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- Bali's Batman to the Rescue
- One Person Making A Difference: Heinz von Holzen
- "Play It Again Sam" - A New "Old" Service To Lombok
- "Snakes & Ladders" With An Environmental Message
- Hard Rock Hotel Marks Indonesia's 54 Years Of Independence
- New Artist Colony Discovered North of Ubud
- Hilton Offers Indonesian Food Fair
- Skal Ball Tickets Now On Sale
- Bounty Cruises Announces Details of Services
- Immigration Department to Soon Introduce Sticker System
- More Arrival Statistics

 

BALI'S BATMAN TO THE RESCUE

Just when things were looking up for Oka Sulaksana, Bali's star wind surfer and Olympic hopeful, he was dealt a major blow only weeks before he was due to depart for the IMCO European Championships in Poland. A major sponsor for the event who had come forward months before, pulled out just days before Oka was scheduled to fly to Poland and compete in the Championships.

Without funds to cover travelling expenses, Oka's chances to compete and continue on the road to gold at the Sydney Olympics appeared to be in jeopardy.

Then BATMAN came to the rescue. Nigel Mason, who with his wife, Yannie, operate B.A.T. (Bali Adventure Tours) a company with a worldwide reputation for excellence in Bali tourism products, decided that Oka deserved their support. Nigel, known as BATMAN in some local circles, covered all remaining costs for an air ticket and accommodation for the Poland trip.

There remain other competitions between now and Sydney in which Oka must compete. US$ 30,000 will make possible the chance that a young Indonesian, a boy from Bali, might just bring home the gold in Sydney. Readers wishing to be part of the dream should contact Oka's fund raising committee at melina@bali-paradise.com

Oka leaves for Poland on Tuesday, 17th August, which is also Indonesia's Independence Day -let's hope that's a good omen for Oka to fly the national colors in Poland and beyond!

Visit Oka's website at www.bali-paradise.com/oka

 

ONE PERSON MAKING A DIFFERENCE: HEINZ VON HOLZEN

Local Balinese have become accustomed to seeing local restaurateur, Hein Von Holzen, visiting the fish market every morning before sunrise to ensure his customers at the Bumbu Bali Restaurant in the Tanjung Benoa area are served only the freshest seafood each day.

Concerned at the almost unbridled sale of rare turtle egg at the fish market and the potentially disastrous impact these sales have on the future of rare turtle species, Heinz initiated a program in which he purchases all the eggs at the local market. These eggs are placed in a self-styled hatchery at the restaurant.

To date, hundreds of turtles have been hatched which are now slated for eventual return to the surrounding oceans.

The Balinese people include turtle meat in specific religious ceremonies. In order to accommodate Hindu religious ceremonies, local government officials have placed a maximum consumption quota of 5,000 turtles per year for the island. World Wildlife Fund official have disclosed, however, that despite the quota an estimated 14,000 turtles are destroyed in Bali every year which has placed significant pressure on Indonesia's turtle population.

Hopefully, Heinz's efforts will serve as an inspiration to others to take steps necessary to save the endangered green turtles of Indonesia.

 

"PLAY IT AGAIN SAM" - A NEW "OLD" SERVICE TO LOMBOK

I've bought a felt fedora and a trench coat and I've been practicing my Humphrey Bogart impersonation - all in anticipation of a "new" air service scheduled to commence August 16, 1999 between Bali and Lombok.

Utilizing a beautifully restored vintage DC3 aircraft, 20 passengers can now recapture the spirit of the last scene from Casablanca and a bygone era of air travel with the daily service between Bali and Lombok offered on the Dakota DC-3. The aircraft, with registry numbers "RI - 001" - was built in 1945 and enjoys the distinction of being the first airplane owned by the Republic of Indonesia.

Service schedules are as follows:

Lombok to Bali 0730 and 1600 hours departure Bali to Lombok 0900 and 1730 hours departures

Ticket prices are Rp. 233,500.

Also available is a one-hour sightseeing flight of the Rinjani volcano from Lombok departing at 1000 hours.

For more information contact Magnum Van Pariwisata Tours and Travel at telephone 62-(0) 370-636835 or facsimile 62-(0) 370-631010.

E-mail to: MAVISTA@MATARAM.WASANTARA.NET.ID.

 

"SNAKES & LADDERS" WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE

Take an old game called "snakes and ladders" and give it a new environmental twist. That's what a group of clever environmental activists in Bali have done to increase the "green consciousness" of Bali's High School Students.

The game, the brainchild of local members of the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), the Wisnu Environment Foundation, and the Center for Environmental Education (PPLH) teaches high school students the "ins and outs" of saving Bali for generations to come.

Renamed "Bali Enviro" the game board resembles a map of the island of Bali and includes 14 boxes representing major environmental issues for which the players must identify possible solutions. Put too much insecticides on your crop, buy a green turtle, or buy an endangered Bali Starling at the bird market and you must retreat; identify a way to recycle waste and you can advance. The carrot and stick approach reigns in "Bali Enviro" with a clean environment being the sign of a true winner.

Tested at local High Schools on the island, the game is proving very popular as it enhances problem-solving skills while teaching a higher degree of concern for our natural world.

 

HARD ROCK HOTEL MARKS INDONESIA'S 54 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

From 1800 hours onward, the Hard Rock Hotel on Kuta beach will be celebrating Indonesia's 54th birthday on Tuesday, August 17.

Entitled "Pesta 54 Tahun Indonesia Merdeka" the hotel will adopt a night market or "Pasar Malam" atmosphere around Bali's largest free-form swimming pool. Similar to the events taking place simultaneously in villages across Indonesia, a traditional 'kampoeng' style celebration will be on offer with red and white decorations, the colors of the national flag. At the night market there will be 'kaki lima' stalls selling typical Indonesia food and local up-market manufacturers will have stands selling Indonesian collectibles

Live entertainment will be provided by the Café Jamaica a cappella vocal group from Jakarta, and local street performers who will mingle with the crowd. These will also be a poolside fashion show.

Celebrate "Freedom" and join the festivities at Bali's Hard Rock Hotel on Tuesday, August 17.

For more information e-mail to: promotion@hrbc-bali.co.id

Or telephone the Hard Rock Hotel at 62 (0) 361 - 761869 facsimile 62 (0) 361 - 761868.

 

NEW ARTIST COLONY DISCOVERED NORTH OF UBUD

As a person devoid of any talents when it comes to painting and drawing, I have learned to accept with some equanimity my "lesser" status on an island where even small children possess remarkable skills in drawing and painting.

But last Tuesday was the final straw.

I was invited to attend the opening of an art exhibition in the village of Taro by 3 young local artists - Arum, Seng Wong and Ramona, respectively 26, 18 and 4 years of age. Not only were these aspiring painters young they also were substantially bigger than me. Moreover they work for peanuts, bananas, hay and fruit.

For you see, Arum, Seng Wong and Ramona are Sumatran Elephants who make their home at Bali Adventure Tours Elephant Safari Park.

New York based artists, Vitaly Komar and Alex Melamid, came to Bali to continue their world-famous work of encouraging elephants to express their inner-selves with paint and color. They have successfully established elephant art academies in the United States, India and Thailand where their work raises awareness and funds for the plight of the diminishing Asian elephant population.

After only three days of instruction by Vitaly and Alex, the three elephants and their "mahouts" were producing paintings that will be sold at a millenium art show of Bali's Four Seasons Hotels in cooperation with New York's Mimi Ferzt Gallery. Additional works will be sold in a special auction to be held at Christies in New York.

While the current paintings being done by these three pachyderms is definitely representative of their "early" period, I'm particularly impressed by the promise shown by 4 year old Ramona. The daughter of a single mother - a former circus performer, Ramona shows a strong sense of color and manages to keep all her paint strokes within the confines of the canvas.

The Award winning Elephant Safari Park in Taro, just north of Ubud, is well worth including on your next visit to Bali. For more information contact Bali Adventure Tours at telephone 62-(0) 361- 721480, facsimile 62-(0) 361-721481.

E-mail to baliadventuretours@bali-paradise.com

Visit their web site at:
http://www.bali-paradise.com/baliadventuretours

 

HILTON OFFERS INDONESIAN FOOD FAIR

To mark Independence Day celebrations the Bali Hilton International will offer a sumptuous buffet dinner featuring favorite local dishes from different provinces of Indonesia.

The Indonesian Food Fair will run from 1900 to 2200 hours on August 17 with food on offer "Hawker style" plus the added attraction of dances from Sulawesi, Java, Kalimantan and Sumatra. A bamboo orchestra will provide musical entertainment.

The price is only Rp 178.000 ++ for adults and Rp. 89.000 ++ for children below 10 years.

For further information, contact to Rosalina Norita at the Bali Hilton at email:prbali@balihilton.com

 

SKAL BALL TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets are now on sale for Skal Club Bali's 3rd Annual Travel Industry Charity Ball. This year's theme is the new millennium and guests must come attired as a millennium bug or virus.

This year's Ball is scheduled for September 11 and is being held in conjunction with the first Skal Indonesia National Assembly and Golf Tournament, Sept. 10-11.

"The annual Skal charity ball has become one of the most popular community events on the island," said club president Debe Campbell. The '70s theme ball in 1997 attracted about 200 guests, while last year's tropical beach ball drew nearly 250. "This year we can accommodate 300 at the Bali Hilton ballroom," said committee chairperson Wendy Thomas. The ball is open to Skal members worldwide, travel tourism industry members and friends, and the Bali community.

Costumed guests will enter the "computer" ballroom, emerging in the world of Y2K. They'll join other 'pests' in the 'bugs' nest' at the heart of the computer for a preview of all those creatures threatening to wreak havoc on our existence at the turn of the century. The evening includes cocktails, full-course dinner, beer, Australian wine, soft drinks, dance music, bug movies and live entertainment. Raffles, costume and door prizes include international air tickets and hotel packages, and much more.

Proceeds benefit Bali charities and tourism industry projects. Advance tickets are Rp. 350,000 and available in Bali at Ole Ole/Pica Pica Restaurants, Nusa Dua Galeria; KCB Tour & Travel, Jl. Raya Kuta; Travel Works Communications, Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 39, 2nd Floor, or via e-mail: 76255.3012@compuserve.com or wtj@indo.net.id

Skal International, the world's largest international professional tourism industry organization, aims to foster goodwill and understanding among more than 25,000 members in more than 530 clubs worldwide. The Skal Club Bali has 68 active and local members.

 

BOUNTY CRUISES ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF SERVICES

As mentioned in the last edition of Bali Update, Bounty Cruises have now launched their luxurious 500-passenger catamaran cruise service between Bali and Lombok.

Bounty is offering two separate day cruise options. An 0800 hours departure from Benoa to the Gili Meno Islands returning to Bali at 1830 hours or a 1030 hours departure from Senggigi Beach in Lombok to the Gili islands returning to Senggigi at 1615 hours.

Adult fares for the Bali day trip are US$ 95 and for the Lombok outing US$ 57. Children 4-16 years of age are carried at a 50% discount.

One way transfers between Bali and Lombok taking 2.25 hours are available at US$ 35 per person. Departure from Bali is at 0800 hours and from Senggigi at 1615 hours every day.

For more information contact Surya Permata Setiawati at Bounty Cruises at telephone 62-(0) 361 753434 or facsimile 62-(0) 361-752121. E-mail to: bounty@denpasar.wasantara.net.id

 

IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO SOON INTRODUCE STICKER SYSTEM

Last week, immigration authorities in Jakarta announced that a new sticker system would soon be introduced for tourist visitors to Indonesia. Scheduled to be implemented within 2 months, the stickers would replace the current rubber stamp visa placed in visitors' passports at Indonesia's international gateways.

The spokesman reported that the "sticker" visa was being introduced to combat forged visa's reportedly now being issued by an international crime syndicate and in extensive use by nationals of certain Asian and African countries. Immigration authorities believe the illegal immigrants use Indonesia as a departure point for other countries.

 

MORE ARRIVAL STATISTICS

Arrivals through Indonesia's 13 documenting gateways through the end of June showed 1.86 million foreign arrivals, compared to 1.69 million last year.

In June, 308,348 foreigners arrived in the country, a 20.3 per cent increase over June 1998. May had the highest volume increase at 22.9 percent.

Bali retained the number one gateway status, with 683,083 foreign arrivals in six months, 32.3 per cent higher than last year. Jakarta arrivals declined 18.3 per cent for the first semester

 

8TH BALI NUSA DUA ROTARY CLUB CHARITY TENNIS TOURNAMENT

The Bali Nusa Dua Rotary Club will hold a charity tennis tournament September 6-12, 1999 at the Sheraton Nusa Indah and Nusa Dua Beach Hotel. Deadline for registration is Tuesday, August 31, 1999.

Over the past seven years, the Bali Nusa Dua Rotary Club Charity Tennis Tournament has raised some Rp. 70,000,000.00 for handicapped children in Bali to help them lead more productive lives. This year's tournament proceeds will be dedicated to assisting and funding corrective surgery for children with Harelips and cleft palates.

For more information please contact either Craig Marshal at the Kartika Plaza Fitness Center at telephone 62-(0) 361 - 751 067; Jo Rosarius at 62-(0) 811 39 3635; Jeff Matthews at 62-(0) 81 138 6675: or Andy Toth at 62-(0) 361- 233605.

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