Raise your coconut mojitos and smoothies if you love Bali! Us too. And guess what? We love it so much, we're doubling down on the awesomeness. Introducing Edward, our new General Manager! He’s primed and ready to help your family make unforgettable memories. So get ready for beach bonfires, secret waterfalls, and enough stories to fill a Balinese epic. Let's give Edward a warm Bali welcome and get to know him a little better.
Welcome to the Crew, Edward! We are so thrilled to have you onboard. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself pre-Boundless Life?
Edward: First of all, thank you for having me! I am so excited to be able to join the Boundless families and the Crew!
So, a little bit about myself: I have been working in the hospitality industry since I was 10 years old as a server at my parents’ restaurant in Jakarta. For me, the hospitality world is more than just a career path, but more of a life-long passion. After spending 4 years in Switzerland, not only did I graduate with a Bachelor Degree in Hospitality Management, but I also met my future wife there! 💗
Life - and love - is a rollercoaster
Funnily enough, after our graduation, and by coincidence, we were also placed in Orlando, Florida for our 1-year management training program. Every day after work, we were riding roller coasters and eating Mickey-shaped waffles with ice cream and strawberry sauce!
I came back to Indonesia in 2009 and started working for various hospitality establishments, opened and closed a restaurant of my own, and I even got the chance to work for Hong Kong Disneyland, a gig that I would say made me truly believe that creating magical experiences for young guests is one of the major key success factors in the hospitality industry.
Shifting priorities
Since my wife and I also just started a family of our own, and understood the importance of family quality time, we decided to pack our bags and move from Jakarta to the Islands of the Gods, Bali. Now, eight years have passed since we took that bold decision and we love every minute of our lives in Bali! There’s just so much to discover on this island! The culture, the heritage, the nature, and much more! Our lives in Bali have been a real blessing because we are able to build really progressive careers, but at the same time are able to spend time and create many wonderful memories with our two children!
Right before I joined Boundless Life, I was working as a General Manager in a hospitality brand that delivers live, work, and travel experiences for communities of digital nomads in the Berawa beach area of Canggu.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
Edward: I am most looking forward to seeing the families who are joining us in Bali being able to experience the best time that they could possibly have imagined! A chance to provide them with well-rounded experience involving the culture, traditions, and the nature that this island can offer.
Showcasing my treasured home!
I understand fully that most of the families who are joining us in Bali took a big step - sometimes coming from the other side of the world - and we as hosts will take great care of them. That's why my team and I are working endlessly to provide the families with various activities that are unique, meaningful, and well-rounded.
There will be activities that would be awesome for the whole family, some are super fun for the kids, while others are curated to be very meaningful for the parents. A truly wholesome and holistic experience indeed!
So, the rumour is that April-June is THE golden time to be in Bali. Tell us, why should our families be booking the April cohort right now?
Edward: That's indeed the case! As the rainy season starts to end in April, we start to feel the humidity in the air dropping and a cooling summer breeze starts to blow during the day. This also means that it would be the beginning of the surfing season, especially for Bali's west coast beaches like Kuta, Legian, and Canggu. What is also great about the surf beaches in Bali is the fact that surf schools for adults and children are readily available. So if your trip to Bali is the first time you are thinking of learning to surf, this will be the perfect opportunity.
Excitement is also coming in our very own backyard of Sanur, where the cool breeze also means that the kite-flying season is also starting, and believe me when I say the Balinese are really serious about this activity! The kites that they are making are really out-of-this-world! They are usually huge in size, painted in multiple bright colours, and are very varied in terms of shape. Kite-flying competitions are usually held in the beaches around Sanur areas. So stay tuned folks!
If you could have any superpower to enhance your work as GM, what would it be?
Edward: This is a very interesting one 🤣 because this is a real question that I DO ask myself sometimes. To answer this question, I need to share first my personal favourite quote, which was said by my own personal hero Walt Disney. He once said that “Whenever I’m on a ride, I always look for what's wrong with it and how it can be further improved”. This quote hits me so hard that I also try to do this everyday at work. So I think in terms of the superpower, I would like to have the superpower to be able to instantly build all the improvements I want to make. Not only the superpower to be able to build anything, but also to have a utility bag that I can pull out any necessary tools and items to work on those improvements. That would be a sweet superpower in my book!!
What's one unique Balinese tradition that you think every family should experience?
Edward: It would definitely be the Melukat purification ceremony. The Melukat ceremony is a traditional Balinese ritual performed for purification purposes. "Melukat" literally translates to "cleansing" in English. It is believed that the ceremony cleanses the participants from negative influences and impurities, thereby restoring balance and harmony.
The Melukat ceremony explained
During the ceremony, participants typically visit a temple or sacred water source where they are guided by a Balinese priest. The priest leads the ritual, reciting prayers and mantras to invoke spiritual blessings. Participants may be given offerings, such as flowers, rice, incense, and holy water, which they use as a means of purification. One important aspect of the Melukat ceremony involves immersing oneself in the holy water. This act symbolises the purification of the body, mind, and soul.
The Melukat ceremony not only serves as a means of personal purification but also reinforces the spiritual connection between individuals and the divine. It is an opportunity to seek forgiveness, let go of negative emotions, and embrace positive thoughts and intentions.
Huge thanks to Edward for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk to us. We can’t wait for you all to meet him! 🦸🏽#notallheroswearcapes
If you would like to come to Bali in April (or any time) to experience the superheroes that are Edward and his team, let’s talk!
