Klub Kokos

News - Staff & Guests

August 2002 Newsletter

School Library
Ceremonies
School News
Staff/Guest News
Featured Recipe
(Sayur Tumis - Stir-fried Vegetables)

Ketut Mariani (a past cook from KLUB KOKOS & wife
of Ketut Partha, one of our favourite drivers) visited us with her daughter earlier in the year

One of the things that guests at KLUB KOKOS often comment about is how well our staff get along together. By working more as a family, problems are worked out through discussion and compromise, as is the way in Bali, rather than through confrontation.

We have a high proportion of long-term staff in our KLUB KOKOS 'family', and a number are now also raising their own families. While there were no new births within the staff over the past six months, I've included a photo update of some of their children's development.

We were saddened by the loss of Komang's auntie in April, when she suddenly died after a short illness. Her death has been a blow to the community of Bangkiang Sidem in general, as she ran the largest of the warung (small general purpose shops) within this village, opening back in the 1960s. Her cremation will be a part of the mass cremation to be held on August 19th.

Entrance to
Dewangga Art Gallery

The KLUB KOKOS Gallery is currently exhibiting a collection of Krishna's oil pastel, dry pastel and acrylic work. He has also recently been involved in another exhibition with his three artist colleagues that form the group Kangin-Kauh - at the new Dewangga Art Gallery in Ubud - owned by one of the group's members, Gusti Suteja. The Dewangga Gallery will be used for a more permanent exhibition of sketches made by his late grandfather, Lempad. To view some of the acrylic paintings that Krishna has produced for the exhibition in Ubud, please refer to the new gallery page.

Guests help with the Balinese-style decorations

Local children perform the Panyembrama (Welcome Dance) as an opening for a special celebration

Players of the tingklik (bamboo xylophone) and suling (flute) add to the festive atmosphere

A gathering of June birthdays is catered in fine style at KLUB KOKOS, making the occasion one to remember

KLUB KOKOS is an ideal spot for a family reunion, where widely scattered family may meet to spend time together in an exotic setting

With our close ties to the local community, we are also delighted to be able to involve them in special celebrations that are held at KLUB KOKOS. For any of our guests that would like to make something very special of their time with us; whether it be for a birthday, anniversary, family reunion or just a general 'farewell' party for a common interest group, we are very happy to involve the community to help add colour to all of the celebrations:

• Children from our village have a renewed interest in developing their skills in traditional Balinese dance to perform for any of the local ceremonies held in the temples here, as well as to add that special touch to private celebrations held at KLUB KOKOS.
• Our neighbour Made Sudarsana, who has instructed many of our guests in the fundamentals of Balinese music when learning the tingklik (bamboo xylophone), has formed a group with two of his friends to play the soft background Rindik music during the Balinese feast that is prepared for such occasions.
• Guests are invited to participate in making some of the beautiful decorations, while they can see how the centre-piece of such a feast - the babi guling (suckling pig) - is prepared by our specialist Balinese cooks, led by a very capable Gusti Aji.

If you would like to include a special celebration in with your program of activities while staying with us at KLUB KOKOS, please let Cathy know when you are booking.

As KLUB KOKOS continues to develop in strength and reputation since its beginnings nearly a decade ago, we hope to maintain this close link with the local community. Accordingly we can offer our guests the opportunity to experience more of life in Bali than that generally available in the mainstream tourist areas of Bali. Our initial goal in building KLUB KOKOS was to develop a bridge of understanding between East and West, as well as being able to give financial aid where necessary in the areas of education and health. Therefore we very much appreciate your continued interest and patronage.

[next - Recipe for Sayur Tumis - Stir-fried Vegetables]

This page was last updated on July 31, 2002