BALI UPDATE #217 - 13 November 2000

IN THIS UPDATE

- PATA Bali & Nusa Tenggara Directory Available At WTM
- Ozzies and Others: Made of Sterner Stuff?
- Bali Forum Unhappy with Governor's Recent Statements
- Indonesian-Australian Association Get Together
- Ekabawana Offers a Full Range of Activities
- Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua Voted Among Top 10
- Darga Gallery Refleksi Seni II
- Black Box Culinary Competition Returns
- Andreas Vollenweider to Perform at Bali Cliff
- Roelens Moves to Jakarta

This edition of Bali Update is coming your way from London where I'm attending World Travel Mart . . .

PATA BALI & NUSA TENGGARA DIRECTORY AVAILABLE AT WTM

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Bali & Nusa Tenggara Chapter has published a handy directory with contact details of its more than 100 members available from the Chapter Secretariat. Copies of the directory will also be available from the Bali Village Stand (#804 - Second Floor) at the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London November 13-16.

Stop by and visit me at the Bali Discovery Stand in Bali Village for your free copy.

The following members of the PATA Bali & Nusa Tenggara Chapter will be attending the World Travel Mart (WTM) at the Bali Village stand. Those looking for Bali's most professional travel partners would do well to seek out the following companies this week in London at WTM:

Aston Bali Resort & Spa - Mr. Ketut Sumertha
Bali Discovery Tours - Mr. John M. Daniels
Ena Dive Center & Water Sports - Mr. I Ketut Ena Partha and Ms. Ni Wayan Nopianti
The Grand Bali Beach - Mr. Wayan Dharmadi
Hardrock Hotel Bali - Ms. Andin Hartini and Mr. Vincent Bongsu
Hotel Sanur Beach  - Mr. Wayan Supandi
Intan Beach International - Mr. Alan Parry and Mr. Kaharuddin Salamun
Jan's Tours & Travel Service - Mr. Jhoni Harrisandi
Mabua Express - Mr. Geostamar Adibrata
Pacto Indonesia - Ms. Hera Nitihardja
Palmas Holiday Tours - Mr. Reza Tapilaha and Mr. M. Kamdhi
Santika Hotels Indonesia - Mr. Made Suryawan and Mr. Donny Triantoro Segera Village Hotel - Mr. I.B. Ngurah Rai
Sol Melia Bali - Ms. Sharon Lee and Mr. Jergen Van Dongen
Vaya Tours Bali - Mr. Hanafi Sastrawinata and Mr. Chairul Nuku Kamka

OZZIES AND OTHERS MADE OF STERNER STUFF?

Last week's Bali Update coverage of the U.S. travel warning for Indonesia generated many letters of support from around the word. Readers voiced their support for my call that the U.S. Embassy immediately review and lift its travel warning covering "all" of Indonesia including Bali.  From the perspective of the people working and living in Bali, there's absolutely no justification for dissuading visitors to Bali, where the situation remains calms and safe for visitors.

While America's diplomats in Jakarta, either as a matter of incompetence or intellectual sloth, find it expeditious to tar all of Indonesian with a single brush in issuing the warning, their diplomatic colleagues from other countries, such as Australia, are apparently made of "sterner stuff." These non-American and obviously better informed diplomats have the mental acuity to differentiate Bali from the rest of Indonesia, managing to continue to tell their citizens its still safe to holiday on the island.

Perhaps I should take this opportunity to advise Update readers contemplating a trip to the U.S.A. that it's actually still safe to do so. There's absolutely no basis to the rumor that travelers to all of America's 50 states must be extremely cautious and carefully check the amount of change given after every purchase.

Trust me on this  - most of America is safe; it's only the people of Florida who are having trouble counting.

BALI FORUM UNHAPPY WITH GOVERNOR'S RECENT STATEMENTS

Statements made by Bali' Governor, Dewa Made Bertha, and reported in the Sydney Morning Herald in which the Governor reportedly depicted Australian tourists as uncultured and undisciplined low-spenders has prompted the Secretary General of the Forum of Independent Observers on Bali's Development (FIP2B), Drs. Dasi Astawa, to call on Bali's People Consultative Assembly to summon the Governor and demand that he clarify his remarks. Drs. Astawa pleaded with Bali's legislators to have the courage to ask the Governor to appear before them and, if necessary, for the Assembly to formally apologize to the people of Australia if it is proven that the Governor made such remarks. Alternatively, if the Governor did not make such disparagingly generalizations, then a delegation should travel to Australia to clarify the matter with our Australian neighbors.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Red and White Foundation, Drs. Putu Suasta, has called on the Governor to be more thoughtful and circumspect in his future public statements and not generalize on the character of a nation's people. Suasta also expressed his disappointment that the Governor's recent comments could also be interpreted as a vote of support for recent proposals by Indonesia's Minister for Justice and Human Rights that Australian tourists be charged an $US50 visa fee. Claiming that such a fee would play into the hands of Bali's competitors among regional destination, could dramatically reduce Australian visitors to the island, and have a devastating impact on locally owned small restaurants and hotels frequented by many Australian tourist.

Suasta insists that Bali must not remain silent and most oppose the proposed visa fee.

Hilda Sabri Sulistyo, the Coordinator of the Tourism Dialogue Forum in Jakarta, echoed similar sentiments. Citing the proposal by the Minister to impose visa fees on Australians as  "high risk" step that would prove counter productive to the Government's efforts to increase tourism and foreign exchange earnings.

INDONESIAN-AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION GET TOGETHER

Members of the Indonesian Australian Business Council (IABC) and their guests will get together for drinks and informal networking on Friday, November 17 at the Australian Consul's Residence on Jalan Professor Yamin No. 8 in the Renon District of Denpasar.

The gathering starts at 1730 and runs until 1900 hours with a contribution of Rupiah 30,000 per guest sought to cover the cost of beer, Australian wines and light snacks.

New members are welcome to attend. This function is jointly hosted by the Australian Consulate Bali and the IABC - Bali Branch.

For more information contact Mr. Peter Johnson at 62-(0) 361-287960 (work) or 62-(0) 361-281898.

EKAWAWANA OFFERS A FULL RANGE OF ACTIVITIES

The Ekabawana - One World - Awareness Center in Sanur Village focuses on renewal and educational programs offering workshops and seminars on many new
age topics (e.g. yoga, meditation, salsa dancing, Balinese culture); networking guidance; a resource center and library; a cyber café; a resource center  & library; and a health food restaurant.

Visit the Ekabawana Center on Jalan Hang Tuah 43 in Sanur Village or telephone them at 62-(0) 361-283 401, facsimile 62-(0) 361-286132.

To be put on the mailing list for the Center's regular newsletter e-mail them at ekabawana@telkom.net

SHERATON LAGUNA NUSA DUA VOTED AMONG TOP 10

Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, the prestigious U.S. based travel magazine has
announced the results of its annual reader's survey of the "best of the  best" for the year 2000 in the world tourism industry including best cities, islands, monuments, hotels, resorts, and cruises.

The Sheraton Laguna Nusa Dua has once again appeared in the lists of this year's Top Ten Asian Resorts. In selecting the winners readers were asked to consider rooms, service delivery, food and restaurants, overall layout and facilities.

The Resort is also the only hotel in Bali to offer 24 hour Butler Service for all guests.  The hotel also provides in room guest check in, complimentary daily 'high tea' in the Lobby Lounge, complimentary coffee and tea delivered by the Butler day or night, complimentary packing and unpacking, and pressing of clothes on arrival.

DARGA GALLERY REFLEKSI SENI II

 "Art Reflections II - The Colors of Expression" - an exhibition of some 25 Balinese artists opens at the Darga Gallery on Saturday, 11 November and runs until December 2.

For more information contact The Darga Gallery at the Kompleks Sanur Raya 20-21 on Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai in Sanur Village. Telephone 62-(0) 361-285249 or e-mail to dargaw@indosat.net.id

BLACK BOX CULINARY COMPETITION RETURNS

The Black Box Culinary Competition returns to Bali December 2 - 9, with the grand finale cook-off scheduled for the last evening at the Sheraton Nusa Indah Hotel. Some 14 different teams of the island's best local chefs are expected to participate in a competition in which each is presented with a box of fine Australian meat and dairy products and given just 24 hours to design an evening of fine gourmet dining.

Some 225 guests will attend the evening offering their services as "tasters" of the fine food entries always accompanied by a selection of fine wines. I always make it a point to attend the final tasting - you know, it's a tough job but someone has to do it.

Sponsored by Meat and Livestock Australia hotels winning the coveted trophy at past Black Box Competitions were the Amandari in 1996, Bali's Ritz Carlton on 1997 and 1999, and Le Meridien Resort in 1998.

For more information contact Mark Miron at marc.miron@fourseasons.com or Bill Bush at wbn-bali@indo.net.id

ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER TO PERFORM AT BALI CLIFF

Swiss Grammy Award winning harpist and composer, Andreas Vollenweider
will
perform in a Charity Concert in Bali on 30 December at the Bali Cliff
Resort.

"An Evening with AndreasVollenweider & Friends" is organized by Bali Nirmala in association with the Yayasan Social Jasmin, with net profits from the event will going to charity. The evening will consist of a gourmet dinner followed by the concert.  A number of attractive door prizes will be distributed. Tickets are being sold for US$ 120 and US$ 98. 00.

Andreas Vollenweider has sold over 8 million albums. He will be performing in Bali between December 28, 200 and January 01, 2001.

For more information contact The Bali Cliff Resort's Public Relations Department at telephone 62-(0) 361-771992 or facsimile 62-(0) 361- 771993.

E-mails to prbcr@indosat.net.id

ROELENS MOVES TO JAKARTA

The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa in Bali bid's farewell to its Executive Assistant Manager Tom Roelens who is leaving the island to join The Regent Jakarta in the same position.

A Belgian nation, Tom spent 3 years in Bali and is a graduate of the Bruges Hotel Management School where and Cornell University.