March 2024 - Lualemba Bungalow Resort - Monthly Newsletter

H Guys and Gals

This month is not about surfing because March is still wet season and even though on the rarest of occasions there possibly can be a wave at Boa or even Tland you certainly wouldn’t plan a surf holiday. April is usually the start of the surfing season for the surf breaks around Rote island and that can also come early or later into the month. This March steady south west winds have blown everyday and a much needed low system off Java produce very much needed rain in the area. The most we have received all wet season not that it has been enough. This newsletter is about finishing the renovations to a couple bungalows here making Lualemba Bungalow Resort a better place and trying to get my head around a on the beach resort and does it need to be illegally on the beach to satisfy their guests. What are the advantages to resort owners and how do they benefit from obstructing and hindering the natural landscape that holds the beach in place for everyone to enjoy. Hope you like this months newsletter.

The new renovations are completed.

Two of the older bungalows were renovated during the wet season with the smaller bungalow bedroom being extended by a further two meters. A second terrace was added out the rear that give more privacy and a short walk over to the natural swimming pool. Some of the new features are PVCA roofing and a timber look ceiling with the coconut leaf roof on top. This makes an even cooler, cleaner and durable bungalow making it more pleasant for guests. More lights and power points as well as some built in furniture features that give more room and easier to keep tidy inside the room. Bigger and more windows have been added as well as a barn door out to the new terrace.

Has the natural beauty of Nemberala beach being destroyed by foreign developers.

Rote island has many attractions for tourists that being the beautiful white sandy beaches, the world class surf reefs, the natural beauty of the tropical island landscape that reminds people of what Bali once was during the 1970’s. Development of properties along Nemberala beach front has been an attraction to foreign investors for the last twenty years even though Tland is 1.10 kilometers from the beach there is no spectator advantage to watch surfers from the beachfront resorts. Spectacular sunsets to the west are stunning along Nemberala beach but how much beach must a resort need for their guests. Is it necessary to verge beyond the property boundary blocking public access, destroying the natural vegetation, interfering with the natural flow of the sand movement along the beach, cutting down of coconut and pandena trees that obstruct views, constructing rock and concrete structures that have proven destructive consequences throughout the world for decades like it’s an easy fix but continues to worsen the situation to a point of never bringing back what attracted people to come to Nemberala in the first place. Are there governed authorities in Indonesia that have the power to enforce developers to retract their properties from the destructive zone they presently have obstructing the natural conservation to the beach. Why does a developer need to be told when they can see non reversible environment damage with their own eyes and excuses are no longer a temporary solution for their greed. At what point of time will guests staying at these resorts say this is fucked up and no longer attractive. Realising the backwash from the concrete beach structures have changed the natural flow of sand and ruined the surf break at Tland they have travelled to Nemberala to surf forever. Passing the buck reasoning that it’s not them but the locals removing sand from the beaches to build their houses or the locals working seaweed farming out on the lagoon. Yes they are contributing factors too but I do remember these offending resort owners lobbying together to have authorities to erect signs and police sand removal with fines and jail. Are we dealing with corruption and the man with the most money rules the roost. I hope I’m wrong.

Isn’t nature beautiful and preserving the surrounding environment should be a developers responsibility

Most of my life I have been an advocate to preserving natural surroundings, establishing different kinds of permaculture, living close to nature discovering ways to preserve the environment I live in and around. As a surfer from a young age I guess this has broaden my awareness to nature and how beautiful the world is with nature around you. I compare this photo to the photos above of the same beach but the only difference is it hasn’t been developed. It isn’t rocket science to see that natural plantation on the delicate dune system is going to be far better to the beach stabilization then rock and concrete artificial constructions with leveled pavement, building structures and seating for guests. If the coconut tree in the right of this picture was the boundary for development with access to the beach kept to a minimum with awareness to preventing erosion wouldn’t guests appreciate and respect what conservation benefits a developer has achieved for a permanent solution towards preservation to the beach. With added permaculture landscape to this natural beach ecosystem area an enhanced beauty would be far appreciated from guests and absolutely no difference or inconvenience compared to a construction on the beach. Take a walk along the water’s edge and look up to the land and appreciate a natural vegetated dune system compared to a resort in your face.

Book for season 2024

Contact Lualemba Bungalow Resort about your next Rote island holiday. You will not be disappointed.