Archive for October 3rd, 2006
Garuda Indonesia in Australia has confirmed reports that the airline is considering dropping Bali as an international hub and restructuring its network such that many of its Australian, and all its Japanese, flights will operate via Jakarta.
This move, should it proceed, would take effect with the commencement of the Northern Hemisphere Summer Schedules at the end of March 2007 and would apply to routes utilizing wide-bodied A330 aircraft. Only Australia’s East Coast routes would be affected, with Perth services continuing to operate direct to Bali.
The airline’s Executive Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Mr. Agus Priyanto, stated that “running two hubs was like running two different airlines.”
While acknowledging that efforts to sell Bali to travelers in the Southwest Pacific would need to be stepped up, Mr. Priyanto said that the recovery of the Australian market to Bali had been slower than expected and that this strategy would boost more traffic beyond Indonesia.
Garuda’s SWP Regional Manger, Mr. Suranto Yitnopawiro, stated that he understood that in global planning, individual markets must be assessed on their own merits and decisions taken that will benefit the network as a whole.
While final decision will rest with those who are in a position to make this assessment, he remains hopeful that a significant growth in the Australian market to Bali might still have some impact on a final decision regarding summer schedules for 2007.
“Garuda Indonesia in Australia will continue to support the Bali market, whether direct or via Jakarta, and we will keep the industry informed of any firm decisions on this matter”.
source :www.etravelblackboard.com
October 3rd, 2006
An anniversary service took place in Jimbaran Bay, this last Sunday, for the victims and relatives of Bali Bomb II. Here’s more from the Jakarta Post
Families, friends remember Bali bombing victims Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni and Rita A.Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Jimbaran, Kuta
Isaac and Ben Zwolinski were devastated when they heard their parents died in the Bali bomb attacks on Oct.1, 2005.
A year later, the two brothers flew to Bali to commemorate the first anniversary of the attacks at Jimbaran Bay on Sunday.
“Our lives have been changed forever and with the help of family and friends we wish to carry on and remember Mum and Dad in our special way,” the Zwolinskis said in a statement.
The early morning ceremony took place under tight security on Jimbaran beach, where open-air seafood restaurants Menega Caf‚ and Nyoman were damaged in the blasts.
Present at the ceremony were survivors of the attacks and friends and relatives of the victims.
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said at the ceremony: “the horrific attacks were committed by people who preach a twisted ideology of hate and an ideology which has no place in our open, democratic and peace-loving societies — an ideology abhorrent to all religions, and which has been condemned roundly by religious and community leaders in Indonesia and around the world.”
Australia Prime Minister John Howard conveyed his profound sympathy for the people affected by the tragedy.
On Oct.1, 2005, suicide bombers detonated a string of explosions — two in Jimbaran beach resort, the third in Kuta’s main square. Twenty-three people died, including the three bombers, and more than 150 others were injured. The island was still recovering from the bombings in Kuta that killed 202 people on Oct. 12, 2002.
Bali Governor Dewa Beratha and other high-ranking officials were not seen at the ceremony, which was organized by the Australian Embassy.
The owners of seafood cafes and Jimbaran residents were told by the local village chief to pray for the victims and for Bali in general. In Kuta Square, many people joined candle-lit prayers late Saturday.
Karen Sorrer, the owner of Raja’s Restaurant, which was destroyed in the 2005 attacks, said she did not yet have the courage to visit the property in Kuta. She reopened Raja’s in Seminyak, near Kuta.
“The bombs smashed the hopeful lives of many young people,” Sorrer said.
On Sunday, hundreds of people gathered at the Bajra Sandhi Museum and public square in Renon civic center, Denpasar, for “Echo of Peace”, a prayer and meditation session.
Not many Balinese people attended the ceremonies. “We already know the bombers got heavy sentences and will be executed as soon as possible,” Ni Nyoman Sura, a vendor at Badung traditional market, said.
On Friday, dozens of university students marched through the streets of Denpasar, demanding that Amrozi, Imam Samudra and other bombers be executed. “The government is just trying to buy time,” a student shouted.
Long stays on death row are common in Indonesia, but three men who were found guilty of leading attacks in Central Sulawesi in 2000 were executed last month, following the rejection of their final appeal in March.
Ni Putu Swadesi, a survivor of the second Bali bombings, said the government had paid very little attention to survivors. She was treated at Perth Royal Hospital in Western Australia.
Bagus Sudibya, the chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, said after a year the industry was still working hard to regain international trust. Michael Burchett, the chairman of the Bali Hotel Association, said the hospitality industry and similar sectors “have been going through a tough and challenging period” since the terrorist acts.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 3rd, 2006
Garuda Indonesia, the national carrier, has plans to cancel Bali as a travel hub.
BaliDiscovery reports that this is not yet a foregone decision, but its on the cards.
Its true that most airlines have only 1 hub, meaning you have to transit through one major gateway, where the airline is based. Malaysia Airlines uses KL, Lufthansa uses Frankfurt etc, etc. Indonesia uses Jakarta and Denpasar, which as Vice-president of Sales and Marketing, Agus Priyanto says, is “running two hubs was like running two different airlines.”
If this move happens it will suck, for Aussies coming in from the east coast, as they will have to go through either Perth, or Jakarta. Another thing that sucks is they dare to charge you more, when there is a transit stop, as if its extra benefit. Let’s hope tourism picks up sufficiently and this does not happen.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 3rd, 2006
Sitting at a streetside table last night in Fat Yogi’s, on Poppies I, the restaurant / guest house (the restaurant in much better than the guest house), Ika, Jevon and I got into some pizza. Fat Yogi’s does decent pizza and if you buy a large (38,000rp) you get a small for free!
During happy hour small Bintangs are 6,500rp, larges are 9,500rp. The location struck me, particularly because of the date. A year before on Saturday night I was in Seminyak when the bombs went off, but ended up at the 2 storey sports bar at Secret Garden right afterwards. Just down the street I ran into Potter Polk, owner of Internet Outpost, who gave me a ride to find my bike. His relatives were having fits in New York, and we commented that there really wasn’t a stressful feeling around the bombing site area. Last night people were relaxed too, including the several Australians who were in attendance. For a moment I ponders our safety, and felt okay.
ABC AM talks about the likelihood of another blast this year.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 3rd, 2006
Raising a young kid in Bali we are surrounded by all kinds of people, from a multitude of places. Wanting the best influences for Jevon, I wrote a list of people, who might be good for him to hang out with in future.
Here’s a list of good influences in Indonesia for Jevon:
1. Palu (surfing teacher)
2. President SBY (the importance of not being corrupt).
3. Candika (Barrie’s wife, to learn how to bargain).
4. Made from Made’s Warung (to learn how to make money out of something simple).
5. Suteja Neka (to learn the history of art in Bali.
6. Janet DeNeefe (to rub shoulders with intelligent people from around the world, and to improve his spelling).
7. The Brew Master from Storm Beer (to experience real beer, before getting hooked on Bintang).
8. Komang Arnawa (to learn how to look after his body).
9. Monte Monfore (to learn how to swim)
10. Ida Bagus Banjar Seminyak (not really a person, but any high level local banjar official, to learn the unwritten rules of the island he was born on.
source : www.baliblog.com
October 3rd, 2006