Two Bali hotels have recently announced the following key appointments:

Alan Porteous, General Manager, U Pasha Seminyak

John Westoby, Regional Managing Director South East Asia of Absolute Hotel Services Group has announced the appointment of Alan Porteous as the opening general manager of U Paasha Seminyak Bali, effective immediately.

An Australian, Mr. Porteous joins the hotel with over 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He first established his career in accounting and finance working with many hotels and resorts.
            Alan Porteous                                  Suhaimi Atas

Over the past two decades he has risen through the ranks to become general manager of several premium resorts including Iririki Island Resort, Vanuatu; The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, Cook Islands; Mobys Beachside Retreat, Boomerang Beach and Peppers Balé Resort, Port Douglas.

Prior to joining U Paasha Seminyak Bali as its opening general manager, Porteous owned and operated A Tropical Nite in Port Douglas Queensland, Australia, that he purchased in 2008. After turning that business around and selling it, he has now moved back into senior hotel management.

Suhaimi Atas – Executive Chef, Aston Bali Resort & Spa

Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa have announce the appointment of Suhaimi Atas as Executive Chef. In this role he will oversee the culinary operations for the 4 restaurants and bars of the resort, as well as Buffet theme nights and banqueting services.

Atas brings 16 years experience in luxury hotels and restaurants to his new appointment in Bali.

Most recently, Chef Suhaimi Atas was the Executive Sous Chef of Moevenpick Hotel and Resort Dubai. Prior to that, he worked at the Le Meridien Mina Siyahi, Dubai as Operational Chef of Barasti, Horizon and Pool Bar – acknowledged at the ‘Best Bar” in Dubai by What’s On Magazine in 2009 and who also voted as the Number One in Top 100 World’s Best Bars in May 2008.

Other management positions held by Atas include membership in the pre-opening team as Demi Chef de Partie at The Kempinski Hotel Plaza, Jakarta; Chef de Partie at the Intercontinental Mid Plaza, Jakarta; and pre-opening Sous-Chef for the opening team at Madinat Jumeirah  in Dubai, The Arabian Resort and at The Westin Dubai. During his career, Chef Suhaimi Atas has been awarded several Silver and Gold Medals at the Emirates Salon Culinary, Dubai.

“I am excited to join the Aston Bali Beach Resort & Spa and have the opportunity to share my passion for great food and to provide our guests with the best variety of dishes mixed with Western, Arabic and Asian flavors “ said Chef Suhaimi Ata. “I am very careful about quality and freshness. I strive to make way for the natural flavors of good ingredients to come across with creativity and excellence to the presentation.”

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Bali’s internationally famous [Green School] is holding its regular year’s end holiday extravaganza on the afternoon of Friday, December 9. 2011.

g fun and games for kids of all ages (including a bouncy castle, pony rides, slip'n'slide), live music and dance performances, a wide variety of food and drink, vendors, and a silent auction.

Kids are admitted free-of-charge with a suggested donation of Rp. 30,000 (US$3.40) includes a chance at a lucky draw.

Proceeds go to Green School's scholarship program for Balinese students and the John Fawcett Foundation, providing cataract and facial reconstruction surgery to low-income people throughout Indonesia.

Join an afternoon of fun and community building, and help support two great causes in the process!

For more information, contact [The Green School Email] 

The second round of the Indonesia Travel and Tourism Awards (ITTA) were presented in Jakarta on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

The awards are presented to hotels and tourism originations who self-nominate and then pay a fee to the award program's organizers. Following an on-line voting process that tallied more than 35,000 votes,  the final decision on awards were made by a council of experts leading to the final results announced are at a gala award ceremony held in Jakarta.

Bali companies winning recognition in this year’s Indonesian Travel and Tourism Awards (ITTA) were:

• Indonesia Leading Global Hotel Chain - Swiss-Belhotel International
• Indonesian Leading MICE Venue/Hotel – Bali International Convention Center
• Indonesia Leading Boutique Hotel – Bali Niksoma Boutique Beach Resort
• Indonesia’s Leading Spa Resort – The Villas Bali Hotel & Spa
• Indonesia’s Leading Luxury Resort – The St. Regis Bali Resort
• Indonesia’s Leading Thematic Resort – Furama Villlas and Spa, Ubud
• Indonesia’s Leading Family Resort – Bali Dynasty Resort
• Indonesia’s Leading Beach Resort – Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel & Villas
• Indonesia’s Villa of the Year – Banyan Tree Ungasan
• Indonesia’s Resort of the Year – Hotel Villa Ombak
• Indonesia Leading Amusement Park – Bali Safari & Marine Park
• Indonesia’s Leading Cruise Operator – Scoot Fast Cruises
• Indonesia Leading Low-Cost Airline – Citilink
• Indonesia Tourism Personality of the Year – Dr. Sapta Nirwandar, Vice-Minister for Tourism and the Creative Economy
• Indonesia Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award - Mr. I Gede Ardika, former Minister of Culture and Tourism 

The publishers of Hospitality Asia have again given regional recognition via the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2011-2013 saluting outstanding personalities and excellence from all corners of the hospitality industry.
on the people who strive to give guests an unequalled hospitality experience, the awards have become a much-anticipated event for hoteliers and businesses who work with the hospitality industry. Dedicated to recognizing and rewarding people and establishments who have shown drive, dedication and passion for the hospitality industry, HAPA award categories are as diverse as the industry it serves, with personality awards dedicated to service excellence and leadership, to categories ranging from the best experiences to be had in travel, golf, spa, food and entertainment.

Over 190 hotels and restaurants were anonymously surveyed by experts in determining the final winners of the latest series of HAPA Awards,

Founded by Jennifer Ong, the publisher of Hospitality Asia in 2002, the award has grown from its initial coverage of Singapore and Malaysia to now encompass the entire region by including Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The HAPA award ceremonies were held in Singapore on November 17-18, 2011.

The Bali companies winning recognition at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards 2011-2013.

REGIONAL HAPA AWARDS

HAPA Best 10 in Asia
Platumum Awar - The Samaya Ubud, Bali

HAPA Resort of the Year
Platinum Award - St. Regis Bali Resort
Gold Award – The Samaya Ubud, Bali

HAPA Restaurant of the Year
Platinum Award – Kayuputi Restaurant , The St. Regis Bali Resort

HAPA Spa of the Year
Platinum Award – Spa at Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, Bali
Platinum Award – The Tree Spa, Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali

HAPA General Manager of the Year
Platinum Award – Ray Clark, The Samaya, Ubud, Bali

HAPA Chef of the Year
Platinum Award – Chef Christian Nehemian, Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali

HAPA Signature Luxury Resort
Platinum Award – The St. Regis Resort, Bali
Gold Award – The Westin, Nusa Dua, Bali

HAPA Signature Boutique Hotel/Resort
Gold Award – Anantara Seminyak Bali
Gold Award - The Kunja Villas and Spa, Bali
Gold Award – The Samaya, Ubud, Bali

HAPA Signature Family & Recreational Resort
Gold Award – Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali
Gold Award - Nikko Bali Resort and Spa, Bali
Gold Award – The Westin, Nusa Dua, Bali

HAPA Signature Spa Experiences
Platinum Award – Remede Spa, St. Regis Bali Resort
Platinum Award – The Tree Spa, Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali

HAPA King of Kitchens
Platinum Award – Chef Christian Nehemian, Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali

HAPA Most Chic All-Day Dining
Platinum Award – Envy, Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali
Platinum Award – Ikan Restaurant, The Westin Resort, Nusa Dua Bali

HAPA Best Concierge
Platinum Award – Holiday Inn Resort Baruna, Bali

LOCAL HAPA AWARDS INDONESIA

HAPA Indonesia Award Service Excellence – The Samaya Ubud, Bali
HAPA Indonesia Best Resort - St Regis Resort, Bali
HAPA Indonesia Best Restaurant – Kayuputi Restaurant, St Regis Resort, Bali 
 

The physical condition of Kerthagosa – the former Royal Court of Klungkung – is deteriorating badly with the historically important buildings going to ruin, classic Balinese ornamentation on the court buildings being lost and the classic Kemasan paintings that decorate the ceilings falling victim to the ravages of time.

The head of the Cultural and Tourism Office in Klungkung, Nengah Wijana, told the Bali Post on Thursday, November 24, 2011, that: “It must be admitted, the condition (of the site) is fading. We are trying to get funding for renovation and restoration.”

The construction of the site dates from 1686 and represents the remaining vestiges of the Semarapura Klungkung Royal Palace. The site as it exists today is comprised primarily of two buildings – the Bale Kerthagosa and the Bale Kambang. The Bale Kambang is surrounded by pools and gardens. The Kerthagosa, which served as a court of justice in the past, is distinguished by a series of dramatic Kemasan painting embedded in the ceiling graphically portraying the punishments awaiting those who transgress social norms.

The search for funding to save the site includes appeals to the regional budget of Klungkung as well as to the central governments via the Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy. Following a direct appeal by the vice- regent of Klungkung, Tjokorda Gede Agung, to the Ministry, officials were dispatched from Jakarta to personally inspect the historical site. Wijana said the officials promised to fight for funding to restore the project in the 2012 budgetary process.

The visiting cultural experts from Jakarta were handed a study recently done by the University of Indonesia putting the cost of restoration at the site at Rp. 5 billion (US$555,000). Wijana said: “The renovation and restoration must be urgently done, considering the condition which is badly deteriorating. If we have yet to receive funding from Jakarta, then hopefully we can get funds form the regional budget at least sufficient to fix the most damaged areas.”

Wijana admitted that a number of tourist have complained to guides on the condition of Kerthagosa. Many visitors has expressed concerns that the classic collection of Kemasan paintings at Kerthagosa will be lost if not urgently restored

Adding another layer of complication to any efforts to preserve and restore the internationally known historical site are questions on ownership of Kerthagosa. The ancient court is not yet officially enrolled on the list of assets owned by the Klunkung regional government. Descendent of the former royal household of Klungkung are reportedly opposed to any plans to surrender ownership and perpetual care of the historical site to the government.

The 14-year-old Australian boy from News South Wales arrested with marijuana in Kuta on October 4, 2011, was sentenced to two months imprisonment by the Denpasar Courts on Friday, October 25, 2011.

The sentence was one month less than the three months demanded by State Prosecutors.

The juvenile, arrested with 3.6 grams of marijuana in his pocket after he emerged from a backstreet massage parlor, found himself in the eye of a whirlwind of international press and diplomatic attention following his arrest. Citing a past history with drug use in Australia and his age, many called for the boy’s immediate release into his parents’ custody in order that he could return to his studies in Australia.

Protest over how the Indonesian government's handling of the criminal trial of a juvenile spawned counter-accusations, questioning the detenton of Indonesian children in Australian adult jails.

In the course of the close-door proceedings to protect the boy’s identity, reports surfaced that the boy’s parent were negotiating a substantial press deal worth between $200,000 - $300,000 with the Australian print and electronic media. Curious in the source of the rebuttal, that report was later denied by a press agent engaged by the parents of the boy.

The two-month sentence means that the boy has another week to serve in special detention prior to being allowed to fly home on the anniversary of his arrest.

M.Rifan, the attorney hired to represent the boy, told the press he was disappointed with the sentence in light of witnesses and evidence presented in the trial, which, in his opinion, should have persuaded the court to offer rehabilitation over punishment.

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A failure by the Training Center for the Conservation of Turtles (TCEC) on Serangan island in South Denpasar may be closed and have its turtle collection confiscated by the Nature Conservancy Agency (BKSDA) due to the community-based organization’s failure to file the required routine reporta on their activities with the government.

The TCEC operates under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the BKSDA.

Beritabali.com reports the district chief of the BKSDA for Bali, Sumarsono, says his office has not renewed the MOU with TCEC due to its failure to file routine reports making it increasingly likely that the remaining turtle population at the center might be confiscated.

The original MOU ended at the end of 2009 and has expired.

The then governor of Bali, Dewa Barata, opened the TCEC on Serangan Island, on January 20, 2006 as part of an overall strategy to end the illegal turtle trade on Serangan island.

Aman Resorts in Indonesia have announced a number of key managements changes:

• Sean Flakelar has been promoted to Country Manager for Aman Resorts in Indonesia and General Manager of Amanusa in Bali. He has spent the last 10 years managing the Amanjiwa – located adjacent to the Borobudur Temple in Magelang, Central Java.

• Mark Swinton has been appointed General Manager of Amanjiwo, reassigned from the Aman at Summer Palace in Beijing, China.

• Siddharth Mehra is now in charge at the Amandari in Ubud after previously overseeing the Amansara in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

On Friday, November 25, 2011, the Grand Hyatt Bali celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting a gala cocktail party at the Grand Ballroom for hundreds of members of Bali’s travel industry.
ous array of food and drink, lavish dance numbers and live music by the Motion Band - all served to enliven a most memorable evening enjoyed by all.

On hand to help celebrate the night was Peter Stettler, area vice-president for Hyatt in Indonesia and general manager of the Grand Hyatt in Jakarta; Detlev Truernit, General Manager of the Grand Hyatt Bali; and Stephen Radcliffe, general manager of the Bali Hyatt.

The party was something of a emotional homecoming for Stettler who now oversees the hotel on a regional basis and who originally opened the Grand Hyatt 2 decades ago.

Shown on balidiscovery.com are some pictures from the 20th anniversary party of the Grand Hyatt Bali.
 

After much debate and agonizing, the Provincial House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali) has called an end to efforts to amend the 2009 Zoning Law (RTRWP 2009) and will now formally ratify the hotly contested piece of legislation on November 28, 2011.

The ratification means that efforts have in some quarters to reject or remove sections of the zoning law that restrict building heights to 15 meters; declare no build zones around certain religious monuments; create set back rules from rivers and seashores;  and open the way for criminal prosecution threatening 5 years imprisonment of regional official who grant their own easements to provincial rules have now all failed.

Also postponed indefinitely were the efforts by a Special Committee of the DPRD-Bali assigned the task of “perfecting” the 2009 law. Traditionalistsand religious leaders in Bali were unified in rejecting any changes to the RTRWP, accusing reformers of selling-out to investors and having no concern for the future of Bali and the conservation of its unique culture.

Now with the unchallenged implementation of Provincial Zoning Law No.16 of 2009, steps will begin anew to bring buildings into compliance with the law, particularly those built since the law’s introduction in 2009.

A group calling itself a the Team for the Enforcement of Bhisma at Religious Sites visited the DPRD-Bali on Thursday, November 11, 2011, demanding legislators act consistently in the enforcement of the RTRWP.

Bhisma are Hindu religious principles or dogma that have been codified in the zoning law.

The team, received by the vice-chairman of the House, Ida Bagus Sukartha, the chairman of Commission I Made Arjaya and several other legislators, delivered four demands to the House. First, that legislators be consistent in the implementation of the 2009 zoning law. Second, that legislators acknowledge that Bali has its natural attraction because of its heritage and the stewardship of past generations who carefully guarded Hindu religious principles. Third, that legislators must always act in an open and transparent manner with the people and the press, operating inclusively in any future discussion regarding changing existing laws. And fourth, to investigate thoroughly if money and corruption has played any part in recent divisive efforts to frustrate the new zoning law.

Following a breakdown in 2007 linked to equipment failure, The Agency For The Assessment And Application Of Technology
(BPPT) in cooperation with the government of Australia, has re-launched a tsunami detector in the seas south of Bali. In a ceremony held on board the MV Baruna Jaya IV at Bali’s port of Benoa on Wednesday, November 23, 2011, the tsunami detector was rechristened before its eventual installation in the ocean some 350 kilometers south of the island.

Quoted in NusaBali, Wayan Wira Yogantara of the Indonesia Tsunami Buoy Team, said: Because the tsunami detector installed in 2007 experienced a malfunction, BPPT in cooperation with Australia is now installing a detector south of Bali.”

Ridwan Djamaludin, the Deputy Chief of BPPT, said the installation of the buoy was essential as part of an early warning system against any tsunami threat that might come from the south. The warnings issued by the equipment have the potential of saving lives of coastal people living in Indonesia and Australia.

The detection system is comprised of a buoy that floats on the ocean’s surface and an Ocean Bottom Unit (OBU) installed on sea’s floor. The two instruments, working in tandem, constantly monitor the ocean’s depth, communicating this information to a satellite system that instantly relays the data to Australia and Indonesia centers that monitor the threat of natural disasters. Ridwan explained that it takes only 1.5 minutes for a change in the ocean’s depth to be reported to land stations and no more than 10 minutes to interpret the raw data and relay an early warning to the public in Australia and Indonesia.

The new buoy is being installed in waters that are 4,600 meters deep.

Ridwan called on coastal peoples, particularly fishermen, to safeguard the tsunami detection buoys, bearing in mind the detectors'  importance to protecting the lives of thousands of people living on the surrounding shores.

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Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika, speaking at a public forum held at the Bali House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali) on Saturday, November 26, 2011, depicted joblessness in Bali as “unemployment of the elite class.”

This elite class of unemployed, according to the Governor quoted in Beritabali.com, is dominated by people holding college degrees.

Pastika blamed the high rate of joblessness among graduates on a desire to obtain employment as civil servants. In addition, the governor says college grads in Bali are much too selective in their search for employment.

Pastika accused new graduates of confusion in selecting a first job and cited an educational system the produces thousands of degree-holders of indeterminate quality. Asked Pastika: “Do they want to work as a taxi driver, or temporarily as a hairdresser, or even taking care of cattle? It’s unsure they would take such a job. A sniff of an unpleasant odor and they’re already feeling faint.”

Pastika used the occasion to repeat a favorite refrain that college graduates must be prepared to create work opportunities for themselves and not only look for job vacancies. 

Data from the provincial government of Bali estimates there are 65,000 unemployed people in Bali, 5% of which are college graduates.

Bali is planning to designate 81,000 hectares of rice production fields as dedicated agricultural lands in efforts to work towards making Bali self-sufficient in rice production.

Beritabali.com quotes the chief of the Bali Agricultural Service, Putra Suryawan, who says the implementation of areas dedicated to rice growing (perswahan abadi) awaits approval from the regencies and metropolitan administrations across the island.

“Based on regional regulations, we will try to inventory all lands to determine the locations for the dedicated rice growing fields that must be preserved and protected in order to make Bali self-sufficient in rice production,” explained Suryawan.

Suryawan said the change of function from agricultural lands to other pursuits represented a major challenge to those wishing to preserve agriculturally productive lands in Bali. He estimates that 140 hectares of agricultural land is lost each year in Bali, a figure that was as high as 1,000 hectares per year in the recent past.

Jakarta Globe reports that Tommy Suharto, Son of Indonesia’s former President Suharto, is being sued for US$23.2 million by disgruntled traditional residents of Pecatu, site of the Pecatu Graha Development owned by Tommy.

A trial opened on Friday, November 25, 2011, in the Denpasar District Court where lawyer Made Arjaya, representing the original owners of Pecatu, claims that compensation promised his clients 15 years ago remains largely unpaid.

In 1995, the provincial government of Bali agreed to swap 123 hectares of land at Pecatu with Pecatu Graha in exchange for 186 hectares of farmland in other locations in Bali. Included in the deal, according to Arjaya, was an agreement to build new homes for the displaced Pecatu residents and provide each family with 200 square meters of farmland.

Arjaya told the Court: 

“The residents, who are mostly farmers, have not fully been granted their rights, while Bali Pecatu Graha has built numerous facilities in the area, including resorts, condominiums, hotels, discotheques, golf courses and water parks.”

The provincial administration of Bali is also being sued for its failure to monitor the enforcement of the agreement.

Pecatu Graha has reportedly offered compensation to the farmers, but in amounts the farmers claim is less that that contained in the original agreement.

The suite claim Rp. 151 billion (US$16.7 million) in land compensation, Rp. 54 billion (US$6 million) for lost crops and Rp. 6.2 billion (US$689,000) for lost residential dwelling are still outstanding from Pecatu Graha. The displaced villagers are also seeking an additional Rp. 20 billion (US$2.2 million) in punitive damages.

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I bring an idea of Peaceful Meditation living in diversity through my artistic expression, just like harmonizing visual elements expressively in order to find miraculous transformation.”
- Wisnu Sasongko
> Born in Jakarta in1975, Wisnu Sasongko’s adolescent interest in painting led him to the Fine Art Institute of Yogyakarta where he obtained a degree in 2001.

He has exhibited widely in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Born Christian in a predominantly Islamic nation, many of his paintings have undercurrents, expressing conflicts existing within his nation.

Wisnu once said: "I have a vision...God called me to share the spirit of love through art."

That love, however, does not impede Wisnu from addressing harsh realities of life in Indonesia in his paintings. Nor is he shy to deliver stinging cultural and political critiques via his art. Accordingly, his works have sometime drawn criticism from various quarters.

Much of Wisnu’s work is metaphorical in nature. A greenhouse can represent home; a solitary chair, a political position used to improve or miusused to destroy society; a moving bike to depict the courage to move forward; a boat symbolizing  the mystery of life’s journey; a bed to relate relaxation from daily burdens and a red crown to relate  anger and frustration.

"Art is the way of spiritual consciousness which has to be present in esthetic matters. Making art, for me, faithfully, moves into the un-real; it can be played in almost wild artistic imaginations. My concern about artistic matters creates such critical ideas and helps to build up harmony and diversity in cultural processes. So, does my art have metaphor, meditation, religiousness, spirituality or enjoyment to expose?"
-Wisnu Sasongko-
Play n Greetings

Paintings by Wisnu Sasongko

December 3 – 31, 2011

Adi’s Gallery
Jalan Bisma 27
Ubud, Bali

Telephone ++62-(0)0361-977104 or ++62-(0)81-558644014
 

The 5th annual BALINALE International Film Festival held in Bali 15 – 20 November, 2011, came to a close with rave reviews from audience members and participating filmmakers for its solid line-up of films and interesting workshops.

Now in its fifth year, BALINALE celebrated its Gala Opening Night at the festival’s official hotel partner W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak. The evening saw many filmmakers, festival friends, supporters and sponsors in attendance where they were treated to a lavish dinner and special screening of The Magical World Of Silent Colour (Screen Archive South East, UK) followed by a glitzy after show party.
idiscovery.com (left to right) Rima Melati, Honorary Chairperson of BALINALE; Deborah Gabinetti, Festival Director; Magda Hutalgalung, Owner of PT Dua Cahaya Anugrah (Owners of W Retreat); and Farah Quinn, celebrity chef.

Among the visiting filmmakers and festival guests were Donna Smith, a respected film producer and former Universal Pictures Senior Vice President responsible for numerous Academy Award-winning films.

The final festival days saw a full house of excited young people attending this year’s Free Children’s Program hosted by festival co-founder Christine Hakim and friend of the festival Didi Petet.

BALINALE also arranged transportation for 50 children from Salam Children’s Home in Tabanan, West Bali, to join the festivities with a showing of The Beetle Soldiers (Indonesia) and Puss In Boots (USA).

Other films featured with filmmaker in attendance included; Born To Be Wild (IMAX - USA) with writer/producer Drew Fellman on hand to introduce the film shot in Kalimantan. Other films with filmmakers in attendance included: They Live To Die (Hidup Untuk Mati) (Indonesia) by Tino Saroengallo; Mindfulness And Murder (Thailand) by Tom Waller; and Kemuning (Indonesia) by Robbie Ertanto.

This year’s festival program held open discussions with visiting filmmakers and industry professionals including; Gabrielle Kelly, screenwriter, producer and Associate Professor of Film at Tisch Asia, Singapore, who conducted a lab titled "From Idea to Script." Returning for a second year, Donna Smith spoke on "Translating Asian Stories into Global Films." 

Closing Night Party at Warisan Restaurant saw the announcement of this year’s winners of the 2011 Audience Choice Awards.

• Best Feature Film Catatan Harian Si Boy by Putrama Tuta (Indonesia) was presented by Emirsyah Satar, CEO of Garuda Indonesia.
• Best Short Film went to Day In Day Out by Carl Valiquet (Canada/Indonesia) .
• Audience Appreciation Award went to Bali - Island Of The Dogs by Lawrence Blair and Dean Allan Tolhurst (Indonesia). 
• Best Documentary Billy T: Te Movie by Ian Mune (New Zealand), a film that made its international premiere during the festival.

An 18-year-old Australian “school leaver” on holiday in Bali tragically lost his life on the streets of Bali’s nightlife area of Kuta in the early hours of Sunday, November 27, 2011.

Jake Mitchell Flannery was apparently killed instantly, electrocuted when he touched a neon sign installed outside Joker’s Bar and Grill and Fourteen Roses Hotel. Piles of building material left on the sidewalk and roadside, a common practice in Bali despite regulations forbidding such practice, forced Flannery and his friends to try to squeeze through a narrow gap between the construction material and a pole supporting the bar's neon-sign.
the pole supporting the sign at a height of 1.2 meters, Flannery let out a scream and immediately fell to the ground. Two friends traveling with him tried unsuccessfully to revive Flannery, bringing him to a local hospital where he was officially pronounced dead.

The chief of the Kuta Police Precinct , Gede Ganefo, has vowed to name a suspect criminally responsible for the death. A police demarcation line has been put up around the scene of the incident while constructions crews have been seen trying to mitigate their culpability by removing the building materials previously blocking the path.

Bali’s current chief of Police, General Totoy Herawan Indra, is known to be "tough" on building safety violations, having launched a vigorous, full-scale criminal investigation after his mother was slightly injured on September 5, 2011, after falling  on a malfunctioning escalator in the Matahari Department Store at Kuta Square.

The bar manager at Joker’s, Agung Wirakusuma, in comments to DenPost has tried to lay the blame for the death on passing tourists who he claims regularly hit the sign while walking down the street. According to Agung, frequent physical blows caused the short circuit that killed the boy.

Media reports also tell of exposed wiring on the sign discovered by police investigating what is now being treated as a crime scene.

The New South Wales boy had just graduated form Grade 12 and was on holiday in Bali, enjoying Kuta’s welll known nightlife.

The boy’s body lays at the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar undergoing forensic examination while awaiting further instructions from the boy’s parents.

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A prolonged trial in the South Jakarta District Court, that had stretched on for more than 15 months, ended on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, with the complete acquittal of Indonesian spiritual and religious figure Anand Krishna.

Anand Krishna has written more than 140 books that have sold more than 1 million copies. He operates Centers for education and meditation in Jakarta, Bogor, Yogyakarta and Bali.

Krishna was charged with sexual harassment by one of his female students, Tara Pradipta Laksmi (20), who claimed she was hypnotized before having her modesty outraged. Albertine Ho, the presiding judge brought in to rehear much of the case when the former presiding judge was removed for judicial misconduct, ruled that the testimony from a single witness was insufficient to rule a defendant guilty and the medical evidence idid not, in any case, substantiate Laksmi’s accusations.

In what had been widely viewed as a politically charged case where Krishna was on trial for his pluralistic religious views rather than any sexual misconduct, the prosecution spent weeks presenting excerpts from speeches made by the defendent and tracts written by Krishna, all dismissed by the defense team as not relevant to the case being tried.

During the 15 month-long trial, a total of 24 witnesses and nine expert witnesses testified before the court while leading legal experts across the nation repeatedly branded the trial as little more than a smear campaign against Krishna.

Terming his acquittal a "victory" for the Indonesian justice system, Anand Krishna told the press aftre hearing the verdict that he wished to now spend a period dedicating himself to prayer and meditation.

One of his supporters, Norma Harsono, summarized the feelings of the scores of supporters who came to the court to hear the verdict, saying:
“Finally the truth has prevailed. We can’t stop crying because we’re just too happy.”

Otto Hasibuan, a member of Anand Krishna’s legal team, said: “This appears to be a good day and a signal to all judges and prosecutors that charges made before the court are not always correct and that every case brought before the court does not have to end with a punishment for the defendant. Aside from the fact that the trial did not prove a single charge made against Anand Krishna, from both a formal and material side this case failed to meet the requirements necessary to be brought before the courts. This victory we accept with both a sense of thanksgiving and happiness.”

Other members of Anand Krishna’s defense team also expressed their thanks to the panel of judges.

The legal team is now considering whether or not to not to file counter charges against the plaintiff or the original cheif judge in the case. One of Krishna’s lawyers said that the trial, particularly under the initial judge who was removed, tried to used sexual harassment charges in order to camouflage a conspiracy to discredit Anand Krishna’s spiritual beliefs.

Another supporter, the chairman of the the Community of Friends of Anand Krishna (KPAA), dr. Sayoga, in reviewing the court’s decision stated: “This clearly shows that the incarceration of Anand Krishna by the first panel of judges led by judge Hari Sasangka was wrong and the people can now clearly see that Krishna’s hunger strike of 49 days was done in order that never again will a  citizen be treated in the manner endured by Anand Krishna. Never again can a person be slandered and defamed in this manner.”

The public prosecutor Martha P Berliana, who led the 15-month long legal assault against Anand Krishna, did not attend the reading of the court’s verdict.

In the vistor’s gallery a number of leading Indonesian human rights figures did attend to show support for the defendant, including: the woman’s right and religious harmony activist Musdah Mulia; Father Franz Magniz Suseno; the former Minister of the Interior Djohn Effendi; well-know activist and writer Julia Suryakusumah and a large gathering of activists from Bali, Yogya, Solo and Riaw who all traveled to Jakarta to lend their support.

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[Anand Krishna Ends Hunger Strike]

[A Hunger of Justice]
 

The promise from the central government for an additional 10 buses to add to the existing armada of 15 vehicles on the Sarbagita Mass-transit system now appears to be in doubt.

The secretary of Commission III of the Bali House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali), Gusti Ngurah Suryanta Putra, told NusaBali on Thursday, November 24, 2011, that an initial promise of 10 more busses has somehow suddenly dwindled to just 5 more units.

There are currently 15 busses operating on the Sarbagita System.

The DPRD-Bali and the Transportation Ofice for Bali are busily lobbying the Department of Transportation in Jakarta to retain the original promise of 10 more busses. These efforts, however, are being frustrated to some degree by the current vacancy in the lead position at the Bali office of the Department of Transportation.

The remaining 5 new buses are scheduled for delivery to Bali in late December 2011.

Bali traffic congestion problems and growing popularity of the Sarbagita Bus System makes the need for the originally promised 10 additional buses a pressing matter.

Funds have also been allocated from the provincial budget for the care and upkeep of the Sarbagita Bus system, supplemented by the fares being collected from the system’s passengers.

Related Article

[Sarbagtia Bus System]

The Bali Agricultural, Fisheries and Sea Service (Disnakanlaut) is seeking ways to increase the consumption of local beef products by starred hotels in Bali.

The head of the Disnakanlaut office for the Badung regency, I Made Badra, is confident that a recently opened breeding center located in Sobangan Village near Mengwi positions Bali to compete with imported meat products.
ld NusaBali that the quality of the marbling of Balinese beef was the equal of imported cuts. The improvements achieved in cattle production in Bali are also demonstrated by birth weights for calves of between 14-18 kilograms and weights of 700 kilograms for slaughtered  cattle.

These improvements, according to Badra, are linked to feed stock mixtures.

The Badung regency cattle nursery is operated in cooperation with the Veterinary Faculty of Bali’s Udayana University. To date, a total of Rp. 6 billion (US$666,000) has been invested in the nursery, with a further Rp. 10 billion (US$1.1 million) allocated in 2012 for infrastructure, feed and other facilitiy improvements at the nursery.

The stock yard/nursery covers a total area of 10 hectares encompassing a feed processing facility that can produce 5 tons of feed each day.

At present, 25 people are employed at the facility.

Tickets sales are underway and selling briskly for Bali’s First-Ever Wine Auction on Sunday, December 11, 2011,  to be held at the AYANA Resort and Spa Bali.

The Bali Wine Auction is sponsored by Lotus Food Services with proceeds going to special fund for wine education operated by the Bali Hotels Association.
n US$20,000 in attractive lots of wines, glassware, accommodation and spa package, and lavish gourmet wine dinners will go under the gavel to the highest bidder on auction day.

From 3:00 – 4:00 pm on “Auction Sunday” a “brown bag” wine tasting of 6 wines begins the festivities followed by the actual auction between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m..

Admission tickets are now on sale from Bali Discovery Tours or from the Gourmet Garage in Jimbaran for only Rp. 250,000 (US$27) each that entitles the ticket holder to:

• Admission to the Wine Tasting of 6 wines
• Admission to the Auction Floor
• Chance to Wine Door Prizes including a Wine Cooler
• Auction Catalog

To view the items on offer at the auction and to make bids on line visit [www.baliwineauction.com]

To order your tickets to the auction [email] 
 

Foreign tourist arrivals to Bali for October 2011 totaled 241,370 – increasing 7.93% over arrivals in October 2010 (223,643).

For the ten months January – October 2011 foreign arrivals hit 2.293 million, an improvement of 10.10% year-on-year for 2010.

Projected to the end of 2011 it now appears our projection of 2.75 million total foreign arrivals will be achieved.
Results by Major Markets

Australia – Continues to be Bali’s biggest source of foreign arrivals. October 2011 arrivals ex Australia (75,050) represents a 20.9% increase over the same month last year. Year-on-year Australian arrivals are 24.52% ahead of 2010. Australian visitors now constitute a 28.81% market share of all foreign arrivals.

Japan – Once the undisputed leading source of foreign visitors to Bali, Japan has now slipped to third place after Australia and the PRC. Japan’s decline continues with October arrivals (14,064) declining 20.5% as compared to October 2010. Year-on-year the decline in Japanese visitors stands at 26.71%.

People’s Republic of China – Now the second largest source of Bali visitors, the PRC arrivals for October 2011 (19,571) are 9.8% ahead of the same month a year before. Year-to-date Mainland Chinese visitors are up 13.76% through the end of October 2011. Look for Chinese arrivals to flatten as that country's export-oriented economy begins to feel the impact of the U.S.A. and Europe’s faltering economies.

Taiwan – After a period of stagnation, Taiwan is on the rebound with arrivals to Bali in October 2011 (11,486) improving 27.9% over October 2010. On a cumulative basis through the end of October, Taiwanese arrivals are up 21.37%.

Malaysia – Malaysian arrivals have hit a plateau. October 2011 arrivals (13,116) are virtually on a par with arrivals for October 2010 (13,023). Year-on-year through the end of October Malaysian arrivals are up 13.14% as compared to 2010.

South Korea – South Korean arrivals are on the decline. October 2011 South Korean visitors totaled 11,055 – a number down 6.3% from the totals in October 2010. Year-on-year South Korean visitors have declined 2.08% through the end of October 2011.

France – French arrivals in October 2010 are up 4.06% at 10.591 visitors. Year-on-year French visitors have increased 4.95% during the first ten months of 2011.

Russia – Russian arrivals remain bright. October arrivals totaled 5,202 an improvement of 7.8% over October 2010. Russian arrivals year-on-year are up 14.11%,

The Netherlands – Dutch arrivals to Bali are ailing. October 2011 arrivals standing at 6,000 is virtually the same as October 2010 (5,977). Year-on-year arrivals from Holland are down 8.61%.

U.S.A. – Economic uncertainty at home is not deterring Americans from packing their bags and coming to Bali. October 2011 arrivals (7,043) are 14.1% ahead of the same month one year before. Year-on-year the picture is even brighter with U.S. arrivals through the end of October 2011 up 20.83%. Next question: Will Bali arrivals from the U.S. improve even more due to the “Obama effect” of the just completed U.S. presidential visit?

Germany – The European economy is in recession, making “flat” results from Germany arguably more good news than bad. German arrivals in October 2011 (9,380) are almost even with arrivals for October 2010 (9.314). Similarly, German arrivals year-on-year are equally lackluster, down 0.39%