Posts tagged Indonesia
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“The secret of business is to know something that nobody else knows.” #nipanddram @nipanddram
Some establishments march to the beat of a different drum. Nip and Dram (#NipandDram) the first upscale whiskey bar to open in Jakarta, Indonesia has been greeted to much fanfare. Located in the bustling heart of Asia’s megatropolis, Nip and Dram is an ideal locale to entertain with a delightful tapas menu, or relax with friends, a fine cigar and a select single malt. Every Friday night enjoy live music with their energetic in-house band ‘Late This Night.’ Reservations strongly recommended.
(The Landmark Centre II, Ground Floor, Jalan Jend. Sudirman #1; Jakarta, Indonesia 12910; Open: Monday - Saturday 17:00 Till Late ~ Closed Sundays; Phone: +622157903991.)
Tucked away in the remote Raja Ampat islands of Indonesia’s West Papua Province is the Misool Eco Resort. The dive oriented resort and conservation center is a place of superlative beauty and marine biodiversity.
Misool caters to an exclusive and ecologically conscious demographic without sacrificing the finer points of luxury. Some of the villas are suited for families or groups of four and others perfect for couples. All rooms are perched on stilts, just above the translucent turquoise water. The resort’s water cottages and villas were built with reclaimed tropical hardwood and milled on site. They all include air-conditioning as well as hot and cold showers.
However, the true lure of Misool is the diving and natural beauty. A 465 square-mile “No-Take Zone” surrounds the resort. The resort states they are 15-minutes from 25 world-class dive locations. Considering the often-sited statistic that in an equivalent space of two football fields, scientists discovered more coral species than inhabit the entire Caribbean Sea, it’s not hard to believe.
Visit Misool Eco Resort on Facebook or their official web site.
Luna2 Private Hotel in Bali, Indonesia describes itself as a “Cosmic space for jet-setting lunatics.” This statement is explained and supported in each of the private hotel’s luxurious Retro-Modernist rooms. Every inch of the property is a mash-up of nostalgic character melded with bright modern sensibilities. The environment is ideal for a younger crowd that firmly lives and thrives in the digital age.
Renting the property gives the jet-setter access to the entire facility, including the game room where both kids and adults can enjoy. The garden terrace is home to the 20-meter iconic, hand-laid mosaic tile of Marilyn Monroe adorning the bottom of the swimming pool. As the sun sets on the “Island of the Gods,” take in the lava-colored sunset with a fine cocktail. If you are interested in expanding your palette, explore one of the most extensive wine collections on the island.
When the time comes to explore the island head out in one of the “Luna mobiles” from the Luna2 fleet. Choose from one of the Vespas, Smart Cars or full-sized SUVs. And don’t worry about getting to or from the airport as Luna2 provides an unparalleled shuttle service including cold towels, your choice of music, and alcoholic beverages.
Luna2 Collection is currently expanding with property purchased in Phuket Thailand, Niseko Japan, and Lombok Indonesia. The Luna2 Studiotel is scheduled for launch in 2013.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests sitting down for hours at a time takes years off your life. Considering the hours I spend on my haunches, attached to a computer or mobile device or even wallowing in megatropolis traffic, statistically speaking it is a small miracle I’m not already dead.
Being increasingly inactive continues to plague modern society with our constant need to be connected. One might ask the question, “How do I alleviate the stress and tension associated with hours of immobility? Exercise is certainly one, but I feel a more soothing and relaxing method is in order. While some might call the Royal Java Ritual a luxury, upon check-in with my significant other, it felt more a necessary therapeutic endeavor of spirituality, set to give back the years stolen by unkind coffee shop chairs and polluted urban streets.
Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta created just the soothing, euphoric environment expected from one of Indonesia’s foremost business hotel. The Papaya welcome drink and cold towel were a kind way to ease into the 3-hour experience.
As I kicked back and finally shared a conversation about something other than work, our feet were bathed in small basin of warm water and rose petals by the professional therapists.
The full-body massage that followed was nothing short of hypnotic. Toe to head, front to back, our stress and muscle tension was released into the unknown with the help of natural oils. Quiet music left us in a place just between sleep and consciousness.
A shared shower and organic herbal bath was the intermission before my first facial. I was shocked after the treatment to feel porcelain smooth skin. Leading an active urban lifestyle, it occurred to me my nose likely had the same carbon footprint as some small countries.
The word refreshed seems a trite and inadequate term to describe my post treatment feeling. Hours of work stored as knots and tension in my body had been let released. Frustration with the day-to-day challenge of living with pollution was long forgotten. The sensation was one of preparedness to happily take on the stresses of work and being a foreign in a crowded and chaotic city. The experience is recommended to the weary business travel or anyone looking to be momentarily freed of their stresses. For more information contact Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta’s web site.
Nice ink! Nikole Lowe, one of the Stars of The Discovery Channel series “London Ink” will be in Bali at Potato Head Beach Club August 1-19.
Did you know Indonesian rockstar Sandhy Sondoro’s guitars are sponsored by German guitar manufacturer Lakewood? The same guitar that also sponsors iconic frontman Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews Band (DMB). Follow Sandhy on Twitter @sondoromusic. *Image courtesy of Sandhy Sondoro.
Indonesia now has its very own youtube.
youtube.co.id launched Thursday in the archipelago nation, which is amongst the top five social media using countries in the world. The site is set to target a local market with local advertisers. Indonesian content will also be much easier to find amongst videos from other countries. The new youtube’s logo appropriately features Monas, the Indonesian National Monument. Read local coverage from the Jakarta Globe and Jakarta Post.
How many of your favorite rock stars actually do it just for the music? If you look at Indonesian superstar Sandhy Sondoro’s history there is no denying what inspires him, and it isn’t the empty glam and fame.
Sondoro started his career in music as a busker on the streets of Germany, where he was a student. The experience influenced Sondoro enough to know that music was his passion and inspired one of his early and hit songs “Down on the Street.”
Sondoro’s fame took hold during the 2009 “New Wave” competition for young pop singers. Sandhy tied for first place after singing an inspirational version of “When a Man Loves a Woman.” After videos of his performance were uploaded to youtube, his fame grew even further, especially in his home country of Indonesia. Today, Sandhy continues to create music with a global reach. He has performed for dignitaries such as the presidents of Indonesia and Russia. His most recent album “Find the Way” is available on itunes for download. Check it out.
BANG! Take that bigotry wrapped in religious clothing! The day her canceled show was to be performed in Jakarta, Lady Gaga fans performed a Flash Mob outside eX Plaza Indonesia in Jakarta.
Gaga posted the youtube video to her own facebook page saying:
This made me cry so hard. This happened in Indonesia yesterday. I love you so much. You are the best fans in the world.
