Special hotel rates, dining packages available for party lovers<\/p>\n
Agustina Wayansari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A festive atmosphere loaded with decorations dominated by red
\nand gold color can now be experienced in almost all major hotels,
\nmalls and restaurants in Jakarta as people are gearing up to
\ncelebrate the Chinese New Year on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Banners with Gong Xi Fat Coi, or Happy New Year, greetings
\nwith lanterns, ang pau trees are among the ornaments found in the
\ncorner of restaurants and shopping malls to welcome in the Year
\nof the Monkey, also known locally as Imlek.<\/p>\n
The monkey's spirit is said to be able to enhance energy and
\ncharm. No wonder that parties and good times will be the rule
\nrather than exception on this special day.<\/p>\n
For Chinese-Indonesians and expatriate Chinese, the
\ncelebration of the Lunar New Year, also celebrates the public and
\ngovernment's recognition of Chinese culture in this predominantly
\nMuslim country.<\/p>\n
The Chinese New Year, which, just a couple of years ago was
\nstrictly a private family affair as it was banned by the
\ngovernment, officially became a national holiday last year. This
\nexplains why this special day takes on even more significance
\nthan ever, as shown by the big events celebrated by hotels,
\nrestaurants and other entertainment centers.<\/p>\n
This year, besides offering special room and dining packages,
\nmany hotels are also holding cultural events to entertain guests.
\nThe Barongsai (traditional Chinese lion dance) as well as
\ntraditional Chinese music are among the most popular ways to ring
\nin the new year.<\/p>\n
Hotel Pecenongan in Central Jakarta, for example, is offering
\na special Chinese food promotion, with the Wang Palace, its main
\nrestaurant, providing a special set menu for dinner on New Year's
\nEve. The dining package for 10 people, for example, has a very
\nreasonable price tag of Rp 600,000.<\/p>\n
According to Shanti Setyaningrum, one of the hotel's public
\nrelations staffers, this year, the celebration is expected to be
\nmore lively and cheerful than in previous years.<\/p>\n
For the hotel, which is located near Kota, celebrating Imlek
\nis one of its most important events of the year.<\/p>\n
To welcome the Year of the Monkey, the Redtop Hotel will also
\nentertain its guests with a Barongsai dance that will be staged
\non New Year's eve and on Cap Go Meh day (the full moon
\ncelebration) on Feb. 5.<\/p>\n
The Redtop Hotel also offers a special room package with a
\nvery special rate. A two-night stay in the hotel is only Rp
\n805,000 including tax and breakfast.<\/p>\n
Several other star-rated hotels in the city are also joining
\nin the festivities. Crown Plaza, JW Marriot, Gran Mahakam and
\nInter-continental Midplaza Hotel have their own special packages
\nto celebrate the Year of the Monkey.<\/p>\n
The Beranda Cafe at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto
\nin South Jakarta, has started the festivities earlier than
\nothers. The hotel has had a Chinese Food Promotion going since
\nJan. 12.<\/p>\n
The hotel's marketing service manager Tati Haryo said that
\nguests can enjoy a variety of Chinese dishes at the Dim Sum and
\nChinese barbecue counters which will be specially opened during
\nthe New Year celebration.<\/p>\n
\"During the promotion, guests will also be given ang pau after
\ndining in the restaurant. With the ang pau, they can have a free
\nmeal when they come back to the hotel in the near future\", Tati
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Besides, giving ang pau (red-color envelop containing gift
\nmostly in the form of money), the hotel will also put on a
\nBarongsai dance on the evening of Jan. 21, Tati said.<\/p>\n
In this special occasion, the Marriot Hotel is offering its
\nfamous dishes both in its Sailendra and Pearl Chinese
\nRestaurants. The kitchen brigade of the Sailendra which is
\nlocated in the lobby level of the hotel will prepare a BBQ
\nplatter, Dim Sum, Hainan Chicken, Lungkung Chicken and not to
\nforget the Yee Sang (raw fish salad) on the buffet menu.<\/p>\n
The Pearl Chinese Restaurant is likely to be the center of the
\nImlek celebration at the JW Marriot hotel. In front of the
\nrestaurant, a Barongsai dance will be performed during dinner on
\nJan. 21.<\/p>\n
The lion dance will also be the main attraction at the Hotel
\nGran Mahakam in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, in addition to
\nother cultural highlights. Each guest dining at Le Gran Cafe can
\nget their fortunes foretold on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 all free of
\ncharge.<\/p>\n
At le Gran Cafe, there will be a Chinese Food festival. \"Our
\nguests can enjoy more than 40 different Chinese dishes every
\nday,\" Lira Dahlan, the hotel's spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
The Inter-continental Midplaza Hotel on Jl. Sudirman, Central
\nJakarta will also offer its specialities to celebrate the New
\nYear.<\/p>\n
The hotel's Java restaurant, which usually serves mostly
\nEuropean food, will provide guests with special Chinese dishes
\nsuch as Yee Sang salad from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, Midplaza's public
\nrelations manager Yudith Nurwulan said.<\/p>\n
Yudith also said that The Deli Cake Shop would also present
\nspecial gifts to guests as part of the celebration.<\/p>\n
Guests can also take advantage of a special room package to
\nstay at the hotel. The package will include one night's stay with
\nbuffet breakfast and a 60-minute body massage treatment at its
\nWellness Centre & Spa available for two persons, at a special
\nrate.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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