The Regional Tourism office of Badung, acting on the Governor's August 29, 2008 deadline for the legalization of all commercial villas, is preparing two team to move against illegal or unregistered villa operators. According to BisnisBali there are an estimated 111 illegal villa still operating in the North Kuta and Mengwi areas of the island.

Each of the two teams is comprised of eleven members who have been ordered to work in marathon shifts to call on the 111 villas and urge them to complete all requirements before the late August deadline.

Those villas who have filed all the necessary applications and met the regulatory requirements before the August 29 deadline will apparently be granted some latitude if the government is still processing their applications on the deadline date.

According to the head of the Badung tourism office, Made Subawa, those villas failing to have the proper permits in hand after August 29th will be closed.

In a separate reports in NusaBali, I Wayan Pusa Negara, a member of Commission B of the Badung House of Representatives has called on the regional government to post signs on the entrances of illegal villas in order to discourage tourists from spending a holiday in unlicensed accommodation.

A tennis tournament for players aged between 6 and 14 years will be held at the Westin Resort Bali on August 23-24, 2008. Play starts each day at 7:30 am at the Courts of the Resort with the following benefits accruing to participants:

● A Westin cap and buffet luncheon.

● A certificate of participation signed by an international tennis champion.

● An opportunity to meet top female tennis stars at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic 2008 to be held in Bali September 7-14, 2008.

● Numerous prizes including Prokennex Tennis Racquets and original Crocs Sandals.

This year's tournament will also include a dynamic "parent & child" doubles play.

Registration

The registration deadline is 5 pm of August 21, 2008. Costs of registration:

● Rp. 150,000 (US$16.30) for single play

● Rp. 200,000 (US$21.80) for double play

● Rp. 300,000 (US$32.60) for double "parent and child" play.

For more information telephone Wayan Sudana at ++62-(0)8123601236.

Graha Wicaksana, the head of Community Development for Kuta, Bali's most famous beach area, has confirmed that the Kuta Karnival returns for nine days from October 18-26, 2008.

Initially organized as a response to the Bali terrorist attack of October 2002, the event has now become a regular fixture on Bali's busy calendar of yearly events. This year’s event has been given the motto of "A Celebration of Life" reflecting the nine days of traditional art performances, sunset dances on the beach, sports activities, and an entire bazaar of culinary kiosks located in tents up and down the beach.

Following the first Kuta Karnival held in 2003, this will represent the sixth year for the festivities which now garners national and international press coverage. The 2008 Karnival will also feature Balinese dance competitions, environmental conservation exhibits, a fun cycle show, seminars and a mass street parade. Based on past years, the Kuta Karnival is expected to draw more than 90,000 people.

Some of the highlights of this year’s Kuta Karnival:

● Opening Ceremony - Held on the first day of the event, this day will be marked by a traditional Sekar Jagat dance and "Bali Paddle for Peace" in which 1,000 surfers will take to the ocean to spread flower pedals on the waves. 500 turtles will also be released back into the local seas.

● Food Festival - Tentatively set for day 8 and 9 of the Kuta Karnival more than 60 of Bali's best restaurants will set up kiosks along Kuta Beach. A children's play area will be in operation and live entertainment will be on offer from a central stage during these two days when more than 30,000 visitors are expected to attend.

● Tebs Shocking Games - Tebs will be offering samples of their beverages and a number of adventure activities including rope climbing and rope games offered under the careful supervision of the professionals from Tree Top Bedugul.

● Beach Volley Ball Competitions - Volley Ball competitions between both local and international teams at the competition arena on each day of the Kuta Karnival.

● Beach Soccer - Held on "Surf Family Day" informal soccer matches for all those who wish to take part.

● Sand Creations - School children will have the opportunity to compete for prizes as they display their ability to build sand-based sculptures.

● Life Guard Demonstrations - See life-saving techniques demonstrated by the Kuta Life Saving Association.

● Surfing and Body Building - Competitions to be held at “Halfway Point” on Kuta Beach.

● Skate Ramp - Bali's landmark skate arena located on the beach will allow everyone a chance to try their skill at skateboarding. Day 3 will be dedicated to a final skate boarding competition.

● Tug-of-War- See companies, clubs and community groups compete.

● Traditional Dance and Music - Scheduled for every afternoon of the Karnival - a different traditional Balinese dance each day.

● Surfer Girl Balinese Dance Competition - Traditional dance competition for children.

● Traditional Kite Flying - Scheduled for day 2, some 3,200 kites are targeted to participate. at the Bali Garden Hotel.

● Arts Attractions - Alumni from Bali's Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) will perform during the Karnival.

● Bali Islamic Festival - Islamic-themed activities will be on offer at the Discovery Shopping Mall.

● Beach Stalls - Local merchants and organization offering knowledge and goods from their bazaar stalls stretched along the beach.

● Suzuki Music Festival - scheduled for each day of the Karnival, see new products and national bands perform.

● IndieFez XL - Sponsored by XL on the music stage, Day 5.

● Cardinal Awards - A competition between local bands and models. Winners will compete in Bandung, West Java in a national competition later in the year.

● Karnival Parade - Set for the last day of the Karnival in the parade will include decorated floats, roller skaters, cyclists, big bikes, antique cars, gamelan orchestras, and horse-drawn carts.

● Jalan Santai - A fun walks by more than 2,000 people through Kuta Beach.

For more information contact Mr. Graha Wicaksana at telephone ++62-(0)815575222.

A fire on the evening of Sunday, August 10, 2008, at the Bali Pecatu Putera (BPG) project site for the Hotel Le Grand in South Bali spread to 12 separate buildings before finally being brought under control by local firefighters.

According to NusaBali, two of the affected buildings house luxury apartments already occupied. Some of the other buildings affected by the blaze will form part of hotel component of the resort development.

Police report that the fire started at 9:30 pm and spread quickly to other parts of the complex. While some of the structures were still in their construction phase, a number of project offices, storerooms and a staff cafeteria were housed in those building and were damaged by the fire.

The fire which is being viewed suspiciously by the police, follows by two weeks public complaints by the National Committee for Human Rights (Konmas HAM) that the land for the project was obtained at the expense of the human rights of 215 local farmers.

Police refused to site a cause or an origin for the fire, insisting the case was still being studied by the police forensic team.

A local farmer, Made Rama, told NusaBali that in the week before the fire some 200 farmers whose lands were sacrificed to the BPG project gathered at his home to state their desire to demand the return of their farmlands.

According to local press reports, the BPG project is owned by Tommy Soeharto, the Son of Indonesia's second president.

A spokesman for BPG estimates the damage suffered as a result of the fire to come to billions of rupiahs.

While fried rice or nasi goreng is typically a poor man's feast in Bali, the price tends to vary depending on the pedigree of the chef behind the work. This certainly was the case recently when a plate of nasi goreng prepared by Bali's Chief of Police Inspector General T. Ashikin Husein was auctioned off for Rp. 6 million (US$652). For comparison purposes, a delicious plate of nasi goring from a Bali street vendor can cost between Rp. 5,000 to Rp. 10,000 (US$0.54-1.10).

The auction took place as part of the celebration of the Indonesian Police Force's 56th anniversary with proceeds going to a officer's relief fund.

The party attended by police officers and their families at police headquarters in downtown Denpasar saw Husein and a group of other senior officers don aprons and start cooking their version of fired rice for the fund-raising auction. The first bid for the Chief's cooking came in at Rp. 500,000 (US$54), however, the bidding quickly escalated with the gavel going down following a bid of Rp. 6 million (US$652) made by Chief of Denpasar's Metropolitan Police (Kapoltabes), I Gde Alit Widana.

One might argue that an individual's cooking skill is a prerequisite for promotion in the police force. At least that seems to be what was demonstrated by the lower bid prices for the fried rice cooked up by junior officers of the Bali police force; the nearest high bid coming in only at Rp. 3 million (US$326).

The family day was organized by the wife of the Chief, Ibu Husein, and included numerous prizes and a fun bazaar.

When we called to wish Chief Husein and his force a "happy birthday" he refused to divulge his recipe for Rp. 6 million nasi goring, insisting the exact ingredients are a well-guarded family secret.

An article in Bali Post reports that the geographic "face" of Bali is becoming smaller with each passing year. The paper warns that the weak commitment of the Island's current leaders to preserve and protect Bali will make future generations face open conflict in the struggle for living space. This crisis of commitment between members of Bali's bureaucracy at the regency and city level has left a struggle to save Bali's land dominated by autonomous arrogance.

This portrait of the destruction of Bali's land is most evident when seen from the erosion of soils in the course of a single year. Data from the government's Rivers and Shoreline Department show that 90 kilometers of Bali's 436 kilometer of shoreline is badly damaged. Efforts to restore these damaged shores have only touched some 45.75 kilometers.



[Click to Enlarge]

These efforts at shoreline restoration have consumed trillions of rupiahs in costs. Yet those areas that have suffered the worst damage are likely to sustain even more destruction due to nature's unrelenting course. 41 areas of intense erosion have been identified; with the worst destruction occurring in Bali's north but with Bali's south also badly affected. Of the 41 critical points of erosion, 21 are contained along the shoreline stretching from Gianyar to Nusa Dua. Meanwhile, 11 critical erosion points are located in North Bali with 9 more points to be found on Nusa Penida.

Government surveys show that this widespread erosion has actually shrunk Bali’s land mass. According to the Chief of the Rivers and Shoreline Department, Ir. Nyoman Ray Yusha, worldwide land reclamation efforts have raised the world's oceans and encroached on Bali's shores. Erosion has become a serious problem for Bali and the commitment to protect Bali must re-invent itself to become a widely-based movement to save the Island.

A study to identify and mitigate natural disasters conducted by the Center for Environmental Studies (PPLH) at Udayana University has also concluded that Bali’s land mass is under threat. According to R. Suyarto of PPLH, Bali has a geological potential to suffer significant landslides. This potential is concentrated in Bali’s Center – Bedugul, Kintamani, the foothills of Gunung Agung and Seraya.

Moreover, if the uncontrolled deforestation of Bali's water absorption areas does not stop, experts warn that landslides and flooding will become an even more serious threat for Bali in the years to come.

Of some concern, oceanographic surveys of Bali’s east coast show an underwater topography characterized by a fast descending trench to a depth pf 1,200 metes only 10 kilometers from the shore line. This depth creates a condition that could accelerate the damage and destruction brought by a future tsunami. Along Bali's north shore much of the coast is also characterized by equally threatening steep drop offs. This is in contrast to the Island's South, mainly in Sanur, Serangan and Nusa Dua which is the home to sand beaches behind substantial coral formations. Because of its exposure to the strong waves of the Indian Ocean, Bali's coastline remains very vulnerable to the destructive forces of nature.

In view of Bali's exposed situation, R. Suyarto, speaking at a seminar at Udayana University called for the establishment of a serious, widely-based movement to protect Bali's shoreline.

As reported on balidiscovery.com, the government is taking dramatic moves to save PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MZ) from imminent financial collapse. In addition to cash relief of US$32.6 million and plans to lay off 50% of the carrier's work force, the government has now agreed to delay the payment of Rp. 56 billion (US$6.1 million) in outstanding taxes due from MZ as part of the overall restructuring programming.

The State Minister for State-owned enterprises, Sofyan Abdul Djalil, told Bisnis Indonesia that the temporary tax reprieve has been agreed with the Minister of Finance.

According to Sofyan, the restructuring of MZ will be handled by PT Perusahaan Pengelola Asset (PPA), a government-owned asset management company. The taxes owed by MZ have been placed in abeyance to allow the airline the opportunity to complete the termination of 1,300 workers, a central core of the airline's restructuring. When the terminations are completed, MZ will be left with 800 employees; 500 dedicated to airline operations and 300 at the Merpati Maintenance facility.

A Shift from Jets to Turbo-props

MZ plans to stop operating jets and focus its future operations on less-expensive-to-operate tubro-prop equipment flying on pioneer routes.

How Much Debt?

MZ's recently appointed managers are busily trying to asses the true extent of the airline's indebtedness. Meanwhile, some observers place MZ's debt at Rp. 2.2 trillion (US$239 million) against an asset base of only Rp. 1 billion (US$108,000). In its current un-restructured state it is estimated that MZ is losing Rp. 20 billion (US$2.2 million) each month.

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Two golf courses will play host for two days of golf competition on August 23-24, 2008, during the Bali Governor’s Cup. All the action will take place at Bali's oldest links - Bali Beach Golf Course in Sanur and the New Kuta Golf Course - with competition in both men's and ladies' flights

Tee Times

Tee times at the Bali Beach Course will be at 7:00 am and 1:00 pm.

Tee time at the New Kuta Beach Course is at 7:00 am.

Fees and Registrations

Tournament fees for the Bali Governor's Cup which cover 2 rounds of golf, 1 breakfast and lunch at the New Kuta Golf Course, 1 coffee break and lunch or buffet dinner at the Bali Beach Golf Course, goodie bag, luck draw for a new motorcycle, and a chance to win an exciting "hole in one" prize of a Ford Escape or a Suzuki SX4.

● Guests Rp. 1,750,000 (US$192)

● Members of the Bali Beach Golf Course Rp. 1,550,000 (US$168.50)

● Members of the New Kuta Golf Course Rp. 1,450,000 (US$157.60)

● Members of both the Bali Beach Golf Course and New Kuta Golf Course Rp. 1,250,000 (US$136).

For registration telephone:

● Bali Beach Golf Course at ++62-(0)361-287733

● Pengda PGI Bali ++62-(0)361-288884.

Tempo Interaktif reports that Bali businessman Made Wiranatha remains dauntless in his efforts to revive his failed airlines Air Paradise and continues to lobby the provincial government of Bali to invest in his Bali-owned carrier that ceased operations in the wake of the 2005 Bali bombing.

Wiranatha told reporters in Bali on August 14, 2008, that he is seeking around Rp. 250 billion (US$27.2 million) to secure a minimum of three airplanes to commence flight operations. He also told the press that he is hopeful that Bali's newly elected governor, Made Pastika, will support the existence of a Bali-owned and Bali-based international airline.

In March 2007, Wiranatha offered a 50% stake in his airline to the Government of Bali; an offer that remains unanswered to this day.

According to Wiranatha, it is high time that Bali has its own, professionally managed airline to reduce dependency on outside carriers. "Kadek" Wiranatha, who owns a number of tourism related enterprises, said that Bali is currently experiencing the best tourism flows in its history. He insisted that Bali is now at its best – both in terms of quality and quantity - with tourism spending continuing to increase.

Kadek's view is that Bali needs an airline to establish direct flight services with key potential markets in China, Russia, India and the Middle East.

Air Paradise commenced operation on February 16, 2003, serving flights between Bali and Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Korea and Japan. The airline suddenly ceased operations on November 23, 2005, as the result of the sudden drop in passengers following the second Bali bombing in October 2005.

Should the provincial government of Bali decide to invest in Air Paradise it is unclear if the suspended operating license from the Indonesian government can be reinstituted by the Indonesian civil aviation authorities.

With little more than 2 months to go for the Asian Beach Games (ABG) get underway in October 2008 the organizers are reportedly scrambling hard to find funds to cover the reduced Rp. 350 billion (US$ 38 million) budget.

With a third of the budget expected to be covered by State funding, the remaining two thirds has been pledged by the Bali Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee (BABGOC) drawing upon sponsorship sources said to be in short supply.

The Chairwoman of the National Sports Committee (KONI), Rita Subowo, said that the intense efforts are underway to secure donators, including calling on Indonesia's Vice President for assistance and seeking funds from a number of State-owned enterprises.

Explained Rita in a press conference held at the BABGOC headquarters on August 12, 2008: "A number of State-owned enterprises have lent assistance. Finally Pertamina (the State-owned oil company) have also given a signal that they will take a role. We continue to hope that in the remaining time left to us the financial requirements will be met."

Rita who shares responsibility for the successful execution of the ABG would not commit on exactly how much of the required budget was already in hand. She has, however, admitted separately that if sufficient funds are not secured a number of BABGOC programs will be affected.

Rita told the press that because the Bali event will be the first Asian Beach Games there is a natural problem in securing sponsors due to the lack of knowledge regarding the event. Rita remains optimistic, however, pointing to support from the Olympic Council of Asia and neighboring ASEAN countries.

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The 188-room Best Western Premier Kuta Kedonganan completed its "topping off" ceremony in early August, clearing the way for the opening of the first Best Western Premier hotel in Indonesian, slated for February 2009.

A 343-room Best Western New Kuta Condotel will also open in December 2008, together with four more hotels with Best Western branding: Best Western Bakso Hotel, Padang, Sumatra (November 2008); Best Western Mangga Dua, Jakarta (December 2008); Best Western Premier Solo, Surakarta (February 2009); and the Best Western Grand Seminyak, Bali (September 2009).

The 188-room Bali "Premier" project is pitched as a luxury property by its developers. "We are very excited about the prospect of opening The Best Western Premier Kuta Kedonganan next year both because it is a stunning property in its own right and it will be the first Best Western Premier Hotel in Indonesia," said Jusuf Sawirin, Chief Area Development, Best Western Development – Indonesia. "The resort is ideally located in the heart of Bali's leisure locale and as a Best Western Premier branded property, it embraces the superior amenities and cutting-edge facilities that are demanded by the most discerning world travelers."

Best Western is targeting to open 20 properties across Bali over the coming three years. "We are confident that we will reach our goal of 20 hotels within the next three years in targeted locations, including Bali, Jakarta, Surabaya, all Javanese provinces, Makassar, Kalimantan, Riau and Batam, which will ultimately make us the largest hotel chain in Indonesia," added Jusuf.

Beritabali.com reports that Bali's incoming governor, Made Mangku Pastika, has criticized the Bali Arts Center, located in downtown Denpasar, as dirty and unrepresentative.

Such were the comments of Pastika during a dialogue on "Bali's Creative Arts and Future Challenges" held at the Neka Art Museum in Ubud on Sunday, August 10, 2008. Pastika said: "at this point the area of the Art Center and Indonesia Arts Institute (ISI) covers only 10 hectares, while it should occupy 50 hectares. Because of the lack of space the current arrangements are not good."

When asked if, in his capacity as Governor, he will seek more space for the Bali Arts Center, Pastika remained non-committal, saying he has yet to consider a new location for the Arts Center.

A teacher from the ISI called on Pastika to facilitate the rapid development of the creative arts in Bali. The well-known art instructor listed specific facilities needed by the Bali artistic community: the hosting of a creative arts event on a national scale; the creation of a major arts competition; a re-evaluation of the current concept of the Bali Arts Festival (PKB); the establishment of a Bali Visual Arts Center; and the general improvement of the infrastructure in support of the arts in Bali.

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