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BALI UPDATE #401 - 17
May 2004
Bali Arts Festival
The Best of Bali's
Artistic Performances June 19 July 17, 2004.
Although it will only officially commence with
a grand parade on Saturday, June 19, usually presided
over by the President, the month-long Bali
Arts Festival has actually already been running
for months as groups of singers, dancers, thespians
and local orchestras have been rehearsing and
competing on the village and regency level for
the right to take center stage in Denpasar.
The very embodiment of cultural tourism,
the Bali Arts Festival was started 26 years
ago by late cultural visionary, Ida Bagus Mantra
who, after serving as the Nation's Director General
of Culture (1968-1978), continued his campaign
of championing Balinese culture while serving
from 1978 to 1988 as Governor of Bali. A man whose
name is still spoken with admiration and reverence,
Bapak Mantra was uncompromising in his view that
culture should always occupy the drivers seat
in developing and controlling tourism development.
For each of its 26 years the Bali Arts Festival
has grown both in size and reputation. Artists
from across Indonesia come to Bali to perform
and view the daily programs held on several stages
across Denpasar. As in the past, foreign performers
are also included with this year's Festival drawing
artists from Korea and Japan.
For details and a complete performance schedule
follow the link maintained by Bali Paradise
On Line.
Powerboat Championships
Get Ministerial Thumbs Up
Minister Ardika Sees
Bali Powerboat Championships in October as Important
Step in Developing Nation's Sea Tourism.
Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism has
formally given its approval to the running of
the 11th F-1 UIM Power Boat
Grand Prix scheduled to be held off
Bali's Tanjung Benoa, October 30-31, 2004.
In comments made in Jakarta on Thursday, May 15,
2004, Culture and Tourism Minister, I Gede Ardika,
cited the event's ability to attract foreign tourists
as well as enhance Bali's image internationally
as a tourism destination as factor warranting
the support of the Nation's tourism industry.
The Minister said he hoped the races would remind
the world of Indonesia's beautiful oceans and
beaches and act as a catalyst for future water
sports events in the Country.
The F-1 professional powerboat circuit takes place
each year with races being held in ten different
geographical locations. This years series will
see events held in Bombay, Saudi Arabia, Portugal,
Italy, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore,
Hong Kong and Bali. A typical race attracts 24
boats from 15 countries backed up by drivers and
crews totaling 400 people. Attendance by the public
at the races can top 10,000 sepctators.
Total cost of hosting the Bali event, sanctioned
by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM),
is estimated at US$ 2 million.
Avoiding the Lines
at Immigration
APEC Business Travel
Card Facilitates Inter-Regional Travel.
Travel has just become easier for the citizens
of 14 member economies of the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) who hold the recently
launched APEC Business Travel Card.
Those eligible to hold the card receive pre-cleared
short-term entry to the other participating member
countries, avoiding the hassles of applying for
visa or standing in line for visa issuance at
a local airport. Valid for three years and good
for multiple entries, card-holders enjoy fast-track
entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating
airports.
Participating Countries
To date there are 17 economies participating in
the scheme offering reciprocal benefits to each
other.
These countries include:
Australia Brunei Darussalam Chile Mexico
Chinese Taipei Hong Kong (China) Indonesia
Japan Republic of Korea New Zealand Papua
New Guinea People's Republic of China The Philippines
Malaysia Peru Singapore Thailand
More APEC economies are expected to join the scheme
over time.
The special services to APEC Business Travel
Card holders is only available in Indonesia
from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Bali's
Ngurah Rai Airport.
Indonesia's participation in the program commenced
on May 1, 2004.
How to Apply
Suitable for people from participating economies
making frequent trip to other APEC countries,
applicants must hold a valid passport and have
never committed a criminal offence. Application
should be made to the immigration authorities
of the home economy.
The application fee varies, depending on country
of residence. Indonesian nationals wishing to
apply for a Card can do so by apply to the immigration
office and paying a fee of US$200 once their membership
has been approved and their card issued.
A Course on Managing
Conference
5 Day Course on Managing
Conventions and Conferences Offered by SIPCO.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in cooperation
with the Indonesian Society of Professional
Convention Organizers (SIPCO/HIPAKINDO) will
conduct an intensive course on professional convention
management June 20-25, 2004, in Bali.
The fourth time the event has been held in as
many years, the course material focuses on teaching
the skills for effective and professional conferences.
The cost of the course is Rp. 2,229,000 per person
(approximately US$262) and includes all course
materials, lunches, coffee breaks and field trips.
Registration closes on June 5, 2004.
For more information contact:
Bali Tourism Board
Jl. Raya Puputan 41, Renon
Denpasar 80235, Bali
Telephone: ++62-(0)361-229 500
Facsimile ++62-361-229 400
Down the Drain No
More
Government Cracking
Down on Business Pumping Sewage into Public Drains.
The massive installation of new drainage systems
throughout Kuta has uncovered another problem
in the course of the project work: Many hotels
and business in Kuta have been found to be running
their sewage pipes directly into the city's drainage
system.
On Monday, May 10, 2004, a ranking representative
of the Badung Regional Government vowed to get
tough, blocking off the drains of offending companies.
Pressured by local civic action groups and supported
by Badung's Bupati, local officials are saying
they will not hesitate to seal drainage pipes
from businesses and hotels found connected to
the public drainage system.
According to the official, at least 7 hotels were
among the companies in Kuta found to be violating
waste handling regulations and discharging their
sewage into the drainage system.
The rebuilding of Kuta's drainage system is being
partially funded by the World Bank who
have allocated Rp. 27 billion (approximately US$3.2
million) to the project.
Java-Bali Power Grid
Under Stress
Coal and Equipment
Limitations Leave No Surplus Energy 'Safety Margins.'
The Java-Bali power grid is on a 'stand-by emergency
status' with only around 100 megawatts of surplus
stand-by power available to meet peek demand.
The State Power Company (PLN) is taking steps
to replenish depleted coal and fuel oil stocks
which have grown dangerously low due to a shortage
of coal on the domestic market and disruptions
in rail service to the Suralaya (Java) power generating
station. Because of coal shortages the Suralaya
Station has been producing only 2,200 megawatts
of power, down from its normal 3,400 megawatts.
According to sources at PLN, domestic coal producers
have reduced their supplies to power generating
stations preferring to ship coal to overseas markets
now paying a premium for coal.
PLN officials are hopeful to be able to weather
the crisis of the next few days until new fuels
stocks can be put in place. Officials warn, however,
that any unexpected breakdown in the generating
equipment could compel PLN to implement staggered
brown outs across the region to keep supply
in tune with peak power demands.
The Suite Life
Melia Bali Villas & Spa Launch New Deluxe, Family and Executive Suites.
Phase II of an extensive room refurbishment underway at Meliα Bali Villas & Spa Resort has been completed allowing the proud introduction of their new line of Executive Suites, Family Suites connecting and Deluxe suites.
A renovation program that began last year has successfully renovated 250 Superior Rooms and split-level Junior Suites. Design and refurbishment has been carried out by Lina Wiyanti of P.T. Suryalaya Anindita International in Jakarta.
Family and Deluxe Suites
To create this new room category two existing
rooms were joined to create a spacious and comfortable
environment suitable for families. Separate entrances
open into a twin bedded room and the lounge. Platform
beds are draped in snowy white duvets and throw
pillows match richly woven runners, which conveniently
hang on the wall at night. Uncluttered bedside
tables with powerful reading lamps complement
touch-panels controls for lighting, music and
temperature.
The adjoining master room has a four-poster bed wrapped in decorative netting. A dressing room with a separate vanity has a spacious walk-in closet. The bathroom has an open feel, with corner walls facing onto the bedroom wrapped in decorative, three-dimensional slats backed with frosted glass. The marbled bath includes a tub with shower.
The lounge provides additional living and entertainment spaces, with a dining area, wet bar space with contained mini-bar, half-bath and a convertible sofa bed along side an oversized, cushioned ottoman. Ceiling to floor mirror panels enhance the expansive feel. A touch of outdoor living is provides by garden-view balconies with a day bed and lounge furnishings.
The Deluxe Suite parallels the Family Suite, without the twin-bedded room.
Executive Suite
The Resort's new two-bedroom Executive Suite boasts
a private entrance corridor which opens into a
marble foyer that flows into the lower-level dining
area. Wood-paneled ceilings are accented by drop
lighting. An elegant dining table seats six in
plush moss and gold tone captain chairs. The enclosed
kitchenette features a full-size refrigerator
and black marble counter tops.
The living room overlooks a wrap-around balcony. A spacious patio is fitted with a day bed for massage or relaxation. Roman blinds and brass wall decor accent the area, which features a new 29-inch television entertainment system.
A lower-level master bedroom is dominated by a romantic canopy bed. Japanese-influenced paper lighting fixtures brighten a rich, wood paneled environment. Touch-panels control lighting, music and temperature. Dual closets contain an oversized safety box. The marbled bath has dual vanities with an expansive mirror and a Jacuzzi tub with shower. A separate shower stall and bidet with toilet complete the facilities.
A wooden staircase wraps around a decorative, stone-finished column, leading to the loft bedroom. Here, the attic atmosphere lends charm to the quarters with a study-style sitting area. Highly polished wooden floors and wall panels add a cozy touch.
Sasya Tranggono: Painting My Soul
An Exhibition of Water Colors By Sasya Tranggono From May 22 until the End of June 2004 at Alila Ubud Gallery.
Sasya Tranggono is a young Indonesian artist who first gained notoriety for powerfully rendered paintings of wooden puppets or wayang golek exhibited in Jakarta at last year's CP Open Biennale 2003.
At he first exhibition in Bali for 2004, Sasya has adopted flowers as her theme further establishing herself as one of Indonesia's most exciting new emerging artists. Her latest exhibition with the theme Painting My Soul allows Sasya to give life to her flowers, painted in watercolors, expressing what she described as visual music, a medium for presenting deeply held passions and desires from deep within her soul.
A Brief Season of Bloom
Sasya Tranggono's Paint My Soul opens at the Alila Ubud Gallery on the evening Saturday, May 22, 2004 and runs until the end of June.
For more information call the gallery at ++62-(0)361-975963.
Cricket Legend Visits Bali
Dean Jones and Family Spend Holiday at Discovery Kartika Plaza.
On the invitation of the Indonesian Cricket
Foundation, Australian Test Batsman Dean Jones
recently brought his family to Bali staying at
the Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel & Villas.
A colorful and sometimes controversial player, who pioneered white lipstick on the test field and mascara under the floodlights, Dean Jones had a career that spanned from 1983 until 1996, the year he only missed out on selection to the World Cup team.
His first visit to Bali in six years, Jones spent
a number of days enjoying the hotels facilities
and catching up on the growing popularity of cricket
in Bali.
More Flights to Vietnam
Garuda Plans More Flights to Ho Chi Minh and New Service to Hanoi.
Garuda Indonesia Airways recently announced their intention to increase from four times a week to daily their flights operating over the sectors Jakarta Singapore Ho Chi Minh City.
Load factors on the current flights are averaging near 60% with many Vietnamese passengers disembarking in Singapore. Some Vietnamese tourists are drawn to visit the Indonesian island of Galang, near Singapore, where thousands of Vietnam war era refugees lived while awaiting processing to other countries. Remnants of the boats used by the refugees, their dwellings and place of worship can still be found on Galang island.
Garuda Indonesia currently utilizes Boeing-737 aircraft with 110 passenger seats on its Ho Chi Minh routes.
Plans are underway to also launch a Jakarta-Singapore-Hanoi service in November 2004.
Service between Bali and Vietnam is possible by changing aircraft in Singapore.
Hoteliers Meet to Combat Crime
Local Government Wants Hotels to Help Keep Bali Peaceful and Safe.
On Monday, May 10, 2004, the Chief of Tourism for Denpasar, Drs. Putu Budiasa called 30 hoteliers operating within the administrative area of Denpasar to take steps to combat indications of growing crime against tourists visiting the island.
Remind the tourism workers that safety and security are central to Bali's reputation, he ask that concrete steps be taken to enhance security in the areas surrounding hotels. These steps include closer coordination with local law enforcement and village security organizations to increase patrols and preventative policing.
Good Community Relations Needed
Drs. Budiasa also ask hoteliers to make every effort to preserve harmonious working environments, not only within the hotels themselves but in the surrounding communities. He insisted that workers' rights always be honored and that good relations with the surrounding community receive the highest priority in order to avoid the social conflicts that have marred tourism in other areas in Indonesia.
Convicted Pedophile William Brown Commits Suicide
One Day After Sentencing in a Karangasem Court, Former Australian Diplomat Found Dead in his East Bali Prison Cell.
52 year-old William Stuart Brown was found dead in his prison cell early on the morning of Wednesday, May 12, 2004, less than 24 hour after receiving a 13 year sentence from the Almapura District Court for sexually molesting two teenaged boys.
Brown's death, apparently at his own hands, brought to an end a story that had gained international press coverage and strong interest from local and international groups working to prevent the sexual abuse of children. In a letter reportedly written before hanging himself with strips of cloths torn from a prison mattress, Brown blamed "media hysteria" for the severity of his sentence insisting he never sodomized the two boys, aged 12 and 14, claiming he committed "lesser sexual acts" which were consensual. He also denied accusations that he was part of an organized ring of pedophiles operating in the region.
Brown had served as a second secretary in the foreign aid section of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta from 1982 to 1984.
Prior to his arrest in East Bali, Brown living in semi-retirement in Bali had worked as a volunteer English teacher at a local tourism academy.
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