Alila Purnama : Romance on the High Seas
It didn’t just drizzle… it rained buckets on the evening of the christening ceremony for Alila Purnama, as we sat in the car throughout our 3-hour ride to the Batavia Marina. Upon arrival at precisely 5.30 pm, the cheerfully barefooted Alila Purnama crew, were all smiles as we were huddled under brollies to make our way to the ship.
Walking along the gangway to the berth, as I strained to catch a glimpse… I could hear in-drawn breaths of wonderment “It’s a Pirate Ship” and I was blown away by the sheer majesty of it all!
It’s a beautiful work of art & craftsmanship. Just like the movies.. but better. The Ship’s interior awed even a cynic like me. The design furnishings for the luxury vessel were inspired by the many Indonesian maritime kingdoms that flourished in the Archipelago.
Each of the four beautiful suites below deck paid homage to the era of their namesakes with feature artwork in old photographs and furnishings reflective of: 1.The Cirebon ( West Java), 2.The Sumenep ( from Madura), 3.The Mataram (Central Java) and 4.The Klungkung (Bali) Kingdoms, all in a contemporary manifesto of the cultural influence of the era. As for the Master Suite, nothing could be more fitting than the grandeur of the Sriwijaya Empire with its naval supremacy over much of South East Asia in its heydays.
As told to me by Tasya Reza, the beautiful wife of Zamzam Reza, the rich influence of the Majapahit Empire is reflected in the Lounge and Dining Area. Here the symbolic Surya Majapahit (the Sun of Majapahit) is evident in the design of the ornamental lamp above the dining table. The warm & lively decor reflects the glory of the Majapahit Kingdom with its powerful maritime influence. In the Library, its decor is influenced by the Sultanate of Ternate, the most powerful and influential among the Spice Islands of Maluku.
You can just imagine the glamour. We were warmly welcomed into the spacious lounge and saw the glittering crowd onboard. By then the rain had subsided to a light drizzle and the guests kept coming… friends, stakeholders, fans & journalista… from an expected attendance of seventy, the party soon swelled to a crowd of a hundred & ten. There was even a TV crew onboard to film the proceedings.
It was a beautiful starlit night when the party spilled onto the deck for the opening address. Mark Edleson, President of Alila and Zamzam Reza, owner of Alila Purnama, together proceeded down the gangway to the dockside for the champagne christening. It was a ‘fait accompli’ to thundering applause. One toss of the magnum caught the bow in a glorious champagne shower. To the seafaring crew, from the herald of the rain to the precise moment where the bottle touched the ship all meant good omens & blessings from the Sea Fairies.
In the flamboyant style of Jack Sparrow, all guests don their pirate headgear while the ladies don venetian eye masks in keeping with the high seas theme. For the Jakarta social set, this is an amazing turnout in support of the Alila Purnama despite the rain & traffic conditions…
More information on Alila Purnama email : purnama@alilahotels.com OR visit : www.alilahotels.com/purnama
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Jerry Januar
