BALI UPDATE #275 - 24 December 2001

Selamat Hari Natal

Balidiscovery.com wishes Peace and Prosperity to All its Readers Worldwide.

In troubled times such as these, the traditional greeting of "peace on men and women of goodwill" take on a special, added significance.

Those among us who dedicate too much time and energy seeking to emphasize that which divides and makes us different, rather than that which makes us so much alike, may be surprised to remember that both the Islamic and Christian faiths acknowledge the infant and his message of peace and brotherhood born two thousand years ago in a Bethlehem stable.

To help celebrate this seasons and as further proof of the universality of the message of the season, we are including in our website a painting from the private art collection of Bali Discovery Tours by the renowned Balinese Hindu Artist I Wayan Radjin. This painting "Natal di Pulau Dewata" depicts the birth of Jesus Christ from a Balinese perspective.

2,000 years ago wise men of differing faiths traveled great distance to pay homage to a child and his message of peace and goodwill.

Perhaps 2,000 years later, wise men still do!

Merry Christmas and a Most Peaceful 2002 from balidiscovery.com and Bali Update!

More information: Large picture of "Natal di Pulau Dewata"

Gorbachev Goes Ganesha

Émigré Russian Artists Yuri Gorbachev 'Bali Icons' at Four Seasons Ganesha Gallery Through January 12.

Nephew to the former Soviet leader whose name he shares, Yuri Gorbachev was originally trained as a ceramic artist, a philosopher and a journalist before being inducted into the U.S.S.R.'s prestigious "Union of Artists" at the age of 27. During a trip to the United States in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed, he elected to remain aboard undertaking jobs that matched his eclectic nature, including illustrating Absolut and Stolichnaya Vodka advertisements while embarking on a number of solo exhibitions which quickly secured him a substantial following in the West.

Gorbachev's travels eventually brought him to Bali where he was inspired to incorporate the style of the classic Russian Orthodox icon with Bali motifs to create his first "Bali Icons" exhibition in 1997 at the Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran. He has continued to develop the Bali Icon series, exhibiting them internationally. His current "Icon" exhibition is destined for a solo show in March 2002, at the Russian National Historical Museum in Red Square, Moscow, sponsored by the Gorbachev Foundation and the Russian Cultural Foundation.

The Exhibition at the Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran runs through January 12, 2002. Open daily from 10:00 - 18:00 hours.

AWAIR Adds Planes for Bali

AWAIR Secures Airbus A-320 to serve Denpasar Domestic Routes.

AWAIR - Airwagon International Airlines took delivery on December 19, 2001, of a new Airbus A-320 to be based in Bali to serve the airline's routes to Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya.

Welcoming the new aircraft to its Bali home was AWAIR's District Manager for Bali, Mr. Moestofa Heidar, who explained to the press the advance technology of the A-320 aircraft providing for excellent handling characteristics and superior environmental ratings.

The new aircraft seats 179 passengers.

100 Illegal Tour Guides Netted in Crackdown

Government Keeps its Promise to Get Tough on Unlicensed Guides.

During the first half of December 2001, a special enforcement team apprehended 100 illegal guides operating in various tourism centers in Bali. In enforcement actions undertaken at Alas Kedaton, Tanah Lot, Tampak Siring, and two cultural performance centers, the offending illegal guides were brought before special administrative courts in Denpasar and Gianyar.

Of the 100 illegal guides, 48 were given "guidance" while the remaining 52 received criminal sanctions. "Guidance," varied, depending on whether the guilty guide was found to be using an expired license, failed to wear his or her guide badge, was not dressed in traditional Balinese costume, or failed to perform the guiding function in accordance with the official code of ethics for Bali tour guides. All the 100 court cases were heard on 14 December before local criminal courts.

The Chief of Tourism for the Island of Bali, Dr. Gde Pitana explained that the enforcement action was necessary to protect the interest of licensed tour guides and ensure that Bali's tourism business is carried out in an orderly and professional manner. (Bali Post 29/12/2001)

FHT Bali 2002 31 January - 02 February 2002

3rd Annual International Exhibition for Equipment, Food, Beverage & Services - Food Hotel & Tourism Bali Returns to Bali.

30% bigger than last year and twice the size of the inaugural show in 1998 - Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali 2002 (FHT BALI 2002) will be held at the Bali International Convention Center, Nusa Dua Bali from January 31 - February 2, 2002.

The only major Food & Beverage Show held in Indonesia, FHT Bali 2002 is a trade exhibition for hospitality, food & beverage professionals providing the opportunity to sample new food and beverage products from around the world as well as see and compare equipment and technology.

Held concurrently with the FHT Bali 2002 is a cooking contest between Bali best chefs and the Black Box Competition.

The event is organized by PT Pamerindo Buana Abadi at telephone ++62-(0)21-3162001 and facsimile ++62-(0)21-3162017.

More information: E-mail FHT Bali 2001

Australian Author on Holiday in Bali

Kerry Collison - A Celebrated Author of Indonesian Thrillers Spending the Holidays in Bali with His Wife.

Just prior to the formal launch of his sixth novel, Indonesian Gold, - based upon the infamous Bre-X gold scandal of Indonesia, Australian author Kerry Collison and his Balinese-wife Sani are spending the Christmas and New Year's holidays in Bali while also celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary.

The ever-colorful Mr. Collison first arrived in Indonesia in 1963 as a young Assistant Air Force Attache assigned to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. Infamously known as the "years of living dangerously," the young Indonesian language specialist was tossed headlong into Indonesia history during the tumultuous years bridging the downfall of President Soekarno and the rise to power of President Soeharto.

Leaving the diplomatic service to pursue interests in private business, Kerry Collison later received Indonesian citizenship by Presidential decree and became a successful businessman and developer in Jakarta, where he lived until 1985.

More information: Website for Kerry Collison Books

Family Fun at the 'Attention' Pasar Rakyat

A Unique Charity Event Using a 'Pasar Rakyat' Night Market Theme Planned for Saturday, 29 December.

Matamera Communication in collaboration with a large group of Bali-based businesses, is organizing a charity event organized along the lines of a traditional night market. Attention: Pasar Rakyat will be held from 1400 hours on Saturday, December 29 until 0300 hours the following morning.

The event will include an arts and antique bazaar; a sales of second-hand goods and collectables; traditional folk games; live musical performances-both traditional and modern; folk art; handicraft and original art shows; photographic exhibition; installation art; and a wide choice of food and beverage.

The location for the event is at the office complex of Waka & Matamera at Jalan Iman Bonjol No. 467 in Denpasar.

Proceeds from the event will be given to the Ekoturin Foundation used to assist the educational and development projects of the East Bali Poverty Project.

More information: Pasar Rakyat Website

Iwan Fals in Bali 29 December

Indonesian Singing Idol Makes Rare In-Concert Appearance in Bali To Close the Year.

Talented Indonesian Singer and Composer, Iwan Fals - will make a rare public concert appearance on Saturday, 29 December, 2001, in his Grand Concert 2001: MATA DEWA at Bali's Garuda Wisnu Kencana Monument.

A star of the concert stage since the early 1980's, Iwan Fals has legions of fans, admiring both his musicality and the strong social criticism of his haunting lyrics.

Despite a long professional career, this will be Iwan Fals first concert appearance in Bali.

Tickets cost Rp. 55,000 each and are available from the Garuda Wisnu Kencana office at telephone ++62-(0)361-702603 and facsimile ++62-(0)361-703626.

The concert begins at 1900 hours.

Contact Bali Discovery Tours for ticket packages including a local guide, and transportation between local hotels and the concert.

More information: Transportation, Guide and Tickets to Iwan Fals

'Gus Dur' Slept Here!

Hotel Intan Legian Hosts Former Indonesian President During His Recent Visit to Bali.

Former Indonesian President KH Abdurrahan Wahid, more popularly known as Gus Dur came to Bali during the second week of December 2001 to participate in a worldwide conference on peace attended by key figures from all the world's great religions. The seminar, dubbed the Pilgrims of Peace was organized under the United Religions Initiative.

The picture shows the General Manager of the Hotel Intan Legian, Mr. Glenn Voerman, welcoming President Abdurrahman Wahid to the hotel where he stayed during the course of the conference.

More information: Stay Where Presidents Sleep: Just $42.50 a Night

Tourism Stars Shine Bright

Two Bali Shop Girls Recognized for Honesty: They Insist 'We Were Just Being Balinese.'

During the first week of December 2001, Singapore Airlines hosted a group of journalists from 6 countries to come to Bali and witness first-hand the absolute calm and peace that prevails on the island. During the course of their visit the members of the international press visited hotels, met with government officials, top police officers, and even managed to partake in some of Bali's legendary shopping.

It was, in fact, the shopping that most impressed one journalist, Ms. Wrinsey Tan of TTG Asia and thoroughly convinced her that Bali is indeed a very safe place to visit.

Squeezing in a bit of shopping during the press trip, Wrisney visited one of Bali's casual fashion shops - Kaiia located in the Kuta Square shopping complex. In the course of paying for her purchase, she left a sum of money equivalent to a shop girl's wages for an entire week. Unaware of her oversight, she left the store to continue shopping in the area. Meanhwhile, two female clerks from Kaiia, Ni Luh Gede Warsani and Rahayu Sektiowati, scoured the shopping center seeking the Singapore journalist in order to return her money.

The girls were eventually successful in their search and Wrisney was so impressed with their honesty that she wrote of her experience to the local Singapore Airlines Manager, Mr. Ang Beng Siong. In the words of Wrisney, "being from the region, I never had doubts about Bali's safety, however this incident has reinforced my belief further because if the island really is unsafe and the people so fearsome as so many from afar have feared, you would never be able to find anyone who would bother to do what they did. So here are my two votes for Bali."

Equally impressed with the young ladies' honesty, the Bali Tourism Board and the Provincial Government of Bali presented the two shopkeepers with awards of appreciation and gift certificates from local retailers. The awards were presented at a lunch and press conference sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Bali on Wednesday, December 19, 2001 and was presented by Dr. Pitana on behalf of the Government and Mr. A.A. Gede Rai and Mr. Made Suryawan for the Bali Tourism Board.

Fodor's New Bali & Lombok Guide

Hot Off The Press - The Latest Bali & Lombok Guide Book.

What's not to like about the First Edition of the Fodor’s Bali and Lombok Guidebook?

Forget the purple prose here: this guide book is lean and mean, written and designed to have a rucksack life of one year after which you'll have to buy the next edition.

In the words of Dragnet's immortal Sgt. Joe Friday, this books concentrates on "just the facts, m'am." It not only tells you the best restaurants and hotels in each region of Bali & Lombok, it gives you practical menu suggestions and suggests which room it's best to avoid. Need the phone number? You’ll even find that in this guide.

Buying a Fodor's Guide is not unlike entering into a social contract of shared responsibility. Their worldwide list of fans delight in finding mistakes, omissions or missed travel delights in each of the destinations Fodor's covers. These legendary "Fodor Junkies" then send in corrections and additions to Fodor by letter and e-mail for incorporation in next year's edition and on their interactive website. With such an all-inclusive approach to writing their guide books, it's no wonder why they're considered so informative.

The first edition of Fodor's Bali and Lombok Guide was written and compiled by Holly S. Smith, Margaret Feldstein, Denise Dowling and Gisela Williams - each one in their own right’s Bali and Lombok hands.

More information: Amazon Link for Fodor's Bali & Lombok