Culture as a Dimension of Development: The Case of Bali, Indonesia

By Camden Conference | Jan 09, 2011
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(Courtesy of: Camden Conference)

The dimension of culture is vital in Asian history and development. When cultural traditions are ignored or undervalued, the results may bring outcomes not intended by experts or leaders directing economic or political planning. When appreciated as a fact of social life, culture may contribute powerfully to the analysis of what will succeed in an Asian setting.

Join cultural anthropologist Dr. Phil McKean for a discussion of modernization efforts in Bali, Indonesia, including the “green revolution” in the irrigated rice fields, and the growth of international “cultural tourism.” This event takes place on Sunday, January 16, from 3:00 – 4:30 PM at the Cushing Public Library and is free and open to all.

Dr. McKean will explore how an appreciation of culture can bring a deeper understanding of the changes in Bali in the past several decades in such important areas as sustainable agriculture for growing populations, and the retention of local and regional identity in the face of global communications. He may even conjure some suggestions for future U.S. policy towards the societies of Asia.

Phil McKean has taught at Hampshire College, Brown and Udayana Universities, and Coastal Senior College. His Ph.D. is in Cultural Anthropology, based on his research in Bali. He lives in Cushing with his wife, Deborah.

This community event is hosted by the Cushing Public Library in anticipation of the 24th Annual Camden Conference: “The Challenges of Asia,” February 18-20, 2011. For more information on this event, please call the Library directly at 207-354-7212.

The Camden Conference is a nonprofit, non-partisan educational organization whose mission is to foster informed discourse on world affairs through year-round community events, public and student engagement, and an annual weekend Conference featuring distinguished speakers focusing on a central theme related to U.S. foreign affairs. For more information, please visit www.camdenconference.org or call 236-1034.

http://waldo.villagesoup.com/business/brief/education/culture-as-a-dimension-of-development-the-case-of-bali-indonesia/373761

Exploring Indonesia's islands by boat

Exploring Indonesia's islands by boat

Like little Jackie Paper, I've come on a boat to a land of dragons. Our guide, a man who calls himself Brother Lemon, leads the way up a sloping savanna to a prehistoric view.

"Welcome to our Jurassic Park," says Brother Lemon. The grassy hills roll to the horizon, and though there's no herd of brontosauruses in the distance, the scattered palms topped by round moppish tufts do vaguely resemble something from a Dr Seuss book. I'm half expecting a sabre-toothed Cat in the Hat to jump out of the bushes.

There are dragons here on Indonesia's Rinca Island - actual dragons, with forked tongues and fearsome claws - for this is the only place on Earth where the Komodo dragon, the world's biggest lizard, roams free. We're in a part of the Indonesian archipelago called Nusa Tenggara, or the Lesser Sunda Islands, where Komodo National Park provides sanctuary for a beast that, if it did not occur in nature, may well have been invented by a children's author with a streak of the macabre.

We spot the dragons slinking their way through the grass and forests, some of them approaching three metres from head to tail. Slothful but able to sprint short distances, albeit with an exceedingly awkward gait, they're hardly shy of humans. It's wise not to get too close, however. The Komodo dragon subsists mainly on scraps and carrion, plus the occasional whole goat or deer, and its saliva is so septic that its unfortunate prey, once bitten, dies slowly of a blood infection. When it's done swallowing the poor thing in huge chunks, it vomits the hair and horns in a smelly mess.

There are only a few thousand Komodo dragons left in the world, and nearly all of them live here, an area that's a dreamland for wildlife nuts, both above ground and underwater. Off the coasts, the tides between the Flores Sea to the north and the Sawu Sea to the south squeeze through the nearby straits, creating currents that make the corals, many of them shallow enough for snorkellers, teem with sea life.

We almost didn't make it here, for had we been more cautious travellers, we'd probably have taken a pass on this entire journey. In the town of Labuan Bajo, on the western edge of Flores, we met a man named Vigo, a good salesman with a few too many ready answers to every question. Vigo promised us a four-day, three-night live-aboard boat trip from east to west, starting here in Flores and ending in Lombok, where, on the morning of the fourth day, a bus would be waiting to drive us across the island to the Bali ferry.

Included in the package would be three meals a day, cooked up by the boat's own chef, daily stops for snorkelling and visits to the dragon sanctuaries of Rinca and the nearby Komodo Island - the highlights of Nusa Tenggara, in other words, all for about US$164 (Dh600) per person. I agreed with my co-travellers, an American-Irish couple, that this seemed the best way to reach Lombok and the delights of Bali, for the boat would bypass the arduous 11-hour bus journey across Sumbawa Island.

The Bali-Flores boat route has become popular in recent years as Flores and Komodo National Park have risen to must-sees on the Indonesia circuit. Flores natives like Vigo have capitalised accordingly, providing transport options - some cheap, some dear - in a place where tourism is still in its infancy. In Labuan Bajo, real estate prices have gone through the roof. "Ten years ago, land sold for 500,000 rupiah [Dh202] per square metre," Vigo told me. "Now it's 2.5 million [Dh1,006] per square metre."

We were sold on Vigo's boat offer - or so I thought, until my companions went to check their e-mail and came back shaking their heads.

In parts of the world where tourism is still a fresh commodity, a cautious traveller should beware of fly-by-night operations, especially where personal safety is concerned. Apparently, they'd found a post about Vigo and his company on the Lonely Planet message board, calling him a schemer and a liar while raising concerns about the safety of his boats. "This is an outfit you want to avoid," the post says, or rather screams, since it's written in all caps. Next page

http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/travel/exploring-indonesias-islands-by-boat

Bali Baby!

By Bob Schiff

A scenic view in Bali. (Bob Schiff)

Editor's Note: Our roving international correspondent, Bob Schiff, has been traveling throughout Asia, reporting on the obscure and exotic. Here is his fourth of many communiques detailing his travels. Enjoy Shiff's musings on the locals, customs, accommodations, and certainly the visual and descriptive majesty of the sites he is visiting and documenting.

Bali
A three hour van from Ijen to the port on the western tip of Java, a half hour ferry ride across to Bali followed by a three hour bus ride to Denpasar and a half hour taxi ride and I arrived at my hotel in Legian. I think everyone has an image of Bali in their minds - idyllic tropical island with beautiful white sand beaches and an exotic culture unlike anything back home. Wrong - at least in the tourist area of south Bali. South Bali is a heavily overbuilt and crowded tourist scene. Australian is the predominant language spoken here, mate. There are a few areas that range from high-end Seminyak to the young and wild party enclave of Kuta. The beach runs all along the western shore but with all the development it's not very inviting. It does have killer sunsets though. Rip tides claim quite a few tourists; three people drown on Kuta beach the day I took my first surfing lesson.

Padang Padang beach, about 45 minutes south of the Legian/Kuta area.

Surfing is huge throughout south Bali. The breaks off the entire southern peninsula are legendary. Most of the rental motorbikes have u-shaped brackets to hold surf boards. Surfer shacks and guesthouses dot the cliffs of the southern Bukit peninsula.

There is a great beach near the southern end of Bukit called Padang Padang that runs true to my vision of Bali - tiny crescent of white sand surrounded by steep cliffs. Calm turquoise water with a surf break beyond the bay out in the Indian Ocean. Lunch is available from a traditional warang right on the beach. I went there three times during my week stay in south Bali.

Unlike the rest of Indonesia, Bali is primarily Hindu; a beautiful interpretation of Hindu unique to Bali. After weeks of traveling through Java during Ramadan it was refreshing to get to somewhere where there was pork and a vibrant nightlife. The Balinese dishes are a nice change from the rather bland and somewhat limited food choices in Java. My plan is to wait out the rest of Ramadan here in Bali. The holy month ends with the two day festival of Idul Fitri and a nine day holiday of Lebaran when Muslim people go back to their villages to celebrate with their families. It is a crowded time to travel in Indonesia. In Bali many of the workers (mostly from Java) go back home and many of the rich from Jakarta come to Bali with their families for holiday. Many hotels are booked during this period and prices are firm.

Padang Padang beach.

Now this is a magical place. Ubud is in the hills a little over an hour north of the south Bali tourist area. Steeped in the Balinese rendition of Hindu culture it exudes charm. Incredibly green rice fields and tropical mountain jungle everywhere. Many of the vistas are breathtaking. Unfortunately it is deservedly-so a major tourist destination. The roads were never designed to handle the larger vehicles used by the hotels and tour operators to move people around so traffic is a nightmare. Not unlike Rt. 27 in the Hamptons in August. On a motorbike with no visible enforcement of traffic regulations I easily skirt the worst of the congestion.

There are endless performances and religious celebrations and festivals. Every evening just after sunset one can hear a mix of many gamelan musical performances throughout the village. One can't help but feel the spirituality and ancient mysticism in this special place. One evening there is a parade from the main temple in town to another a few kilometers away. Most of the local townspeople, dressed in traditional costume, participate in the procession.

Tough to find good value with accommodations but I did luck into two great places for my week long stay. There are many four and five-star hotels and spas and plenty of great restaurants. Nightlife is limited. As I'm exploring the area by motorbike I'm distracted by the sweet smell of barbeque from a smoking grill on the sidewalk in front of a crowded warang - Naughty Nuri's Place. It's packed with Asian tourists. I strike up a conversation with a table of local expats and am invited to sit down. One of the guys, Brian, is a very funny New Yorker and immediately we hit it off. He and his wife, a local named Nuri own the place. It's the same scene as at Cyril's table in Amagansett - a group of middle-age guys sitting around all afternoon drinking and telling tales while the place just jams with business. I feel right at home and spend about five afternoons there with my new friends. Oh, and easily the best pork ribs for thousands of miles.

The Balinese architecture around Ubud is spectacular. Dozens of temples and traditional family compounds. There is a large artist community and many galleries. Crafts - wood carvings, stone carvings, architectural details, garden features, etc. - from all over Indonesia are presented to the wholesale export trade in the Ubud area. I'm tempted to try my luck at a container of goods but quickly come to the realization that I'd most likely loose my shirt. Plus, I'm not ready to stop traveling yet.

Finally I tear myself away from the beauty of Ubud and my new friends at Naughty Nuri's and head to Sanur to sort out transportation to Gili Trawangan island – my next port of call.

STAY TUNED FOR SCHIFF'S NEXT INSTALLMENT

Sunset at Jimbaran beach.

A great day out with the animals in Bali!

Wednesday, 17 November 2010

Everyone loves a day at a safari park and Bali Safari and Marine Park is no exception as I discovered on my recent trip to Bali and the great news is also that you can now book a great day out at Bali Safari and Marine Park before you even leave Australia for Bali, with Bali Success Tours

So, out, if you are looking for an unforgettable day out Bali Success Tours’ Bali Safari and Marine Park package is for you at $A100 for adults and $A90 for children from 2yrs to 12 yrs, with great add ons, including: -


* Entry into Bali Safari & Marine Park
* 2 Safari Journeys (Tram Ride)
* 45 Minute Elephant Safari
* 10 Minute Camel Ride
* Unlimited Animal Encounters (cuddle the baby animals)
* Professional Animal Photo
* 5 Course Lunch/Dinner at Tsavo Restaurant
* Free use of the Water Park
* Entry into all shows
* Unlimited Fun Zone Rides
* Souvenir



Wow, what could be better, a really fun filled day out for all the family, with the Elephant Back Safari offering a breathtaking experience of a 45 minute elephant ride through African themed bush land surrounded by wildebeests, zebras, and rhinoceros, roaming free and have the once in a lifetime experience of dining with the lions at Tsavo restaurant, with a delicious five course meal up close and personal with these magnificent animals with just a wall of glass to separate you.

You also receive a 10 minute camel ride, unlimited animal encounters, two Safari Journeys and unlimited rides at the Fun Zone! Amazing and it gets better with Bali Safari Park providing a free shuttle service with pick up points located in popular areas of Bali.

Bali Safari & Marine Park opening hours areMon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat & Sun 8.30am - 5 pm and Tsavo restaurant is open late every night.
Need I say more, except that remember that Bali Safari and Marine Park can be booked and paid for in Australian dollars before you even leave Australia, so for more information visit: http://www.balisuccesstours.com.au/bali/About_Us-Bali_Safari_Park_Rhino_Package.htm

Please continue with me this week as I continue my amazing journey through Indonesia and Bali, discovering fabulous Indonesia and Bali product, not only in articles hot from the destinations, but also amazing on location videos – for the two next weeks starting last Monday 8 November on eTB and eTBTV go on location from Indonesia and Bali brought to you by Garuda Indonesia and Garuda Orient Holidays.

John Alwyn-Jones reporting for e-Travel Blackboard and e-Travel Blackboard TV on location from Indonesia and Bali brought to you by Garuda Indonesia and Garuda Orient Holidays.

http://www.etravelblackboard.com/article/111397/a-great-day-out-with-the-animals-in-bali