DVD Eat Pray Love: This movie serves up nearly 2 1/2 hours of banal self-help platitudes, accompanied by soothing, picture-postcard images of Italy, India and Bali. The characters speak in the clichés of spiritual healing, and it implies you can achieve that by quitting your job and spending tens of thousands of dollars on a trip around the world. Yet there's also no denying that, for certain moviegoers, especially those who feel battered and defeated by a lousy economy and an uncertain future, it's going to strike a chord. The Elizabeth Gilbert memoir upon which the film is based did not sell more than 7 million copies for nothing. Available on DVD and Blu-ray.
-- Christopher Kelly
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/11/19/2645532/new-on-dvd-eat-pray-love.html#ixzz15smIdhU7
Saturday, November 20, 2010
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.
Friday, November 19, 2010
World antivirus vendors gather in Bali
The Jakarta Post | Fri, 11/19/2010 9:27 AM | National
JAKARTA: Antivirus vendors from all over the world gathered in Nusa Dua, Bali, for a conference starting Thursday to discuss malware.
Alfons Tanujaya, from vaksin.com, the conference organizing committee, said the 2010 conference attracted 150 participants from all over the world.
The annual conference, called AVAR for Association of Anti-Virus Asia Researchers, gets its main sponsorship from ESET, an antivirus vendor from Slovakia. ESET sent eight antivirus experts to the event, tempointeraktif.com reported on Thursday.
Alfons said AVAR was mainly an association of antivirus vendors in Asia Pacific, but it had grown and the 13th conference had attracted participants from countries outside Asia Pacific.
This is the first time Indonesia has hosted the AVAR conference, Alfons said. The previous 12 were held in places like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Australia and China. — JP
JAKARTA: Antivirus vendors from all over the world gathered in Nusa Dua, Bali, for a conference starting Thursday to discuss malware.
Alfons Tanujaya, from vaksin.com, the conference organizing committee, said the 2010 conference attracted 150 participants from all over the world.
The annual conference, called AVAR for Association of Anti-Virus Asia Researchers, gets its main sponsorship from ESET, an antivirus vendor from Slovakia. ESET sent eight antivirus experts to the event, tempointeraktif.com reported on Thursday.
Alfons said AVAR was mainly an association of antivirus vendors in Asia Pacific, but it had grown and the 13th conference had attracted participants from countries outside Asia Pacific.
This is the first time Indonesia has hosted the AVAR conference, Alfons said. The previous 12 were held in places like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Australia and China. — JP
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Green property becomes global requirement
Burhanuddin Abe, Contributor, Jakarta | Thu, 11/18/2010 9:41 AM
Environmentally friendly properties are now more than a requirement, green and energy saving properties have become a global trend that is revolutionizing the property industry and have become a symbol of technological progress as well.
The green property industry began in the early 1990s with the related criteria starting in England in 1993 and was made popular in the United States by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) which issues a certificate called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Soon developers began to apply an ecological framework in their properties. This was in line with the global demand for green and energy saving buildings which in the long term will reduce the exploitation of natural resources.
“Sooner or later environmentally friendly properties will be the consumers’ main requirement especially in major cities and the property industry has an important role in developing such projects,” said Stephanus D. Satriyo, associate director for property and facilities management of PT Cushman & Wakefield Indonesia.
Well, how about developers here in Indonesia? Are they really concerned about the issue? Unfortunately not totally, because it is still under discussion. Moreover major tenants, like multinational corporations, are not demanding “green” buildings for their office space here.
Actually such major tenants are in a good bargaining position to demand a green building as they use huge spaces for their offices and pay a lot of rent.
However, in Indonesia we now have the Green Building Council of Indonesia (GBCI) which was established in 2009 comprising professional construction service providers, developers, education and research institutions, professional associations and individual members concerned about the
environment.
GBCI is a member of World Green Building Council (WGBC) with headquarters in Toronto, Canada, which currently has 64 countries as members and only acknowledges the existence of one GBC in each country.
GBCI conducts various extensive awareness and education activities for the public and provides Green Building Certification in Indonesia based on an evaluation standard that is uniquely Indonesian and is called Greenship.
The construction of such green buildings in Indonesia will be sustainable ecologically, energy saving, economically efficient, competitive and socially responsible as a global citizen.
In short such green buildings will greatly contribute to our sustained existence on planet earth.
However, as GBCI is only one year old it has not been able to do much. This is understandable as green buildings are comparatively more costly than conventional buildings. To obtain the green certificate there are numerous prerequisites. The construction must not damage the environment, the materials used must be environmentally friendly (conforming with the reduce, reuse and recycle principle), and be water and energy efficient.
Undeniably a small number of developers have started to construct green buildings and some offices and apartments are called green buildings although they only include a number of green aspects, such as a green area that is more spacious than the area of the building, the air conditioning is no longer centralized and the water is recycled.
Unfortunately in Indonesia there is no building that is totally green to date, because until now no building has been certified as a green building.
The fact is there is no demand for green buildings yet. Moreover there is a misperception that
such environmentally friendly buildings are costly and not feasible business wise.
In developed countries the view point is totally different. Green buildings are not only supported and appreciated but have a high resale value.
Actually this trend is not limited to developed countries. In Mexico, India, China and Vietnam green buildings have already been constructed based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), initiated by the Green Building Council of the United States.
Properties are enjoying positive growth worldwide, but the demand for green properties here in Indonesia is still at the discussion stage.
Indeed eco property was the main focus of the 61st World Congress of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) in Bali from May 24 to May 28 this year. The congress titled “Save the World: Green Shoots for Sustainable Real Estate” was probably a turning point for all stakeholders in the property business to make a real contribution toward sustainable existence.
Although at present there is no real demand for green buildings it is possible that in three or four years multinational corporations that are concerned about the environment will demand buildings with green certificates.
Indeed there is also the impression that the government pays little attention to this matter as no regional administration or government has issued any related regulations although eco-property issues emerged five years ago.
Chairman of the Association of Housing Development in Indonesia (Apersi) Eddy Ganefo said that the central as well as the regional governments should actually be proactive in the formulation and application of regulations on eco property so that developers have proper guidance. “It has been very slow to date while many countries are already applying this concept to reduce global warming,” he told Koran Jakarta.
He said there should be sanctions as well as incentives like discounts in the permits and Land and Building tax discounts (PBB) and banks can lower their interest rates for home loans for such green buildings or apartments.
Eddy said that the incentives were important because green properties are huge investments so developers can be persuaded to implement this concept by reducing their production costs.
As a matter of fact basically developers welcome the concept of green buildings, while at the same time many things have to be prepared, such as guidelines, equipment and other related standards. GCBI is expected to disseminate information on the green building concept. But most importantly green buildings are not only the responsibility of developers but all of us to preserve mother earth.
Environmentally Friendly, Energy saving
What is delightful about green property is the energy saving building design, for example aerodynamic skyscrapers that are stable in the face of wind pressure and the use of filters to absorb sunlight to save on electricity and air conditioner use.
The recycle, reuse and reinvest technology also saves energy. Some of the criteria of environment friendly property is they should save energy, use clean water and process waste, have quality air and atmosphere and energy management.
Today there are many eco friendly products available, for example Dulux.
The go green trend is also widespread in the paint industry. Using Solar Reflectivity Technology, Dulux Weathershield Keep Cool can reduce the absorption of sunlight so that the temperature of the walls inside the building is reduced by 5 degrees Centigrade hence saving a 15 percent saving on electricity is possible per year.
This high quality paint is committed to being a green product. Currently almost all Dulux products have been given the Singapore Green Label certificate to indicate that they are environmentally friendly.
Heat from the sun and rain can damage exterior walls; fungi can grow on the walls and the color can fade. To solve this problem Akzonobel Paints has come up with Dulux Weathershield Max and Pro.
Both paints have Triple Protect formula and contain 100 percent Acrylic Latex which is elastic. The paints can close thin and small cracks so that water does not go inside.
Latex protects the wall from the heat and weather. Latex is made from rubber and is very elastic. One can easily clean any stain on it. It is also combined with Acrylic or Polyvinyl.
Dulux Weathershield is based on Elastoshield technology that covers cracks and prevents dampness or the growth of fungi. Color Lock inside Dulux Weathershield Max can protect walls from ultra violet rays.
Yes, indeed global warming has made almost everyone concerned about the preservation of the
environment.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/11/18/green-property-becomes-global-requirement.html
Environmentally friendly properties are now more than a requirement, green and energy saving properties have become a global trend that is revolutionizing the property industry and have become a symbol of technological progress as well.
The green property industry began in the early 1990s with the related criteria starting in England in 1993 and was made popular in the United States by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) which issues a certificate called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).
Soon developers began to apply an ecological framework in their properties. This was in line with the global demand for green and energy saving buildings which in the long term will reduce the exploitation of natural resources.
“Sooner or later environmentally friendly properties will be the consumers’ main requirement especially in major cities and the property industry has an important role in developing such projects,” said Stephanus D. Satriyo, associate director for property and facilities management of PT Cushman & Wakefield Indonesia.
Well, how about developers here in Indonesia? Are they really concerned about the issue? Unfortunately not totally, because it is still under discussion. Moreover major tenants, like multinational corporations, are not demanding “green” buildings for their office space here.
Actually such major tenants are in a good bargaining position to demand a green building as they use huge spaces for their offices and pay a lot of rent.
However, in Indonesia we now have the Green Building Council of Indonesia (GBCI) which was established in 2009 comprising professional construction service providers, developers, education and research institutions, professional associations and individual members concerned about the
environment.
GBCI is a member of World Green Building Council (WGBC) with headquarters in Toronto, Canada, which currently has 64 countries as members and only acknowledges the existence of one GBC in each country.
GBCI conducts various extensive awareness and education activities for the public and provides Green Building Certification in Indonesia based on an evaluation standard that is uniquely Indonesian and is called Greenship.
The construction of such green buildings in Indonesia will be sustainable ecologically, energy saving, economically efficient, competitive and socially responsible as a global citizen.
In short such green buildings will greatly contribute to our sustained existence on planet earth.
However, as GBCI is only one year old it has not been able to do much. This is understandable as green buildings are comparatively more costly than conventional buildings. To obtain the green certificate there are numerous prerequisites. The construction must not damage the environment, the materials used must be environmentally friendly (conforming with the reduce, reuse and recycle principle), and be water and energy efficient.
Undeniably a small number of developers have started to construct green buildings and some offices and apartments are called green buildings although they only include a number of green aspects, such as a green area that is more spacious than the area of the building, the air conditioning is no longer centralized and the water is recycled.
Unfortunately in Indonesia there is no building that is totally green to date, because until now no building has been certified as a green building.
The fact is there is no demand for green buildings yet. Moreover there is a misperception that
such environmentally friendly buildings are costly and not feasible business wise.
In developed countries the view point is totally different. Green buildings are not only supported and appreciated but have a high resale value.
Actually this trend is not limited to developed countries. In Mexico, India, China and Vietnam green buildings have already been constructed based on Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), initiated by the Green Building Council of the United States.
Properties are enjoying positive growth worldwide, but the demand for green properties here in Indonesia is still at the discussion stage.
Indeed eco property was the main focus of the 61st World Congress of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) in Bali from May 24 to May 28 this year. The congress titled “Save the World: Green Shoots for Sustainable Real Estate” was probably a turning point for all stakeholders in the property business to make a real contribution toward sustainable existence.
Although at present there is no real demand for green buildings it is possible that in three or four years multinational corporations that are concerned about the environment will demand buildings with green certificates.
Indeed there is also the impression that the government pays little attention to this matter as no regional administration or government has issued any related regulations although eco-property issues emerged five years ago.
Chairman of the Association of Housing Development in Indonesia (Apersi) Eddy Ganefo said that the central as well as the regional governments should actually be proactive in the formulation and application of regulations on eco property so that developers have proper guidance. “It has been very slow to date while many countries are already applying this concept to reduce global warming,” he told Koran Jakarta.
He said there should be sanctions as well as incentives like discounts in the permits and Land and Building tax discounts (PBB) and banks can lower their interest rates for home loans for such green buildings or apartments.
Eddy said that the incentives were important because green properties are huge investments so developers can be persuaded to implement this concept by reducing their production costs.
As a matter of fact basically developers welcome the concept of green buildings, while at the same time many things have to be prepared, such as guidelines, equipment and other related standards. GCBI is expected to disseminate information on the green building concept. But most importantly green buildings are not only the responsibility of developers but all of us to preserve mother earth.
Environmentally Friendly, Energy saving
What is delightful about green property is the energy saving building design, for example aerodynamic skyscrapers that are stable in the face of wind pressure and the use of filters to absorb sunlight to save on electricity and air conditioner use.
The recycle, reuse and reinvest technology also saves energy. Some of the criteria of environment friendly property is they should save energy, use clean water and process waste, have quality air and atmosphere and energy management.
Today there are many eco friendly products available, for example Dulux.
The go green trend is also widespread in the paint industry. Using Solar Reflectivity Technology, Dulux Weathershield Keep Cool can reduce the absorption of sunlight so that the temperature of the walls inside the building is reduced by 5 degrees Centigrade hence saving a 15 percent saving on electricity is possible per year.
This high quality paint is committed to being a green product. Currently almost all Dulux products have been given the Singapore Green Label certificate to indicate that they are environmentally friendly.
Heat from the sun and rain can damage exterior walls; fungi can grow on the walls and the color can fade. To solve this problem Akzonobel Paints has come up with Dulux Weathershield Max and Pro.
Both paints have Triple Protect formula and contain 100 percent Acrylic Latex which is elastic. The paints can close thin and small cracks so that water does not go inside.
Latex protects the wall from the heat and weather. Latex is made from rubber and is very elastic. One can easily clean any stain on it. It is also combined with Acrylic or Polyvinyl.
Dulux Weathershield is based on Elastoshield technology that covers cracks and prevents dampness or the growth of fungi. Color Lock inside Dulux Weathershield Max can protect walls from ultra violet rays.
Yes, indeed global warming has made almost everyone concerned about the preservation of the
environment.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/11/18/green-property-becomes-global-requirement.html
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Telkomsel Dials Up Drive for Cellphone Money-Transfer Service
Editors Note: I wish before Telkomsel launches any new services they would make sure that their current services are working well. My friends and I who have Telkomsel Kartu Halu sim cards have been experiencing terrible service for over 6 mths. now.
We are sure that it is because of over subscribing to the users and not keeping the size & quality of equipment at par for the amount of new users they have .
Complaints fall on ignorant ears with the attitude of a a monopoly that doesn't care about their service.
Wake up Telkomsel with blogs and tweets the word gets around and it won't be long before you have competition that hurts.
\
Your Truly, One angry, fed up customer.
Shirley Wibisono | November 18, 2010
Jakarta. Telkomsel, the country’s largest mobile service provider, has officially launched a new service that allows customers to transfer money using their cellphones.
Customers using T-Cash Kirim Uang, or Telkomsel Cash Transfer, send text messages to transfer funds, which recipients can claim at customer service centers and thousands of Indomaret branches in Java, Bali and Lampung.
Ricardo Indra, Telkomsel’s corporate communications manager, said the service, which became fully functional last week, was the first of its kind in the country.
“Our target market is people who do not have bank accounts, especially in rural areas,” he said on Thursday.
Subscribers need to register for prepaid e-wallet deposits, which function like bank accounts. Funds from the account can be sent to another person, who will receive a transaction number on his or her cellphone.
The recipient must show this transaction number to an authorized merchant like Indomaret to claim the money.
The transaction fee for receiving cash is Rp 1,000 (11 cents) and Rp 5,000 for sending cash. Fund transfers can reach as high as Rp 1 million, with a monthly limit of Rp 20 million per user.
Telkomsel will share an unspecified percentage of revenue with authorized merchants.
Bank Indonesia, the country’s central bank, granted a license for the T-Cash service in February after trials were carried out in May.
Bambang Supriogo, vice president of the T-Cash Management, said in a press release that Indomaret was the only outfit authorized for payouts but more partners would be added next year.
“By the end of 2011, we’re expecting revenue to grow by eight to ten times,” he said, adding that T-Cash was a cheaper and faster alternative to remittance services offered by couriers.
After its soft launch in November 2007, Telkomsel hoped to have five million T-Cash subscribers within two years.
However, only three million users have so far registered — about 3 percent of total Telkomsel subscribers.
However, Supriogo said T-Cash and similar services like top-up vouchers and bill payment through electronic transfers had already seen success.
For these, the company has partnered with more than 260 retailers and corporations across Indonesia, with more than 7,000 sales points from Aceh to Papua.
We are sure that it is because of over subscribing to the users and not keeping the size & quality of equipment at par for the amount of new users they have .
Complaints fall on ignorant ears with the attitude of a a monopoly that doesn't care about their service.
Wake up Telkomsel with blogs and tweets the word gets around and it won't be long before you have competition that hurts.
\
Your Truly, One angry, fed up customer.
Shirley Wibisono | November 18, 2010
Jakarta. Telkomsel, the country’s largest mobile service provider, has officially launched a new service that allows customers to transfer money using their cellphones.
Customers using T-Cash Kirim Uang, or Telkomsel Cash Transfer, send text messages to transfer funds, which recipients can claim at customer service centers and thousands of Indomaret branches in Java, Bali and Lampung.
Ricardo Indra, Telkomsel’s corporate communications manager, said the service, which became fully functional last week, was the first of its kind in the country.
“Our target market is people who do not have bank accounts, especially in rural areas,” he said on Thursday.
Subscribers need to register for prepaid e-wallet deposits, which function like bank accounts. Funds from the account can be sent to another person, who will receive a transaction number on his or her cellphone.
The recipient must show this transaction number to an authorized merchant like Indomaret to claim the money.
The transaction fee for receiving cash is Rp 1,000 (11 cents) and Rp 5,000 for sending cash. Fund transfers can reach as high as Rp 1 million, with a monthly limit of Rp 20 million per user.
Telkomsel will share an unspecified percentage of revenue with authorized merchants.
Bank Indonesia, the country’s central bank, granted a license for the T-Cash service in February after trials were carried out in May.
Bambang Supriogo, vice president of the T-Cash Management, said in a press release that Indomaret was the only outfit authorized for payouts but more partners would be added next year.
“By the end of 2011, we’re expecting revenue to grow by eight to ten times,” he said, adding that T-Cash was a cheaper and faster alternative to remittance services offered by couriers.
After its soft launch in November 2007, Telkomsel hoped to have five million T-Cash subscribers within two years.
However, only three million users have so far registered — about 3 percent of total Telkomsel subscribers.
However, Supriogo said T-Cash and similar services like top-up vouchers and bill payment through electronic transfers had already seen success.
For these, the company has partnered with more than 260 retailers and corporations across Indonesia, with more than 7,000 sales points from Aceh to Papua.
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
Bali Pushing for Ambitious Switch to Organic Farming Methods by 2013
Made Arya Kencana | November 17, 2010
Denpasar. The Bali administration has announced it would allocate Rp 10.3 billion ($1.1 million) to help local farmers adopt organic farming methods by 2013.
Ten farmers’ collectives applied for the program when the administration first rolled it out in 2009, and received Rp 200 million each to change their operations to comply with organic farming standards.
They also used the money to buy 20 head of cattle each.
This year, 50 collectives have applied for the program, according to Made Putra Suryawan, head of the Bali Agricultural Office.
Under the program, the administration guides the farmers on how to integrate their crop and livestock farming operations through developing biogas collectors, compost-processing units and reforestation efforts.
“The farmers who participated in 2009 now produce their own compost and biogas for their own household needs,” Putra said on Wednesday.
He added that in 2011, his office expected to enlist 100 farmers’ collectives from across the island, mainly known as a resort.
“By 2013, we hope to have helped 350 collectives successfully practice organic farming, so that Bali will be known as an organic island,” he said.
Putra added that under the program, the administration hoped to ensure that 70 percent of the island’s produce was grown organically by 2013.
One of the steps toward achieving this will be phasing out the current subsidy on chemical fertilizers and promote the use of organic varieties.
This year, half of the provincial fertilizer subsidy of Rp 4 billion has been allocated to organic fertilizers, Putra said.
“Next year, we’ll provide a Rp 3 billion subsidy for organic fertilizers and Rp 1 billion for chemical fertilizers,” he said.
“In 2012, chemical fertilizers will no longer be subsidized by the administration.”
He added that with organic produce fetching higher prices at the market than regular crops, the switch would also result in a boost in income for local farmers.
However, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations has blasted the administration’s target for making the switch to organic farming by 2013 as overly ambitious.
Kauci Gunanjar, director of the Manikaya Foundation, said an island-wide switch to organic farming would require a lengthy and sustained education campaign that could last more than five years, given the farmers’ decades-long dependence on chemical fertilizers.
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