Ashtari Restaurant and Lounge at South Lombok Island, Indonesia

After our 'suntan session' from the 2 beaches - Selong Belanak and Mawun beach, we were starving for food...traveling about 7km of winding road from the beach, we finally reached Ashtari Restaurant and Lounge (S8.88255 E116.26417).

Entrance of Ashtari Restaurant in Lombok

While I walked into the restaurant area, noticed one tiny signage nailed on the tree...took a closer look, it stated "Yoga Platform". Oh my goodness! Great! The Yoga activities within the nature! But I didn't manage to take a shot on the platform because it was not ready yet...

The signage to the Yoga platform, Ashtari Lombok

The restaurant is situated on a small hill, everyone of us enjoying the walk from the entrance up to the restaurant...

Ashtari restaurant

The first stunning view attracted all of us was the balcony which overlooking the Kuta town and the beach. It was a spectacular view!

The spectacular view from Ashtari Restaurant overlooking the Kuta town and beach

Let me show you around the restaurant...
By walking into the main dining area, the place is full of bean bags...new concept of a restaurant.

Main dining area...

Beside the bean bags area in the center of the restaurant, there are others different design of dining tables and chairs surrounded...

With the sitting areas above, I believe the balcony is the popular area. And yes! We chose the balcony too!

The balcony dining area of Ashtari Restaurant

The balcony area has the perfect panoramic view of the beautiful surrounding.

The friendly owner is Mr Priss, who born in Paris.

Mr Priss - the owner of the restaurant

Mr Priss was an architect and a designer who had few hobbies in cooking and music. He was a director of a restaurant and club in Paris, and also owner of a restaurants in France. Before he came to Indonesia, he did the architecture and design for the Arabian Palace in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Mr Priss and his wife suddenly think of change their life style and decided to started a restaurant in Bali called La Plage in Legian area, the restaurant continued to operated for 5 years. Beside the restaurant in Bali, he also managed to designed and constructed 5 villas in Bali island of Indonesia. Now, Mr Priss became one of the partners of Ashtari Restaurant and he been running it now for a year.

Before our food serve on table, everyone was busy taking photo around the restaurant...some just mesmerized by the breathtaking scenery of Ashrati Restaurant...her name is Karen.

Mesmerized by the sunning view around - Karen

At first, we had some starter...

The starter before the main course...

Then followed by the main courses...
Most of us decided to try out their local dishes, so I had the seafood Nasi Goreng Kampung and other tour mates ordered the local seafood mee goreng, some tasted the beef burger...

Seafood nasi goreng kampung

Seafood mee goreng

Beef burger with side dish

Beside the main courses above, it's strongly recommended you ordered the extra local sambal (chili) for those who can take spicy chili, it was hot and marvelous! We all like it very much!

The recommended local sambal which went well with most of the dishes

The foods were really surprised us with the local and original taste! Provided with the different recipe which we had it in our country, and the portion was big enough to satisfied our hunger, delicious!

Dessert came after our meals, I tried the pancakes with Nutella and banana...oh man! Nice and not overly sweet.

The pancakes with Nutella and banana

The restaurant is also a perfect chilled out place for a ice cold beer while watching the sunset...

After we finished our wonderful meals, everyone was relax on the bean bags and enjoyed their drinks...

Because of our schedule, we cannot laying on the bean bags for too long...too bad...
We started our journey to the next destination...

* Strongly recommended restaurant, must visit at least once if you are travel to Lombok island.

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Ashtari Restaurant and Lounge

Address : Ashtari Estate, Jalan Raya ke Mawun Prabu, Pujut, Lombok, Indonesia.

Contact:+62-877-6549-7625

Email : contact@ashtarilombok.com / jeanmarc@ashtarilombok.com

Website : http://www.ashtarilombok.com/

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AshtariLombok

Location map of Ashtari Restaurant and Lounge at Lombok Island

More than 40 Jewish Culture, etc, festivals each year in Poland!

Singer's Warsaw Festival, 2011

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

Readers of this blog know that each year since 2009 I have tried to put together a list of Jewish culture, music, film -- etc -- festivals that take place around Europe.

This year (so far) the list includes 40 or so, in more than a dozen countries.

My list is far from totally comprehensive -- I know I miss quite a few events. But I believe it is still probably the most complete list of such festivals Europe-wide.

Still, my list's incomplete-ness is borne out by a list of Jewish culture and other festivals in Poland, researched and complied by Agnieszka Gis, a young volunteer at the Krakow Jewish Community Center who this summer is working as an intern at the Taube Foundation in San Francisco.

Agnieszka's list includes more than 40 festivals, of all sorts. That's 40 Jewish culture, film, music and other such festivals in Poland alone -- a country whose Jewish community today numbers probably some 15,000 or so!

There are big festivals, such as the Jewish Culture Festival in Krakow and the Singer's Warsaw festival in Warsaw. But many are in small towns and even  far-flung villages. Most are organized by non-Jews and directed at a non-Jewish audience, perfect examples of what I have I described as the "virtually Jewish" phenomenon.

Click here to see Agnieszka's list in PDF form (you will have to enlarge it to read)

Discovered another beautiful beach at south Lombok island - Mawun beach.

Mawun beach (S8.90072 E116.22682) is located approximately 10km from Selong Belanak beach and the journey was only took 20 minutes from the previous location. The sandy white beach stretch about 1.5km, the sands are very fine and soft...it took around 15-20 minutes to stroll from point to point. The emerald lagoon is protected by two rocky headlands, and made the calm and peaceful water of the beach.

Mawun beach and our tour mates

The beach was not crowded at all, it was so relax while laying on the beach. The crystal clear water really made us want to jump into the sea immediately! Too bad we didn't prepare for the swim, it was a miss!

I found the right view of the beach look better maybe just because of the company of the rocky mountain...

The right view of Mawun beach

There were group of women selling souvenirs over there, but they were friendly and not really hard sell type...

There is no resort or hotel in the vicinity, the closer resorts you can get are from Kuta beach, Lombok.
Due to everyone was hungry, we left the beach after laying around for 20 minutes...and heading to the restaurant in our itinerary...

Cynthia and Hui Ying (Lombok tour mates)

Next destination will be our first meal in Lombok - Ashtari restaurant and longe...

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Location map of Mawun beach of south Lombok island, Indonesia.

The August Jewish Heritage Europe Newsletter is Out!

Synagogue in Orla, Poland. Photo: W. Wejman/Shtetl Routes

The latest edition -- August -- of the Jewish Heritage Europe monthly Newsletter is out, and up online.

It features a selection of items that were posted on JHE's regular Newsfeed over the past month.

Top story is the series of "field notes" from the ambitious Shtetl Routes project, a Jewish heritage tourism project in Poland, Belarus and Ukraine that is under way with a more than $400,000 grant from the European Union.

Other stories range from the completed restoration of the synagogue in Tulcea, Romania to archaeology at Krakow's Old Synagogue.

Take a look!

It's easy to subscribe -- you'll get the Newsletter automatically in your email inbox.

Also subscribe to the regular Newsfeed for more frequent updates about what's happening in the Jewish heritage world.

New tourism app for Jewish Basel, Switzerland

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

This also appears on my En Route blog for the LA Jewish Journal

Going to Basel, Switzerland and interested in Jewish life and heritage?

Then you'll want to get a new app for smartphones and tablets that is officially being launched on August 26.

Called "Baleph," the app is designed for both IOS and Android platforms and is in English and German.

It leads the user on a "stroll through Basel's Jewish history" via a 13-stop, multimedia walking tour that highlights Jewish history in the city from the middle ages to the present. Featuring  text, sound, and images, an Interactive timeline, and a city map with GPS function, it contains 65 minutes of audio material covering a tour lasting 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Here are the links:

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/baleph/id895724718?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.merianstiftung.baleph&hl=en

Website: www.baleph.ch

Unexplored Selong Belanak beach at Sempiak Villa, Lombok island - Indonesia

From the Lombok International Airport to Selong Belanak beach (S8.87085 E116.16253) is approximately 25km, and the journey take around 30 - 45 minutes depends on the road condition.

The ride was similar with the previous, and pass through paddies fields, winding roads, villages and tobacco farms. At certain area, the road was bumpy and steep...
Less than 20 minutes from the previous photo taking spot, our van reached Sempiak Villa entrance, as Pak Uji said, we have to go through this villa to the beach. Sempiak Villa is the only star rated resort at the South of Lombok, according to him.

The entrance is free, but we had to paid the parking fee to the resort, Rp.3000 if I'm not mistaken. Everyone was excitedly got down from the van and walked towards the beach...

The Airasia FAM Media team

Due to limited time, I didn't take any photo of the Villa...too bad because it was a beautiful resort...

The beach is just about 50 meter away from the Villa, and I was shocked by the unspoilt, amazing white sandy beach appeared in front of us!

Selong Belanak beach of Lombok island

The area is still relatively untouched by tourists, it's also consider a 'hidden gem' of Lombok. Selong belanak is a beautiful bay with white sandy beach enveloped by a lush green surrounded hills. The water is crystal clear and the whole area was clean and quiet.
Even the beach is gaining popularity day-by-day, but its still well maintain and I remember no rubbish around...

The merciless sun on that day was killing, some of us were hiding under the trees...but some were running around the beach...

Selong Belanak beach is also a perfect place for practice surfing in Lombok. Due to the geography location and the sloping beach, the wave is not too strong and perfect for new learner.

It was a relax and fun watched those surfers paddle out into the bay...

The boy in action!

We took about 30 minutes around the beach, some of us running around to captured their best photo of the beach and some were sitting under the cooling area admiring the beautiful beach.

We left the Selong Belanak beach and the journey continue to the next beautiful - Mawun beach.

The small dried forest along our journey...

I will be back to the beach and hopefully the Villa will be available for my next visit.

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Location map of Selong Belanak beach at the south of Lombok island - Indonesia.

Photo taking point 1 before Selong Belanak beach, Lombok Island

Since the Lombok International Airport is located almost the south of Lombok island, we started our journey to the attractions at the south island before check-in to the resort which is at the north west of the island.

Our first destination was Selong Belanak beach, that will be approximately 22KM travel from the airport. Along the way, with the winding roads, villages, and we passed by this tobacco farm (S8.81711 E116.21746). According to Pak Uji, Lombok island is the biggest tobacco supply to the whole Indonesia market.

Tobacco farm of Lombok island

Before we reach the beach, suddenly everyone in the car surprised with the stunning view ahead of us! The driver (Pak Zaki) was very kind, and he stopped at one of the photo taking point (S8.85585 E116.17915) (small hill) to let us satisfied with our cameras...

Everyone out from the vehicle without hesitation! It was a very nice spot where surrounded by the beautiful scenery. The place was close to the beach, which about less than 3km from Selong Belanak beach.

Selong Belanak from far view

The first scene which attracted me was the 'blue' colour of the sea, accompany with the total blue sky separated by the horizon. The total scenery painted a beautiful picture just in front of us! Amazing!

The scenery behind us...

Don't miss out the scenery behind the small hill where we stand, by looking at the mountains and blue sky, we felt the dryness of the island. Can you feel it too?

30 minutes later, everyone satisfied with their photos, our tour continued...
Initially I thought the place was quite deserted until we saw others visitors keep coming in...it should be a hot spot area!

Another group of visitor riding on the bike to the small hill...

We continued the journey for another 3.2km to the beach....

Related post for Lombok island trip :-
*  Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Airasia media FAM trip to Lombok Island - Indonesia on July 2014

Lombok island is located at Nusa Tenggara Barat of Indonesia. It is a island with full of nature, unspoiled beach and friendly peoples. The island is different with its neighbor - Bali island, which is less commercial and more original...the island is suitable for nature lover and for those who like relax holiday. The Lombok Tourism is doing their best to attract more visitors to the island, they strongly promote the beautiful nature of the island like Mount Rinjani and the rest...
If you like to know more of Lombok island, please click here.

Weather and climate in Lombok
Lombok is dry and less rain compare with Bali, the dry season run from May through September and the wet season is from October to April. Most of the tourists visit Lombok during the dry season, but the wet season is less humid and the rainfall is not overly high. The average year-round temperatures is 26°C to 29°C. I would prefer the month from August to October, because of the hot, humid, sunny and beautiful weather that perfect for photography.

The Airasia FAM trip to Lombok Island was on July, 2014, this trip was hosted by Airasia and Lombok Tourism Board. I was invited for the 4 days 3 nights trip together with a group of travel bloggers from North Penang, Johor Bahru and Singapore.

It was also the maiden direct flight from Senai to Lombok island, a day to remember 12th July 2014. There are 3 routes a week which is Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Airasia had launched 3 new flights from Senai International Airport to 1) Lombok island, 2) Jogjakarta and 3) Ho Chi Minh City.
'Free' sky shuttle bus provided from Singapore to Senai, it's actually a hassle free traveling to Senai airport for Singapore passengers. The pickup points are : Kranji MRT station / Queen Street bus station / Newton Circus. For more information, please visit the Airasia website here.

There were 12 of us in the group...a lovely couple from Penang, 2 lovely ladies of Airasia from Kuala Lumpur, 4 popular bloggers from Singapore, 1 cute girl represent Airasia from Singapore and 3 bloggers from Johor Bahru included myself. We all met at Senai International Airport around 6.50am, and our journey to Lombok started...

AK486 from Airasia was ready for Lombok

Our flight was filled with joyfulness! Some of the passengers were excited because they be able a ride on this AK486 direct flight from Senai to Lombok, they were going back home town!

While waiting for the passengers on board - AK486

I noticed there was a male flight attendant had attracted most of the women on board, his name is Eddy who was the handsome guy on the AK486. :)

The flight attendant - Mr Eddy

There was an entertainment during the flight to Lombok. Some singing and souvenirs giveaway...everyone was so happy.

We had our breakfast on board by this simple 'nasi lemak'. Surprisingly, the sambal was yummy and we all like it. You can enjoy the tasty meals for 20% off by pre-book online (in the official website).

The nasi lemak on board - Airasia AK486

The flight took 2 hours and 40 minutes. Once we touched down Lombok International Airport, we had a warm welcome from the Lombok Tourism...

Lombok International Airport

The Lombok International Airport was just started operation on 1st October 2011, the main purpose of the airport is to promote the beautiful island to the World. It located at the south west of Mataram (Capital of Lombok Island), and the airport deploys in 551.8 hectares with cost Rp.945.8 billion. The Lombok International Airport area has the second largest area after Soekarno-Hatta International Airport

The airport clearance was smooth and all of us were greeted by Pak Uji - The Lombok Tourism's Public Relations Director at the airport. He was also our super tour guide for the 4 days 3 nights trip in Lombok island.

Short briefing from Pak Uji before our trip in Lombok

Airasia Media FAM Trip 2014 in Lombok Island

Because of the airport location, we were not check into the resort immediately, but to cover the south part of the island before heading to our resort at Senggiri Beach.

Our itinerary in Lombok - 4 days 3 nights :-
Day 1
*  The first stop before the beach of Selong Belanak for photo taking.
*  Selong Belanak beach (through Sempiak Villas)
*  Mawun beach
*  Lunch at Ashtari Restaurant and Lounge
*  Kuta beach of Lombok
*  The Sade Village for Sasak villagers - the native of Lombok
*  Dinner at Warong Menega, Senggigi beach
*  Check-in to Kila Senggigi Beach Resort.
*  Free and easy.

Day 2
*  Grilled fish stall spotted before the Tawun jetty to Gili Nanggu.
*  Snorkeling and islands hopping - Gili Nanggu.
*  Lunch at Nirvana Beach Restaurant, Gili Sudak (another island next to Gili Nanggu)
*  Starfish spotted on the return trip from Gili Sudak.
*  Enjoyed Arabian Cuisine for dinner and Al-Hamra Restaurant, Mataram.
*  Enjoy and relax at Happy Cafe, Senggigi beach.

Day 3
*  Visited Pasar Gunungsari (local wet market)
*  Lunch at Senaru Village
*  Sendang Gile Waterfall - Mount Rinjani national park’s best known attraction
*  Tuna sate stall at Tanjung
*  Autore pearl farm
*  Cape Malimbu for sunset photo taking
*  Farewell dinner with Pak Taufan and the Lombok Tourism at Kila Senggigi Resort

Day 4
*  Breakfast at Kila Senggigi Resort
*  Bye-bye to Lombok and depart for Lombok International Airport.

The places that we missed :-
*  Sukarare village - renowned for its traditional hand weaving of brightly patterned songket, ikat and sarong cloth.
*  Taman Narmada built in 1727 by King Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Karang Asem as the kingly garden as well as the place to worship. Its spring water is believed to grant the eternal youth for the believers.
*  Lingsar temple (built in 1714) – famous as the only Hindhu temple in the world, which also happily accept their Moslem brothers to worship together. This temple symbolizes the harmony and unity of both religions.
*  Banyumulek Village which famous for its pottery
*  Pusuk Pass
*  Autore pearl farm

"I was really impressed by this magical island from the unspoiled nature, it won't be bore for me to travel as many times as I can. Because of the places we missed due to limited time on our trip, that will be a good reason for me to go back to Lombok again."
It was a blissful holiday for us!

Beside the island, I would like to say thousand thanks to Pak Uji, who was the perfect host and very knowledgeable during the trip. He can answer all our questions immediately without checking his tourism bible. Pak Uji is a friendly, humble and talented guy. Our trip was well arranged by him and the responsible driver - Pak Zaki (he speak Indonesian and limited English)
This 2 guys made our Pleasant Vacation in Lombok!

Contact information :-
*  Pak Uji
    Cell phone - +62 817-5704-926
    Email - ujigaffar@yahoo.com

*  Pak Zaki
    Cell phone - +62-878-6356-4900

The handsome Pak Uji - The Lombok Tourism's Public Relations Director cum our tour guide in Lombok

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*  The detail blog post of every places we visited will be coming soon, stay tune!