Lovina and the Story

 

Lovina Beach Bali

Lovina Beach (or often simply Lovina) is a coastal area on the northwestern side of the island of Bali, Indonesia. The coastal strip stretches from 5 km west of the city of Singaraja to 15 km west. Singaraja is the seat of Buleleng Regency. 

The Lovina area contains the small villages (from east to west) of Pemaron, Tukad Mungga, Anturan, Banyualit, Kalibukbuk, Kaliasem and Temukus. It is becoming more popular with tourists but remains far quieter than the tourist hotspots of the island's south side.

The area takes its name from a home owned by Pandji Tisna (1908-1978), a Regent of Buleleng and pioneer of tourism to Bali in the early 1950s. Popular activities for visitors include early-morning boat trips off the coast to see dolphins.

History

Around the 1950s, Anak Agung Pandji Tisna, had traveled to several countries in Europe and Asia. He stayed several weeks in Bombay (now Mumbai). What attracted him most was the life of the people in India. By observing the people's way of life in the area, he got the thought and the outlook for Bali, especially the development of social welfare in the Buleleng region. 

While he was in Bombay, Panji Tisna saw a place that was beautifully laid out as a spot for leisure on the beach. The land had much similarity with what he owned on Kampung Baru Beach – Buleleng – North Bali, which also was between two rivers. 

Pandji Tisna was inspired to create a resort like that. The land he already had in hand.Returning from abroad in 1953, Anak Agung Pandji Tisna immediately began to build on his land, a cottage called Guesthouse "LOVINA". The place was designed for the "travellers" or tourists for a vacation.

The guesthouse was furnished with three bedrooms and a small restaurant near the sea. Some business observers claimed that the plan of Panji Tisna would not work as expected. They thought it was too early to make business of such a kind on a secluded beach like Tukad Cebol. Local cultural observers stated that "Lovina" was a foreign word, not Balinese. 

Furthermore, there is no letter "v" in Balinese alphabet. In 1959 Anak Agung Panji Tisna sold the Lovina Guesthouse to his relative, Anak Agung Ngurah Sentanu, 22 years, who became the owner and manager of Lovina. Business was going pretty well. However, there were no travellers or tourists. 

Only a few of Pandji Tisna’s friends came from America and Europe, as well as the regional government officials and businessmen from Singaraja for a vacation. On special days such as Sundays and holidays, like Galungan and Kuningan, many people, including students, however did come to enjoy the natural atmosphere on the beach of Tukad Cebol.