Rotary Club Bali Nusa Dua Charity Tennis Tournament - Bali’s longest-running and largest charity tennis tournament celebrates its 21st anniversary this year with a new logo, launched recently by the tournament’s organizers the Rotary Club Bali Nusa Dua.

Held from September 2-9, 2012, play will take place at the tennis courts of the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa and The Laguna Resort and Spa, Nusa Dua, Bali.

This year’s tournament will see the charity tennis event return to its roots with direction of the event under a small group of enthusiastic and long-term members of the Bali tennis community.

Enhancements scheduled for 2012 include the utilization of professional international tournament management software that will ensure easy online access by players to all draws, match times and locations.

Sponsored by Rotary Club Bali Nusa Dua (RCBND), the annual Rotary Bali Charity Tennis Tournament was first held in 1991. Since its inception, the tournament has generated over US$150,000 with 100% of the proceeds raised dedicated to providing health and human services to poor and disadvantaged children on Bali. This care has been mainly in the form of craniofacial surgery, such as cleft palate operations, burn treatment and surgery to correct facial deformities.

Registration opens August 8, 2012.

Tournament information including an on-line auction to raise additional funds in support of Rotary Club Bali Nusa Dua's community work  at [www.RotaryBaliTennis.org]


 

The Jakarta Post reports that Bali tourist visitors will soon have the option of renting a Ferrari high-end sports car while holidaying in paradise.

Branded as the "Ferrari Experience," PT Citra Langgeng Otomotif, the authorized dealer for the Ferrari brand of sports car, will make the rental program available through selected resorts and local travel agents.

The first hotel to offer the luxury sport car rental program is the Bulgari Resort Uluwatu.

The spokesman for Citra Langgeng Otomotif, Irmawan, idealistically projected: Bali is a perfect place to enjoy a luxurious ride because the island is undoubtedly beautiful and it is free from traffic jams. That is why we did not pick Jakarta for this service.”

Final details for the rental program are being finalized, including the selection of the Ferrari models to be offered for rental. Top candidates are the Ferrari California, a two-door grand touring sports car with a 4,297 cc engine. Sold in Indonesia for US$201,290 - the vehicle can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 310 kilometers an hour.

Given Bali’s limited infrastructure of roadways and heavy traffic congestion, the super-powered vehicle may prove substantially over-capacitated for the majority of roadways on the island.

Virtuoso violinist Iskandar Widjaja is coming to Bali for a single-night’s performance and a Master Class for aspiring violinists on Friday, August 24, 2012 at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali.

Born in Berlin Germany in 1986 of Indonesian extraction, his prodigious musicality seen when he first picked up a violin at the age of four. He enrolled in the elite College of Music in Berlin when he was 11. A general recognition of his gifts saw him accepted into the Julius Stern Institute and, later, the University of the Arts in Berlin from where he graduated in 2010.

His first recorded album “Bach n Blues” was released in 2011. He has performed as a chamber musician across Europe and won numerous awards, including a Gold Medal of the First International Hindemith Violin Competition. He has also secured a first prize in the German national competition “Jugend musiziert”; “Best Bach” and “Best Beethoven” sonatas in the XXI Concorso Violinistico Internazionale Andrea Postacchini; the “Julius Junior – Young Talent” category from Berlin’s Mayor presented to outstanding city personalities; and scholarships from the “Deutsche Stiftung Musikleben”.

Iskandar and his beloved Franciscus Geissenhof violin (made in 1793) have traveled to five continents where they have performed with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonieorchester Berlin, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and others.

Seeking to inspire young musician and spread his love of classical music, Iskandar Widjaja’s performance in Bali is in support of Starwood Hotel’s UNICEF Check Out For Children charity campaign.

During his brief appearance in Bali at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, Iskandar Widjaja will conduct a one-hour violin sharing session. He will also work with some of Bali’s most promising violin students and incorporate them into his evening performance. The show will include a musical collaboration with the children from a local choir and close with a photo opportunity and CD signing.

Tickets for “An Evening with Iskandar Widjaja” gala performance are priced at only Rp. 50,000- (US$5.40).

Limited places for the Violin Sharing Session are available for Rp. 250,000- (US$27), inclusive of a signed CD, photo memento, certificate and the gala evening performance.

All proceeds from the evening will be donated to UNICEF to provide educational opportunities and vaccinates children across the Asia-Pacific region.

[Iskandar Widjaja Website] 

For more information and tickets telephone ++62-(0) 8113802975 or [Email] 

Unseasonal heavy early-morning rains in Bali on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 caused flash flooding in a number of locations in and around Bali’s capital of Denpasar.

Among the area worst affected were in the Monang-Maning area of Denpasar.

According to Kompas.com, hundreds of homes in that densely populated section of the capital were partially submerged by floodwaters that rose to one-half meter in height when local rivers overflowed their banks.

Areas of Denpasar hit heaviest by the flood were Jalan Gunung Kelimutu , Jalan Patuha and Pemecutan Klod. Tens of homes occupied by 85 families were affected by the rising waters in addition to a number of rented rooms used by local workers.

One local resident, whose home was affected by the floods, complained, “Every time there is heavy rain there is certain to be a flood, it just has to happen.”

Many residents, accustomed to the routine of flooding, managed to evacuate their belongings to higher and dryer locations in their homes. However, a number of people lost prized electronic equipments and bedding materials irretrievably destroyed by the floodwaters.

The flooding began at 9:30 am in Wednesday and had largely subsided by mid-day.

The vice-chairman of Commission IV of the Bali Provincial House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali), Ketut Kariyasa Adnyana, has asked that the execution of Bali’s Annual Kite Festival at Padang Galak Beach be reevaluated.

As reported by Beritabali.com, Adnyana’s call comes after the tragic death of an 8-year-old boy attending the event as a spectator on Sunday, July 15, 2012.

Kariyasa, a legislator from the PDIP faction, said the kite flying competition has been held for decades, but the organizers never anticipate potential scenarios that may unfold. He said he hoped in the future the organizers would undertake closer cooperation with the relevant departments of the Indonesian government and put insurance coverage in place.

“If incidents happen, such as that which occurred yesterday (Sunday), who will take responsibility? If there’s insurance (at least) a claim can be filed to help the victim,” he explained.

Kariyasa is demanding that future Bali Kite Festivals demonstrate better coordination between the organizer, participant and the relevant government departments.

“The teams, when they depart and finish the competition, can be escorted by the relevant government agencies. The arena used for the competition has to be protected from being overrun by spectators. A place is needed for spectators stands, set aside to protect them from unintended consequence,” the legislator explained.

The 2012 Bali Kite Festival involved participation by hundreds of village groups flying a wide variety of kites.

Police continue to investigate the death of the 8-year-old boy who died after his head was truck by a large kite crashing to the ground. Police in East Denpasar continue to suggest that criminal negligence charges may be filed in the boy’s death.

Related Article

[Bali Kite Festival Touched by Tragedy]

The Indonesian government in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will hold a Global Youth Forum in Bali December 4-6, 2012.

Operated in cooperation with the National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN), the conference is expected to attract over 650 delegates and speakers, with many drawn from youth leaders around the globe.

The conference will discuss issues of fundamental importance to the younger generation, including issues related to reproductive health.

The Bali meeting will represent the first of three thematic forums launched after the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Beyond 2014 held in Indonesia.

The key themes of the Bali conference will be civic participation, unemployment, education, staying healthy, family and well-being and reproductive health.
 

The Coordinating Minister for the People’s Welfare, Agung Laksono, has formally announced the list of national holidays for 2013. In all, 19 days have been designated “holidays” comprised of official “days off” and “shared holiday” or “extra days off” (cuti bersama) to form long weekends.

In 2013 there will be 14 official holiday dates and 5 more days set aside for shared holidays (cuti bersama).

Quoted by Kompas.com, Laksono said: “Shared holidays and national holidays are intended to improve productivity, efficiency, advance the tourism sector and assist the people’s economy.”

The official establishment of national holidays is also intended to provide compensation for civil servants, hospital workers and other public servants. “For other civil servants, such as bank, the shared holiday depend on the manager of each institution,” said Agung.

Indonesian National Holidays 2013

• Tuesday, January 1, 2013 New Years Day 2013
• Thursday, January 24, 2013 Birthday of the Prophet Mohammad SAW 
• Sunday, February 10, 2013 Chinese New Year - Imlek 2564
• Tuesday, March 12, 2013 Hari Nyepi Cakra 1935 (Bali Day of Silence)
• Friday, March 29, 2013 Good Friday
• Thursday, May 9, 2013 Ascension Day of Jesus Christ into Heaven
• Saturday, May 25, 2013 Hari Raya Waisak 2557
• Thursday, June 6, 2013 Isra Mi'raj Prophet Mohammad SAW - the Ascension of The Prophet Muhammad SAW
• Monday, August 5, 2013 Shared Holiday
• Tuesday, August 6, 2013 Shared Holiday
• Wednesday, August 7, 2013 Shared Holiday
• Thursday & Friday - August 8-9, 2013 Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1434H
• Saturday, August 17, 2013 Indonesian Independence Day
• Monday, October 14, 2013 Shared Holiday
• Tuesday, October 15, 2013 Idul Adha 1434H
• Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Islamic New Year 1435H
• Wednesday, December 25, 2013 Christmas Day
• Thursday, December 26, 2016 Shared Holiday

Not included in the above list, with the exception of Nyepi Day, are the official Balinese-Hindu holidays for 2013.

Fish & Co – an increasing popular franchise for seafood, has established a branch in Bali at the recently opened Beachwalk on Monday, July 16, 2012.

The new Kuta location is the 12th Fish & Co outlet in Indonesia. The Bali outlet will offer both inside and outside dining options as well as offering guests full bar service.

Founded in Singapore in 1998, Fish & Co. was founded in the midst of regional economic crisis by two enterprising businessmen – Ricky Chew and Lambert Yeo.

Over time, Fish & Co grew to be one of Singapore’s most popular restaurant chain, eventually establishing outlets across the region in Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Brunei the Middle East and Indonesia.

The Fish & Co approach to seafood is simple and straightforward. Drawing its inspiration from South African fishermen who immediately cook freshly caught seafood in a skillet, the Mediterranean-based recipes rely on large portions and natural supplementary ingredients such as olive oil, herbs and spices.

In response to widespread protests and an on-line petitions, Garuda Indonesia has promised to review its policy of transport  for live dolphins.

More than 1,400 people signed a petition threatening to boycott the Indonesian national carrier for facilitating the shipment of dolphins used in sea circuses across Indonesia.

Quoted in The Jakarta Globe, Garuda’s corporate secretary, Pudjobroto, said: “Garuda is committed to environment preservation, including dolphins. Garuda will review the policy on transporting live animals, including dolphins.”



Garuda recently shipped two live dolphins on a flight to Jakarta from Bali on Saturday, July 14, 2012 on board GA 411. The dolphins originated from a controversial sea circus operating from a public parking lot in Kuta, Bali.

Femke den Haas of the Jakarta Animal Aid Network said: “The dolphins traveled in small crates together with sea-lions and otters, all animals exploited in the travel show.”

Labeling the method shipment as inhumane, den Haas said the shipping containers were too small and toxic to the animals.



Related Article

[A Very High Porpoise, Indeed]

Bisnis Bali quotes a member of the Badung regency House of Representatives (DPRD-Badung), as calling on the Manpower Department (Disnakersos) to soon gather the foreigners who work in the regency and enter into a dialogue addressing their commitment to the island of Bali.

“The Manpower Department should urgently hold a gathering with foreign workers in order to discuss what they expect and what is expected of them,” said I Wayan Puspa Negara on Tuesday, July 17, 2012. Puspa Negara, a member of Commission C of DPRD Badung, accused foreign workers in Badung of only being concerned only with earning a living with little thought for the local culture.

He said that foreigners leading companies in the region act arrogantly, as evidenced by “every policy” of those companies towards their employees. Adding: “They (the foreign workers) do not want to consider what the culture of Bali is like to the point where they make it difficult for employees who request time off to undertake religious ceremonies. These companies should be employing workers who posses a commitment towards the regional culture. “

He said that, in the future, the government needs to limit the use of foreign workers in certain fields of work, limiting their employment to “top manager” positions, while executive management positions can be filled by local workers. “There needs to be limitations, not arbitrary, but in certain area and by calculating the ratio (of foreign workers) and their ability to transfer knowledge. Whenever possible, executive managers who are capable should be promoted to top managers, eliminating the need for foreign workers,” he insisted.

Regarding widespread complaints about the large number of illegal foreign workers in Bali, Puspa Negara said a coordinated team must be assembled with members of the team drawn from immigration and police.

Related Article

[Illegal Expatriate Workers in Bali]
 

Radar Bali reports that Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika has won his suit against The Bali Post.

In a session held at the Denpasar District Court on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, a panel of judges led by Amzer Simanjuntak affirmed the complaint made by the governor against Bali’s leading Indonesian language daily newspaper.

The judges ruled that The Bali Post is required to publicly issue an apology to the governor for having published news ruled to have been incorrect in its reporting of statements made by the governor. The Court’s ruling declared that The Bali Post must print a full-page apology for 6 consecutive days and well as make similar public apologies in several local newspapers – Warta Bali, Nusa Bali and Bali Tribun –each on two consecutive days. Single day apologies are also required in Fajar Bali and Radar Bali.

All the apologies must be in full-page format in each of the stipulated publications.

The panel of judges ruled that the news published by The Bali Post on September 19, 2011 under the headline “Governor: Dismantle the Traditional Villages” was inappropriate and violated the journalistic code of ethic and the National Press Law.

“The actions of the Bali Post that indicated the governor of Bali would dismantle the traditional villages (desa pakraman) appears to be in violation of the presumption of innocence, was information that was inappropriate, incorrect, inaccurate as set forth in the Press Law No. 40 of 1999,” explained chief judge Amzer Simanjuntak.

Based on the testimony of witnesses, including expert witnesses, the judicial panel said the news presented by The Bali Post was tendentious and served to cause unrest among religious and traditional leaders together with the general public in Bali

The judges also ruled that if The Bali Post does not meet its obligations under their ruling then the Chief Editor (Nyoman Wirata), PT Bali Post (the owning company) and Putra (a Bali Post reporter) must jointly pay Rp. 2 million (US$213) each day calculated from the day the courts ruling earns the status of a fixed ruling (i.e. when all avenues of appeal are exhausted).

Not all of the governor’s claims against The Bali Post were accepted by the Court. The governor’s demand for Rp. 150.17 billion (US$16.1 million) in immaterial damages was rejected by the court.

The Bali Post’s legal team lead by Suryatin Lijaya has 14 days from the issuance of their decision to lodge an appeal. Suryatin told the press after the court session that The Bali Post would appeal the court’s decision, accusing the judges of being mistaken in their interpretation of the law.

Suryatin maintains that the governor did, in fact, call for the dismantling of the traditional villages, a fact he claims was demonstrated in recordings presented as evidence to the court.

Separately, the lawyer for the governor, Simon Nahak, said he was sufficiently pleased with the Court’s ruling, even though all elements of his client’s demands were not fulfilled. He also said he stood ready to reply to any appeal of the Court’s ruling lodged by the newspaper’s legal team. Saying the money sought for damages was less consequential than defending credibility, accountability and the pursuit of justice.

Related Articles

[Judgment Day is Nigh]

[Better in Black and White]

[Taking Exception to Exceptions]

[Pick a Little, Talk a Little, Pick a Little]

[Governor Pastika Prepared to Fight 'Till the Death]

[Press Freedom Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry]  
 

Police in Bali have taken into custody 7 people and a Rottweiler dog in connection with a brutal attack on two local men. According to Kompas.com and Radar Bali, among the seven held by police is an American Citizen.

The events leading to the group's apprehension unfolded shortly after midnight on Monday, July 16, 2012 when an Italian, Luca Cavassa, riding a motorcycle on his way home from the Potato Head Restaurant, was involved in a collision with another motorcycle driven by two Balinese men - I Made Sudanta and Made Juni Permata.

The men resolved the matter of damages resulting from the accident at the scene, with Luca Cavassa paying a sum of money to Sudanta.

Continuing his journey, Cavasa soon met two friends, an American Jimie Roberts and an Australian-born Indonesian citizen Kimo Rusna. Luca told the tale of his accident to his two friends. “Kimo Rusna could not accept the fact that Luca had paid compensation to the other driver,” according to the police spokesman Benny Arianto, speaking to the press at the Badung Police Headquarters on Tuesday, July 17, 2013.

Jimie and Kimo invited Luca to visit the scene of the accident where they met I Made Sudanta and his friend Made Juni Permata (Reported as Putra by Radar Bali). Kimo demanded that the US$100 and Rp. 100,000 (US$10.75) given to Sudanta as compensation for the accident be returned to Luca.

According to Arianto, Kimo became emotional and struck Sudanta while Jimmy called five friends gathered at a nearby Circle K Convenience Store.

When Jimmy and his five friends arrived, they reportedly brutally attacked Sudanta. One of Kimo’s friends, Putu Wisma Saputra also known by the alias “Killer” brought a pet Rotweiller to the scene, with the animal joining in the attack, Arianto said, “the Rotweiller dog bit the hands of the victim.” Also listed as accomplices in the attack are Made Leo Kurniawan, Gede Angga Rismawan, Si Putu Wisnu Wisma and Muhammad Rizal.

After the attack, Sudanto reported the incident to the police who quickly placed the 7 men and the dog under arrest, confining them at the Badung Police station.

Police are saying the seven men may be charged under the criminal law dealing with gang attacks, subject to a possible five year prison sentence.

Police are initially listing the Italian, Luca Cavassa, as a witness in the crime and not as a suspect.

A “Talk Show Morning”  was held at the Bali Tourism Board on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, and presided over by Ritzki Handayani, the individual in charge of promoting meetings, incentive, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) at the Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy.

As reported by Bisnis Indonesia from the morning gathering, John M. Daniels, the President Director of Bali Discovery Tours and Editor of Bali Update, cited the limitations on infrastructure as a fundamental problem impeding the development of Bali’s tourism industry, especially in the MICE sector.

Daniels suggested that the central and provincial governments were overly concerned with developing infrastructure projects to accommodate a major summit planned for Bali in 2013, rather than developing a long-term and more sustainable approach to dealing with development.

Speaking at the gathering, he said he was “fed up” with pronouncements that Bali’s many infrastructure projects were being prepared in anticipation of the 2013 APEC Summit to be held in Bali. “It as though the world will come to an end one day after APEC ends,” lamented Daniels.

Elaborating further, Daniels told the group: “The struggle of tourism is a struggle for the people of Bali. Better roads, improved airports, new toll roads, underpasses and improved sewers are for the betterment of the daily lives of the people who live in Bali. These improvements will, of course, also be enjoyed by visiting tourists who will find Bali more user-friendlier. ”

Daniels said a more sustainable and people-oriented view regarding the why and wherefore of developing Bali’s infrastructure must be adopted.

The President Director of a company handling a number of major conferences and international sporting events in Bali, Daniels also leveled criticism at the high cost of adult beverages in Indonesia. High taxes on wine, spirits and beer, he said, only serve to make Indonesia non-competitive in the region in securing its share of the MICE market.

Moreover, the tax rates on alcoholic beverages, which are the highest in the region, have fostered a large black market that effectively nullifies any positive benefit from tax revenues on these products that might otherwise earn revenues for the State.

Saying the responsible consumption of beer, wine and spirits are crucial components of the MICE business culture. Per person charges in excess of US$60-70 for three-hours of open bar service at some major hotels render Bali unattractive to many MICE events. With the loss of the business, Daniels continued, hotel occupancies suffer; employment is suppressed and total tax revenues fall far short of their potential.

Where's the Umpire?

Likening Bali’s tourism industry to a soccer match lacking an umpire, Daniels accused the government of failing to honor their part of the social covenant that should be kept with all legal and registered investors in Bali. Daniels added: “Hotels and travel companies who register their business, perform environmental impact studies, follow zoning regulations, obey rules on minimum wages, pay taxes and obtain work permits for their foreign workers are compelled to compete with illegal and unregistered hotels, villas and travel companies who operate openly with little regard for the ‘rules of the game.”

Daniels also underlined the irony that with the announcement of each new crackdown on illegal travel businesses in Bali, government teams are dispatched and undertake raids and surveys on legally established registered businesses, wasting time by asking them time and again to prove their legal status. Meanwhile, businesses operating completely outside the law are left largely untouched by these same officials who claim they have “no legal basis” to move against companies that technically do not exists on their books.

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[Speak Up! Say What’s on Your Mind]
 

The popular Ubud restaurant and Bar, Bridges Bali, is hosting a painting exhibition of water colors and works in oil by the veteran Dutch artists Christiaan Lupgens, commencing on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 5:00 pm.

“Glimpses from the Last Paradise” is both the title of the current exhibition and the way in which Lupgens has long described his adopted home of Bali.

Born in Rotterdam in 1933, Lupgens began painting at age 14 taught by a Catholic priest. After completing high school he continued his arts studies focusing on both painting and sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rotterdam. Upon completing his tertiary studies, he worked for many years in the advertising world with assignments in Holland, Spain, Kenya, Singapore and Indonesia.

Adamant in his admiration for Bali, Lupgens credits the island of Bali with being his muse for the past 15 years while living in his “last paradise.” While he has exhibited his work widely around the world, the Ubud exhibition will represent his first solo exhibition in Ubud.

A portion of the proceeds from “Glimpses of the Last Paradise” will be donated to Bali Kids – a community organization providing assistance to sick and orphaned children in Bali. The group provides assistance to some 7,000 children each year through educational and medical services, including essential treatment for the growing number of children afflicted with HIV in Bali.

“Glimpses from the Last Paradise” will run for three months and is coordinated by Claude Chouinard of The Bridges as part of the restaurants continuing commitment to the community and the promotion of arts in Bali.

Glimpses from the Last Paradise
An Exhibition of Paintings by Christiaan Lupgens

July 26, 2012 and for three month thereafter

Bridge Bali
Campuhan, (near Museum Antonio Blanco )
Ubud 80581
Bali - Indonesia
Telephone ++62-(0)361 970095

[Email for more information] 


 

First opened in Bali in 2000, Bali Chiropractic has been offering island residents therapeutic natural healing and wellness nurturing to those seeking to avoid drugs or surgery. Chiropractic medicine calls upon the body’s natural tendency to heal and recuperate.

Operated under Chiropractic Indonesia, the Bali clinic operates in cooperation with a total of four clinics established in both Jakarta and Bali. The clinics offer chiropractic treatment, physical therapy, podiatry and personal training.

Balidiscovery.com recently caught up with Dr. Michael Bishopp from Bali Chiropractic. A graduate of Macquarie University in Australia in 1996 and worked in private practice in Australia before moving to Bali in 2012.

We sat down with the affable Dr. Bishopp who  told us more about his growing chiropractic practice in Bali.

The Interview: Dr. Michael Bishop, D.C – Bali Chiropractic

Balidiscovery.com: What prompted you to establish a Chiropractic practice in Bali?

Dr. Bishopp: The huge demand was evident by surveying how many people in Bali had chronic spinal problems and other conditions like scoliosis. We found that 80 percent of adults here will experience crippling spinal problem and pain at some stage during their adult life. Children, also, are affected. Also, a lot of these sufferers have long-term experience with these problems. A lot of these problems are brought on by poor posture, accidents and genetic predispositions

Balidiscovery.com: Chiropractic, while a major health practice in places like Australia, is still relatively unknown in Indonesia. What role can a chiropractor and your practice play in personal and family health for people living in Bali?

Dr. Bishopp: Chiropractic is for all ages and stages of life. From a pregnant women carrying a developing baby, infants, children, adolescents, adults to seniors. Everyone can benefit from a properly functioning spine and nervous system. At Bali Chiropractic we can help so many people with our state-of-the-art equipment and techniques, with chiropractic specialists, physiotherapists and personal trainers. We have a gymnasium to meet all health goals from acute care to elite athletic performance. In fact, most patients look forward to their treatments as many experience instant relief immediately after their treatment. However, our care is always gentle, safe and non-invasive

Balidiscovery.com: What are some of the most common ailment you treat? Are their conditions that occur more frequently on a holiday island like Bali?

Dr. Bishopp: Most often, people go to chiropractors the first time for relief from back pain. But chiropractors treat a broad range of complaints, from back and neck pain, to headaches, arthritis and more. Moreover, people don't need to have a specific complaint to benefit from a visit. Chiropractors also focus on on-going preventive and wellness care. Chiropractic care is effective for people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Tourists on holiday in Bali often need treatment due to prolonged sitting on the plane and the lifting of heavy luggage. Also tourists often engage in exercises they are not used to such as water sports, simply walking around more than normal and also sleeping in different postures - place stress on their delicate spines.

Balidiscovery.com: When should someone come to see a chiropractor?

Dr. Bishopp: The most common reason that people make an appointment is to treat back and neck pain. Back pain can be caused by spinal misalignment and sciatica. Sciatic can cause weakness, numbness in the lower back and legs, and general pain. A chiropractor can assess someone’s problem, working to realign posture, improve core muscle strength, and improve the overall health of the spine. However, a chiropractor can treat much more than just back pain. Some pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for both mother and baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health.

Balidiscovery.com: Is treatment expensive?

Dr. Bishopp: We would say that everyone should at least get their spines checked regularly starting from birth due to the increase stresses our spines are subject to in our fast-paced world with its limited time to exercise and practice good spinal hygiene via regular exercises. Costs vary and generally depend on the number of treatments required to effectively treat a condition. A number of studies have shown that chiropractic care is extremely cost effective when compared to other "medical" treatment for similar conditions.

A 1993 Magna report concluded patients who transfer lower back pain treatment from physicians to chiropractors enjoy significant cost savings. People who use chiropractic care have substantially lower health care costs that those who see medical care only.

Bali Chiropractic
Kuta Central Park Valet 2 No. 5-6
Jl. Raya Patih Jelantik (Near Ace Hardware)
Kuta - Bali 80361
Telephone: ++62-(0)361-769 004
Facsimile: ++62-(0)361-769 234
[Email Dr. Bishopp]

[Bali Chiropractic Website] 

Affordable, fun, understatedly-chic and welcoming are word that come to mind in describing Betelnut – located on Ubud’s Main Street and part of the Dekco Collection of restaurants and shops that also include the fabled Ary’s Warung.

Betelnut’s understated self-branding as the place for “Casual Asian fare -noodles, satay, Asian salad & desserts” hardly does justice to the experience that awaits within. Dedicated to slow food concepts utilizing organic, local food as ingredients – Betelnut offers both intimate settings for two and large communal tables, sofa lounge settings and stools at the bar. Slow food in an equally slow setting, guests  are invited to linger while enjoying  lovingly prepared cuisine.

A small restaurant able to accommodate around 100 diners and drinkers, guests are distributed across three service areas – a courtyard, ground floor and mezzanine – keeping the setting and atmosphere intimate even when business is brisk.

Open from 10:30 am until 10:30 pm Betelnut is eminently affordable, with both small and large plate options, main courses range from Rp. 25,000 (US$2.70) to Rp. 70,000 (US$7.50) and desserts under Rp. 30,000 (US$3.25).

Betelnut also offers a nice range of wines, price lower than many competing restaurants. Exotic cigars are also available in the relaxing bar lounge.

Betelnut
Ubud Main Street
Ubud, Bali
Telephone : ++62-(0)361 971426
Facsimile : ++62-(0)361-978359
[Email] 
[Dekco Website] 

The blockade of the Coal-powered Electrical Generating Plant in North Bali at Celukan Bawang has reportedly come to an end, with disgruntled local residents receiving land certificates and compensation demanded from the project’s developer PT General Energy Bali (GEB).

Radar Bali reported an end to the impasse took place on Monday, July 16, 2012, when 28 land certificates were handed to family heads at Brongbong village, North Bali.

Graciously accepting the long-promised certificates, the local residents responded by removing barricades they had erected blocking access to the power plant project.

The head of Brongbong village, Saharudin, expressed his relief at the settlement, although there remain a few local residents still waiting to receive the promise land certificates.

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Bali Adventure Tours – the owners and operators of Bali world-famous Elephant Safari Park and Lodge in Taro, Ubud, Bali has come up with the perfect way for past visitors to their elephant park to keep in touch with the impressive herd of elephants who make their home at the 2 hectare complex.

Perhaps because his elephants have utterly failed in past promises to write and send postcards to past Park visitors, Nigel Mason who owns the park has taken definitive steps  to make amend for his forgetful elephants by permanently installing two cameras that will allow friends and admirers from around the world to keep a 24x7 eye on the majestic pachyderms of Ubud.

Using EarthCam.com, Nigel now has two fixed cameras available on line to people around the world desirous of having an on-line visit to the award-winning Elephant Park.

And, even if the forgetful elephants fail to keep in touch as promised, you can still drop in at any time for a visit with friends in Bali!

[Bali Elephant Park Tour]

Bad weather is being cited as at least one of the underlying causes for the emergency grounding on Kampung Kusman Beach in Klungkung of a vessel from Blue Water Express ferrying a load of 28 Indonesian and foreign passengers on Tuesday, July 17, 2012.

Radar Bali confirms hat the passengers were all landed safely ashore with the help of local villagers who came to their assistance.

The vessel, captained by Abdul Rahman (30), departed from Serangan Island at 8:00 am headed to Gili Trawangan Island carrying 28 passengers and crew. 21 of those aboard were foreign tourists from Spain, France, Australia and Germany. The ship also carried 3 domestic passengers.

While underway and approximately 500 meters from Bali’s Jumpai Beach, the boat, driven by four large outboard motors, was hit by a large wave and immediately began to take on water at an alarming rate. Fearing the boat might sink, the Captain headed for Bali’s shore. After a prolonged struggle against large waves, the vessel was successfully beached at 9:45 am.

According to Radar Bali, although no one was injured in the accident, a number of passengers were emotionally traumatized by the experience.
The Captain said he did not know why his boat began leaking, suspecting that the ship may have been holed by piece of floating wood.

The Dawan police precinct has the incident under investigation to determine if human negligence played a role in the mishap.

The 2nd Bali Ball in aid of the Bali Kids Foundation exceeded all expectations as both a fun evening out and as a fundraiser for the orphanage and hospital foundation in Mengwi, Bali.

200 guests in formal dress enjoyed a six-course meal presented by W Retreat and Spa Bali. Music from leading international and domestic DJs, a vocal performance by Diana Rosa and Martin Devnev, a fashion show from Dindarella and a special musical appearance by children from Bali Kids helped to round out an enjoyable evening.

Acting as master of ceremonies for the evening was Yoke Darmawan, while Stuart Smith of Bali Kids served as auctioneer. Brenton Whittaker shared with guests a presentation on the background and important work performed by the Yayasan Anak Bali (Bali Kids Foundation).

The Carry For Kids Project, established in 2005 in conjunction with Bali Kids, was established to provide quality medical care for Bali children. The medical-center-based project provides a clean, safe environment for orphans requiring special care and medical attention. Hospital appointments, preparations and funding for surgery are provided by Bali Kids. An additional vehicle was donated in 2009 to enable Bali Kids to service the orphanages more efficiently. Land was recently purchased to build a new dental surgery center, to be operated by the Australian dental charity Yayasan Senyum (Smile Foundation), staffed by volunteer dentists from Australia and Holland.

The children are also provided lessons on computers, English, mathematics and music, while older children are given vocational training opportunities around Bali. Three of the orphans now studying in Australia on scholarships. The project’s long-term plans are to offer scholarships to study dentistry, medicine, nursing, accounting and computer studies to Bali orphans.

The Bali Ball managed to raise more than US$138,000 – money that will be used to improve the lives of a great number of children in Bali.

[Bali Kids Foundation Website] 

A gala cocktail gathering was held at the Amankila Resort on Saturday evening, July 21, 2012 to mark the 20th anniversary of the world-famous 34-suite resort perched on a hillside overlooking the Indian Ocean at Manngis, East Bali.

Guests were welcomed by a Balinese orchestra and costumed dancers at the hotel’s entrance before joining a Champagne reception punctuated by a gala Kecak fire Dance performance done on a specially constructed stage erected over the resort’s pool.

Many staff and guests who have been part of the resort's history over the past two decades were on hand for the evening, including legendary Asian hotelier Adrian Zecha, soon to be celebrating his 80th birthday.

It was Zecha and Franky Tjahadikarta who partnered to build the resort designed by architect Frank Tuttle 20 year ago. Like its sister Aman Resorts around the world, the Amankila was built to the ethos of preserving the natural beauty of the hotel’s locale.

When it opened in 1992, the Amankila was the second of what was eventually to become three Aman Resorts in Bali. The Amandari opened in 1989 and the Amanusa in the same year as the Amankila, later in 1992.

Shown on Balidiscovery.com are pictures from the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Amankila Resort.
(Photos by Imp. Winartho.)

[Book a Stay at the Amankila]
 

Major General Wisnu Bawa Tenaya has been named military commander of the 9th Udayana Military Command headquartered in Bali. He replaces Major General Leonard.

The change in command was formalized via a letter of appointment dated June 15, 2012 with the change of command ceremony taking place in early July.

Major General Tenaya (54) is a 31-year veteran of military service with the Indonesian army. Much of his career as a military officer has been with the Army’s elite special forces (Kopassus).

In charge of the Udayana Military Command, Major General Tenaya is the commander of all Indonesian armed forces based in Bali, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara.

Speaking at his command installation ceremony in Bali, Tenaya called on the people of Bali to promote and safeguard safety and security on the Island. He also announced he was ready to receive input from any source in order to safeguard the nation’s sovereign territories and the area under his command.

Visitors to Bali arriving via the Ngurah Rai International Airport are almost certain to encounter two memorial statues to I Gusti Ngurah Rai – a Balinese hero of the Indonesian struggle for independence and the namesake of the island’s sole international Airport. One statue stands near the Bypass Highway at the eastern end of the runway, while the second statue sits at a roundabout on the entrance road to the airport.

The spokesman for the Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport project, Harry Budi Waluyo, has announced plans to relocate the statue at the roundabout to a new location within the airport as part of the ongoing massive renovation program.

The statue’s new location will be between the entrance and exit toll gates, seen as a more fitting place for the statue of the man for whom the airport is named. Developers of the airport also concluded that the statues current position was disadvantageous to the planned operations of the airports international cargo facility.

Plans are to relocate the statue in August 2012.
 

In an incident that is highly embarrassing to Indonesia, the Slovak Ambassador to Jakarta was robbed while walking in Sanur, opposite the Bali Hyatt Hotel, on Tuesday, July 10, 2012.

As reported by both Nusa Bali and the Bali Post, Slovak Ambassador Stefan Rozkopal lost personal belongings valued at Rp. 50 million (US$5,375) when two men on a passing motorcycle snatched his bag.

The Ambassador was staying a nearby hotel in Sanur on a personal visit to Bali.

The incident, which occurred at 7:00 pm, saw Ambassador Rozkopal lose his official ID card, Rp. 2 million (US$215) in cash, a camera, a Blackberry telephone, and several credit cards.
 

Officers from the criminal division of the Bali Police have conducted raids on area shops and confiscated thousands of counterfeit branded items.

The raids, carried out on shops in Denpasar and Kuta, saw “fake” watches, belts, hats, bags and spare parts for automobiles seized as evidence.

Among the falsified brands netted in the raids were Billabong, Ripcurl, Paul Smith and Toyota.

Bisnis Indonesia quotes Arif Sugiarto of the Bali police, saying: “each of the brand owners had made complaints via their lawyers that were acted upon by seizing thousands of counterfeit items that are estimated to have caused hundreds of millions of rupiah in losses to the brand owners."

Police also temporarily held 24 store owners considered to have been selling the “fake” merchandise. If convicted, the store owners can be each fined up to Rp. 200 million (US$21,500) and sent to prison for up to one year.

Police are not releasing the names of the storeowners who are not being held prior to trial.

Police believe there are still many shops selling “fake” merchandise in Bali and the police are encouraging the owners of registered brands to file official complaints that will allow the police to take action.

The brand owners claim that the falsified merchandise costs sales and damages their brand’s reputation due to the inferior quality of the falsified merchandise.

After being warded for two nights in the isolation unit of Bali’s Sanglah General Hospital, a 55-yar-old Balinese woman died on Thursday, July 19, 2012, suspected to be the latest death due rabies.

Ni Made Wanti of Banjar Paseh, Ketwel, Gianyar displayed symptoms consistent with rabies when brought to the hospital, including hydrophobia, photophobia and severe cramping.

As reported by Denpost, the women’s family confirmed to doctors that she had been bitten by a street dog four months ago, but failed to seek medical treatment that should have included a series of anti-rabies vaccine (VAR) inoculations.

A field survey by the anti-rabies team from the Bali Department of Health conducted at the woman’s village confirmed that two of her neighbors were also bitten by the dog, but had immediately sought medical and VAR treatment.

The woman’s husband, Ketut Pugig (60), told the press that his wife had also been bitten by a local dog in 2010, but failed on two separate occasions to obtain the “free” VAR from the Denpasar hospital where the medical staff told them the VAR stocks were finished. Apparently, the couple’s earlier experience disuaded them for seeking medical treatment after the latest attack.

The woman’s death brings to six the number of human fatalities linked to rabies in Bali in 2012. There were 11 deaths of humans in Bali due to rabies in 2011.