01of 13Ready to Wed in IndonesiaDavid Livingston/GettyBrody Jenner, 34, and fianceKaitlynn Carter, 29,will be tying the knotany day now on the Indonesian island of Sumba. Though the nuptials will beKardashian-free, there’s no shortage of drama and beauty at the exclusiveNihi Sumba resort.
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Ready to Wed in Indonesia
David Livingston/Getty
Brody Jenner, 34, and fianceKaitlynn Carter, 29,will be tying the knotany day now on the Indonesian island of Sumba. Though the nuptials will beKardashian-free, there’s no shortage of drama and beauty at the exclusiveNihi Sumba resort.
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Inside Nihi Sumba
Nihiwatu
03of 13Getting to know Nihi SumbaDonnie EicharMy wife and I have been fortunate to be able to travel to many amazing places because of our careers, but we were wonderstruck with what we encountered on the “forgotten island” of Sumba: Rocky headlands covered in emerald green jungles, golden rice fields and empty white sand beaches. We stayed at Nihi Sumba Resort — a perfect combination of Sumbanese culture, isolation and understated luxury, set in 1,400 acres of forested coastline.
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Getting to know Nihi Sumba
Donnie Eichar
My wife and I have been fortunate to be able to travel to many amazing places because of our careers, but we were wonderstruck with what we encountered on the “forgotten island” of Sumba: Rocky headlands covered in emerald green jungles, golden rice fields and empty white sand beaches. We stayed at Nihi Sumba Resort — a perfect combination of Sumbanese culture, isolation and understated luxury, set in 1,400 acres of forested coastline.
04of 13A Destination 30 years in the MakingDonnie EicharThe story of Nihi Sumba began in 1988, when an American surfer named Claude Graves and his wife, Petra, came to the island in search of uncrowded surf. What they discovered was not only a perfect left-hand wave — now known as “Occy’s Left” — but a piece of tropical paradise and a love for the island and its people. It would take over a decade to secure the land rights: the couple endured local clan wars, earthquakes and financial meltdowns, before they were able to build.In 2012, American entrepreneur Chris Burch and hotelier James McBride bought the property and expanded it into one of the most exclusive resorts on earth. (Travel + Leisurereaders voted Nihi Sumba one of best hotels in the world in 2016.)
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A Destination 30 years in the Making
The story of Nihi Sumba began in 1988, when an American surfer named Claude Graves and his wife, Petra, came to the island in search of uncrowded surf. What they discovered was not only a perfect left-hand wave — now known as “Occy’s Left” — but a piece of tropical paradise and a love for the island and its people. It would take over a decade to secure the land rights: the couple endured local clan wars, earthquakes and financial meltdowns, before they were able to build.
In 2012, American entrepreneur Chris Burch and hotelier James McBride bought the property and expanded it into one of the most exclusive resorts on earth. (Travel + Leisurereaders voted Nihi Sumba one of best hotels in the world in 2016.)
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The Breaking Point
06of 13Nature’s PaletteDonnie EicharA fishing trip in the turquoise water off the coast of Western Sumba delivered a bounty of fish for our son: He caught mahi-mahi, yellow fin tuna and rainbow runners.
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Nature’s Palette
A fishing trip in the turquoise water off the coast of Western Sumba delivered a bounty of fish for our son: He caught mahi-mahi, yellow fin tuna and rainbow runners.
07of 13Sea to TableDonnie EicharThe yellow fin tuna quickly became our lunch and the mahi-mahi our dinner. Sea-to-table dining at its best.
07of 13
Sea to Table
The yellow fin tuna quickly became our lunch and the mahi-mahi our dinner. Sea-to-table dining at its best.
08of 13Remote LuxuryDonnie EicharAt Nihi Oka, Nihi Sumba’s dedicated destination spa, we had a BBQ lunch in a treehouse, explored the secluded, pristine beach below and then finished with alfresco massages in a bamboo pavilion overlooking the ocean. While we were enjoying our half-day Nihi Oka spa experience, our son was busy learning how to make chocolate at Nihi Sumba’s Chris and Charlie’s Chocolate Factory.
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Remote Luxury
At Nihi Oka, Nihi Sumba’s dedicated destination spa, we had a BBQ lunch in a treehouse, explored the secluded, pristine beach below and then finished with alfresco massages in a bamboo pavilion overlooking the ocean. While we were enjoying our half-day Nihi Oka spa experience, our son was busy learning how to make chocolate at Nihi Sumba’s Chris and Charlie’s Chocolate Factory.
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Giving Back and Moving Forward
10of 13The Heart of SumbaDonnie EicharOur time spent volunteering with the Sumba Foundation, visiting a local school to serve hot lunches and touring a malaria clinic, were some of the highlights of our trip and an unforgettable, unique philanthropic experience for my family and me.
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The Heart of Sumba
Our time spent volunteering with the Sumba Foundation, visiting a local school to serve hot lunches and touring a malaria clinic, were some of the highlights of our trip and an unforgettable, unique philanthropic experience for my family and me.
11of 13Friends on the RiverDonnie EicharWhile Stand-up paddle boarding on the Wanukaka River in Western Sumba, which took us from lush jungle to the Indian Ocean, it was impossible to shake off the Sumbanese children who rushed out from their village to greet us. The young pirates eventually won the battle of Wanukaka River and capsized our SUP.
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Friends on the River
While Stand-up paddle boarding on the Wanukaka River in Western Sumba, which took us from lush jungle to the Indian Ocean, it was impossible to shake off the Sumbanese children who rushed out from their village to greet us. The young pirates eventually won the battle of Wanukaka River and capsized our SUP.
12of 13Learning the IslandDonnie EicharDotting the countryside are hilltop villages with traditional, tall, thatched-roof houses, bunched around megalithic tombs, where villagers pay respect to the dead. We finished our day with a trip to the local market, where women with scarlet-stained gums from chewing betel nuts (a natural stimulant), tried to sell us everything from fish bones to snake fruit.
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Learning the Island
Dotting the countryside are hilltop villages with traditional, tall, thatched-roof houses, bunched around megalithic tombs, where villagers pay respect to the dead. We finished our day with a trip to the local market, where women with scarlet-stained gums from chewing betel nuts (a natural stimulant), tried to sell us everything from fish bones to snake fruit.
13of 13A Lasting ImpressionDonnie EicharNihi Sumba’s philanthropic and ecological initiatives, as well as their ivory-white beaches, tropical rainforests, perfect, uncrowded surf and ancient villages will no doubt lure us back to the category-defying resort, to to continue unraveling the magical island. Thanks to all the Nihi Sumba staff who worked to make our experience truly unforgettable.
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A Lasting Impression
Nihi Sumba’s philanthropic and ecological initiatives, as well as their ivory-white beaches, tropical rainforests, perfect, uncrowded surf and ancient villages will no doubt lure us back to the category-defying resort, to to continue unraveling the magical island. Thanks to all the Nihi Sumba staff who worked to make our experience truly unforgettable.
source: people.com
