Beritabali.com reports that the Japanese Consul General for Bali, Mr. Eiichi Suzuki, and the Vice Consul General for Bali, Mr. Shusaku Hirasima, jointly praised the work synergy of the Indonesian Police, and the Bali in police in particular, in connection with the recent investigation of the murder of a young Japanese woman, Rika Sano, in Bali. [See: Arrest Made in Murder of Japanese Tourist ]. According to the diplomats, reports in the Japanese media that Indonesian police have quickly arrested the alleged assailant in the murder have also earned enthusiastic salutes from the Japanese public.
To personally convey his thanks, the Japanese Consul in Japan visited Bali's Chief of Police, General Sutisna, on Monday. October 5, 2009. At that meeting, Suzuki asked the police and the legal process in Bali to punish the man to be charge with the murder in accordance with the procedures and laws of Indonesia.
Quoting Mr. Eiichi in comments his to the press: "The government of Japan is most thankful for the capture and arrest of the assailant. We hope that the Provincial Police of Bali will keep us informed of every future development in the case.
In response to Suzuki's request, General Sutisna invited to call him personally at any time in order to track the status of the case: "Don't hesitate to call me. My phone is active 24 hours a day. Morning, night or before sunrise -you can call me. I'm certain to answer."

Bali Tourist class or Melati Hotel operating in the area under the jurisdiction of the Denpasar Municipal police are being urged to earn and obtain the safety and security certification to protect their guests from criminal activities.
According to Beritabali.com, the suggestion was made by the Head of the Denpasar Police, Alit Widana, following the recent abduction and murder of a Japanese tourist from a Kuta hotel.
Alit regretted that not all tourist class ("Melati") and other moderately priced hotels in Bali possess the security standardization certificate issued by the Bali police. He said: "Because they lack the certification, the security of guests staying in these hotels cannot be fully guaranteed. There are hotels that employ only one person who is given shared responsibilities for security ("SATPAM"), reception and even room service. Clearly, this situation is not in conformance with the security standards we have set for hotels."
Hotel Prani Admonished
As regards the murder of a the Japanese woman tourist, Rika Sano, Alit had harsh words for the security of the Hotel Prani in Legian Kelod, Kuta, who he accused of failing to adequately protect the safety of its guests.
Explained Alit: "How can the hotel allow one of their guests to leave in the company of a person claiming to be a policeman? The hotel should have accompanied their guests if, indeed, they were going to be interviewed by the police, and then accompanied her back to the hotel after the interview. Instead, they just allowed their guest to go along with a person of uncertain identity.
In response to the recent murder, Alit has issued orders to all his precinct chiefs in Denpasar to standardize the security at all hotel, especially Melati hotels and small inns.
Related Article
[Security Lacking at Many Bali Tourist Class Hotels].

Bisnis.com reports that PT Suryainti Permata will be marketing The New Kuta Bali Condotel as part of its total development of the The Rich Prada Hotel project at Dreamland, Pecatu, on the Ungasan Peninsula.
The Marketing Director of PT Bali Pecatu Graha, Caleb Rudolf, said the property would be marketed in three of Indonesia's largest cities – Surabaya, Jakarta and Medan. Adding, "We will begin in Surabaya, after that we'll promote in Jakarta and Medan."
Rudolf went on to explain that only around 30% of the total 950 units comprising the Condotel would be offered to outside investors with the remaining units staying in the hands of PT Suryainto Permata.
Bali Pecatu Graha, according to Rudolf, will serve as the complex managers while the operations of the resort would be done by The Rich Prada chain. Elaborating, he added: "so the development concept will resemble the 'Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC)' in Nusa Dua, where PT Suryainti Permata purchases a cluster in the 'Bali Pecatu Graha' in which to build a Condotel."
He said that for those investing in Condotel units the developer is prepared to give a 11.5% annual return against an average occupancy of 60%. This calculation is based on their observation that starred hotels in Bali are averaging occupancies of around 70%.
Rudolf said he is confident that the Condotel project will achieve occupancies in excess of 70% based on the continuing growth in foreign tourist arrivals to Bali. He predicted the project, which has already commenced construction, will be in operation by 2011. Moreover, he said that with the improving real estate market in Indonesia, he was confident that all the units offered to outside investors would be sold within 6 month's time.
He told the press that the property investment in the project remains a relative bargain in comparison to the cost of an apartment in Singapore. Units at the New Bali Kuta Condotel not facing directly on the golf course would be sold for Rp. 1.15 billion (US$115,000) per unit, while units with views would be sold for between Rp. 1.2 billion – Rp. 1.3 billion (US$120,000 – 130,000).
Related Article
[Bali's Last Major Resort].

Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika says one of the complications on supplying sufficient electricity for Bali stems from cultural objections to the installation of high-voltage power cables on towers leading into and across the island. The installation of high voltage lines are seen by some elements of the community as threatening the purity and sacred nature of Bali's ubiquitous religious temples.
Quoted in Beritabali.com, Pastika said: "Electricity is very important, we must have electrical sources, both from power sources on the island of Bali and from sources on the island of Java. Why don't we just bring (the power) to Bali? The problem is how to safely bring the electricity from Java."
"Safety" in this connection, Pastika explained, encompasses both safety for Bali's natural environment, safety for Bali's local culture, and a system that can be accepted by the people of Bali within the context of the larger public interest.
"Submarine cables from Java to Bali are technically dangerous, with many of the current submarine cables broken. One viable and relatively safe alternative would be a high voltage line suspended 350 meters above the sea's surface," Pastika explained.
Such a high voltage line would "descend" in an area within the West Bali National Park in Jembrana where cross-terrain cables standing 45 meters above ground level would be installed.
Pastika went on to say: "It makes sense if the high voltage cables ran through the West Bali National Park, providing they don't destroy the local environment. The radiation (from the cables) runs for only about 3 meters beneath the actual cables. The height of trees (in the park) is 20 meters, so with a cable height of 45 meters, it should be safe."
Plans to install high-voltage lines between Java and Bali, according to Pastika, have been reviewed by environmentalists and cultural experts. There are no technical issues barring the installation of the lines.
Pastika added emotionally: "The technical study is no problem, what remains a problematic are the social-cultural aspects and the popular opinion of the people. So you (reporters) help me, don't always write about those who are protesting about the purity of Bali and the purity of temples. If we are talking about the problem of purity (temples), nobody wants the purity of temples to be disturbed."
Pastika warned that problem of electricity in Bali must be urgently overcome to avoid problems in the future.
"50,000 people are waiting for electricity connection in Bali, that doesn't include demands from the industrial, tourism and other sectors. So let's not always connect the problem of electrical power with the purity of the Island of Bali and its temples – those things will certainly always be protected," Pastika concluded.

Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika has called for the owners to relinquish their ownership of the land where the former Sari Club once stood before being leveled by terrorist on October 12, 2002.
Quoted by Beritabali.com, the Governor is dissuading the owners of the now vacant lot from their plans to build a new night spot on the land, in favor of a plan by a group of Australian citizen to construct a Bali Peace Park to commemorate the victims of the 2002 bombing.
The Governor told the press on Tuesday, October 6, 2009, that the realization of a Peace Park on the site will have a greater and longer-lasting value for the people of Bali.
The Governor said: "We hope that the owner of the land will understand a little about the problems of humanity. I think there is nothing wrong with donating this land (to the park project). I'm convinced that this would not reduce the wealth of those people (the owners)."
The Governor confirmed that the Provincial Government of Bali and the Regency Government for Badung will continue to facilitate the building of the Bali Peace Park, an idea conceived and promoted by the victims and the families of the 2002 Bali bombing organized under the Bali Peace Park Associations.Earlier, one of the founders of the Bali Peace Park Association, Nick Way, said the correct value of the 800 square meter lot should be around US$700,000, a figure far below the US$ 3 million being sought by the site's current owners.
Related Article
[Give Peace a Park].

Bali's Nusa Dua Complex will once again host the Nusa Dua Fiesta XIII 2009 October 17-21, 2009, which will include participation by 20 different provinces across Indonesia.
The CEO of Bali Tourism Development Corporation (BTDC), I Made Mandra, recently told the press that more than 100 booths have been prepared for regencies and cities across the nation to exhibit their products and handicrafts at the Festival.
The theme for this year's event is "Green Tourism" with a sub-theme of "Preserving our Oceans and Beaches."
In explaining the motivation for holding the yearly festival, Mandra told the press: "We wish to promote the complex with all its facilities and attractions, while at the same time we wish to also promote the concept of preserving and protecting the national culture." To this end, the event will showcase both modern and contemporary Indonesian performance as well as the handicrafts made in various parts of the Nation. Supporting activities include: a golf tournament; a marathon race expected to draw thousands of participants; and a competition to dress 300 tradition brides and grooms as a new entry in the Indonesian Book of Records (MURI).
Program - Nusa Dua Fiesta XIII 2009
Day 1 – Saturday, October 17, 2009
07.00 - 13.00 Nusa Dua Golf Tournament at Bali Golf & Country Club
08.00 - 14.00 Caricature Painting Competition at Nusa Dua Area
08.00 - 11.00 Elementary School Drawing Competition at VIP Tent
09.00 - 13.00 Sand Sculpture at Peninsula Area
09.00 - 13.00 Fruit and Vegetable Carving Competition at Peninsula Area
09:00 – 13:00 Gringsing Weaving and Anyaman Exhibition at Booths
17.00 - 18.30 Semara Pegulingan Br. Penyarikan Tanjung Benoa at The Stage
17.30 - 18.30 Welcome Party Bali Garuda Marathon at The Stage
18.30 - 18.35 Opening Ceremony at The Stage
18.35 - 19.35 Parade on Stage – Balinese Traditional Wedding at The Stage
18.35 - 19.35 Beach Dance Creations from Nusa Dua Hotels at The Stage.
19.35 - 19.45 Welcome Speech by President Director of BTDC at The Stage
19.45 - 20.00 Speech by the Minister of Culture and Tourism at The Stage
20.00 - 21.00 Exhibition at The Entrance Gate
20.30 - 22.00 Kebo Iwa Dance Colossal by Nalerung & Padmanara Swara at The Stage
Day 2 – Sunday, October 18, 2009
06.00 - 10.00 2nd Garuda Indonesian International Marathon
07.00 - 08.00 Aerobics at The Stage
10.00 - 15.00 Wood Carving & Painting Exhibition at Peninsula Area
10.15 - 12.15 Animal Show at Peninsula Area
12.15 - 13.00 Exhibition Promotion at The Stage
12.00 - 22.00 Photo Exhibition at Peninsula Area
13.00 - 17.00 Traditional Indonesian Make Up Exhibition for Indonesian Book of Records at Amphitheatre Stage
13.30 - 17.00 Kids' Carnival at VIP Tent and Stage
17.00 - 18.00 Fun Games Hosted by Club Med at The Stage
18.30 - 19.00 West Manggarai (Flores) Cultural Performance at The Stage
19.00 - 19.30 Tulung Bawa, Lampung Cultural Performance at The Stage
19.30 - 20.00 Bondowoso Cultural Performance at The Stage
20.00 - 21.00 Nusa Dua Night Presented by Novotel Nusa Dua Hotel & Residences at The Stage
21.00 - 22.00 Nusa Dua Night by Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa at The Stage
Day 3 – Monday, October 19, 2009
07.30 - 12.00 Green Camp Hosted by Dik Doank at The Stage and VIP Tent
08.00 - 12.00 Bag Painting Competition at The Museum & Tent
09.00 - 11.00 Turtle Release at Nusa Dua Beach
10.00 - 15.00 Wood Carving & Painting Exhibition at the Wood Carving Stand
14.30 - 17.00 Kids Drum Band Performance at Nusa Dua Area
17.00 - 18.00 Fun Games Hosted by BTDC at The Stage
18.30 - 19.00 Ethnic Art Performance – Reog from Ponorogo Regency at The Stage
19.00 - 19.30 Ethnic Art Performance From Banyuwangi Regency at The Stage
19.30 - 20.00 Ethnic Art Performance From Karanganyar Regency at The Stage
20.00 - 21.00 Nusa Dua Night By Ayodya Resort Bali at The Stage
21.00 - 22.00 Nusa Dua Night By The Westin Resort Nusa Dua Bali at The Stage
Day 4 – Tuesday, October 20, 2009
07.00 - 13.00 Coral Reef Restoration at The Nusa Dua Sea
07.30 - 12.00 Jukung Traditional Sailing Boat Parade at Nusa Dua Sea
10.00 - 15.00 Traditional Textile Exhibition at Booth
15.00 - 17.00 Exhibition Promotion at The Stage
17.00 - 18.00 Fun Game Hosted by Club Med at The Stage
18.30 - 19.45 Ethnic Art from Central Sulawesi at The Stage
19.45 - 20.30 Ethnic Art Performance from Yogyakarta at The Stage
20.30 - 20.45 Ethnic Art Performance from Mentawi Island at The Stage
20.45 - 21.30 Nusa Dua Night by The Laguna Resort & Spa at The Stage
21.30 - 22.00 Nusa Dua Night By Inna Putri Bali Hotel, Cottages And Spa at The Stage
Day 5 – October 21, 2009
10.00 - 15.00 Wood Carving/Painting Exhibition at The Booth
15.00 - 17.00 Exhibition Promotion at The Stage
14.30 - 17.00 Bondres Show Dwi Mekar & Rindik Sawitra Sujati at The Stage
18.15 - 18.40 Balinese Performance Gong Kebyar From Tanjung Benoa at The Stage
18.30 - 18.35 Closing Ceremony at The Stage
18.35 - 18.45 Speech by the President Director of BTDC at The Stage
18.45 - 19.00 Speech by the Governor of Bali at The Stage
19.00 - 19.45 Cabaret Show at The Stage
19.45 - 20.15 Nusa Dua Night By Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort at The Stage
20.15 - 20.45 Nusa Dua Night by The Grand Hyatt Resort at The Stage
20.45 - 22.00 Contemporary Dance "Kresna Arjuna' By ISI Denpasar at the Stage

Bali's Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique and KuDeTa have been voted among the Top 10 Restaurant in Asia in the 2009 edition of the Miele Guide.
At an award ceremony held in Singapore on September 30, 2009, Mozaic Restaurant was ranked #6 and KuDeTa #9 among the 10 dining venues considered the very best in Asia by Miele.
Available on line and via leading bookstores, The Miele Guide claims to be Asia's first truly independent and authoritative guide to the region's finest restaurants. It is written by food experts and is the first restaurant guide to measure the best restaurants in the region by Asian standards.
The 2009/2010 edition of The Miele Guide features 450 restaurants across the following 16 Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Miele Guide 2009/2010 also lists the Top 5 restaurants for each country in the guide (with the exception of those countries for which there were very few restaurants listed). And each country features an insider's perspective of the country's dining scene written by The Miele Guide's shortlist panelists, who are top restaurant critics and food writers in their respective home countries.
Here's The List
And, since we knew you'd ask, here's the list of the top 10 restaurants in Asia, according to Miele:
1. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong, China
2. Iggy's, Singapore
3. Robuchon a Galera, Macau, China
4. Jaan par Andre, Singapore
5. Les Amis, Singapore
6. Mozaic, Bali, Indonesia
7. Gunther's Modern French Cuisine, Singapore
8. Laris, Shanghai, China
9. Ku De Ta, Bali, Indonesia
10. Yung Kee, Hong Kong, China.

Bali's Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique and KuDeTa have been voted among the Top 10 Restaurant in Asia in the 2009 edition of the Miele Guide.
At an award ceremony held in Singapore on September 30, 2009, Mozaic Restaurant was ranked #6 and KuDeTa #9 among the 10 dining venues considered the very best in Asia by Miele.
Available on line and via leading bookstores, The Miele Guide claims to be Asia's first truly independent and authoritative guide to the region's finest restaurants. It is written by food experts and is the first restaurant guide to measure the best restaurants in the region by Asian standards.
The 2009/2010 edition of The Miele Guide features 450 restaurants across the following 16 Asian countries: Brunei, Cambodia, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Miele Guide 2009/2010 also lists the Top 5 restaurants for each country in the guide (with the exception of those countries for which there were very few restaurants listed). And each country features an insider's perspective of the country's dining scene written by The Miele Guide's shortlist panelists, who are top restaurant critics and food writers in their respective home countries.
Here's The List
And, since we knew you'd ask, here's the list of the top 10 restaurants in Asia, according to Miele:
1. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Hong Kong, China
2. Iggy's, Singapore
3. Robuchon a Galera, Macau, China
4. Jaan par Andre, Singapore
5. Les Amis, Singapore
6. Mozaic, Bali, Indonesia
7. Gunther's Modern French Cuisine, Singapore
8. Laris, Shanghai, China
9. Ku De Ta, Bali, Indonesia
10. Yung Kee, Hong Kong, China.

As part of its celebration of 20 years of operation, Bali's Amandari in Sayan, Ubud, is hosting 4 nights of classic Balinese cinema at their resort October 14-17, 2009.
Presented in cooperation with Cinematheque De La Dance in Paris and The French Embassy in Jakarta, the showings are without charge with a cash bar available. Each film performance begins at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
Classic Balinese Cinema at The Amandari
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 - Schonheit und Reichtung – The Life of Walter Spies (1986) by H. Hulscher and Bali (1933) by Rolf de Mare. Stunningly beautiful and rare footage of Balinese dance with some sequences actually shot by the legendary Walter Spies.
Thursday, October 15, 2009 - Island of Demons (1933) by Victor Von Plessen and Walter Spies. This story is loosely inspired by the legend of the Calonarang. Dances staged by Walter Spies.
Friday, October 16, 2009 - Trance and Dance in Bali (1938) by Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson. This is an early filming of what is known today as the ‘Keris Dance.” Legong – Island of the Virgins (1935) by Henry de la Falaise. An unrequited and tragic love story between two Balinese youth.
Saturday, October 17, 2009 - Strangers in Paradise (2008) – A travel diary by a lover of Balinese Dance, from the seventies up to the present day. Colin McPhee: The Lure of Asian Music (1985) by Michael Blackwood. The life and work of Colin McPhee, author of Music of Bali and A House in Bali.
Book a Stay at the [Amandari Resort - Ubud]

Candlelight dinners may become less a romantic option and more a practical necessity for the remainder of October and November in Bali as the State Electricity Board (PLN) warns that a series of daily rotating blackouts will be introduced for 56 days starting from October 10, 2009.
PLN has confirmed that scheduled maintenance at the gas-fired powered Gilimanuk generation plant will result in a loss in generating capacity, leaving Bali with only 432 megawatts (MW) of total power, an amount well short of the island's peak energy appetite of 490MW consumed during peak evening periods.
Faced with inevitable energy shortfalls until maintenance is completed at Gilimanuk, PLN is responding by asking people to reduce power consumption and scheduling rotating blackouts on a daily basis that will "share the pain" of the energy crisis.
Blackouts will be introduced between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. in "designated area" throughout the nearly two month period.
PLN officials are being asked to reduce consumption by a minimum of 100 watts during peak evening consumption periods.
Nearly all major hotels and resorts in Bali and many major restaurants and businesses have 100% back-up generating capacity supplied by on-site gensets. As a result, many visitors may be unaware of the blackouts that are expected to most severely inconvenience private home owners and small businesses on the island.
Operations at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport will not be affected by the rotating balckouts.
Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika is asking the public to reduce power consumption and exercise patience in confronting the frequent blackouts in the weeks ahead.

The Jakarta Post has confirmed that the long-delayed massive renovation of Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport will commence in January 2010.
The renovation program will take 30 months to complete and encompasses major changes to passenger terminals, parking lots and the airport infrastructure.
The revamping of the airport was originally scheduled to begin in 2009, but was delayed when Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika strongly criticized the over-commercializtion of airport's public areas which, in the original plans, saw 40% of all space designated for commercial purposes. Following negotiations with the Bali government, commercial space will now be limited to 30%.
The management company for the Bali Airport, Angkasa Pura I, has announced that the renovation program will consume a total budget of US$15 million.
Hundreds of residences and business now standing on the airport's adjoining areas will also be affected by the renovations.
Intended to increase passenger handling capabilities, the renovated airport will increase the carrying capacity of both the internaitonal terminal and domestic passengers.
Apparently a compromise has been struck with the Governor over his insistence that the airport's overalll design reflect Balinese architectural values. The facility's managers have said that it will be difficult to retain Balinese elements in the exterior design of the airport, but that Balinese "style" elements would be given priority in the airport's interiors.
Related Articles
[Bali's Airport: A Goose that Lays a Golden Egg]
[Would Someone Please Listed to Governor Pastika?]
[Pak Legowo: Please Listen to the Governor].

A sensational trial commenced on Thursday, October 8, 2009, in Denpasar's District Court that sees seven men charged in the connection of a Balinese journalist in February of this year.
Charged as the alleged "mastermind" of the homicide is I Nyoman Susrama, a former legislator from the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the younger brother of Bangli's Regent, Nengah Arnawa.
The victim of the murder, Narendra Prabangsa, was a reporter with Jawa Post/ Radar Bali who had written unfavorably on projects operated by the Bangli regency Education and Culture Office and an international standard kindergarten construction project headed by Susrama.
Prabangsa was reportedly abducted, tortured and killed on February 11, 2009. His body was discovered floating near the port of Padang Bai five days later.
Sumarsa is adamant in proclaiming his innocence in the case.
Also charged in the murder are six associates of Susrama: I Nyoman Wiradnyana a/k/a Rencana, I Komang Gede, I Komang Gede Wardana a/k/a Mangde, Dewa Gede Mulya Antara a/k/a Dewa Sumbawa, Ida Bagus Gede Adnyana Narbawa a/k/a Gus Oblong, and I Wayan Suecita a/k/a Maong.

Human deaths continue to mount in Bali ongoing epidemic of rabies with another fatality confirmed on Thursday, October 8, 2009, of a 54 year-old Balinese at the Sanglah General Hospital. The man, from the Kedongnan area of South Kuta, died after reporting to the hospital with symptoms consistent with the rabies virus. The man was bitten by a dog two month's earlier at his residence.
The latest death is fueling growing criticism of the seemingly haphazard way in which Bali officials are dealing with the disease, including the inoculation of local dogs and insufficient supplies of human anti-rabies vaccine to treat those suffering dog bits with a one-treatment four-injection regime.
NusaBali reports that tens of patients reporting the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar for anti-rabies vaccine are being turned away due to the lack vaccine supplies.
The Secretary of the Rabies Control Team at Sanglah Hospital, Dr. IGB Ken Wirasandhi, blamed supply problems on the large number of dog-bite cases that can equal 150 in a single day and the fact that all anti-rabies serum must be imported into Indonesia.
Each anti-rabies serum kit for treating humans costs the government US$120 dollars each and consists of four ampoules. Two shots are administered at the site of the bite and the two remaining dosages in each arm of the patient.
Health regulations mandate that people bitten by potentially rabid animals be treated without charge.
On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, NusaBali reported that there were no anti-rabies serum stocks available at Sanglah General Hospital, the second time this has occurred in recent weeks.
The hospital has treated some 10,432 suspect-rabies patients since December 2009 with 12 patients succumbing to the disease at the hospital.

Radar Bali says that the Badung Tourism Authority and local enforcement officers will soon move against the Ramada Resort Camakila, the former Hotel Safir Mabisa. At issue are the alleged failure to secure the required operating permits and licenses, and the "new" hotel's dismissal of long-standing employees of the Hotel Safir Mabisa.
In addition, the hotel is being cited by authorities for its failure to provide a stipulated number of parking spaces. By law, hotels are required by law to set aside 20% of their total area for parking.
The "new" hotel is also accused of hiring a few local residents from the Legian area against an "ideal" target for Bali hotels of 30% employment from the local population.
When Radar Bali visited the Manpower Department of the Badung Regency, Nengah Subagia, an official of the agency charged with handling employment issues said "he was lifting his hands" in desperation on the seemingly intractable Ramada case in which 55 former employees have filed claims against the hotel. Those labor relation cases remain unresolved with the new managers claiming the employees are the responsibility of the former operators.
Badung tourism officials also report that The Ramada Resort Camakila does not hold the required new operating license. According to Suardana, a Badung tourism official: "They hold a license in the name of the Hotel Safir Mabisa. Since the change of name and ownership, there has been no new operational license issued by the Regency's Tourism office." Suardana also said the case has now been handed to the Regency's enforcement officers who are expected to soon move against the hotel.

NusaBali carries the story that the closure of at least four entertainment and accommodation venues by the Badung regency's enforcement agency (Satpol PP) is being criticized as an example of "selective enforcement of the rules." The four closed businesses in the Kuta area - The Wave, Holiday Colada, Wild Catz and Sara Residence are threatening to re-open unless the rules are enforced in a more even-handed fashion.
Reading a written statement by R Life Lupi, the owner of The Wave, a spokesperson said: "I am extremely unhappy, both as an investor in the Badung Regency and as an Indonesian citizen, with the strict enforcement and closing of unlicensed businesses.
The letter also highlighted what Lupi sees as the discriminative way in which were being enforced, pointing to the Best Western Sapta Petala which is a hotel built and operating in an area specifically barred for such business activities under local zoning rules.
Life Lupi continued: "But the Sapta Petala Hotel has not yet been closed, even thow they violate every rule. If the government is not brave enough to take action and there is no justice, then we will open again."
The disgruntled businessman's letter was delivered to the Badung House of Representatives with copies also sent to the Regent of Badung. Life Lupi also told the press that he will not only open his business again if the rules are not fairly applied, but that he will also organize demonstration in protest.
"Clearly, this is not right and can be said to be selective. If they are going to close (illegal businesses), then close all (the illegal businesses) if you're going to be consistent in the application of local laws. For instance, allowing the Sapta Petala to operate – isn't this discriminative? Because of this will emerge either the suspicion or the reality that they enjoy ‘backing.' Why haven't they been closed? We will also demonstrate against them if this discrimination continues," threatened Life Lupi.
On Wednesday, October 7, 2009, the Satpol PP called the relevant local business operators to coordinate enforcement measures. At the meeting attended by representatives of Vi Ai Pi, The Lanai, Crusoe's and The Sara Residence - businesses were asked to report on the status of their efforts to obtain required operating licenses. Also at that meeting, numerous complaints regarding the difficulties and impediments to securing operating licenses were tabled.
Kadek Surdana, representing The Lanai said his employers were attempting to obtain the needed business licenses, but was "snagged" at a certain government agency.

Sometime the best ideas come to you in dark.
I think this was the case the other evening when I sat in the dark for four hours in what was my first of what promises to be the first of many power blackout evenings expected to stretch until early December. As reported on balidiscovery.com, the repairs of a gas-powered generating station at Gilimanuk, West Bali, will leave Bali short by some 58 megawatts of the required power to serve peak evening consumption demands of 490 megawatt. [See: Dark Nights Ahead].
To their credit, State Electrical Board (PLN) officials are trying to deal with this power crisis by asking consumers to reduce consumption by a minimum 100 watts per household and scheduling a rotation of blackouts to help "share the pain" with all the various parts of the island over the coming two months. The provincial government is also reportedly examining the viability of renting a 100 megawatt supplemental generator docked on the island's shore on a large barge; a good solution susceptible to being bogged down in bureaucratic roadblocks and delays linked to funding approval.
Even more concerning are warnings from PLN officials that lives lived the dark may become increasingly frequent in the future. Already confronting a lack of power at the best of times, there will be more power shortages as other generating stations in the Java-Bali power grid come up for routine maintenance and Bali's helter-skelter rush into new development serves to make an already acute power shortage even more so. Balinese children will be force to go to bed early with their homework undone. Local small and medium sized enterprises will suffer economically. And, at the risk of digression, if blackouts in other locales are any indication, there will be a spike in new births 9 months after the current crisis.
Apparently, sitting in the dark gives full rein to more than just enhanced creativity.
In any case, sitting in my darkened room the other night I wondered if a more readily accessible solution to Bali's current power shortage wasn't closer at hand; right there, staring us all in the face?
While this may miff some tourism colleagues in Bali's Hotel industry, we pose the question if more than enough power might be generated to cover any shortfall by the governor merely ordering all hotels with 100% power back-up capabilities to run their gensets every night between 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. until the current crisis passes? These gensets are in place at every major hotel and resort on the island, ready to go and easily put into operation at the instruction of Bali's Governor. Compliance with such an order is easily monitored via the control panels of PLN.
That such a solution will undoubtedly bring its own unique set of problems, can't be denied. Hotels may rightly complain that the cost of generating their own supply of electricity will increase operating when compared to paying for power from PLN. But, by adopting its rightful roles as a partner for development, the government could offer a whole range of ameliorants to participating hotels: tax incentives, fuel cost subsidies and duty-free import facilities for genset spare parts.
In any case, we think this is an idea worthy of closer examination in the effort to keep the lights on in Bali and allowing the islands pint-sized army of Wayans, Mades, Nyomans and Ketuts to complete their homework each nighte before the lights go out.