Yaquta Nears Top Ten At Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open

Jakarta, November 19 - Local amateur Almay Rahman Yaquta continued to surprise the field by leading a group of five Indonesian players into the weekend at the Bank BRI-JCB Indonesian Open.

After thunderstorms and upcoming darkness had stopped the second round late Friday, the 18 year old amateur had to complete his round early Saturday morning and did so with success. His second round score of 69 combined with a first round score of 68 meant he was the highest ranked Indonesian player to go into the weekend in a tie for 11th place.

Danny Masrin, Adrian Halimi and George Gandranata, who all had completed their rounds on Friday, together with Jordan Irawan, who still had to play a few holes Saturday morning, are joining Almay to battle for local honors in Indonesia's oldest tournament.

Johannes Veerman of the United States shot a six-under-par 66 to take the second round clubhouse lead on Friday as he searches for a first Asian Tour victory. The American, whose mum is half Indonesian, eagled the 14th hole for the second consecutive day to finish the round on 11-under-par 133 at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Johannes Veerman teeing of at Bank BRI-JCB Indonesian Open

Hung Chien-yao from Taiwan joined Veerman at the top of the leaderboard on Saturday morning after completing his second round with a 67.

Frenchman Lionel Weber fired a sparkling 62 for the low round of the day as he finished two shots back of the clubhouse target alongside Janne Kaske (67) of Finland at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.

The sweet swinging Veerman made 25 putts in a round of four birdies and one eagle which was his third for the week as he soared into contention at the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open. After spending most of his youth in Asia, Veerman, who is now based in Texas, hopes to continue his impressive form during the weekend where his mother and relatives will come to support him.

“I played some great golf. I’ve made so many eagles this week which is probably the most I’ve done in my life. I made two eagles yesterday and today on the 14th hole. I don’t know what’s happening but I like it,” said Veerman.

“It is difficult when you are travelling around the world but my mum is Indonesian and she is coming up with my family and they will be out here. I’ll be excited and happy to play in front of them,” he added.

Veerman enjoyed a splendid season on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) this year where he won once. He now hopes to follow in the footsteps of ADT graduates Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Poom Saksansin, who both won on the Asian Tour last month.

“All of that practice on the ADT has been polishing my game. You read about success stories of golfers winning but when you play with these guys (Pavit and Poom) and see them winning, then you tell yourself ‘hey if they can do it, so can I’,” he said.

Frenchman Weber, who is playing in his fourth season on the Asian Tour, fired his career’s low round of 62 where he birdied his closing five holes for a superb homeward nine score of 29-under. “During suspension, I went to the restaurant, had good food and was watching the golf on the television. I got back on the course feeling relaxed and enjoyed my round. Making five birdies in a row gives you a good feeling,” smiled Weber.

“I’ve got nothing to lose this week. I will play offensively. I haven’t won on the Asian Tour yet so it will be superb to do it. I think I’ve secured my Asian Tour card so I hope I can get a win now,” he said.

Kaske, a winner on the ADT, missed a par putt on the 16th hole after the weather delay but bounced back brilliantly when he chipped in for birdie from the edge of the 18th green. “We had a three-hour delay and I was imagining making that lag par putt but I burnt the edge on that one. I’ve had a bad year so far but I’m trying to finish the season strongly. A win will be the best case scenario,” said Kaske.

Scores after round 2 of the Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open 2016 being played at the par 72, 7243 Yards Pondok Indah GC course (am - denotes amateur):

133 - Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 67-66, HUNG Chien-yao (TPE) 66-67

135 - Janne KASKE (FIN) 68-67, Lionel WEBER (FRA) 73-62, Khalin JOSHI (IND) 65-70, Adam GROOM (AUS) 70-65

136 - Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 69-67, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 71-65, Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 65-71
Selected Indonesian players:

137 - Almay Rayhan YAQUTAH (A)

140 - Danny MASRIN 68-72

141 - Jordan IRAWAN 70-71

142 - Adrian HALIMI 71-71, George GANDRANATA 70-72.

Amateur Yaqutah Leads Local Charge At Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open

Jakarta, November 17 2016 - Indonesian amateur Almay Rayhan Yaqutah led the local charge by shooting an impressive 68 to tie in ninth place in the first round of the weather-interrupted BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open on Thursday alongside Quincy Quek of Singapore, Ben Leong of Malaysia, Victor Osterby of Denmark and Nicolas Paez of the United States.

Almay Rayhan Yaqutah

Chinnarat Phadungsil of Thailand and Khalin Joshi of India fired identical seven-under-par 65s to share the clubhouse lead at the US$300,000 Asian Tour event that was suspended for over two hours in the afternoon due to lightning threats before play was abandoned at 5.45 pm due to fading light.

Chinnarat, a three-time Asian Tour champion but not since 2009, and Joshi are fighting to retain their playing rights for next year as they currently occupy 73rd and 113th places on the Order of Merit. They must finish inside the top-65 by the end of the season to retain their Tour cards.

A total of 56 players will return on Friday at 6.15 am to complete their rounds at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.

Hung Chien-yao of Chinese Taipei, who is searching for a first Asian Tour title, fired a bogey-free 66 while Korea’s Soonsang Hong, Sukree Othman of Malaysia and two-time Asian Tour winner Jazon Knutzon of the United States, who is also fighting to save his Tour card, are a further shot back.

The 28-year-old Chinnarat, who holds the honor of being the youngest winner on the Asian Tour at the age of 17 years and five days, rediscovered some of his best form by staying focused and keeping to a simple game plan. He fired nine birdies but slipped down the leaderboard when he triple bogeyed the par three eighth hole after his tee shot landed in the greenside bunker.

“I hope this will be my lucky week and I can win again to get my Asian Tour card. I lost confidence but I’ve been trying hard to get that win again,” said Chinnarat.

“I played good because I focused on my game and on the shots I want to hit. Previously, I kept thinking about so many different types of shots so it was very confusing. Now the plan is simple, think of one shot and commit to that shot. No more thinking about trying different shots!” he added.

The big-hitting Joshi is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his close friend Shubhankar Sharma, who finished tied fourth in the Philippines on Sunday to retain his Tour card for the new 2017 season. “I’ve been talking to Shubhankar (Sharma) and he has been a huge influence to me. He had a great week last week and I’m so happy for him. He told me to never give up because you never know what will happen until the last moment like what happened to him.

“I hope to follow in his footsteps and have one good week to keep my card. Once you’ve saved your card, it is a fantastic feeling because you are playing to win and trying to move higher in your career,” said the 24-year-old Joshi.

The 24-year-old Hung, who finished tied seventh in Philippines last week, continued his rich vein of form after working with new caddy Chen Ming-chuan, who is also his coach and a professional golfer. “I’m happy with the result. My playing partners told me that I missed a few good birdie putts so the round could have been lower. My caddy has given me a lot of confidence and he gives me good reads on the greens. It is a good partnership between us,” said Hung.

The 18-year-old amateur Yaqutah, a former individual and team gold medalist at the 2014 ASEAN School Games, fired five birdies against one bogey to enjoy a flying start in his first Asian Tour tournament. “I really had fun today. This is a very good experience for me to play in an Asian Tour event. I’m feeling very happy and excited but after I looked at the score, I’m shaking a bit. Shooting a 68 in an Asian Tour event is quite impressive!” said Yaqutah.
Scores after round 1 of the Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open 2016 being played at the par 72, 7243 Yards Pondok Indah GC course (am - denotes amateur):

65 - Khalin JOSHI (IND), Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA)

66 - HUNG Chien-yao (TPE)

67 - Soonsang HONG (KOR), Sukree OTHMAN (MAS), Jason KNUTZON (USA)

68 - Almay Rayhan YAQUTAH (am), Quincy QUEK (SIN), Ben LEONG (MAS), Nicolas PAEZ (USA), Victor OSTERBY (DEN)

Selected Indonesian players:

70 - Jordan IRAWAN
-2 - Danny Masrin (13), Dede IDRIS (10*)

71 - Alexander VALENTINO (am)
-1 - George GANDRANATA (11*), Alfred RAJA (am, 9)

Masrin And Gandranata Dare To Dream At Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open

Jakarta, November 15 - Local talents George Gandranata and Danny Masrin hope to secure a home victory at the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open which starts on Thursday, and raise the exposure of golf in the country.

Sis Apik Wijayanto, Director of BRI says: “Indonesia Open is one of the most prestigious national tournament in Asia and BRI is honoured to be the main sponsor for this tournament."

“We hope this national tournament will influence Indonesian golfers to play and show their best skill to win BRI-JCB Indonesia open next month. This will be a fantastic achievement in the area of golf development in our country.”

Gandranata, the leading golfer in Indonesia, the highly rated Masrin, Ian Andrew and Jordan Irawan are among 20 local hopefuls contending at the US$300,000 event which returns on the Asian Tour schedule after a one-year hiatus.

They will be joined by former Indonesia Open champion Gaganjeet Bhullar of India and new Asian Tour winners Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand, Thitiphun Chuayprakong and Carlos Pigem of Spain at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, a two-time Asian Tour number one, Akinori Tani of Japan, Thai rising star Phachara Khongwatmai, Casey O’Toole of the United States and Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh will also feature in the showpiece.

Gandranata, a winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) which is the secondary circuit of the Asian Tour, is determined to wear his heart on his sleeve as he aims to become the second Indonesian to win his National Open after Kasiadi’s triumph in 1989.

“I’m proud to play in the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open. It is every golfers dream to play in their National Open and try to win it. It is different when you play in your country, there’s pressure but I like having the pressure. It motivates me to do better,” said Gandranata.

Gandranata, who won the silver and bronze medals in the team and individual category respectively at the 2011 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, has his eye on claiming the Golden Trophy which is awarded to the winner of the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open.

“I play to win but it won’t be easy,” said the 30-year-old, who finished tied 15th in the 2014 edition. “I have high hopes in this event and like everybody, I want to win it for my country.

Golf is slowly growing but a local winner will increase the popularity of the sport by a few notches.

The 24-year-old Masrin hopes to use his experience of playing on the ADT to good use. He was among four local golfers to make the halfway cut at the Indonesian Masters in October which was a record in the event.
“The standard of golf in the country is growing. We have more local events now and the players are gaining experience by playing in Asian Tour events. The BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open will be another great addition for golfers to be exposed to an international golf tournament,” said Masrin.

“I’ve been playing well lately and I hope to continue the momentum. It gives me great pride to play in the Indonesia Open. It will be a challenging week with so many great Asian Tour players but I will focus on my own game and hopefully have a chance at the weekend,” he added.

Andrew, a regular on the ADT, believes the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open is a great tournament for him to learn from the best golfers in Asia.

“I’ve learnt a lot playing on the ADT but it is an entirely different level when you play on the Asian Tour. It is challenging on the ADT so the experience will help me when I play in my National Open. I’m really looking forward to the experience this week,” said the 24-year-old.

The BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open is one of the finest golf championships in Asia where top stars such as Thaworn Wiratchant, Thongchai Jaidee and Padraig Harrington have won the tournament in the past.

Bhullar Ready To Challenge For Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open Title

Sentosa, Singapore, November 7 - An in-form Gaganjeet Bhullar of India will headline the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open from November 17 to 20 with the aim of winning the event for a second time in his career.

The 28-year-old won the prestigious showpiece in 2013 for his fifth Asian Tour title but went through a title drought because of a wrist injury. He returned to his best form when he triumphed in Korea last month and will be the top contender in Indonesia.

Bhullar will challenge for the prestigious BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open title against a stellar line-up which includes new Asian Tour winner Pavit Tangkamolprasert of Thailand and veteran Singaporean Mardan Mamat at the US$300,000 event.

Asian Tour winners Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, Himmat Rai of India and Richard T. Lee of Canada will also feature in the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open.

A total of 20 local players, led by George Gandranata and Danny Masrin, will also aim to become the first Indonesian golfer after Kasiadi to win the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open which is staged at the Pondok Indah Golf Course.

Bhullar has a strong affinity with Indonesia, the country where he won his first Asian Tour title in 2009 before going on to sweep five other titles. He was regarded as one of the rising stars in golf before his injury setback.

“It was very important for me to win. I lost my card in Europe and I was struggling and feeling low in life. It was hard and I felt lonely at times because some of my friends continued to play in Europe,” lamented Bhullar.

Like a true champion he bounced back in sensational style when he clinched the Shinhan Donghae Open title by one shot before going on to secure a fifth place finish at the Indonesian Masters in the following week.

“I’m from a sporting family so we have a moto to never say die. I gave it my all when I was playing in tournaments after the injury. At the end of the day, you have to believe in your hard work and I’m proud of myself and it is good to be back in the winners’ circle,” said Bhullar.

The BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open is one of the finest golf championships in Asia where top stars such as Thaworn Wiratchant, Thongchai Jaidee and Padraig Harrington have won the tournament in the past.

Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open Makes Welcome Return On Asian Tour

Jakarta, November 1 - The 2016 BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open will make its welcome return onto the Asian Tour Schedule after a one-year absence, officials announced today.

Title sponsored by Indonesia’s oldest bank, Bank BRI and global payments brand based in Japan, JCB, Indonesia’s oldest professional golf tournament will be played at Pondok Indah Golf Course from November 17 to 20, 2016.

The full-field Asian Tour event will offer a US$300,000 prize purse and much attention will be on the local golfers aiming to deliver the first Indonesian champion since 1989.

The late Kasiadi remains the only Indonesian golfer to win the event while the 2014 edition was won by three-time Major winner, Padraig Harrington who defeated Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha by two shots.

Sis Apik Wijayanto, Director of Bank BRI said: “The Indonesian Open is one of the most prestigious national championships in Asia and Bank BRI is truly honored to have the opportunity to become the tournament’s title sponsor."

“We hope the return of our national championship will inspire Indonesian golfers to play their best and win the BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open title next month. It would be a fantastic achievement for the development of the game in our country.”

Left to right: Mr. Budi Kosasih, Operational Director of Pondok Indah Golf Course, Mr. Sis Apik Wijayanto, Director of BANK BRI, Mr. Murdaya Widyawimarta Po, Chairman of PGI, Mr. Koichiro Wada, Director of PT. JCB International Indonesia and Mr. Cho Minn Thant, Associate Director of Asian Tour

Mr. Koichiro Wada, Director of JCB International Indonesia said: “We are delighted and proud to be part of the Indonesia Open, which is the oldest golf tournament in the country."

“It is an exciting venture for JCB and we are looking forward to working together with the Asian Tour and Persatuan Golf Indonesia to make this prestigious tournament a huge success.”"
Mr. Murdaya Widyawimarta Po, President of Persatuan Golf Indonesia, the national golf association of Indonesia said: “On behalf of our association, I would like to thank Bank BRI and JCB for its outstanding support. Our national championship is a very important event and we are delighted that the BRI-JCB Indonesia Open will be staged on the Asian Tour this month."

“It is important for us to continue to stage the Indonesia Open as it creates the opportunity for Indonesian golfers, both professionals and amateurs, to compete against the best players from the Asian Tour.”

Cho Minn Thant, Associate Director of the Asian Tour, said, “We are delighted to welcome back the Asian Tour tournament sponsored by BRI after a one-year lapse as it is one of the most popular national Opens in Asia with a rich history."

“As we begin our countdown towards the championship, we are also confident the return of the best players from the Asian Tour will continue to excite and thrill the local galleries next month. On behalf of our players, I would also like to extend our deepest appreciation to Bank BRI for its title sponsorship."

“Earlier this season, the Asian Tour also welcomed back the national Opens of Singapore and Myanmar while the King’s Cup also made a return in Thailand. I believe this is a wonderful sign for the development and growth of professional golf in Asia.”

Budi Kosasih, Director Operational of Pondok Indah Golf Course said the club is looking forward to hosting the top players from the region and Indonesia for the Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open.

“It is a privilege for Pondok Indah to be selected to play host to the 2016 Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open. We will endeavour to prepare our championship course to its best condition so that we can identify a worthy champion of our national Open.”

Combiphar Golf Invitational Set For ADT Debut In November

Jakarta, October 18 - The Combiphar Golf Invitational will make its Asian Development Tour (ADT) debut at Royal Tulip Gunung Geulis Golf Resorts in Indonesia this November.

The US$60,000 ADT event, which will be the Tour’s second stop in Indonesia this season, is slated to take place from November 23 to 26 in Bogor - West Java, about 60 kilometers south from Jakarta.

A 144-man field, made up of 80 players from the ADT, 50 players from the Professional Golf Tour of Indonesia (PGTI) and 14 invitees, will feature in the inaugural tournament, which will be the 22nd leg of the ADT schedule this season.

Michael Wanandi, CEO of Combiphar, Indonesia’s leading consumer healthcare company and title sponsor of the event, said: “As part of our 45th year anniversary in celebrating health in Indonesia, we are very delighted to announce the inaugural Combiphar Golf Invitational and look forward to a successful tournament by working with the ADT.”

“One of the reasons why we are hosting this new tournament is to showcase emerging talents from our country as well as from across the region and provide them with the platform to escalate their careers onto the Asian Tour,” Michael added. "Another reason is too expand our name recognition in the ASEAN region, as Combiphar products are sold in neighboring countries as well."

The Combiphar Golf Invitational also provides opportunity to all participants and partners to take part in donating to four unique social organizations in Indonesia which support health, education, women empowerment and facility enhancement through: Pink Shimmer Inc, an organization dedicated to helping breast cancer patients and survivors. SabangMerauke, a local student exchange program focused on promoting education, tolerance and Indonesian pride nationwide. Circa HandMade, focusing on empowering and educating a community of women handcrafters in Bandung as well as Jaka Perkasa Citra Cemerlang, for its numerous water infrastructure projects in remote areas throughout Indonesia.


Michael Wanandi, CEO of Combiphar (center), addresses the media accompanied by (l-r) Agus Triyono (Secretary General of the PGA Tour of Indonesia), Irfan Hamid (Associate Director at the Asian Tour), Agung Budiman (President Director of Gunung Geulis Golf Resort) and Merry Kwan (OB Golf)

Agung Budiman, Presiden Director of Gunung Geulis Golf Resort, also expressed his excitement in hosting an ADT event for the very first time.

“We are pleased to support the Combiphar Golf Invitational as host venue. We can’t wait to welcome the region’s rising stars to the event,” said Agung.

Asian Tour Associate Director Irfan Hamid was thrilled to welcome the Combiphar Golf Invitational as the newest tournament on the ADT Schedule.

“On behalf of our talented players, we are honored and privileged to welcome the Combiphar Golf Tournament on the ADT Schedule.

“We have welcomed a host of new winners this year, including George Gandranata who became the first Indonesian to win on the ADT in April. We hope to see more young and exciting talents bursting onto the scene through these new events,” said Irfan.

When asked how many tournaments the ADT would ideally like to hold in Indonesia, Irfan responded "In light of the next Olympics being held in Japan in 4 years, a greater number of tournaments would increase opportunities for Indonesian players to receive Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points that are needed to qualify for the Olympic tournament. The ADT targets that up to 6 tournaments be held annually in Indonesia."

The winner will receive six OWGR points while the top six players and ties will also earn points based on a sliding scale.

Also the top-five finishers on the final Order of Merit will secure their Asian Tour cards for 2017.

Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club Officially Opens On Bali

BALI, Indonesia - Bali's evolution into a legitimate international golf destination gained some remarkable new standing last weekend with the opening of Bukit Pandawa Golf & Country Club, the fifth golf venue on the Island of the Gods and the first 18-hole, par-3 championship course in Indonesia.

Designed by Bob Moore of California-based JMP Golf Design Group and managed by AccorHotels, Bukit Pandawa G&CC is also the first phase of an unprecedented hospitality project taking shape on Bali's southern coastline, where the club's ownership group, luxury resort developer PT Bali Ragawisata (BRW), is planning to add hotels and residences managed by world-renowned brands Mandarin Oriental, Waldorf Astoria and Swissôtel and a soon-to-be-announced company that has long been synonymous with the finest things in life.

"We're setting the stage for everything that's to come," said Stephen Banks, general manager of Bukit Pandawa G&CC. "We're equal parts groundbreaking, eye-popping and extraordinary."

To drive home the level of excellence golfers can expect at Bukit Pandawa G&CC, the course partnered with iconic automaker BMW — which is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year — to hold a novel, grand opening tournament on Oct. 8 for 160 invited players, each of whom had 18 chances to win a range of BMW-brand vehicles.

"I'm not sure there's ever been a tournament where at each hole you could win a car — let alone a premium car — with an ace," said Djie Tjian An, president/director of BRW. "Even though we didn't see a hole-in-one, everyone sure had fun trying."

The tournament was followed by a surprise unveiling of the futuristic BMW i8 — a cutting-edge hybrid supercar — that was celebrated with a champagne toast sponsored by French multinational luxury good conglomerate LVMH.

"Throughout its 100-year history, the BMW Group has constantly reinvented itself," said Karen Lim, president/director of BMW Group Indonesia. "The i8, the most progressive sports car in the world, is testament of that. And Bukit Pandawa, with its immaculate playing surface, is the perfect platform on which to roll out such a revolutionary driving machine."

Located on a spectacular limestone clifftop overlooking the world-famous surf breaks of Bukit Peninsula, AccorHotels' flagship course in Asia offers 18 exquisite par-3 holes ranging from 117 to 244 yards in length.

From the back tees, it plays 3,027 yards, a few hundred yards longer than lauded Turtle Hill Golf Club at Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda, which ranks among GOLF Magazine USA's top 10 par-3 courses in the world.

Some holes at Bukit Pandawa G&CC are back-dropped by the Indian Ocean. Others are accented by waterfalls or terraced rice paddies. All are subject to the wind.

"It can be a real test," said Banks, a former playing professional from Manchester, England "When the breeze is up — and it almost always is — there's a good chance you'll use every club in the bag. Even driver."

One standout hole is the 148-yard 13th, which is framed by three bunkers and features curved stone walls in the foreground and a traditional Balinese kul-kul tower in the background.

Given how short the par-54 layout is compared to standard 18-hole setups, Djie Tjian An anticipates it will be especially popular with short-stay visitors and families.

"So often, a golfer might pass on the opportunity to play on vacation or during a business trip because it can burn a large portion of the day," he said. "But here, that's not an issue. A round takes no more than a couple hours to complete."

In designing Bukit Pandawa G&CC, Moore, whose firm is responsible for championship-caliber designs all over the world including the acclaimed Royale Jakarta Golf Club in Indonesia's capital, embraced the contours and characteristics of a site that was rife with ridge lines, architectural ruins and sea views. Indeed, the ocean is visible from 15 holes.

To round out the total golf experience at Bukit Pandawa G&CC and provide visitors a feeling of rapture when they arrive, a 3,000-square-meter clubhouse inspired by the ancient temples and towers of central Bali has been constructed.

Conceived by accomplished architects Antony Liu and Ferry Ridwan from StudioTonTon in Jakarta, the imaginative, twin-block structure was designed to blend into its natural surroundings through the liberal implementation of local materials (such as stone and wood), native grasses and, above all, water, which flows seamlessly through many of the building's spaces.

"We're extremely proud of this project," said Liu, who is one of Indonesia's foremost modern tropical architects. "It perfectly harnesses what's so great about the location — the views — and it has so much character."

That includes the singular facility's signature component, the rooftop restaurant, which overlooks the ocean and course and features al fresco dining and lounge areas that ooze exotic elegance.