Photo gallery: Beautiful but Desolate Kerepesi Jewish cemetery in Budapest

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

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


In Budapest earlier this month, I visited the Jewish cemetery on Salgotarjan street, which was founded in 1874 and is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Pest side of Budapest.

It is actually the Jewish section of the city’s Kerepesi monumental cemetery, where national heroes are buried — and is the final resting place of many wealthy and influential Hungarian Jews of the time. Massive family tombs of Jewish noble families and industrialists line the perimeter; but there are also the graves of ordinary people. There is also a section where Holocaust victims are buried.

I had not been there in years -- despite some efforts at clean-up some time back, the cemetery is more densely overgrown than ever and tragically neglected, and I was glad that a friend came with me, as I do not like wandering around there by myself. There used to be a lot of stories of homeless people camping down there, or others coming in to rob the graves. Once I was startled to flush out a pheasant. There is decent security now, though, and a responsible young caretaker (who tied up his dogs when we arrived).

Still, many of the huge tombs of families who once wielded social, political and financial power are literally crumbling; collapsing and being swallowed by vines and other vegetation. Some of them have been broken open: you can even see the coffins in the crypts.

Quite a few of the tombs are the work of leading architects of the day — such as Ignác Alpár, Sándor Fellner, Albert Körössy, Emil Vidor and Béla Lajta. Lajta, whose work prefigured art deco, also designed the entry way from the street and the massive Ceremonial Hall (now roofless), built around 1908.

I posted a gallery of photos on www.jewish-heritage-europe.eu, the web site that I coordinate for the Rothschild Foundation Europe.

Here are just a few of them  (all photos © Ruth Ellen Gruber) -- click here over to Jewish Heritage Europe to see the full selection.

Click to see more pictures   

Jewish Heritage Europe October newsletter is online

In a grand family tomb in the vast Kozma utca Jewish cemetery in Budapest

The Jewish Heritage Europe Newsletter for October went out last week….

This issue focuses on important completed synagogue restoration projects in several countries -- Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Lithuania -- plus other news highlights from around the continent that have been featured in recent weeks on Jewish Heritage Europe, the web site that I coordinate as a project of the Rothschild Foundation Europe.

There is also a link to the JHE Photo Galleries, a growing collection of galleries where many new images have been posted...Take a look -- one of the new galleries celebrates Simchat Torah with a series of images of decorated Arks from synagogues around Europe.

Ark in synagogue in Roman, Romania

You may submit your own photos to add to the galleries.

Click here to see the Newsletter in your browser -- better still,  sign up for automatic monthly delivery that will link you to a fascinating selection of updates and images from all around Europe.

There's a lot going on -- synagogue restorations, clean-ups of Jewish cemeteries, exhibition openings, guided tours, Jewish culture festivals -- and more.

You can also receive more frequent news by subscribing to the almost-daily newsfeed (blog) using the box on the the JHE home page.


Thanks!

Ratatouille La Gourmet - Tea room - Bar - Restaurant at Adda Heights, Johor Bahru

Ratatouille La Gourmet (N1.54783 E103.74606) is located at the corner lot of Jalan Adda 3/1 in Adda Heights, Johor Bahru.
Few months ago, Ratatouille was a stall in one of the food court situated in Taman Setia Indah. After several months of hardwork and effort by Chef Brian and the team, they successfully upgraded from a small stall to the well known restaurant in Johor Bahru today.
I admired their achievement!

Ratatouille La Gourmet

Ratatouille selected the white English theme as one of their attraction of the restaurant, it's also became the 'first' theme's restaurant in my favorite list.
The restaurant provide a clean and tidy outlook which really impressed! On the right side, there are some dining table for those customers who prefer natural air without air-conditioning.

The natural air corner...

Greeted by the friendly staffs once we stepped into the restaurant. I love the deco very much! The area is spacious which provide a comfort and cozy dining environment.

Nice deco with comfort dining environment

The windows at the both side have the white English tudor design, also choices for those diners who like to have window seat.

Back to back seat of dining tables

There's also a Victoria design's sofa especially for those who enjoy their afternoon tea and scones...

Afternoon tea area...

The dining area is comfortable for diner and even a small group of friends gather around...

The cutlery placed on each table...

I was impressed by the owner's idea with the well design and the provide different types dining tables for customers to choose their own preference.

Our food served on table pretty fast...let me show you the delicacies one-by-one...

Appetizer :-
Escargot - served in half dozen, with garlic breads side dish.

Escargot

Nice cheesy taste and the stuffing was not overly salty, always a good starter for your dinner.

Pepper steak.
Medium doneness, well prepared with pepper and served with mashed potatoes and ratatouille.

Pepper steak

Medium doneness

I always like the steak of Ratatouille. Well marinated and the pepper level was just nice! If you are steak lover, you shouldn't miss this!

Oxtail stew.
Whole oxtail being prepared for the dish. Magic cut by the Chef provide the true taste of the savory collagen within. The dish also served with potatoes, tomatoes and the nice beef gravy.

Oxtail stew

Garlic bread, mashed potatoes and broccoli as side dish for Oxtail stew.

Beside the delicious chewy bite of the oxtail, we like the beef gravy very much! The collagen was tender and fresh, we're really enjoyed this Oxtail stew from Ratatouille La Gourmet.

Grilled Lamb Rack
Grilled rack of lamb served with broccoli, ratatouille and the mint sauce. (serve in medium doneness)

Grilled lamb rack

The combination of the aromatic skin and the tender inside was marvelous! We took our time to taste this yummy lamb rack really slow...

Teriyaki Cod fish
Grilled cod fish bathing with teriyaki sauce, served with broccoli, carrots and mashed potatoes.

Teriyaki cod fish

The fresh cod fish with the Teriyaki sauce provide a perfect taste. It was juicy and nice to have for our dinner. It was a bit sweet for my personal taste bud.

Dinner won't complete without the desserts...
Ratatouille signature cheese cake

Signature cheese cake

The popular tiramisu

Lemon sugar pancake

Apple pie

The signature cheese cake was rich with cheese but not overly sweet. Aromatic tiramisu was a favorite dessert for most of the customer in the area. Lemon sugar pancake was a surprise where the pancake doesn't overly sweet and nice to have. According to the owner - Sherman, the Ratatouille Apple pie has a strong demand from the local, the special apple pie really filling after the main course.

The Ratatouille restaurant is also a perfect place for afternoon tea break with some cakes or scones, because of the special assign 'Hi-tea' area.

We will make our effort to drop by Ratatouille La Gourmet every now and then, not just only pass-by Adda Heights area. It is a excellent restaurant for lunch, tea break and dinner, even enjoy some beers in the evening.

Specially thanks to Brian and Sherman for the warm hospitality.

Ratatouille La Gourmet Tea Room · Bar · Restaurant
73, Jalan Adda 3/1, Adda Heights, Johor Bahru
Business hour : 11:00am to 11:00pm daily

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ratatouille-La-Gourmet/1420891281470133

GPS coordinates : N1.54783 E103.74606

Location map of Ratatouille La Gourmet at Adda Heights, Johor Bahru.

Kila Senggigi Beach Hotel at Senggigi beach, Lombok island - Indonesia

Kila Senggigi Beach Resort (S8.49782, E116.04846) is located at the northwest of Lombok island. The resort just situated next to the beautiful beach as the name of it.

The check-in process was smooth and everyone got their keys in less than 15 minutes.

The lobby of Kila Senggigi Beach Resort

There are many water features at the lobby and beautiful garden surrounding...with beautiful lush tropical gardens and a magnificent view.

Water features in the garden

The friendly staffs of the hotel were welcome us, the lobby area was nice with a open concept and well ventilated. Decorated with the Lombok culture design...

The front counter of Kila Senggigi Beach Hotel

The high ceiling at the lobby...

Kila Senggigi Beach Hotel is actually a resort type of hotel, located in Senggigi town, on a 12 acres land along the beach, beautiful.

Most of the rooms are chalet type, basically 8 rooms in one chalet...situated in spacious manicured gardens with plenty of shade trees. The grounds are absolutely immaculate.

Rooms in Kila Senggigi Beach Hotel

We had a double beds room, and let me show you around the room...

The attached bathroom is spacious...

The room albeit dated, size-wise was adequate with necessary furnishing, satisfied with it especially the cleanness. Every room has its own verandah with comfort sitting area, we were enjoying our beer and chatting session on the first night.
It's advise to choose the 2nd floor if you going for the sea view room, brilliant views from the room and Mt Agung over in Bali is visible.
Remember :-
Don't leave your room door open after six p.m., unless you don't mind a generous spray of insecticide in your room which the hotel graciously offers each evening.

Kila Senggigi beach hotel is an old hotel, first in Lombok, surrounded by greeneries and right at the seafront. Wi-Fi service is available throughout the whole resort with good bandwidth. The Italian restaurant is just sitting on the beach front and you can enjoy the spectacular sunset of Lombok accompany with the house's live band. The SPA also available but too bad we don't have enough time to enjoy it. The breakfast was good, so was the ala carte food served by the friendly and helpful staffs and good service.

If you are photography enthusiast, you can have a chance to take the milky way during the midnight at the dark beach area.

All-in-all, Kila Senggigi beach hotel is a nice and comfortable place to stay with, recommended.

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

Kila Senggigi Beach Hotel 

(Formerly Senggigi Beach Hotel)

Jalan Pantai Senggigi, PO Box 1001
Senggigi 83355, Lombok – Indonesia
Email : sbh.reservation@aerowisatahotels.com, sbh.info@aerowisatahotels.com
Web : http://www.senggigibeachhotel.com
Phone : +62 370 693210

Fax     : +62 370 693200

Location map of Kila Senggigi Beach Resort at Lombok island, Indonesia.