NusaBali reports that Bali’s Benoa Port will soon be enlarged to cover an area of 80 hectares by dredging shallow areas of the harbor currently inaccessible to shipping.

Benoa’s current useable port area is 40 hectares while experts claim a port of 120 hectares is needed to provide access for international cruises ships.

Heskiel Sasian, the General Manager of PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III – Benoa - the management authority for Benoa Harbor, defended the port expansion program saying it was in accordance with the master plan of the provincial government of Bali and the target of the Department of Culture and Tourism to increase the role of cruise tourism.

The development of Benoa would provide a convenient cruise terminal with a location just minutes from Bali’s international airport the Island’s main tourism areas.

Plans for the development of the Benoa port has reportedly commenced with the signing of a cooperation agreement with a consortium of 6 South Korean companies. Under the terms of that agreement the Korean partners will provide Rp. 3 trillion (US$326 million) for the development of port infrastructure and another Rp. 2 trillion (US$217 million) for the construction of 5-star accommodation and a traffic flyover.

Heskiel told NusaBali that the Department of Culture and Tourism has already provided Rp. 500 million (US$54,500) in funding that have permitted changes in the port basin in order that ship of up to 260 meters can now call on Benoa.

Source: www.balidiscovery.com

Denpasar (ANTARA News)- Internal Affairs Minister H Mardiyanto inagurated the Bali Governor and his deputy for the 2008-2013 term at the Bali provincial legislative assembly (DPRD), here Thursday.

During the inaguration for Made Mangku Pastika and AAN Puspayoga as the elected Bali governor and deputy in Bali election July 9 2008, the Minister attached the position pin.

The Australian Ambassador for Indonesia, Bill Farmer, former Tourism Post and Telecommunication Minister, Joop Ave, and a number of fucntionaries in KODAM IX/Udayana and Bali police department attended the high level security session.

The Bali DPRD Secretary, AA Made Sunendra adimted that high security level held on the council`s building surrounding during the inaguration.

“This level of security was intended to anticipate any unwanted possibility might occur,” he said.

The parking lot in the council`s building is limited for 200 cars only, the rest are placed at Renon office area, Denpasar,” Sunendra said.

Due to the distance from the parking lot to the council`s “house”, few invitees had to get there on foot.

Meanwhile, the situation outside the building was steadly in control and the weather in Bali was bright and clear.

Mangku Pastika/Puspayoga which suppprted by the Strugling Indonesian Democracy Party (PDIP) elected as Bali Govenernor and deputy after defeating their two pairs of rival candidates strugled in the election.

Tjokorda Budi Suryawan-Nyoman Gede Suweta (Golongan Karya Party/Golkar)and Prof Dr Gede Winasa-I Gusti Bagus Alit Putra (Bali resurrection coalition-KKB) were their rivals candidates.

In the DPRD special session led by the House chairman, the elected Ida Bagus Putu Wesnawa Mangku Pastika/Puspayoga took over from Drs Dewa Beratha/I GN Kesuma Kelakan which led Bali in the last five years.(*)

COPYRIGHT © 2008

Source: ANTARA News

Wasti Atmodjo, The Jakarta Post, Ubud

Popo Danes is a multi-faceted, modern individual.

For the island’s contemporary arts circles, he is known as a generous patron, who, through his Danes Art Veranda, has continuously provided ample space and strong support for the development of Bali’s young, progressive and avant-garde artists.

For the island’s rights activists, Popo is among the most ardent proponents of the establishment of a modern and democratic civil society.

For the local environmentalists, Popo is an articulate and influential voice, which tirelessly badgers the local administrations for better, eco-friendly development policies.

For Popo himself, he is just an architect, who believes that anybody can make a difference.

“It (the change) could be big or small, but any person can make an impact in the world,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Popo chooses to make that change through his work as an architect.

“I am a Balinese and there are so many elements of Bali’s traditional architecture that are in tune with the principles of energy conservation and environmental preservation, which modern architecture is still trying to achieve,” he said.

“Being an environmentalist myself, I am committed to utilizing and integrating the eco-friendly characters of Bali’s traditional architecture into my projects.”

Born in Banyuatis in North Bali, Popo graduated from Denpasar’s Udayana University with a major in architecture. While still a student, he won an architectural design competition held by the Bali province.

In 1992, with a grant provided by the Rotary Foundation, he traveled to the Netherlands where he visited museums, design studios and construction sites.

In 1993, he established his own architecture design firm.

A large number of Popo’s projects have been luxurious tourist resorts, upscale boutique hotels and opulent residential houses.

An early example of Popo’s commitment to environmental conservation is the Natura Eco-Resort and Spa.

Popo purposefully and carefully designed the resort’s compound so its construction and operation would cause minimum damage to the land, plants, trees and other natural features in the area.

Popo’s pro-environmental approaches in creating architectural masterpieces later won him numerous contracts in various places in Asia and the Pacific.

“The projects in those places have given me valuable opportunities to learn about the traditional architecture of each area. One thing (each style) has in common is the intimate relationship with the surrounding natural environment,” he said.

The international community recognized Popo’s work in 2004 when the Natura Eco-Resort and Spa was honored with the ASEAN Energy Award. The same award was recently bestowed upon the Ubud Hanging Gardens Hotel (see page 21), another of Popo’s creations.

The award was presented to Popo early in August during a gathering of architects in Bangkok.

“It was a very joyful moment. My works have twice been selected to represent Indonesia in this international competition and both times have succeeded in winning coveted awards,” he said.

The awards, he added, were a clear testament that eco-friendly architectural works were gaining recognition on the global stage.

“Initially, many people saw my approach to architecture as an idealistic and somewhat naive approach. The awards have proven that the approach works,” he said.

Aside from the ASEAN Energy Awards, Popo has received several other commendations, including the Indonesian Architecture Award for Building Conservation, the Indonesian Architecture Citation for Commercial Design, and the Indonesian Institute of Architecture Award.

Popo said many Indonesian architects still didn’t have the courage to utilize the country’s legacy of traditional architecture in their modern projects.

“They design buildings that imitate buildings abroad — completely-sealed skyscrapers that consume a huge amount of energy to power their lamps, air conditioning and other electrical appliances,” he said.

Source: The Jakarta Post

By Kim Ji-soo
Staff Reporter

janee@koreatimes.co.kr

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/

Offering luxurious garden villas in Denpasar, Bali, Bahagia Park Private Estate now allows guests to book online through its website’s reservation system. Expect instantly confirmed and secured bookings with the new service.

Bali, INDONESIA - Bahagia Park Private Estate launches an online room reservation system at www.bahagiapark.com. The new booking service promises to bring greater convenience in booking villas in Bali.

The online reservation engine shows up to 14 days of real-time room availability around the guests’ travel dates. It also displays the rates and features of each accommodation type offered, form which guests can choose with a few clicks. To secure the reservation, they need only pay a 10% deposit. This fee will be subtracted from the total room charge at the end of their stay at Bahagia Park and serves as a guarantee that the chosen rooms are ready upon arrival. An automated e-mail is sent instantly as confirmation that the booking has been made and the deposit received.

Bahagia Park Private Estate’s online booking system is certified safe and secure by the SSL technology of VeriSign. It is further backed by the 128-bit encryption technology by WorldPay, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The hotel offers this improved booking service with DirectWithHotels, its direct reservations performance partner. DirectWithHotels empowers accommodation providers worldwide to directly serve guests online and provide instant booking confirmation. To learn more, log on to www.directwithhotels.com.

Located right in the heart of Denpasar, Bali’s largest city, Bahagia Park Private Estate offers generously furnished, very private garden villas most suitable for honeymoons and family holidays. Exclusive services are available as well, including butler service, tours, and all-inclusive assistance. More information can be found on www.bahagiapark.com.

Contact Information:
Bahagia Park Private Estate
Jl. Kuwum II, Kerobokan
Denpasar, Bali
Indonesia

Phone no.: 62 361 856 4211
E-mail: management@baliretreat.com, mhl888@yahoo.com

prlaunch@directwithhotels.com

Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/

Every thought, word, and movement, and every dress and costume are dedications to an almighty creator. Bali’s culture and philosophy is based on the traditional Hindu/Buddhist concept of “Tri Hita Karana.” This philosophy stresses the balance between human and god, human and human, and human and environment to form a harmonious life.

Once you step onto the island, you will feel that harmony. All these relationships should be in balance. This morally binding philosophy and the beauty of the island make Bali a magnificent and magical place to be—a paradise on earth, keeping in mind the warmth of its people and their endless smiles and friendliness.

Functional Spiritual Practice

Bali is steeped in history and culture. When you visit the island, it seems as if you’ve stepped into a bygone era. It is part of the Indonesian archipelago and, although Bali’s history is somewhat unclear, it is said that the first settlers in Bali emigrated from China in 2500 B.C. From this migration, the Bronze era and a very effective system of irrigation and agriculture of rice (subak) which is still used today and was created around 300 B.C.

During our short stay, we went to the southern part of Bali to see this ingenious, traditional irrigation system called subak. This system is based on Hindu wisdom and values. You will be amazed to see the magical views of terraced rice fields, which are unlike most rice fields in the world. It is as if they are etched in the hills or along the volcanic mountains, following the natural flow of the land and creating an incredibly magnificent view even on the smallest land areas.

Subak is based on the traditional Balinese calendar and on the physical, social, and cultural components derived from the Tri Hita Karana rule, which the leaders have to follow. That is why the Balinese have been able to protect and preserve the culture, the resources, and the environment that is passed on relatively intact from one generation to the next.

Kerta Masa (planting at the same time) is applied to keep the ecosystem in balance, with farmers using their traditional calendar which they believe is more precise about weather and is good for planting crops. This method also controls pests and conserves water. Balinese believe that disaster and disease come about due to imbalance and conflict between man and nature.

Island of Temples

This paradise, Bali, is also known as the Island of the Gods or the Island of the Temples. There are as many as 20,000 temples in which to adore the glory of gods in their many manifestations. It symbolizes religious unity and the inheritance of the Belanese ancestors.

You will see in every village at least three big temples (puras). For Brahman, it’s Vishnu and Siva. Every temple has the statues for all three—Brahma for creation, Vishnu for sustaining the creation, and Siva for destruction, which is considered the nature of the cycle of life. Every city also has one big temple so all people can pray there.

For Hindus, there are many temples surrounding Bali that were established during the Bali Ages—around the 5th to the 8th centuries—and still exist today. The temples are used not only for worship but also to experience peacefulness and tranquility.

Be careful; don’t step on it, please. As part of their daily activities, the Balinese fill little baskets made of bamboo or banana leaves with flowers, fruits, water, and incense and place them by the puras or in front of their homes, businesses, and even the cash registers. These are people’s offerings to the gods to show their respect and appreciation while asking for peace and protection from evil.

After seeing the rice fields, we had to rush to the Temple Tanah Lot. It challenges time standing majestically on top of a cliff that juts out over the ocean. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the ocean while the sun sets and watch the believers carrying offerings on their heads—baskets full of flowers, fruits, and vegetables—as they walk toward the temple.

Bali Delights

After a long day of travel, anyone would certainly want to pamper and relax the body and enjoy a nice traditional meal. Bali is full of spas, available everywhere. We went to The Royal Heritage Spa where you will be treated royally from the moment you step in. We were greeted with one of the most delicious and refreshing drinks you can have, which was made with ginger and natural sugar. After a great massage and a body scrub made from the rich natural minerals and fruits and spices of Indonesia, you can sip on the ginger drink while soaking in the herbal baths.

From there we went and feasted at the Manega Café at the Jimbaran area located in the southern part of Bali. The restaurant is on the white, soft sandy beach. You pick the different fish for your meal by the entrance and then are escorted to the tables placed right by the beach. The meal, along with the stunning sounds of the waves dappled with the reflection of the moon, leaves you with unforgettable memories. Oh, Bali, what have you done to me?

Source: http://en.epochtimes.com/

Offering luxurious garden villas in Denpasar, Bali, Bahagia Park Private Estate now allows guests to book online through its website’s reservation system. Expect instantly confirmed and secured bookings with the new service.

Bali, INDONESIA - Bahagia Park Private Estate launches an online room reservation system at www.bahagiapark.com. The new booking service promises to bring greater convenience in booking villas in Bali.

The online reservation engine shows up to 14 days of real-time room availability around the guests’ travel dates. It also displays the rates and features of each accommodation type offered, form which guests can choose with a few clicks. To secure the reservation, they need only pay a 10% deposit. This fee will be subtracted from the total room charge at the end of their stay at Bahagia Park and serves as a guarantee that the chosen rooms are ready upon arrival. An automated e-mail is sent instantly as confirmation that the booking has been made and the deposit received.

Bahagia Park Private Estate’s online booking system is certified safe and secure by the SSL technology of VeriSign. It is further backed by the 128-bit encryption technology by WorldPay, a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The hotel offers this improved booking service with DirectWithHotels, its direct reservations performance partner. DirectWithHotels empowers accommodation providers worldwide to directly serve guests online and provide instant booking confirmation. To learn more, log on to www.directwithhotels.com.

Located right in the heart of Denpasar, Bali’s largest city, Bahagia Park Private Estate offers generously furnished, very private garden villas most suitable for honeymoons and family holidays. Exclusive services are available as well, including butler service, tours, and all-inclusive assistance. More information can be found on www.bahagiapark.com.

Contact Information:
Bahagia Park Private Estate
Jl. Kuwum II, Kerobokan
Denpasar, Bali
Indonesia

Phone no.: 62 361 856 4211
E-mail: management@baliretreat.com, mhl888@yahoo.com

prlaunch@directwithhotels.com

Source: http://www.pr-inside.com

BALI has returned to its barrelling best.

That’s the verdict from visiting surfers and a leading travel agent after a bumper winter surf season since June.

The 2002 and 2005 terrorist bombings in Bali had a terrible effect on surf tourism, but thousands of Australians have returned to the iconic surf destination in the past two years.

World destinations: Bali travel guide

According to David Hutchinson, product manager of Sydney-based Surf Travel Company (STC), the Indonesian hotspot has turned the corner towards a brighter future.

“Right now it’s booming,” Hutchinson said.

“It’s running on par to (levels) before the first bombings (2002).

“It was slow for a couple of years after the bombings, but over the last two or three years it’s grown by about 30 per cent each year.”

Hutchinson said STC booked Indonesian holidays for about 2000 surfers in the past year. About 50 per cent of clients stay in Bali.

Most of the remainder boarded charter boats to explore the popular Mentawai Islands, off Sumatra, or travelled to Bali’s eastern neighbouring islands.

This year marked a couple of milestones for Indonesian surfing. Foremost was Bali hosting its first World Championship Tour contest, the Rip Curl Pro Search, at the premier reef breaks Padang Padang and Uluwatu.

The long, spiralling tubes of Uluwatu became a dream surfing destination for Aussies in the early 1970s. “Ulu” quickly became a mythical destination thanks to surf films and photos of the surrounding majestic cliffs, a sea-level cave and a nearby temple overlooking the scene.

Dozens of world-class breaks have since been uncovered around Bali and the rest of Indonesia.

Recent images of eight-time world champion Kelly Slater riding switchfoot in a juicy tube at Padang must surely rate among the highlights of the 2008 world tour so far.

And Indonesia’s domestic contest scene has had a big impact on Australian surfers, who supported the series by the busload.

Coolangatta goofyfooter Nic Vasicek wrapped up the series by reaching the quarter-finals of the final event at Canggu last weekend.

Vasicek was among the scores of young Queensland surfers who swamped Bali for the series, and some serious “tube time” at the classic reef breaks around the island.

Recreational riders and surfing families are also happily back on Bali’s warm, friendly beaches, although most are avoiding the central Kuta area.

“In our niche market we are seeing a swing to boutique-style resorts instead of the big resorts,” Hutchinson said.

“A lot of people are hesitant about staying directly in Kuta, so they’re moving up towards Bukit or down into the Canggu region.

“You’ll never be able to beat Bali because everyone’s dollar is so strong over there. It’s got everything from one star to five star (accommodation).

“It’s a cultural centre and meeting place for every country on earth.

“Both rich and poor can go to the same clubs and eat in the same restaurants. There aren’t too many places in the world where that sort of thing happens.”

He said the use of CCTV in some areas of Bali had helped some tourists feel safer, and the effort to help Balinese people get back on their feet had also been tremendous.

“They have suffered horrendously from the bombings,” Hutchinson said.

“From our point of view, surfers are quite resilient; they’re willing to go to these places hoping that there will be some uncrowded waves.

“And the travelling surfer has brought back the generic traveller.

“Balinese are beautiful people.

“They are very honest and caring and they haven’t got a lot of money and they rely on their surfing friends to come back every year.”

Source: http://www.news.com.au/

Defending Billabong Pro Junior surfer Heath Joske has been defeated in the semi-final in Bali, finishing third in the event.

The Valla surfer was overtaken by young gun Hawaiian Keanu Asing, who went on to take out the Billabong Pro event on Sunday.

He took on Australia’s Ice Periera from the Gold Coast in an entertaining and high quality final.
“This is my biggest win ever. It’s been such a fun week of waves here and this place really suits my style,” Asing said after his win on Sunday.

“You need to really mix up your surfing out there and even in the strong winds there’s plenty of scope to score big, fortunately it worked for me today.”

Local hope Joske had been seen as a chance by organisers after the third round of competition, held on Thursday, August 14.

He was among the stand-outs of the competition on the day, along with Tamaroa McComb and Ice Periera. All three found outstanding nine-point rides in the high performance one metre (3ft) surf at Canggu River mouth.

Joske last year won this series and he came into this event with a win in the opening event of this year’s series. With double points up for grabs at the final event, he was thought to be in contention.

“I’m not sure what my chances are to win the series but I won this particular event last year and it would be great to win it again,” Joske said in the lead-up to the semi-finals last week.

“The waves are really fun and you know you can score big when you pick up the right angled waves – it’s an ideal wave to compete in.”

The other highlight of the final day were the efforts of all at the event who participated in a beach clean-up.

Large bags of rubbish were collected to be disposed of correctly and Aussie champion Mark Occhilupo closed the event with an enjoyable question and answer prize session with the local youngsters, focusing on the importance of looking after the beaches.

Source: http://nambucca.yourguide.com.au/