Hotel Tugu Malang

To arrive at this hotel is like walking into a history lesson in Indonesian culture and History. Something of which I had very little knowledge.

I fell upon this hotel quite by accident after a 10 hour bus ride from Kuta to Malang. I arrived around 5 A.M feeling dirty and tired. The hotel was right in the center of Malang and although the lobby gave little image of being grandios, it was not long before I got the sense that there was something about this place that was different.

I was led to my room and was grateful to find a beautiful, inviting bed with down filled pillows and a thick luxurious mattress.

It was only later that I was given a tour of the hotel and the chance to learn about the fabulous story behind TUGU Hotels. The proprietor began collecting antiques when he was just 24 years old. He noticed his fellow Indonesians were wrecklessly disposing of these treasures without recognizing their rich cultural value as well as the monetary value.

Some of the owners pieces date back to the 18th century. Over the next 27 years he had amassed an exorbitant collection of fine art and custom pieces. Feeling that a Museum would not do justice or give the exposure deserving of such pieces, he decided to open his first of a series of 4 hotels, in Malang.

He designed the architectural plans as well as all the custom decor for each room. as you walk through the hotel, you are drawn in by such fascinating pieces, such as the gorgeous painting of a stunningly beautiful young woman in the King's dining hall. It is so captivating, you almost feel her presence in the room with you.

There is a long corridor that leads to the restaurant "L'amour Fou" that is so magnificent that words could not do it justice.

I tried their spa, expecting your typical hotel massage, only to be enveloped into the most soothing experience of deep relaxation with the most talented hands imaginable. Nothing in this world compares to the hidden talent of the massage therapists, it is truly an art.

I was so taken by this Hotel not to mention an impeccably gracious staff, that when Yudha, the marketing director, suggested I fly to Lombok before returning to Bali to visit their sister property, I decided to get on board.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined what awaited me in Lombok.

I will post photos upon my return home. In the meantime, please visit www.tuguhotels.com