Archive for October, 2008
Medewi Bay Retreat now facilitates online reservations with guaranteed instant confirmation on its newly launched website.
Bali, Indonesia - To meet the demands of the increasing number of travelers opting to book online, Medewi Bay Retreat now makes use of a faster, more efficient, and more convenient online reservation system on its newly launched website, www.medewibayretreat.com.
With this innovative feature, guests can secure instantly confirmed online reservations without any hassle. All they need to do is check out the resort’s website where they can find a 14-day calendar displaying real-time room availability with corresponding rates.
Once they have chosen their Bali accommodation type and date of stay, guests must pay a minimal deposit of 10% deducted from the total room charge as a reservation guarantee. This reasonable fee assures guests that their villa of choice is ready and available when they arrive at this Bali resort. Upon receipt of payment, guests will receive an automated e-mail confirming the transaction.
Medewi Bay Resort is a splendid resort 500 meters off the main Medewi beach. It is located in Jl. Ciwa. Br. Pekutatan, Dusun Yeh Kuning, in the town of Negara in West Bali, Indonesia. The resort is home to nine (9) exclusive villas scattered on a lush tropical garden. All villas are fitted with living and dining areas, a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom, and spacious bedroom/s. The resort also has leisure facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, massage gazebo, and a library. Further information regarding facilities and location, as well as directions and a map to the property can be found in the official hotel website, www.medewibayretreat.com.
Medewi Bay Retreat makes online bookings possible with DirectWithHotels, its direct reservations performance partner. Through this company’s technology, accommodation providers worldwide enjoy increased occupancy and profit, and improved guest loyalty, while travelers benefit from an easy, fast and secure way to make reservations online. To learn more about this service, log on to www.directwithhotels.com.
Medewi Bay Retreat
Jl. Ciwa. Br. Pekutatan, Dusun Yeh Kuning
Negara, Bali
Indonesia
www.medewibayretreat.com
Phone Number: 062 81 238 42252
E-mail: pvb@dps.centrin.net.id
Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/
October 31st, 2008
TOURIST arrivals in Bali are at an all-time high despite warnings Australians could be targeted once the bombers are executed.
The number of Australians visiting the holiday island has almost doubled in the past year and 3500 extra plane seats a week have been added since December.
Tourism authorities are confident any impact from the executions, scheduled for early next month, will be short term.
And they are optimistic security is now so tight that a repeat of the 2002 and 2005 bombings can be avoided, although many privately admit nothing can be ruled out.
They pointed to recent terrorist arrests, which have foiled plots to commit bombings in Jakarta and Sumatra.
Optimism was also high out and about on the streets of Bali, particularly in popular Kuta Beach, where travel operators and shopkeepers report strong turnover.
Some were disappointed in the renewed travel warning from the Federal Government at the weekend, fearing it might drive away tourists.
The Indonesian Government has said convicted bombers Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra would be put before the firing squad in “early November”.
Preparations were reportedly under way in Central Java, near where they would be executed, with increased security around the perimeter of their jail.
Bali Tourism Board chairman Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bali was the highest on record.
“Last year was the highest ever and now we have increased 20 per cent more than that in the year to date,” Mr Wijaya said.
The number of Australian visitors has now jumped back to second place behind Japan after slumping in the wake of the two terror attacks.
In the six months to July this year, the number of Australians in Bali almost doubled compared with the previous year.
“The travel warning has always been there. Australians have been coming to Bali for a long time,” Mr Wijaya said.
Komang Ramini, who works in a travel kiosk selling tours, believes the renewed warning is not fair.
“There are many Australian tourists who still come to Bali and think Bali is still safe,” Ms Ramini said.
She also had faith that Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, a former police chief who led the Bali bombing investigations, would ensure security was good.
Source: http://www.themercury.com.au/
October 31st, 2008
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: One Garuda Indonesia plane was halted from operating in Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali on Wednesday.
The plane according to the airport operator PT Angkasa Pura was barred from leaving the airport as trouble was detected in its mainwheel gear after landing on Tuesday night at the airport from Yogyakarta.
Angkasa Pura said officials from the National Transport Safety Commission from Jakarta were to inspect the plane on Wednesday afternoon.
Anang ZakariaÂ
Source: http://www.tempointeractive.com/
October 30th, 2008
Millions of domestic and overseas tourists flock to the most frequented island of Bali throughout the year to indulge at beaches, temples, restaurants, art shops, markets and nightclubs.
But for some Asian Beach Games athletes, finding the right place to relax and take a break from the energy-sapping competitions posed a difficulty because they lacked reliable tourist guides.
Sri Lankan beach volleyball players Sampath Peiris and Wasantha Rathnapala said they labored to locate a nightclub.
“We’d like to go to a nightclub to relax. But we don’t know where, do you?” Sampath said in a short conversation with The Jakarta Post.
Wasantha said he and his teammate sought massage treatments or just swim at their hotel after their games at Sanur Beach.
“We mostly go out for shopping in our spare time. But we actually have time at night and want to go to a fun place,” Sampath said while showing the sleeveless sport T-shirt and shorts he just bought.
He once went to Kuta Beach to surf the famous waves of the most visited tourist island, but regretted his failure to watch the Asian Beach Games surfing competition.
Pakistani beach handball athlete Muhammad Sohaib is probably different to the regular tourist visiting Bali for the first time. He refrains from leisure outings.
“After the competition, we just take a bath, eat and go to the mosque to pray. After that, we have a complete rest, which is sleeping,” Sohaib said Friday. He and teammates were about to perform their evening prayer at Inna Grand Bali Beach Hotel.
He said the Pakistan team flew thousands of miles to Bali and tried to focus on the competition. The island, however, is irresistible, as the team plans to go for shopping before their return back home, he added.
Sohaib wonders, the places he and his friends should visit in Bali.
“Where should we visit? What is the best place in Bali?” he repeatedly asked.
The Games’ organizers have not arranged a recreation plan for participating athletes and officials because they believe the athletes can manage it themselves.
“We believe Bali is ready to serve the athletes. In hotels, all of the staff members are ready to provide information on places they can visit in Bali and how,” Sony Subrata, Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee marketing and public relations manager, said. He said such information was available on the Games website, which the athletes can easily access.
He said some athletes preferred to explore the island themselves, with some of them spotted visiting tourist resorts.
Source: The Jakarta Post
October 29th, 2008
Cindy Wockner and Komang Suriadi
TOURIST arrivals in Bali are at an all-time high despite warnings Australians could be targeted once the three Indonesian bombers are executed.
The number of Australians visiting the holiday island has almost doubled in the past year and 3500 extra plane seats a week have been added since December.
Tourism authorities are confident any impact from the executions, scheduled for early next month, will be short term.
And they are optimistic security is now so tight that a repeat of the 2002 and 2005 bombings can be avoided, although many privately admit nothing can be ruled out.
They pointed to recent terrorist arrests, which have foiled plots to commit bombings in Jakarta and Sumatra.
Optimism was also high out and about on the streets of Bali, particularly in popular Kuta Beach, where travel operators and shopkeepers report strong turnover.
Some were disappointed in the renewed travel warning from the Federal Government at the weekend, fearing it might drive away tourists.
The Indonesian Government has said convicted bombers Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra would be put before the firing squad in “early November”.
Preparations were reportedly under way in Central Java, near where they would be executed, with increased security around the perimeter of their jail.
Bali Tourism Board chairman Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya said the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bali was the highest on record.
“Last year was the highest ever and now we have increased 20 per cent more than that in the year to date,” Mr Wijaya said.
The number of Australian visitors has now jumped back to second place behind Japan after slumping in the wake of the two terror attacks.
In the six months to July this year, the number of Australians in Bali almost doubled compared with the previous year.
“The travel warning has always been there. Australians have been coming to Bali for a long time,” Mr Wijaya said.
Komang Ramini, who works in a travel kiosk selling tours, believes the renewed warning is not fair.
“There are many Australian tourists who still come to Bali and think Bali is still safe,” Ms Ramini said.
She also had faith that Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, a former police chief who led the Bali bombing investigations, would ensure security was good.
Source: http://www.news.com.au/
October 28th, 2008
Bedugul and Beratan Lake Tour is one of Bali Tour Packages to visit places of interest in the regency of Tabanan like Beratan Lake, Ulun Danu Temple, Transitional fruit and vegetable market and Taman Ayun Temple
Bedugul and Beratan Lake Tour is one of Bali Tour Packages to visit places of interest in the regency of Tabanan like Beratan Lake, Ulun Danu Temple, Transitional fruit and vegetable market and Taman Ayun Temple. Bedugul is the name of place located in mountain area encircled by the cold temperature and natural environment with beautiful panorama of Beratan Lake. Your tour is arranged within 8 hours departs from your hotel lobby. The tour is very exciting to visit the tourist destinations in Bali with our professional speaking guide and full air-conditioning car for your enjoyable and comfortable journey. On the way of your tour, the Indonesia lunch menu is served at local restaurant with breathtaking view of rice terrace to complete the tour to be your memorable one.
BERATAN LAKE Beratan Lake is a beautiful wide lake encircled by the cool temperature and blanketed by fog especially in the evening. The water is clear and calm with beautiful Mountain as backdrop view that make you will forbear staying there. There are plenty of traditional boats standby at the lakeside which is used by fisherman and found local people are fishing to add the beauty of this place.
ULUN DANU TEMPLE Ulun Danu Temple is a famous temple located in the lakeside of Beratan and owns the beautiful panorama with Beratan Lake and mountain as a backdrop view. When the lake water is going up, this temple is looked like adrift above water because the water encircles it. It is situated in the cool area and mountain with breathtaking view and many tourist visits this place every day in particular on the day time.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE TRADITIONAL MARKET It is a traditional market to sell the fresh vegetable and fruit that is very famous and many visited by tourist especially by local tourist. It is one of the tourist destinations in Bali presenting unique local community activities by serving the variety of agricultural product like fresh vegetables, fruit, corn, peanut, union, tomato etc. This market is opened from 7:00 am and closed at 18:00.
TAMAN AYUN TEMPLE Taman Ayun Temple is a big temple located in Mengwi District and Badung regency. It is one of the heritance from the empire of Mengwi with beautiful temple building and the big fishpond surrounds it. This Temple owns the building boosting high and joins with others with beautiful decoration and it is designed by Balinese architecture. Please visit http://santorinibalitours.com/index.php?m=destination&de …
Source: http://www.prlog.org/
October 27th, 2008
Dicky Christanto, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar
The Bali Administration will allocate Rp 3.5 billion (US$368,421) out of the province’s annual budget to renovate houses of the island’s poorest residents, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said Saturday.
The fund will be taken from the province’s annual budget next year.
The aim of the program is to improve low-income families’ housing conditions throughout the island.
“It is so the poor can live in proper living quarters like the ones we have here,”Pastika told reporters during the administration’s second public hearing at the provincial legislative compound.
It is the second time that Pastika has held a public meeting, known as an open house, with the island’s residents, intellectuals and informal leaders. He uses the monthly unscripted meetings to gain unfiltered opinions directly from the public.
According to early calculations by the public works agency, he said, the fund would be sufficient to finance the renovation of 300 houses. Up to Rp 10 million will be allocated to renovate each house.
Officials are currently conducting a survey to identify the recipients of the fund, Pastika added.
“We are still waiting for the survey’s result to determine how much will be given to each household.”
The local administration will also launch a major public health program early next year, Pastika said. The initiative will target 6,000 patients from 500 out of 700 villages throughout the island. The initiative will include free medical checkups and treatment.
“I have ordered officials from the public health agency to improve their records on who deserves the free medication,”Pastika said.
Pastika said the health initiative would also include free of charge cataract surgery.
“We estimate that around 1,000 people will have the eye surgery.”
Under the program, the administration will renovate existing health centers in lower-income regions, Pastika said. The administration plans to renovate three community healthcare centers in Gerokgak district in Buleleng regency, Kintamani district in Bangli regency and Kubu district in Karangasem regency.
According to the Bali Statistics Agency, there were at least 147,044 low-income households on the resort island in 2006, with most residing in Karangasem, Buleleng and Bangli.
“We need to improve health facilities so people with serious diseases have access to better treatment and medication.”
Around Rp 2 million will be allocated from the 2009 provincial budget for the program, Pastika said.
The administration will ask other parties, such as public health NGOs, to participate in the program, local administration spokesman Nyoman Puasha Aryana told The Jakarta Post.
“We will also ask the other parties such as NGOs and residents to help improve their daily health management system through this program.”
Komang Gede, a public health activist from Karangasem who attended the hearing, however, criticized the plan, saying it was likely to fail.
“I doubt the effectiveness of this program as there will be at least 1,000 people coming to a single place at once,”he told the Post.
“It will be just another crowded mass medication program. So how do you expect that these people will receive proper medication and medical diagnosis through this kind of program?”
Source: The Jakarta Post
October 27th, 2008
Last Wednesday, hundreds of school students enthusiastically watched special movies on climate change and the Hindu Day of Silence on a wide screen set up on the beautiful veranda of a government office in Denpasar.
The subjects might have been too serious for school-aged children, but the comical appearance of veteran comedian Pan Godogan successfully melted the tense atmosphere.
The children enjoyed the films and Pan Godogan’s jokes, which were actually filled with important messages.
Thanks to his humorous nature and intellectual prowess, Pan Godogan easily turned serious topics like pollution of the environment, depletion of the ozone layer and rising global temperatures and seas into attractive and easy-to-swallow subjects.
“I will grow more plants in my home to make the world greener and produce more oxygen,” said Putu Sari, a participating student.
Putu and her friends added they would start collecting hazardous garbage and stop using dangerous chemical products and plastic bags.
The film screening was followed by question and answer sessions on various social and environmental issues.
The event was jointly organized by a number of non-governmental organizations, professionals, the business community and concerned individuals from Kolaborasi Bali (Bali Collaboration), to promote World Silent Day,
The idea emerged last year when Bali hosted the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference. The Balinese believed that their traditional nyepi, the Hindu Day of Silence, which forbids people from working and leaving their homes for one day, proved to be able to decrease air and noise pollution.
The Balinese claimed that nyepi was an energy-saving activity, since people are not allowed to use electricity or fire for 24 hours. People can also save energy by not using their cars and other vehicles.
“Bali has long adopted traditional and efficient ways to preserve the environment and conduct energy-saving activities. We have priceless, traditional wisdom that is being ignored by modern society,” said Made Suarnatha, director of the Wisnu Foundation.
The one-day event was also highlighted by series of discussions, workshops and exhibitions on various environmentally-friendly activities.
“In this event, we deliberately involved as many children as possible to open their eyes and their minds to environmental problems in easy and fun ways, so they could understand what is going on in their country and the world and how to cope with those problems,” Suarnatha said.
He added that children need to be well-informed, because they were the future guardians of planet Earth.
“It is never too early to inform children about environmental preservation efforts,” he added.
To promote World Silent Day, Bali Collaboration has implemented a number of meetings and workshops with government officials, environmental experts, teachers, students, local communities and other related parties.
The group want to hold World Silent Day on March 21 every year; on the day, people would be required to stay home from work and turn off their electricity supply as part of the global effort to save energy and to prevent rising global temperatures.
On the sidelines of the event, the Bali Collaboration also launched its website (www.worldsilentday.org) to arouse people’s interest and awareness on the importance of supporting their activities and preserving the environment.
“We want to invite people from local and international organizations to take part in this effort,” Suarnatha said.
On Dec. 6, Bali Collaboration plans to hold the Global Day of Action to collect as many as 10 million signatures from supporters around the world to make World Silent Day a reality.
“Together with people from international organizations, Bali Collaboration will send its delegation to the UN’s upcoming Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland next December,” he said, adding that the target was to obtain recognition from the international community.
“We really hope the international community will adopt the idea of World Silent Day to combat global climate change.”
– Wasti Atmodjo
Source: The Jakarta Post
October 24th, 2008
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Bali
Some athletes competing in the Asian Beach Games might not have as much to do over the next two years, as the Muscat Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (MABGOC) has decided to trim the number of sports for the 2010 event in Oman.
In an interview with The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, MABGOC director Habib A. Macki said they had decided to include only 11 sports, compared with Bali’s 19.
“We are looking at different things. Here in Bali, there are many hotels. You can accommodate many athletes,”he said on the sidelines of the general assembly of the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) at the\ Westin Hotel in Nusa Dua.
“We don’t want to build that many hotels because there will be not much use.We must think about the future. Therefore, we will concentrate on only 11 sports and a certain number of athletes.”
Even though only 11 sports will be included at the event in Oman, Muscat expects to be able to host a greater number of athletes in its forthcoming Olympic village which, Macki said, would accommodate 3,000 athletes.
Around 1,600 athletes from 45 Asian countries are participating in the Bali Games. Macki presented the masterplan for the Muscat Games before representatives of the 45 National Olympic Committee members under OCA.
The Olympic village, which began construction this year, will be located near the coastal town of Mussanah, an hour’s drive from Muscat. The town’s legacy from hosting the Asian Beach Games will include world-class sporting facilities, a three-star hotel and meeting and conference facilities. The village is expected to become a magnet for the country’s future development of sports.
“We will host these beach games in one village. It will be home to all the sporting competitions, but some events may take place somewhere outside the village because this space will not be sufficient,” Macki said.
“Athletes and officials will be in one village. The media will not be far away from there, just 10 minutes’ drive.
And NOC (National Olympic Committee) guests will be based in a different place.”
He added that MABGOC was looking forward to hosting the Games, because of its expected benefits.
“There are certain things, most importantly tourism. We are looking to bringing in more tourists,”he said.
“Second, for young people… athletes.You (Games participants) have so many young athletes. They are very famous in our country. The Games will give them a chance to (display their skills).
“Economically, it’s very important. Sport is about promotion. We are building infrastructure that we can use again in the future, such as a sport academy,” he said, adding that organizers had allocated a budget of US$200 million for the Games.
The Omani entourage also intends to learn from the organization of the first Asian Beach Games.
“We are learning a lot from Bali because it’s the first-ever Beach Games. Being the first Games,always difficult. I told Madam Rita (Subowo) the other day. I said `Thanks, you are the first and we are the second, so we can learn from you’,”Macki said.
“We have 45 people here to learn, about various departments such as venues. Everything. We want to learn something from Bali and take it with us.”
Source: The Jakarta Post
October 24th, 2008
In one of the most anticipated events of the year, Bali’s Culinary Professionals, BCP, have announced their third Gala Dinner will be held at The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali on November 22nd.
This year’s theme, Art Culinaire, celebrates the art of cooking with fine food and specially commissioned art works that commemorate the talent and creativity that is here in Bali. Expecting a sell out event, the committee has spent months planning what promises to be an inspirational and memorable evening.
Supported by many in the hospitality and tourism community as well as the vibrant art scene in Bali, a fantastic array of prizes will be offered as well as an auction which will feature original artworks commissioned for the event and the chance to take one of the chefs home to prepare an elaborate private dinner.
The ballroom at The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali will be artfully decorated and souvenir plates, decorations and giveaways will feature the creative collaboration of the chefs and artists at work.
As a member of the World Association of Chefs, BCP is one of the island’s most vibrant and creative organizations and this event will bring together seven of the island’s artists of the kitchen who have designed a stunning menu.
The chefs will congregate in the kitchen of BCP’s Chairman, Made Putra, Executive Chef of The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali on November 22. The finishing of the entire seven-course menu will be televised live throughout Laguna’s magnificent ballroom giving diners a chance to see the artists at work.
The event will feature great entertainment, fine food and wine and has been generously supported by suppliers, leading resorts and restaurants as well as the art community.
The seven talented chefs who have created the menu are:
Dorin Schuster - The Legian Bali
Andrew Skinner - Bulgari Hotels & Resorts Bali
Andreas Krampl - Ritz Carlton Bali Resort & Spa
Bastian Mantey – The Laguna, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali
Richard Millar - Conrad Bali Resort & Spa
Darren Lauder - Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa
Chris Salans – Mozaic
Each will prepare a course they have created and matched with wine and champagne throughout the evening, donated by generous supporters of the culinary community in Bali.
The raffle and auction will raise money to support the BCP’s scholarship fund which sponsors and mentors talented young chefs through their education.
The 3rd Annual BCP Gala Dinner promises to be a night of fine food, good wine and entertainment, a celebration of the art of cooking and the high achievement of Bali’s talented community of chefs.
Source: http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com
October 23rd, 2008
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