Hotels, restaurants and stories from the Gili Islands, Bali and Lombok. Curated, honest and local.
Bali authorities have deported three foreign nationals from India, Singapore, and China for violating their visa conditions by working while holding tourist visas. AKG from India and RN from Singapore were working as yoga instructors in Badung Regency, while ST from China was involved in installing machinery and training staff at a factory in Karangasem. These activities are not permitted under their Visa on Arrival VoA and Visa-Free Visit BVK permits, which are intended for tourism. The Head of the Singaraja Immigration Office, Agung Gde Kusuma Putra, stated that all foreign nationals in Indonesia must comply with immigration regulations. The authorities have suggested blacklisting the individuals, which would prevent their re-entry into Indonesia. Immigration officials will collaborate with local governments and law enforcement to monitor foreign nationals and investigate reported violations. Visitors are reminded that tourist visas do not allow work or business activities, and business visas do not permit taking up local jobs or receiving a salary in Indonesia. Misusing visas can lead to serious consequences, including deportation, entry bans, or travel restrictions.
Must readThe Rafa Nadal Academy is expanding its international reach with a new Rafa Nadal Tennis Center in Lombok, Indonesia. This center will be located within the Samara Lombok complex, an exclusive resort on the island's southern coast, and is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2028. The facility will feature four tennis courts and four padel courts, offering sports programs based on the training methodology developed by Rafa Nadal and his team. Maribel Nadal, deputy general manager of the Rafa Nadal Academy, highlighted Lombok's potential as a destination and the project's aim to share their methodology and passion for sport with new generations. The Samara Lombok project, situated 25 minutes from Lombok International Airport, will span 150 hectares and will be the first "Destination by Hyatt" in Southeast Asia, initially including three boutique hotels and 150 villas, with plans for a total of 500 residential villas. This new center adds to the Rafa Nadal Academy's existing international locations, which include academies in Manacor and Kuwait, and Rafa Nadal Tennis Centers in Mexico, Greece, Hong Kong, Marbella, and the Dominican Republic, along with a program in Egypt. A center in Brazil is also planned for 2028.
Must readTwo Dutch men, JAS, 35, and HQV, 37, have been banned from Indonesia and placed on a 'no-entry list' by immigration officials after being accused of hosting a discriminatory running club in Bali. The men, who founded the expat community Entourage Bali, organized a run that allegedly rejected applications from local residents with Indonesian names and phone numbers. Allegations of discrimination went viral on Indonesian social media, drawing condemnation from Indonesian Senator Niluh Djelantik and Indonesia's immigration chief Hendarsam Marantoko, who stated that expat groups should not function as a 'state within a state.' Entourage Bali issued a statement claiming Indonesian numbers were 'incorrectly' rejected and that the community was intended to be inclusive, including digital nomads from various countries. They also stated that 25 percent of participants at a recent Silent Disco Run were Indonesian. The group has paused all upcoming events and activities, taking accountability and promising changes.
Must readIndonesia has banned two men after an incident involving discrimination at a Bali run club. Further details about the incident or the duration of the ban are not provided.
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