Archive for November, 2007
Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
Denpasar city has been selected by the Ministry of Public Works as the third best in city planning, behind Semarang and Surabaya, said Denpasar city secretary Nyoman Aryana over the weekend.
Aryana said the honor was made possible due to good cooperation between the city administration and the community in enhancing the convenience and looks of the city.
Erwin expressed satisfaction with the honor, which he said was awarded after an uncomplicated selection process using questionnaires.
He said the ministry gave several types of awards and the city had previously won recognition for cleanliness.
The city won the award because it stuck to its spatial plan and tightly controlled licensing, the spokesman said, also acknowledging that the criteria for granting some permits had yet to be worked out
He said in Denpasar, a fast growing city and provincial capital, there was considerable demand for new buildings — residential sites and business centers, including shop-houses.
The administration tried to find a balance between growth and the environment, such as by banning construction along green belts. Development is allowed only on land that can’t be farmed, he said.
Building height also demands attention from city planners and builders, since regional regulations stipulate that buildings not exceed the height of a coconut tree. Law and order officers recently had to demolish a building on Jalan Raya Sesetan because it was taller than 15 meters, he said.
Other aesthetic rules require Balinese ornamentation for buildings.
According to spatial planning observer Nyoman Gelebet, Denpasar deserved the award, especially in view of the city’s efforts to preserve traditional forms despite rapid growth.
He said city planning was generally on the right track. In Kesiman and Sanur on the eastern side, for example, homes are customarily designed so as to leave a few meters of open space — usually for ornamental plants — between the house and the outer enclosure.
However, the lecturer of the Architectural School at Udayana University, Denpasar said the city was also burdened with various urban complications. Open space has been sacrificed to build sidewalks and there seemed to be more builders seeking permits than building space available.
He said the location of offices of state-owned companies Garuda Indonesia and Pertamina, on Jalan Sugianyar to the south of Puputan Badung square, was not good. “That’s (also) where Jagatnatha Temple and the Bali Museum are … the scenery should not have been destroyed by modern buildings.
“These are rich companies — why don’t they build somewhere else? The companies should think beyond image and consider preservation of traditional arts, which have become one of our selling points, also.” Denpasar is aggressively promoting city tour programs which take in temples, traditional markets and museums.
According to Gelebet, the city administration needed to be more selective in issuing permits. In many cases, he said, “what is being sold is nothing less than tradition.
“Please don’t trade it all for a bunch of shop houses.”
Gelebet further said it was unwise to convert cemeteries to other uses — the planning decision made when Sesetan and Gunung Agung exhibition centers were built.
“Cemeteries were given a spacious layout on purpose, because cremation requires it. However, this land has been sold. It’s disappointing.”
Ten years ago — Gelebet recalled — in Denpasar all houses had angkul-angkul (entrance gates) ornaments; during the Galungan celebration, handsome penjor (ornamental poles) further enhanced the beauty of the city.
“I don’t know where we’ll be in the next 10 years if city leaders fail to appreciate tradition.”
Gelebet explained that Denpasar was comprised of various villages and was planned to be an extension of Bandung rather than a new city
“See how we have so many villages instead of sub-districts here. It’s different from other big cities. This city is an assemblage of several villages. That’s why paddy fields can still be seen in the city, like in East and North Denpasar districts.”
Source: The Jakarta Post
November 13th, 2007
Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Bali`s handicraft exports to East Europe during the January-September period in 2007 reached a total value of US$2.1 million, the head of Bali`s industry and trade office`s foreign trade section, Ni Wayan Kusumawathi, said here Monday.
Bali`s exports of non-oil/non-gas commodities were encouraging and the province was expected to maintain its performance, Ni Wayan said.
The handicraft products mostly ordered by East European importers from Bali were wooden household utensils, plaited items and bamboo handicraft articles besides garments and toys, she said.
She said that the East European countries which imported Balinese handicraft products included Norway, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Rumania and Ukraine.
The great demand for Bali`s handicraft products was thanks to some East European businesspeople who once paid a business visit to the resort island for several days three years ago.
The 25 East European business people visited Bali at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to observe conditions and tourist sites in the province, she said.
During their stay in Bali, they observed the hospitality of the local people, arts and culture as well as the environment and handicraft centers in Ubud, Mas and Sukawati, she said.
Due to further contacts between the two countries` business people, the value of Bali`s exports to East Europe had significantly increased, she said. (*)
Source: ANTARA News
November 13th, 2007
Travel + Leisure Magazine, the top tourism magazine in New York, US, has once again awarded Bali the Best Island in Asia and the World for 2006.
The Award has ceremonially presented on Thursday, 20 July 2006 at 18.30 in Rockefeller Centre New York. Andri Hadi, Vice President Ambassador in Washington and Harbangan Napitupulu, Acting General Consular in New York received the Award on behalf of the Government of Indonesia.
Other than Indonesia, the countries receiving Awards for the same category were Canada, the fourth best Island for Cape Breton; Australia, the sixth best for Tasmania; Ecuador, the eight best for Galapagos; Thailand; the tenth of Phuket. The rest were awarded to tourist islands located in Maine and Hawaii, US.
For Bali, this is the seventh award as the Best World Island, said Harbangan Napitupulu. The first award was given in 1998 and since 2002 until now, Bali has remained unbeatable as the Best World Island for five times consecutively. Bali is not only awarded the Best Island in the world but also in Asia, added Harbagan Napitupulu. In addition, Four Season resort Bali at Sayan, Four Season Hotel at Jimbaran and Ritz-Carlzton Bali Resort and Spa got the second, the fifth and the seventh rank respectively for the Best Hotels, Restaurants and Spa category.
The Indonesian Government and People especially the Balinese are really proud of this, said Sudjaman Parnohadiningrat, Indonesian Ambassador for US. This is to prove that the international community particularly Americans still have strong interest to visit Indonesia amid travel warnings which have been always issued by the US Government in relation with Bali Bombings in 2002 and 2005. Sudjaman further hoped that this award would be able to recover the trust of the International Community to keep putting Bali in their traveling agenda as one of their best destinations.
Source: http://my-indonesia.info/
November 12th, 2007
With Only 3.36 million Visitors Nation-Wide through the End of September, Indonesia Will Fall Short of Projected 6 Million Visitors for 2007.
The Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics reports that 3.36 million foreign tourists visited the Country through the end of September 2007, a +13.5% improvement over the same period in 2006.
Playing a major role in the improving fortunes of nation-wide tourist arrivals was Bali which logged 1,229,779 foreign arrivals during the first three quarters of the year, an increase of +34.98%%. [See: Bali’s 2007 Q3 Arrivals Up +34.98% over 2006]
4.87 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia in 2006. If the current growth trend continues, Indonesia will close the year with some 5.5 million tourist, a number far short of the targeted 6 million visitors set by Indonesia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik.
A shortfall of a half-million tourists translates into lost foreign exchange earning worth US$465.5 million.
Source: http://balidiscovery.com/
November 9th, 2007
Some cardinal occurrences are taking place in Bali at this moment in time. Aside from the commemoration of the Oath of the Youth Day (28 October), the Balinese community lives their daily peaceful life periodically based on the devout faith and culture of Hinduism.
Memorial service of the Oath of the Youth does not only come about in Bali, but also across the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, where Bali denotes one of the 33 provinces existing in Indonesia. A few activities are ordinarily organized on that day, particularly those associated with the young spirit such as sport and assorted art performances. Do you want to get involved on that day? Just ask for information at the reception desk of your hotel. Since such sporting and art activities, in most cases, are executed at the village nearby, they would be within easy reach from your hotel.
Beyond all, during this October, Bali proudly announces that it has upgraded some of its tourist attractions. Read our article on the recently opened Bali Safari Park or Bali Zoo having open hours at night; or a report from our correspondence of an additional new attraction at Waterbom Park, Kuta. We wish you a peaceful holiday in Bali!
Source: http://www.bali-travelnews.com/
November 9th, 2007
A recent poll of 522 experts by National Geographic Magazine set about to rank the world’s most appealing island destinations in their struggle to maintain a proper balance between any innate appeal and the tendency for tourism to overrun and eventually consume the very charms that initially brought the world’s travelers to their shores.
In the well-chosen words of National Geographic:
“Tourism is a phenomenon that can cook your food or burn your house down. In other words, we all risk destroying the very places that we love the most.”
The just published survey [(National Geographic Island Survey)] looks at how popular island destinations are bearing up in terms of the sustainability of the “own traditions, ecosystems, cultures, landscapes.”
In the fourth survey of its kind, the Traveler magazine and the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations polled 522 experts in sustainable tourism and destination stewardship to review the conditions of 111 selected islands and archipelagos.
Guide to the Scores
0-25: Catastrophic: all criteria very negative, outlook grim.
26-49: In serious trouble.
50-65: In moderate trouble: all criteria medium-negative or a mix of negatives and positives.
66-85: Minor difficulties.
86-95: Authentic, unspoiled, and likely to remain so.
96-100: Enhanced.
The survey showed that of the 111 islands reviewed only one island – Faroe Island in Denmark earned an “authentic” and fully sustainable rating. Bali earned a rating of “57″ (In moderate trouble); Lombok rated a slightly higher “62″; Phuket in Thailand together with Oahu in Hawaii both earned “46″ which means both islands “are in serious trouble” in the opinion of the expert reviewers.
Here’s The Complete List
87 Faroe Islands, Denmark
84 Azores, Portugal
82 Lofoten, Norway
82 Shetland Islands, Scotland
82 Chiloé, Chile
81 Isle of Skye, Scotland
80 Kangaroo Island, South Australia
80 Mackinac Island, Michigan
80 Iceland
79 Molokai, Hawaii
78 Aran Islands, Ireland
78 Texel, Netherlands
77 Dominica
77 Grenadines
76 Tasmania
76 Bora Bora, French Polynesia
76 Fraser Island, Australia
76 Bornholm, Denmark
76 Hydra (ĂŤdra), Greece
76 Falkland Islands (U.K.)
75 Corsica, France
75 Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
74 Vanuatu, Melanesia
74 Santa Catalina Island, California
73 Upolu and Savai’i, Samoa
73 Isle of Man (U.K.)
72 Palawan, Philippines
72 Moorea, French Polynesia
72 Block Island, Rhode Island
71 Ilha Grande, Brazil
71 Sardinia, Italy
71 Hvar, Croatia
71 Jersey and Guernsey (U.K.)
70 San Juan Islands, Washington State
70 St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
70 Seychelles
70 Anguilla (U.K.)
70 Nevis
69 Palau, Micronesia
69 Cook Islands
69 Prince Edward Island, Canada
69 Salt Spring Island, Gulf Islands, British Columbia
69 Mount Desert Island, Maine
69 RĂ©union (France)
68 Bon aire
68 Sicily, Italy
68 St.Vincent
68 Yasawa group, Fiji
67 Pemba, Tanzania
67 Hawaii (Big Island)
66 Out Islands, Bahamas
66 Bermuda, North Atlantic
66 Tobago
66 SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe
65 Cyprus, Turkish side
65 Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique
65 Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
64 Solomon Islands
64 Jeju/Cheju, South Korea
64 Ocracoke, Outer Banks, North Carolina
64 Kauai, Hawaii
64 St. Lucia
63 Nantucket, Massachusetts
62 Martinique (France)
62 Corfu, Greece
62 Crete, Greece
62 Lombok, Indonesia
62 Barbados
61 Tonga, Polynesia
61 Madeira Islands, Portugal
61 Tortola, British Virgin Islands
61 Islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru/Bolivia
61 Sanibel, Florida
61 Santorini, Greece
61 Maldives (except Malé)
59 Grenada
59 Capri, Italy
59 Tahiti, French Polynesia
59 St. Kitts
58 Viti Levu, Fiji
57 Maui, Hawaii
57 Bali, Indonesia
57 Cape Verde Islands
57 Curaçao
55 Isla Mujeres, Mexico
55 Malta (all islands)
55 Guadeloupe
55 Mauritius
54 Mykonos, Greece
54 Federated States of Micronesia
54 Mallorca, Spain
53 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
53 Zanzibar, Tanzania
52 Canary Islands, Spain
51 Puerto Rico
51 Cyprus, Greek side
50 Antigua
49 Hatteras Island, Outer Banks, North Carolina
48 Aruba (Netherlands)
47 Grand Cayman
47 Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras
47 St. Martin (Netherlands/France)
47 Cozumel, Mexico
46 Oahu, Hawaii
46 Key West, Florida
46 Phuket, Thailand
45 Hilton Head, South Carolina
44 Jamaica
44 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
37 Ibiza, Spain
37 St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
The reviewers had the following comments on Bali:
“Bali is one of the world’s magical places. Even though it has been overrun by tourism development and population growth, somehow it has been able to maintain its unique character, though some parts of the island—Denpasar, Kuta Beach—are now incredibly degraded and depressing for those of us who knew Bali in the good old days.”
“Yes, Kuta and Nusa Dua represent the ugly faces of crass commercialism—but if they are developed as specific mass tourism enclaves and generate income, and if development in the rest of the island is more restrained, Bali will still be worth visiting. The flowers are still colorful, the smiles still warm, the rice fields still mesmerizing, and the gamelan music still a calming, soothing backdrop—after 30 years of rampant development.”
“Bali is a mixed bag of tourism projects that represent the absolute worst (Kuta) in sustainable travel and some of the best (Ubud).”
“In spite of the recent terrorist events, Bali is still an excellent destination. Magnificent rice terraced landscapes. Gentle, warm people. The culture is strong, vivid, and vibrant. Facilities are varied, catering to many tastes. However, beaches are not good, and the environment is under threat from destruction of reefs and mangroves, linear development, salt water intrusion, etc.”
Source : www.balidiscovery.com
November 8th, 2007
Having posted the details below on Ban Ki-Moon’s December climate conference at a seaside luxury resort on Bali, I’ve now gone a bit deeper into the UNFCC web site (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change). There the UNFCC has posted its “Overview Schedule” for the conference. Not only are the proceedings amid the beaches and tennis courts (see photo in Nov. 4 post, below) scheduled to go on…and on… and on… for a full 12 days. It also looks like the work hours won’t intrude all that much on the recreational possibilities.
The meetings at the Dec. 3-14 conference begin each day at a leisurely 10 A.M., with a two-hour break for lunch, and wrap up their work on assigned topics by 6 PM. Except on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday — Dec. 6,7, 8 and 10 — when all meetings will be devoted to “informal groups.” On Sunday, Dec. 9, there are no meetings scheduled at all. In other words, the workaday UN conferees will be jetting to Bali for a routine in which they spend almost half the 12 days of the conference engaged in unstructured activities, start work mid-morning, lunch from 1-3 P.M. and knock off in time for cocktails.
Why is Ban Ki-Moon steering public resources into a two-week UN climate-crowd pajama party on Bali? I’m almost tempted to protest. Except if these folks skip the mai-tais by the pool and toil around the clock, it could get even worse. The last time the UN rolled up its sleeves and went to work on a giant project, we got Oil-for-Food. If the UN in the name of controlling the climate gets into the business of regulating the economies and reallocating the resources of the entire planet, it could cost the rest of us trillions in productivity lost, creativity stifled and development thwarted — or, in a nutshell — freedoms foregone. So, interesting though the inevitably ensuing corruption scandals might be, here’s hoping the conferees at Ban’s Bali Blowout take a hint from the Overview Schedule, and spend all their time on the beach.
Source: http://pajamasmedia.com/
November 8th, 2007
In compliance with the decision of Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation issued on October 26, 2007 Angkasa Pura I - the managers of Bali’s International Airport have announced a 50% increase in the passenger service charge paid by every traveler departing on an international flight.
The higher charge of Rp. 150,000 (US$16.30) took effect from November 1, 2007, and is an increase from the former charge of Rp. 100,000 (US$10.86).
The increase was formally announced via a circular letter dated October 26, 2007, sent by the General Manager of Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, I Kt. Erdi Nuka.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
November 7th, 2007
The 7th Bali Fashion Week returns to Bali November 22-25, 2007 and, as with past Bali Fashion Weeks, world leaders in fashion and style will converge on Bali to be dazzled by the talent of Indonesia’s top fashion designers and apparel producers.
Centered in Kuta, the event offers a full schedule of trade exhibitions, fashion shows and educational seminars.
Bali Fashion Week’s Founder – Mardiana Ika
The Bali Fashion Week reflects the hard driving personality and undying commitment to fashion of its founder – Mardiana Ika. A recognized leader in both World and Indonesian fashion circles, Ika has taken her simple idea of creating a larger market place for Indonesian fashion and turned it into an important event on Asia’s fashion calendar. Those who travel to Bali witness first-hand the “cutting edge” talent to be found in Indonesia’s fashion industry while at the same time being introduced to the rich traditional textile tradition of Indonesia: batik, songket, ikat and sarongs.
Due in no small part to Ika’s efforts, Bali-produced garments are increasingly found in Europe, U.S. and major Asian markets generating US$89.2 million in export earnings during the first eight months of 2007, a total that’s 10% more than in the same period in 2006.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
November 7th, 2007
By Susan Kurosawa
AT a cool elevation just 45 minutes by road north of Denpasar and the holiday coast of Bali, Ubud conforms to the classic hill-station template of clean and crisp air, gentle pace and deep green views.
Ubud has been a haven for foreign artists and creative castaways since the 1930s, when it must have seemed like Shangri-la.
Ubud has also been a travellers’ getaway since (at least) the 1970s but the hippie flower-power atmosphere has been replaced with a smarter vibe and cafes are as likely to serve excellent espresso and wines by the glass as they are mango juice and herbal teas.
Today, the main streets are a jumble of shops that may not be all that different to their coastal counterparts in Kuta or Seminyak but the methodical fossicker will be rewarded with good antiques and hand-made finds, especially wood carvings.
Best annual event: The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (September/October each year), founded by Australian expatriate Janet De Neefe, is a lively litfest of panels, workshops, book launches, lunches and performances, many in exquisite garden or temple settings. This year’s attendees included 2006 Man Booker prize winner Kiran Desai and Australia’s Richard Flanagan. www.ubudwritersfestival.com.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/travel
November 6th, 2007
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