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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Bali Tourism Promotion Budget Reduced for 2009

Less Money and a More Selective Approach to Promoting Tourism on the Cards for Bali in 2009.

Bali News: Bali Tourism Promotion Budget Reduced for 2009
(12/20/2008) The Bali Tourism Authority (BTA) has revealed that Bali will have only Rp. 4 billion (US$360,000) for tourism promotion in 2009, 20% less than the Rp. 5 billion allocated in 2008.

Bali officials are blaming the reduced promotional budget on the worsening global financial crisis and the need to prioritize spending on health services and poverty eradication.

The move to curtail promotional funding has been labeled as "unwise" by the Bali Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agents (ASITA), Al Purwa. Purwa told The Jakarta Post that, in fact, the government needs to increase promotional budgets to counteract the expected downturn in tourism markets in 2009: "Promotions are a necessity regardless of the given economic conditions. In a time of financial crisis, we must strengthen promotional efforts and not weaken them."

Purwa also warned that his members were reporting cancellations and reduced levels of new bookings for the coming year.

The Chief of the BTA, I Gede Nurjaya, said he remained optimistic that a 2.1 million target for foreign visitors was achievable for 2009. He explained that total, higher than the 1.9 million plus visitors expected to be in hand by the end of 2008, will be achieved through targeted promotions; coordinated visits by the press, travel agents and foreign officials; and cooperative programs with international airlines flying to Bali.

Quoted separately in Beritabali.com, Nurjaya said promotional efforts would be reduced in "markets deemed to not have great potential such as Russia" and instead see marketing concentrated on more promising markets such as Japan, Australia, China and India.

The total budget of the BTA is Rp. 6 billion (US$540,500) with two-thirds of that amount dedicated to promotional activities and the remaining one-third for the daily operations of his office.

Bali International Triathlon

Bali International Triathlon, LLC has opened registration for the 2nd Annual Bali International Triathlon to be held on the island of Bali on June 29, 2008 at Jimbaran Bay, Bali.

The Olympic distance course, consisting of a 1.5 kilometer swim in the warm waters of Jimbaran Bay, a 40 kilometer bike course through the Nusa Dua area, and a 10 kilometer run through Jimbaran Village ending with a beach finish, will provide participating athletes with both a challenging and scenic race. As with last year's event, athletes can compete in both individual age group categories or through three-person relay teams. A 5 kilometer "Fun Run" will also take place through Jimbaran Village.

Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay, one of the leading race sponsors, is offering a prize package consisting of a seven day, six night stay in one of their world famous luxury villas for both the overall first male and first female finishers. Four Seasons Resort will also provide a pre-race athlete reception and dinner as well as post-race food for athletes. Awards will also be given to the first three triathlon finishers in each age group category, and the top male and female finishers of the 5K Fun Run. All triathletes will be provided with high quality race T-shirts, entrance to the pre-race party, and unique finisher's award handcrafted by local Balinese artists.

"Our goal is to repeat the huge success of last year's inaugural triathlon. In the process, we hope to promote tourism on the island and provide a quality race that will attract both professional and top age group athletes," says Robb Strom, one of the principals involved in the organization of the race. Race organizers also include Brennan Lindner of Generic Events in Los Angeles, and Bali Discovery Tours in Bali.

Participating athletes are expected to come from all over the world to take advantage of this unique destination race. While in Bali, they can take advantage of the wide range of activities available, including scuba diving, elephant riding, white water river rafting, parasailing, and jet skiing. Bali is famous for its spa properties, and athletes will once again be treated to post-race massage by local Balinese therapists.

Special hotel and tour packages for athletes and their families can be arranged by contacting Bali Discovery Tours.

Balinese Moments - An Exhibition by Ventje

Bali's Casa Iseabo - Gallery of Contemporary Art will host an exhibition of paintings depicting Balinese life by Ventje S.

With inspiration drawn from the daily life and spiritual practice of the Balinese, Ventje's paintings reflect his deep love of the Island and its people. Colorful, realistic and rich in detail - Ventje's works reveal a spiritual understanding of the Balinese drawn from months dedicated to sitting and careful observation in a Denpasar market or roaming the rice fields of Bali.

Born in Jakarta of Manadonese parentage, Ventje has spent the past 42 years living and painting in Bali.

Despite enjoying a world wide audience for his artwork, the current exhibition will be Ventje's first solo exhibition in Bali and only his second internationally, the first of which held in the Maison de France, Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1971. Working traditionally with oil paints on canvas for his larger composition, Ventje employs a special technique of layering oils, creating an exciting visual effect in his smaller works. The exhibition also includes a number of large black pen sketches on paper that depict daily life in Bali.

Casa Iseabo

Casa Iseabo is located in Seminyak in Bali and was established to provide an international platform for Balinese and Indonesian artists. The gallery works with artists who share a fierce commitment to their artistic vision, whatever the medium; whether hand-sculptured stone or wood, glass, painting, bronze and iron, marble, weaving, batik design, paintings or drawings.

The exhibition, "Balinese Moments" runs untils January 31, 2008.

For more information contact Susana Archibald at telephone ++62-(0) 81805503193.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

BALI TROPIC RESORT AND SPA

Tanjung Benoa - Nusa Dua
Welcome to the real Balinese Architecture resort of Bali Tropic, this is set in front of the ocean and the golden sand of Nusa Dua Beach. It is about 25 minutes drive from Bali's International Airport. The resort building that is designed with the Balinese touch gives the warm welcome atmosphere and friendly of Bali's nuance. The resort is completed by the comfortable facilities and it is situated in the clean white sandy beach with the calm seawater that is suitable for relaxation during your vacation in Bali. The friendly service from the well-trained staff and complete hotel facilities will give a memory that is not fallen into oblivion. The Resort is offering all-inclusive service gives you the wide opportunity to enjoy the food and beverage until your satisfactory level. Bali Tropic is located in Tanjung Benoa Area and only 5 minutes from elite resort area of Nusa Dua Bali.

Bali Hotels, Bali Tropic Resort and Spa
All Inclusive Hotel in Tanjung Benoa Bali
Bali Tropic Resort Beach sideLet the authentic Balinese entrance greet you and the professional staff serves you with natural warmth and pleasant hospitality. Its resort is set amidst in the lush tropical gardens and lotus ponds with access to the sea. Bali Tropic Resort and Spa is beach resort in Tanjung Benoa Bali and Bali Water Sport Center that is designed permanently with Balinese architecture provides comfortable room and excellent beach for relaxation and fun for Bali Holiday . All-inclusive services are the main service that let you to enjoy the food and beverage, which are wrapped in one package rate.
Accommodations
Bali Tropic Resort bed roomRest and relax at your spacious Balinese style bedroom. Each bungalow has a private balcony, overlooking the lush tropical gardens and a private bathroom with a bathtub and a collection of amenities. All rooms are designed comfortable with the air conditioning and private balcony to let you to enjoy the tropical atmosphere that is covering the resort.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Bali Rattan Furniture

Best Bali Furniture

We provide Bali rattan furniture, Bali wicker furniture, rattan dining set furniture, rattan living room set furniture and other kinds of Bali furniture made from rattan.

We also provide others Bali furniture like banana leaf furniture, sea grass furniture, teak furniture, patio furniture, outdoor furniture, bedroom furniture, office furniture, home furniture, garden furniture and indoor furniture, knock down house, wood flooring, decking and special project..bali rattan furniture

Also we have any Bali handicraft, ata handicrafts Bali, bag, basket, Bali wooden cat, Bali wooden animal, wooden lamp, wooden car, table lamp, Bali wooden accessories, home decoration, Bali interior design merchandize and much more all available for export from Bali – Indonesia. For complete informations please see our Bali handicraft catalog.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Bali Blinds and Shades

Compare All Window Treatments
Bali Sliding Panel

NEW Bali Sliding Panels
Bali sliding panels are perfect for covering patio doors and wide windows, or for dividing a room. Available in many of the same colors featured in Bali Roman, roller, solar and natural shades.
Bali Wood Blinds

Bali Wood Blinds
The natural beauty of Bali Northern Heights™ wood blinds complement any décor style. These energy efficient wood blinds keep rooms warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Bali Cellular Shades

Bali Cellular Shades
The insulation of other window treatments can't compare to the energy-efficient honeycomb design of Bali cellular shades.
Bali Pleated Shades

Bali Pleated Shades
An impressive collection of designer colors in a variety of on-trend fabrics. From sheer to semi-private to room darkening (by adding a liner), Bali offers a perfectly pleated shade!

Bali Natural Shades

Bali Natural Shades
The unique materials of Bali natural shades (often called woven woods or bamboo shades) create a relaxed atmosphere of casual elegance or simple sophistication.
Bali Roman Shades

Bali Roman Shades
The classic style of Bali Roman shades combines a soft, drapery appearance with the easy operation of a shade. NEW Custom Tailored Roman Shades are now available!

Bali Roller Shades

Bali Roller Shades
Bali roller shades blend a retro look with modern sensibility. Choose from fabrics ranging from sheer to blackout.


Bali Vertical Blinds
Add drama, dimension and sleek, contemporary styling to patio doors and wider windows with Bali vertical blinds.

Bali Solar Shades

Bali Solar Shades
Bali solar shades allow you to maintain view to the outside, reduce glare and UV rays, and keep rooms cool and comfortable.
Bali Faux Wood Blinds

Faux Wood Blinds
Bali composite and faux wood blinds are an affordable alternative to real wood blinds. Use in kitchens and bathrooms as slats won't warp in high humidity.



Bali Horizontal Blinds
Bali vinyl and aluminum horizontal blinds offer a wide range of colors and slat sizes to match today’s decorating styles.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Asian Beach Games

The Asian Beach Game Will be open on kuta bali....
if you want to watching it you can coming to bali,....welcome

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Arsa Handicraft in Bali

ARSA Handicraft are handicraft exporter, wholesaler and manufacture High Quality products from Bali, Indonesia. We have Highly skilled in furniture, home design, Gazebo, and Handicraft.

We have earned a reputation for competitive pricing whilst providing an unmatched personalized service, continually striving for through innovative design, attention to detail and prompt delivery.

Products with Balinese artist hand you can feel here. Every product is produced with creative hands and touch of naturalistic sence. Quality is our top care. Let us to realize your imagination with natural sense.

All kinds of products bellow are our specialist :
- Handicraft.
- Art Glass Painted, Sandblasted & Engraved.
- Engraved Stone & River stone.
- Cast Stone & Resin.
- Games.
- Statuary and Wood Carving.
- Water Fountains.
- Iron Art.
- Forever Candle.
- Gift, Souvenirs & Promotional Item.
- Home & Office Accessories.
- Spa Accessories.
- Gazebo and Carving Gazebo
- Sarong.

All of our products respond to an ethics code, are hand-made and therefore unique.

Just send us an email and you will see that we really take care of our customers.

WHY ARSA HANDICRAFT ?
You need someone that you can rely on, that you can trust, someone to control the production, the quality and to make of your money the best investment possible. We are Bali Handicraft Exporter, Wholesale, and Manufacture

Friday, October 10, 2008

About BALI HOLIDAYS WEDDING

Bali is a last paradise in the world, all of people over the world consider this. Beside leisure and relaxation, Bali also offers many beautiful and romantic locations for those in love to experience a unique wedding. Bali is the chosen venue for sweethearts from all over the world to be legally married.

Bali airport

Ngurah Rai Denpasar, Bali airport
| click to see bali airport pictures |



Airport Location

The international airport of Bali, Ngurah Rai, is located at the south coast of Bali in Tuban close to Kuta Beach and Legian, at a distance of 13 km from the city of Denpasar.

The airport of Bali has a domestic and an international terminal.

Geography

The geographic location of Bali airport is at 08.44.51 S - 115.10.09 1. It's elevation is 4,3 M / 14 Feet and it comprises a total area of 265.60 Ha.
Bali airport info

At both of the terminals information desks are located.
Luggage

A left luggage counter is to be found next to the international departures terminal entrance.
Changing money

There are banks and money change offices, but you would get a more favourable rate at the banks in the towns, so just change as much as you need.
Shopping

A variety of shops serve the airport, including the duty free Plaza Bali at international departures. With world class outlets such as Hermes, Burberry's and Fendi.
Eating / Drinking

Restaurants and cafes from McDonalds to coffee shops to smart Balinese dining are open from 6am till the last flight in both terminals.
Airport Tax

Payable at departure:
Rp. 100,000 on international flights
Rp. 9 - 20,000 on domestic flights.
Business Facilities

Citibank offers executive lounges in both terminals and there is another one on the third floor with internet access and showers. Secretarial services and catering can be hired.
Disabled Facilities

Wheelchairs, lifts and general assistance are readily available.
Available Transport

Taxi, Car Rental, City Transportation

International Departures

Other Information

* Airport classification
Class 1
.
* Airport ICAO/IATA Code
WADD / DPS.
.
* Runway
Name: R-09 - 27.
Surface: asphalt / concrete.
Magnetic angle: 088-26.
Dimension: 3000m x 45m.
.
* Apron
Wide : 126.730 m 2 + 30.000 m 2 (inv. 1996)
Strengths : PCN 69 RCXT
Surface : Concrete cement
Capacity : type B- 747/ MD-11=6 ; Max. a/c B-747.400
type DC-10 =4
type DC-9 =21
.
* Street and Parking:
STREET : 134.110 m2
PARKING : 38.358 m2.
.
* Terminals:
Domestic Arrival and Departure Wide : 9.039 m2
International Arrival and Departure Wide : 28.630 m2
.
* Security facilities:
X-Ray, Walk Trough, Explosive Detector, Handy Metal Detector, PAS, PABX, Fire Alarm, CCTV, Perimeter System, Door Control, FIDS.



Contact information

Bandar Udara Ngurah Rai
Jl. Raya I Gusti Ngurah Rai
DENPASAR
80361 BALI
Phone: +62 (0)361 751011
Fax: +62 (0)361 751032
E-mail: dps@angkasapura1.co.id

Monday, October 6, 2008

The new info in bali

Now in bali we can get many job, because many factory want to people smarth..
if you want you can coming:),hehehhe

Monday, September 15, 2008

WE ARE BALI HANDICRAFT WHOLESALER & BUYING AGENT OF BALI HANDICRAFTS, BALI WOODEN STATUE, BALI MASK AND ANY KIND OF BALI, LOMBOK, AND JAVA HANDICRAFTS


Welcome to bali handicraft wholesale website, the source of Bali handicraft where you are able to find various type of handicraft such as Bali Wood carving, Air brush key chain, Wooden statue, Abstacts statue, Bali natural Book, Bali leaf album, Mosaic mirror, Wooden mask, Wooden flower, Lombok handicrafts, Bali bag, Bali sandals, Bali Instrument, bali & lombok pottery, Bali Painting, and many more...

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Bali Instrument, Drum Djembe, marakas, Dijuridu Instument

Bali coaster crafts Coaster

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bali statue, bali wood carving Lombok Painting

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The best way to convinced you to place an order is to meet us personally. That's why we invite you to come to Bali. If you can't come to Bali only to meet us, why don't you put Bali as your next holiday destination. Bali is one of the best holiday/travel destination in the world. We have so much to offer here...If you come to Bali, we'll visit you at your hotel or if you have plenty of time we'll take you around.

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Friday, August 22, 2008

The Dynamism of Bali's Arts


The richness of Bali's Arts today can be thought of as the crystallisation of serveral cultural phenomena. Let's again look at dance as an example. Before Hinduism came to Bali, there already existed here various dance forms designed to defer evil, for example the dance known as Sanghyang, which is still performed to this day in some villages and mountain areas. The influence of Java was clearly felt after the fall of the Majapahit Kingdom in Java. At the beginning of the 15th century, many of the Majapahit left Java and began to delovp their arts in Bali. It has been noted in fact that the period of the Balinese Kingdom - between the 16th and 19th centuries is considered the golden age of Bali s art. Gambuh theatre, which is considered the well spring of the performed arts of music and dance was creation of the ruling classes of that epoch. Music, and particularly Balinese gamelan likewise developed around the same time under the influence of the Hindu-Majapahit.

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Event today fine art is enjoying a wealth of influence from abroad. Specific styles are named patra Mesir -Egyptian ornament, or elements of Chinese-patra China or Dutch art-patra Olanda, imported into Balinese carvings.

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Colonialism-in the Dutch and Japanese perioddidn't affect the existence of the arts in Bali, at least as far as music and dance are concerned. Infact is can be said to have made a positive contribution to the performing arts. Gong Kebyar, for example, which became famous around the turn of the century thanks to pioneer I Gusti Nyoman Panji Gede in the north of Bali, is noted as having been influenced by western culture via Holland. During the 1930 s, Walter Spies, a German painter who lived in Bali focussed his attention on dance and gamelan, so much so that the Kecak dance is performed today in a form enriched by contact with Spies. And in 1931 the Dutch goverment sent an arts mission to Paris, France, an event which took Europe by storm.

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Balinese Profil

Balinese Profile


I Nyoman Tjokot (Balinese Maestro)
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"His creations are quite exotic to look at, traditional but without academic influence. His works have a frighteningly macabre feel, his animal carvings eerie,
his figurative sculptures showing strange and frightening forms, as well as beasts whose features are indistinct" The detritus logs and roots commonly found along the river's edge have a unique artistic potential. Click Details


I Gusti Nyoman Lempad (Balinese Maestro)
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Home of the painter "I Gusti Nyoman Lempad" - reads the name board outside the former home of this legendary Balinese artist, which is not difficult to find amidst the many art shops mushrooming along Ubud s main high street. You only have to walk about 500m to the east of Puri Ubud and you will see the sign. Otherwise, any body you ask is sure to know the whereabouts of the home of this most famous public figure. Click details


Ida Pedanda Made Sidemen (Balinese Maestro)
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"Got no land? So, let's sew within our own selves instead". On the 10th of September 1984 Dewi Sasih was clearly seen in the sky. Dewi Sasih (or, the moon, as it was full at that night) was shining, appearing, it seemed, as a wit ness to the passing of a multi-talented priest, Ida Pedanda Made Sidemen, who was to meet his maker, concluding his long devotion in the earth at the grand old age of 126! Click details


NI KETUT RENENG (Balinese Maestro)
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"I feel God sitting in the forefront of my mind. From then I don't feel anything. I just move. My body becomes light as a feather. I feel extremely beaudm and the audience are enchanted." A simple 2 x 3 metre cell in Hayam Wuruk street, Denpasar, remained the . A faithful home of Ni Ketut Reneng during the days leading up to her ...Click Details


I Ketut Mario (Balinese Maestro)
mario.gif (14703 bytes)

The improvisational dance that came out of his response to the music that day later became known as Kebyar Duduk, or, if danced with trompong, Kebyar Trompong.These creations soon stirred a revolution in Balinese dance ...The foreign tongue refers to him as Mario, and yet the naine of this artist, who was born in 1897, was actually I Ketut Marya. Passing away on March 22, 1968, this dancer had a somewhat slight build, but he made a big name for himself, and for Bali and Indonesia too. Click Details

Bali Galungan Holiday

Galungan holiday" celebration as to commemorate the victory of "Dharma" (virtue) upon "Adharma" (evil) based on the mythology of "Mayadenawa" (a demon king) who was involved i a war against God Indra's troops. On this day, a tall bamboo pole decorated with young cocounut leaves, flower, fruit and rice-paddy symbolizing prosperity is stuck on every house entrance to make a marvelous view along the village roads, Throughout Bali.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Bali Indonesia Handicrafts Directory

You've come to the right place for quality Bali and Indonesia Handicrafts, wholesale craft supplier. This website is a well-established Manufacturer, Wholesaler and Exporter of quality Bali and Indonesian craft products. Products range includes all the classic Balinese products like wind chimes, photo albums, stoneware, miniature surfboards, incense, hand crafted terracotta ceramic, carving, wooden statue, candle and incense holders, sarongs, fashion accessories as well as many more handcrafted gift and home ware items from not only Bali but the entire archipelago of Indonesia.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Bali Travel & Culture

By Scott Vogel
The Washington Post

It was a long time before I felt comfortable asking the Danes why they are the happiest people on Earth, and by then I had already sullied the country’s largest park with a sign that read, “WHY ARE THE DANES THE WORLD’S HAPPIEST PEOPLE? AMERICAN NEWSPAPER WANTS TO KNOW.”

It was all very melodramatic and, as such, distinctly un-Scandinavian, but I had only a few days for a pursuit of their happiness and needed to make every moment count. My tip-off came courtesy the University of Michigan’s World Values Survey, which in June proclaimed Denmark to be the happiest nation among 97 surveyed, a conclusion arrived at by asking souls all around the world whether they were very happy, rather happy, not very happy or not at all happy.

A high percentage of Danes put themselves in the first category. This needed to be investigated, but then I got there and found that happiness was a difficult subject to broach, mostly because of what it seemed to imply.

“Is it that the people of the United States are not happy?” said the first person I asked, a woman selling sausages from a cart on the Radhuspladsen, Copenhagen’s expansive central square.

I gave her my best whatever-gave-you-that-idea face, which she immediately saw through. Then I sighed.

“We’re sixteenth.”

Sixteenth happiest, that is. The sausage lady smiled vacantly, the same smile she’d given me earlier when I’d asked for a knakker, one of those glorious sausages that snap when you bite into them.

“I think we are happiest because of the Carlsberg,” she finally said.

At first I thought the sausage lady was being flip, just trying to take the edge off her conversation with the American, whose countrymen are known for their competitiveness and penchant for concealed weapons. Then it occurred to me that she might be serious. After all, Carlsberg is a Danish beer even more ubiquitous than the sausages, and thus could double as a handy metaphor for the country itself: simple, unremarkable, blond. Furthermore, a few pints into it, simplicity does indeed seem a virtue, unremarkable things become their opposite and, well, blonds do appear to have more fun. But then the buzz lifts, the dazzle evaporates and with it any real chance you’ll ever be as happy as the Danes.

* * * * *

The Moorish architecture and minarets have been restored to former glory and there’s now a loop coaster that you might see in any amusement park in the world. Copenhagen’s celebrated Tivoli Gardens, which dates to 1843, still impresses with its odd combination of string quartets and thrill rides, and the 120,000 light bulbs still don’t come into their own until sundown, which, this being Copenhagen in summer, doesn’t happen until 10.

“I came from a working-class family in Essex,” said Paul Cunningham. He was sitting on a stairway behind the Tivoli restaurant that bears his name — the Paul. His airy, glass-walled eatery (it’s haute cuisine in a conservatory) is one of 11 Copenhagen restaurants in possession of a Michelin star, and so Cunningham is by definition a “hot chef,” a British transplant who is helping lead a resurgence in Danish cooking.

“The only time my family ever sat together was for a Sunday meal. In Denmark, it’s every day,” he told me. I listened as Cunningham gave me the social democracy elevator pitch, nodded as he spoke of “this secure society” and how “everything is built for the middle class, not the upper class” and “the health system is great” and “90 percent of the places serve non-chain coffee,” all of which no doubt make their contributions to Danish well-being. But it was the image of the families sitting together every day that stuck with me, families where everyone knows each other’s stories and kids fall easily into their parents’ arms at midnight in the Tivoli.

And then there were the brief glimpses of joy I caught each time a fireworks shell burst or a fountain danced to life. It is probably unwise to judge a country’s happiness by the faces of its children as lit by fireworks, but the quiet awe of Danish children at such moments was priceless.

On the other side of the park stands Restaurant Herman, which is new and does not yet have a Michelin star but is nevertheless the province of another hot chef, Thomas Herman. He is young, Danish and fiercely committed to keeping the country’s dinner table interesting. This he does by taking Denmark’s many comfort foods and moving them out of their comfort zones, which can be something of a dangerous game. Strawberries are still served with cream, for instance, but now the cream is infused with foie gras.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

get bizarre in Bali

Things are starting to get bizarre in Bali. On Saturday night, the environmental groups threw their much anticipated beach bash (which lived up to its billing). When I arrived the US chief negotiator present at the talks for the first week, Dr Harlan Watson was shuffling on the outskirts of the dance floor, Yvo de Boer, the UN climate chief, was busting the moves on the dance floor, and people were swimming out into the ocean with one hand in the water and one hand above holding their beverage. But Minister John Baird took the cake.

I wasn’t privy to the conversation, but the body language was peculiar to put it mildly. The Minister was yelling in the face of a David Suzuki climate campaigner, poking him in the chest in what looked to be quite an assertive way. Fortunately no fist-a-cuffs broke out.

On Sunday, Trade Ministers wrapped up their first ever meeting. The following countries sent their Minister to the talks: Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Finland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerand, and the US. Japan, who has been Canada’s soul mate in Bali on the topic of competitiveness concerns to do with tackling climate change, sent a 12-member delegation including its Vice-Minister. Canada was one of only two countries to have a one-man delegation (Argentina was the other) led by John T. Holmes, our Ambassador to Indonesia, who is meant to be a really nice guy, but probably not the best person to be discussing the scope for redefining the multilateral trading system to take climate change into account.

While the Canadian government was missing in action at the meeting, Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development’s four-strong delegation led by David Runnalls set the tone, presenting the Ministers with an IISD opening report marking the emergence of climate change as the trade issue of our time.

Bright Spot: Everyone from the US who is not part of the US official delegation is tripping over themselves to explain how there are two America’s and Bush’s climate skeptic America is the old one, soon to give way to a new President, and a current majority of States and Senators to take bold action on climate change. What about Canada? Good authority has it that Quebec (not one to let regionalism get in the way of progress J) may soon join the California Governator’s Western Regional Climate Change Action Initiative (WRCAI), aimed at having an emissiona trading market up and running by August 2008. Manitoba is already on board. Premier McGuinty met with Governator when he visited Toronto. If Ontario jumps on board as well, that will cover off the majority of Canada’s population. Ontario Environment Minister John Garretson is in Bali this week—maybe it will be a topic of discussion.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Hostels"Kuta Beach"

There is good news and bad news here. The bad news is that there really aren’t any traditional hostels anywhere on the island of Bali, at least the kind with dorm beds and common facilities. The good news is that the reason there are no hostels in Bali is that hotels and guesthouses all over the island start at prices so low that there is really no demand for that sort of low budget communal living.

Low budget beds in Bali

They can go by different names, but generally speaking the lower end of the accommodation scene in Bali consists of guesthouses and small hotels. These places can call themselves inns, cottages, bungalows or a few other things as well, but more good news is that you generally get what you pay for in Bali. If one place charges twice as much as the place next door, chances are it’s twice as nice as well.

Guesthouses – These can range from perhaps 4 small rooms all the way up to 50 rooms or so, but they tend to be very basic. They’ll usually have an en-suite bathroom, but expect something close to campground-style facilities rather than what you normally see in hotels in the US and Europe. Beds tend to be hard and furniture is minimal, and usually you’ll have a ceiling fan as your only method for combating the muggy nights during the rainy season. Prices start around US$5 per room, and most tourist cities in Bali have quite a few guesthouses with prices under US$10 per night. Very few of these places are available to be booked on the internet, unfortunately. There are some very luxurious places that call themselves “guesthouses” so price is probably a better indicator of quality than just the name alone.

Hotels – In Bali there are a couple dozen large international hotels and most of them are strung together in the Nusa Dua resort area in the south, but throughout the island there are also small, locally-owned hotels. Some only have a few rooms and others are much larger, but they tend to be a bit more luxurious than the aforementioned guesthouses. For only a bit more money you might be getting a refrigerator in the room and a comfortable bed and nice bathroom as well. Air conditioning is available in some rooms at some places, and usually for a higher price. Depending on the person and the time of year, A/C might be your only hope of getting to sleep or a complete waste of money. Many hotels are available online, and prices can start as low as US$15 per night for quite a nice place, so this is a good place for a bit of a splurge for many people.

Kuta Beach

The center of this famous tourist area is filled with guesthouses and hotels. You can usually get a place by just walking up with your bag in hand, but during peak season and special events it can get quite crowded. There isn’t much chance of having to sleep on the sidewalk (or the beach), but you might have to hoof it around the area for an hour or two and then settle for a place that was way down your list.

If you feel like taking a chance with your room you might still consider booking your first night ahead of time. This means you’ll be able to go straight there and put your bags away, and then you’ll have nearly 24 hours to find a cheaper place you like if you are still motivated. The cheap guesthouse rooms are a bargain in some ways, but they aren’t very comfortable, and often not very clean either.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Bali Souvenir, Bali Painting, Bali Wood Carving, Bali Nameplate, Bali Stone Carving, Bali Sculpture, Bali Furniture, Bali Accessories, Bali Custom T-S

Bali Souvenir, Bali Painting, Bali Wood Carving, Bali Nameplate, Bali Stone Carving, Bali Sculpture, Bali Furniture, Bali Accessories, Bali Custom T-Shirt, Bali Textile, From Bali Handicraft Home Industry Community
Wholesale & Retail Bali T-Shirt with Lowest Price
Custom t-shirts

Specific Balinese Souvenir

Special Bali Kids Accessories & Cloth from Ubud Bali Indonesia
Kids Accessories

BaliExist.com a Bali handicraft home industry community bring Bali handicrafts, Bali arts and Bali souvenirs closer to you. We reflects the beauty of art to each our handmade products, which meet with good quality. Various collection of handicrafts & souvenirs from the chic and simple one to glamour and extra vaganza collections are suported by creative Bali artists & craftsmen creation. We proudly offer for businessmen & the art admirer.

BaliExist.com is our online address. We are Bali Handicraft Home Industy Community. Sported by Pondok Frog and ABC (Art Business Centre). We are community of Bali painting, Bali woodcarving, Bali stone carving, Bali sculpture, Bali furniture, Bali textile, Bali accessories and Bali souvenir home industries based in Ubud Bali which is famous as Bali handicraft, Bali art and Bali culture center.

We are Bali handicrafts and artwork crafts home industry community and handicrafts supplier community. We help Bali artists, Bali craftsmen and craftswomen to supply their products from their each home industries in Bali with hard selected quality, design and competitive price to the buyers.

Proudly offer Bali painting, Bali woodcarving, Bali nameplate, Bali accessories, Bali textile, recycle paper product, rubbish art, exotic Bali product, exotic Bali piggy bank, paper waste money box, handmade paper statue, home decoration, exclusive coin box made of coconut shell and recycle paper, excellent & unique Bali handicraft products with new original design from Bali artists. Good quality for collection, because artistic and
quality is our first priorities.

Also offer you Bali t-shirt, cotton t-thirt, original Bali t-shirt, Bali handmade t-shirt, Bali tangtop and singlet in all size for men and women with colour full Bali design: Balinese girl, mosquito, mosquitokoil, Ubud map, sexy girl, naked dance, sunshine, yoga frog, long feet frog, long neck frog, frog and moon, kecak dance, legong dance, Bali talisman, for rent, not for sale, etc from Bali handicraft home industry.

Unique Indonesian batik cloth, Javanese batik, Tuban batik art, natural brown cotton, scarf, sarong, batik gedog, batik t-shirt, useful Bali handmade accessories, necklaces, Nameplate, Bali wooden nameplate which are made by special craftsmen and craftswomen. Also proudly offer you traditional and modern Bali fine art of Bali woodcarving, animal statue, dolphin statue, shark statue, tropical fish, turtle, komodo dragon, dragon, crocodile, cat, abstract statue, Buddha statue, Buddha antique, Rama and Sita statue, Kwan In statue and Bali painting, oil painting, Bali oil painting, abstract painting in many styles and emotions of the artists: specialy from Indonesian & Bali famous painting artist, Mohammed, Roso, Med Mandor, Widodo, Poetoe AB, Ketut Soki, Nyoman Meja, Yongki, Wianta, etc. All from Bali handicraft home industry community.

Coconut shell handicraft
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Welcome to Tupai Handycraft ...


We provides thousands item for souvenirs and handycrafts.
Distributors are welcome. Please take a look to our varieties items in our website.

Location :

Manufacture : Jl. Panglima Sudirman no 72, Jombang city, East Java
Warehouse and office : Kompleks mangga dua B-1 no. 8
Jl. Jagir wonokromo no. 100, Surabaya city, East Java
Showroom : Pasar Atum Baru Tahap I Lt III No BA29-30, Surabaya city, East Java

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Suidical Bali

Bali always welcome every body who wants to come to bali with friendly smile. Not only for torism, Bali is also famous for one of the biggest handicarft manufacture i the world. We mostly produced handmade handicraft with the basic mterials that we found on our surrounding island without destroying them as we are committed to heritage them with our children.

Along with this website we try to connect between artisant who normally live in the villages with buyers. We responsible for the quality of the product and in the side we can also arrange your shipment to destination. For all what you you purchase from us, we are sure we have already contributed some percentages to help artisants, their families and also their community.

All the products we sell, are selling in many countries because we are so concerned with quality, time and also price, so we are very positive to serve you better.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Supermarkets & Makro Store in Bali


Matahari's : Always stock up here : Check into your hotel , empty the minibar/fridge and set sail for the supermarket. Good range of beverages, alcohol / fruit / soft drinks. (including spirits, cocktails and mixers ) Great range of Toiletries, food for all types of meals and snacks ... It's also fun looking at all the different items that you can't get at home and you will be surprised by the amount you "wished" you could get at home. [ Kuta : at the end of Kuta Square ] or ask at your hotel for the closest one. Pic's Of Matahari's Kuta Sq
The Makro Store situated on the Denpasar bypass Rd to Sanur. At Makro you will be able to stock up on many many everyday items available in "Bulk" Great if you have a large family or there are a few of you. Makro stocks everything from electronic equipment, fridges, Microwave ovens to noodles, beer, soft drinks, water, fruit and vegetables. They also have a great range of Lollies ( Sweets ) for the children, pens pencils etc.
You have to pay 1,000Rp entrance fee p.p. ( in 2001, may be a little more now. ) They will not permit any bags or camera's into the store. There is a taxi rank outside the store in the car park. Situated app 10 mins from Kuta and 15 mins from Sanur it's well worth a visit..... ( Check they take your credit card before entering or have at least 500,000rp in cash on you. hehe )
Bringing back Food : geckobttn9.gif - 1456 Bytes
I have brought back many items from Bali including sauces, spices and tinned fruit juices unavailable in Australia ( like soursop ) for cocktails. Generally anything that is in an unopened air tight container are fine to bring back to Australia. ( Not Tupperwear ) Declare all food items anyway to be on the safe side.
geckobttn2.gif - 1427 Bytes Department Stores :
Larger stores in Denpasar.However the one above, Matahari's in Kuta square has a great range. Great place to get a good Idea of the local prices for goods. They also have an honest money exchange counter with good rates. [ Well worth a visit.] You can purchase a dress / trousers from the racks , at very good prices , and have them altered for free while you wait. Ladies will love the prices of the cosmetics, under ½ price , and they are the real thing [ Revlon , Clinique and most of the famous brands. ]
geckobttn11.gif - 1436 Bytes TimeZone Game's arcade :
If you have kids this could be a good answer to some free shopping time. Both TimeZone game's arcades are located at the Matahari department stores. Kuta store ( Kuta Square ) on the top floor ( 4Th floor ) and in Legian its on the ground floor.( Matahari store JL Legian ) They are very cheap @ under 20c Australian a Token. OR 1,000Rp ea. Great chance to leave the teenagers with 20-30,000 Rp ( $6-$7AUS ) while you shop in the department stores and they will have 20-30 games , which should give you over an hour's shopping. ( The same games in Australia are $1AUS ea go. )
International drivers licence : oldcar.gif - 2018 Bytes
If you intend to hire a CAR in Bali , this is a must.
Always carry your insurance and registration papers with you for the hired car when driving.
Travellers cheques : geckobttn4.gif - 1418 Bytes
Handy if you are taking a large sum of money and it is insured when you purchase this style of currency.
Downside : Not as good an exchange rate.
geckobttn5.gif - 1428 Bytes Credit cards:
Visa , Amex , Bankcard are all accepted credit cards and can be used in 90% of the stores and Hotels.
( Some hotels may ask for a 3% surcharge for using a credit card but you can generally argue this or retrieve it from your credit card company.) Great if you need to have some "stand by" cash in case you find that bargain of a life time or wish to make a large purchase and would rather keep your cash for day to day purchases OR for peace of mind. If you do lose your cash or travellers cheques you have something to fall back on. ( I generally split my spending money into my VISA card and cash. )
geckobttn10.gif - 1443 Bytes Cash :
Larger notes attract a better exchange rate AUS , CAD , Pounds Sterling and US notes in 50 and 100 denominations and are easily exchanged anywhere. Your hotel should have a safety deposit box available free of charge for security. USE IT !!! ( I generally split my sending money into my VISA card and cash. )
ATM's : geckobttn1.gif - 1487 Bytes
Although there are more and more ATM's ( Automatic teller machine's ) around in the Kuta area and a few less in Sanur ,there is a transaction limit of 400,000 Rp ( App US$40 ) So you may have to insert your card a few times to get the amount you need, also every transaction will be met with a bank fee when you get home. There are 3 ATM's at the airport in the international arrivals area where you pickup your suit cases. A small problem in Bali is that ATM's aren't always reliable as they go offline often and if they do this during a transaction , your account maybe debited and you may not get the cash.
Money Exchangers WARNING : gecko
Don't rely on their calculators. Ask what size notes they have and if they only have 5,000Rp or 10,000Rp notes there is a very good chance they are going to try and rip you off. ( Look for 50,000Rp or at least 20,000Rp notes.) The less notes you recieve, the less you have to count and the less chance of being ripped off. Try and always change an amount that will give you a round and easy figure to work out in your head.
EG: $100AUS @ 5200Rp to the Aus$ = 520,000 Rp
gecko
10 x 50,000 notes + 2 x 10,000 notes
OR 104 x 5,000 notes
( thats 12 notes to count OR 104 whats easier ? )
Look for the guys that charge NO commision and ask again when you are in the shop if there is a commision. Be wary of any money changer offering a surprisingly high exchange rate. Take them on if you wish but be the last to count OR touch your money , as soon as you are handed the cash for the last time and before you walk out the shop...count it again!!! Understand before you start exchanging money with money changers , exactly how much you will recieve back.

Be wary of changers ending with 90RP they will quickly swap a 50,000 for a 5,000.
EG $100AUS @ 5490 = 549,000
They will give you 10x 50,000 OR 500,000 Rp in one form or another and say because its 49 at the end , do you have a 1,000Rp note and we will give you a 5,000Rp back. If you are confused by all the 000's you may quickly say okay..and you just lost 45,000Rp

geckobttn9.gif - 1456 Bytes Buying Furniture :
The moisture content ( humidity ) in the air in Bali is very high so unless you come from a tropical area with a high moisture content , be careful not to purchase things with large wood panels. This is because once you get it home it will start to dry out and large splits may start to appear due to the lack of moisture. If you can, buy teak but make sure it is teak and not treated pine OR buy kiln dried timber to avoid the cracking. ( this maybe hard as they will claim everything is kiln dried ) Unless you pay a large price for quality don't buy a dining table as they tend to fall apart at home.
Warning: If you plan to order things to be made. Don't pay for it until you have seen it packed in the container and definitely be there for the packing and closing of the container.
Duty Free : geckobttn6.gif - 1422 Bytes
There isn't much at the airport in Denpasar and what there is is the same price as you would pay at an Australian airport prior to departure. So if you would like to have that bottle of scotch, rum or whatever in your room, I suggest you get it before you leave Australia. If you like wine,bring it with you as wine is VERY expensive in Bali. Perfume/Aftershave , although it is available in Bali , the perfume on the streets is a copy and at times bad copies. Any electronic gear. There isnt a great range available in Bali and what is available is either the same price or a little under. [ Its best to spend the extra $10 and have the warranty in Australia.] If you smoke , get them in Australia as well , although there are now export cartons of Winfield blue and B & H available in Bali for around $12 a carton, they arent quite the same flavour.
Travel insurance : geckobttn4.gif - 1418 Bytes
A must . From as little as $70 AUS per person , you can cover yourself for 8 days travel ( Whole Family cover is available ) If you are from Australia and travel frequently , ask about Executive travel insurance. This will cost around two times more than a fortnight's family insurance - however it will cover you AND your family for a full 12 months. [ Including internal travel. IE : those easter or christmas holidays interstate.]
geckobttn11.gif - 1436 Bytes First Aid Kit / Bali Belly :
A kit similar to what you may have in the car. Something small that may contain "immodium" anti diarrhoea tablets , "charcoal" tablets taken if Bali Belly is suffered, "dettol" ( antiseptic ) for cleaning any cuts and abrasions, panadol, anti fungal powder, insect repellant , some burn cream ( for relief from sunburn ) and some bandaids. There are chemists in Bali , however not all drugs are available. *** If you can, take a bottle of Raspberry Juice Cordial usually found in the "Cascade Brand" in Oz.( Not Raspberry Flavour ) For some reason this has been proven to help prevent and cure stomach problems. "Bali Belly" It worked for us.
Your Doctor : geckobttn10.gif - 1443 Bytes
If you are in any way worried about what you may catch in Bali , a trip to your local GP will help with any prescribed drugs you may wish to take and he will be able to help with any recommended Innoculations that maybe required by your country. ( Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B are recommended if you are going to visit remote areas of Bali. )

LAST RESORTS : Foreign Consulates in Bali
Netherlands, Jl. Imam Bonjol 599, Denpasar (tel. 0361-751904 or 751497, fax 752777)
France, Jl. Raya Sesetan 46 D, Banjar Pesanggaran, Denpasar (tel. 0361-233555)
Japan, Jl. Moh. Yamin 9, Renon, Denpasar (tel. 0361-231308 or 234808)
Germany, Jl. Pantai Karang 17, Sanur (tel. 0361-288535); Italy, Jl. Padang Galak, Sanur (tel. 0361-288996 or 288896)
Switzerland/Austria, c/o Swiss Restaurant, Jl. Pura Bagus Taruna, Legian (tel. 0361-751735)
Sweden/Finland, Segara Village Hotel, Sanur (tel. 0361-288407 or 288408)
U.S.A., Jl. Sanur Ayu 5, Sanur (tel. 0361-288478
Norway Denmark, Jl. Jayagiri, Gang VIII/10, Denpasar (tel. 0361-235098 or 233053)
Australia, Jl. Prof. Moh. Yamin Kav. 51, P.O. Box 243, Renon, Denpasar (tel. 0361-235092 or 235093, fax 231990).

Friday, August 8, 2008

Balinese Horoscope


For Balinese people the days and the minutes can be lucky or unlucky according to their own unique correspond to a simple characteristic such as Monday – ‘moon’day, Sunday -‘sun’day, and Saturday – ‘saturn’ day.
In the Balinese calendar system, the days have many more names and therefore more characteristics which determine their over-all quality. For example Friday August 10, 2007, becomes in the Balinese calendar ‘Jumat Wage, Wuku Krulu’, and so 10 August 2007 will be different from the same date in 2006. Even if two persons were born on the same day, let say between 23 November and 20 December, if they were born in different years they will have the same zodiac sign but not the same characteristic as the result of the different days of the Balinese Horoscope.
Two children who were born on the same date but in different years will have different Balinese birthdays. Those who were born on 18 December, 1998 will have a different birthday, therefore to those born on 18 December, 1999.
In general, both will inherit the characteristics of Sagittarius. A more detailed description of their characteristics can be found, however, in the Balinese horoscope. Bali Travel News is willing to answer any questions from readers interested in learning more about the Balinese system. Just send your date of birth to our Balinese Horoscope Consultant. He will help you to find out about your Balinese birthday and your personal characteristic according to Balinese horoscope. Please write to Bali Travel News, Jalan Kepundung 67A Denpasar, Fax: 62.361 249486 or email: batrav@indo.net.id.

Your birth-date
While we wait for readers’ letters we return in this edition to the characteristic and fortunes of LEO (21 July – 21 August). We accept of course that not all people born under the sign of the lion possess identical personality traits. This is due to the fact that many are born on different days.
According to the Balinese Horoscope, people born on January 1 1999, are born on a day called ‘Jumat Umanis, Wuku Merakih’ (Friday), whereas those born on January 1, 2000 will be born on a day called ‘Sabtu Umanis, Wuku Sungsang’ (Saturday). These two days will be determinate of different personality traits even though both are born under the sign of Capricorn.
Being born on Jumat Umanis (1/1, 1999) means the influence of many stars will combine to produce dominant traits such as honesty, proper conduct and direct speaking. There will also be a willingness to help others. Anybody born on this day will be a sucker for bargains, and tend to get mixed up in other people’s business. Meanwhile somebody born on Sabtu Umanis (January 1, 2000) will be influenced by the constellation known in Bali as Bagong (a pot-bellied character from the wayang puppet theatre), and by the moon. He or she will be careful in all things, and diplomatic, too, particularly in written transactions.
Now let’s look at the other horoscope entries concurrent with this issue of ‘Bali Travel News”. And once again, if there is anybody out there who wants information about their own birth date according to the Balinese Horoscope, please write to Bali Travel News e-mail: batrav@indo.net.id, fax: 62.361 249486.

Jumat Wage (10 August, 2007)
This day is highly influenced by the stars. Magelut (hugging) is the symbol of this day. Priestly characteristics are dominant, suggesting a quiet intelligence and honesty. Often made the black sheep of the family, he becomes fiercely individualistic and this can cause problems. A partner born on Sunday Wage, Tuesday Pon or Friday Umanis, will be the most suitable for him.

Saturday Kliwon (11 August, 2007)
This day is influenced by the bumi (the earth). The person born on this day has a careful personality, is diplomatic when speaking and full of admiration for many worthy things. He rarely takes risks and this can bring about a state of apathy and resignation when faced with difficulties of any kind, however trite. His suitable partner is someone born on
Wednesday Pon, Thursday Umanis or Friday Umanis.

Sunday Umanis (12 August, 2007)
This day is influenced by Kala Sungsang. Someone born on this day has a reserved personality, is intelligent, and is interested in mysticism. His ambitions are rarely fulfilled. However, fame can still be achieved through creative arts and achievements, written or otherwise. He is quick to forgive, ready to take on almost any kind of work, but can be pretentious. His ideal partner is someone born on Sunday Wage, Tuesday Pon or Friday Umanis.

Monday Paing (13 August, 2007)
Someone born on this day is influenced by the star Bintang Kukus (the comet). He speaks very fast but is soft at heart. He is honest and diligent, highly ambitious, and yet frugal. He is sensitive and always keeps his promise. His suitable marriage partner is someone born on Wednesday Kliwon, Thursday Paing or Saturday Paing.

Tuesday Pon (14 August, 2007)
This day is influenced by Asu (the dog). He is charismatic, quiet, and stubborn. Although he is intelligent, he tends to be irrational sometimes. He is careful and even suspicious, but will do any task that is set for him. His ideal marriage partner is someone born on Sunday Wage, Tuesday Pon or Friday Umanis.

Wednesday Wage (15 August, 2007)
The sign of this day is Kartika (lit. ‘star’). He is noble, charismatic, and highly sociable. He always behaves fairly. He is careful in spending his money and is often considered stingy by others, yet this is not necessarily so. He is inclined towards harsh and awkward talk. His ideal partner is someone born on Thursday Umanis or Friday Umanis. (BTN/doc)

Living Room Destination at Eastern Indonesia


Makassar City, known as Maritime City, retains abundant natural and cultural potentials. Similarly, this city serves as the hub of trading activities in East Indonesia Region.
Observing such potential, slow but sure, Makassar would become the leading tourism destination of South Celebes. “And today Makassar needs to diversify its tourism products in order that tourists would not feel saturated with those very same things,” stated Anggiat Sinaga, Chairman of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) of Makassar City at Clarion Hotel Makassar recently.
Anggiat revealed that Makassar is now preparing itself as a ‘living room’ destination along with brand image Great Expectation. “One of them is by designing the seafood as culinary tourism,” said Anggiat who is now chairing three 4-star hotels in Makassar City namely Clarion, Quality and Grand Palace.
He further explained that product diversification of Makassar would flourish if it is thoroughly supported by local government. “Industry is ready. The problem now lies in whether the government would entrust the industry to promote tourism because industry in fact, is more familiar with the tourism market,” he stated firmly.
Sumatera-born Anggiat appealed that in short-term the government of Makassar City, together with tourism businessmen, performs a promotion to Bali Island because Bali has become the hub of tourism in Indonesia. “If this promotion is consistently executed every year, I’m sure that tourism of Makassar would develop rapidly and become renowned,” he revealed while explaining that this matter was once discussed in the forum of Tourism Development and Promotion Board (BP3) of Makassar. Unfortunately the institution inaugurated by tourism businesspeople had no power because it was not supported by promotional fund.
“On the other hand, the Office of Cultural and Tourism Service would like to go in its own way whereas all personnel of BP3 consist of experts at tourism. Indeed, we intend to help but such institution intends to make their own way, so we could do nothing,” he revealed disappointingly. Best regards from Makassar!! (image/poll)

Bali events

Apart from the usual western calendar, the Balinese also use two local calendars, the Hindu saka and the wuku . The wuku calendar, which is used to determine festival dates, uses 10 different types of weeks between one and 10 days long, all running simultaneously! The intersection of the various weeks determines auspicious days. It's impossible to work it out yourself: when you arrive in Bali, go to a tourist office and ask which festivals and celebrations are coming up. Try to get to at least one.

The Galungan Festival , Bali's major feast, is held throughout the island and is an annual event in the wuku year. During this 10-day period all the gods come down to earth for the festivities and barongs (mythical lion-dog creatures) prance from temple to temple and village to village. The last and most important day of the festival is Kuningan .
is the major festival of the saka year - it's the last day of the year, and usually falls towards the end of March or the beginning of April. The day before is set aside as a day of purification across the island. The night before, evil spirits are noisily chased away with cymbals, gongs, drums and flaming torches. On Nyepi itself, everyone stays quietly at home, making no noise, using no lights and doing no cooking. The idea is that when evil spirits descend, they are fooled into thinking that Bali is uninhabited and leave the island in peace for another year.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Bali Shopping Style

Crafting Excellence from Clay
What began in 1976 as an experimental industry that made functional tableware for one hotel, has now grown into a developed industry producing high standard elegant pieces.

Cili bowls
Japanese square plates
Merchandise

Traditionally pottery, or ceramics, on Bali was low fired; meaning fired with a wood burning stove at low temperatures and although the pottery produced was useful to the Balinese (large terracotta jars were made to store water and flat plates were used for food), there was no longevity to these items, which were fragile and cracked easily. The other disadvantage to the modern user was that the pottery was unable to be thoroughly washed, and while there was a traditional ceramic industry in Bali, most notably in the village of Kapal between Canggu and Tanah Lot, there was not the commercial viability that traditional crafts such as carving and silver jewelry could offer to the burgeoning market of westerners looking to export handicrafts.

When Brent Hesslyn entered the picture some thirty years ago, Balinese potters were creating functional designs using this ancient firing method. Brent then introduced the first high firing kilns into Bali that back then were powered by diesel (but now use LPG gas), and thus began a journey that has taken Jenggala Ceramics into the 21st Century as the finest producers of ceramics and glass on the island. What began in 1976 as an experimental industry in Sanur that made functional tableware for one hotel, has now grown into a developed industry employing over 270 people, producing high standard, high quality and elegant pieces for hotels, restaurants and private homes.

According to John Adsit, who has been with Jenggala for eleven years, the key to the success of Jenggala has been the combination of Balinese artistic flair and talent with the modern technology now available. Using internally developed glazes the production team can now make beautiful and functional pieces that are durable and exquisitely designed. A walk around the vast showroom at Jimbaran will have you re-designing your home just to showcase some of these marvelous items.

Amongst the most popular is the "Frangipani", a seriously textural range with overlapping petals of frangipani that appear to curl and furl at will. This range is accompanied by two other very Balinese motifs, the "Banana Leaf" and the "Lotus Flower". Glazed to look almost liquid, the relief surfaces of these three designs shimmer as the light shines on them, and in any setting would recall the beauty of Bali in a moment.

"Jenggala has also recently entered glass production, and with their ever-expanding skills, the artisans of Jenggala are unlikely to stop there"

There is a seemingly unending choice of styles, and to contrast the Frangipani range a very subtle glaze covers the "Java" range of coffee services. From pots to cups, and saucers to serving bowls, the Java range has a contemporary style and muted elegance. There are also some quirky items like the Bird of Paradise red teapot, which Jenggala calls Beautiful Orange, just one of their two hundred or so glaze finishes.

It is crafted in the shape of an elephant with a cross-legged rider and just cried out for a place in my house! There’s something for everyone here, even for the kids.

Jenggala has two specific activities for children, though adults are most welcome to participate as well. These are plate painting and pot making. Each craft is easily adaptable to age and can provide you with a real treasure. The items for painting, ranging from plates to mugs and vases, come with six colors to choose from and 19 different choices of glazing. The pots can be made from scratch with six kilos of clay as your starting point. Instruction, colors and firing are included in the cost.

Upon completion of your family heirloom, the ceramic masterpiece will be ready after a few days so this is a good activity to start the holidays with, or if you wish, the final product can be shipped to your home, where you no doubt will be busily reorganizing the dining area to create the perfect space for your especially ordered Jenggala dinner service with complementing coffee set and vases.

Jenggala has also recently entered glass production, and with their ever-expanding skills the artisans of Jenggala are unlikely to stop there.

Their show room is a testament to the value of investing in talent and creativity. With a lovely café offering delicious food served on elegant plates, and an art gallery of mixed media works from Indonesian and international artists on display, visitors are surrounded by an uplifting and inspiring environment that just begs to be admired. Jenggala also has retail outlets at Made’s Warung in Seminyak and Toko East in Ubud.
Pottery courses are run from the showroom and can be undertaken over two weeks or up to six months for the seriously inspired. Jenggala’s main showroom is in Jimbaran, south on the Nusa Dua – Airport road, well signposted at the traffic lights and has spacious and secure parking.