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.

Nearly 25 years later, revisiting the old question : Should old synagogues in Eastern Europe be restored?

Exterior Rumbach st. synagogue, Budapest, December 2011. Photo © Ruth Ellen Gruber

I'm crossposting this item that I put up today on Jewish Heritage Europe, the web site that I coordinate as a project of the Rothschild Foundation Europe. It looks back over the past quarter century of Jewish heritage preservation and priorities -- showing that despite progress that has been made and mind-sets that have changed, much still resonates:


Writing in September's Moment Magazine, Phyllis Myers posed the old question: should old synagogues in eastern Europe be saved?

Her answer — and mine — is, of course, a resounding YES.

It is important to remember, however, as Myers points out, that this answer was not self-evident — or even all that widely held — when she, and others involved in the field, first posed the question a quarter of a century ago, after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Myers first did so in a long article, also in Moment, published in 1990, called “The Old Shuls of Eastern Europe: Are They Worth Saving?”

It’s worth reading again today to get a sense of the situation on the ground — and in people’s mind-sets — back then, just as the movement to document and restore Jewish built heritage in eastern and central Europe was getting under way. In a sense, her article represented a sort of blueprint for what could — and should — be the preservation priorities for the coming generation.

As more restoration takes place, the need for integrity and creativity in communicating the many dimensions of the Jewish experience will grow. The answer is not just a series of plaques on the buildings. Or more exhibit cases of Jewish ceremonial objects. Or lists of famous Jews. We must strive to evoke a unique encounter between visitor and place. We need to remember that as time passes a n d travel increases, visi­tors will want to know more about how Jews lived as well as how Jews died.

A quarter of a century later, the essence of what she wrote still holds true. The priorities she outlined are still priorities that should be addressed, and — despite the many successes and great strides accomplished — her message and the concepts she framed still have a powerful resonance. Indeed, one of the synagogues whose deteriorated condition she specifically mentioned in 1990 – the Rumbach st. synagogue in Budapest — still languishes in a sorry state despite sporadic efforts to restore it.

   

Interior of Rumbach st. synagogue, 2011

“We preserve—buildings and places, the simple and the awesome—for many reasons,” Myers wrote in 1990.

We preserve to remember. For decades, Jewish preservation in Eastern Europe has focused primarily on places of death. Chasidim have tended cemeteries, especially the graves of Tzadikim (charismatic lead­ers), while other Jews have ensured that death camps remain as witnesses to a story that could otherwise become myth.
But preservation means Jewish life as well as death. When we walk in the footsteps of our forebears, contemplate their lives, stand in the places where they lived—and were betrayed—powerful linkages occur between their lives and ours.

We preserve to learn. American archi­tectural historian Carole Herselle Krinsky writes, “Synagogues…reveal especially clearly the connections between architecture and society.” Clues to self-perceptions of Jews over the centuries, the evolution of faith and culture and relations with Gentile neighbors abound in the shapes, materials, designs and settings of synagogues. Did a community choose Gothic or Moorish ar­ chitecture, site its synagogue on the street or set it back off a courtyard, retain a sepa­rate entrance for women or build a gallery in the main hall? Did it raise a dome high or low in the community’s skyline, place the bimah (pulpit) in the center of the main hall or on the east wall? Did it hire a Jewish, Gentile or Viennese architect? Why did poor Jewish artists in old Poland decorate their synagogue walls with colorful, representational frescoes and pious prayers?

We preserve to provide settings for dia­logue. It is true that in many places in East­ern Europe few, if any, Jews are left, and to talk about understanding, much less recon­ ciliation, would be glib. Yet a dialogue that goes beyond the “chamber of horrors” of the Shoah is clearly underway, fostered in special ways by sites embedded with memo­ries. [...]

We preserve to transcend. On Simchat Torah, 1989, Cracow’s revered Remuh Synagogue, rebuilt but used continuously since the mid-1550s, re­verberated as 40 Israeli teenagers took over the service from a forlorn group of elderly survivors and vibrantly danced and sang “Am Yisrael Chat”—the people of Israel live. The benefactor who paid for the Szeged synagogue’s restoration put it this way: “I just want to know that the synagogue I remem­ber from my childhood is still there.” [...]

We preserve to fulfill our commit­ ment to life. For preservation to play this role—or any successful role—in Eastern Europe, sites need to be acces­sible, marked and interpreted in com­pelling ways. [...]

Click here to read Myers’s 1990 Moment article

Thailand - Bangkok : #FoodHoppingBKK Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant

Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant

"This is the most 

unusual 

restaurant theme 

I ever went."

The main concept of this restaurant is to promote better understanding and acceptance of family planning as well as to generate income to support various development activities of the Population and Community Development Association (PDA). #notPublicDisplayofAffection

In short, is to promote safe sex. This topic has been the sensitive and taboo in the past, but now is widely discussed even by school children before we knew it.

Cabbages and condoms? Why put two unrelated things together?
They believe that birth control - condoms should be as easy as buying cabbages in the market.

Their restaurant's slogan 

"Our food is 

guaranteed NOT to 

cause pregnancy". 

Upon entering, we were led by a long S course walkway which made us feel like we are heading to a deep secretive cave to nowhere. We were cursing while we dragged our luggages along as this was our first stop once we touched down. We should have just stop by our hotel first..

We were first led to their handicraft shop before entering the restaurant. The handicraft shop no doubt selling products and souvenir that support their original concept and mainly are censored stuff.. lol

All kinds of posters are hanging all around the place to convey their one and only important message to their customers.

We were first greeted by this Santa Claus and his two reindeers figures upon entering the restaurant. Initially, I did not think too much as I was rushing to my table because I was too hungry from the flight. Suddenly, it struck me that they were covered by condoms so I reversed my steps to see clearly. It was a little gross when I realised my head was too close to them so I immediately withdrew my head back before I smell anything funny. 

A few steps away, there was also a mannequins couple dressed in flashy coloured condoms beside a framed poster titled "Safe Sex". 

I took this photo at a distance. Thank god for the zoom function LOL 

Actually I am quite impressed with the design of the outfit.

After losing half of the appetite, we finally entered the restaurant thinking what if our food also come with condoms.....

The restaurant is divided into two sections - Al fresco and indoor dining.

We chose a table in alfresco dining as it was too romantic to dine in such a beautiful lit up canopy with trees and low-handing vines. It felt like Christmas~ especially most of their customers were westerners. 

I started to wander around while waiting for our food. I spotted more and more condoms decorations.

Ok this is a very normal hanging lamp.... until..

...until I saw this above my head...

...and this... they lit up the whole alfresco dining area. Hope they do not add any more ingredient on to the food below them..

...table lamp...

Food was finally here!

Not a fan for coconut but it is bf's favorite.

Khao Song See 40bahts each

Combination of white and red jasmine rice that made with loves~~

Kratong Thong 120bahts

Minced chicken and corn served in waffle cups

Chaw Muang 120bahts

Steamed minced chicken and onion wrapped in a dough

We ordered this because it was too picture-worthy but it turned out actually quite nice.

Nuea Phad Nam Mun Hol 250bahts

Stir-fried beef with oyster sauce

Poo Lone 170bahts

Steamed crab meat cooked in coconut milk, served with vegetables 

so-so only... and I do not usually eat raw vegetable..

Some restaurants provides mints or mentos aftermeal but it is too mainstream for this C&C restaurant.

"Are these supposed to used to decorate their furnitures?" lol

 I must clap and say "Well played, Cabbages and Condoms. Nicely done and fully usage with your decoration to convey the message."

Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant

Address: 6 Sukhunvit Soi 12, Sukhumvit Road, Khong Toei, Bangkok 10110 Thailand. 

Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Direction: Take the sky train on BTS Sukhumvit Line to Asok Station. Look for Soi 12 and the restaurant is 5 minutes walk from the station.

Web: http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/

Seafood dinner along the Senggigi beach at Lombok island - Indonesia.

Traveling almost about 1 hour 30 minutes (approx. 60km) from Sade Village, passed by Mataram City (Capitol of Lombok)...we finally reached the Senggigi beach of Lombok. All of us agree to have our seafood dinner at Warung Menega (S8.52497 E116.06554) before check in to the resort.

Warung Menega of Senggigi beach, Lombok

The first scene that caught our attention was the smoky roof of the kitchen...

Everyone was curious about what happening in the kitchen...then, we discovered the grilling method is using charcoal and coir which resulted the smoky environment...

Let's have a tour in the kitchen before the dining area...

The seafood prepared for grilling...

The kitchen of Warung Menega, Lombok

The 'warung' (common word as a restaurant) had a simple setting, where you have a options of indoor dining area or the outdoor area on the beach. For us, we definitely choose the beach area...

The outdoor dining area...

As usual, everyone was busy photographing the surrounding of the restaurant before the foods serve on table...

Next to the restaurant, there were many fishing boats parking around...felt excited because we will going to experience the boat ride tomorrow for island hoping, looking forward about it...

Fishing boats parking next to the restaurant...

The seafood served on table pretty fast, most of us had the same package which were the fish, prawns, clams and squids. Some of us chose only fish and some don't take prawns... flexible package.
But all of us had one plate of kang-kong (water spinach) with the local recipe sambal chili, and unlimited rice...

Kangkong with sambal

The seafood offered by Warung Menaga, Senggigi beach of Lombok

The fish...

The squids...

I like the local sambal very much! It was aromatic and hot!
Believe all the seafood grilled with the same sauce and recipe, the prawns, fish and squids were finger-linking good! And the clams taste the best among all...
All the seafood were perfectly succulent, sweet and spicy. Impressed by the local recipes. But the magical part was the yummy sauces...dark sweet soy sauce, garlic, local sambal and chili with onions. Every sauce provided different taste with the seafood, I love the chili onions and the sambal very much!

The different types of sauces which made the perfect taste of the seafood

It was a total different experience having our dinner here, while enjoying the seafood in our hands and watching the beautiful sunset...

The dining area was full...

The outdoor dining area was full after the night fall...

The cloudy sunset of Senggigi beach of Lombok

Beside the seafood delights and the sunset, I like to concentrate on those fishing boats back to the shores...

Time to go home...

We were satisfied with the seafood dinner in Warung Menega. As I look into the menu, prices are reasonable too...I guess I'll be back again on my next visit to Lombok.

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

Warung Menega Lombok

Jalan Raya Senggigi, Kilometre 6

+62 0 370 692 057.

kembarmenega@yahoo.com

Location map of Warung Menega at Senggigi Beach of Lombok island, Indonesia.