Archive for January, 2008
By Bianca Consunji
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 09:24pm (Mla time) 01/10/2008
DEPENDING on how the shows are received by buyers and critics, the future of Philippine fashion fluctuates during local Fashion Week. While many designers tend to go over the top, focusing on wow factor instead of producing innovative but wearable clothes, there are those who do deserve credit for trying to change the landscape of Filipino fashion.
These gems include Rajo Laurel and Ivar Aseron, who were invited to showcase their collections at the Bali Fashion Week held last Nov. 22-25 at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel in Kuta Beach. Laurel and Aseron, the first Filipino designers to participate in the event’s seven-year history, were featured prominently in the shows.
“Rajo and Ivar were highly recommended by people who were familiar with Philippine fashion,” said Ika Mardiana, an Indonesian designer and chair of Bali Fashion Week. “We have had many international designers showcase their collections in the past, and we’re honored to have the Philippines’ best for this year’s shows.”
The theme for the 2007 Bali Fashion Week was “Fashion Meets Art.” This was something that the organizers strove to highlight in every aspect of the event (although it was often distracting, as traditional cultural presentations were alternated with models walking down the runway).
“We want to blend tourism, trade and investment,” Mardiana said. “Bali has a remarkable legacy of a unique culture, and we want to maximize that asset.”
She continued, “We represent a lot of ethnic fashion. The rich colors that Indonesia is famous for is reflected in both our designs and models, and we want people to draw inspiration from that. That is why we invited our Asian neighbors and Western friends to participate in the show.”
Safe and conventional
Such loyalty to the culture was apparent in the runway shows and trade fair, as many designers proudly used indigenous materials and designs for their gowns and RTW collections. However, this sometimes worked against them, as the collections featured on the first night of Fashion Week tended to be safe and conventional instead of innovative.
Traditional Balinese garb from Indonesian designers and companies such as Parang Kencana, Allure Batik, Afif Syakur, Ida Munthe, Musa, Yenli and Zaenal Songket ruled the runway on the first night. Although the intentions of the designers were admirable, their fanaticism for all things Indonesian tended to alienate the foreign audience. After several of these collections, people were already chatting with each other instead of watching the show.
The second night showed a marked improvement from the first, as it showcased a more varied selection of clothes from Indonesian and international designers. Dresses, gowns, children’s clothes and quirky costumes were presented in a more tongue-in-cheek manner: models danced down the runway, and for one particularly interesting collection, fire breathers and a giant robot accompanied a nightclub-theme set.
Major highlight
One of the major highlights of the second night, however, was Aseron’s collection. Inspired by chiaroscuro (the interplay of light and shadow), the collection featured dresses and gowns in shades of black, white and gray.
The clothes once again displayed Aseron’s ability to produce tailored clothes without compromising femininity. Indonesian fashion commentators praised Aseron for his clean lines and well-structured forms, calling his designs “revolutionary and avant garde.”
In contrast to Aseron’s subdued gowns was Mardiana’s colorful collection of clothes. Her dresses, inspired by ’60s mod, featured juicy colors and wild prints paired with stockings, wigs, and platform shoes.
Mardiana also produced a set of flag-themed dresses, inspired by flags from Indonesia, Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Philippines, among others.
Aside from Mardiana, other international designers such as the Australia-based Lily Jean (whose white eyelet and black lace dresses wowed the audience) took center stage.
Indigenous materials
The undeniable star of the entire fashion week, however, was Rajo Laurel, whose Igorot-theme collection was featured in the finale of the final day of the event. The predominantly gold collection, which used indigenous Filipino materials such as sinamay cloth and capiz shells, was praised by the Indonesian press as “elaborate and luxurious.”
What could otherwise be considered a fault in the Bali Fashion Week (such as the strong emphasis on Balinese design and use of local models, who were admittedly not as tall and thin as those usually used in other Fashion Weeks) could also be considered their strength.
While most Asian countries place heavy emphasis on Western influence, the Bali Fashion Week organizers and designers stuck to their roots, almost as if to say, “This is who we are. Take it or leave it.”
Many local designers could learn a thing or two from such nationalism, but for designers such as Aseron and Laurel, who managed to combine just the right touch of international influence and local design, making it big in the international scene shouldn’t be a problem.
Source: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/
January 11th, 2008
(balidiscovery) Good Women of China: Hidden Voices is a collection of female voices culled from the letters and calls of Chinese women who listened to a nightly radio show “Words on the Night Breeze” that played for seven years from 1989 in China. The show’s host and the resulting book’s author, Xinran Xue, shares harrowing stories of incest, rape, and abuse endured by her listeners. The stories she tells of natural and personal disaster are riveting; compelling tales of how these “good women” prevailed and thrived against overwhelming odds.
Xinran Xue Comes to Bali
As part of the lead up to the [Ubud’s Writers and Readers Festival] to be held in Bali October 14-19, 2008, Xinran Xue will be the guest of honor at a special literary lunch at Ubud’s Maya Resort & Spa on Wednesday, January 30, 2008. The Beijing-born broadcaster and journalist, who now lives in London, will share the stories of the lives of Chinese women under the Communist rule of Chairman Mao.
Source: http://my-indonesia.info/
January 9th, 2008
The hospitality industry in Bali is optimistic of more MICE business from Australia following the success of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently.
More than 10,000 participants from nearly 190 counties attended the two-week conference in December to discuss rising global temperatures, creating the largest conference ever held in Indonesia.
While media attention was riveted on the deliberations of the conference, the tourism and hospitality industry was delighted with the positive messages sent out by the outstanding planning and trouble-free implementation of the massive catering, meetings and security agendas.
“We were especially delighted to see that the Prime Minister of Australia made this conference his first official overseas assignment,” said Garuda Indonesia’s General Manager of Australia and the South-West Pacific Mr Poerwoko Soeparyono.
“After many headlines about travel warnings over the years, there was the Australian Prime Minister and his team working in safety and harmony in Bali with leaders from around the world.
“The global acclaim that greeted the running of this conference is a wonderful lead-in to the Visit Indonesia Year 2008 (VIY08) and is expected to give a further boost to Australian visitor numbers,” he said.
Bali Hotels Association spokesman Mr Michael Burchett saysThe UNFCCC has given Bali enormous positive coverage worldwide, which will enhance the growing interest in Bali as a primary choice for the MICE industry.
“The challenges posed by past events have been overcome through the combined efforts of the Government, Tourism Industry at large, and everyone who believed in Bali. Happily, late 2006 saw the return of MICE to Bali from many traditional markets, with the noted exception of Australia, and growth in 2007 has been significant. Hopefully the Australian MICE market can renew their belief and confidence in Bali and return,” said Mr Burchett, who is General Manager of the Conrad Bali Resort and Spa.
Widely respected Bali tourism identity and publisher Jack Daniels (Bali Update, Bali Discovery Tours, and the annual Bali MICE Guide) says there’s no doubt that the UNFCCC was a watershed, showing the world that Bali can successfully host a conference of vital importance to the world community.
“To be truthful, the size of the UNFCCC somewhat exceeded the carrying capacity of Bali’s MICE infrastructure, so over-dominating the landscape that tour operators, attractions, and local shops beyond the Nusa Dua area went relatively quiet during the period of the conference itself. Mind you, we’re not complaining.
“What’s refreshing is that Bali itself and the rest of the world will now think of the Climate Change Conference whenever the name “Bali” is mentioned. Bali’s been laboring much too long under the unjustified yoke of terrorism “branding;” whereas the conference will go a long way in explaining that our island is as safe as anywhere else in this post-modernist world.
“Most encouraging, the MICE industry is playing an increasingly larger role in Bali’s tourism future. Just week’s before the start of the UNFCCC the Grand Hyatt opened a massive Ballroom capable of hosting, in addition to the Bali International Convention Center, large scale conferences and meetings in Bali.
“The overall design of the newly opened 40 hectare Bali Safari & Marine Park is also taking into account the needs and possibilities of the MICE market. The final design there will include a 1,500 person state-of-the-art performance center, underwater conference rooms surrounded by marine life, and almost limitless theme party options.”
The Director of Sales & Marketing InterContinental Bali Resort, Ms Suzette Deveau, says the UNFCCC event has definitely put Bali back in the spotlight and there has been an extremely positive response from international MICE planners since early 2007.
“I think that there has always been an awareness of Bali’s potential and the Australian MICE market is just a little slow to rebound. The Australian leisure travellers are now returning, so demand is back.
“In fact we now have some potential leads from Australia for events to be scheduled during 2008. We will also be attending the AIME show in February in Melbourne.
“In addition, hosting Australia’s new Prime Minister, Mr. Kevin Rudd, at the Heads of State Meeting (at the UNFCCC) was a great opportunity for the resort. It was an encouraging sign for MICE planners in Australia to trust our capabilities and security standards.
“We also had the pleasure to host several meetings, including events for the Ministry of Finance attended by representatives from 44 countries, Ministry of Trade with 30 participating countries and The Heads of State Meeting, which involved six countries. This was an opportunity to emphasize the quality of our meeting facilities and level of security.”
Garuda Indonesia’s Mr Poerwoko says overall traffic to Bali has risen by more than 50 per cent over the past year, demonstrating a rising confidence in Australia towards Bali and a realisation of the superb quality and value of its offerings.
Garuda Indonesia flies 27 times from Australia to Bali per week (23 times direct to Bali, plus 4 times a week via Jakarta) with flights departing from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin.
For bookings and enquiries call Garuda Indonesia on 1300 365 331, see your local travel agent, or visit www.BalionANYbudget.com.auThe General Manager of the InterContinental Bali Resort, Mr Kamal Chaoui, welcomes Australia’s Prime Minister, Mr Kevin Rudd on December 13th Mr Kamal Chaoui also welcomed the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr Ban Ki-moon to the Resort.
BICC conference venue caters for Indonesia’s largest ever MICE event
The UNFCCC conference, hosted by the Government of Indonesia, took place in the Bali International Convention Centre situated in the self-contained resort area of Nusa Dua, just 10 km from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.
The BICC is also connected through an air-conditioned shopping arcade with The Westin Resort (the main hotel for the venue) and surrounded by some of Bali’s finest five-star hotels and resorts (Ayodya Resort, Inna Putri Bali, Grand Hyatt, Melia Bali, The Laguna Resort & Spa, and Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa).
The Convention Centre features a main hall which seats 2,500 and an auditorium seating 506. Eight additional function rooms, four of which divide, provide meeting space of 3,490 square meters in total. Some of the Centre’s outstanding facilities include fully integrated satellite, telecommunications and media systems, professional in-house staging, simultaneous multi-language translation and state-of-the art audio visual and presentation facilities.
To accommodate the largest conference ever held in Indonesia, several large tents were raised outside the convention center to accommodate the need for additional meeting spaces, media and logistics centers. Additionally, the Westin tennis courts were transformed into four meeting spaces each catering to 150-300 people. The indoor exhibition space was used as the UN Service Center and both Nusa Indah Hall and Nusantara Ballroom were dedicated as the Plenary Halls 1 and 2.
For the day to day operation five coffee points were set up around the BICC area to cater for an average of 8,000 delegates and participants every day. The six Westin restaurants served approximately 1,000 people each day.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, on December 11th a casual cocktail arrangement with the tranquil Indian Ocean as a backdrop was set up at the Westin beachfront swimming pool area as the venue catering to over 1,000 UNFCCC delegates.
The Conference of the Parties (COP-13) successfully commenced on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 with an opening statement by Mr. Yvo de Boer, the Executive Secretary for the UNFCCC followed by a speech from UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon and the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Heads of state from Australia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Grenada, Palau and Maldives had the opportunity to deliver their messages as well. The opening ceremony finished with the presentation of a song personally written by Mr. Yudhoyono titled “Save Our Planet”.
On Thursday, December 13, 2007, a high-level ministerial lunch was held in the grandeur of the Westin Bali lobby. The luncheon was hosted by Mr. Yvo de Boer and attended by 275 VIP guests who enjoyed the set menu created by the Westin Food and Beverage team especially for this occasion. That same evening the 2007 Nobel Peace prize winner, Mr. Al Gore, addressed 1,200 delegates and participants sharing his passion and vision about global warming issues while at the same time encouraging everyone to take part in establishing a global carbon emission reduction plan.There were over 400 meetings held in the convention center throughout the event and as a result final compromises were reached leading to a Bali Roadmap for continued negotiations to a global consensus on reducing carbon emissions.
Source: http://www.etravelblackboard.com/
January 9th, 2008
Kadek Krishna Adidharma, Contributor, Ubud, Bali
Born a Balinese prince at the time of Dutch occupation, Anak Agung Made Djelantik (1919-2007) became a genuine Renaissance man who lived through the great changes that shaped our modern world today. His observations of those times and the arts of Bali are his gift to future generations.
After a life in service to the health of the world, Anak Agung Made Djelantik passed away on the eve of Sept. 5, 2007, at the age of 88. As a specialist in tropical diseases, he worked for many years with the World Health Organization to combat Malaria in Africa, the Middle East and throughout Indonesia. He was the first Balinese Director of Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar. It is his contribution to arts and culture, however, that is being honored here today.
At the late doctor’s simple one-day kingsan ring geni (bequeathal to fire) ceremony at the ancient palace of Karangasem, A. A. Gede Rai of Yayasan Walter Spies Bali and Horst Jordt of Walter Spies Society Germany decided to dedicate a permanent exhibition in a special room at the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA). It is fitting that the Dr. Djelantik Room will be located next to a room dedicated to his favorite German painter, Walter Spies (1895-1942).
“We would like to honor Djelantik’s exemplary life,” insisted Horst Jordt, “as well as to remember the fact that he founded Yayasan Walter Spies Bali in 1981.”
Besides founding Lestibia, an agency for cultural preservation in Bali, Djelantik was the engaged and charismatic Spies foundation chairman for nearly two decades until his coma in 1999. He arranged many spectacular festivals to continue Spies’ work to foster emerging artists. In doing so, he had the support of Spies’ biographer Hans Rhodius who funded the society’s charitable works until he passed away in 1988.
While Walter Spies was a central figure in creating the image of Balinese idyll for the West and brought Western influences to Bali, Djelantik embodied the fusion of Balinese and European values.
Semi-retirement brought him to general practice at his home in Renon, Bali, where he continued to offer perceptive diagnosis along with practical non-invasive health solutions to his many patients. Active and engaging to a ripe old age, always gentle and kind, he lived as a humbling example for others.
His broad encyclopedic knowledge was born not only from many years of study, voracious reading and travel, but most importantly from an inquisitive mind and a modest persona.
Despite being a prince of the royal court of Karangasem in East Bali, he was never aloof. Alert even in his fragile days, he was always ready to learn from the people around him, and had a kind and thoughtful word for all.
His entry into the world of art writing was reluctant. It was after several letters from publishers that Djelantik, at the insistence of his wife Astri, accepted the offer to write a book on Balinese art.
“I’m just a Doctor,” Djelantik once said, “I know nothing about art.”
This honest and down-to-earth attitude, together with his clinical training and language skills, produced the first diagnostic of Balinese art. Through Balinese Painting (Oxford University Press, 1990), he presented an in-depth review of the various styles of Balinese paintings, the artists and their work. The artists’ answers he studiously noted down from interviews and his sensitive appraisal of artworks revealed the intricate web of religious and social values as well as the painting techniques that constitute the Balinese style.
He also touched upon the intriguing transition in which Balinese art found itself torn between the demand for mass production for the tourist trade and the desire to preserve the notion of Bali as the “last paradise” in traditional paintings.
His passion for art also led to a miraculous recovery. To regain motor skills after a coma in 1999, Djelantik began to wield a paintbrush again, something he had not done since his honeymoon. A remarkable series of vivid watercolor paintings, both na‹ve and poignant was the result of his art therapy, which revived his coordination and memory from the life-threatening hiatus.
These watercolors will be exhibited at ARMA along with select memorabilia in a permanent exhibition that opens Wednesday. “We did not expect, that it could be done within a few months,” noted Horst Jordt, adding, “We are lucky. This has been made possible thanks to support from the German Embassy in Jakarta.” Rucina Ballinger, the co-author of Balinese Dance, Drama And Music: A Guide to the Performing Arts of Bali described Djelantik as a “Renaissance man supreme, doctor of dharma, aesthetician, and one of most decent human beings I have ever met.”
Opening of the “Dr. A.A.M. Djelantik Room” 5 p.m., Jan. 9 Agung Rai Museum of Art
Source: The Jakarta Post
January 8th, 2008
Bali Barat National Park
Almost the whole of Bali’s western tip, an area of over 750 square kilometers, has been baptized as a conservation area. The park boasts open savannahs, rainforests, mangrove swamps, coral reefs and a deer island off the north coast. The park is a sanctuary for a wide range of animals, especially for the endangered bird, the Bali Starling. Although most of the park is not accessible to the public, there are a number of trails open to the sightseer. ‘Pu¬lau Manjangan’, home to the rare Java Deer, can also be visited and offers great diving and snorkeling. Get your ticket at the National Park Headquarters in Cekik, about three kilometers south of Gilimanuk.
Bali Bird Park (Taman Burung)
Taman Burung houses more than a thousand birds from allover Indone¬sia. One of the park’s objectives is to try and breed endangered species; the Bali Mynah for example. If ornithology doesn’t interest you much, you will be impressed by the two hectares of tropical gardens.
Bali Bird Park (Taman Burung)
Indonesia’s only Butterfly Park helps study, breed and preserve many kinds of butterflies from all over the Indonesian archipelago. JI. Batu¬karo, Sand a Wanasari, Tabanan Regency.
Elephant Safari Park in Taro . . . .
Nowhere else in Bali can you awaken to awe-inspiring views of Suma¬tran elephants starting their day, from your very own balcony. All of the twenty-seven magnificent creatures were rescued from deforestation in Central and Southern Sumatra to live in this internationally acclaimed sanctuary where the meaning of “Respect for the animals is the most important thing.” is sincere and obvious. Bali Adventure Tours Office:
JI. Bypass Ngurah Rai, Pesanggaran.
Blahmantung Waterfall
Dropping from a hundred meters, this waterfall is no less than spectacu¬lar, especially during the rainy season. Be prepared for a bit of a trek up a steep, and at times rough, track to get there. Near Pupuan, West Bali.
Sangeh Monkey Forest
This forest of approximately six hectares, near the village of Sangeh, is filled with vast nutmeg trees that can grow up to forty meters in height. The main attractions here are the hordes of Balinese monkeys that in¬habit both the trees and the temple on site. Visitors should be aware that the monkeys are attracted to shiny objects, so cameras and jewellery are to be left behind or well hidden under clothes before setting off to explore.
Ubud Monkey Forest
This forest is smaller than the one in Sangeh but the monkeys are just as wild. Therefore, take care of your belongings.
Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Eka Karya, Bedugul)
Established in 1959, these gardens cover over 120 hectares on the slopes of ‘Gunung Pohon’ (Tree Mountain). The gardens contain a huge collection of trees, nearly 500 varieties of orchids and a rich bird popula¬tion. The gardens boast a herbarium and library.
Taman Buaya & Reptil (Reptile & Crocodile Park)
This park houses not only four of the famous Komodo Dragons but also a large collection of crocodiles, lizards and snakes within lovely tropi¬cal gardens. ‘Feeding time’, snakes, a magic show and even crocodile wrestling add to an unforgettable experience.
Werdhi Bhuana, near Mengwi.
Gitgit Waterfall
Not far from the main road, Gitgit is an impressive 40 meter waterfall that gushes into a deep pool. Swimming there is wonderfully refreshing; although a local legend has it that couples bathing in the pool together will eventually separate…
10 kilo meters south of Singaraja.
Source: Gude to Bali by American Express
http://my-indonesia.info/
January 8th, 2008
If you are looking for accommodation that combines the beautiful surroundings of Bali with exciting nightlife and local hot spots then look no further than the Bali Dynasty Resort in South Kuta. Situated within beautiful tropical gardens and located near a beach front, this hotel caters for both families and couples.Â
Bali Dynasty Resort features not only an adult’s only pool and the famous Gracie Kelly pub also a kid’s pool equipped with a 56 metre waterslide and an Enchanted Garden Kids Club. There is also a wide variety of rooms to choose from, with rooms sleeping up to five people.
The hotel also combines a local Balinese architectural feel with international standard décor, giving guests a unique experience with the comforts of the familiar.
Some of the activities within the resort include: an exercise room, kids playground and tree house, a hair braid and tattoo artists and even a professional photographer. Parents can rest assured that their kids will be taken care of with the baby sitting service available and an on call 24 hr doctor service. There is also a list of daily activities that guests can choose from seven days a week. And essential amenities in the hotel include high speed internet access, meeting & banquet facilities for up to 300 people and a same day laundry and valet service.  Â
Guests can choose from a selection of five different restaurants and bars to dine in and have a fun night with friends. Guests can also ease their tensions at the resort’s Dynasty Spa Villa with two “Royal” suits available with a massage bed. Â
Couples can also book a double massage room to unwind together. A massage bale is also available outside the main spa next to the lazy pool.
The hotel can also cater for your very special wedding day, providing an experienced team of people who will provide a priest and all the ceremony details. Married couples can also choose to renew their special vows at the resort.
This hotel not only features all the essential facilities that you could think of but also adds that extra touch to make your stay all the more special. Whether you are on your honeymoon or taking the family away for the holidays, experience the best that Bali has to offer with Bali Dynasty Resort.
Source: http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/
January 7th, 2008
Ni Wayan Murni, Contributor, Bali
A Danish expat living in Lombok and Bali in the 19th century has been almost completely forgotten, yet he was one of the most influential people in Balinese history. He is Mads Johansen Lange, a blue-eyed, blond haired Dane, who is buried in Kuta in a small Chinese graveyard on a road named after him, Jalan Tuan Langa, in a forgotten tomb guarded by a fine Dalmatian statue.
Lange was born on 18 September 1807, which gave the impetus for this book to be published on the 200th anniversary of his birth. It is amazing that it is the first book in English on Mad Lange’s life. Peter Bloch, who is Danish and living in Bali, produced it with the help of veteran Leonard Luras and Gustaaf Scouten.
At the age of 26, Lange, his three younger brothers and Captain John Burd, a friend, sailed for Hong Kong in 1833 and never returned to Denmark. Lange soon went to Bali and Lombok looking for opportunities. He picked Lombok as the base for his trading ventures, possibly because rice production was extremely high there and much greater than in Bali. It was high because of fertility from ash deposits from the huge Tambora eruption in 1815. The book has some wonderful old maps and many black and white photos of Lombok from Dutch archival sources.
There were two rival kingdoms: Mataram-Lombok to the north and the more powerful Karangasem-Lombok to the south. Karangasem-Lombok welcomed him and Lange became their trusted adviser and harbor chief and was granted a virtual monopoly of all trading in Lombok. He was there until 1839, so the subtitle of the book could have equally well referred to Lombok.
It did not take long for competition to arrive — in the shape of George Peacock King, born of English parents living in Bengal, who allied himself in 1835 to the rajah of Mataram-Lombok. There was enough business for both of them, but a succession of land and sea fights between the two rajahs culminated in defeat for Karangasem-Lombok in 1839 and Lange escaped to Bali with nothing but his life, a few personal items, his horse and ship. Gustaaf Scoutten is a talented painter and beautifully illustrates many of the dramatic episodes from Lange’s life.
In Bali the Rajah Kesiman gave him land on the beach in Kuta to build a house, factory and warehouses, from which he traded on a large scale and did very well from the start. In his flamboyant style Lange visited all the rajahs personally, arriving on his horse, which was twice the size of the local animals. They were impressed by his respect for local customs.
Lange, the ultimate ex-pat, lived in Bali style, with a well-stocked wine cellar, billiard table, chamber orchestra, two wives, concubines, children, servants and slaves. There were also Danish Dalmations.
Lange performed a useful role mediating between the Dutch and the South Balinese rajahs and was instrumental in getting two important — although fudged and misleading — treaties signed with the Rajah Kesiman in 1841 and 1842, under which the Rajah appeared to recognize Dutch sovereignty and give up Balinese customary rights to take possession of shipwrecked cargo.
The Dutch found him so useful that they offered him citizenship of the Dutch East Indies in 1844, which he accepted. There were contemporary accounts by visiting Europeans, who knew Lange, and extracts of these are contained in the book.
He was a broker in the lucrative slave trade and imported Chinese kepeng coins. Lange’s business grew. He owned or hired (it is not clear which) between nine and twelve ships in the 1840s. His ships gathered rice, coconut oil, animals, cotton, tobacco, coffee and other goods from neighboring islands, which he sold to visiting traders from his warehouse. There are many fine old Balinese photographs in the book.
Lange played a pivotal role as a shuttle diplomat between the Dutch and the Balinese in the wars of Dutch invasion of 1846, 1848 and 1849. The book contains lengthy details of the invasions. The Dutch navy blockaded the island between 1848 and 1849. Lange worked hard and brokered an historic truce, a treaty which was signed by the two sides in his house on 15 July 1849, and gave the Balinese freedom for many years to come. The Dutch were pleased and made him a “Knight of the Dutch Lion” in December 1849.
The good times came to an end. Lange’s business was badly hit by the blockade. The rice harvest suffered from the wars — which a plague of rats made worse — and exports practically ceased. A smallpox epidemic in 1850 disrupted life and some of his employees died. Then there was a water shortage. Meanwhile the Dutch were building up Singaraja in the north as the main port.
Lange was planning to leave Bali for good and sail to Denmark in 1856 when he was invited to a banquet at Denpasar Palace by the new rajah. Upon returning home he was violently sick, coughed up blood and his lips turned blue. He had been poisoned and died two days later on 13 May at home at the age of 48. He had been in Bali 18 years.
Christian Peter Lange, his nephew, came to Bali in 1847 to help his uncle and inherited the business, but failed to make a profit, sold up and returned to Denmark in 1863. Kuta declined after Lange’s death and did not revive for many years.
This book has been beautifully produced and can be enjoyed as a coffee-table book, leafing through the wonderful photographs and illustrations, or as a more scholarly work, usefully filling a gap in our knowledge of a remarkable man.
Source: The Jakarta Post
January 7th, 2008
On Tuesday 18 December, Garuda Indonesia in Sydney once again opened its doors for what has become an industry tradition at Christmas time – the annual Garuda “open house”.
Each year friends and colleagues are invited to celebrate the holiday season with some excellent food, a few drinks and the opportunity to share the spirit of giving that epitomizes Christmas by entering a raffle to raise funds for a Balinese charity.
This year the charity was the Baithel Children’s Home in East Bali.
“For several years, Garuda Indonesia’s Sydney staff has been supporting the children’s home with funds raised through regular “jeans” days,” NSW Sales Manager for Garuda Indonesia, Kerry Timms, said.
“The home provides shelter, food and care to some 200 children from Bali and other neighbouring islands; some as far away as Irian Jaya. Their lifestyle is very basic and meals consist mainly of rice and a few home grown vegetables but Bapak Gama and Ibu Sara (pictured) provide a loving and stable environment for the children.”
The raffle raised $384 for Baithel with first prize of a magnum of champagne going to Carmel Eastick and Adam Watson of World Reps. Second prize, a 1.5 litre bottle of Shiraz, went to Elena Lonergan of TIFS.
“The real winners will be the children of Baithel, who collectively consume 75kg of rice per day! So, as you can imagine, the organizers are very grateful for any amount of financial assistance.” said Mr. Timms.
“Our thanks go to our industry partners for their generosity and contribution to an enjoyable day”.
Source: http://www.etravelblackboard.com/
January 4th, 2008
Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Tourism agents have expressed optimism that the number of foreign tourists visiting the resort island of Bali in the coming years will increase following the success of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nusa Dua.
“We are absolutely optimistic that the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali will rise in the years to come,” Bali tourism agent Made Supatra Karang said here on Friday.
He said the optimism would become a reality following Bali`s success in hosting the United Nations conference on climate change in Nusa Dua tourist resort over the weekend.
“After the UN conference on climate change, the number of foreign tourists arriving at Ngurah Rai international airport has reached a daily average of 6,000,” Made Supatra said.
He said a rise in the hotel occupancy rate to 80-90 percent ahead of Christmas and the New Year was a sign that the tourism sector in Bali would recover soon.
Meanwhile, Bali Hotel Melia public relations officer Nova Terita said the occupancy rate of the hotel whose guests were mostly from Russia had risen to 90 percent as Christmas and the New Year were appraoching.
“The hotel`s occupancy rate this year has risen compared to the past few years,” Nova Terita said, adding that Christmas and the New Year in Bali this time would be more lively than last year because Bali had successfully hosted the UN conference on climate change.
Besides Made Supatra and Nova Terita, Dewi Indah Banowati of Hard Rock Hotel with 418 rooms in Kuta said her hotel`s occupancy rate had also reached 90 percent.
“Domestic tourists have made reservations for December 20 until January 1,” Dewi said. (*)
Source: ANTARA News
January 4th, 2008
The setting is Indonesian. Various artefacts representing Bali, decorate the shelves. The interiors are further enhanced by the view of the setting outdoors, featuring quaint huts set amidst pebbled pathways and luscious trees. No, this is not a scen e from a nature resort but the décor of a newly opened spa, Asian Woman which promises the ultimate luxury in beauty treatment. With treatments ranging from Maharani of the day where you will be pampered like a queen starting from a herbal scrub to ending with the ultimate soak in milk, petals and aroma oils leaving you at the end of it feeling more like Cleopatra, to yoga and meditation, the spa attempts to address every aspect of beauty in the most natural way.
The Bali influence does not stop with the setting but filters in to the beauty treatment too. Says Huri Vaxani, the spa’s beauty therapist: “The treatments that we offer have their origins in Bali. We use the herbs and oils from Bali and incorporate stone therapy on a large scale. Under stone therapy, special massage stones which are predominantly volcano stones are used and pressure is applied on vital pressure points. This helps in lymphatic drainage and improves blood circulation.”
These stones, besides being used for massage, are left to rest on different charkas of the body to relieve stiffness and pain.
Thus, a facial like Mangala Chi would include a hot stone back massage with the scrub made from herbs, specially sourced from Bali. The body massage Balinese Royalty treats you on par with Balinese princesses where you are treated with a scrub made from a special rice. After the body massage you soak in a luxurious bath made of milk, flowers and aroma oils. You then indulge in a body polishing with sandal wood.
You could alternatively opt for the Asian Empress where, after the massage, a special body mask made of herbs leaves your skin as soft as silk. But the ultimate in luxury and beauty treatment offered at the spa is the Maharani of the day says Huri. “You start with a body scrub and massage. The massage invariably is so soothing, our clients fall asleep. This treatment also includes a facial, manicure and pedicure. Finally, it ends with a luxurious bath in milk, aroma oils and flower petals, complete with candles and sound of softly flowing water that adds to the soothing effect. Since the whole process is time consuming, a lunch too is included in the treatment”, she adds with a twinkle. While the massages and facial are done indoors, manicure and pedicure are done outdoors under the huts amidst the trees.
“The natural setting acts as a stress buster to our clients and makes the whole procedure an enjoyable one”, she says.
Besides offering beauty treatments, the spa also offers yoga and meditation. “We have introduced this as part of the health package. Yoga and meditation relieve stress and improve health. It also makes our beauty treatment more rounded by addressing the mind and the body of the individual.”
The spa uses only natural ingredients with all the scrubs made from herbs originating from Bali.
The oils used are based on aromatherapy. “Chemicals can cause harm over a period of time. As the spa focuses on promoting beauty and health the natural way, chemicals do not find their way into our treatments”, says Huri.
Given the exotic nature of the massages and beauty therapies, these come at a price. Depending on the treatment, it varies from Rs. 1,500 to 5000. Asian Woman is located in Koramangala and can be contacted on 32510725 / 41219198.
NANDHINI SUNDAR
Source: http://www.hindu.com/
January 3rd, 2008
Next Posts
Previous Posts