Indonesia Named Second Best Travel Destination in Asia
Indonesia was ranked second in GoAsia’s Best Travel Destination in Asia after Thailand while Malaysia was placed as the third best, according to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. Go Asia, a German tourism institution, invited travel agents from all over the world to participate in the voting process on Wednesday (11/2) in Berlin. The body also gave awards for Asia’s best tourism organizations or tourism boards, airlines and tour operators. Go Asia initiative was started in 2003 to enhance marketing in German-speaking regions. Sapta Nirwandar, Indonesian Culture and Tourism Ministry’s director general of marketing, said Friday that the award was a proof that tourism, which contributed 7.5 billion U.S. dollars to the country’s income in 2008, was able to survive in the global economy slowdown. Sapta added that the number of German tourists visiting Indonesia had increased by 22.6 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year. (March 13th 2009, Xinhua)
Bali’s Chris Salans Praised in International Herald Tribune
Jen Lin-liu, writing for the International Herald Tribune in the Wednesday, March 4, 2009 edition, reaps well-deserved praise on Chef Chris Salans, the force behind Bali’s much acclaimed Mozaic Restaurant in Ubud. Citing Salans’ international culinary credentials via his association with Les Grandes Tables du Monde and recent rankings from the Wine Spectator magazine and The Miele Guide, the IHT lauds Salans’ survival skills and ability to prevail during a period of two terror attacks on the island. The food seminars and cuisine served at this “reservations-a-must” eatery reflect a specific set of multi-cultural culinary skills arguably unique to Salans. Born in Washington, D.C. to a French Mother who spirited the toddler away to France when baby teeth permitted solid foods, Salans has both a solid academic and practical grounding in the food arts obtained via an education acquired both on the Continent and New World. When his travels brought him to the East, he acquired both a Javanese wife and a profound appreciation of the endless possibilities when Eastern spices and cooking methods meet Western fine dining traditions. As Lin-liu points out in her article, Salans also brought to his Bali restaurant a passionate French sensibility for the kitchen cohabitating in a happy marriage with a strong American business sense. (March 7th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com)
Lion Air Skids on Soekarno-Hatta Airport`s Runway
A MD 90 jetliner of Lion Air skidded on the runway when it landed at Soekarno-Hatta airport on Monday (9/3) evening. Administrator of Soekarno-Hatta Airport Edwar Siloy confirmed the incident, saying the Lion Air aircraft skidded when it landed at 3.43 pm. Up to 6.30 pm Monday, rescuers were still trying to evacuate the ill-fated plane, which was still seen on the grass beside the runway. The MD 90 jet plane with 168 passengers on board landed in bad weather in heavy rain. No casualties were reported in the incident. (March 9th 2009, Antara News)
Obama Discusses Crisis with Indonesian, Philippine, Saudi leaders
President Barack Obama telephoned the leaders of Indonesia, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia on Friday (13/3) to discuss ways to pull the world economy out of its worst crisis in decades. In his conversation with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Obama consulted on the global downturn and affirmed the need for close cooperation, the White House said in a statement. “They agreed to advance our comprehensive partnership, with a focus on issues including education, health care, climate change, and counterterrorism,” it said. Obama, who lived in Indonesia for four years as a boy, also talked about his policy of reinventing U.S. relations with the Muslim world, the White House said. In addition to the crisis, Obama and Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “reaffirmed their commitment to the long-standing U.S.-Philippines alliance, including the Visiting Forces Agreement,” a bilateral pact that governs the conduct of U.S. forces in the country. Obama and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, a long-time U.S. ally in the Middle East, spoke on coordinating global efforts to restore economic growth. The White House said they also “reaffirmed the importance of a strong U.S.-Saudi relationship in promoting peace and security in the region. (March 13th 2009, AFP)
Sanur Village Festival August 25 - 29, 2009
The Balinese village among the first to welcome tourist visitors in the 1930s continues its proud tradition of gentle hospitality by hosting the 4th Sanur Village Festival August 25-29, 2009. Pledged by its organizers to be “bigger and better” than last year’s successful festival, a “Marine” theme for 2009 will celebrate the beaches and ocean that form nature’s boundary for Sanur and a central element in the life of the people of the beachside community. Conceived and driven by the indigenous residents of Bali, the Sanur Village Festival will once again provide five action-packed days of traditional performance, parades, music, food exhibits and water sports activities. (March 14th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com)
Buddhist Protesters ‘Seal’ Buddha Bar in Indonesia
Indonesian Buddhists symbolically “sealed” the up-market Buddha Bar in Jakarta on Thursday (12/3), urging authorities to immediately close the Paris-based entertainment franchise for blasphemy. About 150 mainly student protesters carrying joss sticks and flowers gathered outside the bar in a wealthy neighborhood of the capital and denounced its decorative use of sacred symbols and statues. They chanted Buddhist prayers and carried banners reading “Remove all Buddhist symbols from the bar” and “Change your name or close forever”. A handful of police watched calmly as the protesters then “sealed” the main entrance with fake yellow crime scene tape. The bar was closed at the time. “For us, Buddha is our revered teacher. But for them, Buddha is a decoration and the worst thing is the statues are in such an indecent place,” protest coordinator Eko Nugroho said. The trendy bar opened its first Asian franchise here late last year, renovating a historic former immigration building in the plush Menteng part of town and decorating it with large Buddha statues and images. It is believed to be part-owned by Puan Maharani, the daughter of former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, and former Jakarta governor Sutiyoso’s daughter, Renny Sutiyoso. “This franchise could never open in Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand. Its opening in Jakarta is really an insensitive decision by the government,” Nugroho said. “Imagine if they did that with other religions. There would be very big protests,” he added. Seven protesters were invited to present their objections to the bar’s managers, who did not comment to the media. (March 6th 2009, Antara News)
15,000 People Die of Narcotic Drugs Every Year - Indonesia
Around 15,000 people die every year in Indonesia because of narcotic drugs, the country’s state minister for sports and youth affairs Adhyaksa Dault said here on Saturday (14/3). Compounded by the number of deaths caused by HIV/AIDS the problem was like a social tsunami and was seen as what might be just be a tip of an iceberg, he said in his speech at a ceremony to mark the confirmation of Drugs, HIV/AIDS-free youth cadres of Central Sulawesi province. He said school students were very vulnerable to drugs and therefore he called on their parents and family members to conduct tight monitoring on them. Central Sulawesi governor Paliudju said that his province was very vulnerable to drugs distribution because it was an open region providing easy access for people from other regions to come to and go from there. He said in his written address to the meeting that the number of drugs users in the region had reached more than five percent of the total number of youths in the region. In view of that he called on all religious, community and social organization leaders to work together with the government to fight the danger. (March 16th 2009, Antara News)
Emaar Withdraws From US$600 Million Lombok Project
The Jakarta Globe reports that a massive US$600 million mega-resort planned for South Lombok is now in jeopardy. The project of shopping, recreation areas, golf courses and luxurious hotels on a 1,200 hectare site is a “pet project” of Indonesia’s Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, who personally invited Dubai’s state-owned Emaar Properties to spearhead the investment. Citing bureaucratic delays and an inability by the government to fulfill its obligations, Emaar announced that they have closed their Jakarta office and are abandoning it plans for investing in Indonesia. Elly Savitri, a representative of Emaar said. “There have been too many delays on the realization of the project and the company just could not wait any more.” Jakarta Globe coverage suggests that greed on the part of government officials seeking hand-outs may have also played a role in a decision to cancel the project. Meanwhile, others suggest that the worsening global financial crisis may have adversely affected the liquidity of Emaar and diminished their keenness to pursue the Lombok investment. Lombok is almost certain to be sent reeling by Emaar’s decision to quit the project, seen as the catalyst for planned new roads and a new international airport in Lombok. The final project was targeted to host 10,000 luxury villas, eight hotels and two 18-hole golf courses. Emaar told the press that they have already expended US$4.2 million in consultancy fees in connection with the Lombok project. Jusuf Kalla’s plans to woo Middle Eastern investors appears to be in serious strife. The withdrawal of Emaar from the US$600 million Lombok Project follows the recent pull out of the Saudi Arabian Bin Laden Group from a US$4.3 billion agricultural project planned for Papua. Vice President Kalla has reportedly convened a special meeting of cabinet ministers in a last ditch effort to salvage the prestigious Lombok project. (March 14th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com)
Poor Development Brings Flooding to Jimbaran
The roads in the areas surrounding the low-lying areas surrounding Jimbaran, south of Bali’s main airport, are increasingly susceptible to flooding, even in periods of only medium rainfall. According to BeritaBali.com, the tendency towards flooding in Jimbaran is due to the uncontrolled development along the Jalan By Pass leading to Nusa Dua, built with little regard for existing zoning rules and the impact of their projects on the environment. The problem of over-construction, without adequate allocation of open-space for water absorption, is compounded by the prevalence of lime stone in Jimbaran’s soil composition. Limestone laden soils tend to hold rain water, rather than provide an effective medium for absorption. Overwhelmed when frequent flooding occurs, police officials working in the area can do little more than direct passing vehicles to form a single file and keep to the high side of the road as they navigate bumper-high flood waters. The increasing severity of flooding along the Jimbaran By Pass is complicating traffic flows, isolating the many thousands of tourists and tourism workers who must pass this road every day. The secretary of Commission B of the Badung Regional House of Representatives, Wayan Sudiana, confirms the frequent flooding occurring regularly in his home district of Jimbaran. In Sudiana’s view, much of the flooding can be sourced to drains and ditches that do not operate in an optimal manner. The use of drains for garbage disposal and silt deposits which have reduced the depth of drainage ditches all contribute to flooding. The main culprit, however, for Jimbaran’s flooding is seen as non-regulated tourism-related construction. (March 14th 2009, http://www.balidiscovery.com)
