Chinese city considering tourism cooperation with Batam

The government of Han Zhou city in China`s Zhe Chiang province is exploring the possibility of cooperation in tourism with Indonesia`s Batam city, a Chinese official said.

The head of Han Zhou`s trade and industry office, Yoe Tang, disclosed the plan to cooperate with Batam here on Friday.

"Han Zhou and Batam could cooperate in the development of tourism, supply of souvenirs and services," Yoe Tang told Antara through an interpreter here on Friday.

The Chinese trade official said as the seventh biggest tourism and economic city in China, Han Zhou had tourist sites which were visited by both domestic and foreign tourists each year.

Tang said that with a cooperation with Batam, the regional government could help promote the Indonesian industrial city to the people and tourists visiting Han Zhou, provincial capital of Zhe Chiang.

The Chinese trade official said Batam was not yet known well by the people of Han Zhou, so that it would need promotion so that the people of Han Zhou which was a sister city of Jakarta would visit Batam.

Traditional Indonesian Dance Calls Angel to Earth

Arriving at Lara Djonggrang restaurant in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on the evening of Halloween, I was surprised to see a traditional market occupying the courtyard.

Illuminated with torches and oil lamps, open bamboo huts showcased traditional delicacies from Cirebon, West Java, such as tahu gejrot (crisp-fried tofu bathed in a thin, dark sauce flavored with green chili and shallots), empal gentong (tender beef in creamy turmeric and coconut soup) and nasi lengko (steamed rice served with marinated tofu, soybean cake and vegetables).

Hawkers dressed in traditional clothes shouted out the names of their offerings to passersby. Guests — Indonesians and expatriates alike — sat together chatting at long wooden tables. The atmosphere made me think of the Kasepuhan night market in Cirebon.

“We want to bring the history and culture of Indonesia back to life by showcasing local culinary delights and almost-forgotten traditional cultures,” said Annette Anhar, the general manager of Lara Djonggrang.

To this end, once a month the restaurant presents a cultural night featuring traditional dishes and a dance performance from a different region of the country.

On the evening of Oct. 31, the focus was on Cirebon and the performance was “Tari Turun Sintren” (“Dance of the Descending Angel”), a mystical show traditionally danced by a beautiful young virgin in a trance.

Cirebon, a quiet town on the northern coast of West Java, has a unique history and traditions. A sultanate, it was founded by Sunan Gunung Jati, a 16th century Muslim religious leader. It later became an important port town during the Dutch colonial era. Although the people of Cirebon are generally devout Muslims, most still maintain ancient Javanese traditions and mystical beliefs.

“Tari Turun Sintren” originated from a traditional game among Cirebonese fishermen and is considered both sacred and magical. In the old days, fishermen’s wives and children played the game on the beach at night as they waited for their husbands and fathers to return from the sea.

Bentara Budaya launched with festival

The Bentara Budaya Bali art gallery was decked out in a variety of bamboo artworks Wednesday night to mark its grand opening and an exhibition titled "Refleksi Bambu: Problematika Manusia dan Alam" (Bamboo Reflection: Problems of Humans and Nature).

The grand opening was livened up with the playing of bamboo musical instruments by a group from Sebatu village performing the Balinese gamelan of Gambang, followed by the fusion of Jegog gamelan, and jazz by another group from Jembrana regency collaborating with noted musicians Dewa Budjana, I Wayan Balawan and Ayu Laksmi.

The Highlight of the stage performance was "Tri Kaya Parisudha", a song written by Ayu Laksmi, telling of the Balinese Hindhu philosophy of thinking, speaking and acting properly.

Up and running since September, Bentara Budaya Bali is the fourth such gallery after Bentara Budaya Yogyakarta (opened in 1982), Bentara Budaya Jakarta (1986) and Surakarta's Balai Sudjatmoko Solo (2003).

"Bentara Budaya Bali's purpose is to take part in preserving Balinese culture by hosting art performances continuously," said Efix Mulyadi, the gallery's executive director.

The Bamboo Festival was officially launched by Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika and Kompas daily chief editor Rikard Bagun.

Bamboo was chosen as the subject of the festival since it is a metaphorical reflection Balinese culture, said exhibition curator Jean Couteau.

"Balinese culture subscribes to the cosmo-centric concept, where humans are strongly united with nature and see themselves as an inseparable part of the cosmic union, and bamboo is the symbol of a peaceful and preserved Balinese culture," he said.

"In Bali, we find bamboo used not only for practical functions, but also for religious rituals. But the existence of bamboo is now threatened, with more and more concrete constructions. This festival is a reflection to revive our ecological awareness of preserving bamboo."

The bamboo artwork exhibition, to run until Nov. 22, 2009 will showcase various bamboo works by prominent contemporary artists from Bali.

Some of the most attention-grabbing works in the exhibition room are the huge indoor installations, "Bam-boom", created by Nyoman Erawan, and "Ritus Daun Bambu" (Bamboo Leaf Ritual) by Sujana Kenyem.

Another interesting work is Popo Danes' "Panggung Kehidupan" (Stage of Life).

Also on show is Made Budhiana's "Roh Bambu" (Bamboo Spirit), featuring the rarely used bamboo bractsas the main material.

"It was challenging to use bamboo bract as a medium for my works because very sheet of bract can be made into different forms," Budhiana said.

"For me, the bract is the spirit of bamboo."

I Ketut Budiana presents his paintings - "Penjaga Hutan Bambu" (Bamboo Forest Guradian), "Ritual Pembangkit Energi" (Energy-Reviving Ritual) and "Sunari Gading" - as well as the installation "Irama Kosmis" (Cosmic Rhythm).

Asia’s Largest Yoga Center to Bring Peace, Well-Being to Bali

A foundation is planning to set up what it claims will be Asia’s largest yoga center in the Buleleng district on the north coast of Bali, a spokesman said on Thursday.

The Bali-India Foundation, formed by a group of like-minded Indonesians and Indians with the aim of bringing the two Hindu cultures closer together, hopes to start building the yoga center — Markandeya Yoga City — early next year, said Dr. Somvir, an Indian professor who lectures in cultural studies and tourism at Bali’s Udayana University and the founder of the group.

Somvir said the cornerstone of the center, to be built on a 1.5-hectare plot of land near the village of Sukasada, would be laid on March 3 next year, in conjunction with the opening of an International Bali-India Yoga Festival.

“The yoga city will run programs to bring yoga-inspired education to elementary and high school-level student,” Somvir said.

According to Somvir, the construction of Markandeya will take place over stages, with the land being cleared in cooperation with the local community.

He said the yoga education center, named after a Hindu sage, would use Ayurveda traditional medicine as its basis, with various kinds of plants being grown in and around the center and Sukasada village.

About 50 types of mostly medicinal plants from India, believed to be effective in curing a variety of diseases, have already been planted.

“The yoga center will be fully dedicated to social activities and the local community’s well-being,” Somvir said.

He said the future home of Markandeya would be the venue of the March 3-10 second International Bali-India Yoga Festival, expected to be attended by around 1,500 participants from India, Europe, the United States and Asia.

Somvir said Bali hosted a weeklong international yoga festival from March 3-10 this year, which involved hundreds of yoga instructors from countries around the world.

Themed “Yoga for Peace and Health,” the March festival was followed by a yoga day program and a series of activities centered in the Niti Mandala Renon area in Denpasar.

Jakarta's International Blues Festival Takes Blues Back To It Roots

The Indonesian Blues Association is gearing up for what promises to be another fabulous International Blues Festival on Saturday.

“Back to the Roots of All Music” is the theme of this daylong festival, which is sponsored by the Djarum Super cigarette company.

With its inaugural event last year, the festival was a bit cramped, but this year four stages at Istora Gelora Bung Karno in Senayan have been devoted to accommodating the more than 30 musicians who will perform.

The lineup includes Dutch rock guitarist Jan Akkerman, Australian singer-songwriter Kara Grainger and Irish harmonica player Mike Wilgar.

Akkerman had been described as one of the best guitarists in the world, while the husky power in Grainger’s singing has led to comparisons with early Bonnie Raitt and Wilgar’s harmonica playing leans towards the Rock’n’Roll spectrum of blues.

An additional feature of the festival will be a string of musical collaborations you wouldn’t normally expect to see.

Guitarist Abdee Negara from Slank will perform with former Boomerang guitarist John Paul Ivan, as well as Andy, who sings lead vocals in the nationally popular rock band /Rif.

Legendary Jazz musician Yopie Item is scheduled to perform with his son Stevie and daughter Audy, while funk bass player and former child-singer Bondan Prakoso will perform alongside his musician father Sisco.

Jakarta International Blues Festival
Saturday, Nov. 7
Tickets: Rp: 100,000
Hot line 24 hours: 021 979-24722

Ticketbox:
Ina Blues Basecamp 021 7590 4349
Aquarius Mahakam 021 720 8413
Aquarius Pondok Indah 021 723 8760
Music Club PI Jakarta 021 7093 4179
Ibu Dibyo Cikini 021 319 31178/310 0386
tiketnonton.com 021 722 9535
Detik.com 021 794 4473, 031 547 4465 or 022 423 3533
Rajakarcis.com 021 828 2137

AirAsia links Jakarta, Medan with Phuket, eyes Brunei, RP

Budget airline AirAsia has just opened its newest international routes connecting Thailand's Phuket with two major Indonesian cities, Medan and Jakarta, whilst looking also at air links to Brunei and Manila

AirAsia is the first airline providing direct flights from Indonesia to the famous beach city. The route is being operated by Thai AirAsia.

"The flights to Phuket are currently available once a day using the sophisticated Airbus A320, both from Medan and from Jakarta," Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said Tuesday in Jakarta.

Phuket is the ninth foreign city to be connected to Indonesia by the AirAsia group - including Indonesia AirAsia - after Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Ho Chi Minh City, Perth, and Bangkok.

For online buyers, AirAsia sells the Medan-Phuket ticket at Rp 99,000 (US$10) and Jakarta-Phuket at Rp 199,000, at the cheapest.

Indonesia AirAsia flew 2.5 million people in 2008 and is targeting to fly 3 million people this year.

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Bali Named World's No. 2 Region for Travelers by Lonely Planet

Bali has been named one of the best regions in the world to visit in a new Lonely Planet travel guide.

The famed Island of the Gods came in second behind Alsace in France, and ahead of Fernando de Noronha in Brazil. Lake Baikal in Russia was the other Asian region to make the top 10 list.

The top three countries were El Salvador, Germany and Greece, while the top three cities were Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Charleston in the United States and Cork in Ireland.

The book “Best in Travel 2010,” released on Monday, is the travel company’s fifth annual collection of the best places to go and best things to do in the year ahead.

“This is a collection of destinations and experiences that we rate as the stuff people really should consider for next year,” Asia-Pacific communications manager Adam Bennett said. “Whatever your own style dictates, you should be able to find inspiration in these destinations.” 

Over 4.6 million tourists visited Indonesia between Jan - Sep

The Culture and Tourism Ministry has recorded more than 4.6 million foreign tourist arrivals between January and September of this year, up by only 1 percent from the same period last year.

Brimming with confidence, the head of data management at the ministry, Wibowo, told Antara on Monday the national target of 6.5 million arrivals remained within reach.

Wibowo said seven international airports saw a significant increase in the number of foreign tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2008, including Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru, Riau booked the biggest increase with 60.5 percent.

The ministry’s data reveals, however, eight airports, including the country’s largest airport Soekarno-Hatta, posted less arrivals in the first nine months of this year than the same period last year.

Widodo said the ministry would insist on raising the target to 7 million arrivals next year.

Swedish Girl Reports Rape in Kuta

Drinking and Late Night Motorbike Ride Preceded Sexual Attack om Swedish Tourist.

(10/31/2009) A 19 year-old Swedish woman has told police that she was raped on Thursday, October 29, 2009, by a motorcycle jockey (Ojek) on a side street of Kuta.

The young woman who presented at a local police in an intoxicated state smelling of alcohol, has thwarted police in their efforts to investigate the case by refusing a police interview.

Bali's Chief of Police, General Sutisna told Kompas.com, "Although the victim refuses to be interviewed, the police continue to investigate by collecting information from various sources around Kuta."

Based on the Swedish girl's initial report, police are making every effort to catch the rapist. Said Sutisna: "We're still looking for the culprit. Pray that we can catch him quick, especially because this involves a foreign visitor."

Police are waiting for the results of a forensic examination carried out at Bali's Sanglah General Hospital.

According to police, the woman was attacked after attending a late night drinking party by a man she had paid to bring her back to her lodgings on a motorbike.

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