BALI UPDATE #280 - 28 January 2002

Garuda Shrinks

Lacking Both Timing & Grace - Garuda Cancels Frankfurt and London Services.

After a late and faltering start, it seemed Indonesia was finally managing to reassert itself on the world tourism stage. A $9 million "Just a Smile Away" campaign by Indonesia's Tourism Department is underway with 10-year-old singing star, Sherlina, singing a welcome across the archipelago. Yogyakarta, under the able leadership of its much-loved Sultan and Governor, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, went to tremendous expense and sacrifice to make the ASEAN Tourism Forum, a success, including the building of a multi-million dollar convention center to host the event. In fact, cautious optimism was again becoming fashionable as the events of September 11 faded and agents signaled long haul flight bookings were starting to pick up after the Christmas - New Year's holiday break.

But, then, with a sense of timing and place that defies description, Garuda's vice-president marketing planning, Mr. Marco Umbas, dropped a bombshell at the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) by announcing that the airline would almost immediately suspend its services to London and Frankfurt. This leaves Amsterdam as the sole remaining European destination served by Indonesia's national carrier.

Garuda's apologetic addendum, that the suspension was perhaps only "temporary" and that some of the services might be re-introduced later this year only served to further confuse the market. Ironically, the cancellation decision Mr. Umbas painted as necessary to "stabilize confidence in Grauda," has, to some effect, had just the opposite result with many international travel wholesalers from the United Kingdom attending ATF strongly critical of Garuda's sudden withdrawal from programs in which they had invested substantially to promote. One U.K. operator quoted in the ATF daily, Travel Weekly East report by Luke Clarke saying, "The confidence in the airline has gone down overnight, and being offline now does not bode well for a late June relaunch as the time to sell is now. I do not feel the blow I have received is going to give me confidence in selling Garuda unless I get personal assurances that this will not happen again in six months time."

Chances that other airlines will take up the slack created by Garuda's sudden withdrawal are unlikely. The economic realities of current airline operations make route expansion for any airline a remote possibility in the short to medium term. In addition, it is widely suspected that Indonesian civil aviation authorities will continue a restrictive regime on granting air access to Indonesia for overseas carriers, trying to protect the future interests of the national carrier for some unspecified point in the future when, and if, Garuda decides to renew some of their now cancelled European routes.

Entry #4 - Bali Dream Holiday Contest

The Fourth Bali Dream Holiday Entry. A poem and a painting from a reader in Queensland, Australia.

Pamela Hardy of Jindalee, Queensland, Australia, pamhardy@bigpond.net.au, is this week's featured entry in the Bali Dream Holiday Contest. You have until the end of April to send your description of what you think a perfect dream holiday in Bali would be like and you might just win 2 tickets on Singapore Airlines, 7 nights at the Fours Seasons Private Estates Bali at Jimbaran Bay, tours and transfers from Bali Discovery Tours, rafting and cycling excursions from Sobek, luxurious spa treatments from Mandara Spa, a helicopter tour from Air Bali, and Cooking Lessons from Bumbu Bali/Rumah Bali.

Entry's are welcome in any format, but Pamela has sent Bali Update both a poem and a painting.

Bali Dreaming

Wayan Made Nyoman Ketut
when speaking of gender
what prefix is put?
Ni is for females
Ida for men
it is so useful to know
what to use when.

In this land of volcanoes
adat always decrees
how the naming of children
in Bali will be.

Wayan Made Nyoman Ketut
which merely are numbers
one through to four
don't worry though
if you can't comprehend
say teman to all
call everyone friend.


Chattering chattering chattering
noises so faint
drawing nearer
rising lowering louder now clear
Kecak! Kecak! Kecak!
issues forth in a thunderous union.

In the black indigo night
there's a bright shining light
around it sit circles of men
their bare torsos are gleaming
and sweat forth is streaming
with hands outstretched and fingers that tremble
in the language of monkeys
sing Hanuman's tale.

The chanting is mighty
lauds battles and fighting
sweet Sinta and love that is loyal
reaching crescendo the night has surrendered
to a roar like the roar of the sea.

Now a serpentine melody
a bamboo flute trailing
its haunting notes wailing
the rhythm of gongs ring resounding
the magic of night's sweet embrace
as I walk on to Ubud
with fireflies lighting the way ...


The rhythm of the rain
beats upon my windowpane
reminding me of Bali
in my mind I see again
a little maiden and her brother
their banana leaf umbrella
brown skin all wet and gleaming
seeking shelter from a storm.

They stopped mid-flight
quite sudden
to discard their leafy cover
such joy of life and laughter
as they stamped about in puddles
dashing splashing in the rain.

The sweet perfume of flowers
the new wet smell of earth
the beauty of this moment never left me
never melted into time.

For the rhythm of the rain
beats upon my windowpane
Reminding me of Bali
and the little maid of Suradadi ...

More information: How to Enter the Bali Dream Holiday Contest

A Birds and Bees Story

Try Explaining this to the Kids: How Irian Jaya's Hornbills Procreate.

Who said: It's not nice to fool Mother Nature?

Renowned in the bird world as "King" of the rainforest, an Oriental Pied Hornbill, a bird rarely bred in captivity, was recently born at the Bali Bird Park. Before Bali's home to birds from around the world succeeded in producing baby hornbills - nature and the peculiar habits of this large tropical bird offered a number of challenges to the Park's curators.

Difficult? How so?

The first part, where Papa Hornbill meets Mama Hornbill is a fairly universally accepted chain-of-events that, if you don't understand, you should ask your Mom to explain, even if that entails a long-distance telephone call. Tell her to skip the part about cabbage patches and storks and, p-l-e-a-s-e, get right to the point.

Actually, it's the part after the stuff that Mom or Dad should have explained to you long ago, that posed problems for the folks at the Bali Bird Park. Apparently, after the "Act" the female Oriental Pied Hornbill is not content to relax with a cigarette or merely abruptly leave, never to call again. Her demonstrated dislike for her male partner's continued company couldn't be more pronounced. Once impregnated, the mother Hornbill finds a hollow tree cavity and seals herself within for a period of six months in order to incubate her egg and raise her solitary chickling. To the female of the Hornbill family, it seems men folk are good for a single act, once completed, to be discarded until the next mating cycle.

Don't we know. It's tough being treated like a mere sex object; reason for our male readers to commiserate with our feathered-brethren of the jungle. But I digress: after all, this is a story about the Oriental Pied Hornbill.

Back to our story. In order to meet the needs for privacy of the female Hornbill, the people at the Bali Bird Park created a hollowed-out tree trunk, resembling the bird's natural habitat, where she laid her single egg. After a courtship display that lasted several days, the female hornbill was persuaded to enter the hollowed-out nest. Once inside, the female sealed herself in using a mixture of clay and rotten wood, leaving only a narrow vertical opening.

The male Hornbill then displays a noble and virtuous nature, despite an obvious degree of contempt from his former conjugal partner. Over the ensuing months, the male continues to feed fruit to his mate and their young chick by gently passing the food through the opening of the nest with his long bill. A few months later the young chick and its mother emerge from the nest.

And that, dear Reader, is how the Bali Bird Park managed to breed a rare captive Oriental Pied Hornbill.

Any other questions? Go, ask your Father.

More information: Visit the Bali Bird Park

Guruh Sukarno Putra Musical Gala

Musical Extravaganza at Bali International Convention Center on Saturday, 9 February 2002.

Guruh Sukarno Putra, the multi-talented younger brother of Indonesia's President will present one of his trademark musical extravaganza's on the stage of the Bali International Convention Center (BICC) on Saturday, February 9, 2002.

Held to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of Indonesia's first President's birth and to help raise funds for the construction of a memorial museum in his name, the gala evening will present talented dancers and singers choreographed and directed by Guruh in a show that gets underway at 7.00 p.m..

Scheduled to appear are a host of leading Indonesian artists including Binu Sukarman; Chriyse; top Indonesian female singing trio ABThree; boy band FBI; and the 10 year-old singing sensation now appearing internationally on TV spots promoting Indonesian tourism, Sherina.

Ticket prices are VIP Rp. 300,000; VIP I 150,000; Tribune 100,000; and Economy Rp. 50,000.

Tickets as well as ticket and transportation packages are available from Bali Discovery Tours.

More information: Book Tickets via Bali Discovery Tours

Ian McKie Heads Bali Hilton Operations

Veteran Hotelier Takes the Helm at the Bali Hilton.

Bali Hilton International have announced the appointment of Ian E. McKie, as the Hotel's Director of Hotel Operations.

Mr. McKie brings with him to his Bali appointment a wealth of experience managing and supervising operations. He served formerly as the General Manager of Banyan Tree Bintan and Banyan Tree Phuket. He also has a record of extensive experience in properties including periods with the Legend Hotel, Malaysia and Marco Polo Singapore.

In addition, the Bali Hilton's new Director of Operations has also served with Hyatt Hotels in Fiji, Macau, Dubai, Pusan and several Hyatt properties in Indonesia.

More information: Book a stay at the Bali Hilton

High Noon on a Hot Range

Talented Young Local Chefs Face Off in Culinary Challenge 30-31 January.

Six teams of young chefs from Jakarta and Bali will soon be competing in the Indonesian final of the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Black Box Culinary Challenge to be held in Bali as the highlight of Food and Hotel and Tourism Bali 2002.

The Indonesians final of the challenge, which tests the cooking, creative and culinary skills of young chefs, is being held by MLA in conjunction with a group comprised of kitchen professionals from Bali Culinary Professionals, on the 30 and 31 January, 2002.

Winning teams from last year's Bali and Jakarta events will compete in this year's Indonesia final, culminating with a Gala Lunch at the Bali International Convention Centre on January 31, 2002.

Mr. Marc Miron, President, of the Bali Culinary Professionals said, "we are excited and honored that Bali has been chosen as the venue for the Indonesian Final Gala Lunch. It's always a pleasure to support such a prestigious culinary event. Over the past years MLA has been a great supporter of the development of our young chefs."

The Aston Hotel, Jakarta; Holiday Inn, Bandung; Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta; Sheraton Laguna, Bali; Le Meridien Nirwana, and Bali Hilton will all be vying for the distinction of representing Indonesia in the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge - Asian Regional Final at the World Association of Cooks Societies (WACS) Congress in Japan to be held in March 2002.

Now a major foodservice event in the Asian region, the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge is now in its 6^th year, first held in Bali in 1996. The event permits chefs under the age of thirty years the opportunity to compete at regional, national, and potentially international level, while exposing them to the quality and versatility of Australian red meat and other Australian fine food products.

WHY A "BLACK BOX?"

This unusual competition is popular for its element of mystery. Teams of young chefs are given one hour to design a three-course menu using Australian ingredients from a mystery "Black Box". They are then allowed 24 hours to plan, design and prepare a multi-course meals for the judges and guests at a gala lunch from which the winning team will be chosen.

Sponsors of the Indonesia final include Pacific Foods Pty. Ltd (red meat products); Lactos Pty Ltd (cheeses); Penfolds Winery; Hela Foods (spices); De Costi Pty. Ltd (seafood products); Horticulture Australia (fruit and vegetables); Fresh Advance Pty. Ltd (fresh produce); Prestige Foods International (frozen stocks); Nayati (kitchen supplies); and Lotus Distribution (food imports for Bali).

The MLA Black Box Competition is held in conjunction with Bali Culinary Professionals; Food Hotel, & Tourism Indonesia 2002; Food Asia 2002 & WACS Congress 2002.

More information: Related Story: Food, Hotel & Tourism Asia 2002

Conde Nast Traveler Puts Bali on Gold List

No Matter How You Look at It: Bali's The Pot of Gold at The End of Any Travel Rainbow.

After prominently citing Bali in their recent Reader's Choice Awards, Conde Nast Traveler's follow-up study of those results and the naming of its 2002 Gold List sees Bali still sitting at the top of the international travel pack.

THE BEST BY LOCATION - ASIA/PACIFIC

The best hotel ranked by top destination went to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. In describing the property, one reader said of the Resort: "Huge villas with private gardens and a plunge pool are so secluded you forget you're at a resort."

THE BEST BY ROOM - ASIA/PACIFIC

Bali swept this category winning all top three spots with #1 to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, followed by the Ritz Carlton Resort and Spa - Bali at #2; and 3# to the Sheraton Laguna located in Bali's Nusa Dua Complex.

THE BEST BY ACTIVITIES - ASIA/PACIFIC

In this category, the top spot went to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay.

THE INDONESIAN GOLD LIST

The magazine also made a list of the Country's best hotels and resorts, placing their names on an Indonesian Gold List. The Indonesian gold list was monopolized completely by Bali properties, listed here in the order of their appearance:

(1) Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa
(2) Four Seasons Resorts Bali at Jimbaran Bay
(3) Ritz Carlton Resort & Spa
(4) Amankila in Manggis, Bali
(5) Grand Hyatt Resort at Nusa Dua
(6) Sheraton Laguna at Nusa Dua
(7) Bali Hyatt in Sanur Village 
(8) Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
(9) Amandari in Ubud

More information: Conde Nast Link to the Gold List

Indonesia & Bali Swamp Gallivanter's Rankings

Bali and Yogyakarta Hotels Rank High in Gallivanter's Guide Reader's Polls of the Very Best.

The Gallivanter's Guide 10^th Annual Reader Poll was conducted over the last 10 months of 2001 to determine which hotels and hotel groups that publication's circle of dedicated travelers considered the very best. A privately-published newsletter sent to paid subscribers looking for the most idyllic holiday destinations, a citation in The Gallivanter's Guide reader poll is considered a high honor in hotel circles.

As you might expect, Bali and Yogyakarta (Central Java) hotels made an excellent showing in the poll among these very-much-in-the-know travellers.

THE BEST HOTEL WORLDIDE

Yogyakarta's Amanjiwo near Borobudur Temple in Central Java ranked Number 3 worldwide, after the top-ranked The Peninsula, Hong Kong and The Peninsula, Bangkok.

THE BEST SERVICE WORLDWIDE

Indonesian properties took 3 of the top 4 positions in this category - The Peninsula, Hong Kong was named the very best, followed by the Amankila, Bali at #2; Amanjiwo in Yogyakarta at #3 and The Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay in Bali as #4 for service.

BEST HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD

When Gallivanter's readers were asked to name the best hotel groups worldwide, the top four groups named were all companies with properties in Bali. #1 group was Four Seasons Hotel & Resorts; #2 Amanresorts; cited as the #3 hotelgroup The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company; and #4 went to the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts.

BEST RESORT IN ASIA/PACIFIC

Of the top 9 resorts in the Asia/Pacific, Indonesia properties dominated the rankings, winning 6 of the top 9 rungs. Named #1 was Bali's Amankila; #2 went to Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay; #3 was awarded to the Amanpulo resort in the Philippines; #4 to the Amanjiwo in Central Java; #5 to its sister hotel the Amandari in Bali; #6 ranking went to the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa; #7 for the Amanpuri in Thailand; #8 was awarded to the Amanusa in Bali; and #9 to the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan.

BEST SMALL HOTEL UNDER 60 ROOMS

In this category, Yogyakarta's Amanjiwo was named number 2; the Amankila in Bali was number 5; the Amandari in Bali at number 7; and the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan at the number 9 spot.

BEST SPA IN THE WORLD

While The Oriental Bangkok got the very top spot, the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay was cited as having the 5^th best Spa.

BEST HOTEL CUISINE WORLDWIDE

Winning the very top spot for the best food - The Four Seasons Hotel group which operates 2 properties in Bali.

More information: To Order Gallivanter’s Guide to Hotels

Tourism Minister Endorses Bali MICE Guide

Minister Ardika Applauds the Bali MICE Initiative.

Indonesian States Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. I Gede Ardika has formally offered his congratulations to the Bali MICE Initiative for publishing the 100-page Bali MICE Guide 2002.

In a letter sent to the Initiative, the Minister stated that "he personally supports this publication to be continued in the future, to support the development of (the) MICE industry in Indonesia as (a) priority."

The Bali MICE Guide 2002 is currently being distributed to qualified decision-makers in the meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition market by direct mail and via travel trade shows.

In response to the Minister's call for the publication to continue and expand, The Bali MICE Initiative is now soliciting advertising support for the 2003 edition, to be launched late this year. The 2^nd edition of the guide will provide updated and expanded information on Bali MICE options and a special section on facilities available on the adjoining island of Lombok.

More information: Contact the Bali MICE Initiative

A Child's Portion on Every Table

Bali Dynasty Offers Prizes and Donations for Poor Kids for Every Meal at Golden Lotus Restaurant.

The Bali Dynasty Resort has launched a special "Dine Out to Educate A Child" promotion for every diner at its well-known Golden Lotus Chinese Restaurant through 15 March 2002.

During the promotional period, 5% of each guest's food bill will be donated to a local charity that provides educational support to children living in East Bali. As an added reward, customers who dine six times during the promotional period will be eligible to win two tickets courtesy of Singapore Airlines to Singapore and accommodation sponsored in the Lion City by the Bali Dynasty Resort.

To enter the "Big Heart Draw", lucky draw cards are available in the Golden Lotus Restaurant with cards stamped on each visit to the restaurant.

Through past efforts of this type, The Bali Dynasty Resort has managed to raise over Rp. 200,000,000 (+/- US$ 20,000) since the start of the Bali Dynasty Charity Effort fundraising launched in March 2000. The program now successfully sponsors two education initiatives run by Ekoturin (East Bali Poverty Project) in a remote area of North Eastern Bali. As the result of these past contributions generated by diners at The Bali Dynasty Resort, over 90 children are now taught the basics of reading and writing, mathematics, health and hygiene, organic farming, and arts and crafts in the hope that they will eventually learn self-sufficiency.

More information: Book a Stay at the Bali Dynasty Resort

Bali as A Center for Managerial Excellence

Middle and Senior Managers Expected To Hone Their Skills at New International Center in Bali.

"Helping to make better leaders of those who make a difference," describes the goals of the new Executive Center for Global Leadership (ECGL) scheduled to open in Bali in February 2002.

The brainchild of the well-known Indonesian manager and former Minister of State Owned Companies Tanri Abeng, together with State Secretary Bambang Kesowo, tourism tycoon Pontjo Soetowo, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla, and entrepreneur Aburizal Bakrie, the ECGL will create an environment for the exchange of ideas between government bureaucrats and business managers under the tutelage of recognized leaders from the private and public sectors.

According to a report carried in the January 21 edition of The Jakarta Post, the ECGL will operate from a hill-top campus at the Bali Handara Mountain Resort, in Bali's cool mountain-lake district. Chiefs of Industry and Academic luminaries will lead the on campus sessions that will include an annual Chief Executive Program featuring participation by a visiting Head of State.

A three day program at the ECGL will cost US$2,500.