Tourism Indonesia

Will Bali Hit 2.5 Million Visitors in 2010?

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:37:46 PDT

Bali by the Number: July Arrivals Up 10.3%. Putting Bali within Striking Distance of 2.5 Million Foreign Visitors by Year's End 2010.

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(9/1/2010) Bali arrivals for the month of July 2010 totaled 247,778, an improvement of 10.3% when compared to the same month in 2009 (224,636).

When comparing the period January – July, Bali arrivals for 2010 stand at 1,393,806 or 12.2% ahead of the same 7 months in 2009 (1,242,297).

On the assumption that Bali can maintain its current year-on-year growth rate of 12.2%, there is the potential of total arrivals to Bali of foreign visitors by the end of 2010 approaching or even slightly surpassing the 2.5 million mark.

Performance by Key Markets

• Australia - Australian visitors increased 39.98% when comparing July 2010 (63,552) with July 2009 (45,401). On a cumulative basis, January-July Australian arrivals are a truly amazing 50.87% ahead of 2009.

• Japan - Japanese arrivals provide no hope of a short term turn-around in that troubled economy. Gliding down a slippery slope, Japanese arrivals month-on-month for July 2010 (22,015) declined 31.55% as compared with July 2009 (32,161). On a cumulative basis for the first 7 months of 2010, Japanese arrivals are down a full 23.10%.

• Peoples Republic of China (PRC) - China's rapid-fire growth of visitors to Bali has cooled somewhat. July PRC arrivals increased 4.54% (19,750). On a cumulative basis year-on-year Chinese arrivals are up only 1.27%.

• Taiwan - Taiwanese visitors showed some signs of a possible turn around in progress, improving 9.65% month-on-month in July at 12,471. Despite this increase, year-on-year visitors from Taiwan are still down -4.51%.

• Malaysia - Malaysian arrivals in July improved 11% standing at 11,159. This was counter to a year-on-year decline of 2.09% for the first seven months of the year. Tourism professionals in Bali wait to see what, in any, negative impact on arrivals from Malaysia will be created by the escalating acrimony between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur which has manifested itself in street demonstrations in both Jakarta and Bali that commenced in August.

• South Korea - South Korean arrivals improved month-on-month by 5.42% for July (11,635). The results for the first seven months of 2010 from South Korean are down 3.52% when compared to the same period in 2009.

• United Kingdom - U.K. foreign visitors remain bullish. July arrivals ex the U.K. improved 24.26% at 13,045. Year to date figures reflect similar robustness, improving 21.13%.

• France Summer holidays saw French arrivals for July 2010 improve 4.8% (14,533). Cumulative arrivals from France for January-July are down slightly by 1.63%

• Russia Good air access between Moscow and Bali are allowing Russian arrivals to counter-trend the lackluster Russian economy. July arrivals ex Russia improved 22.83% (4,621). When viewed for the first seven months of the years, 3.75% more Russians have come to Bali thus far in 2010 as compared to 2009.

• Singapore - Singapore arrivals improved a very substantial 58.36% for July 2010 (6.545). Similarly, year-on-year Singapore visitors are up 56.25%.

• The Netherlands - The rapid growth in Dutch visitors cooled somewhat in July, perhaps signally capacity issues as most flights are running very full. 0.5% fewer Dutch came to Bali in July 2010 (10,265) versus July 2009 (10,863). Year-on-year the Dutch market is still 29.14% ahead of 2009.

• U.S.A. - U.S. visitors to Bali declined 8.7% for July 2010 (6,570). Year on year Americans are still ahead of 2009 by 2%.

• Germany Although German visitors to Bali year-on-year are up 3.02%, the number of Germans coming to Bali in July declined 2.9% at 8,264.

Arrivals by Geographic Areas

Every geographic region of the world is showing improvement in visitors to Bali over the first seven months of the year. The Asia-Pacific remains the main engine of that growth, reflecting a wider travel trend of people taking holidays closer to home. The long-haul, longer-staying, higher spending markets from the Americas and Europe continue to grow also, but at approximately have the pace of countries from the Asia-Pacific.

© Bali Discovery Tours. Articles may be quoted and reproduced if attributed to http://www.balidiscovery.com. All images and graphics are copyright protected.

Sleman’s tourism villages ready for Idul Fitri

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:09:12 PDT

Ten tourism villages in Sleman regency are ready to welcome visitors during Idul Fitri, says a local official.

“The ten villages are Kembangarum, Kelor, Garongan and Ledoknonglo in Turi district; Pentingsari in Cangkringan; Tanjung in Sleman; Brayut in Nganglik; Ketingan in Mlati; Jethak in Godean and Turgo in Pakem,” tourism village forum chief Haryono said Wednesday as quoted by Antara.

Haryono said the villages are capable of welcoming up to 730 visitors, adding that Kelor village has been fully booked for Idul Fitri.

Toba Lake region holding great tourism potentials

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:37:50 PDT

North Sumatra`s Toba Lake region has great potential to be developed into a marine tourism area while Samosir Island`s plains and the surrounding mountains can become a nature , agro and cultural tourism destination.

The statement was made by the head of Samosir`s tourism office, Melani Butar Butar, here Wednesday.

She said the natural and cultural wealth of Samosir district held many things that would attract tourists because it was located on an island in Toba Lake.

"There are a lot of cultural and historical sites and also unique attractions , hereditary legacies in this area, " Melani said.

"Tangible tourism objects such as museums , holidaying sites and also beautiful panorama can be found easily here . Also, intangible assets such as cultural and historical objects of traditional societies and also cultural events that will attract tourists," she said.

Melani said that actually Toba Lake and the Samosir region were in the past already known as a foreign and domestic tourist destination. Their development as a tourist destination began in 1970 when they were visited by many ousters because of its beautiful panoramas , unique customs including its Batak tribal culture.

The most interesting thing in the region , according to her, was the legend of Toba Lake. In addition, there was Pusuk Buhit, the place where "Si Raja Batak" originated.

Then there were periodical geographic or geological occurrences in the lake which became one of the wonders of the world.

The Samosir district government had published a master plan on the development of the regions as a tourist destination and details of the enginering design of a hot water springs area or "aek rangat pangururan" while the Pusuk Buhit region was proposed to be the cultural heritage area

Five-Star Warung for Ramadan

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:14:31 PDT

During Ramadan, most restaurants in Jakarta are fond of offering Middle Eastern fare, like baba ghanoush, falafel, pita bread, tabouleh and baklava.

While this may be a welcome change, there are others who continually long for local dishes such as gado-gado (steamed vegetables with peanut sauce), nasi uduk (rice cooked with coconut milk) and pecel lele (deep-fried catfish) with the requisite heaping of sambal.

For a taste of Indonesian street food, JW Marriott Hotel in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, is providing a convenient, busker-free setting for breaking the fast. The five-star hotel has set up an all-you-can-eat, market-style buka puasa (breaking the fast) through Sept. 5.

But forget about waiters in black uniforms and bow ties. The atmosphere here is lively and casual. Some diners were even spotted eating nasi uduk and fried chicken with their hands in the traditional Indonesian fashion.

The hotel has recreated the market scene at its Meeting Center Terrace. There, one can find stalls with individual specialties that change on a daily basis.

There is also the option of al fresco dining, which is proving to be popular. To break my fast, I started with kolak, usually made of boiled bananas or sweet potatoes in palm sugar syrup, mixed with coconut milk and pandan leaves.

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Deep-sea images reveal colorful life off Indonesia

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:55:59 PDT

Scientists using cutting-edge technology to explore waters off Indonesia were wowed by colorful and diverse images of marine life on the ocean floor - including plate-sized sea spiders and flower-like sponges that appear to be carnivorous.

They predicted Thursday that as many as 40 new plant and animal species may have been discovered during the three-week expedition that ended Aug. 14.

More than 100 hours of video and 100,000 photographs, captured using a robotic vehicle with high-definition cameras, were piped to shore in real-time by satellite and high-speed Internet.

Verena Tunnicliffe, a professor at the University of Victoria in Canada, said the images provided an extraordinary glimpse into one of the globe's most complex and little-known marine ecosystems.

"Stalked sea lilies once covered the ocean, shallow and deep, but now are rare," she said in a written statement. "I've only seen a few in my career. But on this expedition, I was amazed to see them in great diversity."

Likewise, Tunnicliffe has also seen sea spiders before, but those were tiny in comparison, all around one-inch (2.5 centimeters) long: "The sea spiders ... on this mission were huge. Eight-inches (20-centimeters) or more across."

One animal captured on video looks like a flower, covered with glasslike needles, but scientists think it is probably a carnivorous sponge. The spikes, covered with sticky tissue, appear to capture food as it passes by.

Scientists used powerful sonar mapping system and the robotic vehicle to explore nearly 21,000 square miles (54,000 sq. kilometers) of sea floor off northern Indonesia, at depths ranging from 800 feet (240 meters) to over two miles (1.6 kilometers).

The mission was carried out by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ship, the Okeanos Explorer. An Indonesian vessel, the Baruna Jaya IV, also took part, collecting specimens that, together with all rights for future use, will remain in the country.

See: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/welcome.html

During Eid ul-Fitr, Borobudur Expects 220.000 Visitors

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:00:05 PDT

During the coming Eid ul-Fitr, the Borobudur Temple Park expects an increase in visitosr of 10 percent compared to last year.

According to the Head of the Borobudur Temple Park, Pujo Suwarno, ten days after 2009 Eid ul-Fitr, the number of temple visitor amounted to 200.000 persons. “Consequently, 10 days after the coming Lebaran, it is expected to increase to 220.000 persons,” he said yesterday.

Meanwhile this Ramadhan, there is a sharp decrease of domestic tourists. “Up to 50 percent,” he said. Foreign tourists’ visits remain stable.

Bali September Highlights

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:54:38 PDT

Do you plan to have vacation in Bali on September 2010? You are such a lucky person since there are various events that would be held in Bali on this month. Here are the highlights.

(all contents are copyright of Baliwww.com)

September 4th, 2010
Tumpek Wayang
Tumpek Wayang is celebrated every 210 days based on Balinese Pawukon Cycle. On this day, all equipments related to art such as musical instruments, puppet, and others are set to give them offerings. Balinese people believe Tumpek Wayang is a day to worship Sanghyang Iswara as the manifestation of the almighty God for the blessing given to the puppeteer so that the puppeteer could arouse people’s interest on art and creativity through his genuine soul or Taksu. However, a baby who was born on Tumpek Wayang is considered unlucky that her/his parents have to hold a special ceremony and puppet show on this day.

10-11 September 2010
Idul Fitri
Denpasar City will be so vacant during Idul Fitri because Moslem people will return to their region for a while to visit their family yet local people will take this chance to have vacancy so tourist destination like Kuta will be so crowded. And prepare for extra money because during these days the price will increase. Some people suggest to avoid a trip to Bali during these days but if you have already booked yourself to have vacation in Bali then enjoy some spots that might be vacant. There are some Muslim people who prefer celebrating Idul Fitri in Bali because of some reasons. Thus, if you come to Bali in these days you will see how the tolerance works in Bali. All people with their religion respect each other including Hindu as the major community in Bali.

September 23rd, 2010
Purnama Sasih Kapat
Sasih Kapat, for Balinese, is considered a right moment or the best moment to hold sacred ceremonies. For that reason, on this day, many spots in Bali are flocked by people to hold unique ceremony. People from four villages in Karangasem will climb up the Gumang Hill while shouldering suckling pig to hold a ceremony in Gumang Temple. In other region, there are also ceremonies called piodalan in Tirta Empul Temple (Tampak Siring) and in Goa Gajah Temple (Elephant Cave is in near Ubud).

September 21 –23, 2010
Gumang Temple Festival
Read more

September 29th – Oktober 3rd 2010
Kuta Karnival
Bali’s 8th annual International Event, Kuta Karnival 2010 will be held on September 29th until October 3rd 2010. During these 5 days, there are so many events will be held such as: turtle release, band festival, Food festival, mini cartoon exhibition, kite festival, and many more.

September 25th 2010
Saraswati Day and Banyu Pinaruh
Saraswati Day is the day to worship Sanghyang Saraswati, the manifestation of God, the goddess of knowledge and art. All educational institutions in Bali hold a ceremony and worship to thank to Sanghyang Saraswati for her blessing and wish that knowledge and science will be developed more and more. As the beautiful of Sanghyang Saraswati, science and knowledge should be interesting and always sought by human being. A day after Saraswati Day is Banyu Pinaruh. On this day, people visit beach or other place where spring is available like Tirta Empul to purify the body and soul.

September 29th, 2010
Pagerwesi
Pagerwesi is derived from ‘pager’ means fence and ‘wesi’ means besi thus Pagerwesi is the day for Balinese to protect themselves from the force of evil. Special offerings are set to Sanghyang Pramesti Guru (the God as Supreme Teacher) and to holy spirit of each famili’s ancestor. There is a big difference on manner to celebrated Pagerwesi in North and South of Bali. Unlike in South Bali in which people hold a ceremony modestly, people in North Bali will celebrate Pagerwesi feverishly with sumptuous feast while ‘penjor’ is erected on house’s gate.

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Ancol’s New Attraction: a Giant Pit for Dredged River Sludge

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:57:50 PDT

With a kilometer of bamboo scaffolding poking up from the cloudy water in the middle of Jakarta Bay, visitors to the Ancol amusement park can be forgiven for wondering just what is being built several hundred meters offshore.

The answer? A giant, rock-lined pit to hold millions of cubic meters of ooze and sludge dredged from the capital’s clogged rivers and reservoirs — and that should within a decade be firm enough to be used as reclaimed land.

It is the 120-hectare Ancol confined disposal facility, part of a project to clear Jakarta’s clogged and polluted waterways that was recently begun as part of the Jakarta Urgent Flood Mitigation Project, which is being funded by a $150 million loan from the World Bank.

Stephen Lintner, senior technical adviser for the World Bank, said it had overseen continuous testing of sites slated for dredging to ensure that no toxic materials would be layered into the bay.

“It’s not toxic or hazardous. We are quite diligent in examining the environmental perspective,” he said. “Given the shortage of land, you will continue to have land reclamation. It has to be done selectively and with proper oversight.”

Backpacker Guide to Cheap Eats in Ubud

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:01:08 PDT

Almost imperceptibly over the last few years — as Bali’s tourism numbers have ramped up even higher — restaurants in the island’s cultural hub of Ubud have become ever flashier and upscale, with the price of a meal approaching what used to be the cost of a month’s lodging. And judging by the ultramodern makeovers of some of Ubud’s old standbys — Ary’s Warung, Jalan Monkey Forest’s Gayatri Cafe — the inexpensive meal for the traveler on a budget has become a thing of the past.

Or has it?
Taking a spin around town — when the traffic permits — with an eye peeled for the out-of-the-way and the overlooked, it is still possible to find local warungs that serve up good fare at reasonable prices.

So, if you find yourself in the Bali heartland and need to fill your stomach without emptying your wallet, here are some of Ubud’s eating establishments where meals go for Rp 20,000-50,000 ($2.25-$5.60) a head.

Expect to pay a little more if you choose to quench your thirst with a cold Bintang.

Lada Warung Top of Jalan Hanoman, on the right

My wife says this used to be a tiny hole-in-the-wall, but a revamp has turned it into a breezy two-story restaurant with a Mediterranean feel.

The whitewashed walls are adorned with antique pictures of Bali, while ceiling fans turn lazily above the wooden tables and chairs, and tile floors.

Traditional Indonesian entrees range from Rp 15,000-25,000. Nasi goreng and mie goreng go for Rp 22,000-24,000.

Full article by Thomas Hogue

Ubud: Far from the madding crowds in Bali

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:42:48 PDT

Must confess it was only after reading Eat, Love, Pray that I set my heart on Ubud. For sheer ignorance , I knew nothing beyond Bali in Indonesia. So, it was Elizabeth Gilbert who introduced me to this tiny district in Bali.
Away from the maddening crowd of bikini and skimpy sarong-clad tourists of Bali, Ubud is different. Being the centre of art and culture, it draws a different kind of tourist. The types who have some inclination for art even if they aren’t real connoisseurs .

Besides, it’s quieter and charming . On the streets, you’ll find pretty Balinese women in their traditional gear going about their daily routine. For all who care, Ubud is the soul of Indonesia while Bali can pass off as the flesh/body of Indonesia.

Full article from The Economic Times

Australian-Born Puppeteer Falls for Adopted Indonesia, Its Culture

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:57:37 PDT

There are many ways to love Indonesia, says Gaura Mancacaritadipura, a well known shadow puppeteer and cultural expert.

Gaura, a former Australian citizen, fell in love with Indonesia when he first visited the country as a senior high school student in 1968.

“I traveled all over Java and I was very attracted to Indonesia because of the culture,” Gaura told the Jakarta Globe, prompting a second visit just two years later.

“It was the first time I saw Bali and I told myself that ‘this is home,’” Gaura said.

Born in Melbourne 57 years ago, Gaura left Australia to take up permanent residence in Indonesia in 1978.

Working as a freelance writer and consultants for various publications and organizations, his love for art spurred him to study many aspects of Indonesian culture, including traditional musical instruments.

Javanese leather puppets, or wayang, however, proved his greatest interest.

“I started studying wayang in 1997. It was so intriguing for me because wayang is very noble and very beautiful,” Gaura said.

It took him seven years to fully master the art, which also required him to learn Javanese and master the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata.

“It’s not easy to learn wayang, especially in the beginning. The music, the language, it is definitely a challenge,” he said.

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Travel & Leisure : Touring Bali's Temples

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:51:04 PDT

T+L heads to Bali in search of some of the island’s most authentic experiences.

“And now we drink,” said the priest. The holy water came from deep within the cave in which we knelt. The priest, or mangku, had collected it in a rusty bucket left under a dripping stalactite. The cave was discovered five centuries ago by the Javanese priest Nirartha, progenitor of Bali’s particular strain of Shaivite Hinduism. In my sarong, sash, and headdress, I had nibbled the devotional rice, stuck a few grains on my forehead and solar plexus, assembled offerings, and prayed until my folded legs tingled on the cold cavern floor.

The mangku rang a bell and asked for blessings upon my wife and me. He spoke Kawi, the ancient language of poets and priests, in the rapid-fire patter of an auctioneer. The only words I understood were “hotel” and “Alila.”

Every Bali resort worth its hand-harvested salt has a slate of edifying cultural activities, but the Alila Villas Uluwatu goes several steps beyond. Filling a dense handbook, Alila’s roster of “Journeys” offers a more immersive experience than the average guest perhaps requires. You want to learn to play the gamelan? Practice djamoe medicine? Carve stone? Talk to the concierge.

Full article By Peter Jon Lindberg

ArabNews: Bali, World’s favorite resort

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:03:35 PDT

The world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia, comprising 17,504 large and small tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number of them even still unnamed, has emerged as one of the favorite destinations for Saudis. Especially enchanting to them is Bali, which is considered as the perfect holiday destination for all ages offering something for everyone.

Tourism officials at the Consulate General of Indonesia and Garuda Indonesia, which operates regular weekly flights between Saudi Arabia and Jakarta, say Bali remains the most popular and favorite destination for travelers from this part of the world. The number of travelers to the island resort continues to increase year after year.

It is thus that following its success last year, Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara once again organizing this year’s annual travel mart Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or Pasar Wisata Indonesia. This Indonesian premier tourism event will be held on Oct. 12-15 at Santosa Villas & Resort Lombok. Entering its 16th years of conduct, TIME is organized by the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (ITPB) and supported by entire tourism components in Indonesia.

Meity Robot, chair person and steering committee of TIME 2010, told Arab News in a communication that the conduct of TIME also supports the government program of “Visit Indonesia Year” which continues this year, as TIME is aimed at promoting Indonesia as a tourist destination in international market and at the same time raise the country’s image as one of the global travel destinations.

“The shifting of TIME to Lombok for two consecutive years, i.e. 2009 and this year, is aimed at promoting Lombok and West Nusa Tenggara to the international market and speeding up the development and improvement of infrastructure, tourism facilities and tourism attractions in the region, so that at the end the destination could establish itself as one of global travel destinations. Moreover, with the completion of new international airport expected to be ready this year, it will attract more tourist arrivals to the island and speed up the improvement of infrastructure and encourage more investors to the region to develop new hotels as well as tourism attractions,” Meity said.

Lombok is located just east of Bali. The island is only 20 minutes by flight from Bali, with Selaparang International Airport. Presently, Lombok has nearly 3,500 hotel rooms with international standard. Garuda Indonesia operates regular weekly services from the Kingdom to Jakarta.

Bali offers not just various customs but also various “adrenalin pump” parks. Many exciting amusements are available in Bali, with something new opening all the time. The number of offshore and inland attraction are on the rise because many tourists want them. This tropical paradise has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities combined with shopping and a rich past and heritage, Meity added.

After white water rafting that has gained popularity in Bali, comes offshore rafting or ocean rafting. The more adventurous sort of amusement has now become an alternative sport for tourists. Meanwhile, white water rafting is still a popular activity with trips on Ayung, Telaga Waja, Unda Rivers, etc. The tourists can refresh their mind by watching beautiful scenery along the route. Those are not enough, some of the best surfing beaches in the world can be found on the western side of the island while conversely the eastern side is a wonderful haven for families, with beautiful white sand beaches and gentle seas.

Bali is a small island, just 140 km by 80 km and lies between Java, the most highly populated and influential of all the islands, and Lombok, one of the quieter and moderately slower paced islands. Like many islands, Bali has developed a world of its own. It not only captures what is special about Indonesia but also has a uniqueness of its own.

Among the most well known islands are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (formerly Borneo), Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), the Maluku Islands (or better known as Moluccas, the original Spice Islands) and Papua, aside from Bali. But Indonesia still has many unexplored islands with grand mountain views, green rainforests to trek through, rolling waves to surf and deep blue pristine seas to dive in where one can swim with dugongs, dolphins and large mantarays.

Because of her location, and geology, Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape, from fertile ricelands on Java and Bali to the luxuriant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, to the savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands to snow-capped peaks of West Papua.

Its wildlife ranges from the prehistoric giant Komodo lizard to the Orang Utan and the Java rhino, to the Sulawesi anoa dwarf buffalos, to birds with exquisite plumage like the cockatoo and the bird of paradise. This is also the habitat of the Rafflesia the world’s largest flower, wild orchids, an amazing variety of spices, and aromatic hardwood and a large variety of fruit trees. Underwater, scientists have found in North Sulawesi the prehistoric coelacanth fish, a “living fossil” fish, predating the dinosaurs living some 400 million years ago, while whales migrate yearly through these waters from the South Pole. Here are hundreds of species of colorful coral and tropical fish to admire.

Playing Hooky in Ambon

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 18:36:52 PDT

Heading east to the Maluku Islands, formerly known as the Moluccas, had always been on my things-to-do-before-I-die list, thanks to the alluring descriptions in travel guidebooks and images friends had posted on Facebook. So when my editor assigned me to cover Sail Banda 2010 on an invitation from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, I believed I was the luckiest writer in the office.

I woke up early for a sleepy-eyed cab ride to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to catch my flight for Ambon, the capital of Maluku province.

The rushed and panicked crowd milling around the check-in counter of the low-cost airline I was flying with made it feel more like a hectic marketplace than an airport.

The flight to Ambon took about four hours, with a 20-minute transfer at Makassar Airport in South Sulawesi.

I took the opportunity to look around the new terminal, built in 2008, and its bright, modern interior put gloomy, dull Soekarno-Hatta to shame.

Stepping off the plane at Ambon’s Pattimura Airport, I was immediately aware that I was quite far away from home, both physically and psychologically.

The way people looked, talked and called to each other was different, and that’s what I’m after when traveling. Ambonese people tend to be tall, dark-skinned and speak in fast, high-pitched voices that get even faster near the end of their sentences.

The first thing that excited me was when I heard people use the word “beta,” which means “I” in its land of origin.

Full article by Ade Mardiyati

Indramayu Batik Up Close And Personal

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:42:52 PDT

It would be hard to visit Indonesia and not notice the intricately patterned batik shirts and dresses worn by so many people. Locals tend to associate batik — the fabric that results from a traditional dying process — with cities like Yogyakarta, Solo and Pekalongan, Central Java.

A city in West Java, however, is trying to buck the trend by establishing itself as a batik center through an exhibition designed to showcase the beauty of batik motifs from Indramayu.

The exhibition, titled “Indramayu Dari Dekat” (“Indramayu Up Close”), showcases batik cloth from the city and other handcrafted products made by local artisans from the region.

“The quality of batik from Indramayu is just as good as that from any other place,” said Carwati Basuri, who owns a small batik business in Indramayu.

“We make beautiful batik. I want to let people know that they can also wear batik from Indramayu.”

Traditional batik is made by using wax and dye to create patterns on fabric. In Javanese batik, those patterns have special meanings rooted in traditional ideas about the universe. Indramayu has its share of signature batik motifs, such as perang teja (knights’ war), merak ngibing (dancing peacock), kereta kencana (gold chariot) and kembang suket (wild flowers), but the region still isn’t considered a leader when it comes to producing batik.

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Picture Gallery of the annual Baliem Valley festival in Wamena

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:55:52 PDT

The Dani, Yali and Lani tribes gather at this annual festival dressed in distinctive attire to stage mock battles, perform traditional music and dance, and celebrate with a pig roast

Link (10 pictures): Guardian

Call to Stop New Hotel Projects in Bali

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:12:20 PDT

Bali Tourism Board Wants a Moratorium on New Hotel Projects.

Beritabali.com reports that the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) is recommending that the government of Bali impose at least a temporary moratorium on the construction of new hotels in Bali. Such a moratorium would, if implemented, require Bali's regents and municipal mayors to freezes the issuance of new building permits.

BTB concludes that earlier calls by the Bali's governor for a moratorium on new hotels has been ignored by regional leaders who viewed the governor's demand as lacking the force of law.

The chairman of the BTB, Ngurah Wijaya, said a moratorium remains the sole way of halting new hotel developments in the face of the strong desire by investors to commence Bali projects.

"Everyone wants to invest in Bali, everyone wants to own accommodation in Bali; there must now be some limitation," explained Ngurah Wijaya.

Pointing to the limited carrying capacity of Bali in terms of infrastructure, water supplies and electricity supply - Wijaya believes now is the time to limit new hotels in Bali. Moreover, he argued that the number of available room in Bali is now more than sufficient to meet demand. Data supplied by Bali's Tourism Office calculates 46,000 commercial accommodation rooms exists in Bali.

Commenting separately, the head of the Bali Tourism Office (Kadiparda), Ida Bagus Subhiksu, admitted that the one possible way to halt new project construction is through the imposition of a moratorium.

"If viewed from the analysis of the number of rooms available, there is an obvious oversupply of rooms," said Subhisku.

The top government tourism official for Bali went on to explain that calls for moratoriums have been made since 1993. Unfortunately, rules on regional autonomy allow regents and municipal officials to ignore instructions issued by a provincial governor. The final authority to issue licenses for hotel construction lies on the regency level.

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Gus Dur’s grave to be tourist attraction

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:27:33 PDT

The government said it would make the grave of Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, the nation’s fourth president, into a destination for tourists in Jombang, East Java, within the next three years.
Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono said Tuesday that the government and the East Java provincial administration, would allocate Rp 180 billion (US$20.16 million) for infrastructure to accommodate the more than 100 buses and 2,000 pilgrims who currently visit Gus Dur’s burial site every day.
“We need to build more roads, parking lots and spots for food stalls to avoid damage to the burial complex, as is likely to occur if we don’t do anything,” Agung said.
East Java Deputy Governor Syaifullah Yusuf said that on weekends, the burial complex was a scene of complete chaos, as hundreds of cars and more than 8,000 pilgrims created total gridlock.
Agung said that the provincial government would educate residents about the importance of maintaining the former president’s grave. “The government, however, is not planning to renovate the burial site itself. We just want to improve the facilities and infrastructure,” Agung added.
The Wahid family currently maintains the site

China-Indonesia Art Cultural Festival performed in Jakarta

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 02:33:26 PDT

Sound of "dagu", the traditional Chinese drum, broke silence in the Theater Studio of Ismail Marzuki Park, a prominent art venue in Indonesia' s capital city of Jakarta, heralding the opening of China-Indonesia Art Cultural Festival on Friday night.

Four performers wearing lion suits, accompanied by five young girl musicians, performed lion dance for about two minutes, followed by the singing of the national anthem Indonesian Raya or Great Indonesia by all attendees.

After speeches by several officials, the event was officially opened by Mara Oloan Siregar, assistant of public welfare at Jakarta local government, who represented Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo, by striking the Chinese drum.

The lion dance was performed again. The dancers wearing red and white costumes, colors of Indonesian flag, jumped around, ran around and moved their bodies beautifully.

Fajar Gita Nusantara Choir or Indonesia Song Dawn Choir followed with their angelic voices. Twenty six middle-age Indonesian Chinese women wearing red and white suits sang two Chinese songs, accompanied by the sound of piano.

Firman Ichsan, executive chairman of Art Council of Jakarta ( DKJ), said, "We hope that performances of the cultural art of China-Indonesia and discourses emerged in discussions could increase appreciation, respect and wisdom in facing diversity."

He said that the attitude is needed to promote peaceful life for the sake of glorious nation.

Indonesia opened the two-day festival to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the country's independence with performing various unique Chinese performances such as lion dance, classical Chinese music, product exhibition, Chinese culinary show, as well as motion pictures with the theme of independence and pluralism.

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CKE Opens New Carl’s Jr Restaurant In Indonesia

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:47:09 PDT

CKE Restaurants, an operator of Carl Jr and Hardee's restaurants in the US, has opened its first Carl’s Jr restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia. This marks the first of at least 25 Carl’s Jr restaurants to be opened in Indonesia over the next six years.

At present, CKE Restaurants operates Carl’s Jr restaurants in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Mexico and American Samoa and is actively seeking to expand its presence throughout China and Southeast Asia.
The 25-restaurant development deal in Indonesia is part of CKE Restaurants’ strategic plan to accelerate franchise development throughout Asia. CKE has signed a development agreement with the Mesa Asia Pacific Trading Services Company to open 25 additional Carl’s Jr restaurants in Vietnam over the next six years.

Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, said: “We are very pleased to welcome PT Fortune Food International as a part of the CKE team. With our strong presence in the Southeast Asia region and the local talent of PT Fortune Food International, we are confident that we will have a bright future in the market.”

Bali Hotels Association on Rabies

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:48:50 PDT

Rabies in Bali, common misperceptions and the way ahead

Rabies is a problem in Bali, of that there is no doubt. However if treated quickly and properly it can be healed in almost 100 % of cases. The disease can be eradicated on the island, but only if the proper measures are applied.

It is a sad misperception that rabies can be controlled through culling even though at first glance it appears a logical option. Culling in fact aggravates the problem and has never been successful in controlling the disease. According to the World Health Organization [WHO] rabies can only be controlled through vaccination in combination with sterilization. It has worked in India [Chennai!] Costa Rica and many other parts of the world.

The Way Ahead

In Bali we need to vaccinate al least 70 % of the dog population in order to overcome the disease. Organizations like BAWA [Bali Animal Welfare Association] are at the forefront of fighting rabies on the island. So far BAWA have vaccinated over 70.000 dogs in Gianyar with encouraging results. Treated dogs are marked with red or blue collars for survey reasons. The Bali government recently announced its intention to launch a massive 3 month vaccination campaign in September aiming to inoculate all Bali dogs.

Sterilization in combination with vaccination makes sure that the population can be reduced in a controlled and sustainable way. Culling is counter-productive.

Treatment Protocol

Everyone on Bali – residents and visitors alike – need to be made aware of what to do if they get bitten by a dog or any other animal capable of carrying rabies.

If bitten, flush and scrub the wound immediately for at least 15 minutes with soap/detergent and water, or just water alone if no soap/detergent is available. It is very important to prevent the virus from entering the body and central nervous system. Detergent breaks down the walls of the virus. The wound should also be disinfected with ethanol [alcohol] (700ml/l) or Betadine (tincture or aqueous solution).

Post exposure treatment must be continued at a clinic or hospital as soon as possible. Usually the treatment consists of emergency vaccination as well as a tetanus shot. In serious cases immunoglobulin needs to be administered. However this is a great problem because immunoglobulin is very scarce in Bali and expensive. If in doubt patients need to seek treatment in Singapore or Australia.

Sanglah hospital in Bali is the official rabies treatment centre, private health providers like International SOS or BIMC are amongst the best prepared.

Once rabies symptoms are detected in a person the disease will be fatal.
For further information check the extensive information on rabies, its treatment and eradication on the WHO rabies information websites and contact BAWA for a local update.

Atlantis of the East? No, it is a theme park

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:15:53 PDT

When the remains of an ancient underwater city were photographed off the coast of Bali, the Indonesian government hailed it as a potentially "phenomenal" discovery.

Mystical statues of the gods, their faces covered in gorgonian fans, stood rooted to the ocean floor behind an ornate temple gateway 100 feet below sea level.
The undersea archaeological department of the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced an investigation as rumours quickly circulated of 10 more such temples in the strait between Java and Bali. Excited local media speculated that an Atlantis of the East had been found.

Unfortunately, hopes of a groundbreaking discovery have been sunk. The city turns out to be an underwater theme park built by a British diver to entertain his customers.
Paul Turley, 43, "sank" the city in 2005 as an underwater attraction for visitors to his dive school in Pemuteran, north west Bali. He and an Australian colleague, Chris Brown, also aimed to highlight the importance of marine conservation.
Divers who visit the temple garden then make a donation to the Reef Gardeners project, where unemployed local fishermen are trained to maintain the corals close to the temple garden.

“We sank the temple garden as a fun idea and to do something different and the people that have dived it have loved it. Perhaps our publicity wasn’t good enough as no-one knew about it, but now I guess another great mystery has been solved.”

Sexiest Southeast Asian beaches

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:12:24 PDT

Dreaming of a steamy, languid tropical escape but looking for someplace a bit more exotic than Hawaii or the Caribbean? Venture further afield in Southeast Asia, which has a dazzling array of sandy options. You can easily find luxury, a hint of adventure and even a few spots where the U.S. dollar still holds its value.

Indonesia's reputation as an exotic beach destination remains unmarred and sexy Aussies flock here. Coeds prefer the more obvious Kuta Beach, but sexy grown-ups consider Dreamland Beach, an up and coming spot on the Bukit Peninsula, the most beautiful beach in the entire country. About 30 minutes drive from Kuta (and now with impending development, nicknamed "New Kuta Beach"), Dreamland has traditionally been accessed through Tommy Suharto, son of former President Suharto's, abandoned property. Previously, your only options while watching the spectacular sunset were basic pretty basic cafes and local shops, but with the junior Suharto now building a tony new resort, if the beach isn't dreamy enough for you, new gourmet and pampering options are likely to impress.
If you're looking to get off the mainland and totally off the beaten track in Indonesia, Trawangan Gili, the largest of the three Gili islands, is just 25 minutes by ferry off the coast of Lombok. What makes this island sexy is its unplugged, "Age of Aquarius" vibe. Magic mushrooms are legal for sale, raves on the beach under the moonlight are not uncommon, and you can circumnavigate this undeveloped sandy islet in under two hours and be sure to find a private nook. The natural highs include spectacular snorkeling and dive sights, including the Trawangan Slope off the Southeast coast, Sunset Reef and Shark Point off the West coast, and the appropriately named Jammin' Reef off the south coast.
If you're a fan of the far-flung, you'll have ultimate bragging rights after a visit to Pasir Putih in East Timor. This pretty, pristine deserted beach is located about five miles east of the former Portuguese colony of Dili. Emerging after three years as an independent nation, a visit here is only for the intrepid, like travel in Thailand in the 1960s.

Full article by Cathay Che

"Convergence" wins Sail Banda 2010

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:56:12 PDT

The yacht "Convergence" skippered by Randolph Kent Repass of the US, has been declared the champion of the international marine event Sail Banda 2010.
Randolph was therefore on Tuesday night presented with the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister`s trophy by Maluku Vice Governor Said Assagaff at a ceremony held at Tantui Nusantara Fish Port as the mooring location of the yachts participating in Sail Banda.
Convergence, a multi-hull yacht from the US, was the first to arrive at Banda Island on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 4.45 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (WIT) after being flagged off at Darwin`s Cullen Bay, Australia, on July 24.
The second yacht to arrive in Banda was "Pegasus" of England, skippered by Jason Charles Lawrence, who was eligible to receive the Maluku Governor`s trophy.
While "First Light III" of Australia, skippered by Bernard John McGoldrick, came in third as it arrived in Banda at 8 on Tuesday morning, July 27. Bernard received the Sail Banda Committee`s trophy.
The first three yachts were followed by six others, namely "Catspaw" of England which was skippered by Peter Richard Whitby, "Magnetic" of New Zealand by Trevor Clifford Clark, "Erica" of New Zealand by Erick Frederik Gray, "Umbra Luna" of Australia by Dale Lynn Clemons, and "Miranda I" of Australia by Goyffrey Philip Rawlins Birch.

Sail Banda 2010, organized by the central government in cooperation with Maluku provincial administration, is participated in by 49 yachts from five countries.

A Girijati Getaway: Hidden Allures in South Yogyakarta

jalan2indonesia@yahoo.com (Jalan2Indonesia) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:08:07 PDT

Last month, Yogyakarta was packed with people, cars and tourist buses. A legion of schoolkids from Java, along with their parents, crowded into Yogyakarta’s narrow streets, making it feel like Jakarta.

Areas like Jalan Malioboro and parts of Jalan Parangtritis are the usual spots where tourist converge. A few hundred meters away is the Sultan’s Palace.

To the east is the Prambanan temple. A drive up north will take you to the Kaliurang Highlands and the famed Borobudur temple. To the south are Parangtritis and other beaches.

But Yogyakarta’s southern reaches have other treasures in store for visitors willing to explore places not mentioned in travel guidebooks or Web sites.

Not too far from Parangtritis or Parangkusumo lies the small village of Girijati — home of historic and beautiful spots like the Beji spring, Gua Tapan cave and the terraced Gembirowati building.

In the village, you can find many affordable lodgings perched on hills overlooking the ocean.

Located about a kilometer away from the coastline, the village rests on the western fringe of Gunung Kidul, a district where rivers are known to flow hundreds of meters underground.

From the admission gate at Parangtritis, head straight until you reach an uphill road. Turn right at a fork in the road and you will see Sendang Beji, which means spring in Javanese.

Beji’s clear and cool waters run through Girijati like sheets of ice amid the greenery.

Somewhat unknown, Beji spring is an outlet of one of the rivers.

It is the setting of a well-known folktale about a man named Jaka Tarub who stole the shawl of a goddess named Nawang Wulan, preventing her from flying back to heaven.

Tugiran, a caretaker at Beji, said pilgrims come to the site to perform rituals on malam jumat kliwon , or the night before kliwon (one of the five-day weeks in the Javanese calendar).

The rituals are held when kliwon falls on a Friday.

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