Mark it off to "March madness," but the first full week of March 2007 was full of woe for the Indonesian nation. To wit:

• The week began with massive landslides on Flores that claimed over 40 lives and left over 1,000 homeless on the remote island far down the chain of the Lesser Sunda islands to Bali's East.

• National attention shifted to the West and the island of Sumatra on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, where a series two large earthquake and hundred of aftershocks shook the region surrounding Padang and Bukit Tinngi. The quakes, felt far away in Singapore where workers fled their office buildings, claimed more than 70 lives and caused scores of injuries in West Sumatra

• The almost-daily "dose" of bad news continued on Wednesday, March 7, 2007, with the early morning crash of a Garuda Airline B737-400 at Yogyakarta's airport, near Central Java, in which 22 people died. Both Indonesian and Australian authorities continue to investigate the accident with all parties discounting that sabotage or terrorism played any part in the tragedy.

• Bali, which by virtue of distance had thus far managed to escape unscathed from the week's tragedies, suffered strong winds whipped up by Tropical Cyclone George in Australia on Thursday, March 8, 2007. Those winds caused trees to uproot in several locations around the island, killing at least 5 locals and the temporary closure of ferry service to Bali from both Java and Lombok.

• With Cyclone Jacob moving across the Indian Ocean towards Australia's Northern Territory, Bali's weather forecasters are warning Bali to expect more strong peripheral winds and large waves.

An Island Largely Unscathed, But Not Untouched

While a lack of international sophistication on the subject of Indonesian geography causes many to think a problem happening anywhere in Indonesia as automatically affecting the entire nation, the truth of the matter is far different. In a country equal in breadth to the entire United States and comprised of 17,508 islands, Bali was far removed physically, if not emotionally, from last week's disasters in Sumatra, Java and Flores.

Explaining the "geographical factor" in assessing the impact of Indonesian disasters, Michael Burchett, Chairman of the Bali Hotel Association (BHA), said: "While Bali is separated by many mile from the three disasters that have befallen the Republic in rapid succession over the past week, the people of the Island are shocked and deeply grieved by the suffering and loss of their fellow Indonesians. From among the more than 22,000 employees working in the member hotels of the BHA, we have representatives from almost every cultural and ethnic group that make up the rich and colorful fabric of Indonesian society. Because of this and as in past tragedies, the members of the BHA are reaching out to console and offer assistance to employees who have suffered the loss of family members and friends or lost their homes in any of the recent tragic events."

Burchett who is General Manager of the Conrad Bali Resort & Spa and the BHA - a professional group of more than 74 star-rated hotels and resorts in Bali, added: "while including all those who have suffered losses in our prayers the BHA is also pro-actively contacting its members to collect aid and material support for the victims of these events, particularly for the people of Sumatra and Flores who have lost their homes or businesses. While efforts are underway to gather blankets, towels and serviceable bedding from Bali hotels who belong to BHA, we are liaising with local charitable organizations to determine the most efficient and effective way to distribute aid and relief supplies."

According to reports received from member hotels of the BHA, many guests currently on holiday in Bali watching TV reports of the three tragedies have approached hotel staff and managers asking how they could personally contribute to relief efforts. Appreciative of the concern for the plight of fellow Indonesian shown by their guests, the BHA is recommending that those wish to assist relief efforts channel donations through the International Red Cross or contact one of following branches of the Indonesian Red Cross located in the general vicinity of the Flores and Sumatra natural disasters:

West Sumatra

Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross) - Jalan Dr. Wahidin No. 3, Padang, West Sumatra 25138, INDONESIA -Telephone ++62-(0)751-27882

East Nusa Tenggara

Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross) - Jalan Jend. Suharto No. 71°, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur 85117, INDONESIA - Telephone ++62-(0)380-826360 - Facsimile ++62-(0)380-821705.

In the face of worsening pollution of Bali's rivers and seas, local authorities have brought to court and heavily fined 23 cloth dyeing operations located along Denpasar's river banks, promising that a further 185 companies are slated for a police crackdown in the near future.

The fines already imposed by Denpasar's courts at an average Rp. 5 million (approximately US$544) per company are among the highest ever imposed on the small enterprises who dye batik and sarong cloth for sale to tourists in local shops.

The head of Denpasar Administrative Police (Pamong Praja) told the Indonesian-language DenPost that his office would pull no punches nor offer any quarter to the remaining 185 illegal dyeing companies guilty of polluting the City's rivers and operating without the required licenses.

The initial 23 companies who were brought to the court and charged with criminal misdemeanors were all held by authorities and only released after their fines were paid.

The imposition of the maximum fine allowable was widely protested by the small textile firms who claimed their punishment was both selective and onerous. Authorities have responded claiming that their enforcement program was ongoing and that those punished by the courts had received numerous warnings from enforcement teams in the past.

In the course of the crackdown dyes, pumps and dyeing equipment were seized to be used as evidence by the police who also cited a number of workers at the facilities for failure to hold local identity cards as required by law.

"Rijsttafel", Dutch for "Rice Table," is a delicious legacy of Indonesia's Dutch colonial past created to bring the best recipes collected from across the archipelago to the dinner table. Comprised of course after course of well-spiced and succulent dishes followed by a final act of exotic fruits and sweets a "Rijsttafel" is best met with a hearty appetite and at least a momentary inability to count calories.

Sundays at The Wharf – Ramada Resort Bintang Bali

Following extensive research, the chefs at the Ramada Resort Bintang Bali have compiled over 15 separate dishes representing all the main culinary traditions of Indonesia and now present them every Sunday night at their beachside restaurant - The Wharf, starting from 7:00 p.m..

In keeping with the more than 3 centuries of tradition surrounding the "Rijsttafel," the multi-course meal is served by a bevy of beautiful young women in traditional sarong kebaya, while music is provided by a keroncong Orkestra.

The "Rifjsttafel" Menu

Some of the delicacies on offer every Sunday night include:

• Lumpia from Central Java – traditional Spring Rolls

• Soto Ayam from East Java – clear chicken broth with glass noodles

• Sambal Goreng Printil from Yogyakarta – beef meat balls in spicy red sauce

• Kambing Begana from Jakarta - lamb stew in young coconut

• Opor Ayam from Jakarta – chicken stew in a coriander flavored sauce

• Sate Ayam from East Java – chicken satay with peanut sauce

• Ikan Masak Woku from North Sulawesi – spicy tuna fish in basil and ginger

• Cumi Masak Tinta from West Java – baby squid cooked in natural ink

• Udang Lada Hitam from Bali – deep fried king prawns cooked in black pepper

• Plecing Kankung from Lombok – water spinach in a shrimp paste sauce

• Mie Goreng from North Sumatra – wok fried yellow egg noodles

٠ Nasi Putih & Nasi Kuning from West Sumatra – steamed yellow and whit rice

• Aneka Buah Segar - sliced fresh fruits

• Klepon Ubi - sweet potato dumpling with palm sugar

• Es Puter Ubi - sweet potato ice cream

Bookings Recommended

Cost for the "Rijsttafel" at The Wharf at Ramada Resort Bintang Bali is Rp. 185,000 plus tax and service (approximately US$24.40) with a 50% reduction for children under 12 years of age.

For reservations telephone ++62-(0)361753292 – extension 2202.

Click Images to Enlarge

More information: The Ramada Resort Bintang Bali

Requests from the Department of Culture and Tourism for a supplemental budget of Rp. 135 billion (approximately US$14.67 million) to promote Indonesian tourism remain unanswered by Jakarta, despite calls by Vice President Jusuf Kalla for higher tourism targets and more international promotion.

Sapta Nirwandar, Secretary-General of the Department of Culture and Tourism, was recently quoted by the Indonesian-language Bali Post as saying that logic dictates that if the Government truly wants 6 million foreign visitors to Indonesia in 2007, current levels of promotional funding are inadequate. Nirwandar defended his Department's request for additional promotional funding as reasonable, saying that expectations for more visitors without a corresponding increase in promotion was "nonsense."

The Formula for Tourism Promotional Spending

Nirwandar used the occasion to point to a World Tourism Organization (WTO) calculation that a minimum spend of US$10 per each foreign tourist was needed for proper promotion. He continued: "The neighboring country of Malaysia which targets 6 million tourism have a promotional budget of US$60 million. But, how is it in Indonesia? Clearly, (spending is) not ideal for the current target. While we realize funding is limited, but if promotion is properly carried out the resulting foreign exchange will be very significant."

Warning that foreign tourism arrivals need to increase dramatically to meet higher targets of 6 million foreign visitors to Indonesia for 2007, Nirwandar revealed that the entire budget for the Department of Culture and Tourism for 2007 stands at Rp. 900 billion (approximately US$97.8 million), an increase from the Rp. 751 billion (approximately US$81.63 million) allocated in 2006. "This amount is far from what was hoped for and (yet) we face demands to open overseas travel promotional offices, to undertake international advertising campaigns and to participate in international travel marts – all requiring much more funding," Nirwandar warned.

Related Stories:

[Indonesia to Open 12 Tourism Promotion Offices in 2007?]

[Interview: Jusuf Kalla on Tourism Targets]

[Give or Take a Million Foreign Tourists]

[Indonesia's VP Expresses Heightened Interest in Bali Tourism]

Bali International Triathlon, LLC has just announced the Four Seasons Corporate Challenge will be included as a separate division of the first triathlon race ever to be held on the island of Bali. The race, which will take place on June 24, 2007 at Jimbaran Bay, Bali, will feature an Olympic distance course, consisting of a 1.5 kilometer swim in the warm waters of Jimbaran Bay, a 40 kilometer bike course through the Nusa Dua area of the island, and a 10 kilometer run through Jimbaran Village with a beach finish.

Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay, one of the leading race sponsors, is offering a first prize package consisting of a three day, two night stay in one of their world famous luxury villas. Awards will also be given to the first three finishers in each age group category. Corporations, schools and universities, government agencies or community groupings are encouraged to join the growing list of race teams to compete in 3-person teams which will race the same course as individual participants. Only the first 25 teams to enter will be able to participate in the first year race. Race entry fees for relay teams are $275.00 US, and entries can be made through the race website at [www.balitriathlon.com]

"We would like to challenge every hotel, resort and corporation doing business in Bali to participate in this first year relay race. Our teams are already in training and we expect to compete alongside businesses from our Balinese community,” says John O’Sullivan, general manager of Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay. "This race is an opportunity for all of us to perform a service for Bali and the Balinese people," added O’Sullivan. The race is expected to bring in hundreds of athletes from all over the world who will take advantage of this unique destination race.

Corporate participation in triathlon relay team challenges has become a significant part triathlon races in Asia and worldwide. "It would not be unusual to see 30-50 relay team participants wearing their corporate uniforms at major triathlon events" says Robb Strom, one of the co-race organizers of the Bali International Triathlon. "Herbalife and Disney regularly run 10 or more teams at triathlon events all over the world," added Strom.

Further information concerning the race can be found at www.balitriathlon.com. Event questions and media inquiries can be directed to Brennan Lindner at Generic Events by calling him in Los Angeles, CA USA at +011 310-260-7898.Click Images to Enlarge

More information: Bali Triathlon Website

"If you think safety is expensive, try an accident."

As reported on balidiscovery.com, Indonesian low-cost air carrier Adam Air has been plagued by numerous mishaps and misfortunes affecting their flight services in recent months. (See related articles below).

According to a report published in the Indonesian-language daily Kompas, the Airline now suffers from a crisis of confidence among customers who appear to be staying away in droves from the company's scheduled flights.

Following the loss of the Surabaya-Manado Adam Air flight on January 1, 2007, load factors on what was once a major route served by the Airline dropped from normal levels of above 90% to below 70%. Because of poor loads, flight operations were suspended by Adam Air on the sector on January 28th with plans to resume service on March 1, 2007.

However, plans to recommence service on March 1, 2007 on the Surabaya-Manado route have now been indefinitely postponed due to a lack of passenger demand. The Surabaya-based district manager of Adam Air, Natalia Budiharjo, told Kompas "How can we fly if no one wants to (fly with us)?"

Efforts by the Airline to re-launch the Surabaya-Manado route by offering fares as low as Rp. 500,000 (approximately US$54) have also failed to reignite demand on the route that once contributed an estimated Rp.2.61 billion (approximately US$283,700) to the carrier's turnover each month.

With the cessation of flights from Surabaya to Manado, Adam Air now only serves Jakarta and Balikpapan from the East Java capital.

Adding to Adam Air's woes, according to Kompas, is declining demand on the Airline's remaining routes with Adam Air's normal flight frequency of 10 flights per day between Jakarta and Surabaya now down to just 6 or 7 flights each day.

Related Stories:

[Boeing . . .Boeing . . Bong! ]

[Adam Air to Undergo Safety Audit]

[Editorial: Flight KI-574 Where are You?]

[Adam Air Pilot Arrested]

[Government Penalizes Adam Air]

[Adam Air Offers Surprise Bonus Destinations]

[Adam Air on the Eve of an Expansion?]

The Chief of Police for Bali, Inspector General Drs. Paulus Purwoko has introduced changes in the way his officers will keep the peace over the coming Nyepi holidays. In anticipation of this year's the pre-Nyepi festivities, including the traditional ogoh-ogoh parades, Chief Purwoko will deploy 7,000 officers with 400 mobile brigade (Brimob) reserves on stand-by at their barracks.

Differing from the security approach of past years, uniformed officers will adopt a lower profile during Bali's official day of silence, leaving front-line maintenance of the peace to pecalang or local community volunteer forces during this year's celebrations. In explaining the new approach to the Indonesian-language Bali Post, Chief Purwoko said: "the police will be on guard at their posts, awaiting operational commands if there are any disturbances. The function of 'pecalang' will be made more effective; while we (the police) will back them up ensuring that anarchy is avoided."

Purwoko went on to explain that he deemed a full deployment of his officers to the field over the holidays ineffective, with their presence having the potential to disrupt ceremonies and ritual. Instead, the police will be depending on intelligence operatives while keeping a full force in reserve at local station houses. "There will be sufficient officers in the field with full back up in reserve ready to be deployed at a moment's notice," added Chief Purwoko.

As an added guarantee of safety over the Nyepi Eve the Bali police have held coordinating discussions with Bali Hindu religious associations and religious leaders to ensure that every ogoh-ogoh parade seeks prior agreement from every village included on the parade routes. In the past, sporadic fighting has occasionally occurred between parade participants from competing villages.

150 Ogoh-Ogoh

In striving to coordinate ogoh-ogoh activities the Bali police have already registered 150 separate parades occurring on the south of the Island. In an additional step to keep the peace, police have recently intensified raids to confiscate illegal liquor supplies in an effort to curb public drunkenness during the Holiday.

Recommendations from Chief Purwoko

In order to maintain good public order over the Nyepi period, Bali's police chief General Paulus Purwoko has issued 5 recommendations to the people of Bali:

1) Ogoh-ogoh parades should be confined to the home villages of the participants. When the parade route goes outside the home village, prior permission should be obtained from the any villages the parade will pass through. Those organizing ogoh-ogoh parades must assume complete responsibility on the conduct of the activity.

2) Celebrants should avoid the use of alcohol in celebrating Nyepi

3) Ogoh-ogoh statues should be destroyed or disposed of after celebrations and not be left in places that will inconvenience the public.

4) The official day of silence in Bali will take place between 06:00 a.m. on March 19th and end 24 hours later at 06:00 a.m. on March 20th.

5) Religious leaders and community leaders are asked to take an active role in preserving harmonious community relations in order that the Nyepi holidays can take place without incident.

Related Stories

[Bali's Airport Closed for 24 Hours on March 19, 2007]

[Nyepi 2007 to Fall on March 19, 2007]

The Indonesian-language daily Kompas reported that 5 of the 16 ferries operating between the ports of Padang Bai in Bali and Lembar in Lombok have been withdrawn from service following safety audits conducted by the Department of Sea Communications.

According to the Port Administrator in Lembar, Lombok. Liliik Hariwanto, his office is tightening scrutiny on all ships' traffic following recent shipping disasters over the past months. Among the measures now focused upon by port safety officers is the completeness of safety equipment carried on board each ship, inspection of main engines, adequate supply of life preservers and fire fighting equipment.

Based on recent audits, 5 Bali-Lombok ferries were recently declared un-seaworthy and ordered to remain in port pending a complete docking service to correct safety deficiencies. The 5 ferries place temporarily out of service are

• Nusa Penida

• Nusa Sejahtera

• Putri Gianyar

• Nusa Bhakti

• Palindo Nusantara I

Despite the temporary loss of 5 of the 16 ferries operating between Bali and Lombok, ferry service between the two islands is reported to be operating without interruption related to the sudden loss of vessel to the cross-straits armada

When art becomes a medium to express the mind as well as restate realities, even the most restless of concerns can appear beautiful on canvas. Gusti Buda is a highly committed abstract painter who communicates the stark reality of urban environment on his insightful abstract paintings. Using mixed media, he composes elements of architectural forms in gallant colors. For six years Buda has consistently worked with the theme related to the rapid urban development of Bali.

Realizing the limitations of canvas, Buda has created a way to capture messy city architecture in his paintings. Barrenness caused by the prevailing concrete buildings is manifested on bold square and rectangular forms using dominant colors of red, yellow ochre and black. In some of his works, unruly arrangement are reflected as black doors and gray windows on a white landscape emanating daylight coolness.

Gusti Buda studied art in the Denpasar School of Fine Art. Born and raised in Sangeh, outside of Denpasar – an area set in shrinking forests and vanishing rice fields of southern Bali. Forced to accept the harsh reality of urban development, Budi allows his concern and his critical views towards Bali's spreading urbanization become an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Through his paintings, Buda wishes to tell viewers about the increasingly sad condition of Bali's natural environment. Buda has been spreading his message and actively participating in international exhibitions since 1995 in Singapore, Hong Kong, the USA, and the UK. In 2004 he ranked as a top finalist in the Sovereign Art Award, Hong Kong.

In his exhibition at Jenggala Art Gallery, Gusti Buda presents "Overload," his latest solo exhibition. The theme embraced by his title reflects Buda's vision of disorderly buildings plundering the green nature. According to Buda, Bali builds so many hotels and villas replacing green rice fields and forests so fast that it is fast losing its natural charm. He believes that the development in Bali should have to heed to the Balinese concept of Tri Hita Karana promoting balance in the relationship between man and man, man and God, and man and nature.

Overload

"Overload" an exhibition of paintings by Gusti Buda at the Jenggala Art Gallery open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. March 16, 2006 through June 8, 2006.

For more information, call the Jenggala Art Gallery at ++62-(0)361-703311.

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