Puri Punga Cottages in Senggigi Lombok – On Terraced Slopes of Beautiful Flowers

Four hours east of Bali, separated by a four kilometer deep trench, lies the island of Lombok. Lombok is part of unspoiled Indonesia. Dominated by Mount Rinjani, a huge volcano rising 3,700 meters, the island has picturesque rice terraces and flat fertile plains down to the sea.

Lombok is also where the transition towards eastern Indonesia begins, both naturally and culturally. The northern part of Lombok is mountainous and verdant with tall trees and shrubs covering the land. The western part of the island is the greenest and most humid. As one moves east, the dry season become more pronounced, and in many areas corn and sago instead of rice, are the staple foods. Lombok's chief resort is Senggigi beach, offering stunning beaches and range of accommodation. Coral can be seen in abundance just offshore.

Many people visit Lombok to get away from it all. There's a unique island ambiance that appeals to those seeking privacy. Described as one of the most promising tourism destinations in Indonesia, it offers scenic beauty, and unique culture. Also thought to be paradise island waiting to be discovered by those longing for joyful and peaceful adventure.

Indonesia's pristine Lombok Island is making a concerted effort to build itself up as the next Bali, while trying to maintain its natural charm. It's immediately clear that it's more laid back and less touristy, even though tourism is the island's largest source of income. Here are landscapes and cultures that are uniquely Lombok. As the old saying goes, 'You can see Bali in Lombok but you can't see Lombok in Bali'."

The Puri Bunga resort at Senggigi beach offers such memorable stay. Positioned on terraced slopes of beautiful flowers, the resort stretches between two green valleys within walking distance from the white sands of Senggigi Beach.

Mr. Marcel Navest, Director of Puri Bunga Cottages in Senggigi welcome to the interview.

Q: How is life over there in Lombok?
Marcel Navest: Life in Lombok is absolutely beautiful, quiet, clean air, no traffic jams, beautiful beaches, unspoiled nature, no stress and delicious food.

Q: What does Puri Punga mean?
Marcel Navest: Puri means temple and palace of the gods, and bunga means flower, so it can be translated as flower palace.

Q: Tell us something about the resort, location and how to get there, best time to visit?
Marcel Navest: My resort is located at 15 minutes from Selaparang International Airport which has many flights from Bali, Surabaya and Jakarta. There are also direct flights with Silk Air (sister company of Singapore Airlines) directly from Singapore and a daily flight from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

There are also slow public ferries from Bali which take up to 5 hours to cross to Lombok and which are very uncomfortable but adventurous. The resort is located overlooking the Senggigi beach and the Lombok Straight with beautiful sunsets.

Lombok is beautiful the whole year through, although the colder and dry time of the year (June – September) is a very good time. The raining season is also a very good time, the nature is much greener. Rain only lasts a few hours and makes the air fresh.

Lombok is the main (but smaller) island of the West Nusa Tenggara province with Lombok and Sumbawa being the main islands of the province, with to the west its boundaries with Bali, and to the east Komodo Island and the islands of Flores, Sumba and Timor.

Q: Your welcome message and philosophy:
Marcel Navest: The ideal place to de-stress and enjoy life.

Q: Can you give us a guided your resort:
Marcel Navest: Theresort is built on a hill and consists of 30 cottages. The standard and deluxe cottages have 2 rooms, and the suite rooms are private cottages.

All rooms have sea view, a private balcony, air-conditioning, hot water, Satellite TV, an internet hotspot and of course - a large swimming pool.

Q: What was important when creating this resort?
Marcel Navest: For me it is very important to be different than the other hotels. All rooms are different with lots of woodcarving and creative designs and bright colors. I don’t know any other hotel on this island which is similar. If you look at the large multinational hotels, you cannot distinguish a room on this island, in Jakarta, Singapore or any other place as the furniture and layout in every hotel is more or less the same.

Even when fully occupied it still seems like there are few customers.

What kind of vacations offers Puri Punga resort?
Marcel Navest: Puri Bunga Beach Cottages offers a vacation for people who are looking for a quiet vacation and don’t want a hotel where you feel ashamed if you have dinner in shorts in the restaurant and guests don’t complete in showing off a different bathing suite every day.

My guests mostly plan to stay just one or two nights, and in many cases end up staying the rest of their vacation. A big advantage is also that all tourist attractions on Lombok can be reached by car within a limited time and there is no such thing as traffic jams on this island.

The only delay could be an impressive marriage ceremonial procession crossing the road.

Q: Any entertainment facilities?
Marcel Navest: Upon request I organize dinner buffets which are accompanied by a traditional orchestra and traditional dance performances. All other entertainment is all reachable by walking not more than 3 minutes to discotheques, supermarkets, internet cafes, and romantic beachfront restaurants.

Q: Festive settings, dining, hosting of memorable events:
Marcel Navest: The beautifully landscaped flower garden has great possibilities for wedding ceremonies and social activities for groups including a wide area suitable for a large bonfire at night.

The garden is very romantically lit at night.

Q: A Ramadan special offer?
Marcel Navest: The first 3 weeks of the Ramadan are always relatively quiet here in Lombok, therefore I offer 2 bonus nights for every three nights booked over the internet during this period.

Q: Culinary experience, a Lombok special:
Marcel Navest: In Indonesian the word Lombok means Chilly pepper. Therefore the traditional food is very spicy. Most famous here is Taliwang chicken. All kinds of restaurants are available in the near area of the hotel, offering western, Indonesian, Italian, Korean food and in the near distance even a McDonalds.

Q: Other services and facilities:
Marcel Navest: The hotel can provide transfers to and from the airport and is free of charge if staying more than 3 nights. If necessary a doctor can be called in if needed by a staying guest.

Q: Activity options, activities, tours, interesting trips:
Marcel Navest: Lombok has very nice waterfalls, unlimited rice fields, idyllic tropical islands for snorkeling and diving, many temples and mosques.

Q: Shopping, crafts:
Marcel Navest: Next to the hotel is an art market selling pearls, woodcarving, hand made weaving, pottery and clothes

Q: Which other facilities make your resort so special:
Marcel Navest: Every cottage has a magnificent view over the sea and beach with coconut palm trees, other hotels only have a few rooms with sea view and most rooms looking into the neighbors room or swimming pool.

Q: How is your season so far
Marcel Navest: Indonesia has had trouble recovering from the bomb attack in Bali in 2002, and 2008 is the first year with a very significant increase in tourism compared to the previous years. Therefore I am very satisfied with my business.

Q: Who are your guests
Marcel Navest: Most of my guests are Dutch, French, German, Swedish, Canadian, Indonesian, Australian, and have some guests from Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, India, and other countries.

Q: Reflection:
Marcel Navest: People give me a plenty of positive feedback here at the hotel.

Q: Which markets or group are you targeting
Marcel Navest: Main target is the domestic market mainly from Jakarta, as this market is not related to seasons. The European market is limited to approximately 3 months a year where the remaining months are relatively quiet. Therefore the focus is not both markets to try to have a good occupancy the whole year through.

Q: Why on earth Lombok?
Marcel Navest: My first visit to Indonesia was in 1988, including a visit to Lombok, the following years I visited Indonesia again and again. I think I just fell in love with the country, like the so many guests I welcome back every year, and in many cases several times a year.

For me it has something to do with the nature, lifestyle and the limited luxury compared to an advanced country were everybody is impersonal and daily life only about work and money where you have to schedule an appointment with your best friend.

Mr. Marcel Navest in Lombok, thank you.

A Brief Lombok Guide
North-west Lombok is a popular destination with divers, snorkelers and swimmers. The interior adventure industry is just beginning. Rafting on fast flowing rivers, trekking and fishing are just a few of the activities currently on offer.

Mount Rinjani - which dominates the entire island, hides a large and spectacular emerald green lake inside a 4 kilometer wide caldera. Inside - a world of bubbling hot springs, tumbling waterfalls, steep slopes and rare unusual birds..

Golf - Lombok has two international standard golf courses
Sasak pottery is considered a high art form in Indonesia, especially pieces from the area around Kediri in West Lombok where you can view the whole pottery making process.
Sengkol, Sukarare and Puyung are known for exquisitely woven and embroidered "kebaya" head scarves and sarongs.

Picturing Puri Punga Cottages in Senggigi, Lombok

Puri Bunga Cottages Senggigi, Indonesia Home Page
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