivefoot surf that the point is so well known for. It created a buzz of excitement on every balcony scattered along the point. Everything was perfect, just as Tai had prophesised. We began to fantasise about the ideal Nias wave. The Unicorn, as Tai calls it, is on our minds every time we surf. It’s the wave we’re always
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dreaming of. Sighting and catching the Unicorn at Lagundri seemed possible, if not probable. The forecast was right, the preswell bumps showed promise and the winds were offshore. The crack of thunder under clear night skies meant the swell had arrived for real. Eight-foot sets smashed into the reef and had us eager for daybreak. It was the morning of the fourth day. Only a surfer knows the feeling. Tai’s hunt for the Unicorn was on. He sat out the back with eyes fixed on the horizon. Dreaming of the chance, imagining what he would do. The rest of us were content to take a shot at the plethora of perfection on offer. Even after more pits than you could poke a stick at, Tai seemed as though he hadn’t caught the elusive Unicorn. I couldn’t quite understand it. Each time I pulled off what seemed like an amazing wave, he took off on an even better one. He seemed to be dropping from deeper and driving for longer. “Yeah … it was an okay one,” he’d say. “Yeah right … it was mental!” I’d reply. Later that day the swell reached its peak. That was when the horizon began to sink and Tai finally saw it. At least he thought he saw it. The point has a way of putting you on your back foot when it ventures into the eight-foot range. He swung around and started paddling before the bomb reared and he had to do a U-turn. A spanner in the works and back out he went. He checked his position and swung in the direction of the channel. Tai was deep. He wanted to be. He wasn’t interested in making it easy for himself. High risk makes for high reward. We took a deep breath as he disappeared over the ledge, air dropping into the biggest wave of the day. Once the spray off the back had settled and the wave rolled into deeper water, I realised what had happened. Tai’s board was tomb-stoning in the exact spot of the wave’s initial explosion.
Harrison.
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Tai.
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He went down … His response was not quite devastation but he was certainly irritated. It wasn’t until the week after the trip that we realised Tai had actually caught the ideal Nias wave. Only our mates’ photographic and cinematic proof made him realise his dream had come true. The wave in question was an absolute smoker! I couldn’t believe he hadn’t told me about it. It was his Unicorn. Some kind of surfer’s syndrome prevented him from comprehending it at the time. Maybe if the wave was random, a diamond in the rough, so to speak, he could have paddled in a happy man. But while there was a chance of something better, his immediate reaction was to get back on the search. Surfers are always after more when there’s more on offer. Kevin Lovett and John Geisel did it in a different era. They did it when no one else was around. It must have been surreal. We didn’t experience what it was like to discover the wave, but we can certainly imagine just how amazing it must have been. And more importantly, we’ve had the chance to surf the iconic wave at its best. In dedication to the two men who discovered Lagundri Bay and in respect to John Geisel, who died nine months after their adventure from the malaria he contracted there, I finish with one of the most heartening sections of Custodians of the Point. This is why we’ll always be out in search of our dreams. This is what makes us who we are: “One of the amazing aspects of the surfing experience is the view of life looking out from inside a breaking wave. These unique, intense, timeless moments help shape consciousness and are carried with you forever. We came in, saturated by the experience. After something to eat and rest, we surfed again. The sets were relentless. The wave shape was of the highest quality with every wave tubing in its entirety.”
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Skye Laphroaig talks to Emma Larssen about Rotary Club Bali’s “Nippers” programme for young lifesavers.
Fun in the sun.
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It’s 7am on Sunday morning and 56 children are present on Batu Bolong beach, Canggu. Emma Larssen is in a hub of activity on the beach, observing development of her Nippers programme at its new location.
the Indonesia Surf Life Saving Association to establish a system that will enable the ongoing development of sustainable and effective school and community water safety programmes, to support drowning prevention and reduction in Bali.
It’s a simple idea. Beach sprints, games of tug-of-war, and relay races with hoops and batons are a fun way to teach surf safety to children who can’t swim. This Sunday morning the weekly programme begins with lines of local children in blue shorts, and yellow and blue tops, training alongside 11 Bronzecertificated students from Canggu Surf Community, and Balinese role model and lifeguard, Marshello.
With the support of Balawista Chairman Made Suparka, and various donors from Australia, Nippers was created. Nippers Kuta is about to complete its third season (running from April-October each year). In March-April 2013 Emma started a second programme at Pantai Lebih in Gianyar where the first day of Nippers saw 276 children join in with a regular attendance of 220 children. For most, it’s not about the competition – it’s about getting out there and having fun.
The delightful sight of happy children takes place in front of the Balinese temple. Many proud fathers watch, cheering children performing “reaction time” exercises. Also present is a team from Rotary Club of Bali, Canggu, led by Aleksandra Denic. Batu Bolong Beach is not safe; it’s actually quite dangerous. The waves dump on the shore and water gets sucked up as it breaks. The risk of neck and spinal injuries can be high. Along the south coast between Seseh Beach and Nusa Dua the Badung Balawista lifeguards rescue almost 300 people each year. Unfortunately around five per cent of that number don’t make it out alive. “We are lucky to have instructors such as pioneering woman surf lifesaver Ni Ketut Adi Arini,” says Emma. Balawista Canggu Nippers began on September 29, 2013 by reaching out to schools and the surf community. Its aim was provide a safe and fun environment for children aged four to 14 years, with qualified instructors on hand to teach them how to swim at the local pool, and participate in ocean-based activities. “Nippers aims to teach children about surf safety and education while participating in beach and ocean activities including swimming, board paddling, beach sprint and beach flags,” Emma says. “A typical Nipper session would start of with roll call followed by warm-up and stretching. Groups are divided based on age then ability and they will rotate from beach flags and sprints, to water-based swimming relays, to practicing body surfing and board paddling.”
Emma soon realised there was no children’s education in place for beach and water safety so she held some school programmes to gauge participation levels of young children for an activity in a country where swimming is rarely taught. “For Balinese-Hindu’s the water is a very powerful thing,” Emma says. “After ngaben (cremation ceremony) the ashes of the deceased are thrown into the ocean. There are also social thoughts about having dark skin from the sun. Balinese believe this puts you in the category of a labourer, working outdoors.” Nippers is about developing the lifesavers of tomorrow and providing an environment for competitive children to excel. “We never doubted this program, but now we have more clarity,” Aleksandra says. “Thanks to Rotary Club of Bali, Canggu and Misbourne Matins, Nippers is here to stay on our beloved Canggu beach. And it’s going to be happening every Sunday at 7am – free of charge for local children.” You can contact Aleksandra Denic at: aleksandra@sentosaworldwide.com If you have any questions about the Balawista Lifesaving Program please do not hesitate to contact Emma Larssen on balawistanippers@yahoo.com. Make sure you check out Balawista Badung Nippers on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/balawistabadung
Emma has lived on Bali since November 2010, working with
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Villa De Daun.
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VILLA DE DAUN In Villa de Daun’s case, size doesn’t matter – marketed as “Kuta’s little secret” for years, this exclusive boutique all-villa property in central Kuta, has 12 pool villas within a hectare of tropical grounds. Stylishly appointed and providing deluxe tropical lifestyle comforts, independently owned Villa De Daun captures the spirit of a traditional Balinese village, and prides itself on delivering gracious hospitality and service excellence. The recipient of numerous awards, De Daun’s Managing Director, Jimmy Gunawan, says: “We maintain constant high attention to detail; it's the little things that matter most to guests. No such thing as pure luck in getting the awards, we simply worked hard. We don’t aim to be the best, but we aim to give the best in what we do.” The four one-bedroom pool villas (250sqm), and six one-bedroom deluxe pool villas (300sqm) are sanctuaries for couples and quality time alone; there’s a two-bedroom deluxe pool villa (450sqm) and one three-bedroom deluxe pool villa (600sqm) – the latter designed as a spacious tropical home for families or groups of friends. All villas are set within a Balinese-style garden compound with pool and outdoor living area and provide fully equipped gourmet kitchen, plush soft furnishings, separate shower and bathtub, satellite LCD TV and DVD player and premium sound systems. A personal butler service is assigned to each villa. Dine at De Daun Restaurant, or for ultimate privacy, the in-villa dining, with romantic candlelit dinners or barbecues personally arranged by the head chef. For more chilling out, Villa De Daun’s acclaimed Dala Spa (awarded Best Boutique Hotel Spa by Crystal Awards Asia Pacific, 2011), offers an opulent wellness facility focusing on traditional Indonesian spa rituals. Rates from US$400++ per night www.villadedaun.com
Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Bali Going strong for around 25 years, and sprawled along eight hectares of tropical gardens beside Kuta Beach’s southern shores, Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Bali (DKPHB) offers 318 oceanfacing and garden view rooms and suites. Accommodation here also includes six luxury beachfront villas – the only such ones in this stretch of beachfront. DKPHB’s six, two-bedroom beachfront
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villas run along the Kuta boardwalk with fabulous bay views and direct Kuta Beach access, but offer complete privacy. Enter through traditional Javanese-style painted wooden doors to discover private tropical gardens equipped with those “must-have” villa accessories – Balinese-style gazebo and plunge pool. The ultra-spacious thatched villas come with ample entrance and living area, fully equipped kitchenette, two master bedrooms with ensuite deluxe bathroom and outdoor tropical shower. Other features include 32” LCD satellite TV, DVD player and WiFi Internet. The resort also provides 24-hour butler service, on-site facilities and helipad. These lovely villas make an ideal seaside retreat within earshot of crashing waves, yet a stone’s throw from Discovery Mall and a short stroll to Kuta’s shops, restaurants and entertainment hotspots. www.discoverykartikaplaza.com
bali DYNASTY resort Another South Kuta original, and nicely ensconced on Tuban Beach, in a traditional-style low-rise building, Bali Dynasty Resort offers 312 guestrooms with a diverse range of accommodation options catering for all needs. Earlier this year Bali Dynasty Resort launched its latest, grandest, accommodation option, Luxury Tent Villa – which promises a “five-star camping experience”. One-bedroom Luxury Tent Villa (44sqm) stands discreetly on the rooftop gardens of Ashoka Spa, and with its own private entrance. This romantic retreat offers full privacy for couples and honeymooners, yet still allows for full access to resort facilities, including six restaurants, four bars, three swimming pools, beach club, kids’ club and more. Under a double-tented canvas roof (providing shade on the wrap-around terrace), this safari-inspired tent comes furnished with eco-friendly sustainable materials – recycled teakwood floor, bamboo pillars and polished, bamboo doors. Any comparisons with a campsite stops here, with luxurious kingsize bed with sexy leather-padded headboard, air-conditioning, 42” satellite TV and DVD player. There’s also a pantry, dressing area and open-air courtyard bathroom with walk-in rain shower – surrounded by bamboo walls for privacy. Bedroom glass balcony doors lead out to a rooftop outdoor terrace and lawn area (107sqm), fitted out all-weather cushioned loungers and outdoor furniture for al fresco dining, plus Jacuzzi, surrounded by a safety fence and
Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Bali.
Bali Dynasty Resort.
Best Western Kuta Villa.
Villa Kubu.
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Villa Kubu.
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tropical shrubs and flanked by frangipani trees. Facing west, the terrace offers glorious Indian Ocean and sunset views. Villa rates (from US$309++/night) are inclusive of breakfast, Wi-Fi Internet and ten mini-bar items daily. The villa also doubles as a private events venue.
grounds, dazzling with contemporary architecture inspired by Indonesian vernacular design. Book these separate villas to form a palatial seven-bedroom option: the ultimate in villa escapism, yet still with Kubu’s renowned personal service. Villa rates (from US$245++) include daily housekeeping, Wi-Fi Internet and 24-hour security.
www.balidynasty.com
www.villakubu.com www.latalianavillas.com
VILLA KUBU
BEST WESTERN KUTA VILLA
Hipsville Seminyak is replete with villas, but Villa Kubu stands out from the crowd. Established in 1999 with just one villa, Australian-owned Villa Kubu has organically grown villa by villa, expanding to 17 individual pool villas in a private walled compound. Not only is each spacious villa unique, they reflect the island’s ever-changing tastes and trends – from traditional Balinese to lavish Mediterranean. Hidden away from the main drags, Villa Kubu provides a private retreat, removed from, yet with access to, central Seminyak. “Kubu” translates as “home from home” – an apt name for all of these private residences, surrounded by high walls. Hearty breakfasts cooked to order by personal butlers in fully equipped kitchens; luxurious king-size beds and soft furnishings; and comfy daybeds are just a taste of homely comforts. Kubu’s relaxed island living style, with open-air dining-living areas, in-room dining service, ample pool with thatched balé and in-house entertainment centre (pre-programmed iPods, flat-screen TVs, etc), encourage private entertaining and spending some quality familytime. A Kubu signature are the lavishly tended, Bali-style, gardens – resplendent with lotus ponds, weathered statuettes and rock gardens, mature palms and exotic blooms, plus strong environmental and wellness commitment. One-bedroom villas are the ultimate romantic retreat, while twobedroom villas accommodate four guests. Larger groups or families should book palatial three-bedroom villas, or limited side-by-side connecting villas, forming two to four-bedroom options. A recently built one- and two-bedroom villa also join up for a spacious threebedroom option.
One of four Bali hotels from the Best Western chain, 122-room Best Western Kuta Villa (BWKV) is a surprisingly calm sanctuary in the depths of South Kuta-Tuban. Open since 2012, BWKV may be relatively new, but this whitestone-walled hotel keeps it traditional Balinese-style, with island warm welcome, service and architectural design. The theme is carried through to the 29 villas, all of which encircle the resort pool, a little palm tree-edged oasis. Similar in facilities, style and size (42sqm), each one-bedroom villa is surrounded by high stone walls for maximum privacy, and are accessed by a charming traditional wooden door. Very much suited to couples and honeymooners, these sweet mini-villas provide a private plunge pool and sunbed in a small front courtyard. Step inside, and a beautifully decorated bed on raised wooden platform, and chaise lounge set the romantic tone. En-suite bathrooms provide a bathtub and bathroom amenities, and lead to an outdoor tropical shower. The villa supplies tea/coffee-making facilities, LCD flat-screen satellite TV, mini-bar, safety box, work desk, hairdryer and kimonos. Wi-Fi Internet and daily breakfast buffet are included in the daily rate (from IDR 1.1 million). If you can tear yourself away from your love-nest, BWKV provides complimentary shuttle buses to key points in Kuta, such as Discovery Mall and Beachwalk. Stay tuned for BWKV’s new villa development – seven duplex suites in a new wing: again in traditional villa style, but with ground-floor private pool, dining area and bedroom, living area, kitchenette and balcony above – scheduled for January 2014. www.bwkutavilla.com
Alternatively, Villa Lataliana, Villa Kubu’s latest creation 300 metres from Seminyak Beach, offers a magnificent two-bedroom and five-bedroom luxury pool villa complex within tree-studded
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DISCOVERY KARTIKA PLAZA Many guests getting hitched or renewing their wedding vows at Discovery Kartika Plaza are repeat guests and families who have, in some cases, stayed at this popular resort for generations. Most popular with the mainly Australian guests are blessings and renewals, with grown-up kids in tow. At family-oriented Discovery, there’s a low-key informality and personalised service, but guests also rather like the prime beachfront location, eight hectares of tropical grounds, and full resort facilities. Discovery offers three main wedding venues – all facing South Kuta Beach and providing perfect backdrop views across Kuta Bay . . . the ultra-photogenic Balinesestyle stone beach gate, the resort entrance into the elevated public beach boardwalk, helipad gardens, or one of six, two-bedroom beachfront villas secluded in pretty walled compounds. Receptions under the stars tend to be held on the Beach Gate’s manicured lawns, La Cucina Garden, in front of La Cucina Italian Restaurant, or the open area fronting the Pond Restaurant, complete with carp pond. With plenty of garden space, reception capacity can cater to around 100 guests. An expansive ballroom is also available. Two set packages make it all simple: The Silver Wedding Package (US$2,100), covers wedding venue with minimalist decoration and religious ceremony (renewal vows, commitments or blessings only). The Gold Wedding Package (US$2,755), includes wedding venue with western decoration, legal wedding arrangements and more. Wedding reception packages include the canapé variety, or buffet and wedding cake options and entertainment options ranging from DJs to Balinese dance. www.discoverykartikaplaza.com
Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Tucked down the quieter end of South Kuta-Tuban, Beach Holiday Inn Resort Baruna (HIRB) is the only beachfront Holiday Inn in Indonesia. The resort – traditional Balinese meets contemporary chic – sprawls across extensive beachfront gardens, and makes for another great local tropical wedding venue. HIRB presents two beachfront romantic packages that are “both designed with thoughtful touches to make the wedding special from start to finish”. For both, ceremonies get underway on beachfront manicured lawns facing Kuta Bay – either the Tea Tree Spa garden, secluded at the resort’s western edges beside the charming spa, or the more central Pool Garden.
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For guests on a budget, the Stay Simple Wedding (from US$1,250) includes wedding celebrant; seating arrangements for maximum 20 guests; decorations; floral gateway; bride’s bouquet and boutonnière; commemorative certificate; sound system arrangement; one-tier wedding cake and more. Going up a notch, the Stay Fancy Wedding (from US$3,750) also covers wedding photography; two-night stay in Junior Suite; two-tier wedding cake; live acoustic guitarist and singer and more. Or you may just opt to get hitched with an intimate exchange of vows before a small group of friends on the beach. Additional wedding options include wedding reception dinners, canapé and cocktail parties, legal wedding services and flower selections. A rooftop terrace above the main restaurant is suitable for private receptions, sunset cocktail soirees and dinners. If you must go big, HIRB boasts a contemporary ballroom with built-in podium. www.baliholidayinn.com
Bali Niksoma Beach Resort & Spa North of Kuta on Legian Beach, boutique beachfront Bali Niksoma has been popular for years, with its award-winning modern tropical design, service and international standard facilities. And its hectare of gardens, with two landscaped swimming pools and up-close ocean views, is heaven-sent for private weddings. Wedding arrangements here come with two options: legal weddings or blessing wedding ceremony – whichever you choose, decoration (themes range from Western-style marquee tent to traditional Balinese) is mandatory while food and beverage arrangements and options are tailor-made to suit individual requirements. Bali Niksoma’s banqueting team are adept at creating superb wedding receptions and dinners. Resort ceremony venues include landscaped lawn gardens, wooden deck area, top-floor sunset balcony, or beachfront. The Essential Wedding
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Package (from US$1,900) offers an elegant white marquee tent or four poster bamboo structure on the lawn gardens, and feature bridal sofa, one-tier wedding cake, flower petal walkways, two ceremonial parasols, standard sound system during the wedding, special room set-up postwedding and more. Extra add-ons include Legal Wedding Package (US$500) or Commitment / Blessing (US$300). Pre- and post-ceremony accommodation can be arranged to suit all budgets. Bali Niksoma’s 57 spacious, chic rooms include suites, and one twobedroom Presidential Villa with private pool. www.baliniksoma.com
Ramada Bintang Bali Resort This long-running full-facility resort is hidden back from the beach, set in six hectares of gardens rolling down to South Kuta beachfront, yet handily within walking distance of Kuta’s shops, nightspots and restaurants. For weddings, 402-room Ramada Bintang Bali provides an exclusive and diverse range of venues. Outdoors are the Sedap Malam Lounge, Central Garden, Sunset Garden or beachfront, but if you prefer an indoor ceremony the Bintang Ballroom accommodates up to 400 guests. Or there’s onebedroom Bintang Bali Villa with its Ganesha private function room in villa gardens – perfectly private for receptions and accommodating up to 80 guests. Ramada Bintang provides four set wedding packages, starting with Balinese Paradise (US$1,000++), which includes a two-night stay and free upgrade to Bintang Bali Villa, exclusive choice of wedding ceremony venues, Balinese decoration set-up, bridal bouquet and groom boutonniere, wedding cake, two Balinese flower girls, decorated chairs for maximum 50 wedding guests, standard sound system, and commemorative certificate from the resort. Three other packages, Deluxe Golden (US$1,210++), Balinese Royal Palace (US$1,265++), and Diamond Wedding (US$1.585++) bring additional elements to Balinese Paradise. These packages, however,
don’t cover legal administration procedures, so full legal weddings, commitment ceremonies or renewal vow arrangements are charged and organised separately. www.bintang-bali-hotel.com
BALI DYNASTY Long-established Bali Dynasty is predominately family-orientated and especially popular with Australians. This 312-room beachside resort enjoys big-time repeat guest loyalty. And that goes for their weddings too. “Bali Dynasty enjoys a robust wedding market wedding ceremonies and vow renewals mainly from the Australia market,” says Nicoline Dolman, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Our most popular is Western-style weddings, however we also offer Balinese themed ceremonies.” Professional wedding organisers take care of administrative arrangements while a dedicated resort team covers the wedding set-up and catering arrangements. There are four main wedding venues to choose from: their exclusive Beach Club out front on a picturesque stretch of Tuban-South Kuta beach, or amongst pretty lawn gardens and mature trees, the Duck Pond and Upper-Lawn Lazy Pool – a rare No Kids Zone in a grassy enclosure – are also available. Wedding ceremony packages (Balinese or Western-style), start from US$1,100, with customised add-ons. Bali Dynasty can also arrange wedding vow renewals. Opened earlier this year, the one-bedroom Luxury Tent Villa is now a sought-after wedding venue – elevated on rooftop gardens above the resort spa, and exclusive with its own private entrance and 213sqm of indoor-outdoor event space, including outdoor terrace (62sqm) and spacious lawn (107sqm). With awesome ocean and sunset views and private garden setting, this spot is not only ideal for weddings, intimate dinners and cocktail receptions, but also a romantic honeymoon hide-out.
Holiday Inn Resort Baruna.
Bali Dynasty.
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Holiday Inn Resort Baruna.
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Tent Villa Wedding Packages (from US$1,700) combine a night’s stay, ceremony, and more. Among six restaurants and five bars on-site, Bali Dynasty’s stylish Upper Deck at H20 restaurant-bar is another versatile venue for small wedding receptions and cocktail soirées. The entire H20 can be rented out for private parties – especially fine at sunset. www.balidynasty.com
Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort Since opening December 2012, Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort has made quite the impact. Opposite Kuta Beach and promenade and adjoining Beachwalk, Sheraton Bali has transformed Kuta both in contemporary upscale design, concept and luxury-standard accommodation. Although Sheraton Bali hasn’t, as yet, fully developed its wedding market – perhaps more geared to meetings and events, especially in this APEC Summit-focused year – the stylish five-star can provide a wedding coordinator, professional events and banqueting team, and 1,600sqm of advanced meeting facilities on one level, including a pillarless 700sqm Grand Ballroom, which can be divided into smaller areas – perfect for receptions on a more lavish scale. Wedding ceremonies can be held in Sheraton’s two elevated Social Courtyard gardens, which connect to the outdoor rooftop pool, while smaller groups may prefer the signature rooftop deck of Bene Italian Kitchen restaurant for magical sunset ceremonies, intimate receptions and post wedding cocktails, with fabulous bay views. Honeymooners can treat themselves to an extravagantly romantic stay in the Presidential Ocean Front Suite (265sqm) – an exclusive two-storey stand-alone duplex in ultracontemporary all-glass design, complete with private sundeck and outdoor plunge pool. www.Sheraton.com/Balikuta
Kupu Kupu Jimbaran Rooftop Suites This all-suite boutique gem is located down south in lovely Jimbaran, offering an alternative wedding location. Kupu Kupu Jimbaran has 28 stylishly contemporary suites, each conceptualised as a personal retreat – spacious, luxurious, comfortably appointed and bearing all the Island of the Gods ethnic charms. Kupu Kupu isn’t located on Jimbaran beach, but is just a short stroll away and offers access to their private Jimbaran Beach Club, with beachfront restaurant and elevated lounging area. Additionally, the hotel offers the convenience of exclusive boutiques, topnotch Bamboo Spa by L’Occitane and dining options on its ground-floor level, in its very own Jimbaran Corner. Kupu Kupu’s wedding packages are hosted on Jimbaran’s white sandy beach (slightly quieter than Kuta), looking out to Jimbaran Bay and the Indian Ocean. Dependent on budgets and style, four package options range from lowest-priced Beach Venue Only, which throws in a fivehour bridal make-up room; Standard Beach Wedding, Deluxe Beach Wedding – the latter, including one flower arrangement at the wedding altar table, frangipani bridal hand bouquet and groom buttonhole, two flower girls in Balinese costume, flower petals, elegant Western decoration and one-hour of Balinese rindik music during the ceremony. The most popular package, The Vows Wedding, includes beach venue and decorations, wedding celebrant, commemorative certificate, make-up room, and one-hour couple’s massage at Bamboo Spa by L’Occitane. These exclusive wedding packages are available to outside guests and rates vary according to individual requirements and are discussed accordingly.
Off-shore Weddings You’ve heard of offshore accounts, so why not off-shore weddings? Or rather, tying the knot on tropical paradise islands of Lombok and the Gilis. White Sand Weddings (Lombok and Gili Islands) is the first and only such wedding and event planning service dedicated to this idyllic region. Lombok is a mere 25-minute flight east of Bali, but almost a million miles away, an island of extraordinary landscapes and deserted, dazzling, white sand beaches. Minutes off Lombok’s northwest coast, three small Gili islands – Air, Meno and Trawangan – are easily accessed by fast boats from Bali or Lombok. The creation of Di Somerton, a British native who’s mighty experienced in hospitality and event management, and resident of these stunning isles, WSW prides itself on using local island resources and products (rather than importing from Bali), and is committed to promoting Lombok and Gili islands as exceptional wedding locations. “We’ve secured the most exclusive, spectacular beachfront venues with white sand beach access, use our own caterers and provide a full service that includes VIP entry into Bali or Lombok, pre- and post-event service, plus legal consultancy and service for legally recognised weddings in Indonesia,” Di says. WSW focuses on tailor-made wedding arrangements, rather than set-in-stone packages, offering a complete package designed to suit individuals’ needs – assisting with everything from hair and make-up to priests and music. Glorious venue locations cover intimate ceremonies on a secluded beach at a private villa, beachfront resort, or alternatively, weddings afloat. They can also offer hotel and villa booking services with the island’s finest accommodations, and organise sightseeing trips, golfing, spas, diving, island hopping, and more for the wedding party. www.whitesandweddingslombok.com
www.kupuresorts.com/jimbaran
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Whether you love the humble Dim Sum for lunch or as the perfect late night pre-hangover cure, we sent our scout out to find the best Dim Sum eateries around town . . .
While B Couple
Golden Lotus bali
With the classics of Harkao – a steamed shrimp dumpling with a distinct flavour that bursts into Sit back in the air-conditioned dining room or book one of four private rooms fitted with karaoke your mouth as soon as you bite it; and the Sio Mai – a steamed pork dumpling, which looked machine to add a fun element to your Dim Sum promising and was absolutely scrumptious (I indulgence. could not get enough of these). I hesitated at the Chinese-Malay chef Aming heads the Dim Sum Kaki Ayam – chicken feet. and Chinese food department, having been in I tried the steamed BBQ pork bun Tau Sa Poa – a charge of the menu since his arrival three years distinctly sweet and bready bun with a hint of ago. He has created a selection of around 20 classic Dim Sum, with another 20 currently being roast pork inside, and the Paikut – steamed pork rib with black bean (a saucy dish that is actually added to the menu. quite good if you like chewing away the best Work your way through the crab dumpling – an from the bone). And, finally the Kou Tie – a deep open fresh seafood affair dipped in soya sauce; the fried dumpling of minced meat, which has to be fried shrimp dumpling – a crunchy delight; or the everyone’s favourite with its crunchy taste . . . and delicious chicken Dim Sum (steamed or grilled). it’s actually easy to pick up with chopsticks too. I was challenged by the runny egg yolk inside If you are talking Dim Sum, Ema has to be on the doughy bun, which is apparently a Chinese the list . . . specialty, however not my cup of tea. But some of you apparently love these. Ema Restaurant, DFS Galleria second Floor, Kuta. Once I tasted the tofu skin filled with chicken in oyster sauce it was easy to pick my favourite. www.emarestaurant.com Tel: 0361 761965 B Couple, Jalan Kartika Plaza, opposite Waterbom, is open seven days from 8am to 2am.
Golden Lotus in the Dynasty Resort is the original Chinese restaurant in south Kuta and has received rave reviews for its authentic menu and traditional Chinese dining room. It will delight you with unique dishes not available anywhere else on the island such as chicken sticky rice wrapped in lily leaves; wasabi pork dumplings; and chicken curry dim sum. True to its motto of “make friends for life”, Golden Lotus’ service is friendly and attentive, the food choices ample, with the buffet serving some 75 different Dim Sum types (the largest MSG-free range in town). Many buffet items are not on the a la carte menu that boasts more than 50 varieties. Sunday has to be the best day to indulge in Dim Sum here with a steaming self-serve station laden with countless varieties set in bamboo baskets. Try the seafood wrapped in bacon strips, steamed prawn dumpling, and shark fin in wasabi pastry – an interesting marriage of iconic Chinese and Japanese flavours. Add to that the other choices on the buffet, from traditional Indonesian and Chinese dishes to a wide range of sweet Dim Sum, jelly and fruit. You are sure to love it. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30am to 2.30pm, and 6pm to 10.30pm. Golden Lotus is located at the Bali Dynasty Resort on Jalan Kartika Plaza. www.balidynasty.com Tel: 0361 752 403
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While B Couple – right in front of the Kuta Paradiso Hotel – is best known for its casual dining, diverse menu and extensive live seafood bar, its Chinese menu, and growing Dim Sum selection, has earned a steady following.
www.kutaparadisohotel.com Tel: 0361 761 414
ema Restaurant Making a name for its second floor eatery since the Galleria shopping center opened 16 years ago, Ema Chinese Restaurant has, as the second oldest in Kuta, claimed its place among the best for Dim Sum and a perennial favorite, Peking Duck. With major renovations to its massive dining
room just completed, Ema lets you easily forget the myriad multi-floored shopping awaiting you outside its doors, and focus on what’s inside – Dim Sum. And, lots of them, especially for the Sunday Hong-Kong style service.
FeyLoon Chinese Restaurant
The warmly lit dining room at Feyloon restaurant instantly takes you from the hustle and bustle of Kuta to a calm serenity full of promise of the best Chinese food in town. In the six years since its doors opened, Feyloon has established itself as one of the best when it comes to traditional Chinese cuisine and the much loved Dim Sum. Sunday is of course the big Dim Sum day with Hong Kong-style trolley service, and head chef Woo Tuck Meng ensuring his dedicated team
Pork artistry at Sanur Harum.
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Perennial favourites at Sanur Harum.
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of ten steam up double the variety of Dim Sum available on the everyday a la carte range of 36. If you like seafood, try the Kauci Scallop or the Chiongfan Lumpia – both are not commonly served at other Dim Sum eateries. The latter blends green beans with prawn (also available with pork or beef). A must-try is the Siao Long Pao Dim Sum – a soupy pork dumpling that is usually sucked from the bottom kept soft by a slice of cucumber, or the glazed BBQ Pork Bun exclusive to Feyloon – unlike the usual fluffy Dim Sum buns it is a crunchy sweet bun that blends with the flavours of hearty pork inside. It’s also one of the top choices for take-aways. My favorite, however, would have to be the Vietnamese shrimp and veg deep fried Dim Sum, rolled in imported rice flour pastry. For some colour have a set of Kauci Pocai – a green dumpling of spinach pastry filled with prawn, carrot, spinach and chives . . . yum. Feyloon Chinese Restaurant, on Jalan Rya Kuta No.98, Kuta is open seven days 10.30am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10pm. www.feyloonrestaurant.com Tel: 0361 368 7845
Kuta Railway Station Restaurant and Bar Just a few paces down from Waterbom is Kuta Railway Station Restaurant and Bar – a spacious eatery with oodles of tables, TV screens running sporting events, and a massive bar selling the tickets for a respite from the heat outside. If you are looking for a cosy restaurant then this is not for you, but if you enjoy an easy come menu with broad choices, a vast drinks list, and fancy a chomp on some Dim Sum ‘til late, The Kuta Railway Station is just the place. Pick from the dedicated Dim Sum menu featuring the likes of Siew Mai, Hakau and Chasiew Pao – which are top sellers. Or try the yam dumpling, crunchy shrimp dim sum; or open crab pastry pocket. With around 15 different choices on the Dim Sum list, should you feel like a traditional Chinese snack between late night drinks to keep
you going, it’s your port of call. Friendly, attentive service, live music, and a central location all make The “Kuta Rails” a great hang-out and meeting place with friends. Kuta Railway Station Restaurant and Bar. Open seven days, 11am to midnight, Jalan Kartika Plaza 8x, Kuta. www.kutarailwaybali.com Tel: 0361 758 828
sanur harum Since we are talking Dim Sum, you cannot go past Sanur Harum at the Plaza Hotel. Sure, not quite Kuta, but definitely worth the drive. With the wide selection of Dim Sum on offer, Sanur Harum’s daily free-flow menu, at just 110,000 IDR per head, is perfect to indulge in some of the best Dim Sum around – MSG free of course.
Executive chef, Adi – in residence here for the past five years – is as passionate about quality as Warung Bale Bali he is about presentation, which means that the Warung Bale Bali in Seminyak delivers a different eyes get to feast as much as the taste buds do. style of Chinese restaurant altogether. Starting A great start to a decent Dim Sum feast is the with the leafy entrance and rustic interior, to young grated pawpaw dish – perfect to prepare the eclectic tables and chairs mixed with deep wooden lounges and antique works of art gracing the stomach for a lengthy feast of rich flavours. Follow it with the baikuteh soup of pork rib and the walls, its motto of “Chinese food with the Chinese herbs and you are ready to roll for more mood of jazz” instantly makes sense as the free-flow Dim Sum indulgence. friendly staff welcomes you. Come to the Dim Sum and try the seafood porridge – slightly salty and rich in seafood flavor topped with crispy wonton, it’s delicious and a great starter. The Isit Kau Goreng; chicken fried dumpling; and the soya-wrapped shrimp fried spring rolls, are all divine little taste bites. The steamed BBQ dumplings (available in pork or chicken) are great, with the pear shaped vegetable dumplings a burst of veggie goodness, and the pork Sio May with vegetables my absolute favourite on taste and texture. Udang Matahari – fried sun shrimp in a super crunchy crust – and Pork Sio May are other highlights . . . all served in bamboo baskets at your table, which made the Dim Sum indulgence here memorable. Ten years in the making, Chinese-Javanese owner, Tje Tje Hastono, shaped Bale Bali Warung to become the much loved and charismatic eatery that it is today. Best of all they serve Dim Sum all day long, between 11am and 11pm.
With the meats delivered daily, freshness is assured.
I tried the honey pork, coconut crusted rice paper shrimp rolls, and Capachi (fried squid, a bit like savory popcorn . . . yum), moved onto the pork wonton, mixed seafood Dim Sum and roast pork buns, all of which were great and made me keen to try more. The salmon parceled with black mushroom and bamboo sprouts was the highlight of this Dim Sum feast for me. With Indonesian Master Chef judge, Chef Juna, giving Sanur Harum the nod, you know that they have got their Dim Sum right. Not surprisingly, they get really busy, so book ahead. Sanur Harum at the Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotel, Jalan Hang Tuah 46, Sanur , open seven days from 11.30am to 2.30pm for Dim Sum. www.sanurparadise.com Tel: 0361 281 781
Warung Bale Bali, Jalan Kunti 4BB, Seminyak. www.balebaliwarung.com Tel: 0361 732 731
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From the earliest days of cultivation and the first sips of coffee in the 1500s in Arabia, to its ban in 17th century Europe due to its association with political rebellion, coffee has evolved to be today’s most consumed drink the world over. Grown in 70 countries, enjoyed in over 140 countries, coffee has become an essential part of daily life for many of us, with some of us not able to function properly without it. Whether you drink coffee for pleasure, taste, fun, a good reason to meet with friends, to wake up or for the pure love of it, here is the heads-up on a few good spots to get your coffee fix.
Kitchenette Restaurant & Creperie Set right across the road from Kuta Beach at the very front of Beachwalk shopping centre, Kitchenette blends the typical vibe of a great coffee shop with a real beachy feel due to its sun lounges – rolled up towels and all. Once you cast your eyes across the natural cardboard and recycled paper menu however, you quickly realise that Kitchenette is a café in a league of its own. Perhaps it’s the marriage of the Italian Illy coffee and the French menu – think savoury Galettes of grilled salmon, or the Bernard of creamy mushroom, chicken with parmesan cheese, and more than a dozen choices of the sweet crepe classics all made from organic buckwheat flour. Add to that the wide range of chilled and flavoured coffees, plus all the classic styles of having your shot of that distinctive Illy aroma, and you know that you have come to the right place. The friendly service, relaxed atmosphere with a
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hint of Europe and opening hours from 8am to 10pm make Kitchenette a no-brainer on your hunt for a caffeine hit. Kitchenette Restaurant & Creperie, Beachwalk, Kuta. www.ismaya.com/kitchenette Tel: 0361 8464 937
Kafe Batan Waru Kafe Batan Waru opposite Waterbom promises a lot more than the name, “under the Waru tree”, suggests and it does not disappoint. Apart from the organic ingredients used in its meals (all grown on its farm in Kintamani), the free-range chicken and fresh seafood, the Buana family behind the restaurant has developed its own unique coffee blend. The classic espresso, for example, comes dressed in the perfect layer of crema and according to my Eastern European friend who was raised on strong coffee, if espresso tickles your fancy, it is really good. If you are one for milk in coffee, Batan Waru’s interpretation of the macchiato – the perfect fusion of a strong shot with a dash of warm milk, was right on the mark. Once the heat sets in, as it does every day in Kuta, the iced latté ordered to your preferred strength has to be the perfect to way to dose up on caffeine and sip away on a refreshing drink in a relaxed environment. Batan Waru opens from 9am to late, seven days a week with the convenience of parking at the Bali Garden Hotel next door. www.batanwaru.com Tel: 0361 977 528
Mugshot A coffee legend in its own right, Mugshot has stamped its place as the spot for great coffee in Legian, located in Jalan Padma Utara, just a stroll from the beach. Owners Donna and Kelvin created Mugshot six years ago after falling in love with Bali . . . and not being able to find a decent coffee anywhere. Since then they have earned a strong following from coffee-picky expats and tourists alike, based solely on the quality for its bean juice. Choose from classic styles of coffee and a spread of cakes, slices, quiches and pies, and the best egg and bacon brekky baguette, and croissants to accompany your mug-of-shot. The soya latté was excellent as was their cappuccino. Due to the massive expat clientele Mugshot enjoys for a split second I felt myself transported to an Aussie café with free WiFi and Australian newspapers on sale. While there, do a good deed and have your mug shot taken (numbers and all) and join the wall of fame to support a local orphanage with your donation. It makes the coffee taste even better. Mugshot, Jalan Padma Utara 5, Legian, open 6am to 6pm. Tel: 0813 3767 1522
Amino Café & Burger Bar The simple black and white branding of the small burger café Amino, tucked right next to Quicksilver at the corner of Poppies II and Jalan Benesari, strikes you instantly as a hip little place to fuel up on caffeine and breakfast. Amino boasts a diverse range of burgers, hot dogs, pancakes, pasta and Indonesian meals with free WiFi as a side.
Cafelicious.
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The café opened its doors in 2004 and has since been a favourite drop-in spot for a quick bite and a coffee hit. Its central location in the heart of Kuta means you can scramble here for some caffeine-rich recovery remedy after a big night out or in between leisurely scanning through out the many shops that line Poppies II. Amino Café & Burger Bar, Jalan Poppies II, Kuta. Tel: 0361 765 766
Café Local Café Local, as the name suggests, is like your typical local café with extra friendly service, ample comfy seating, ambience and a calming decor (with a distinct contemporary European feel), great coffee, and a wide menu of culinary delights. With the Italian Illy coffee aroma filling the air as soon as you order your coffee (free with every big breakfast at just Rp.45K) and relaxed tunes creating a soothing atmosphere amidst the happenings on Jalan Bensari in the heart of Kuta, it is easy to understand why Café Local has developed a huge following in the six years of its existence. Add to that a cool menu with traditional Indonesian and western meals, from Nasi Goreng through to grilled salmon and Dutch traditional beef stew made with dark beer, and you have an attractive venue for breakfast or lunch, dinner dates, late-night snacks or just a good coffee. Thanks to Belgian expat, Gert Claessens, and partner, Pande, who created this sweet little eatery, we have yet another local jewel for great coffee.
Dirt Java Dirt Java is the quiet achiever on the local coffee scene, tucked away on the top level of Beachwalk shopping centre with stunning views out over the ocean. Having already made quite a name for itself – lovingly called ‘D Java’ by those in the know – and boasting the only state-of-the-art Dutch Mirage coffee machine on the island, you can be assured that D Java extracts the perfect shot of black for your preferred style of coffee. Light and airy, the rustic furniture compliments the bold art works, and the comfy Sessel chairs on the balcony overlooking the ocean make this the perfect spot for a caffeine dose away from the madness of Kuta’s Esplanade below. D Java serves wild luwak vintage – the famed coffee from the unique bean-eating rainforest cat of Sumatra, Java and Bali – considered the most premium and exclusive coffee in the world. With the friendly service of assistant manager Fino and his team, Dirt Java is a definite to earmark for your next caffeine pitstop. Top-level at Beachwalk shopping centre right across from Kuta beach, open 10am to 11pm. www.dirtjava.com Tel: 0361 846 4892
Caswell's café Located at Kompleks Pertokoan Dewa Ruci, Caswell's café offers a relaxed home away from home atmosphere where you can enjoy your favorite cappuccino or latté made from its freshly roasted espresso blend and prepared by an award winning barista.
Café Local is open from 8am to midnight, seven days a week, Jalan Benesari, Kuta, off Poppies II.
Choose from an array of mouthwatering dishes, from breakfast and New York-style deli sandwiches to fresh salads, Italian pasta and yummy desserts. A long standing favourite, Caswell’s has carved its place on the local coffee scene. The café is also well known as a bean wholesaler with locations in Kuta, Jimbaran and Jarkata – all testament to the quality of coffee.
www.cafelocalbali.com Tel: 0361 755 123
Caswell’s is open from 8am to 7pm at Kompleks Pertokoan Dewa Ruci, Blok C on Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta.
Style, quality, great service and free WiFi complete the picture at Café Local, which makes it a great spot for meetings or catching up with friends.
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www.caswellscoffee.com Tel: 0361 756 808
Sensa Koffie Sensa Koffie is the new haven for coffee lovers. As soon as you step off busy Jalan Dewi Sri in Kuta, and into the downstairs shop – boasting oodles of traditional deli foods – you are welcomed by the rich coffee aroma drifting from the coffee shop upstairs. Owner, Vito Adi from Malang, is the passionate instigator behind this hot spot for the coffee connoisseur and has, in just six months, established Sensa Koffie and Deli as the go-to place for coffee tastings, a wide range of all Indonesian beans roasted on site, and some of the best traditional Pia (small pastries filled with rich dark chocolate and served hot) that will have you instantly forgeting about chocolate croissants. Presenting the Chinese, Dutch and traditional cultural heritage of Indonesia, the coffee, savories and sweets are to die for with a choice of more than 30 coffee varieties. Leaving brands like Illy behind for the aroma, quality and diversity of naturally grown Indonesian varieties, Vito runs a team of expert baristas ready to percolate, pull, brew, extract or plunge your desired coffee style. Try their Chenex dripped over ice, or the Enrekang Benteng alla Utara squeezed into the perfect espresso or if you like it chilled, a musttry is the blended iced latté (one of the best I have ever had). Under the motto “loving coffee with passion” – which is instantly palatable when you see them measure, test, and weigh every ingredient for the perfect cup of bean juice – Sensa is a definite if you love coffee. 100 meters on the right into Jalan Dewi Sri from Kompleks Ruko, open seven days from 8am to 8pm. www.sensakoffie.com Tel: 0361 757 400
The 101 Legian Bali Tel: (62-361) 300 1101 www.the101hotels.com Page 23 Kuban Map I.5
Feast Tel: (62-361) 846 5555 www.sheratonbalikuta.com Page 25
Oakley Indonesia Tel: (62-361) 756 291 www.oakley.com Page 1 Kuban Map H.10
Best Western Premier Tel: (62-361) 846 8500 www.bwpremiersunsetroad.com Page 11 Kuban Map L.3
MISCELLANEOUS Design Dope Tel: (62-361) 361 0167 www.design-dope.com/ Kuban Directory P. 21
Jim 'bar' N Tel: (62-361) 846 8777 www.bukitjimbaran-bali. harrishotels.com Page
Seafolly Tel: (62-361) 8465612, 753472 www.universo.co.id Page Gate Fold Kuban Map H.6
Best Western Resort Kuta Tel: (62-361) 767 000 www.bwresortkuta.com Page 21 Kuban Map
Kuban Online Tel: (62-361) 766 539 www.kubanbali.com Page 7, 13 Kuban Map M.7
Kori Restaurant Tel: (62-361) 758 605 www. korirestaurant.co.id Page 15 Kuban Map I.6
Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Tel: (62-361) 751 067 www.discoverykartikaplaza.com Page 14 Kuban Map H.10
Mango nigel@icommbali.com www.mangovision.tv Page 15
Pyramid Tel: (62-361) 8500 300 www.pyramidclubbali.com Page 9 Kuban Map K.4
EDEN Hotel Tel: (62-361) 300 2121 www.myedenhotels.com Page 10 Kuban Map G.10
RECREATION Bali Adventure Tours Tel: (62-361) 721 480 www.baliadventuretours.com Page 105
Sky Garden www.61legian.com www.skygardenbali.com Page 19 Kuban Map J.7
HOTELS & VILLAS Bali Dynasty Resort Tel: (62-361) 752 403 www.balidynasty.com/gk Page 24 Kuban Map H.10
Ripcurl School of Surf Tel: (62-361) 735 858 www.ripcurlschoolofsurf.com Page 14 Kuban Map G.3
SHOPS Deus Ex Machina Tel: (62-361) 735 047 www.deuscustoms.com Page 2-3
Komune Tel: (62-361) 301 8888 www.komuneresorts.com Page 5
Fusion Free Dive Tel: (62-361) 2078908 www.fusionfreedive.com Page 14 Kuban Map G.3
Havaianas Tel: (62-361) 733 036 www.universo.co.id Inside back cover
Sheraton Hotel Tel: (62-361) 846 5555 www.sheratonbalikuta.com Page 25 Kuban Map H.6
RESTAURANTS El Kabron Tel: (62-361) 780 3416 www.chiringuitoelkabron.com Page 21
Indowines/Plaga Tel: (62-361) 756 781 www.plagawine.com Back cover Kuban Map M.4
HARRIS Bukit Jimbaran Bali Tel: (62-361) 846 8777 www.bukitjimbaran-bali. harrishotels.com Page 17 Kuban Map G.10
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BARS Grace Kelly's Tel: (62-361) 752 403 www.balidynasty.com/gk Page 24 Kuban Map H.10 Jim 'bar' N Tel: (62-361) 846 8777 www.bukitjimbaran-bali. harrishotels.com Page 17 Sky Garden www.61legian.com www.skygardenbali.com Page 19 Kuban Map J.7