One of the most magical places i was fortunate enough to spend a few days was on Sumba island, one of the most remote and uninhabited islands of Indonesia.  There's only one real hotel here, Nihiwatu Surf Lodge, and it offers un-paralled access to a place that's otherwise hard to explore alone. There's just no tourism infrastructure and Mother Nature reigns supreme. 

Walking on the beach at dawn, with not a soul in site, felt like Jurassic Park and I kept expecting a T-Rex to come roaring through the bushes. Dubbing itself a 'wildness lodge', Nihiwatu's 5 star luxury, private surf break and spectacular beauty won it the accolade of Travel & Leisure's number 1 hotel of 2017.  I went to interview the hotel's owner, serial entrepreneur Chris Burch about turning his hand to hospitality for Elite Traveler.  You can read about it here. 

What struck me (and stays with me to this day) was the Sumbanese people and their way of life, still so primitive and connected to the Earth when compared to Indonesia's other islands.  The other thing was the extent of the work that Nihiwatu does to have a positive impact on the local community, from establishing malaria and maternity clinics across the island to building wells and feeding school-children.  It for sho, wasn't for show.  Kudos to 5 star properties leveraging their power for serious impact.  Hopefully a sign of times to come. 

Published 2017