The Laguna, Nusa Dua, Bali makes Bali island greener by planting 2000 mangroves

The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali makes Bali Island greener by planting 2000 mangroves at Serangan Beach on Thursday, 29 April 2010. This Care for Community initiative involved more than 200 employees from various departments led by the General Manager, Mr David Cuddon, Executive Committee members, Department Heads and many staffs. All enthusiast participants departed from the resort at 14.00hours to Serangan Beach - Bali an hour's drive away.

Mangrove Plantation - Serangan Beach, Bali by The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali

Mangrove Plantation at Serangan Beach, Bali by The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali

The event was initiated by Human Resources Department and the mangrove planting this year is a continued effort to last year's mangrove planting. The 2000 mangrove planting activity also invited 50 students from SDN No 6 Benoa (elementary school), a mentoring school by the resort. The Students, Head Master and Teachers who participated on this planting activity were very excited. It is an exceptional collaboration between the resort and the Students on how we care to our community.

The Laguna Cycling Club lead by the award winning Executive Chef I Made Putra and its members also provided a full support towards this community event. Members of this cycling club rode their bike from the resort to the Serangan Beach, which is about 30 kilometres away from Nusa Dua area. The cycling club is also promoted the initiative bike to works to the participants of mangroves planting.

This environment activity initiated by The Laguna Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali is one of the Starwood Care agendas, Care for Community. Every year, The Laguna Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali organises several Care for Community activities of various scale and programs inline with the Starwood Care programs. The mangrove planting activity is also reflects to the well-known Hindu's Balinese life of concept, Tri Hita Karana. One of the Tri Hita Karana pillars are; Palemahan which is highlighting a harmonious life between the people with its surrounding community and Pawongan, which is related to the harmonious relations between human to human.

With the successful of community activities conducted by the resort continuously, The Laguna Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali has recently received a tourism award - Tri Hita Karana, Gold Medal. The Annual Awards nomination was participated by almost 120 resorts, hotels and tourist attractions in Bali and organised by Bali Travel News magazine. The awards presented recognises accommodation operators and tourist attractions in Bali in their business, which embodies high levels of professionalism while at the same time embracing the spiritual and community values of Balinese culture.

 

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Hotel upgrades rejuvenate Bali

The island's business events properties improve offerings

Nusa Dua Beach Hotel is to begin a room upgrade this year and is currently offering meeting packages for US$45 per person. The hotel has an abundance of outdoor beachside space ideal for off-site events and gala dinners under the stars. The hotel also features an amphitheatre that can host up to 900 people for standing cocktails.



BIG PROJECT
The 494-room Melia Bali has begun its US$12 million Lagoon Access Suites project, which will finish in the third quarter of 2010 and will deliver Bali's highest number of lagoon-side suites when completed. The suites will be 43 sqm and all will have private patio access to the resort's lagoon.

Recent business events groups to use the hotel include Toyota with 85 people and a group of 130 for L'Oreal. The hotel also recently opened a complimentary arrival and departure lounge located at ground level.

The 342-room Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali will begin a year-long renovation of all its rooms on May 1. The US$8 million project will deliver new tropical-themed rooms with Westin Heavenly Beds, iPod docks and modern AV facilities.

The refurbishment will be carried out in three stages. The adjoining Bali International Convention Centre will remain untouched. Its largest space is 1,960 sqm.

DELUXE ROOMS

The 537-room Ayodya Resort Bali is also upgrading its 330 deluxe rooms. The project will be finished in stages until the end of 2010. Daihatsu Japan recently took a 24-person incentive to the property while Nokia hosted a team event for 36 people.

The 648-room Grand Hyatt Bali recently hosted a 600-person event for the Asian Development Bank (see Case Study, page 23 June 2009 CEI Asia) and a group of 500 from the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophtalmology. Hotel highlights include two grand ballrooms, 25 meeting rooms and a private beach that can hold up to 1,500 people.

Conrad Bali is also in the Nusa Dua area and features four distinct wings that offer seclusion for MICE groups. There are seven hectares of manicured gardens and 360 guestrooms with the entry level being 45 sqm. The ballroom also seats 540 guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cei.asia

 

 

Bali airport renovation rejected by governor

Kompas.com reports that Bali's governor, Made Mangku Pastika, has rejected renovation plans advanced by Bali's airport managers, calling instead for a more Balinese design concept with greater emphasis on public as opposed to commercial spaces.

With renovations scheduled to commence before the end of 2009, I.B. Parsa, a spokesperson for the Bali government, said the provincial government and the governor's office would not give its supporting recommendation if the proposed renovations are only used to expand commercial space. "It would be better if Angkasa Pura (the airport managers) repaired the messy public areas at the airport," said Parsa.

Bali's international airport is being designed to handle 11 million domestic and international passengers, an increase from its current estimated carrying capacity of 9 million. Parsa pointed to poor security at the airport, sluggish visa and immigration handling and passenger boarding problems while asking why the airport authority seemed more intent on creating a commercial mall than on improving overall systems and airport infrastructure.

In response, the general manager of PT Angkasa Pura I at Bali's airport, Heru Legowo, confirmed the governor's objections, asking for several months to present a new set of renovation blueprints. At the same time, he said it would not be possible to meet the government's demand for more Balinese-styled architecture at the airport, promising only to endeavor to create a Balinese atmosphere to welcome arriving passengers.

Bali's airport occupies a tract of land measuring around 300 hectares. Of that area, 73,776 square meters is utilized for the passenger terminal and 1,200 square meters for parking lots.

turbonews.com

Tourism authorities to fix visa on arrival service at Bali airport

Tourism authorities have asked immigration officers at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali to improve their visa on arrival service following complaints from foreign visitors.

"The problem with the immigration division at Ngurah Rai International Airport, especially its visa on arrival service, looks like a severe disease," Bali Tourism Agency head Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu told kompas.com on Wednesday.

He added that foreign tourists had to line up for hours in a heavily crowded booth to obtain their visas on arrival.

"Once I received a report saying that a tourist went mad because of the inconvenient service at the immigration booth," Subhiksu said.

The Bali administration has been urging the central government to fix the matter, but the trouble has remained unaddressed, he added.

Source: www.pax.travel

Jammed Bali looks for solutions

The popularity of Bali Island has for years translated into road congestion due not only to the multiplication of tourist busses but also the lack of parking facilities, of proper public transport, and the undisciplined behavior of most local drivers who park their vehicles at their convenience. All of these elements make circulation in Bali a nightmare.

It takes regularly over an hour in the evening to ride along the 21 km separating the popular beach resort of Kuta to the famous temples of Tanah Lot. In fact, places such as Legian, Denpasar, Kuta, or Ubud are jammed most of the afternoon with traffic regularly coming to a complete standstill. Tourism figures have rocketed over the last decade, growing from 1.399 million in 1999 to 2.229 million last year, up by almost 60 percent, not to mention some three million domestic tourists.

Added to a local population of 3.5 million inhabitants, Bali Island has to support in the year the movements of almost ten million people. While tourism development has been limited to only three regencies due to a 1988 decree, most of the congestion is consequently concentrated where tourists are, from the airport/Nusa Dua area to Sanur, Kuta, and Legian.

But as usual, Indonesia's central government and provincial authorities have not been able to tackle the problem of growing congestion. So far, plans to improve the situation have only remained at the good-wish level.

Bali Governor I. Made Mangku Pastika came out over the last year with some plans to cope with the increasing congestion. Earlier this year, the governor mulled out the option of building overpass highways, following their endorsement by religious authorities. Until recently, religious leaders maintained that elevated highways, pedestrian bridges, or underground tunnels violate Balinese religious principles. In the past, these religious restrictions linked to petty bureaucracy, rebuked a group of Malaysian investors to build four toll roads, which would have connected Sanur and Nusa Dua, cutting traveling time from 45-60 minutes to less than 15 minutes, as well as Bali airport to Nusa Dua. The project was estimated to cost US$440 million.

With religious restrictions now being lifted, the governor expects to be able to start the first overpass projects by this year for an opening by 2011 and 2012. Priority development would still concern the airport area and Nusa Dua area, as well as Denpasar, the capital.

Another option is to develop a rail circle line, which would offer a reliable alternative for locals and tourists to move around the island. The system would stop at major tourism objects and would require less land use than highways. The proposal has also received the support from Bali Governor Pastika.

Meanwhile, the island must also tackle with the increasing congestion at Bali airport. Recently, Indonesia's Minister of Tourism Jero Wacik pleaded for a quick expansion of Ngurah Rai International Airport. The process to a brand new international terminal has been delayed due to polemics on its design with Balinese authorities asking for a more Balinese identity. The Bali Airport project would double total capacity to 20 million passengers a year. The current terminal would be converted to the domestic airport, following the opening of the new 120,000 sqm international facility. The cost of investment is estimated at US$185 million. Authorities are also entertaining the option for a second airport on the northern part of the island

eturbonews.com

World Expo: Putting Indonesia on the map

The Indonesian Pavilion attracted 20,000 visitors at the opening day on May 1.

If Phileas Fogg and Passepartout need 80 days to travel the globe in Verne's classic Around the World in 80 Days to win £20,270 (US$30,000), we need less than that and less traveling once we are inside the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, China.

Located on a 5.28-square-kilometer plot of land, the 53rd expo features dozens of pavilions from 189 participating countries – after three countries withdrew from the event at the last minute – as well as 50 international organizations.

China has crafted its name in world history for its success in hosting the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. This time, Shanghai – with a 19.2 million population – aims to create another success by hosting the five-year expo dubbed the third biggest event in the world after the Olympics and the soccer World Cup. The municipality has prepared to welcome a targeted 70 million visitors during the six-month long event.

Visitors were willing to queue for four hours – especially at favorite pavilions such as China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, England and Germany – amid the heat. The organizers reported that about 200,000 people flocked to the expo site for the opening on May 1.

That day, about 20,000 visitors flocked to the Indonesian pavilion.  

The pavilion – a 2,400-square-meter building that stands on 4,000-square-meters of land – featured information about the country's rich natural resources and cultural heritage along the 700-meter ramp that allows visitors to enjoy the displays.

Balinese dance and gamelan entertained the visitors.

"It's been good to perform here," said Ni Wayan Windrati, a fifth grader from Ubud, Bali, who performed the dance to welcome Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and Indonesian Ambassador to China Imron Cotan during the opening ceremony. Wayan practiced for nearly two months before the performance day.

The building is mostly made from bamboo. Architect Budi Lim said he wanted to create a design that represented Indonesia. "I didn't want to use traditional architecture. I realize that everyone respects nature and this is shown in the architecture. Our nation lives in harmony with nature," he said.

Budi also used bamboo because he believes it may be "the timber of the future".

Visitors take a closer look at the resin-made relief of Borobudur Temple.

Compared to other countries' pavilions, which mostly have four walls, the Indonesian pavilion is open with good air circulation. Entering the pavilion, visitors can easily spot a giant waterfall – measuring 40x17 meters –  that features a map along a wall. The waterfall also serves to cool the air temperature.

"We will be able to determine if this cooling method works over the course of summer. There are some air-conditioners that have also been installed inside the pavilion to anticipate Shanghai's heat as the temperature can reach 39 degrees Celsius during the summer," Budi said.

Mari explained that the pavilion was divided into three zones: The bio zone features the country's abundant natural resources, the diverse zone showcases equipment used by traditional society in agriculture and the city section includes food and beverages.

She said that in line with the expo theme of "Better City, Better Life", Indonesia defined "better life" as harmony among different groups with their innate cultural heritage, while constantly moving forward in democracy and modernity. "We are showcasing our democracy and the progress that we have made in political, economic and cultural aspects in the past years."

Inside the Indonesian pavilion, visitors can sign on at a computer screen to cast their votes for the Komodo dragon to be named among the new seven wonders of nature. Such an effort has helped the Komodo to stay in the top 14 at the website http://www.new7wonders.com. The Komodo, which can grow up to 3 meters in length, is an endangered species living in the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores and Gili Motang in East Nusa Tenggara.

In another part of the pavilion, visitors can see resin-made reliefs of the world's largest Buddhist temple Borobudur and touch the Buddha's hand inside a replica of a stupa, a temple, located in Muntilan, Central Java. The world heritage site – as declared by UNESCO back in the 1980s – has been among the most favorite destination for tourists.

The pavilion also showcases numerous batik clothes as well as musical instruments such as Sasando of East Nusa Tenggara that is made from a split leaf of the Lontar palm, and becak (pedicab).

While other pavilions offer traditional cuisine, the Indonesian pavilion had yet to open its Enak (delicious) Restaurant, which minister Mari said would highlight Indonesia's delicacies such as fried rice, fried noodles and sate.

"The menu was selected by President Bambang Yudhoyono," she said. "Our nasi goreng [fried rice] is different from other country's because it's the only one that uses sweet soy sauce."

It was unfortunate the Enak Restaurant was not prepared to welcome the guests during The Jakarta Post's visit last week. The coffee corner, slated to serve the famous Toraja coffee, was not operating either.

The government spent US$10 million to build the pavilion and said it hoped to earn Rp 1 trillion (US$108.7 million) in transactions from trade, tourism and investment sectors. However, deputy chief of the Expo Coordination Bureau,  Zhu Yonglei, said that only five hallmark venues would be stored inside the Expo site, including the Expo Axis and the China Pavilion.

Mari hoped the Indonesian pavilion would be named among the five most beautiful although it is competing against other favorites including Japan, Saudi Arabia and European countries' pavilions. It is the second pavilion ever built by the government during its participation at the world expo. The opportunity has been seen by the government as "a massive PR event" to show how Indonesia has moved away from decades of autocratic rule and is becoming a beacon of democracy, emerging as one of the most resilient economies in Asia.

Mari said Indonesia, which has had the third largest economic growth after China and India, was like a charming girl. "This expo is to help people become more familiar with Indonesia before they eventually build a bilateral trade relation and invest in our country," she added.

The World Expo has brought the world closer to visitors and helped them learn about most countries' cultures as well as build interaction among them.

— Photos by Primastuti Handayani

Source: Jakartapost

 

Ten affordable places to stay in Ubud

Bali's cultural capital is enjoying a moment in the spotlight, having recently been voted Asia's best city destination. Here's our pick of the best-value homestays and hotels

Bali is on the up again, but the hot address is no longer the luxury villas and nightclubs of Seminyak beach, but the cultural capital Ubud, right in the centre of the island. The place has been buzzing since Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem based themselves here last year to film Eat, Pray, Love, and then the fickle readers of American Conde Nast Traveler decided to vote Ubud as Asia's Best City Destination 2010. Despite all this hype (and a host of ultra-expensive luxury hotels lining the nearby Sayan valley), there are still some very reasonably-priced places to stay in Ubud, from traditional homestay B&Bs with Balinese artists to small local hotels with beautiful pools, tropical gardens, family temples and romantic rooms.

1. Puri Saren Agung

This is where Ubud's long tradition of homestays all began, right in the Royal Palace of the King of Ubud, more than 80 years ago, when Bali first started to attract bohemian artists from around the world. It is still going strong today, though prices have gone up. To rent one of the seven traditional stone bungalows in the sumptuous royal courtyard is still quite an experience, and every night this magical palace comes alive with the sound of Gamelan music as Balinese dances are performed just across the wall from this unique B&B.

• Jalan Raya, Ubud, +62 361 975057. Double room with breakfast from £40

2. Fibra Inn

The Fibra first opened 30 years ago, when Monkey Forest Road was not much more than a dirt track, and today it is still difficult to find a more friendly place to stay in Ubud. A rambling compound of traditional Balinese houses, the gardens are a riot of exotic flowers and tropical vegetation, while the swimming pool is small but utterly romantic. Owned by one of the island's most famous dancers, Sri, guests can can see her perform every Friday in the artist's hamlet of Peliatan, while on Sundays there are concerts of her own all-woman Gamelan orchestra. At the back of the hotel is an excellent spa.

• Monkey Forest Road, +62 361 975451, email: bagusfibra@yahoo.com. Double room with breakfast from £30

3. Jati Home Stay

Parallel to the busy Monkey Forest Road, Hanoman Street is a lot quieter, and both sides are lined with budget homestay accommodation, hidden away inside traditional Balinese walled compounds. Fortunately Jati's homestay is well signposted as you weave left and right through a labyrinth of family temples, houses filled with noisy kids, artists studios, and an assortment of animals wandering around. Dewa Nyoman Jati is a well-known artist himself, and he opened his B&B 20 years ago to allow him to paint and also build up an important collection of works by contemporary Ubud artists, which is on show in his gallery. The accommodation is basic but comfortable.

• Hanoman Street, +62 361 977701. jatihs.com. Double room with breakfast from £12

4. Oka Wati Hotel

Oka Wati is a feisty Balinese lady, one of the pioneers of Ubud's homestays. When she first started taking guests in, her house was all alone in the middle of padi fields, and over the years, she has built up a comfortable nine-room hotel with swimming pool and restaurant. Once you've traversed the maze of narrow lanes that lead to the hotel, the location is perfect for exploring the centre of Ubud. Breakfast is copious, and in her restaurant Oka Wati still makes delicious gado-gado salad, a classic dish that strangely seems to be disappearing from restaurants here. She also serves the best Brem rice wine. 

• Off Monkey Forest Road, +62 361 973386, okawatihotel.com. Double room with breakfast from £35

5. Warsi's House

Warsi has a tiny boutique specialising in Balinese textiles, right opposite Ubud's soccer pitch. You have to make your way through a chaotic passage filled with junk before coming out in an idyllic oasis where her four bungalows sit next to a holy temple and lotus-filled pond, looking out over a dreamy landscape of rice fields and coconut trees. Don't expect luxuries like a swimming pool or aircon, but the breakfast of banana pancakes is delicious, while Warsi and her nephew Nyoman are always on hand to spoil their guests. 

• Monkey Forest Road, +62 361 975311. Double room with breakfast from £20

6. Rona

Located right at the entrance to Ubud, a walk down Tebesaya Road is like stepping back 10 or 15 years, when this was still a sleepy village. Rona is owned by an eccentric local known as Mr Chicken, who has turned traditional Balinese bungalows into a funky cafe, bookshop and hotel, decorated in very un-Balinese purple. Although there is an inviting pool, the rooms don't have aircon, though a fan is adequate considering the low-cost rates.

• 23 Tebesaya Road, +361 97322. Double room with breakfast from £18

7. Putu Putera Homestay

It is difficult to know just how much longer there will still be authentic homestays such as Putu Putera in Ubud, where for a minimal fee, guests can share the house of a local artisan, experience  family life in a traditional compound, and learn directly from the craftman himself about the skills in painting, wood carving, stone masonry, dance or music that Ubud is so famous for. The owner here has converted the top floor of his house into five no-frills B&B rooms. His wife prepares breakfast, while guests are welcome to accompany him to his workshop where he creates wood and stone ornaments for gardens. 

• 30 Tebesaya Road, +62 361 973204. Double room with breakfast from £6

8. Tiing Gading Bungalows

With no namesign, this is not the easiest place to find, but guests are rewarded by discovering a tranquil hideaway surrounded by thick bamboo groves, tall palm trees and a small river. The pool is to-die-for, and with a spa and restaurant it is easy to just relax here rather than going into Ubud in the evening. There are just 10 rooms, with aircon inside and cool terraces to sit out in the evening and enjoy an ice-cold Bintang beer.

• Tebesaya Road, +62 361 973228, vacationsinbali.com. Double room with breakfast from £30

9. Ubud Inn

A host of chic boutique hotels have opened up on Ubud's main drag, Monkey Forest Road, but the trademark "tropical Bali" design is all pretty similar, and prices can be surprisingly expensive. The Ubud Inn was one of the first places to offer more luxurious accommodation, and although this may not be the hippest place to stay, it is difficult to find better value. There is a huge swimming pool, surrounded by lush jungle vegetation, bar, restaurant and spa, free Wi-Fi, while the spacious rooms come with a four-poster bed complete with mosquito nets.  

• Monkey Forest Road, +62 361 975071, ubudinn.com. Double room with breakfast from £38.

10. Family Guest House

In the quiet artist's hamlet of Peliatan, this friendly homestay lives up to its name as the rambling compound is a great place for families to base themselves. The bungalows are simple and basic, but with large verandahs, and visitors are free to wander round the family temple and sumptuously decorated pavilions - just don't expect to find a swimming pool at this price. There is free WiFi, though, a copious breakfast famed for its brown bread, and just outside on the street is a fun "mini-bar", perfect for a late-night drink before going to bed.

• Jalan Sukma 39, +62 361 974054, email: familyhouse@telkom.net. Double Room with breakfast from £20.

• All photographs by John Brunton.

Source: Guardian.co,uk

Amandari Screens Heritage Films Of Classic Bali

Amandari will host a viewing of heritage films of Bali in conjunction with the French Cinémathèque of Dance and the Swedish Dance Museum.  The films focus on the theme of dance, with rarely-seen screenings of Rolf de Maré, a Swede who compiled outstanding footage of dance from Indonesia in the 1930s.

Films will be screened in Kedewatan's village wantilan, or open-air meeting place, adjacent to Amandari.  Each evening's showcase will feature two films with an intermission in between.

The first film to be screened on July 1 is "Goona Goona," (also known as "The Kris"), from 1932, which runs 65 minutes.  It was directed by Armand Denis and Andre Roosevelt.

This film, when it was shown in New York in the 1930s, became a huge success and put Bali on the international map. The term "goona-goona" became the equivalent of "that old black magic" of the popular song title (by Frank Sinatra). Released in 1932, its American title was "Love Powder." Amidst reams of expedition footage, the producers endeavored to contrive a dramatic plotline involving the romance between a Balinese prince and a servant girl.  Our hero finally wins the heroine's love with the help of a magic potion concocted by the local witch doctor.

A parallel will be drawn between Bali and Harlem in the '30s. While the Bali film was sweeping New Yorkers away, the Nicholas Brothers, child dancers from Harlem, were the stars of the Cotton Club. Both Bali and Harlem nightclub life inspired the artist Miguel Covarrubias. This screening will be combined with a 45-minute montage of the Nicholas Brothers' most sublimely virtuoso moments.

On July 2, Amandari will screen a film of Rolf de Maré's 1938 expedition to Nias, Sulawesi, Sunda, Java and Bali preceded by a short montage of photographs of deMaré presented by Erik Naslund.  This runs 90 minutes.

The film will be shown in two parts with musical accompaniment by two or four musicians.  Sequences are silent and show dances from what was then the West Indies. The trip was "curated" by Claire Holt who delegated the choice of dancers in Bali to Walter Spies. This unique document seldom travels and will probably never be shown again in Indonesia for technical reasons; the films are now too fragile. The evening will be presented by Erik Naslund, director of the Dansmuseet of Stockholm, Sweden and author of a biography of Rolf de Maré.

Rolf de Maré (1888 – 1964) was a Swedish art collector and leader of the Ballets Suédois in Paris from 1920–1925. In 1933, Rolf de Maré founded "Les Archives Internationales de la Danse" (AID) in Paris – the world's first museum and research institute for dance. The Archive became a famous centre for studies in dance and visitors came from all over the world to see exhibitions or to study in its vast library. After the War, de Maré donated his collections from the Swedish Ballet in Paris and the fruits of his expedition of exploration to Indonesia in 1938 – the first to have been undertaken with the purpose of documenting dance – to Stockholm to form the Dance Museum, which he opened in 1953.

The final day of the programme sees the screening of "Island of Bali — La Isla de Bali," from 1930, which runs 60 minutes and was directed by Miguel Covarrubias. This screening will be preceded by a documentary on the life and works of Miguel Covarrubias, the Mexican caricaturist, author and painter. This film is an edited compilation of footage taken by his wife, Rose Covarrubias, in 1930 and 1937. It covers every aspect of Balinese life following the chapters of the famous book "Island of Bali" which was a best-seller in the United States before the War.

source: eglobaltravelnews

Celebrating Galungan in Bali, Balinese slaughter thousands of pigs

Balinese people do a mass slaughter thousands of pigs on the day PENAMPAHAN Galungan, a day before the Galungan holy day, Tuesday (11 / 5) morning.

 

"Thousands of pigs slaughtered at the same time it has been prepared since six months ago, so the needs of pigs in large numbers can be met from the local area, no longer bring in pigs from outside Bali, as in previous years," said Head of Bali Provincial Animal Husbandry Putu Sumantra .

 

He said the joint venture undertaken pig slaughter. One male weighing 100 kilograms divided by the 15-20 family. Even people who belong to cut off a pig. Most of the meat is given to immediate family.

 

Communities in Hamlet Ole, Dauh Puri Village Marga, Tabanan regency, around 45 km southwest of Denpasar to cut the pig in the morning, before sunrise, so cutting it is completed. Each family received six to seven kilograms of pork were next with their family members are processed in a variety of Balinese food menu.

 

"There are processed into lawar and bebalung to eat today and tomorrow and processed in the order that can last a few days ahead," said Pan Anga, 45, one local resident. He says, a pig with a weight of 100 kg of one resident purchased a joint venture with 15 people with equal division.

 

Meanwhile, urban communities, especially in Denpasar, only a small portion of pork cuts in the household. They are mostly bought in the form of pork that is clean ready to be processed in the traditional markets, with prices up to Rp40.000/kg Rp35.000.

 

Balinese society, both in cities and rural areas, on the day of Galungan PENAMPAHAN keep doing ngelawar tradition and making various kinds of Balinese cuisine. According to Putu Sumantra, Bali ahead of Galungan has a stock of more than 283 000 pigs with an average weight over 100 kg / head.

 

In one family automatically after the existing division of tasks have finished processing the meat and then enjoy it together. The men make bamboo decoration Penjor ie mounted on the front door of each household. Meanwhile, a housewife, including her daughter's child prepare a series of special occasions (offerings) that will be offered at the temple or sacred place of the family (merajan) on Galungan holy day which falls on Wednesday (12 / 5).

 

For three consecutive days, 11-13 May 2010, offices of government agencies and private companies in Bali holiday (facultative). Similarly, the teaching and learning process for all levels of education in Bali is also a holiday during the week. (Ant/OL-04)

Galungan in Bali, Janur Vendors and Flower Harvest

A day before the celebration of the holiday Galungan, Hindus in Bali was busy with preparations to welcome the day of victory over adarma or good darma against crime. Among them is to buy equipment such as flowers and prayers on special occasions.

 

Market traders in Badung Denpasar did not want to miss this opportunity by selling flowers and on special occasions. In addition to equipment dealers, traders also sprung up a surprise that deliberately selling flowers and coconut into the holiday every Galungan. Due to high demand for more profitable because they were also price rises.

 

"If the price of coconut and flowers are usually sold seven thousand to eight thousand, per bundle, on the eve of this holiday rising to 12 thousand to 16 thousand, per bundle," said Ketut Suwarya one coconut traders in Pasar Badung, Denpasar. "Supply for Galungan and Kuningan holidays are still safe," he added.

 

Like previous years, residents of Denpasar and surrounding areas flock to Badung market for the purposes of Galungan and Kuningan from morning till evening began later.

 

Translate from Kompas.com

Garuda Plans to Cover Gap After JAL Cuts Bali Routes

National flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia announced on Monday that it was ready to fill the void after ailing Japan Airlines canceled its routes to Bali this year.

Kiyoshi Tanaka, a JAL representative in Bali, said on Monday that the bankrupt airline's massive restructuring had prompted it to cut less-profitable routes, including to Bali, which have already showed a decrease in passenger numbers. He said JAL's daily Tokyo-Denpasar and Osaka-Denpasar would be eliminated by Oct. 1, leaving Garuda the only carrier flying between Japan and the resort island.

Pujobroto, Garuda's corporate secretary, said on Monday after JAL's announcement that the Indonesian carrier would raise its Osaka-Denpasar flights from four times a week to five starting in November. Garuda also provides once-daily Denpasar-Tokyo service and three Denpasar-Nagoya flights per week.

"The flights from Denpasar to Japan will use Airbus 330-300 aircraft," Pujobroto said.

Amid a massive restructuring, Japan Airlines has decided to trim unprofitable routes, including to Bali. The planned cancellation will leave Garuda the only carrier flying from Japan to the resort island of Bali. (EPA Photo)

Pujobroto also added that Garuda was planning daily Jakarta-Tokyo service in September.

JAL, Asia's biggest carrier, declared bankruptcy in January under $6 billion of debt. Poor management and out-of-control costs, as well as unprofitable routes, were all factors leading to one of Japan's biggest corporate busts.

Its troubles were also compounded by the global financial downturn, which decimated travel demand for its extensive international flight network.

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the number of visitors from Japan to Bali dropped 22 percent to 65,059 in the first quarter from the year-earlier period.

JAL currently has two daily routes to Bali, Tokyo-Denpasar and JAL 715 Osaka-Denpasar.

Heru Legowo, general manager of PT Angkasa Pura I Ngurah Rai, regretted JAL's decision to stop the service, which it has flown for 10 years. He said the cancellation made little sense because the 400 passangers arrived on each flight as well as cargo, not to mention the fees JAL paid to the airport management firm.

"With the route closing, we will lose income of Rp 150 million [$16,500] a day," Heru said.

Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya, chairman of Bali's Tourism Board, said the closure would also cause tourist numbers to drop. Japan accounts for the third-largest number of visitors after Australia and China.

Ronn Nomura, sales and marketing officer of Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bali, said the impact had already begun to be felt.

"With the closure, we expect to lose 50 percent of our guests," he said.

 

TheJakartaGlobe

Bali Special Package - Classic Tour For Group

03 HARI / 02 MALAM BALI PACKAGE TOUR

Bali Classic Tour

 

 

HARI 01: TIBA DI DENPASAR . Tour Mengwi – Tanah LOT ( MS, MM)

Setibanya di Airport Ngurah Rai Denpasar meeting service dan di hantar menuju Restaurant untuk Makan Siang.

Kemudian Peserta akan diajak untuk mengunjungi Desa Mengwi yang terkenal dengan Pura Taman Ayun, kemudian Mengunjungi Hutan Monyet atau Alas Kedaton. Dilanjutkan kunjungan ke Tanah Lot untuk menikmati Matahari terbenam.

Makan Malam disiapkan di Lokal Restaurant daerah Denpasar

 

HARI 02: TOUR SEHARI KINTAMANI ( MP,MS,MM ).

Makan pagi di hotel, Tour mengunjungi : Desa Batubulan, menyaksikan pertunjukan Tarian Barong , pusat kerajinan patung cadas dan kerajinan batik khas Bali. kemudian Desa Celuk untuk melihat kerajinan Perak dan Emas, Desa Mas, kerajinani Patung, ukiran dll. Pura Tirta Empul yang dikenal dengan sumber mata airnya yang ada di Tampak Siring. Makan siang dilayani Restoran sambil menikmati indahnya Panorama Gunung dan Danau Batur.  Mengunjungi Pasar Sukawati untuk berbelanja oleh2 khas Bali.

Makan Malam di sediakan di Pantai Jimbaran, Menu Seafood BBQ

 

HARI 03: KEBERANGKATAN DARI DENPASAR ( MP, MS)

Makan pagi dihotel kemudian dilanjutkan dengan menuju Tanjung Benoa untuk menikmati permainan air harga sudah termasuk 1X Mengunjungi pulau penyu, kemudian dilanjutkan menuju GWK untuk kunjungan dan Makan siang di restaurant setempat. Dihantar ke Airport untuk penerbangan kembali ke tujuan selanjutnya.

Harga per orang minimum 25 orang + 1 FOC Tour Leader

Palm Beach Hotel : Rp. 885.500;-  

 

Tambahan utk 1 kamar sendiri

Palm Beach Hotel           Rp. 285.000,-

 

Note :

-       Anak2 di bawah 3th free of Charge, Anak 3-5 th dengan orang tua 50%, Anak 5-8 th dengan extra bed 75%

-       Harga berlaku sampei dengan June 14'2010

 

TOUR SUDAH TERMASUK : Tour sesuai dengan program dengan transport Pariwisata AC ( private ).  02 Malam hotel sesuai dengan pilihan termasuk makan pagi satu kamar berdua.  03 x Makan Siang pada saat tour di restoran setempat. Dan 1X makan malam di Jimbaran, Seafood, 1X Makan   Malam di restaurant local, 1X mengunjungi pulau penyu dengan glass bottom boat  Biaya Masuk Obyek wisata, Tiket Tarian Barong , Guide fee , Pengalungan bunga di airport

 

 

Salacious film 'Koreana' bares Bali's all

After the recent release of the controversial documentary trailer of Cowboys in Paradise, another risque movie filmed in Kuta has been posted on the Internet.

Titled Koreana, the 22-minute film shows an uncensored oral sex scene between an Indonesian woman and a foreign man on a balcony of a hotel located on Jl. Pantai Kuta.

The film begins with shots of tourists strolling along Kuta Beach as well as a surfing competition.
The following scenes feature the woman drinking beer at the beach, before it moves to the hotel where the sexually explicit scene takes place.

Authorities on the resort island were quick to respond to the film, which is being circulated on the Internet, with the police probing the case and the Balinese Hindu community calling for calm.

Bali Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar, said Thursday the film was allegedly shot in 2003, but had only been distributed following the release of Cowboys in Paradise. 

"We are investigating this case. We are tracking down who released this film on the Internet and distributed the DVD's," Sugianyar said.

He said the film appeared to be shot by an amateur filmmaker for private viewing, but was then made public. 

Head of the Bali Cultural Agency Ida Bagus Sedhawa, said the film was being distributed illegally.

"Of course there is no permit allowing the film to be distributed. If the filmmaker asked for a permit, it would not be approved," he said. 

According to the 1992 Film Industry Law, a filmmaker must obtain an official permit from a related institution to release a film. 

In Bali, that authority falls to the Bali Film Board.

The agency consists of officials from the cultural agency, the police, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission, the regional office of the Religious Affairs Ministry and several other related institutions.

A filmmaker can be sentenced to one year in prison and fined Rp 40 million if caught distributing a film without a permit. 

However, Sedhawa said, it was difficult for the agency to strictly ensure the regulation was upheld amid rapid technological development.  

"It's difficult for us to supervise. Now people can simply use a mobile phone to watch a video recording," he said.

Head of the Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia (PHDI) I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana, said that such films were made to tarnish the image of Bali as a religious island.

He called on the Balinese people not to be easily provoked by the irresponsible parties that distributed such films.

"I ask the Balinese people to safeguard this island from irresponsible acts.

"Don't be easily provoked," said Sudiana.  Sudiana asked the police to impose strict measures against filmmakers who were deemed to tarnish Bali's image.

Ni Komang Erviani and Desy Nurhayati, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Balinese pottery on show at Bentara Budaya

Cultural center Bentara Budaya Jakarta is showcasing an exhibition of pottery products from Bali's Pejaten craftsmen.

The exhibition, titled "Habis Genteng Terbitlah Kodok" (After Roof Tiles Comes the Frog) was opened Tuesday May 4. The exhibition of pottery made by craftsmen Wayan Kuturan, I Made Durya and I Putu Oka Mahendra, will run until the end of the week.

Pejaten is a village in Bali that has transformed from being a roof tile production center into a flourishing pottery factory, exporting its elegant products to Europe, Japan, Australia and the US. The title of the exhibition is a play on the title of Indonesian women's rights heroine Kartini, Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang (After Darkness Comes the Light).

In the exhibition, ceramic statues of frogs were lined up for show. Rows of coral green ceramic teapots and glazed mugs, vases, and plates were beautifully arranged.

Ceramic statues are also on display. The exhibition showcased figures playing traditional Balinese musical instruments and the statue of the Buddha.

The pieces are priced from Rp 50,000 (about US$5) to more than hundreds of thousands of rupiah.

Tickets to the exhibition range from Rp 25,000 to more than Rp 100,000. For this weekend, Bentara Budaya is offering a 20 percent discount.

Bentara Budaya curator Ipong Purnamasidhi wrote in the exhibition catalog that the village won the Upakarti award for distinguished performance in the SME sector in the 1980s from the government for its roof tile products.

Then Pejaten village leader at that time Made Tanteri introduced roof tile presses and later clay mills to the villagers. French ceramic expert Hester Tjebbes came to the village in 1985, which started the pottery revolution in Pejaten.

Ipong wrote that an idea to change the pattern of making roof tiles into functional ceramics emerged at that time. "Then came interesting designs of cups, plates and bowls with flora and fauna patterns.

Don't be amazed to see a little frog at the side of the cup or a gecko on a plate."

With Hester's help, the Dutch aid organization HIVOS supported the development of more complex pottery making.

Made Tanteri and Pejaten residents Wayan Kerta and Wayan Kuturan spearheaded the transformation.

Wayan Kuturan produces pottery with his signature gecko and frog designs. The son of the late Made Tanteri, I Putu Oka Mahendra carries his father's pottery legacy under the name Tanteri Keramik. Its style is clean and minimalist, seen on its tea pots, plates, bowls and mugs. Made Durya produces large flower vases with holes with floral motifs.

French ceramic expert Hester Tjebbes came to the village in 1985, which started the pottery revolution...

Jakartapost

Enchantment Sunset at Dreamland Bali

On of the charm Of Bali or Pulau Dewata is a beach. Bali island surrounded by sea and facing to Indian Ocean, making the island is rich with famous beaches all over the world. Just mention Kuta Beach, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Dreamland region Pecatu Indigenous Village, Bali, which has attracted local and foreign tourists.

Sripo residing on the island of Bali, some time ago, 3-10 April 2010, the opportunity to visit some beaches and enjoy the eye sunset (sunset) among several beaches. Scenery as well as enjoyed by the Western and local.

Sanur Beach (Sanur Beach) which is not far from Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai, is a beach protected by coral reefs that are relatively safe for water sports. In the region there are also hotels, cafes and shops. Amongst the famous hotel is the Inna Grand Bali Beach. One of the rooms are never in the occupied by the Bung Karno when he became President.

Meanwhile, in Legian Kuta Beach, Kuta is a natural beach (natural beach). The waves that come rolling to make this beach ideal for surfing sports. The foreign tourists take advantage of the surfing from morning till evening. In place of Legian-Kuta area is also packed with world-class hotels and restaurants.

Contrary again to the beach in Nusa Dua area is relatively well managed. Famous hotel located in the region, one of the Grand Hyatt, Bali. Even in some parts of the coast, has been marked as a region included in the hotel area.

Nusa Dua Beach has waves that are not relatively large. With such a situation, even without the coral sea as a protector of Nusa Dua beach is relatively safe for a place to swim.

For Dreamland Beach is located in the surrounding area Pecatu Indigenous Village, no less beautiful. High cliffs and rocky reefs around the coast, making the region a beautiful Dreamland, especially in the afternoon with the golden sun. This place is visited every afternoon.

For the record, when you visit a tourist resort in Bali sebaiknnya using their own vehicles or hire so freely. It is difficult to obtain in Bali spelled public transport such as public transportation. Most charter a taxi or car. But do not worry, you easily get a rental car or rental. Costs range from USD 180-200 thousand per day (24 hours) plus the driver or your own that will drive traffic while enjoying the island of Bali. (Soegeng Haryadi)

 

Translate from Sriwijayapost

Bali Want to Enhance Tourists from Australia

Directorate General of Marketing, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, took 18 players in the Bali tourism promotion in four cities in Australia, 16 to 25 May 2010. Bali as the Indonesian tourism relationship is expected to maximize the tourists visiting the "land of kangaroos" is to boost the national tourism.

 

Four cities are Perth, Melbourne, Darwin, and Syney. Promotion to four-city program entitled Sales Mission to Australia. The 18 players of tourism on the island who had been invited to join the travel agents who are under the coordination of Bali Village, one of the stakeholders under the control of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB).

 

Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Bali, Molly Prabawati in Denpasar, Friday (9/5/10) states, the target of Australian tourists to visit Indonesia this year targeted to reach 620 000 people. Over the past year the Australian tourist visits to the country is 530 000 people.

 

"Promotions directly to Australia to be one strategy to encourage more tourists the country. It is undeniable that we should invite Bali for more than 80 percent of Australian tourists coming directly to Bali," said Molly.

 

Molly is disclosed, the visit to Indonesia Australian tourists continues to rise. In the period January-March 2010 was recorded a fantastic increase to around 55 percent compared to same period previous year. Noted the number of Australian tourists to the country during the first three months of this year 142 654 people.

 

Translate from Kompas

Enjoying sunset in 'heaven'

The Pan Pacific Bali Nirwana Resort (BNR), owned by the family of millionaire Golkar chairman Aburizal Bakrie, and which recently merged with international hotel chain Pan Pacific, was basking in a heavenly sunset near the Tanah Lot Temple, 25 kilometers from Kuta.

Mixed beauty: The Pan Pacific's Bali Nirwana Resort, located close to the famous Tanah Lot Temple, sports an international-standard golf course designed by the legendary Greg Norman. JP/Wasti Atmodjo

Hundreds of foreign and local visitors had patiently waited for the sun to go down behind the temple.
Some had spent a leisurely afternoon at the newly opened Cendana restaurant, one of the many attractions of this five-star resort.

"This is one of the best places to watch the beauty of the sunset. The sun usually goes down at the back of the temple creating a perfect scenery. Just now, the sky is very clear," said Dwi Lismiarni, marketing communication manager for the Pan Pacific Bali Nirwana Resort recently.

Nirwana means heaven in Sanskrit. The site is indeed a blissful place, with a fantastic view of the Bali Strait in the southern part of Bali and located near one of the holiest Hindu temples, Tanah Lot. The Cendana restaurant is part of the 103-hectare Bali BNR currently managed by the Pan Pacific Group.

PT Bali Nirwana Resort, a unit under PT Bakrieland Development Tbk, developed the resort twelve years ago.

"If you need a break from your busy schedule and the hustle and bustle of the glittering but noisy tourist destinations in Bali, Nirwana Resort is your best choice," Lismiarni said.

The resort has 278 rooms including 245 deluxe rooms, 20 executive suites, 12 villas and one presidential suite.

"We will gradually be renovating the interior of the rooms to adjust to Pan Pacific International Hotel standards and improving our services for our guests," said Hans G. Winsnes, the general manager of Pan Pacific BNR.

The Pan Pacific Group, he said, has been in Indonesia for many years, however, the group only manages one hotel, the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel in Jakarta.

"After long consideration, we decided to spread our wings to Bali by collaborating with PT BNR to manage this resort," Winsnes said.

He is sure that faithful guests of the Pan Pacific Group across the world will jump at the opportunity of spending their holidays here at its Bali resort.

"We have many guests from Australia, Japan and Korea, who keep coming back," added Lisminiarni.

Under the new management of the Pan Pacific Group, the resort feels confident it will draw many more visitors from different geographical zones.

Yudi Rizard Hakim, chief corporate affairs officer of PT Bakrieland, added that 85 percent of the 103-hectare resort area was "green and open" space, and included an 18-hole golf course as well as lush gardens.

"We have an international-standard golf course designed by the legendary Greg Norman. It was the recipient of the Best Golf Course in Indonesia and Asia award," Hakim said.

Hakim went on to say the company was proud to employ local residents and therefore contribute to the local economy.

"Around 60 percent of our 900 employees come from neighboring areas," Hakim said. The company's close relationship with the local community will remain the same, despite the change in the hotel's management. "Currently, we provide 15 hectares of land for local farmers," he added.

Bakrieland is currently focusing on developing hotels and resorts in Bali, Lampung and Bogor. The company plans to build a resort in Balikpapan in East Kalimantan too.

"We have other projects in Bali in addition to the Bali Nirwana Resort," he said.

Next June, the company will open the Pullman Bali Legian Nirwana, a four-star hotel and 300 apartment units in Legian, Kuta.

For those wanting a peaceful, relaxing holiday, the Bali Nirwana Resort could be considered an ideal choice. But people who prefer to be in the middle of the action are more likely to enjoy the planned Legian Nirwana in Kuta. Just one more month to wait. Have a nice holiday in Bali.

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Tabanan

Trunyan: Where the dead lie

The island of Bali is generally thought of as an island full of life. When and where death does encroach, it often becomes a spectacle of cremations and elaborate ceremonies.  

One small part of Bali however upholds an unusual and apparently quite ancient tradition pertaining to death.
Sitting at the edge of Lake Batur in Northern Bali is a small cemetery known as Trunyan, where people from the nearby village of Kuban "bring" their dead to rest on top of the ground.

This unusual practice has become something of a macabre tourist attraction. Perhaps it is not really an "attraction" but a place that pricks peoples' curiosity. The local people, though, have clearly become used to tourists coming to this site and so haggling and near constant pestering for "donations" has to be dealt with.

Unusual ritual: Flimsy bamboo cages and cloths cover up the deceased. JP/Simon Gower

One can only reach this site by boat, a small fleet of which awaits visitors at the end of a wooden jetty where the stunning Mount Batur looks on.

Crossing the lake to Trunyan takes between 20 and 30 minutes and upon arrival a small huddle of men awaits any arriving boats.

The cemetery is small and there is little need or sign of maintenance. Although this is the final resting place for a number of people, a sense of respect for the dead does seem to be in short supply here.

Human skulls are lined up on stonewall shelves, which makes for a quite eerie sight to begin with but then the men here will invite visitors to pick a skull up and presumably pose for a photo; all of the visitors to this site on this occasion were quite quick to decline this invitation.

The views across the lake to Mount Batur are quite stunning and despite the annoying attendants, this is a peaceful place.

In this final resting place, the bodies of the deceased are just covered in cloth and rudimentary bamboo cages. These cages are flimsy and practically leave the body out in the open to the elements.

This creates an obvious concern; dead bodies left out in the open will of course decompose and the potential for unwelcome odors and even health concerns is real. However here, apparently, the presence of a banyan tree, described as holy, has warded off such concerns.

The huge banyan tree seems to stand as a guarding and protective figure of  this cemetery. Its leafs carpet the ground around the gravesite and presumably this is part of the way in which the tree keeps the area free from unwelcome odors and so on.

Even with the hassle and haggling from the people that wait and wander about the cemetery, this is still a peaceful place that enjoys beautiful and powerful scenery. The lake dazzles in the Balinese sunlight and Mount Batur watches somewhat broodingly in the distance.

Returning across the lake local people are travelling by boat to the cemetery, it seems to pay their respects to the dead. They smile and wave as their boat glides on by; they seem to realize what a pleasant part of the world they live in and may rest in peace in one day.

Simon Marcus Gower, Contributor, Trunyan Jakarta Post

A quirky museum, a welcoming home

An impressive and imposing entranceway seems to stand guard as you approach the Antonio Blanco Museum located on a hill known as Campuan, in Ubud, Bali. Passing under this archway, the entrance road rises up steeply and there is a real sense of approaching something special but also a little reclusive.

Welcoming: The museum's mansion house looms large on Campuan Hill. JP/Simon Gower

It is said the King of Ubud gave the artist Antonio Blanco this land to build his home and which today stands as something of a monument to this renowned artist.

This land in Ubud is also said to sit at the confluence of two sacred rivers and so in a variety of ways is seen as an auspicious and special place.

It soon becomes clear that this is a place of restfulness and beauty: Gardens are beautifully kept, lawns are clipped and manicured, and statues are adorned with umbrellas and flowers.

The grounds of the museum immediately reflect this space is respected and worshipped. Signs over the entrance door into the grounds state that "Through these portals pass the most beautiful people in Bali".

Antonio Blanco was an artist of Spanish parentage born in Manila, The Philippines, in 1911. It is evident from the museum that the artist enjoyed a varied and truly international life. After his high school education in Manila, he went on to study art in New York and developed skills and a liking for figurative and portrait art.

While this sentiment was to prevail throughout his artistic life, his arrival in Bali in 1952 proved central to the rest of his life. He married a Balinese woman famed for her Balinese dancing, Ni Ronji. Her portraits kept in the museum add a very personal touch to the museum, almost making the visitor feel like being at home.

Perhaps first and foremost it is the home of Antonio Blanco. His spirit seems to linger throughout the mansion at the center of the place.

The mansion is large and ornate; perhaps a little too ornate and even gaudy for many a modern person's tastes, but it is important as it acts as a gallery space for so many of Blanco's paintings.

These are displayed in often highly decorated frames, some of which were also designed by the artist.

But it is in the artist's studio to the side of the mansion that visitors get a real sense of the artist's work.

Antonio Blanco passed away in 1999 but his spirit seems to linger on in his small but intimate studio, where numerous frames and paintings either line the walls or rest, stacked up against the walls. One feels like someone needs to finish the pieces or take up the brushes and use the paints left in the center of the room.

Today, visitors to the museum are invited to sit as the artist would have and have their photograph taken posing with artist's palette and brush in hand. Although this sounds almost terribly touristy, it is done in a fun way and the attendants are warm and welcoming.

 This is, perhaps, one of the nicest aspects of this museum; although the mansion house is grandiose and imposing — practically demanding attention — there is still something of an intimacy and warmth about the place as a whole.

Antonio Blanco's son Mario also became an artist, very much in his father's tradition, and so his studio resides right next to that of his renowned father's.

Antonio Blanco was one of many foreign artists to come to Bali and feel at home. His memory is, though, kept alive more powerfully than most with this museum that combines studios and a large mansion house.

The artist may have passed away more than a decade ago now and, to some extent, the times that he represents have passed; perhaps they were more stylish and genteel times. But this museum seems to look back on them with a fondness and warmth that is both simultaneously interesting to the mind and calming to the spirit.

The Jakarta Post

Hotels and restaurants `dump waste into the sea'

KLUNGKUNG: A number of hotels and restaurants operating on Lembongan Island in Klungkung regency are suspected of dumping waste into Semarapura Beach.

Klungkung Regent Tjok Gede Agung expressed concern over these allegations.

"These acts would certainly threaten marine life," he was quoted as saying by the Bali Post daily on a visit to Nusa Penida and Lembongan islands.

Agung said he frequently pressed hotel and restaurant operators to abide by environmental regulations. - JP

Jakartapost

Trade agency proposes Bali-themed day for hotels

DENPASAR: The Bali Industry and Trade Agency has put forward plans to launch Bali-themed days in hotels in the province.

Agency head Gede Darmaja said the agency would ask hotel managers to promote Balinese culture, cuisine and fashion once a month.

"On the day, every hotel employee, for example, could wear traditional Balinese clothes and serve Balinese food," Darmaja said.

The campaign is aimed at encouraging small industries that supply local products.

"In the long run, the campaign will boost the island's economy," Darmaja said. - JP

Badung Bali Tourism Promotion to South Korea and London

Head of Tourism Department of Badung regency, Bali, Made Subawa said it plans to conduct tourism promotion overseas, namely Korea and London. "This year we will do the promotion of tourism to Korea and London, as the two countries is very potential to bring citizens to the Island of the Gods, especially in Badung," said Made Subawa in Denpasar, on Wednesday (04/13/2010).
Promotion to London will carry an interest for European citizens to visit the island resort.

 

He said the European community is very happy to perform the natural and cultural tourism, because it is not excessive if the promotion to the country. Moreover, the potential tourist objects that they expect all in Bali. "Over there (London) European citizens collected from many countries, so that promotion to the kingdom that would bring the country's interest for the citizens of Europe to visit the Island of the Gods," he said.

 

Head of the Badung Tourism Promotion Agency, the god Sumitro said the fund for the purpose of promoting tourism this year a little slack. Year 2009 total campaign fund of Rp 3.5 billion Badung, whereas this year only USD 3.1 billion. "The number is declining because last year there were four countries we visited. Who's this year only two countries," he said.

 

He said the four countries visited for the campaign in 2009, each of China, Japan, Italy and England. Based on the data of Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in Bali, it was revealed that the visit of China's citizens are now experiencing a significant increase, even able to shift the position of Japan since some time ago.

 

Dewa Sumitro said, promotion in 2009 has something to do with what happened this year. "The proof, promotion to the Land of the Bamboo Curtain in the last year, the result is a new look this year," he said.

 

For the Korean nation will be addressed in June 2010, Dewa Sumitro said, the market share target is the citizens of Asia. "For a campaign in the country will be conducted at three sites namely Jakarta, Surabaya and Batam," he said

 

Translate from Travel Kompas

Within a month, 13 444 Taiwanese take a trip to Bali

Taiwanese tourists who take a trip to Bali was recorded 13 444 people during February 2010 alone. That means increased 92.88 percent compared to February 2009 that only 6970 people.

 

They went to Bali through Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport with planes flying directly from Taiwan. During 2009, Taiwan tourists to Bali recorded 120 445 people, a decline of 7.67 percent over the previous year which reached 130 449 people.

 

The increase would make Taiwan's ranking rose from sixth to fourth in the 10 countries most of the Island of the Gods. According to the Head of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in the Province of Bali, Ida Komang Wisnu, Denpasar, Malaysia was ranked fourth after Australia, Japan and China, now sixth in the Taiwan and South Korea.

 

Ida Komang Vishnu added, from 10 countries supplying the most foreign tourists to Bali, seven countries experienced a significant increase and the three countries showed deterioration.

 

The seven countries that showed the increase was encouraging, in addition to Taiwan, which China also reached 175.27 percent, 63.78 percent in Australia, France, 15.68 percent, 28.25 percent of Russia, the Netherlands and the United States of 61.06 percent 24.93 percent , Ida Komang Wisnu said.

 

Three countries that the community including Japan is reduced to Bali dropped 19.80 percent,
South Korea amounted to 26.31 percent from 11 034 people to 8131 people and Malaysia, 13.99 per cent from 9385 people to 8072 people only, said Ida Komang Wisnu

 

Kompas.com

Buleleng suffers as volcano forces Europeans to cancel holidays

Thousands of European tourists have cancelled their trips to Buleleng regency, North Bali, due to the volcanic eruption in Iceland that brought air traffic above Europe to a virtual standstill for almost a week.

Dewa Ketut Suardipa, chairman of the Buleleng chapter of the Hotels and Restaurants Association said the cancellations had badly affected occupancy rates at star hotels in the Lovina beach resort area, Pemuteran Beach and other tourist destinations in Buleleng regency.

Some hotels' occupancy rates dropped from 90 percent to 15 percent, Suardipa said. "Hotels with European markets really suffered heavy blows," he said.

Many hotels in Buleleng receive a large proportion of their guests from European destinations. Buleleng regency played a significant roles during the Dutch colonial period.

During that time, Singaraja was the island's largest port. Many European tourists come to the regency to visit the former Dutch landmarks.

Ayu Ardini, leisure manager of Puri Bagus at the Lovina Beach Resort Hotel, said the hotel's main market was European tourists.

"Our average occupancy rates are usually between 50 and 60 percent, but the Iceland's volcanic eruption has drastically dragged down our rates to only 15 percent in April,"  Ardani said.

However, many of the tourists who cancelled their trips have rescheduled to visit Lovina next year, he said.

Suardipa said he expected the cancellation to only temporarily effect tourism to the area. "Some hotels like Matahari Beach and Damai Hotel have almost 90 percent occupancy rates."

Non-star hotels have remained lucrative despite global travel problems. "We have numerous backpacking holiday makers staying at small hotels and villas in Lovina."

Suardipa said the political conflict in Thailand had not impacted tourism in Buleleng.

"Some tourists might have swapped their destination from Thailand to Bali, but we have felt no significant impact," he said.

Alit Kartarahardja, The Jakarta Post, Singaraja/North Bali

Cartoon Museum, Alternative Tourism in Bali

Hearing the words of the museum, you must have imagined the things that history may be boring for some people. However, in Denpasar, Bali, there is a museum that it can make you smile and far from boring things.

 

You must be wondering whether it's the museum? Musem in question is the Cartoon Museum. From the name, you can imagine what would have been just the contents of the museum. Yes, at the Cartoon Museum where you can view the work of cartoonist-reliable Indonesian cartoonist with a variety of intriguing themes. Starting from editorial cartoons to the humor you can find in there.

 

In accordance with its name, the Museum of Cartoon also contains works of historical cartoon from the Sukarno era past that is packaged attractively. In addition, many are also works that address critical social and political life was "in" in our midst.

 

"This is the first cartoon museum in Southeast Asia," said Istiono, Operations Manager Cartoon Museum. "More than 300 Indonesian cartoonist's work displayed here," he said.

 

"Picture-picture fun, make relaxed," said Cholidi, one of the Cartoon Museum visitors. For those of you who were on holiday to Bali, there is nothing wrong to try to visit this tourist alternative. Cartoon Museum is located at 85 Jalan Sunset Road, Kuta, Bali.

 

Translate from Kompas.com

Violence Thailand, Bali Tourism Harvest

Thailand's security situation was not conducive to an increasingly positive impact on the world tourism in Bali. A number of tourists to Thailand will now look for another destination and the island resort as one of their favorite alternative.

 

According Menbudpar Jero Wacik, since the unrest in Thailand burst, the level of tourist arrivals to Bali continues to increase. "An increasing number of tourists to Bali reached 400 people per day," said Jero Wacik when reviewing the Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar.

 

"Tourists Japan and Australia are going on holiday to Thailand to cancel his visit and chose Bali as an alternative," added the minister of this island native.

 

If the usual tourist coming to Bali around 6300 per day, tourists can now reach 6700. The positive impact would be felt directly by the perpetrator of tourism in Bali, especially those engaged in the world of hospitality.

 

"The increased traffic in our hotel from the usual 70 percent occupancy, up to 90 percent now," said Era Haerati, Sales Manager Ramayana Hotel.

 

"They actually wanted to go to Thailand, but because of the riots, some choose a holiday in Bali, such as the Australian and Japanese tourists," he added.

 

travel.kompas.com

Badung gets new capital

BADUNG: Badung regency got a new capital on Thursday after Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi officially inaugurated the regency's sprawling new administrative center and named it Mangupura. The center will serve as the regency's new capital city.

The administrative center covers 46.6 hectares and cost Rp 470 billion to build. Its development was marred by controversy over the high cost as well as the fact that it was built on land designated as the regency's green belt.

"I thought I was going to inaugurate a small building. It turns out that the size *of the administration center* is 10 times the average size of other regency administration centers in Indonesia," the minister said.

However, he said, the owners of the administration center were the people of Badung as the regent only borrows it from the people during his tenure.

"Give the public the best service," he stressed.

Badung is one of the wealthiest regions in Bali with local revenue of Rp 858 billion and an annual budget of Rp. 1.3 trillion in 2010. - JP

thejakartapost.com

Badung to revive hotel and restaurant association

BADUNG: Badung regency said it plans to revive its hotel and restaurant association, following a five-year absence.

Perry Markus, the secretary of the Bali branch of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurant Association (PHRI), said Badung was a key tourist destination with hundreds of rated hotels, luxury restaurants and other tourist facilities.

PHRI's Badung branch is important to providing a forum for the regency's tourist industry, he added.

"Badung is undergoing rapid tourist development but many key people in the industry remain unaware of existing regulations, market shares and the real supply and demand of facilities," Perry said. - JP

thejakartapost.com

Foreign Tourist like the Legong Dance

DENPASAR,  - Legong, one of Balinese classical dance has its own charm and is very popular overseas and domestic tourists while enjoying a holiday on the island. "Dance is very flexible, supple, with a dynamic motions presented by some very brilliant woman, either now or in the future," said AA Kusuma Ayu Arini SST Msi, a lecturer in the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) Denpasar, Monday (19 / 4 / 2010).
Dance is very flexible, supple, with a dynamic motions brought by several women.

 

Agreed with Ayu, two other ISI faculty, Cok Putra Padmini SST Wife Msn and Ni Made Rai Kasumari Bambang Msi SST, also mentions that the popularity of the Legong dance never subsided.

 

Arini Kusuma explains, Legong is a cultural inheritance from two centuries ago that continue sustainable from one generation to the next. Legong dance in addition to the foundation's daughter, also a prima donna of the various types of Balinese dance, which for this type of dance is unique compared to other regions in Indonesia.

 

"Legong dance style that had been famous in Bali is a flow Peliatan, Saba and the flow of Badung," says Padmini Cak added.

 

Among these three schools of dance kegong, Peliatan the most active force in conducting a regular gig as a dance spectacle.

 

Legong registered already quite popular among the public since 1931, after Sekaha Art Peliatan entered the stage to Europe to tone up "Colonial Exhibition" in Paris. Legong addition, the arena was also shown Calonarang.

 

Kusumari Rai added, Sekaha Peliatan Art, Ubud, Gianyar, back stage for a second time in Europe and the United States in 1952. Overseas trip for the second time it was sponsored by a British impresario, John Coast. "Legong Peliatan may be regarded as a pioneer in Bali pariwsata promotion abroad," she said.

 

"I was so impressed with Legong dance performance in London, to the point that BBC Radio London wearing the accompaniment of dance music to broadcast Indonesian introduction for more than a dozen years," said Cok Padmini.

 

Success in overseas performances and is known in some areas of Indonesia, has been making dance for the aspirant able to maintain the distinctiveness of the dance movements.

 

For the sake of it, he said, which was considered the most instrumental in print reliably dancers is a duet AA Gde Mandera and Gusti Made Sengog, both are now gone. They are considered instrumental in expressing style and movement vocabulary specific Legong.

 

"Peliatan Village, Ubud, from then until now doing continuous Legong dance performances, both for performances related to a ceremony or to entertain tourists," says Kusuma Arini.

 

KOMPAS.com