warm greetings from the gangsa! thank you for taking the time to read the latest edition of our newsletter. this quarterly online initiative was created to keep our guests, colleagues and travel associates abreast with all the latest news, promotions and special events from the gangsa in the priestly village of sanur. as the island of Bali gears up for another busy summer season, i am delighted to announce that we have a number of new services available for discerning travellers. rebab spa has introduced an innovative massage technique using bamboo that has been inspired by the dayak ethnic tribe of the kalimantan jungle. additionally, we now have an interactive cooking class for children and there is a sensational gourmet dining experience to look forward to during the month of september. bali is also hosting a number of festivals over the coming months. the annual bali arts festival, which is a month long celebration paying tribute to local dance, music, cuisine and artistry, is currently underway. a little closer to home is the sanur village festival that is scheduled to take place along segara beach. this exciting 5-day event will incorporate food stalls, exhibitions, competitions and fun entertainment. kite flying season is also upon us and a dynamic festival between local village communities is imminent sometime in july. keep an eye out for further details as this is one event not to be missed as giant kites of all colours take to the skies at padang galak beach. kind regards, i wayan warta general manager                                                                           www.thegangsa.com

what's in this issue: bamboo massage treatment   |   lesson for junior chef   |   safety pool fence   |   fusion culinary journey  |   island news profile: man behind the garden   |   frozen salak margarita   |   guest testimonies   |   news from our family

bamboo massage treatment rebab spa at the gangsa takes great pleasure to announce the launch of a brand new massage treatment inspired by the primitive dayak tribe from the remote jungle of kalimantan. for centuries they have used a unique technique of rolling lengths of bamboo over the entire body to keep it strong and revitalised. this therapeutic massage reduces tension, stimulates circulation and generally leaves the body with renewed energy levels. a trained therapist works magic by concentrating rolled bamboo pressure on the neck and shoulder blade region. this uplifting 75-minute treatment is performed with a specially blended massage oil of your choice to ignite the senses. it is priced at just us$ 60++ per person.

lesson for junior chef the recreation team at suling kid's club has created yet another fun activity for young travellers. 'lesson for junior chef' is an interactive 2 hour pastime that introduces children to the art of preparing simple but delicious treats to eat. under the guidance of our chef, the little cooks will have a tour of our kitchen and learn about the basic ingredients and utensils required. first up on the menu is creating a tasty club sandwich followed by an easy to make orange pancake. next comes a sensational pizza margarita and while it is in the oven the class finishes off with a refreshing strawberry smoothie. this activity is available daily from 10 am to 12 noon enabling parents to indulge in a well deserved spa treatment during these hours. 'lesson for junior chef' is priced at just us$ 30++ per child.

safety pool fence now available family travellers now have greater peace of mind for the safety of their children during each stay at the gangsa with the availability of a knock-down pool fence. this secured wooden structure can be erected around the swimming pool to prevent unsupervised access. while the in-villa wellbeing of children is clearly a parental responsibility, this new facility will ensure safe and sound holiday fun in and around the pool.

fusion culinary journey gong restaurant at the gangsa will be hosting yet another inspiring culinary event on 21st september 2009 for gourmet connoisseurs. guests are invited to join us for a 'fusion culinary journey' as our talented fb team delves into the exotic flavours of locally sourced produce. savour an enticing 5-course menu accompanied by a performance of traditional Balinese dance and music to set the mood. this exclusive dining celebration is priced at just at idr 650.000++ / person. a glass of chilled wine will be served to those who make their table reservation before 1st september 2009.

truly balinese : frozen salak margarita our resident 'mixologist' presents another decadent cocktail recipe to make at home during the summer season. the frozen salak margarita is an enticing blend that uses a fruit also known as snake skin fruit. however, another other tropical fruit can be used as a substitute if salak is not available at your local asian grocery store. ingredients: 1.5 oz tequila 1 oz triple sec 1.5 pcs snake skin fruit 1 oz simple syrup crushed ice cubes method: blend all ingredients well in a cocktail shaker. serve in a margarita glass

island news the sanur festival the annual sanur village festival 2009 is on again from 12th - 16th august 2009. this year's event is expected to be even bigger and better than ever before. with a central theme of 'marine life', all activities associated with the festival will be inspired by the ocean's precious bounty and how it is an important element in everyday balinese life. there will be food stalls, competitions, exhibitions and live entertainment galore focused at segara beach and the grounds of the grand bali beach hotel. the gangsa will be providing complementary transportation for in-house guests interested in visiting the festival. bali arts festival the bali arts festival is currently underway. It is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions and other related cultural and commercial activities during which literally the whole of bali comes to the city to present its offerings of dance, music and beauty. on display are trances from remote mountain slopes, forgotten or recently revived village dances, food and offering contests, classical palace dances, stars of the balinese stage, musical performances, new creations from the dance schools of denpasar, as well as contemporary choreography and dance companies from other islands and abroad. the 31st annual bali arts festival is scheduled to run until 11th july 2009 at the art centre in denpasar. visitors are warmly welcomed to come and share the spirit of balinese artistry. complimentary transportation is available for all in-house guests staying at the gangsa.

staff profile: man behind the garden in this edition of our online newsletter we would like to honour the hard work and dedication of our senior gardener, pak slamet. he responsible for maintaining the tropical landscape of the property, which is consistently admired by guests from around the world. born in the Javanese town of sidomulio, slamet has been interested in gardening from a young age. he first arrived in bali in 1990 to work in a small garden supply outlet and subsequently tried his luck at being a driver and storekeeper. yet the allure of mother nature drew him back to the world of gardening and he established his own landscaping company. he created the planting concepts for several hotels and villas on the island, including bali melita, which was later re-branded as the gangsa. slamet has been with the property now for almost 9 years where he has transformed a large parcel of residential landscape into a timeless balinese garden retreat. he meticulously positioned and nurtured every tree and plant in the garden with loving care. the success of slamet’s landscaping expertise means that the gangsa's extensive garden area blends harmoniously with the surrounding environment. although slamet's wife and children remain in Java, he is content to be a part of the gangsa's extended family. working in bali has enabled him to embrace cultural diversity and gain a greater respect for the island's indigenous plant life.

staff activities congratulations security guard, i nengah sujana was blessed with the birth of a healthy baby on 14th may 2009. there were also two weddings celebrated during the month of may 2009 marking a new passage of life for gangsa staff members. best wishes were extended to senior cook, i wayan budiarta and also our sales manager, era purwanto who both exchanged marriage vows with their respective partners. staff gathering a social day out promoting team spirit for the gangsa staff members took place on 18th may 2009 at mertasari beach in sanur. this informal gathering was an opportunity for the team to unwind over a series of fun games, canoe races and beach soccer. there was also a picnic luncheon and a delicious cake celebrating recent birthdays shared amongst the group during this relaxing occasion.

guest testimonies we regularly receive valuable feedback from our guests that is used to evaluate staff performance and the quality of personalized service that is offered at the gangsa. we'd like to share some of the most recent comments that have been made: "thank you for the privacy. our butler anom did a very good job in every situation. many thanks." > bapak and ibu stellmann from germany stayed in villa kempur   on 19th - 29th may 2009 "everything was lovely; service was attentive, thanks for a great stay." > ibu tan and bapak chin from singapore stayed in villa kendang   on 1st - 7th may 2009 "our stay has been very pleasant and the team at gangsa is very friendly. overall the whole experience was very good and we enjoyed our stay." > ibu ling and bapak lun from malaysia stayed in villa kempur   on 9th - 13th may 2009 "we had a good time, thank you for the excellent service, we'll come back soon. next time we stay at least a week!! We were impressed by the level of customer service. we have been to many luxury resorts, including the aman resort chain, and the gangsa surpassed them all." > ibu shimada and bapak lee from japan stayed at villa kemong   on 20th - 23rd may 2009 "thank you for everything, i was satisfied with the gangsa for our honeymoon accommodation. thank you for a wonderful time. sampai jumpa lagi." > bapak masahiro and ibu takimoto from japan stayed at villa jublag   on 17th - 22nd may 2009 "i am very happy as my friends, who are first timers to bali, joined me to stay at the gangsa and they also loved it. thank you to all the staff who 'welcomed me back home' when checking in. thank you so much." > ibu misumi and friends from japan stayed at villa cengceng   on 29th april - 3rd may 2009

jalan tirta akasa no. 28, sanur 80227 bali, indonesia p. +62 361 270 260   f. +62 361 270 262   e. info@thegangsa.com www.thegangsa.com