Number of foreign tourist arrivals in Jakarta increases

The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Jakarta went up 22.32 percent in May 2009 from the previous month.

In May 2009, some 124,928 foreign tourists visited Jakarta through the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Halim Perdanakusuma air force base airport, and Tanjung Priok seaport, Agus Suherman, head of the Jakarta Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said here on Saturday.

The foreign tourists included 24,940 Malaysians, 10,950 Singaporeans, 10,004 Chinese, 5,047 Americans, and 5,031 Japanese.

The tourist arrivals from the five countries accounted for about 44.80 percent of the total arrivals in May 2009, he said.

"It reflects that the five countries play important role in Jakarta`s tourism," he said.
The Jakarta tourism office has set a target of receiving 1.6 million foreign tourists and 16 million domestic tourists in 2009.

Up to May 2009, a total of 555,605 foreign tourists visited the capital city.
Jakarta has intensified tourism promotion especially to attract tourists from Asia and the Middle East, he said.

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100 restaurants offer discounts for a month

Culinary lovers will have a lot of opportunities to try many delicacies at cheaper prices offered in 100 classy restaurants across the city during the Enjoy Jakarta Food Festival 2009 from July 4 to Aug. 4.

The festival, launched by Governor Fauzi Bowo at Grand Indonesia Shopping Mall on Saturday, is a part of a series of events to mark the city's 482nd anniversary.

“As many as 100 restaurants in big shopping malls across the city like Senayan City, Taman Anggrek, Kelapa Gading and Grand Indonesia will offer various discounts,” said Arie Budiman, head of the Jakarta Culture and Tourism Agency.

He expects the event to attract domestic and foreign tourists as well as Jakarta residents, as it is held during school holidays.

Holders of credit cards issued by certain banks will get a discount between 15 percent and 50 percent in various forms, including direct discount and buy one get two program.

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Volcano Museum reveals the mystery of Mt. Batur

Once, Hyang Pasupati, the god who resided on the top of Mt. Semeru in East Java, wanted to remove part of the mountain's peak to Bali to secure the land beneath the tiny island.

The peak on his right hand became Mt. Agung and the land on his left became Mt. Batur. So the story goes according to the myth of Bedawang Nala, displayed in the lobby of the Mt. Batur Volcano Museum in the Kintamani resort area, Bangli regency, 50 kilometers northeast of Denpasar.

Myths and legends surrounding the emergence of Mt. Batur have been retold for generations among the local Balinese, especially those living adjacent to the volcano, believed to be the island's first settlement area.

For both local and foreign visitors, Kintamani resort area offers one of the most scenic tourist sites on the island with its dark-blue Lake Batur and the eight and half mile-long Mt. Batur caldera, although many tourists are annoyed by the many street vendors and crowded streets.

Few visitors notice the Mt. Batur Volcano Museum, located within Penelokan (meaning the view or lookout in the Balinese language).

Built on a 2-hectare of plot of land, the four-story building, commissioned by the Ministry of Mining and Energy's Directorate of Volcanology and Geology, includes several sections, each explaining the origins of Mt. Batur and other volcanoes in Bali.

Tickets are sold from Rp 5,000 (US 50 cents) to Rp 10,000. Visitors are mostly school students who are eager to learn more about the island's geographic conditions.

The museum is open to the public every day from 9 a.m. through to 4 p.m., except on Balinese Hindu holidays. The Museum is also open on Sundays and national holidays, she said.

Bali tourists urged to avoid budget airlines

A body that promotes trade between Australia and Indonesia is urging Western Australians to choose established airlines rather than budget carriers when travelling to Bali.

The call comes after IndoJet passengers were left stranded when the company had problems chartering aircraft.

Ross Taylor from the Australia Indonesia Business Council says people should fly with larger carriers to avoid being caught in a similar situation.

"Given the very high level of competition with the low cost larger carriers now, for a few dollars extra it's a good way of ensuring that you and your family do get to Bali and enjoy your holiday," he said.

Mr Taylor says established airlines are more reliable.

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A Festival Of Culture, Thought And Art

"A festival is like a bouquet of flowers, displaying an assortment of shapes, colors and scents,” Hasif Amini, director of the upcoming Festival Salihara, wrote in the foreword of the festival’s program.

Staying true to these words, the Salihara arts complex in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, has come up with a diverse program for this year’s festival, which will run for five weeks.

The festival will include music, dance and theater performances, public lectures and an art exhibition.

“All the events are very special,” said Rama Thaharani, Salihara’s promotions manager. “Eiko & Koma from New York, for instance, belong to the best contemporary dance groups worldwide, and the ‘Hunger of the Land’ performance will have its world premiere at the festival.”

There will be two other contemporary dance performances by local talents, including “Girl’s Voices” by Nur Hasanah, a choreographer and dancer who recently graduated from the dance department of the Jakarta Arts Institute. The second one is “Red” by Asri Mery Sidowati, which depicts the state of the earth during this time of climate change. She first choreographed “Red” during her studies and developed it further for the festival.

Other acts include music groups from Austria, Germany and the United States. Local musical acts will include I Wayan Sadra & Ansambel SonoSeni, an ensemble from Solo fusing Western and Eastern sounds, and the jazz rock group Trio Ligro, which has performed at the Java Jazz Festival for the last five years.

Festival Salihara
Jl. Salihara No. 16 Pasar Minggu
South Jakarta
Tickets: Tel. 0817 077 1913/ 021 9619 2632

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Batak Karo, Extremes In Cuisine

Situated in the cool and pleasant Batak highlands, is a charming little town called Kabanjahe that is home to the loud and expressive Batak Karo people with an age-old culture.

The town, about two hours drive south of Medan, is also the epicenter of a traditional culinary scene that will astound even the most adventurous eaters.

Batak people are majority Christian and so are not restricted to halal food. Many of the area’s best meals are made with pork, but there are also halal dishes, as well as meals made from unusual ingredients.

For pork lovers there are fried cutlets, sauteed pork in thick spicy sauces and babi panggang (roast pig) karo — often shortened to BPK — which is adored by locals and has become nationally famous.

BPK consists of roasted pork slices with three accompaniments: a bowl of broth made from the essence of boiled pig’s bones, a platter of porcine blood cooked with pepper and chili, and a saucer of extra-hot chili sauce. Grab a plate, scoop in the rice and eat with your hands the way the locals do — you may well find yourself asking for seconds.

Rumah Makan Mariras on Jalan Jamin Ginting that connects Kabanjahe to the town of Berastagi and Medan, serves these fabulous pork dishes. It is usually visited by droves of hungry guests during lunch hours, but closes in the early afternoon.

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What's On Today: Javanese Wayang Performance

Venue: Paguyuban Putro Wijoyo Parwo, Jl. Lembah 3/100, Cirendeu, South Jakarta - Date: Thu, 07/02/2009

Puppeteer and businessman Rohmad Hadiwijoyo will perform Wahyu Cakraningrat (victorious powers bestowed on kings or presidents). In the story, three knights compete with each other to win the divine powers that will make them king. Rohmad said the story will portray the competition among the three presidential candidates who will contest the July 8 election.

From 7 p.m.till 10 p.m.

Ph. 021-7424776

For more information about the puppeteer visit:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/06/26/rohmad-hadiwijoyo-life-a-p...

Or about the Wayang studio, check out:
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/06/26/dedicated-puppets.html-0