Archive for February, 2009
Written by Rebecca Mwase
Forget Kuta: an untouched wilderness awaits in northern Bali
Imagine escaping deep into a wild lush jungle where a guide you’ve never met before (but place your complete trust in) leads you into the depths of an untouched wilderness. Now picture a pathway made by chopping your way through the undergrowth with a machete until, behold, you stumble across hidden waterfalls, exotic wildlife and the most memorable adventure of your life. Welcome to northern Bali.
Yes, that’s right: Bali.
In an attempt to offset the hustle and bustle of Shanghai, we deliberately avoided the fleshpots and headed to the more rural and remote areas of this paradise island. Lovina is a string of villages where we found a quiet little bungalow (Kubu Lalang) that offered jungle trekking with locals as an excursion. We expected a tame waltz through a few overgrown palm trees, and maybe a few creeping vines, but the walk itself towards this jungle completely threw us off track.
The road weaved through rice fields, up back roads and eventually towards a steep incline. The initial path was concrete, but we took a sidewalk running through the wilderness. It trails alongside a stream bringing water down from the hills and, at intervals, we saw the locals washing their clothes and carting water to their homes.
At an old dam guarded by an altar to the gods, the pathway ends and the real trekking begins. Watching our guides for clues, we wondered how they could effortlessly maneuver through this restricted space. Wearing only flip-flops and jugging backpacks full of provisions, they became modern-day Mowglis leading bewildered urban folk through their secret land. Without them, you wouldn’t last a day.
The first revelation: Everything around you is alive and bearing fruit. From elephant grass to cotton trees, papaya, coffee, chocolate, guava and banana, the jungle is ripe with fresh offerings for sampling along the way. A special treat (and one native to Indonesia) is the snake fruit. After pulling back the mottled reddish-brown skin and biting in, there’s a sharp tangy taste that many liken to durian – only much, much better. The guides can identify every tree you pass, and even climb a few to toss you down a tasty citrus treat.
Once in the bush, you are led through dead trees, long grass and deep mud. Beware, leeches hiding in this wet, fragrant place cleverly find ways to attach themselves to your unsuspecting limbs. My companion was host to one of these little bloodsuckers for almost two hours before it was spotted and cast aside with disgust.
Most waterfalls on tourist treks are just cunning ploys to pique your interest, but this entire trek was a fascinating exception to that rule. We happened upon a wall of rock and water, a good 100m tall, flanked by an abundance of vegetation and a mound of clustered coffee plants. As we waded through the cold, clear, ankle-deep water, we could only wonder what treasures we’d happen upon next. We soon found a second waterfall, a much-needed resting place and a perfect spot for a tranquil photo op.
As the trek wound down through lush terraced rice fields, the sky became mirrored in the glassy wet surface of the pools. The air was so clean and bright we wondered how we could ever bring ourselves to return to Shanghai – this was before somebody mentioned lunch. Most of your lunch here comes from the jungle, and is collected on route. The plates are made from banana leaves and the wild peppers, lemongrass, limes and shallots are all freshly picked, natural and whole. These culinary delights are mixed with handfuls of pre-cooked chicken and served with shavings of rice, dried noodles and peanuts nestled in the arm of the most versatile of plants. Everything is devoured with the hands.
We sat eating under a gazebo, gazing at the idyllic view of jungle forest, the rice terraces, the cultivated land flowing into the towns and the sea upon the horizon – and we realized that Bali could just possibly be the original Garden of Eden.
Source: http://shanghai.urbanatomy.com
February 27th, 2009
The St. Regis Bali Resort celebrates its grand opening on February 28, 2009, with an extraordinary evening that will include an exclusive performance by international artist and top U.K. jazz performer, Jamie Cullum. The resort, which opened on September 15, is located in Nusa Dua, an elite beach enclave on the Southern tip of Bali. The St. Regis Bali Resort features 123 luxurious, oversized suites and villas, two exclusive Residences, world-class restaurants and bars, a signature Remède Spa, an intimate wedding chapel, ballroom and state-of-the-art meeting spaces.
Reminiscent of the legendary social gatherings that took place over a century ago for the influential, glitterati and high society at the original St. Regis New York, the exclusive celebration at The St. Regis Bali Resort will be attended by 200 distinguished business guests and socialites. The diamonds and pearls theme of the celebration will reflect the luxury, elegance, and sophistication of the renowned galas and events thrown by Mrs. Caroline Astor, at The St. Regis New York more than a century ago.
The lobby and Astor Ballroom will be transformed by flower arrangements to create a magical setting for the evening. Guests will enjoy signature cocktails and canapés, as well as oysters served from elaborate ice carvings in the lobby ponds. Live music from solo violinist, jazz singer and spectacular fire lighting ritual will culminate with the soothing sounds of top U.K. jazz singer Jamie Cullum.
“We are proud to be officially unveiling the first St. Regis Resort in Asia. We are confident that following months of preparation since we started operations in September 2008, we will host a celebration that will create a delightful memory for guests,” said general manager, Frank Beck.
“The St. Regis Bali Resort is the brand’s first resort in Asia and also the first internationally branded luxury resort to be located directly on the beach. With its strategic location and the rich residential feel of its rooms, combined with the uncompromising, bespoke service of the St. Regis Brand, this resort will make an ideal choice for global travelers,” said Miguel Ko, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific.
Owned by PRBI- Pacific Resort Buana Indonesia, The St. Regis Bali Resort occupies a breathtaking beachfront location with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean and neighboring Bali Golf & Country Club. With Grounds Kent Architect as the main architect, Bensley Design Studios, the extraordinary landscape architecture, weaves together art, traditional Balinese design and natural influences, while interiors by Manny Samson and Associates combine rich imported fabrics with indigenous materials and cultural artifacts that reflect the island’s rich heritage. Exquisite furnishings and amenities in the resort’s guest rooms and suites create a tranquil and luxurious setting for discerning global travelers.
Dining at The St. Regis Bali Resort indulges the senses with a diverse menu of sophisticated island-inspired cuisine. Kayuputi, a dazzling beachfront restaurant with stylish interiors, features an exotic menu of caviar, Wagyu beef and seafood al fresco in a private cabana set against an ocean backdrop. At the resort’s second restaurant, Boneka, guests are invited to savor authentic Asian-style dishes in a sophisticated and relaxing setting. The King Cole Bar honors the legacy of the Astors and the brand’s flagship property in New York, the birthplace of the iconic Bloody Mary. Home-made delicacies and imported fine culinary delights are available at Gourmand Deli. The Legendary St. Regis Butler Service is also available to prepare a private, in room-barbecue for guests, accompanied by a personal chef and sommelier.
A suite of pampering services is available at The St. Regis Bali Resort’s Remède Spa, set in a serene corner of the resort surrounded by Koi Carp pond. Featuring twelve treatment rooms, the spa offers both traditional treatments and modern Remède therapies to create the ultimate spa experience. The signature Lulur Experience of Indonesia includes gentle exfoliation with a paste of sandalwood, turmeric, ground nuts and rice. Other facilities include an Aqua Vitale Pool, for a full body underwater massage, two phenomenal spa suites and a yoga center.
For guests seeking an exclusive and romantic wedding destination, The St. Regis Bali Resort offers an exceptional wedding venue, unparalleled in setting and service. Located directly on the resort’s private beach, the Cloud Nine Chapel is both intimate and elegant, while the Cloud Nine honeymoon villa offers a majestic setting for an unforgettable wedding experience. An ideal choice for meetings on one of Asia’s leading resort islands, The St. Regis Bali Resort offers an exclusive beachfront location for social and corporate gatherings, featuring two boardrooms, and state-of-the-art meeting and function space.
Following in the tradition of the legendary St. Regis Hotel New York, The St. Regis Bali Resort will feature the famed hallmarks of St. Regis hotels including the iconic St. Regis Butler Service, bespoke guest experiences and luxury accommodations tailored to meet global travelers’ needs. Trained in the English tradition, the butlers provide ever-present, yet unobtrusive service while anticipating guests needs and customizing each guest’s stay according to his or her specific tastes and preferences. The resort offers guests 12-hour and 24-hour personalized butler service, as well as separate butler quarters, complete with a private entrance, for each villa. For more information on The St. Regis Bali Resort, please visit: www.stregis.com/bali
About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Combining timeless sophistication with modern luxury, the St. Regis brand is uncompromising in its commitment to excellence. Founded by John Jacob Astor with the landmark St. Regis Hotel, New York over a century ago, St. Regis is known for delivering an unrivaled dimension of luxury, bespoke service and refined elegance at the best addresses in the world. The brand plans to further its legacy globally and will unveil highly anticipated St. Regis properties in Atlanta-Buckhead, Baha Mar, The Bahamas, BahĂa Beach, Puerto Rico, Bal Harbour and Deer Crest in North America, and in Buenos Aires, Costa Rica, and Mexico City in Latin America. In Asia, St. Regis has announced plans to open properties in Bangkok, Jakarta, Lhasa, Kuala Lumpur, Macao, Osaka and Tianjin. In the Middle East, St. Regis will expand in Cairo, Doha, Dubai, and Bahrain. Personalized service and amenities, enviable locations and luxuriously localized design are recognized worldwide as hallmarks of the St. Regis experience. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com.Â
Source: www.hotelinteractive.com
February 27th, 2009
JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian Open has moved from the capital Jakarta to the resort island of Bali, with the US$1.25-million tournament attracting a strong field including Sweden’s Daniel Chopra and Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand.
The jointly sanctioned European Tour and Asian Tour event will be played from Thursday at the recently completed 7,361-yard, par-72 New Kuta Golf Club overlooking the world-famous surf at Balangan Bay.
Defending champion Felipe Aguilar of Chile will be back along with previous winners Mikko Ilonen of Finland, Simon Dyson of England and Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant.
Chopra, 35, who has played in 10 different Tours on four continents before joining the PGA Tour in 2004, has claimed 14 victories including two U.S. PGA Tour events.
Jaidee was the first Thai golfer to win a European Tour event and last year claimed the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters and the Cambodian Open.
American Anthony Kang, who won the Malaysian Open two weeks ago, South African Anton Haig, Englishman Nick Dougherty and China’s Liang Wenchong are among the other top names expected to assemble in Bali.
Thaworn won the Indonesian Open at Jakarta in 2005 and is aiming for a record 11th Asian Tour title.
“This is a nice place to be playing golf. I’ve had a slow start (to the year) but I hope it will all change this week,” the former Asian No. 1 said. “The course is tricky and it will be a good test.
“My game has been inconsistent but. I have a feeling that things will change this week.”
Source: www.google.com/hostednews
February 26th, 2009
BADUNG: Members of the Bali Tourism Board planted 500 coconut trees on Legian beach in Kuta on Sunday.
Bali Vice Governor Puspayoga, who led the activity, said he welcomed any kind of efforts to go green, especially in a tourist spot like Kuta. He reiterated his message that people should pay more attention to the preservation of existing trees rather than the number of trees they could plant.
“It’s better to plant fewer plants that grow well than to a large number of trees that later die because they are neglected,” he said. -JP
Source: The Jakarta Post
February 25th, 2009
WITH the island paradise of Bali now well and truly back on the travel radar with Australians, Explore Holidays is pleased to announce the launch of its new brochure for the region.
The 2009-2010 Bali and Lombok brochure has hit the shelves of travel agencies Australia-wide, offering 52 pages of dream getaways and handy tips in its most comprehensive guide yet for the holiday hotspot.
Designed to help dream, discover and explore the perfect Bali holiday, the brochure is divided into easy-to-follow sections including At a Glance, Travellers Secrets, Short Breaks and bonus honeymoon and Stay Pay offers highlighted to help the travel dollar stretch further.
“This brochure is brimming with value for money Bali escapes and customers enjoy added peace of mind that they are getting the best deal possible with our price beat guarantee for the destination,’’ said Maxine Wiggs, Marketing Manager for Explore.
The brochure offers a fabulous range of sightseeing opportunities, tours and unique experiences for a taste of the real Bali with highlights including cooking classes, cruises, pamper packages, golf and spa experiences and much more.
Explore Holiday’s Bali brochure also features an extensive range of accommodation options ranging from two to five stars covering Kuta, Tuban, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran Bay, Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Sanur, Ubud, regional areas, Lombok and the Gili Islands.
Source: www.etravelblackboard.com
February 24th, 2009
Wasti Atmodjo , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar
The Bali provincial administration should create a legal entity to watch over the declining number of subak, a seminar concluded.
A subak is a traditional Balinese irrigation system where a traditional village manages one or two subak units, depending on the size.
In a seminar titled “Revitalizing agriculture values in the development of city farming” at the Bali Museum held by the Denpasar Agriculture Agency on Thursday, experts agreed that the condition of subak in Bali was spiraling out of control.
I Wayan Jelantik, chief of a subak unit in Kesiman district of Denpasar, said subak, as an institution and its function, had greatly dwindled.
He said subak, as an institution, needed a legal entity to control its numbers because farmers had no idea who they could talk to for consultation on managing the subak.
I Wayan Windia, a professor from the Udayana University’s agriculture faculty, agreed, saying subak as a traditional farming system had been abandoned by most residents for other means of living.
He pointed out the example of the water from the rivers in Gianyar, which had been circumvented to supply water reservoirs belonging to hotels. Another example, he said, was the rafting business, which saw businessmen block waterways to create larger river streams in turn blocking water going into the region’s subak.
“This is happening because we fail to defend the importance of subak, dictated by other interests,” he said.
Windia urged the provincial administration to designate land that could only be used for farming.
“And the farmers developing these farms should receive incentives such as tax exemptions, subsidies and financial help in marketing their products,” he said.
Source: The Jakarta Post
February 23rd, 2009
Djodi Trisusanto, Consultant
Bali has evolved into a diverse and segmented tourist destination: Kuta with its beach, shopping and nightlife attractions; the greater Seminyak area with its chic, relaxed, boutique lifestyle experience; Nusa Dua with its self contained affluent gated resort complex and Jimbaran, Uluwatu and Bukit with their cliffs and luxury, spacious, established resort establishments.
There is also Sanur with its rich Balinese village experience and Ubud, which is probably the most popular destination for those seeking natural beauty among its mountain villages. The area is famous for its highly skilled artists and more recently for its international quality boutique villas, away from mass market destinations.
These characteristics and the constant growth of the tourism market have generated not only different classes and categories of hotels and resorts but also holiday home products.
The holiday home market started with limited local time share products and brands offering the annual weekly use of hotel rooms, introduced mainly by mid-market developers such as the Jayakarta and Bali Sani hotels in the late 1980s. The market has grown and now includes the possibility of full ownership of luxury branded villas such as the St. Regis Villas in Nusa Dua and the Alila Villas in the Bukit.
Full ownership buyers have the option of using the villas as their full private holiday homes or, by putting them on the hotel’s room inventory, as a mix of second home and investment product.
This type of holiday home product requires buyers to enter into a compulsory rental pooling agreement or a sale and lease back deal.
The Banyan Tree villas in Bukit, the Anantara apartments (suites) in Seminyak, the Novotel in Nusa Dua, and the Pullman in Kuta are all examples of this.
We estimate that about 3,000 units of various classifications have been offered as branded holiday homes in Bali since 2000.
There are other holiday home products in Bali that are offered as independent and unbranded but are generally of a much smaller scale. These are independent clustered villa developments that have been mushrooming in the past few years and are predominantly located in Bukit, Seminyak, and Sanur.
With no requirements to conform with international brand standards these holiday home products generally offer flexibility in design, quality and services and therefore are priced relatively lower than other, branded products.
These projects range from as small as one 3-bedroom villa compound up to a mix of 20 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom villas.
These products have attracted guests from the existing, older hotels as they offer relatively larger, newer and updated designs and room amenities and, more importantly, guests of these holiday homes do not have to pay the 11 percent local government tax or the 10 percent service charges.
To date we have estimated that about 1,500 units have been put on the market.
With strong international interest, even without the supporting foreign ownership laws and regulations, developers of holiday home products have been able to sell the villas and/or condo units successfully to foreigners, which have made up over 70 percent of the buyers.
Many of these developers offer leasehold structures of 25 to 50 years with options to extend or to convert to an ownership title when the law permits.
For the luxury segment, with unit prices of over US$1 million however, developers generally offer an ownership structure which allows a foreign buyer to virtually own a freehold title.
This has been an important feature of luxury branded villas as most buyers, including foreigners, demand the ability to mortgage the title and enjoy capital gain (return of) the investment in the long run.
In addition to the existing, branded holiday home establishments, our data base suggests that there will be over 1,000 branded holiday home units to enter the market between 2009 and 2012.
The majority of them are hotel units that are or will be offered predominantly as investments.
With the global recession and slowing down of demand for holiday home products in Bali, we believe that there will be delays in the construction or completion of these projects.
Developers may reduce the size of the development and stage the construction in line with the recovery of the market.
Also, given the history of resiliency of Bali’s hotel market and the uniqueness and popularity of Bali, demand for holiday homes in Bali will recover.
The market will be competitive and sophisticated as many of the proposed holiday home projects will be completed in 2009 and potential buyers will be more educated and opt for the best ownership structure, design, amenities and services tailored to their investment and lifestyle needs.
Branded holiday homes and those projects managed by international and experienced hotel operators will likely attract long term investors, as these projects are relatively better designed, built and managed according to international market requirements.
To support the sustainable recovery of demand for holiday homes in Bali, there are a number of issues which have to be addressed to anticipate slowing demand during 2009 and 2010. These include the commitment of the government to improve the law and regulations, particularly for foreign real estate ownership and to enforce better licensing regulations of the independent holiday home projects so as they do not compete unfairly with hotels.
The government also needs to enforce consistent development zoning regulations and parameters to avoid over development and to maintain open space, not to mention ensuring infrastructure developments, particularly accessibility to air traffic and electricity supply.
The writer is the vice president of investment sales at Jones Lang Lasalle
Source: The Jakarta Post
February 23rd, 2009
The tropical island paradise of Bali, known worldwide for its exquisite dancers and world-class surf, is set to make waves of another sort when the Tournament 18 at New Kuta Golf & Ocean View in Dreamland Beach welcomes the best players from two separate tours.
The 2009 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesian Open, a joint stop on the European PGA and Asian PGA tours, is scheduled for New Kuta Golf & Ocean View February 26-March 1. It’s the first time either tour has visited Bali, a testament to the island’s growing stature in tourism circles and New Kuta’s immediate suitability as a top-flight tournament venue.
Designed by Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Golfplan and less than a year removed from its April 2008 grand opening, New Kuta Golf measures more than 7,500 yards, or 6,832 meters, from the championship tees, known as the Black Monkeys. The winds never stop blowing here, a blessing in the tropical heat but a complication on holes likes 14, 15 and 16, perched as they are at cliff’s edge some 200 feet above the best surfing in Bali.
“I think the tour pros will enjoy New Kuta immensely, but not because they’ll eat the course for breakfast. If the winner posts anything better than 12 under for 72 holes, I’ll be shocked,” said Englishman Stephen Banks, a British PGA professional and New Kuta’s general manager.
“The layout and the prevailing winds will surely test their shot-making abilities to the fullest, but they’ll also appreciate the physical qualities of New Kuta. Only a blind man could miss it: It’s a stunning piece of property that has produced a stunning 18 holes of golf.”
A worldwide television audience will also get its first peek of the course. ESPN Star Sports has scheduled four-day coverage of the 2009 Enjoy Jakarta Indonesian Open (total purse: $1.25 million), while select terrestrial and cable networks throughout Europe, Asia and North America will supplement that coverage.
Owned and operated by Jakarta-based Golflink (www.golflink-resorts.com), New Kuta Golf is the centerpiece of a sprawling, ambitious development located 30 minutes south of the island’s International Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar. Conceived and bankrolled by the consortium PT Bali Pecatu Graha (BPG), the 650-hectare property includes New Kuta Golf, plans for five distinct hotels, and what stands to be the largest nightclub in Indonesia, Klapa, which looks out over the surfers and sunbathers on New Kuta Beach.
The 60-room Le Grande Suites, an elegant boutique hotel near the 9th fairway, will be the first to open its doors, this spring. The 300-room Best Western, closer to the beach and overlooking the 13th hole, comes next. The respective foundations have already been laid for two more hotels, each boasting a storied hospitality brand: Kempinski, on the high ground overlooking the entire property, and Raffles, which will oversee a suite of luxury villas on the cliffs beside Klapa.
Klapa held its grand opening February 8, though a post-tournament party the evening of March 1 will twice christen the nightclub, this time with the 2009 champion presiding. By that time, Banks believes, the winner will have earned his $208,330 first-place check and a celebratory glass of champagne.
At New Kuta Golf & Ocean View, Golfplan designed a course where a lax putter can punish a player on every hole. The greens are wildly undulating and varied in size. However, Banks believes the field, and television viewers, should pay extra attention to a stretch of holes in the middle of each nine.
The back nine, featuring New Kuta’s very own “Amen Corner,” will perhaps leave the greatest impression. The remarkable par-4 14th tumbles some 438 yards downhill with the aqua-blue waters of the Indian Ocean as a backdrop. The putting surface sits directly at cliff side, fronted by a menacing pot bunker.
Fifteen plays just 153 yards, but it occupies the treeless, exposed headland dividing New Kuta Beach from Balangan Beach. “This little par-3 will show us who the shot-makers are,” Banks says, “because, depending on the wind, players will have to manufacture something here. The green is steeply pitched left to right, so finding the putting surface is really only half the battle.”
The front side ventures farther inland, but plays over more varied, links-style terrain. At the 191-yard 6th hole, another flamboyant putting surface - multi-tiered and angled away from the tee - is literally surrounded by a sea of sand. It’s an island green essentially, encircled by an uninterrupted bunker of uncommon depth. It’s this extreme bunker depth that places a serious premium on accuracy: Miss anywhere and par is a chore.
At the par-4 7th, a beautiful-but-brutish dogleg right, sheer length (470 yards) is compounded by a well-trapped landing area and an elevated green guarded by a phalanx of hillside bunkers.
“The 7th is a good example of what makes New Kuta Golf a remarkable golf course: From a forward tee, No. 7 is a difficult but manageable par-4 that just happens to be drop-dead gorgeous - from the tips, it’s a par-4 that will test the best players on earth,” Banks said, noting that Golfplan designs will host the 2009 Singapore Open (the Serapong Course at Sentosa GC), the 2009 Malaysian Open (Saujana CC in Kuala Lumpur), and the 2009 Indonesian Open.
Adds Banks: “When a layout can handle that type of double duty, that’s design integrity. You see the same sorts of qualities in celebrated tournament courses everywhere, like Pinehurst, the Serapong, Bethpage and St. Andrews. Great courses should be able accommodate resort play one week and championship play the next. It’s part of what makes them great.
“New Kuta is a young course but it’s really the only course on Bali, and one of the few in Asia that can handle that sort of double duty. And those qualities will be there for all to see during the last week in February.”
For more information, visit www.newkutagolf.com.
Source: www.cybergolf.com/golf_news
February 20th, 2009
Ni Komang Erviani , The Jakarta Post , Buleleng
The Buleleng administration will upgrade the status of the eastern part of the regency into a tourism area (KW) in the hope of attracting more visitors to the impoverished coastal region and helping increase the regency’s revenue, a senior official said recently.
“If we could develop it into a KW, there would be several positive changes, such as an increase in lodging fares, an rise in lodging status from non-starred to starred facilities, and, more importantly, an improvement in the quality of services offered to visitors,” said I.B. Puja Erawan, Buleleng Tourism Agency head.
East Buleleng is currently a designated tourism object and attraction area (ODTW). Bali’s provincial zoning bylaw No. 3/2005 lists several restrictions for ODTW, including in lodging capacity. Any hotel built within ODTW may only have up to 25 rooms.
But with an upgraded status of KW, the area will be allowed greater freedom in developing tourist facilities. A KW is allowed to have starred hotels, with no limitation on the number of rooms available.
Erawan hinted that developing East Buleleng into a KW would not be a difficult task.
“We have received many inquiries from potential investors who want to participate in developing East Buleleng into a tourism area,” he said.
The upgraded status, he went on, would bring more visitors to the area, which has risen in popularity in recent years, eclipsing even Lovina, the regency’s most popular tourist destination.
East Buleleng comprises Kubutambahan and Tejakula districts. The area boasts pristine beaches, scenic coastlines and virgin waterfalls.
“It has strong potential to be developed as an agro-tourism destination, as well as a spiritual tourism destination, due to the presence of several ancient Hindu temples, including Meduwe Karang Temple with its unique reliefs and architecture,” Erawan said.
At present, East Buleleng has around 70 villas and scores of hotels and homestays, reflecting the increasing number of visiting tourists.
Bali Tourism Agency head I Gde Nurjaya confirmed the plan to upgrade the region’s status into KW had been received by the provincial administration and was currently being deliberated.
“The plan will be integrated into the revised version of the zoning bylaw,” he said.
However, the plan met with sharp rejection from Bali Tourism Board (BTB) head I.B. Ngurah Wijaya, who called on local administrations to pay more attention to improving tourism objects and attractions, rather than aiming at establishing tourism areas.
“The administration should also take into consideration the island’s *visitor* capacity,” he said.
“They shouldn’t compete on getting the most PHR *hotel and restaurant tax*.”
Buleleng regency currently has 3,000 available rooms, a large number of them in hotels and lodgings in Lovina. In 2008, the regency welcomed 350,000 overseas visitors, and the tourism industry generated Rp 4 billion from hotel and restaurant taxes.
There are 15 designated tourism areas in Bali, including Lovina in Central Buleleng and Batu Ampar in West Buleleng.
Source: The Jakarta Post
February 20th, 2009
Bali isn’t only about dreamy beaches, latenight bars and cheesy Tshirt shops. This tiny bastion of Hinduism in the midst of Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, is peppered with thousands of temples, its calendar punctuated by religious festivals. Ancient volcanoes stand guard over thick tropical jungles and deep river gorges, all fringed by fertile ricefields. The natural splendours are combined with an exotic history, defined by ancient palaces and a diverse secular heritage of arts and crafts.Â
We left our hotel in Ubud — Bali’s cultural heart, a town surrounded by rice paddies one hour north of the capital Denpasar – heading for the Hindu island temple of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, founded in the 17th century and dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the waters. It’s truly beautiful , with classical Hindu thatchroofed meru reflected in the waters of the lake and silhouetted against an often cloudy backdrop – one of the most striking photographic images of Bali.
Unfortunately, we arrived at the end of the wet season so daily showers were the norm. But at least the clouds kept the temperature low!
We set off next for Banjar, a historic town set on the coastal plain with the North Bali uplands as a backdrop. If your aching bones like soaking in natural hot springs, this is the place! There are three pools with carved dragon-heads spurting out greenish-yellow sulphurous water said to be therapeutic for skin complaints. But aggressive souvenir vendors abound!
If getting into a Speedo and boiling yourself is not your cup of tea, check out Brahma Vihara Ashrama, a monastery built in 1970 by a local Brahmin who converted to Buddhism.
That seen, we headed to the village of Gitgit and its waterfall. Cascades are impossible to miss, exhilarating yet soothing in its unending motion. I, a waterfall sceptic, wondered if it would be worth climbing down (then up) 300 steps at Gitgit .The trek took 30 mins but I’m glad I made it. Gitgit’s falls may not be the biggest but if there are any more beautiful, I’d like to see them.
I’d got off to a bad start when I stumbled and fell on wet steps. But when we reached, the dizzying beauty made me forget my bleeding knees. Up close, it was a sprayladen gale – too loud for conversation . The water was cocktail blue, a dreamy contrast to the lush green vegetation all around.
Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
February 19th, 2009
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