Princess Cruises’ 2010 summer programme for its Australian-based superliners, Sun Princess and Dawn Princess, will include a new Australian circumnavigation voyage with an international flavour.
The 28-night ‘Round Australia’ itinerary onboard Dawn Princess will include visits to Bali in Indonesia.
Passengers can select from two Sydney departures in September 2010 and March 2011 and one Melbourne departure in November 2010.
To enliven the celebrations of the city's anniversary, Central Jakarta will hold the Passer Baroe Festival from June 19-21 at one of the city's oldest shopping arcades - Pasar Baru.
Central Jakarta Tourism Agency head Dewi Susanti said the festival would feature traditional art performances, Chinese lion dance and a singing contest, as well as competitions involving local residents, like duck hunting and pole climbing.
"We hope the attractions will draw Jakarta residents here," Dewi said as quoted by beritajakarta.com.
Shops along the arcade will also offer discounts from June 19 to July 19 as part of the city's anniversary celebrations.
A similar festival will also be held on Jl. Jaksa, which is known as the city's spot for foreign backpackers, from June 18-20.
Bali Pastry Chefs Earn Right to Represent Indonesia at International Pastry Competition in Singapore in 2010.
(5/2/2009) Ayana Resort and Spa Bali won top honors at a prestigious national pastry competition, winning the Gold Medal in all four categories and qualifying for the next Asian Pastry Cup championship in Singapore next year.
Pastry Chef Made Sutisna joined forces with St Regis Bali Resort's pastry sous chef Wayan Laspina in preparing a delectable array of desserts at the Asian Pastry Cup National Selection Competition held in Jakarta, April 15-18, 2009. A dessert prepared especially for the contest, Valrhona Equatorial Chocolate and Ginger-Blood Orange Mousse Cake with Peanut Croquant was determined by the panel of judges as the winner in ”The Best Chocolate Cake” category.
Chef Made's
Following their win in Jakarta, the Bali
Ayana's new General Manager Charles de Foucault applauded Chef Made’s achievement, saying: "This is truly a fantastic achievement for Chef Made, whose desserts and sweet treats grace the tables of our guests every day. We look forward to supporting him – and doing some taste-testing ourselves along the way – as he works towards the regional and world championships!"
The Asian Pastry Cup National Selection was held as part of the 7th Indonesian Salon Culinaire 2009 in conjunction with the 10th International Food and Hotel Exhibition 2009, at the Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran.
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Lithe and muscular cyclists walked about the lobby of the plush four-star Hotel Bumiminang last week in Padang, West Sumatra, clad in jerseys bearing international sponsors’ names. Outside, banners and posters advertising the first Tour de Singkarak fluttered optimistically in the city streets.
The 462-kilometer bike race with a track that cut across the province’s top destination spots, including Padang, Bukittinggi and Sawahlunto, was strategically geared to highlight the region’s lush green hills, quiet valleys and serene rice fields to the 25 participating teams.
Both local and central government officials hailed the inaugural tour as the ideal way to boost the region’s profile. But the three-day competition drew mixed reactions from locals, many of whom expected it to be an instant cash cow.
Jero Wacik, the minister of culture and tourism, said that the goal of the race was, “To fill all the hotels, fill all the taxis and ensure the locals receive the profits.” Indeed, hotels in the towns along the route were at maximum capacity during the tour, from April 29 to May 3.
Cody Stevenson, competing for Team Budget Forklifts of Australia, said: “It’s always hard with a cycle race in its infancy to promote tourism. But if it keeps developing, within three to five years it’ll be a good tool for tourism, because as the race gains more exposure, it’ll get more foreign teams.”
Cody cited the Qing Hai Lake Tour held in July each year in China as an example of using cycling races to foster tourism.
“Over the years the Qing Hai Lake Tour has helped promote the region,” he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is expected to open the Borobudur International Festival (BIF) which will take place at the Borobudur Temple in Magelang district, Central Java June 25-29, 2009.
"We are in touch with the Culture and Tourism Ministry in Jakarta and other relevant parties to invite the head of state to attend the event," head of the Central Java culture and tourism office Gatot Bambang Hastowo said here on Saturday.
Apart from the president, the festival`s openeing was also expected to attended by a number of ambassador of foreign countries.
The agenda of the festival (BIF) would include art and cultural performance, a trade exhibition on tourism and investment in Gunadharma field, Western part of the temple`s foot.
In addition, he further said, study tour and borobudur travel mark (BTM) will also be held in Semarang and international seminar on Cultural Legacy and Tourism in Solo.
The two activities will be participated in by some representatives of some countries and other provinces in Indonesia.
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has rejected the proposed extension design for Ngurah Rai International Airport, saying it focuses only on commercial sites and lacks the Balinese architectural style.
The Jakarta Post reports state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I submitted a design proposal for the airport extension project in February covering the renovation of both international and domestic terminals.
The project covers upgrades of various supporting facilities, including public service areas and commercial sites.
"The governor did not agree with the plan and urged PT Angkasa Pura I to immediately revise the design," said Bali Transportation Agency head Ida Bagus Parsa.
According to Pastika, the design of the building is not in line with traditional Balinese style and is too modern.
The airport operator is now reviewing the design.
Indonesia's foreign tourist arrivals rose just 1.9 percent in March from a year ago, data showed on Friday, as a global economic slowdown curbed foreign travel.
In March, 511,314 foreign tourists visited Indonesia, up from 502,000 a year ago, while in the first quarter the number was almost unchanged at 1.41 million.
The government hopes to attract 7 million foreign tourists to visit Indonesia this year, up from 6.32 million in 2008.
"The global economic crisis and tight competition between tourist destinations has prevented a higher number of foreign tourists," said Carla Parengkuan, executive director of the Indonesian Hotels Association.
