warm greetings from the gangsa as always it is indeed an honour to present the latest instalment of our quarterly newsletter. this online initiative is an opportunity to touch base and share our news, events and promotions with guests and travel associates who have a special interest in the gangsa. with the end of the year fast approaching the island is buzzing with activity. our very own gong restaurant now welcomes outside guests to experience an evening of local culture and cuisine. dinner is a tropical bbq that introduces an array of exotic flavours accompanied by a lively performance of traditional dance. it is a great night out for visitors and locals alike. complimentary transport is available within the sanur area and reservation is essential. on a festive note, bali will celebrate galungan day on the 8th december 2010. this is one of the most important days on the local religious calendar that marks the beginning of various ceremonial rituals performed in temple compounds across the island. it is a busy time for many balinese where elaborate offerings and special foods are prepared. families come together to pray and take pleasure in the spirit of the occasion much like christmas in the western world. kind regards, suwamana wahyu putra general manager

what's in this issue: deluxe indulgence   |  quantum leap   |   pan-fried fish in balinese spices and coconut milk      galungan and kuningan day   |   barbeque dinner with balinese performance   |   staf profile   |   guest testimonies

deluxe indulgence with valentine’s day fast approaching, now is the time to start thinking about a surprise getaway for that special person in your life. romantic rhythm is intimate package created for two that will entitle you to a luxurious three-night stay in a private pool villa for just us$ 950 ++. the indulgence begins the very moment you arrive in bali with return airport transfers. once at the gangsa, we will treat you to a 15-minute head, shoulder or foot massage to banish all signs of travel weariness. meanwhile, a flower milk bath will be prepared in your villa for you to relax over a complimentary bottle of chilled wine. other privileges of this package extend to a signature 3-hour spa treatment and candlelight dinner to be savoured at some time during your stay. special villa benefits include 24-hour butler service and daily breakfast served at gong restaurant, in the privacy of your villa or at the beach to catch the sanur sunrise. you will also enjoy traditional afternoon tea served daily, a complimentary mini bar of juices, soft drinks and cookies and a daily basket of tropical fruit. complimentary transport is available within the sanur area and a scheduled shuttle runs into kuta on a regular basis. every reservation made to stay between 1st february and 31st march 2010 will entitle you to an exceptional set luncheon for two at gong restaurant.

quantum leap this tangy blend of apple and fresh ginger is the perfect drink to ease a sensitive stomach. ginger has extraordinary healing properties that are known to quell nausea. it is especially effective for anyone suffering from car or travel sickness. quantum leap is a refreshing drink to enjoy on a hot summer day. it contains just 160 calories and 16 mg of vitamin c. ingredients: 8 oz apple extract (use local apples) 1 cm fresh ginger 3 – 4 ice cubes method: blend all ingredients together. pour into a tall glass and garnish with a mint leaf.

be pasih mesanten / pan- fried and braised whole fish in balinese spice with coconut milk as a tropical island surrounded completely by ocean, bali’s culinary history extends to a number of delicious seafood dishes cooked with a blend of local herbs and spices. this particular recipe celebrates the authentic flavours of bali and can be made to impress friends and family at home. all of the spices will be readily available from your nearest asian grocery store. ingredients: 400 gr, whole fish 50 gr balinese paste / soto paste 10 gr chopped garlic 3 pc lime leaf 5 gr lemon basil 200 ml chicken stock 100 ml coconut milk 5 ml fish sauce 2 gr white pepper powder 3 gr fried shallot / fried garlic 10 gr red chilli julienne 1 pc lemon 100 gr steamed rice method: marinate the fish with the white pepper powder, salt, lemon juice and chopped garlic. heat oil and a little butter in a teflon-plated frying pan, fry the fish until golden brown on both sides. in a bowl or jug, make a sauce, by mixing the chicken stock, coconut milk, balinese paste, lemon basil, lime leaves, fish sauce, fried shallots and white pepper powder. pour the sauce over the fish in the frying pan, and continue braising and keep basting. cook for 20 minutes. once it’s cooked, arrange on a plate and ready to serve decorate with sliced lemon and some fresh lemon basil.

galungan and kuningan day there are two auspicious days coming up on the balinese calendar that will be celebrated by the local community during the month of december. galungan will fall on 8th december and is part of a religious holiday that involves colourful offerings and sessions of communal worship. most balinese will return home to their ancestral villages to pray in their family and community temples as well as feast with loved ones. galungan is a time that symbolises the triumph of goodness against evil. it is also a highly spiritual period whereby defied ancestors are believed to visit the physical world for a period of ten days and are welcomed with prayers and offerings. kuningan on the 18th december is marked by another ceremony performed before midday to farewell the ancestral spirits as they return to heaven. essentially, these two holidays provide an opportunity for the balinese to reunite with extended family members and enjoy the festive mood of the occasion.

bbq dinner at gong restaurant gong restaurant at the gangsa in the priestly village of sanur celebrates bali’s cultural heritage with an evening of traditional dance and local cuisine. guests can enjoy a tropical bbq dinner of island delicacies accompanied by a vibrant performance. this enriching evening is priced at just us$ 40++ per person and complimentary transportation is available within the sanur area.

komang gede wirawan - f&b service supervisor the ongoing success of the gangsa is largely due to the dedication of our service staff. in this edition we would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of f&b service supervisor, komang gede wirawan. wirawan is a hospitality college graduate who had the good fortune to train at two leading hotels in malaysia and singapore before returning to bali to embark on a career in the f&b industry. he has had the opportunity to work at a number of reputable outlets with positions at dewi sri seafood, le bake, bali deli, tirta bali and anantara. wirawan eventually joined the gangsa in 2008. as a highly motivated individual, wirawan’s key strengths are his sense of responsibility and his willingness to work hard in any situation. he is a keen learner and believes that self discipline is the key to success. wirawan is highly respected by his colleagues and he enjoys the whole creative process that goes into preparing for a romantic dinner or special culinary event. wirawan feels that his time at the gangsa has provided him with many valuable experiences that have certainly enriched his career. he actively participates in the daily operations of all fb services at the property and his team is like a small family that continues to grow and succeed together.

guest testimonies "accommodation was great & comfortable, staffs were welcoming & kind, overall service was very satisfactory and overall experience was very relaxing. we will defiantly come back to the gangsa or another kayumanis property" > bapak malouf walid & charbinniser from france stayed in villa kemong on 30th july ~ 6th august 2009 "staff were amazing, villa was perfect, food very tasty with good choices – the best hotel ever! thank you for a great holiday. the gangsa team were unique and we will always remember the smiles and kindness. i hope we will see you again." > bapak ferreira dos santos nicolas stayed in villa gender on 18th ~ 25th august 2010 "it was a very comfortable stay at the gangsa, our villa was so nice. thank you to all staff who were responsible for us. i loved the gangsa cookies" > bapak ikuko tamura & ryoko tamura from japan stayed in villa gender on 1st ~ 5th august 2010 "we really enjoyed our stay at the gangsa. it was really comfortable and anything we could have expected. all the staff we met were really kind and pleasant, thank you to everyone!! food at the restaurant was always good and tasty" > bapak francois bataille & gaelle smith from france stayed in villa kemong from 25th august ~ 1st september 2010

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