My wife Candika is a real TV hugger when it comes to pageants of any kind whether it be Miss World, Miss Universe or any other of the numerous and glamorous events. I just like looking at the ladies!.
Astri Prima Devi hailing from Tabanan has been crowed Miss Bali 2006 and she is a definite honey!. According to the report in the Bali Discovery, 12 beautiful and talented young women from across Bali competed for the privilege to represent the island of Bali at “Miss Bali 2006” (Puteri Bali 2006) at a televised final selection process held at the Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua on Saturday June 25, 2006.
In 3 hour long program that concluded a week of seminars and intensive deportment training, the 12 contestants vying for the crown answered questions on current events and political topics.
While the judges pondered the individual merits of each of the young ladies, top local musical talent entertained the audience - including world-renowned dancer-chorographer Nyoman Sura; Bali Pop sensations Sutha and Agung Wirasutha; and the multi-talented guitarist Wayan Belawan.
Introducing Miss Bali 2006
As the evening drew to a close, Astri Prima Devi of Tabanan was crowned by the outgoing Miss Bali 2005 I Gusti Ayu Prandnyandari.
The newly crowned Miss Bali 2006 is an Honor’s graduate of the University of Indonesia. Who works as an accountant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The just elected Miss Bali will now travel to Jakarta as Bali’s contestant at the Miss Indonesia 2006 competition to be held in the Capital on August 25, 2006.
July 4th, 2006
As a tourist destination Bali has everything to offer - Great beaches, breathtaking scenery, good food, plenty of nightlife, great shopping, fantastic weather, a fascinating culture and more especially, friendly and warm people.
Although the tourist numbers dwindled since the October bombing last year, the number of tourists visiting the island is steadily on the increase. Garuda Airlines and the Bali Tourism Board have tried all kinds of inducements to increase tourism so that it will return to the boom days of the 90s.
The Bali Arts Festival and the upcoming Ubud Writers Festival are just two of the main drawcards during the year that are guaranteed to attract tourists to the island. But now there is another. I was reading in the Bali Discovery about an exciting program of Ubud-centred cultural events, tours, and an art auction organized by the Bali Bangkit Committee called the Spirit of Bali Revival and to be held July 12-23, 2006.
Here is the schedule for the Spirit of Bali Revival:
July 12, 2006 - Mask & Wayang Exhibition - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. an opening of the exhibition and performance by I.B. Anom. Location: Kampung Seni Kubu Bingin, Banjar Tegal Bingin Mas, Ubud.
July 13-15, 2006 - Viewing of Auction Items Preceding Art Auction by Larasati of the Works of Balinese Traditional Artists Viewing on Thursday and Friday July 13-14 between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and on the day of the Auction July 15 between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - Location: Maya Ubud Resort - Ubud
July 13, 2006 - Mask & Wayang Exhibition - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Cak Rina Kecak Dance Performance. Location: Kampung Seni Kubu Bingin, Banjar Tegal Binging Mas, Ubud.
July 14-23, 2006 - Balinese Traditional Painting Exhibition - “Tradition and Reputation” - Location- Agung Rai Museum (ARMA).
July 14, 2006 - Children Traditional Balinese Dance & Garden Dinner Party - Location: Agung Rai Museum (ARMA).
July 14, 2006 - Book Launching and Arts Awards - “Bravo Bali - Lexicon of 200 Years of Balinese Traditional Painting” and AMEX Art Awards - Location: Agung Rai Museum (ARMA).
July 14, 2006 - Mask & Wayang Exhibition - 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Regog Ponorogo Performance; 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Mask Dance - Tari Topeng Tu Gek Carangsari. Location: Kampung Seni Kubu Bingin, Banjar Tegal Binging Mas, Ubud.
July 15, 2006 - Art Auction by Larasati of the Works of Balinese Traditional Artists - Location: Maya Ubud Resort, Ubud
July 15-16, 2006 - Golden Morning Tour - Free of Charge Sunrise Tour to Traditional Balinese Village and Surrounding Agricultural Lands - Departure at 6:00 a.m.. Location: Departure from Agung Rai Museum (ARMA).
July 15-16, 2006 - Free of charge tour to Jatuluwuh Rice Terraces, Mask and Wayang Exhibition and the Tradition and Reputation Art Exhibition - Departure at 8:00 a.m. Location: Departure from Agung Rai Museum (ARMA).
July 15-16, 2006 - Free of charge tour to the location of Walter Spies Villa in Sidemen, Mask and Wayang Exhibition and the Tradition and Reputation Art Exhibition - Departure at 8:00 a.m. Location: Departure from Agung Rai Museum (ARMA).
July 15, 2006 - Mask & Wayang Exhibition - 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. Stage presentation of Balinese traditional music performed by I Wayan Sutawa, a child dalang master. Location: Kampung Seni Kubu Bingin, Banjar Tegal Binging Mas, Ubud.
July 16, 2006 - Mask & Wayang Exhibition - 6:00 - 6:45 p.m. A contemporary Wayan Beber performance presented by a child dalang from Malang; 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Cak Rina Kecak Dance Performer. Location: Kampung Seni Kubu Bingin, Banjar Tegal Binging Mas, Ubud.
sources : www.baliblog.com
July 4th, 2006
I have always flown Garuda Airlines whenever I have travelled to Indonesia and domestically I have always tried to board a Garuda flight but sometimes it has been unavoidable and I had to use another carrier.
There has been occasions however when I have travelled internationally using another carrier but that was purely out of curiosity. One of these airlines was the fantastic Sempati Airlines. I really couldn’t fault them and those hostesses with their short skirts made the flight shall we say, entertaining.
Then along came Air Paradise. Again out of curiosity I took one of their flights out of Perth in Australia to Bali. A lot of people only have praise for the airline but that was until it suddenly went bust literally overnight and ruined so many people’s holidays. Personally I though they were crap. On the one and only flight I had with the carrier, I instantly knew how a sardine felt in a can. But that is by the by now.
I must admit however I have never used PT Star Air as a carrier. It is a domestic carrier of which I know very little.
Bali Discovery picked up on an article in the Tempo magazine about the Government reportedly being ready to give the Green Light for the two Indonesian carriers to resume flying:
tempointeraktif.com the website of the authoritative Indonesian-language newsweekly. Tempo reports that the Department of Civil Aviation has announced that two closed Indonesian air carriers - PT Air Paradise and PT Star Air are ready to resume commercial operations sometime at the end of 2006.
The Director of Aviation in the Department, Eddy Wibowo told the publication, they are in the process of finalizing various requirements. Wibowo said PT Air Paradise will continue to operate on international routes while PT Star Air will fly as a domestic carrier.
In granting the airlines the right to resume service the Government has reportedly reviewed the viability of the operations including the size of each airline’s armada, the quality of its managerial manpower and capital resources on hand to maintain a safe operation.
Among the requirements imposed by the government are a minimal working capital of Rp. 100 billion; a fleet size of at least 5 aircraft; and the ability to employ pilots and technical staff with the skill and experience to meet government guidelines.
Claims Ahead?
When the Bali-based carrier Air Paradise suspended services in November 2005 millions of dollars in funds paid to the airline by Australian travel agents and wholesalers against future travel were lost.
Many industry observers will be watching closely to see how the substantial outstanding financial claims against the airlines will be addressed, if Air Paradise actually does resume international operations.
sources : www.baliblog.com
July 4th, 2006