Archive for March, 2008
By Beth A’ddono
Globe Correspondent / March 30, 2008 UBUD, Indonesia - Set squarely at the crossroads between good karma and aesthetic beauty, this town on the island of Bali offers surprises at every turn. Bali’s cultural and artistic center, Ubud offers a bustling artisan shopping and cafe district, along with a handful of old-school spas that rely on natural products and hands-on body work. But who would have expected a thatched organic restaurant in the middle of a rice field a 15-minute stroll from downtown?
Yet there it is, Bodag Meliah, the vision of Nila Wati, a determined woman passionate about sustainable farming and fresh ingredients. Wati, who makes everything fresh, from tofu and yogurt to sambal and feta cheese, is paying local farmers a premium for organically grown rice. Self-taught and fiercely determined, Wati prepares Indonesian, vegetarian, and Middle Eastern dishes (her partner is Israeli) using organic produce from the garden. Comfortable lounge chairs and couches decorate the inside of the open-air restaurant, which offers diners serene views of Wati’s garden and brilliant green expanses of rice fields. A typical lunch for two, of grilled chicken salad, vegetarian kebobs, and fried bananas, costs about $5.
Alice Waters, eat your heart out.
Warung Bodag Maliah Cafe, 011-62-0361-972-087 (0361-780-1839), Suback sok wayah, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.
Source: http://www.boston.com/
March 31st, 2008
(Bali Discovery) Following a change of management, the 63-room Swiss Grand Bali is now operating as The Grand Bali – Nusa Dua.
No longer a part of the Swiss-Belhotel International Chain the hotel within the Nusa Dua Complex will continue to serve as a relaxing haven offering luxury at affordable prices. Nestled within landscaped gardens filled with indigenous flora, The Grand Bali – Nusa Dua aims to promote healthy lifestyle concepts with eco-friendly tourism.
The hotel’s new logo appropriately features a single leaf in a vibrant shade of green.
Showcasing elements of local tradition, The Grand Bali – Nusa Dua offers guests an intimate travel experience coupled with personalized hospitality that anticipates every conceivable need. Guest services include a nurturing spa centre that has been inspired by the timeless healing and beauty rituals of the island. A restaurant facility orientated towards the garden and pool area serves a menu of Asian and international cuisine.
The Grand Bali – Nusa Dua neighbors an 18-hole championship golf course and is in close proximity to the white sands of Nusa Dua beach. An exclusive shopping complex is also located within the enclave and features an array of boutiques, souvenir outlets, cafes and a branded department store.
The Grand Bali – Nusa Dua’s Director of Sales, Farida N Suwarko, comments, “the name change is in line with our new vision and mission to create a healthy green environment for guests with a friendly ambience and excellent service that will provide memories to last a lifetime. The Grand Bali – Nusa Dua is an intimate property where guests will want to return again and again.”
The property features large 85-square meter bedrooms and living areas, and include a terrace with a comfortable seating arrangement or traditional Balinese “day bed” for relaxation. Some suites also enjoy a large sun deck, private Jacuzzi, and well-appointed dining area for entertaining in style and privacy.
Grand 1 and 2 bedroom Villas with Private Pool
For an ultimate vacation, the Grand 1 and 2 bedroom Villas set a new standard of luxury. The 200 square meter premises offer bedroom quarters set in a thatched-roof Balinese bungalow. Villas enjoy outdoor living areas with seating and dining facilities surrounded by lush tropical gardens, fountains, and a private swimming pool.
The Restaurant
Overlooking the gardens and swimming pool area, the hotel’s restaurant serves a selection of the finest Asian and international cuisine. Choose from an extensive buffet or our a la carte menu. Two large traditional garden pavilions are available for intimate fine dining.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
March 31st, 2008
BY DAN DAY
McClatchy News Service
KUTA, Indonesia –
Bali beckons.In the aftermath of deadly terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, Balinese artisans and merchants are eager for the people of the world to rediscover this enchanting island.
Although the U.S. Department of State still warns Americans about traveling in Indonesia, I ventured to Bali for a few days last year with my brothers and my older son.
While worries of a terrorist attack never completely left me, I quickly succumbed to the island’s tropical charms.
We split our time between magnificent beaches of the southwest and the enchanting central mountains. Here are some of the highlights.
NATURAL BEAUTY
A volcanic island in the Indonesian archipelago just south of the equator, Bali is lush and exotic.
Along the coast at a resort in Seminyak, we indulged ourselves by watching the sun set gloriously into the Indian Ocean, the sky turning from blue to orange to crimson.
In the central mountains, we passed spectacular tiered rice paddies. In Ubud, we saw Balinese children swimming gleefully in the river running through the valley nestling our hotel.
We also toured the Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana, or sacred monkey forest sanctuary. Paved walkways took us through a jungle preserve for long-tailed macaques, cute monkeys with a hankering for bananas and little tolerance for close-up photography.
SHOPPING
Everywhere we went was a shopper’s paradise. The exchange rate between the American dollar and the Indonesian rupiah is generous, and the number of stalls and shops was overwhelming. They sell everything from beautiful batik weavings and silver jewelry to flip-flops and other trinkets.
Although prices are fixed at larger stores, bargaining seems to be one of Bali’s national pastimes. The street merchants were the most aggressive in Kuta, following us out of their stalls and pestering us to make offers on T-shirts and necklaces.
The style was much more relaxed in Ubud and surrounding villages, where we watched basket-makers at work in their shops.
CULTURE
Some of the best time I spent was wandering through the villages around Ubud, where I got a close look at the exotic architecture of public buildings and family compounds. The people are mostly Hindu, and incense offerings were placed at thresholds to most homes and shops.
One morning, I encountered scores of children walking to school, all of them in uniform and the girls seemingly all in pigtails.
We were fortunate to hear a couple of performances by gamelan orchestras, a style of Indonesian music that depends heavily on drums, gongs and other percussion instruments. We saw only a portion of traditional Balinese storytelling dance and left wanting to see more.
SAFETY
One of our last stops was at the international memorial to the victims of the Oct. 12, 2002, terrorist bombings in Kuta, which killed 202 people from several countries. Attacks in 2005 at Kuta and Jimbaran beach killed 23 people, including three bombers.
It was sobering experience to see a monument to the victims of despicable violence in such a beautiful place.
The people of Bali are trying to overcome the bombings and bring back tourists. Although security checks at Denpasar airport actually seemed less thorough than what American airports demand, our luggage and our taxi were searched before we could pass through the gate to our resort in Seminyak. At a restaurant in Kuta, security guards ran metal-sensing wands over us before we were escorted to our table.
Many of the merchants and ‘’taksi'’ drivers politely asked where we were from. They were glad and a bit surprised to see Americans back in their shops.
I look forward to the pleasure of returning someday, for their sake and mine.
GOING TO BALI
Bali is an island of incredible mystery, beauty, enchantment, culture and serenity in the southeast Asian archipelago-nation of Indonesia, south of the equator and north of Australia.
Bali’s beaches, volcanoes, lakes, temples and terraced rice fields — combined with its artistic roots and legendary hospitality — have made it one of the most visited places on earth. What you need to know, courtesy of the Bali Tourist Board:
• Geography: Bali is one of 17,508 islands that make up Indonesia. It is 87 miles long by 50 miles deep. Most Balinese live on the southern third of the island. The northeast is the island’s active volcanic region, with both Gunung Agung (Bali’s tallest volcano) and Gunung Batur.
• Population: With 245 million people, Indonesia is the world’s fourth largest country (behind China, India and the United States). Bali has 4 million people and 8 million motorbikes.
• When to go: The dry season (April to September) is when humidity is at its lowest. January and February are usually a period of unrelenting rain. June is often ‘’the golden month'’ — perfect weather and low-to-mid hotel occupancy (and therefore great discounts). Prices go up 10 to 30 percent July to September and during the year-end holiday season.
• Language: Balinese is the everyday language. Bahasa Indonesian is the official language. English is frequently used in commerce.
• Religion: Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim nation, but Bali is 92 percent Hindu. In Balinese Hinduism, marriage is compulsory.
• Participation in Banjar (the village association) is obligatory.
• Entry requirements: A visa is required for American citizens. Visas valid for three or 30 days can be applied for upon arrival at the airports in Bali and Jakarta.
CUSTOMS
• Indonesia’s Muslim population does not drink alcohol.
• Shoes must be removed when entering a home or places of worship such as mosques and temples. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors.
• The forefinger is not used to point. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is the preferred usage.
• The traditional greeting, or salam, resembles a handshake with both hands but without the grasp. The man offers both hands, lightly touches his friend’s outstretched hands, and then brings his hands to his chest to mean, ‘’I greet you from my heart.'’ The visitor should reciprocate the salam.
Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/
March 28th, 2008
Janet DeNeefe , ,  |  Thu, 03/27/2008 12:07 AM |  Surfing Bali
When was the last time you walked in the rice fields?
One of the most magical ways to enjoy Ubud, I believe, is on foot and there’s something to be said for getting back to nature and walking in the fields of green that surround this fabled village.
Whether you jalan-jalan (take a stroll) along the narrow streets in and around the center of town or into the picturesque bamboo jungles beyond, where the pace of life slows to a saunter, the experience is always invigorating and full of surprises.
When I need to breathe mega doses of morning air and stretch my computer-aching limbs, I take a walk along the Tjampuhan ridge, on the path that straddles the East and West Woz rivers, behind our restaurant, Indus.
It’s like a sun salutation of the tropical kind, a chance to revel in the glory of nature with all the soft, fuzzy feelings that come with the sweet smiles received from pig-tailed school girls in crimson and white uniforms and miniature Balinese farmers that you pass on the way.
A stroll amongst elephant grass, coconut trees and picture-perfect rice fields does something to the soul. If Kerala is said to be “God’s own country”, then Bali must surely be “God’s own garden”.
The glossy morning light in a fresh blue sky and the sounds of nature always slap you with an “it’s great to be alive” feeling. And isn’t that the best happy drug you can enjoy. Better still, it’s free.
Even the “whoosh, whoosh” sound of bamboo brooms sweeping the compound in the village is one of the simplest and most pleasurable sound sensations on the planet. And if you are out early enough, you will see a pearly moon hanging overhead and the dew “of angels cooking” hovering above the river. That’s what my husband, Ketut, says it is and I believe him. Because in “Gods own garden” angels must surely be living and eating by the cool waters, enjoying a life of luxury of the greenest kind. A movable, mystical feast.
You can say that there truly are health benefits to be gained by walking in the rice fields. I remember when Aristides Katoppo, founder of Sinar Harapan newspaper, attended our second Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in 2005. It was shortly after he had suffered a light stroke and the rejuvenating energy of a stroll in nature had a huge impact on his recovery.
He walked every morning and this outdoor therapy proved so addictive that dear Bapak Aristides forgot to show up to his session at the Festival. He spent the morning roaming in a field of dreams when he was supposed to be leading a discussion on journalism in Indonesia. Such is the magic of Ubud*
The Tjampuhan walk begins at the turn-off to the Ibah hotel and wanders past the school and down those oh-so-deep stairs that lead you across the mossy stone bridge to the Tjampuhan temple, Pura Gunung Lebah.
One of my favorite temples in Ubud, Pura Gunung Lebah, is said to be built near sacred caves and dates back to the eighth century when the sage Rsi Markandya came to town and claimed the site as a place for worship.
This ancient temple is believed to have a powerful dose of cosmic energy and a ceremony held in its grounds is always a majestic affair.
Beyond the temple, the walk takes you across a hillside of elegant elephant grass until you eventually reach the village, Bangkiang Sidem. The name of this village translates as “the back of the black ant”, and this small mountain certainly resembles that shape.
And speaking of drinking in nature, you can sip it in, literally, on this walk, with the juice of fat green coconuts. There is a farmer who usually jumps out from behind one of the coconut trees just before you reach Bangkiang Sidem, offering refreshments to thirsty travelers. Morning price, of course.
This cheery grandpa has adopted one of the shady palms as his makeshift shop front and, once the sun has risen, it is open for business. I am a huge fan of coconut juice. On a hot day I will guzzle the cool liquid of one or two of these, letting it dribble down my chin in a Robinson Crusoe-type fervor. I will tell you about its virtues another time.
Welcome to Bangkiang Sidem. Tidy Balinese compounds rub shoulders with expatriate homes, in a rustic embrace. Tall trees offer shade after the heat of a sun-burnt journey across the hill. Miniature paintings fill the occasional shop and Balinese dogs of all sizes defend their beloved territory.
I love the filtered light of these small towns and the velvet feeling of unpaved roads, a certain softness under the feet. And then there are the kitchen fragrances of fresh coconut oil, fried shallots and shrimp paste and the scent of steaming rice.
By now I usually succumb to the seduction of breakfast and seek a driver to take me home, pronto. Makan dulu*
But if I am feeling particularly energetic, or if my friend, Elizabeth, spurns me on, I will walk to Payogan, up and over the next hill (I don’t do it very often, sigh*).
There are other magical walks that lead you off the beaten track, past dramatic ravines, banyan trees, rambling villas, manicured homestays and schools. Sometimes I have had the pleasure of passing young folk I know as they help in gotong-royong (working together) temple activities or students as they pray together in the school yards.
Waves and cries of “Halo Ibu” break the morning silence and it is these honest pleasures that stay in your heart. There is something about the essence of village life, seeing the spirit of a community that works together and lives so humble that make these early morning walks so enchanting. If John Le Carre said “to have another language is to have another soul”, then to observe and absorb another culture is to have another voice. Lessons for living of the most compassionate kind.
In the meantime, take a walk around Ubud and enjoy the honest pleasures that this country town provides. All it costs is a little time out of your day. It’s as simple as that. But the glow on the cheeks will last for hours and the memory will last a lifetime.
Source: The Jakarta Post
March 28th, 2008
Bali Opens Southeast Asia’s First Cartoon Museum in Kuta.
The Museum Kartun Indonesia or Indonesian Cartoon Museum has opened at Sunset Road No.85 in Kuta. The Museum, which was formally opened on March 13, 2008, is the first facility of its kind in Southeast Asia.
At the museum over 600 works of art by Indonesia’s leading cartoonists and caricaturists are now on display.Â
Established by the Association of Indonesian Cartoonists (PAKARTI) will display works taken from the pages of Indonesian newspapers and magazines, featuring such well-know artists as Sidharta, Dwi Koen, Poernomo, and Kokang.
One of the founders of the Museum, 85-year-old Adi Jangkrik, said at the opening: ‘We hope this museum is able to become a motivator for our cartoonists, preventing them from becoming pessimists. Let’s create not only for ourselves but also for all the people.”
Source: Bali Discovery
March 27th, 2008
Bali Province, (Bali Discovery) - The Museum Kartun Indonesia or Indonesian Cartoon Museum has opened at Sunset Road No.85 in Kuta. The Museum, which was formally opened on March 13, 2008, is the first facility of its kind in Southeast Asia.
At the museum over 600 works of art by Indonesia’s leading cartoonists and caricaturists are now on display.
Established by the Association of Indonesian Cartoonists (PAKARTI) will display works taken from the pages of Indonesian newspapers and magazines, featuring such well-know artists as Sidharta, Dwi Koen, Poernomo, and Kokang.
One of the founders of the Museum, 85-year-old Adi Jangkrik, said at the opening: ‘We hope this museum is able to become a motivator for our cartoonists, preventing them from becoming pessimists. Let’s create not only for ourselves but also for all the people.”
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
March 26th, 2008
By Sean Doherty
Almost 1000 years ago, a whole village of Balinese chose to throw themselves off the cliffs at Uluwatu rather than succumb to the invading Javanese. Almost 40 years ago, western surfers started throwing themselves off the cliff in order to escape nine-to-five employment.
A small Hindu island within a massive Muslim nation, Bali has always possessed a unique spirit that has intoxicated surfers since the early 1970s. The discovery of surf in Bali — more particularly, Uluwatu — is the stuff of legends, as it was all documented in surfing’s most timeless and referenced film, Morning of the Earth.
Filmmaker Albe Falzon arrived in Bali in late 1970 with surfers Rusty Miller and 15-year-old schoolboy Steve Cooney in tow, and little idea what to expect. When Albe, with a silent, knowing smile, returned one afternoon from a reconnoitring mission up the Bukit Peninsula, Steve Cooney knew Albe had found something more than his inner glow.
“The road from Kuta to the Monkey Temple was a winding mess of potholes, barely wide enough for two bemos to pass each other,” recalls Steve. “The Balinese were very wary of Uluwatu and regarded it as an evil place to be treated very carefully. When they realised we were actually going to go out in the water they seemed to become nervous and a little suspicious of our intentions.
“As I turned to take the first wave of the session everything seemed to go into slow motion. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Uluwatu at that time was the abundance of sea life. At high tide the dugongs would come over the reef with their calves and loll about in the shallows, going back outside the reef as the tide dropped.
“When we were surfing at low tide they would surface near us and let us know they were around. They were there the whole time and seemed as interested in us as we were in them. There were turtles, reef snakes, heaps of fish, sea birds and sea snakes. We never felt as if we were on our own in the water.”
It wasn’t long before surfers — Australians, for the most part — began to discover the place en masse. They soon realised that while Uluwatu had a magic quality, the whole island was crawling with world-class set-ups. From Uluwatu down the Bukit Peninsula through Padang, Impossibles, Bingin, Dreamland and Balangan, it is a rare convergence of epic lefthand reefs.
Ulus is furthest up the peninsula and hosts smaller swells of six to eight feet.
The Peak is the take-off spot on high tide, while at low tide it moves down 100 metres to the Racetrack. On a clean swell, the sections will link up and you can backdoor barrel sections for a couple of hundred metres over the sharp coral reef.
The only route in and out of the break at Uluwatu is through the legendary cave, a quasi-religious experience until you have to paddle back through it on a high tide and big swell. If you overshoot, you will find nothing quasi-religious about being dragged along the dagger-like cliffs for more than a kilometre.
Source: http://www.asianpacificpost.com/
March 25th, 2008
(Balidiscovery) The Indonesian Daily Kompas reports that while many tourists continue to visit the Island’s main tourist areas of Kuta, Legian, and even Denpasar – those in seek of peace and quiet should consider heading for Bali’s eastern shores which offers restful holidays, tourism objects rich in spiritual undertones and a wide range of sea tourism options.
The many charms of East Bali are often overshadowed by the higher visibility enjoyed by Bali’s South, the artist’s colony of Ubud and the volcanic crater at Kintamani. However, the recent construction of a new east coast highway in Bali has reduced driving time from the South Island to East Bali from 3 hours to just 1.5 hours and, as a result, opened this area to increased levels of tourist visits.
Those traveling along Bali’s new I.B, Mantra highway that has shrunken the distance between the tourism areas of South Bali to the East Coast, can now rediscover Bali’s sacred Mother Temple of Besakih and pleasure palaces built by East Bali royalty in the Island’s recent past.
Candi Dasa
Those visiting the charming village of Candi Dasa, a tourist enclave near the port of Padang Bai, will find 300 star-classified hotel rooms and 400 non-starred rooms along a beach offering uninterrupted views across the straits toward Lombok island and Nusa Penida. Nearby small islands and secluded sand beaches have made this island “a natural” destination for divers and water-sports enthusiasts. Those enjoying the full range of accommodation and dining options available at Candi Dasa, are also well-positioned for full day forays to the excellent diving available to the north at Ahmed and Tulamben.
The regent of Karangasem, I Wayan Geredek, told Kompas that his regency suffers from a lack of exposure in Bali’s program of promotion. Supporting Geredek’s complaints of promotional neglect are figures from the Provincial tourism authority showing average occupancy of Karangasem hotels stands at around 50%, far below the averages of 90% being achieved in other parts of the island.
In an effort to attract more tourists, the government of Karangasem has spent Rp. 3 billion (US$326,000) over the past three years improving the area’s infrastructure, including street lighting in Candi Dasa and public parking facilities at local tourism sites.
Coming Soon: A Cruise Ship Port
Tourism hopes in Karangasem are pinned to plans to establish an international standard cruise ship terminal, targeted for completion in the first half of 2009. The terminal will be located at the Port of Amuk at Manggis, some 5 kilometers from Candi Dasa and not far from the current port of Padang Bai.
Geredek hopes that the new port will improve the local tourism economy and make his area a gateway to Lombok and East Nusa Tenggara.
The construction of the new cruise port located some 60 kilometers from Bali’s capital of Denpasar, will consume Rp. 70 billion (US$7.6 million) of the State (National) budget, Rp. 15 billion (US$1.6 million) of the Provincial budget, and Rp. 3.5 billion (US$380,400) of Karangasem’s budget. Add that all together for a total budget of US$9.5 million to complete the development of terminal complex on an 1.5 hectare site that will include two 150 meter piers. When placed into operation these piers will allow large cruise ships to dock in Bali, a vast improvement over the past when ocean going vessels were compelled to anchor far offshore and ferry their passengers between ship and the main port.
Geredek is optimistic that the new port will eventually serve 200 cruise ships each year, with each ship carrying 1,000 tourists.
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
March 25th, 2008
The Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC), a key partner assisting the Indonesian government in infrastructure building, has signed a joint venture with Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world’s leading property developers, to undertake the Lombok mega-tourism and mixed-use project.
In the presence of Indonesian President Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Mr I Made Mandra, President Director, BTDC, and Mr Muhammad Lutfi, Chief, Investment Coordinating Board, signed the joint venture agreement with Mr Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, in Dubai, today.
The flagship Lombok project is envisaged as a world-class residential and resort community sprawling over 1,175 hectares. Masterplanning for the AED 2.2 billion (US$600 million; IDR5446 billion) development will begin in April. Set on the pristine Kuta and Tanjung beaches, the project will be environment-friendly and integrate residential, leisure and hospitality zones. The JV will also explore further growth opportunities in Indonesia.
Mr Mandra said: “The joint venture with Emaar Properties underscores the strong bilateral business relations between Indonesia and the UAE. Indonesia welcomes investments that add to the socio-economic prosperity of our people, and Emaar with its proven competencies as a world-class developer, can contribute to the country’s economic growth. The Lombok project will particularly focus on tourism to complement the growing appeal of the destination.”
Mr Alabbar said: “Bali Tourism Development Corporation has been one of the prime drivers of the Indonesian economy, and has accomplished several milestone projects with a focus on infrastructure building. The joint venture lends momentum to our expansion plans for Indonesia, a key market where we have already been involved in developing eco-friendly homes in Ngelepen to rehabilitate the earthquake affected.”
Emaar is one of the first developers from the Middle East and North Africa region to expand into Indonesia, an emerging market with strong growth potential, especially in the tourism sector. Last year, Emaar signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Perusahaan Pengelola Aset (PPA), the state-owned Asset Management Company, for developing the Lombok project.
The focus of the project will be to drive tourism to the region by offering a diverse leisure spread such as diving, snorkeling, hiking and surfing sports, for which Lombok is acclaimed globally. There will be a 7 km natural waterfront supporting a marina, luxury residences, golf course and resorts to be operated by five-star hospitality chains.
Established in 1973, BTDC supports the Indonesian government in economic and national development, with emphasis on strengthening foreign investment and creating job opportunities. BTDC has been instrumental in the inception of some of Indonesia’s renowned development projects including hotels, resorts and shopping complexes.
Emaar’s expansion to Indonesia is in line with its Vision 2010 to become one of the most valuable companies in the world through geographic expansion and business segmentation. Emaar has a growing presence in Asia, and has already opened its first Emaar - Raffles International School in Singapore.
© 2008 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
Source: http://www.albawaba.com/
March 24th, 2008
(Balidiscovery) In June of 2007, Bali hosted its first triathlon – an epic race combining 1.5 km of ocean swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 kms of running - all undertaken either individually or in teams of three. Drawing over 200 athletes to an event that began and finished on Bali’s picturesque Jimbaran Bay, the inaugural event was a success by any standard, a fact further emphasized by Bali’s selection as “Best Triathlon Destination” by the prestigious Competitors Magazine (U.S.A.).
In keeping with the organizer’s concept, the Bali race presented a distinctively Balinese event combining races along the Island’s picturesque southern peninsula passing traditional villages, where sarong-clad race marshals stood guard, and included a traditional blessing of the bikes and their riders by a Balinese priest.
As Bali prepares for the 2nd Bali International Triathlon on Sunday, June 29, 2008, a gathering of key players joined a lunch in their honor on March 18, 2008, sponsored by the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay. Presented with awards acknowledging their selfless support of Bali’s first triathlon that resulted in the destination award for Bali were :
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A.A. Gde Agung, the Bupati (Regent) of Badung in Bali.
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The People of Jimbaram represented by the Lurah, the local community leader.
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Inspector General Paulus Purwoko, Chief of Police for the island of Bali.
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Drs. Gede Nurjaya, Head of the Bali Tourism Authority
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I Made Mandra, Head of the Bali Tourism Development Corporation.
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Michael Burchett, Chairman of the Bali Hotel Association.
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John O’Sullivan, General Manager of Four Seasons Resorts in Bali.
More Participants, More Fun at 2008 Event
Growing support from the island of Bali and sponsors ensure that this year’s event, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, 2008, will stay on track with its plans to become a major event on the international sports calendar. Some of the highlights for June’s event include:
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A planned near 50% increase in registered participants.
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An expanded “beach party” at the start/finish line at the Four Season’s Coconut Grove on Jimbaran Beach with live music, vendor kiosks and award presentation.
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Participation by international celebrity triathletes.
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Expanded corporate team challenge category participation with a “competition within the competition” among 3-person teams drawn from the ranks of Bali’s leading hotels.
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Exciting prizes for overall and age/sec category winners, including prize purses for top Indonesian finishers.
Register Now
Registration details are available at the [ Bali International Triathlon Official Website].
Registration for individuals and teams include the race and admission to a pre-race sundowner June 27th and a High-Card dinner on June 28th – both hosted at the award-winning Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay.
Bali Discovery Tours is offering a range of attractive accommodation options for both race participants and spectators via the official website.
Bali International Triathlon is operated by Bali International Triathlon LLC (USA) - supported by Bali Discovery Tours (Indonesia) and Generic Events (USA).
Source: www.balidiscovery.com
March 24th, 2008
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