Special hotel rates, dining packages available for party lovers

Agustina Wayansari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A festive atmosphere loaded with decorations dominated by red and gold color can now be experienced in almost all major hotels, malls and restaurants in Jakarta as people are gearing up to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Thursday.

Banners with Gong Xi Fat Coi, or Happy New Year, greetings with lanterns, ang pau trees are among the ornaments found in the corner of restaurants and shopping malls to welcome in the Year of the Monkey, also known locally as Imlek.

The monkey's spirit is said to be able to enhance energy and charm. No wonder that parties and good times will be the rule rather than exception on this special day.

For Chinese-Indonesians and expatriate Chinese, the celebration of the Lunar New Year, also celebrates the public and government's recognition of Chinese culture in this predominantly Muslim country.

The Chinese New Year, which, just a couple of years ago was strictly a private family affair as it was banned by the government, officially became a national holiday last year. This explains why this special day takes on even more significance than ever, as shown by the big events celebrated by hotels, restaurants and other entertainment centers.

This year, besides offering special room and dining packages, many hotels are also holding cultural events to entertain guests. The Barongsai (traditional Chinese lion dance) as well as traditional Chinese music are among the most popular ways to ring in the new year.

Hotel Pecenongan in Central Jakarta, for example, is offering a special Chinese food promotion, with the Wang Palace, its main restaurant, providing a special set menu for dinner on New Year's Eve. The dining package for 10 people, for example, has a very reasonable price tag of Rp 600,000.

According to Shanti Setyaningrum, one of the hotel's public relations staffers, this year, the celebration is expected to be more lively and cheerful than in previous years.

For the hotel, which is located near Kota, celebrating Imlek is one of its most important events of the year.

To welcome the Year of the Monkey, the Redtop Hotel will also entertain its guests with a Barongsai dance that will be staged on New Year's eve and on Cap Go Meh day (the full moon celebration) on Feb. 5.

The Redtop Hotel also offers a special room package with a very special rate. A two-night stay in the hotel is only Rp 805,000 including tax and breakfast.

Several other star-rated hotels in the city are also joining in the festivities. Crown Plaza, JW Marriot, Gran Mahakam and Inter-continental Midplaza Hotel have their own special packages to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.

The Beranda Cafe at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta, has started the festivities earlier than others. The hotel has had a Chinese Food Promotion going since Jan. 12.

The hotel's marketing service manager Tati Haryo said that guests can enjoy a variety of Chinese dishes at the Dim Sum and Chinese barbecue counters which will be specially opened during the New Year celebration.

"During the promotion, guests will also be given ang pau after dining in the restaurant. With the ang pau, they can have a free meal when they come back to the hotel in the near future", Tati said.

Besides, giving ang pau (red-color envelop containing gift mostly in the form of money), the hotel will also put on a Barongsai dance on the evening of Jan. 21, Tati said.

In this special occasion, the Marriot Hotel is offering its famous dishes both in its Sailendra and Pearl Chinese Restaurants. The kitchen brigade of the Sailendra which is located in the lobby level of the hotel will prepare a BBQ platter, Dim Sum, Hainan Chicken, Lungkung Chicken and not to forget the Yee Sang (raw fish salad) on the buffet menu.

The Pearl Chinese Restaurant is likely to be the center of the Imlek celebration at the JW Marriot hotel. In front of the restaurant, a Barongsai dance will be performed during dinner on Jan. 21.

The lion dance will also be the main attraction at the Hotel Gran Mahakam in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, in addition to other cultural highlights. Each guest dining at Le Gran Cafe can get their fortunes foretold on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 all free of charge.

At le Gran Cafe, there will be a Chinese Food festival. "Our guests can enjoy more than 40 different Chinese dishes every day," Lira Dahlan, the hotel's spokesperson said.

The Inter-continental Midplaza Hotel on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta will also offer its specialities to celebrate the New Year.

The hotel's Java restaurant, which usually serves mostly European food, will provide guests with special Chinese dishes such as Yee Sang salad from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, Midplaza's public relations manager Yudith Nurwulan said.

Yudith also said that The Deli Cake Shop would also present special gifts to guests as part of the celebration.

Guests can also take advantage of a special room package to stay at the hotel. The package will include one night's stay with buffet breakfast and a 60-minute body massage treatment at its Wellness Centre & Spa available for two persons, at a special rate.