Published in Now! Jakarta, February 2009
Yanti Giusti, on the phone
In the 1960s, Jakarta film-maker Wija Waworuntu moved to Sanur, in Bali—to start a new life with his young family of five. His adventures in Bali and those of his friends and family—became part of Sanur legend. Today the name Waworuntu is synonymous with Balinese cultural tourism (the late Donald Friend was Wija’s advisor and mentor); his hotel, the Tandjung Sari, was Indonesia’s first tropical boutique resort; and his grandchildren are the bright and beautiful young things of South Bali today!
On 10th January the extended clan all gathered at Batujimbar, the family estate—Bali’s equivalent to the Kennedy’s estate in Hyannis Port—for a Hindu-Balinese house-warming ceremony at the new home of family matriarch, Tatie Waworuntu. A great swathe of expatriate Bali and Jakarta society were there, plus a Balinese high priestess and her entourage, to make it all possible.
It was a sun-kissed, happy ‘Hindu Holiday’ affair—and a joyous re-union of sorts.
Queen Tatie of Batujimbar
Left: Tatie’s daughter, Riri, a legendary Sanur beauty, (like her mother)
Right: Sanur high priestess who officiated at the ceremony
The dining pavilion
Left: Dayu Intaran, the mistress of ceremonies
Right: Courtyard dining
(left to right) Society jeweller Jean-Francois Fichot, Yaya Waworuntu, Olof
Family consigliore Frank Morgan and Kathrine Carlisle
Left: Frank Morgan, Ade Waworuntu
Right: Artist Timi Waworuntu
Left: Gilang Waworuntu
Right: Local Sanur stud-muffin, Wayan Siteng
Left: Tatie’s daughter, Wita, manager of Sanur’s Tandjung Sari Hotel
Right: Tatie’s grand-daughter, Sarah
Kathrine Carlisle, Chris Carlisle, Tatie Waworuntu
Left: Junaedi
Right: Permanent Waworuntu court fixture, Peggy
Balinese table settings
