President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has set the construction of 1,500 kilometer toll road joining Java and Bali as one of the main infrastructure projects of his new administration.

Preliminary estimates project the project will cost massive US$72 billion, including the cost of a bridge connecting the two islands. Plans are for the project to be financed through private domestic and foreign investment sources.

The ambitious plan was announced following a meeting of governors from Java and Bali held at the National Palace on Thursday, November 25, 2004.

The Chairman of the Tourism Development Forum for Tulamben, I Madè Kusumajaya, complained last week that most hotels and tourist attraction in the north Bali sub-district of Tulamben were owned by foreigners, saying that "local partners" who operated as "fronts" posing as "owners" while they are in fact employees.

Mr. Kusumajaya's comments were made at zoning hearings held in Karangasem on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 and reported in the Indonesian-language Bali Post.

Admitting that local residents lack the capital necessary to develop tourism businesses, he called on the regional government to take steps to preserve the quality of the area and prevent the local population from becoming second-class citizens in their ancestral lands.

Illegal Buildings on the Beach

Pointing to Candi Dasa as an example of the kind of uncontrolled tourism development that must be avoided in north Bali, Kusumajaya lamented the increasing number of hotels and resorts are failing to honor the set-back codes for beach side construction, with many building structures as little as 15 meters from the shore line.

In addition to the problem of north Bali tourism projects being built too close to the beach and in violation of existing set-back regulations, many projects are also in violation of other construction codes including stipulations on open space to land ratios. This, according to Mr. Kusumajaya, has resulted in overcrowded, unattractive tourist sites.

Under local law, shore areas – considered sacred by the Balinese and often used for religious ceremonies – are exempt from private ownership and must accessible to the public. As a result, an island wide prohibition exists outlawing the building of any permanent structures closer than 50 meters from the shore line.

The Conrad Bali Resort & Spa has recently completed its well-being complex with the opening of Jiwa Spa - the latest jewel in Bali's long and impressive list of world-class spas.

Jiwa Spa is enclosed in a secluded compound in the Resort's north wing and is part of an entire complex that encompasses a fitness club, meditation room and two outdoor tennis courts lit for evening play.

Seven treatment rooms equipped with a massage bed, deep soaking tub and shower cabinet are the center of the Spa's pampering facilities. There's also a couples' treatment room featuring a freestanding, black granite soaking tub for two, providing a discrete view of nearby water gardens.

Introducing Ocean Flow

Jiwa Spa's signature treatment—Ocean Flow—combines elements of rhythmic strokes with acupressure, akin to the movement of ocean waves. This treatment was designed by the Bali-based Spa Company Jari Manari who have trained the professional therapy staff at the Jiwa Spa.

Two spacious spa villas flank a 25-meter outdoor pool. Each private villa encompasses indoor and outdoor treatment areas for two, overlooking flowing water gardens, with an ocean or garden vista. A separate relaxation theater spills onto a pavilion dining area, adjacent to an outdoor Jacuzzi and open air steam shower.

6 Hours of Absolute Indulgence

Exclusive treatment packages, including private dining are offered daily.

Choose one of two six-hour packages: Double Delight or Perfect Combination. Begin with a 75 to 80-minute massage, followed by an exfoliating body scrub. Follow this with a nourishing and relaxing flower petal bath, then pause for a light lunch before embarking on further pampering for the face, hands and feet.

The Reflexology Center

The air-conditioned reflexology center, also facing the spa pool, has six semi-private treatment cubicles with reclining loungers designed for comfort and relaxation. The salon offers a full range of beauty services, including hair care and cream baths, manicure, pedicures and waxing. Two separate rooms offer exclusive facial treatments. Before or after therapy, spa guests may relax in a subtlety-illuminated lounge

An exclusive range of body treatment and massage therapy is available daily from 8:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m.

More information: Book a Stay at The Conrad Bali Resort & Spa

By popular demand, Oriental Theatre will resume Movie Night showcasing outstanding documentaries presented personally by the filmmakers.

The Schedule

• Tuesday, November 30, 2004 "1001 Kecak Dancers" A films by Jane Walters of Seri Productions and Douchan Gersi, recording the world's largest kecak dance performed on August 16, 2004, at Bali's Garuda Wisnu Kencana Park. 7 camera operators and advanced digital sound equipments were used to record this momentous occasion.

• Thursday, December 9, 2004 "The Art of Peacemaking" A highly acclaimed Canadian documentary produced by Penny Joy and directed by Peter Campbell of Gumboot Productions. The documentary follows the conception, creation and exhibition of a 5 ton gun Sculpture - a prison-cell sized walk-in structure composed of over six thousand guns, grenades, landmines and weapons of domestic violence gathered from diverse groups including the PLO, Israeli Army, Sinn Fein and the Loyalist UDP.

This compelling sculpture was displayed at the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Nobel Peace Prize held in Seoul, Korea, and in New York City at the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms.

"The Art of Peacemaking" captures a Canadian vision and commitment to the possibility of peace.

• Tuesday, December 14, 2004 "Cherry Kingsley: Recognizing the Person" A thought provoking production by Penny Joy which portrays the life of Cherry Kingsley and her struggle and ultimate triumph overcoming an abusive home, drug addiction and prostitution - ultimately being awarded with the Governor's General Award and become an international spokesperson for the rights of children.

• Tuesday, January 11, 2005 "Spice Island Sagas – Episodes I & II" The Emmy Award Winning BBC Documentary by acclaimed writer, presenter, producer, academic, explorer and adventurer Dr. Lawrence Blair recording a ten-year voyage through the Indonesian archipelago made together with his late brother, Lorne.

• Tuesday, January 18, 2005 "East of Krakatoa" and "Dream Wanderers of Borneo" Two films by Dr. Lawrence Blair made during his life-long adventure of exploring remote tribal cultures and little seen civilizations of Indonesia.

Film Night at the Oriental Theatre

Show time for each of the above films is at 9:00 p.m. at The Oriental, located on Jalan Sri Rama in Seminyak. Seating is limited and reserved seating for advance sale tickets is available. Ticket price for each showing is Rp. 50,000 (approximately US$5.55) or Rp. 200,000 (approximately US$22.25) for the entire season of 5 film evenings.

Bar Service is available at each showing.

For more information or reservations contact Jane Walters at ++62-(0)818357876 or ++62-(0)361-7427399 or via the email contact provided.

More information: E-mail Contact for Movie Night at The Oriental

Chess enthusiasts at all level of skill are encouraged to participate in the First Sanur Open Chess Tournament, December 1 – 15, 2004.

Organizers of the event are hoping that players ranging from beginners to Grand Masters will register to participate in the event in which cash prizes will be awarded in both Senior and Junior divisions.

Registration is open to all and costs only Rp. 25,000 (approximately US$2.75) for Seniors and Rp. 15,000 (approximately US$1.65) for Juniors. A prize purse of Rp. 5.975,000 (approximately US$664) will be divided among the top 20 ranking Senior players and Rp. 1,750,000 (approximately US$195) among the to 10 ranking Junior players.

The tournament is being held to mark the inauguration of the Pion Mas Sanur Chess Club which intends to hold regular seminars and workshops to promote chess play taught by national chess coaches as well as National Grand Masters.

For more information or to register for the First Sanur Open Chess Tournament, contact:

• Pion Mas Sanur Chess Club (CCPMS) on Jalan Tandakan IX in Sanur.

• Paras Ayu Beauty Salon at Jalan Danau Tondano 45 in Sanur.

• Bali Setia Motor Rent Car at Jalan Danau Tamblingan 44 in Sanur.

At least 300 entrepreneurs from Australia and Indonesia are expected to attend the Indonesia – Australia Business Conference scheduled to be held in Bali April 18-19, 2005.

The conference is organized by the Indonesia Australia Business Council (IABC), whose membership include 300 Jakarta companies and 100 more companies located in Semarang, Surabaya and Bali – all with Australian ownership or business affiliations.

According to Elly Hutabarat, Vice President of the IABC, the purpose of the conference is to invite potential investors to see the current business climate in Indonesia first-hand. "The reaction from the Australian people towards the new government (in Indonesia) has been very positive because of the developments in the field of law and labor," said Ms. Hutabarat.

To capitalize on the growing good will between the Australian and Indonesian business communities the conference has adopted the theme: Indonesia – Window of Opportunity."

Several Ministers of State from both Indonesia and Australia are expected to attend the event scheduled to be held in the Tanjung Benoa area of Bali.

A local Private Conference Organizer (PCO) has called on the Minister of Culture and Tourism to appoint a Director in charge of Conventions during the coming restructuring of the ministry into a full-fledged government department.

Susilowani Daud, Managing Director of PACTO a local PCO, quoted in the Indonesian-language bisnis.com said "we hope the Director General of Tourism will establish a special director to handle conventions whose first goal will be to return Indonesia's meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition (MICE) industry to the international map as a leading MICE destination."

According to Daud, Indonesia's MICE industry continues to be plagued by weak promotion, ignoring the substantial capabilities of the Country to host MICE events.

The PCO professional went on to say that the proposed Director of Conferences must be an individual able to work effectively with the private sector. "The promotion of Indonesia as a MICE destination is the Government's job, while proposing Indonesia as the host for conferences and exhibitions is the job of the private sector, "Daud added.

The Managing Director of Focus Convensindo Henny Latehu said the role of the proposed Director of Conferences should also include the regulation and development of the MICE industry. According to Latehu, there is a lack of standardization in the MICE industry with little or no control on those wishing to establish a PCO operation.

Bali's regional parliament has promised to set aside funding in its next annual budget to address the lack of trash bins and public toilet facilities in Kuta.

In the interim, the State Electricity Board (PLN) has come to the rescue donating 15 trash bins of an estimated 50 bins needed for effective coverage of the entire Kuta area.

The newly donated trash bins will be deployed during the first week of December 2004, each bearing a logo from PLN.

Plans just announced by the Government to connect Bali and Java with a bridge as part of a 1,500 kilometer toll road connecting Java and Bali are being viewed with caution by many groups in Bali concerned that the proposed project would do irreparable damage to Bali's eco-system and cultural equilibrium.

Members of Bali's Regional Parliament (DPRD) have been quick to point out that the proposed bridge could hasten the erosion of Bali's cultural identity and the elevated highways such a project would include are inimical to Bali-Hindu cultural norms.

The Jakarta Post quoted I Madè Titib, the former rector of the Bali Hindu Religious Institute who said the bridge would disrupt cultural stability in Bali, saying "if the bridge will only have an adverse effect and speed up the destruction of local culture, then the plan must be dropped."

More information: Related Story: Java to Bali Toll Road

Executives of the Indonesian Guide Association (HPI) will be attending the 11^th Convention of World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFGA) to be held in Melbourne, Australia January 31 – February 2, 2005, where they intend to make a formal bid to host that same event in Bali in 2007.

The intention of Bali to bid to host the prestigious gathering of tour guide professionals from around the world was revealed recently by the Chairman of the Bali Guide Association (HPI-Bali) - Madè Sukadana, following a meeting with Bali's Governor, Madè Beratha.

If successful in the conference bid, some 600 international guides would be expected to gather in Bali from the 40 member countries of the World Federation of Tourist Guides.

Both the Governor and Bali's Tourism Chief, Gedè Nurjaya, have pledge all possible official support should Bali be chosen as the site for the 2007 event.

In the view of the Chairman of the Association of Bali Museums (HIMBUSA), Nyoman Gunarsa, the sate of many Bali museums is indeed dismal and fails to reflect the potential contribution museums have to make to the national tourism product.

Gunarsa, who is one of Bali's most revered painters and the founder of the Nyoman Gunarsa Museum in Klungkung, east Bali, says now is the time for Bali's museums to be assessed and revitalized.

To increase the publics' awareness of the role played by museums, HIMBUSA will be conducting a seminar at the Bajra Sandi Monumentin the Renon sub-district of Denpasar on Friday, December 3, 2004. A number of noted experts have been invited to speak at the event including the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gede Ardika, and the founder of the Neka Museum, Suteja Neka.

The Kuta Campus of Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Manajemen (STIM) Dhyana Pura - the Dhyana Pura Management Institute is seeking to "go global" by offering its program of degree courses in hotel and tourism management to students from overseas.

An application has reportedly been filed with the Department of Education seeking permission from the Government to be allowed to accept international students. The Institute hopes to be able to accept students from the Asia-Pacific, Europe and even the Americas as early as next year.

The Institute currently offers a three-year certificate program in hotel and restaurant management and bachelor degree programs in Management for general tourism, hotel management, manpower, finance, and tourism marketing.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and receive every Monday the latest information from the Island of the Gods.

Simply enter your email address below and join the community of more than 15,000 readers of Bali's only weekly newsletter.

The Bali Update is published since more than 5 years. Thousands of articles are waiting for your exploration.

Simply enter your search terms below and travel back in time with Bali's most popular newsletter: