When I first met Yudi, he struck me as an unassuming and quiet man, and it took me a while before I realized that he was Telunas' new sous-chef. It wasn't until I sat down to get to know Yudi some more that I discovered the incredible journey that had brought him to Telunas Resorts.
Yudi was born and raised in Lampung province on the south tip of Sumatra, known for its surfing beaches, snorkeling, and being situated just north of the historic Krakatoa volcano. For Yudi, cooking was always in his blood. He pursued formal culinary training and then made his way to Jakarta to work in the hotel industry, where he gained years of experience in Food and Beverage operations.
The Maldives
Though his time in Jakarta taught him much, the dream of luxury island resorts was calling his name, and Chef Yudi soon found an opportunity working in the Maldives at a high-end resort. Working in one of the world's most sought-after travel destinations gave him an invaluable perspective on what makes a truly exceptional guest experience.
Telunas Calls Yudi Home
Eventually, Chef Yudi discovered an opening for a sous-chef position at a small resort in the Riau Islands called Telunas Resorts. Something about it felt right. He made the move - and what he found surprised him in the best possible way.
“I've worked for many years in the Food and Beverage hotel industry, and I've received training from the best companies. But I've never worked at a place like Telunas!”
Yudi explained that he and a handful of other staff had just attended a training with one of the managers. Though he had expected it to be a professional training for his job, he discovered it encompassed much more - personal development, values, and genuine care for every team member as a whole person.
“I just am so happy to work for a company that cares about me,” Yudi shared. Though Telunas was temporarily closed to guests due to Covid-19 at the time, the staff was still working hard - training, preparing, and getting ready to welcome guests back to the island.
“Working at Telunas is a gift for me. I will do my best to serve guests and serve people all around me.” - Yudi
Written by Jones Lase and Matt Ray, both long-time members of the Telunas team.
