The Bali Manpower Office has confirmed that there were 53 Balinese ship’s crews working on board the ill-fated Costa Concordia that ran aground and sunk on Saturday, January 14, 2012, near Isola del Giglio, Italy.

At least eleven people died among a complement of 4,200 passengers and crew on the ship, with as many as 24 people still unaccounted for and now feared dead, trapped somewhere inside the wreckage.

BeritaBali.com reports that the Balinese crewmembers worked in the housekeeping, laundry, kitchen and utility galley departments of the ship. Several of the Balinese crew suffered injuries requiring brief periods of hospitalization.

All 53 Balinese remain in Italy awaiting finalization of discussions to either return to Bali or assign them to other vessels in the Costa fleet.

The Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has signed with the Indonesian hotel group PT Asia Pasifik Properti for the operation of a luxury resort in Bali.

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts was founded in 1997 and has a worldwide portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts.

Located in the Jimbaran area, just south of Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, the Jumeirah Bali will face Bali’s famous Dreamland Beach and be adjacent to the New Kuta Golf Course.

The resort will have 80 spacious suites and 25 private villas.

A luxury resort, the new property will have a range of restaurants, signature Talise Spa and a state-of-the-art fitness center. The hotel will also feature a cliff-top wedding venue.

Attending the signing ceremony held in Bali were Guy Crawford, chief executive Jumeirah Group; Gerald Lawless, executive chairman of the Jumeirah Group; Sukowati Sosrodjojo, commissioner of PT Asia Pasifik Properti; and Kuntjoro Widodo, director, PT Asia Pacifik Properti.

Jumeirah’s existing property in Asia is the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel, 
Shanghai, China.

An additional five luxury hotels are under development in China with another resort being built in Thailand.

Field surveys carried out by the Bali Livestock and Animal Health Service have identified 4 villages in Bali still classified as areas of active contagion for rabies.

Beritabali.com lists two villages in the regency of Jembrana, one village in the regency of Bangli and a final village in the regency of Klungkung - where rabies remains endemic.

The chief of the Livestock and Animal Health Service for Bali, Putu Sumantra, told the press on Thursday, January 19, 2012, that as a whole the number of active cases of rabies have dramatically decreased in Bali.

From its height, the number of reported cases have decreased by 76%.

“The infection rate has really declined, moreover, the results of our observations, there is a more than 76% decline of positive cases of rabies among the dog population. In the past there were many cases, as many as 400 cases, but that number has really gone down, but rabies has yet to be eliminated,” explained Sumantra.

Sumantra said he hoped the public would quickly inform health officials whenever they encounter a dog identified as being infected with rabies in order that preventative steps can immediately be taken.

The Bali House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali) have called for close supervision of the Simpang Siur Underpass Project  to ensure that PT Adhi Karya – the contractor appointed to build the project, complete all work in accordance with the time schedule set forth in the Detailed Engineering Design (DED).

“We are demanding that the execution of the project be done under close supervision. If the work does not conform to schedule, the Governor of Bali must be brave enough to issue written reminders," said the vice-chairman of Commission III of the DPRD-Bali, Made Suryantha Putra to BertiaBali.com on Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Suyantha said that the right to supervise rests wiith the province, pointing out that although financed from the national coffers, the project belongs to the province.

Suyantha Putra reminded that close and careful supervision of PT Adhi Karya was made necessary by the poor track record of the construction company on past projects. He claimed that past contracts handled by Adhi Karya, such as the construction of the Government Center in Bandung, West Java, were not delivered on schedule.

“The provincial government of Bali must supervise this project from the very beginning. They must also examine the materials used, starting from the dimensions of steel, concentrations of cement and other materials – all must be in accordance with the DED. If there is one item found at variance with the DED, the supervisor of the project and the provincial government of Bali must be prepared to temporarily halt the project until the quality of work comes back into line with the DED,” said Suyantha.

Earlier, Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika also called for the Simpang Siur Dewa Ruci Underpass Project to be built on schedule and in strict conformance with the contract of works.

Tempo Interactive reports that the State-Owned Oil company Pertamina have publicly admitted that are not prepared to implement the government policy to sell non-subsidized Pertamax fuel to the public on April 1, 2012.

“From the 3,062 gas stations in Java and Bali, there are 687 stations that haven’t switched their tanks to Pertamax,” said Pertamina’s director Karen Agustiawan, when reporting the National Energy Commission. The 687 stations that do not have Pertamax fuel will require time to make the necessary changes in their facilities, 295 of which will require additional investment to realize the changeover.

The government has announced their intention to stop the sale of premium gasoline to the general public on April 1st, limiting the sale of subsidized fuel to public transportation and motorcycles. Under the new policy, other vehicles will be required to purchase substantially more expensive Pertamax.

Even Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, has expressed his skepticism that the April 1, 2012 target date for the policy change in fuel supply can be met. Saying the government was considering all options to reduced the burden of fuel subsidies, Wacik added, “whether to increase the price a little or convert all to Pertamax or gas, that’s all possible and I don’t know when it’s going to be effective yet.”

Related Articles

[Are the Pumps Primed?]

[Fuel Cost to Go Up for Most in April 2012]

 

An interesting footnote was achieved in the history of Bali tourism on Monday, January 16, 2011, when the cruise ship Legend of the Seas entered Bali’s southern port of Benoa. At 264.3 meters long and 69,130 gross tons, the ship became largest cruise ship to ever visit the port.

A tight fit in the recently expanded port area, several tug boats were employed to help the massive ship maneuver in and out of its berth, an exercise that required an entire hour to complete.

Port officials were able to welcome the ship due to a recent widening of the port area and a dredging program that now permits ships with a draft of 9 meters to enter the port.

Operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises the massive ship carries 2,076 passengers and 720 crew, including 150 Indonesian crew.

Benoa is expected to become increasingly popular as a port of call due to the lack of berthing facilities for large ships at the Tanah Ampo Cruise Ship Terminal in east Bali. Benoa also provides tremendous ease of access to Bali’s major tourism areas on the island’s south.

[Cruise and Yacht Services From Bali Discovery Tours] 

To celebrate the beginning of the New Year on a caring note, the Sales and Marketing Team at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua paid a visit to the Destawan Orphanage in Singaraja, north Bali to distribute donated goods as part of the resort’s “Care to Community” program.
uo;Care to Community” is a Starwood initiative that stresses giving back on a local level to those in need.

This Destawan Orphanage is non-profit facility established in 2009 to care for orphaned, abandoned and impoverished children in North Bali. The center currently accommodates 40 youngsters providing for the children’s welfare and education.

Sally Fadjrina, Director of Sales, together with her Westin team were welcomed to the orphanage by its chairman, Ketut Sutrisna. The visit included a full tour as well as sessions of fun games with the children. The visitors then presented boxes of donated goods containing basic necessities to help meet the daily needs of the orphanage.

“It is always a rewarding experience that we can share a little bit joy with children who are less fortunate under our Care to Community program. Nothing compares to seeing a small face light up with pleasure upon receiving an inexpensive gift such as a notebook for school or a new toothbrush. We are looking forward to supporting the children of the Destawan Orphanage in many unique way over the coming year,” commented Bipan Kapur, General Manager of The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.

[Book a Stay at The Westin]

 

Inna Putri Bali within the Nusa Dua Complex on South Bali has announced that they will close their doors on April 30, 2012, to permit a major renovation of the property.

The hotel’s management is promising a vastly rebuilt and new concept Inna Putri Bali when the property reopens in 2013.

All existing bookings held by the property from April 1, 2012 and beyond have been officially released by the hotel.

Welcomed back for a third year, the St. Regis Bali Resort will host Michelin Guide award-winning chef Marcello Fabbri for a week-long engagement to again demonstrate his precision and flair in the kitchen.
inary tour de force of cuisine nouvelle Italienne commences on Saturday, February 18, 2012, with an opulent 6-course wine-paired dinner at the Astor Ballroom, followed by an extraordinary a la carte or degustation nightly dinners February 19-22, 2012, at the resort’s award-winning Kayuputi Restaurant, situated to provide stunning views of the beach.

Collaborating with Chef Marcello will be  the Resort’s Chef de Cuisine, Agung Gede, who has reciprocated the Michelin chefs visits to Indonesian by travelling as a guest chef at Marcello’s Anna Amalia Restaurant.

This edition of the Bali journey culminates grandly on Thursday, February 22, 2012, with a private dinner hosted personally by Chef Marcello at a Chef’s Table in the Mezzanine of Kayuputi.

With a passion to cook since the age of 9, Marcello Fabbri has worked under world-class chefs such as Gino Angelini, acknowledged as the best Italian chef working Los Angeles; Gualtiero Marchesi in Sardinia; and Mario Gamba in Munich.

Marcello has been with Weimar’s historic Hotel Elephant since 1993, working as head chef at the Anna Amalia Restaurant, establishing the restaurant as the top gourmet restaurant in the eastern part of the German Federation. In November 2011, Anna Amalia won a coveted place in the Michelin Guide for the tenth year running.

Among the famous that have dined at a table filled to perfection by Marcello are German Chancellor Schroder, Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin and singer Jennifer Lopez.

ASTOR GALA DINNER
Saturday, February 18, 2012

Amuse bouche
Duck foie gras terrine served with three kinds of apple aspic of red delicious apple, dehydrated Fuji apple crumble, Granny Smith apple salsa and rosemary foam

Astrolabe Kekerengu Coast, Blenheim, Marlborough 2009, Pinot Grigio
+++++
Crispy fried deep-sea scallops in wild rice kernel served with light sweet pumpkin bisque

Kleine Zalze, De Zalze winelands, Stellenbosch 2010, Chenin Blanc
+++++
Black truffle stuffed coral trout fillet quick sautéed spinach and white truffle oil emulsion

La Fuga Contessa Entellina DOC, Donnafugata, Sicily 2009, Chardonnay
+++++
Medallion of Margaret River beef fillet tender-braised beef shoulder in red wine, salt baked red beet root leek purée and horseradish air

Sideral, Altair, Rappel Valley 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah & Sangiovese
+++++
Caramelized Manchego cheese with brown sugar, spring onions, sweet chili, basil oil and daikon cress.

Aleatico, Fattoria Aldobrandesco, Sovana, Toscana 2008, Aleatico
+++++
Pearl Mirliton of Rouen compressed saffron pear, pear sherbet, pear chips and sauterne coulis

Château Lafon, Sauternes, Bordeaux 2008 Sémillon & Sauvignon Blanc
++++
Coffee or tea
Magnardises

Cost: Rp, 1,800,000 (US$200) for complete menu with wine pairings.

For more information telephone the Kayuputi Restaurant ++62-(0)361-3006786 or [Email] 

Virgin Australia now offers Business Class from all Australian capital cities to Bali. That means you can enjoy a host of benefits, all delivered in Virgin Australia style. Priority Check-in and Boarding; a generous baggage allowance; stylish lounge facilities; superior onboard space and comfort as well as gourmet food and wine are just some of the advantages you can look forward to when you fly Business Class with Virgin Australia.
g the tremendous success of Business Class service offered from all Australian capital cities to Bali, Virgin Australia has launched Business Class on most domestic routes across the country, giving many Australian travelers’ choice in Business Class for the first time in over a decade.

Similar to the international flights to Bali, the offering includes new premium cabins with luxury leather seating and generous recline, a gourmet food and beverage service, as well as complimentary access to Virgin Australia’s lounges and priority security screening, check-in and boarding.

To develop the service, Virgin Australia assembled a group of experts in their fields to work closely with its team, including renowned chef Luke Mangan and acclaimed designer Hans Hulsbosch.

Virgin Australia Group Executive of Commercial Liz Savage said: “Last year we announced our commitment to bringing competition to Business Class travel in Australia and today we have done just that. We are offering a premium product at very competitive prices, starting from as little as $429 one way from Sydney to the Gold Coast and $529 one way from Sydney to Melbourne”.

“We have also led the field in Australia by introducing priority check in; baggage and boarding and premium lounge entry in Sydney Domestic Terminal 2, which is all part of ensuring a quick and seamless experience for premium guests.

“In the last quarter of 2011, we have had Business Class available on trans-continental services and the feedback from guests has been excellent, demonstrating that the market is readily embracing our move into the domestic Business Class market,” Ms Savage said.

To celebrate the launch of Business Class, Virgin Australia’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program is offering its members the opportunity to earn double Velocity Points and Status Credits on all Business Class domestic flights taken with Virgin Australia between 26 January and 29 February 2012.

Virgin Australia also confirmed that Saver fare guests travelling between Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney on Monday to Friday will be offered complimentary beer and wine between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

Business class features include:

• Luxury leather seating with 62” seat pitch on the Airbus A330; and 38” seat pitch on the Boeing 737- 800
• Amenity Kits along with plush blankets and pillows on three+ hour flights
• Personalized service from a dedicated cabin crew member along with dedicated washroom facilities
• Coat check-in service with complimentary coat bag.
• Newspapers until noon daily
• Exclusive Luke Mangan gourmet full service dining experience
• Premium Australian wines, beers, and spirit selection
• Priority security screening, boarding and baggage service where available
• Complimentary access to Virgin Australia airport lounges – at Sydney Airport, optional valet parking and direct curbside access into the lounge via a dedicated security screening point and check-in desk.

[Book a Flight with Virgin Australia] and get free transfers in Bali.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2012, Cape Discovery, a wine company based in Singaraja, North Bali, launched its first wine at a cocktail reception held at the Conrad Bali Resort in Tanjung Benoa.

The wine – Cape Discovery Sauvignon Blanc is made with grapes shipped via a patented method from Margaret River in Western Australia to a state-of-art modern wine-making facility in Singaraja. The resulting wine is a full-flavored wine crafted to pair well with Asian food. The color is pale green with aromas suggested of fresh lime and asparagus.

Distribution of the new Cape Discovery wine will focus initially on restaurants and hotels in Bali.

The wine-making team at Cape Discovery is hopeful that their business formula of importing premium grapes from vineyards to their facility in Bali for processing by am experienced wine-maker will answer a market need for quality wine at an affordable price for Bali and eventually the whole of Indonesia.

Business managers for Cape Discovery have announced the following timetable for the introduction of their growing range of wines:

• February 2012 – Margaret River Chardonnay & Rose
• Late Spring 2012 – Margaret River Sparkling Chardonnay Method Champenoise
•  Mid-Summer 2012 – Margaret River Cabernet-Merlot & Shiraz

For more information on the Cape Discovery range of wines contact:

Richard Irving
Cape Discovery Wines
Jalan Mahendradatta No. 41
Kel. Pemecutan Kelod
Denpasar 80119
Bali, Indonesia

[Email]  

[

www.capediscoverywines.com]

TAKSU – the gallery of contemporary art at the W Retreat and Spa in Seminyak – is showcasing the work of 7 Indonesian painters through February 16, 2012.
uo;Meeting Point: From Jogja with Love”  is a group exhibition by 7 Indonesian painters: Dedy Sufriadi, Deskhairi, Dwi Setya Acong, Hanh, Hono Sun, Joko “Gundul” Sulistiono, and Wahyu Gunawan.

In collaboration with guest-organizer Hanh, "Meeting Point: From Jogja with Love" gathers graduates of the Indonesia Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta, all of whom are professional painters. These seven artists from various regions of Indonesian came to the Fine Art Faculty of Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta in the ʻ90s to pursue their dreams and develop their visions. The current exhibition brings together the unique perspectives of these seven artists, and explores the diverse visual languages employed in their search for meaning and truth.


The Artists

DEDY SUFRIADI
Abstraction, to Dedy Sufriadi, is like big house with a thousand doors - we can enter and exit from anywhere. An area with no borders nor boundaries, abstraction is the accumulation of many artistic and aesthetic problems with one solution: "purity and intelligence of intuition". In abstraction, logic cease to exist, and intuition guides artists in the process of creation. Born in Palembang in 1976, Dedy Sufriadi came to Institut Seni Rupa (ISI) to take up Fine Arts studies (1995 – 2004). Up to now, he had mounted eight solo exhibitions in various spaces and galleries in Yogyakarta, Jakarta, and Singapore. He had also participated in numerous group exhibitions in Indonesia, Philippine, Australia, Singapore, Korea, USA, and many others. Sufriadi was the recipient of The Best Sketch of Indonesia Institute of Art (ISI) Yogyakarta in 1996, finalist of Winsor and Newton Art Competition (1998), finalist of Nokia Award (1999), finalist of Philip Morris – Indonesia Art Award (2000), and finalist of Tujuh Bintang Art Award Yogyakarta (2009).

DESKHAIRI
Nature continues to inspire Sumatran artist Deskhairi in his painting processes. Quiet and poetic, his canvases are realizations of his imaginary discourse with nature, simplified and processed aesthetically. Born in 1972 in Batu Sangkar, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia, Deskhairi started his formal education in arts from Sekolah Menengah Seni Rupa (High School of the Arts) in Padang in 1989. Upon graduation, he moved to Yogyakarta to take up BA (Hons) in Fine Art (Painting) from Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Since then, Deskhairi has exhibited in many group exhibitions in various venues in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, as well as in Malaysia and England. Deskhairi was one of the semi- finalists of Indonesian Art Awards VII (2000), Nokia Indonesian Art Award (2000), Indonesian Art Awards VIII (2001), and finalist professional category of The 1st UOB Painting of the Year Competition (2011).

DWI SETYA ACONG
Mankind and Nature have been the main inspiration behind the works of Dwi Setya Acong. Placing his lone character in the midst of ruins, not only that Dwi Setya Acong points out the ecological issues of exploitation of Nature, he also challenges the viewers to reconsider the potential of destruction that comes as a result of Mankindʼs desire for wealth and progression. Dwi Setya Acong was born in 1977 in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. Upon joining the Faculty of Fine Arts of Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta in 1994, he has been actively exhibiting in numerous venues in Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Semarang, as well as in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. To date, Dwi Setya Acong had put up three solo exhibitions: Interlude (2002), Waktu Gong (2006) and Seeds of Light (2008). Dwi Setya Acong was the finalist of YSRI-Philip Morris Indonesian Art Awards VIII (2000).

HONO SUN
Geometrical shapes and perspectives dominate the canvases of Hono Sun, a painter born in 1977 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Upon completing his high school education, Hono Sun furthered his studies and graduated from the Fine Art Faculty of Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Since 1999 to date, Sun has been actively exhibiting in numerous group exhibitions in various venues in Yogyakarta and Jakarta, among which are: Freestyle (2008), Imagination (2010), Bayang: Pameran Islamic (2011), and ARTJOG #11 (2011). He was named as a finalist of Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award (2000 and 2001), finalist of Indofood Art Award (2002), and recipient of Jurorʼs Award in The Jakarta Art Award (2008).

JOKO “GUNDUL” SULISTIONO
Exploration of medium, technique, and themes has been the main interest of Indonesian artist Joko ʻGundulʼ Sulistiono in pushing the boundaries and finding new possibilities in his paintings. Born in 1960 in Grobogan, Java, Indonesia, Sulistiono received formal education in Fine Arts (Painting) from Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta. Since 1991 to date, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in various art spaces in Yogyakarta, Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, Lombok, Magelang; as well as four solo exhibitions: Trash (1998), Tightness (1998), and Untitled (2003) and Untitled (2005). Joko Sulistionoʼs work was featured in 2009 X Yogyakarta Jogja Biennale, and he was one of the top five of Philip Morris Indonesia Art Award (2000).

WAHYU GUNAWAN
Daily social exchanges became ideas that fuel Wahyu Gunawanʼs art making process. These ideas are then transformed into artworks, packaged in satirical and ironical visuals. Wahyu Gunawan, born 1975 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, enrolled in the Faculty of Fine Arts of Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta in 1994 and graduated in 2004. Since then to date, he had participated in numerous exhibitions in galleries in Indonesia, as well as in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Korea. Wahyu Gunawan was one of the 5 Best Nokia Indonesia Art Award (2000), finalist of Jakarta Art Award (2010), and winner of Highly-Commended Award of The 1st UOB Painting of the Year Competition (2011).

HANH
Seeing art-making process as a humble activity no higher than other daily routines like waking up in the morning and brushing teeth, Hanh strives to create light-hearted works that prompt contemplation without being too heavy. Born 1974 in Pontianak, Hanh lives and works in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Hanh graduated from Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Yogyakarta in 1998 with a BA (Hons) in Visual Art Communication. Hanh had exhibited in several venues in Indonesia, among which was Yogyakarta Art Biennale (2007 and 2009), Amir Sidharta Art Auction (2007), Amir Sidharta Contemporary Art Auction (2007), and Katalis Art Forum (2009). Apart from his practice as an artist, Hanh had also organized exhibitions in various venues in Indonesia from 2000 – 2009.

"Meeting Point: From Jogja with Love”
Group exhibition by Dedy Sufriadi, Deskhairi, Dwi Setya Acong, Hanh, Hono Sun, Joko “Gundul” Sulistiono, and Wahyu Gunawan

TAKSU @ W Retreat & Spa Bali
Jl. Petitenget
Seminyak Bali

Through February 16, 2012

Open daily from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Except Monday & Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm

For more information telephone +62-(0)361 4738106

[Email] 

[www.taksu.com] 

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay is have appointed of Samuele Baudoino as Italian Chef de Cuisine.

With a history of working with the Four Seasons group since 2003 in London, Milan and Damascus, his Bali assignment will put him charge of the kitchen of the resort's Italian restaurant, Taman Wantilan.
doino, “I am excited for the opportunity to re-invent Taman Wantilan and give it an identity that reflects my style of authentic cuisine.”

Born in the coastal city of Allasio near Genova, Italy, Chef Baudoino earned a Diploma of Culinary Technique from the Institute MM Giancardi in Italy and trained under one of Italy’s most influential chefs, Sergio Mei, during his Four Seasons tenure in Milan at Il Teatro Restaurant.

Chef Baudoino also held posts at two Four Seasons London restaurants; Quadrato Restaurant at Hotel Canary Wharf and Lanes at Hotel London before relocating to Four Seasons Hotel Amman to head the fine dining Italian Restaurant Vivace. His most recent Four Seasons posting was at Hotel Damascus where he captained the kitchen at the hotel's Circo Restaurant.

At Taman Wantilan Chef Baudoino will focus on light, authentic Italian dishes that are considered traditional ‘mama-style’ cuisine. “Our oceanfront location and relaxed resort atmosphere is perfect for this style of simple, fresh and flavorful cuisine. Without a doubt, seafood will feature on the menu as Bali has a spectacular variety of ocean fresh catches that are perfectly suited to the destination and my culinary style”.

Keeping things light is Chef Baudoino’s approach. “I believe the food should speak for itself. Olive oil and herbs are the most important ingredients to attain the authentic flavors found in traditional Italian dishes.”

One of Chef Baudoino's signature dishes is his Tuna Sicilian Style where the fish is marinated in balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil and pan seared with a breaded crust of oregano, thyme, basil and garlic. Served with thin slivers of green apple and celery salad it is beautifully refreshing and light.

Goats Cheese and Mushroom Risotto is another signature dish of Chef Baudoino and one of his favorite things to cook. “I’m well known around the world for my famous risotto dishes and I invite everybody to come and try it for themselves”, he says.

Other menu highlights include his Pan Fried Beef Tenderloin with White Beans, Smoked Bacon and Rucola Salad, and an elegant Tender Cubed White Snapper Tartare layered with paper-thin strips of White Radish, Dill and celery.

Although Chef Baudoino's cuisine is light and casual he believes in “eating with your eyes” and presents his dishes as a visual feast as a complement to the total dining experience.

Chef Baudoino will also conduct Italian cooking classes at the resort's Cooking School, showing guests how to cook dishes with truly authentic flavors.

[Book a Stay at the Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran Bay] 

Emotional scenes of family reunion occurred at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport as Indonesian crewmembers from the Costa Concordia returned to their homeland and the welcoming hugs of family and friends.

Some 23 Indonesian crewmen, many of them Balinese, have returned from Italy on emergency travel documents issued by the Indonesan Embassy in Rome and wearing only donated clothing; leaving behind the personal effects and document on the abandoned ship.

The Costa Concordia ran aground in Italy on Friday, January 13, 2012.

Greeting the crewmen in Bali were families and friends, accompanied by officials of the Bali Manpower Office on hand to confirm the men's safe homecoming. Crewmembers have been promised by Costa Cruises that their unpaid salaries will be transferred to their Indonesian bank accounts in the coming weeks.

Most of the men were reluctant to discuss their close brush with disaster, but some of the sailors tell how they have been traumatized by the incident, unsure is they will seek employment with Costa or other cruise ships in the future.

One Balinese crewmember, 31-year-old Nyoman Juniarta, was badly injured when he abandoned the ship and still remains at the Santai Maria Alle Scotte Hospital in Siena. Juniarta reportedly suffered fractures to his back and thigh when he fell 12-meters as the ship went down. One Indonesian news report quotes a family member as fearing the man is now paralyzed due to his injuries. Engaged to be married, Juniarta has now postponed any wedding plans until his future health propsects become clearer.

Related Article

[Not Going Down with the Ship]
 

One of the more memorable sites you’ll encounter while touring the island of Bali is the majestic Tukad Bangkung Bridge (Jembatan Tukad Bangkung) located in the village of Plaga at Petang in Central Bali.

Inaugurated in late 2006, the Tukad Bangkung Bridge connects three regencies of Bali: Badung, Bangli and Buleleng and is claimed to be tallest bridge in Asia. An impressive cement structure by any standard, the bridge is 360 meters long, 9.6 meters wide and stands on pillars submerged to a depth of 41 meters to keep the superstructure firm and secure. Built using a balanced cantilever construction method, the bridge is guaranteed by its builders to last at least 100 years.

Built at a cost of Rp. 49 billion (US$5.4 million), the bridge was engineered to survive a Richter scale force 7 earthquake.

With the coming Galungan and Kuningan holidays in Bali, the bridge will become a popular tourist attraction visited by Balinees who include a visit to the bridge as a traditional part of their holiday celebration. In anticipation of the influx of local tourist, roadside shops and food stands inundate the area to earn a share of holiday spending.

The sometimes-controversial LED signboard operating at the Simpang Siur intersection in Kuta will soon be torn down and installed at a new location near the Jaya Sabha official residence of Bali’s governor.

The widening of the roads at Simpang Siur in anticipation of the imminent construction of Bali’s first underpass project necessitates the removal of the LED signboard to a new location.

The current location of the LED was, in truth, never well conceived, placed at an obtuse angle to easy visualization from any of the four directions of approach to the intersection. Relocation of the sign board to Jaya Sabha will hopefully be better planned and provide higher visibility to the public service announcements being brodcast to the public by the government.

Related Article

[Step by Step] 

Criticisms leveled at Bali Airport for failing to adequately incorporate Balinese architectural finished in the redesign of the new passenger terminal [See: If this is Wednesday, It Must be Bali]  have been answered by governor Made Mangku Pastika who says the new airport design will adhere to local design tastes and strandards.

Quoted in NusaBali, governor Pastika told a general assembly of the Bali House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali) : “In the beginning, with the early designs there were indeed several models that I rejected; the tower was originally made to look like a Hindu ‘meru’ tower. I protested, saying that this was not acceptable as a ‘meru’ is a sacred structure. (I told them) don’t make a ‘meru’ and they agreed.” The governor also told Bali’s legislature that a number of recommended Balinese design elements have been included in the final design.

The governor continued: “A couple of years ago, I asked them (the airport managers) that the finishes of the airport buildings have a Bali style. My point was that the Balinese elements are included without compromising function. In addition, the design must match the local environs and the technological demands of aviation - don’t go off track.”

“Because at the beginning there were still many design aspects in the rebuilding of the airport that were not in conformance with Balinese architecture, the project was even delayed while they redesigned the plans incorporating Balinese tradition designs and finishes,” explained Pastika.

The governor also objected from the beginning about the over-commercialization of the airport, creating unwanted competition with handicraft producers operating outside the airport.

The governor defended the undulating roof design for the "new" airport, saying it reflected the ocean waves and the role of sea tourism in Bali.

Pastika also said his insistence on the use of local architects and Balinese architectural finishes for the airport has added Rp. 25 billion (US$2.8 million) to the total cost of the airport project and the final design was long ago presented for approval to the Bali House of Representatives. Affirming that the House had already accepted the new design, the secretary of Commission II of the DPRD-Bali attacked the uniformed legislator now trying to create a new polemic regarding a matter already reviewed and agreed by the House.

To meet the steady increase in Bali passengers and to ease congestion at the under-renovation Bali Airport, Lion Air have announced plans to open a city check-in.

The announcement was made by Fajar Teguh Santoso, the Area Manager for Lion Air based in Denpasar.

Said Santoso, “City Check will make it easier for passengers and reduce the density of lines that will happen with the airport’s ongoing renovations.”

Lion Air operates 32 flights each day to and from Bali with an average load factor put at 85%. Load factors are even higher on the 11 flights operated by Lion Air from Bali to Jakarta.

Lion air also has plans to expand its routes in the coming months, including new services to and from Denpasar (Bali).

As reported by Bali Post,  a villa complex, which has operated as the Bedugul Garden and Lake Resort and, more recently, as the Resort Puri Candikunung, was visited last week by regency enforcement officers (Satpol PP Tabanan). Gardeners and watchman in attendance at the Villa were unable to present any formal permits or licenses.

Heightening suspicions of the authorities are the facts that the buildings are directly on the shore of the lake and presents a range of facilities resembling a luxury resort, including a lobby and reception area.

None of the workers at the resort were able to provide a name or a telephone contact for the owner of the property, but did provide an address for a management company’s office located in Kuta. When officials contacted that office, it was confirmed that the resort does not have an operating license. A license issued in the name of the Resort Puri Candikuning had expired in May of 2009. The expired license was only issued for a modest home stay (melati) and not for the luxury resort now standing at the site. An extension on the 2009 licenses has not been issued.

According to one of the watchmen, the villas are never rented out commercially and only used occasionally by their owner. 20 workers on the site are charged with keeping the premises clean.

Mudita, the local community leader (Perbekel) at Candikuning, told Bali Post that his office has never issued the recommendation needed to apply for the extension of or changes in the operating licenses as required.

The Bali Post reports that a number of factors, ranging from aggressive street vendors to territorial disputes between competing tour guides, are having a deleterious effect on tourism at the volcano-rimmed community of Kintamani, with tourist numbers declining from year to year.

The regent of Bangli, Made Gianyar, has expressed his grave concerns on how best to restore tourism in Kintamani. Admitting that Kintamani as a tourism destination in Bali is in decline, the Regent fears Kintamani is under threat of “being left hind” in Bali’s growing tourism industry.

Made Gianyar says a degree of serious-mindedness is needed from all members of the community to restore the glory of Kintamani. His office is attempting to impose order and rules at Kintamani, an effort that will not succeed unless supported by the public.

Attention, he says, is needed on small items such as the way small souvenir sellers operate, the behavior of local guides and physical repairs of tourism objects. If the people of Kintamani will work to repair the image of their area, he believes that the hilltop community that provides unequalled views of a still-active volcano can be restored to its former glory.

The clock is ticking down on the sixth running of the BIZNET Bali International Triathlon on Sunday, June 24, 2012 with [on-line registrations] shaping up for yet another record year of participants in the three separate events - the Olympic Distance Event, half-triathlon of 5 kilometer fun run.

Course Changes - Safety in Mind

This year’s race will include a number of significant changes in the race route to improve race flows and the overall safety of participants:

• Transition Area: The start and the finish line together with the transition area between the swim, bike and road races located in a large area immediately north of the InterContinental Bali Resort .
• Bazaar Area: The morning’s entertainment, sponsors and vendors’ stands and central race information will be localized at the transition area.
• Race Route: Meetings are underway with police, regency and local communities for improved traffic flows and enhanced security of the racecourse. The bike route will operate on the Ngurah Rai Bypass between Jimbaran and Nusa Dua, doing multiple circuits through the Nusa Dua complex

BIZNET

Sponsored by Indonesia’s leading fiber optic Internet provider BIZNET Networks, the race will get underway at early dawn with a swim in Jimbaran Bay, followed by a bicycle race down the Nusa Dua Peninsula, ending with a foot race through the village of Jimbaran.

BIZNET will be providing free Internet services at the transition area as well as advanced monitoring of the race in real time.

The Olympic distance is comprised of a 1.5-kilometer swim; a 42-kilometer bike race and concludes with a 10 kilometer run. The Sprint Distance course covers a route that is only half that of the Olympic event.

The race continues to receive widespread support from the island of Bali and its surrounding communities of Jimbaran and Nusa Dua, traversed by the racers.

In addition to the invaluable main title sponsorship by BIZNET Networks, the race has a long-standing record of support from the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay, InterContinental Bali Resort and AYANA Resort and Spa Bali. In addition, the Bali Hotels Association, an organization representing all starred hotels on the island, has also given enthusiastic support to the race, which has won numerous international race and destination awards.


Returning Partners

Returning to support the race are our loyal partners from Jenggala Keramik who will provide all winners with their custom-designed ceramic trophies and Jari Menari providing post-race massage to event participants.

BIMC Hospital continues to supply a team of dedicated medical professionals providing emergency medical assistance to the race. In 2012 BIMC Hospital will have “both ends” of the BIZNET Bali International Triathlon covered with the opening of their new medical facility inside the Nusa Dua Complex thereby serving both ends of the outer limits of the race course via their hospital at Simpang Siur in Kuta provide a state-of-the-art medical facility in close proximity to the start and finish line of the race.

[Swim, Cycle and Run in Bali]
 

Our coverage on criticism from a local legislator complaining Bali’s airport renovations lack sufficient Balinese architectural touches [If this is Wednesday, It Must be Bali!], earned a number of reader responses:

• Janice Tade wrote:

“I am increasingly worried and appalled at the lack of Balinese feel in shops, hotels, private homes and now the airport. I would have thought with tourism being so important to the economy, why destroy all the tourists come for.”

• Ross Macfarlane said:

“Maybe I am missing something but I thought there was an approval process before you could build something. For my house it was called an IMB.”

• Putu Kusuma writing from Australia:

“The fear of the new Bali airport does not resemble Bali but Europe instead is really a laughing matter. I mean, to feel that you've landed in an European airport you must have the quality of European man skills. But instead here we are, having mediocre service and facilities, corrupt airport and custom officials. No, no one will feel they've landed in Europe when these things still persists regardless what architecture design the new airport may have.”

• Christine Schulz commented:

“I totally agree, we I arrive in Bali I want to feel Bali. I have been many times since 1988 and I still am overcome with the feeling of Bali each time. It would be just terrible to miss this. Please keep the architecture of Bali in the airport.”

• From Denmark, Kiki Gram wrote to say:

“Oh, I do hope it will be in Balinese style!!! We love Bali so much, and have been your guests since 1993. We love the REAL Bali so much.”

Our coverage on the Cubana Bar and Grill [A Taste of Cuba in Bali] incorrectly called it Bali’s first Cuban-style restaurant. A number of readers wrote to set us straight:

• Jan Harvey from Australia wrote:

“This is not the "first" Cuban restaurant in Bali. You surely are aware of Cafe Havana in Ubud owned by Janet Molloy of Goddess On The Go Restaurant downstairs and fine dining and nightclub up stairs.”

• Gabe Monson contributed:

“This might be a great place, but not the first Cuban inspired place in Bali. Cafe Havana in Ubud has been open for years!”

Dr. Lawrence Blair’s wonderful remembrance of Dicky [Well Dressed and Badly Behaved - Remembering Dicky]  prompted numerous emails:

• Steve Bradley to write in and say:

“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Dr Blair and his wife on the recent loss of their delightful parrot, Dicky.”

“For many years my wife and I have had our day begin with a smile brought to our lives by the sight of Dicky riding by on the beach or sitting on the shoulder of the good Dr at breakfast. As a regular visitor to Kumala Pantai Hotel it was often a case of sharing the pool with a wet and bedraggled Dicky gliding by on Dr Blair's head. We will be back again in May and will miss what was often an amusing and delightful sight of man and parrot in perfect harmony.”

“RIP Dicky and best wishes to Dr Blair for sharing him with many strangers.”

• Marilyn Forse added:

“A beautiful story, well written, tears in my eyes, creatures small and large have so much to give, you only need the opportunity and the wish. And luckily I have seen Dicky in action, quite superb!”

• Glenis said:

“Oh thank you Lawrence for sharing the joy of Dicky but not for the tears that I now shed stopping me from my work.”

• Gayle from New Zealand:

“On our last trip to Bali last year we were fortunate enough to have 'Dicky's' presence at the Kumala Pantai breakfast. He was a truly amazing bird who kept all entertained over our early morning coffee. He will be missed by many I am sure.

The dangerous state of driving in Bali was covered in [Counting the Carnage] :

• Marcel wrote:

“Despite the bragging by the Bali Police about their efforts to improve road-safety by visiting schools, doing road-shows, etc., etc., it's pretty clear that anyone BUT the police rules the roads in Bali. The amount of visibly overloaded trucks, pick-ups illegally carrying passengers, the poor technical state of the bemo's and intercity buses, motor bikers driving around without helmets and with more than 2 persons on 1 motorbike, motorbikes and cars with illegal exhaust systems, under aged drivers, general neglect of any traffic sign or rule by motorists, the total lack of any interest whatsoever by police sitting / standing at the road side, is overwhelming evidence that the police for sure are not in control.”
“Simple actions can be taken, at random locations and fines issued on the spot, with immediate result. But, is the police really interested to do things like that?”

[Bali, Bali Shining Bright, Fading from Our Very Sight ]  - a lamentation by a leading Bali academic on the state of Bali and its tourism industry saw:

• Brian Grant write:

“I have been saying this for years...the article is absolutely correct in every way. Soon Bali will look like Waikiki beach unless there is a halt to the bombardment of hotels being built, I have read some horrendous amount of hotels earmarked for Bali. I personally know of many, many regular visitors to the island who will never come back because of the way Bali is headed. I can only hope and pray this situation is going to be of major concerns to the governor of Bali and some action taken.”

[My Left Foot]  describing the surgery and hospitalization of Bali Update’s Editor over the New Year's period caused an exchange of “get well wishes” and hospital stories from Bali.

• Vera from Australia said:

“Sorry to read about your foot and wish you perfect recovery. Have been to Bali 30/40 times never needed medical attention but good to know BIMC looked after you well. Keep up the good work I thoroughly enjoy reading Bali News.”

• Giovanni Mastrantone wrote:

“Hi Jack,Sorry to read about your mishap. Reminded me of an incident I had a few years back. Horse playing with my partner at home, we heard a loud crack in my leg. Looked at my ankle and it had swollen to half the size of a cricket ball within minutes-gross. Went to A&.E at the local hospital. The doctor said nothing to worry about-it was just a sprained ankle. Over the next few days of my leg turning black and unbelievable pain, I persuade my GP to send me back to the hospital for an x-ray (he felt it was a bad sprain). The x-ray confirmed that there was a major fracture of the fibula. So for 10 days I was walking (or rather hobbling) on a broken leg! So good to read that you had medical staff who were on the ball and actually listened to what you were saying!”