Kri Dewaruci snatches appreciation in Greece

The Indonesian warship (KRI) Dewaruci won an appreciation as The Best Ship In Crew Parade in Lavrion, Greece, on Saturday (5/6).

"The appreciation became complete after the crew became overall champion in sports in Lavrion," spokesman for the Eastern Fleet Major Kariono said in Surabaya Monday.

The crew snatched two golds in badminton and volleyball, two silvers for badminton and table tennis, and a bronze for futsal.

Taking part in the sports event were 22 tall ships from 16 countries closing the parade "Historical Seas Regatta 2010" held from May 9, calling at Volos (Greece), Varna (Bulgaria), Istanbul (Turkey), and Lavrion (Greece).

More tourists expected to visit Papua for Lake Sentani festival

More foreign and domestic tourists are expected to visit Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua for the Lake Sentani Festival.

Jayapura Regent Habel Melkias Suwae said in Jayapura on Thursday the festival, the third of its kind since 2008, would be hed from June 19 to June 23, 2010, under the theme "Loving Culture for our Future."

"The first festival in 2008 attracted around 2,000 foreign and domestic tourists. The number rose to around 5,000 in the second event. This year in the third festival, we hope to see more than 10,000 tourists," Habel said as quoted by the Antara news agency.

Habel explained that various preparations were being made to ensure the annual event's success.

According to him, this year's event would serve as a year-long gateway for the tourism industry in the province of Papua.

Organized by the Papua Tourism Office, the first festival was held in 2008 to support the annual Baliem Valley Festival in Jayawijaya regency.

Since then, the festival was held as an effort to help protect the culture of Jayapura, especially at the areas around Lake Sentani.

Located some 75 meters above sea level and surrounded by beautiful hills, the 3.63-hectare Lake Sentani is a perfect place for fishing, swimming, canoing, skiing, and other kinds of water sports.

"No wonder, Lake Sentani Festival will serve as a year-long gateway for the tourism industry in Jayapura specifically and in the whole Papua province," Habel added.

Related: Lake Sentani plans festival to bridge gap

GEMPITA GIANYAR Festival is Back to Ubud

(Source and copyright: Baliwww.com)
After a successful event in 2007 and 2008, this year GEMPITA GIANYAR will be held again in Ubud on 2-3 July 2010. In its third year, GEMPITA GIANYAR is held also in appreciation of Ubud’s recent achievement after it had been named as The Best City in Asia by Conde Nast pubication in the U.S. This important momentum sets a landmark for Ubud and Gianyar, which brought Sekar Saji Nusantara and the Regional Government of Gianyar to offer much exciting art and cultural showcase at this year’s GEMPITA GIANYAR.

Set to be Ubud’s annual festival of art, culture and fashion, GEMPITA GIANYAR 2010 will present a number of highlight events, as follows:

An exotic, Balinese cultural show “Tri Hita Karana”, which means a relations between humans and God, nature and other humans. To be performed on an open-air stage in Astina Ubud, “Tri Hita Karana” will present Dewa Budjana as the music director, teen singer Gita Gutawa, dancer Ayu Laksmi, along with two internationally-acclaimed Balinese dance maestros Ketut Rina and Oka Dalam. More than 150 Balinese performers will participate in the show. “Tri Hita Karana” will be held on 2 July 2010 at 21:00 WITA.

”Ubud Street Bash”, a never-before carnival of Balinese traditional dance, music and fashion in the main street of Ubud. Over 1,000 people will participate in the parade, including 7 Balinese traditional dance and musical groups from 7 sub-districts in Gianyar and a Balinese Tenun fashion parade showcasing Tenun masterpieces by 25 designers. The designers participating at the fashion parade are Chossy Latu, Denny Wirawan, Deden Siswanto, Ivan Gunawan, Era Soekamto, Barli Asmara, Syahreza Muslim, Ali Charisma, Ari Seputra, Ade Sagi, Danny Satriadi, Oscar Lawalata, Angelica Wu, Dina Midiani, Dwi Iskandar, Enny Ming, Lenny Agustin, Malik Moestam, Monika Weber, Yenli Wijaya, Oka Diputra, Putu Aliki, Sofie, Tude Togog, Tjok Abi, Taruna K Kusmayadi and Thomas Sigar. “Ubud Street Bash”will be held on 3 July 2010 at 16:00 WITA, and will start from Puri Ubud and finish at Astina Ubud.

”Peliatan Royal Heritage Dinner” is a dinner program for special guests of GEMPITA GIANYAR 2010. Presented in an authentic Balinese traditional setting, “Peliatan Royal Heritage Dinner” is a tribute to the preservation of Gianyar’s royal heritage, providing an experience of Balinese traditional cuisine and recipes. To be held at Puri Peliatan, ”Peliatan Royal Heritage Dinner” will be hosted by the royal court of Gianyar and will as well mark the closing of GEMPITA GIANYAR 2010.

As part of GEMPIT GIANYAR’s commitment to involving the young generation in the cultural preservation initiative, “Youth Art Camp” will be held to involve students between 15-18 years of age in a 5-day summer art camp. Throughout the course of the camp, the teen participants will stay in Ubud and learn about Balinese art, culture and tradition, and will perform in “Tri Hita Karana”. “Youth Art Camp” will take place from 30 June to 4 July 2010.

We are inviting medias to be part and witnessing the tremendous creativity of Balinese Culture. For further information, and inquires for articles and interview sessions with Yayasan Sekar Saji Nusantara – charity dedicated to the culture heritage preservation, and all talents of Gempita Gianyar 2010, please contact: Arief Senoaji (081916638755) Media Contact Bali; Bayu Rahanatha (081916515455) Media Contact Bali.

First phase of major make-over completed at Hotel Nikko Jakarta

Hotel Nikko Jakarta, a five-star Nikko Hotels International property in the heart of downtown Jakarta, has finished the first phase of a major twopart renovation, according to JAL Hotels, the hotel’s operator.

The full renovation of the Main Tower is to be finished by year-end. So far 151 rooms have been completed.

After the whole renovation, the hotel will offer 444 rooms in its Main Tower and Nikko Tower combined.

Jakarta Hotels

Garuda Indonesia makes triumphant return to Europe

Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia has made its triumphant return to Europe after a six year break, which included a two-year ban over safety fears.

An Airbus 330-200 aircraft took off from Jakarta at 01:40 GMT yesterday bound for Amsterdam via Dubai.

The Amsterdam connection is the first Garuda flight to Europe since late 2004 and comes less than a year after European Union regulators cleared the airline to fly in EU airspace again.

“Amsterdam is the first of several major European destinations which Garuda Indonesia intends to add to its fast-growing network over the next four years.

“The other potential destinations include; Frankfurt, London, Paris and Rome,” Bagus Y. Siregar Senior General Manager Australia/SWP, Garuda Indonesia told e-Travel Blackboard.

Siregar said Amsterdam was the “obvious choice” as its first destination in Europe given Indonesia’s strong historical ties with the Netherlands.

Commenting on the airline’s big ‘comeback’, Siregar said the airline was expanding its fleet and adding more routes ahead of a planned initial public offering later this year.

“Throughout 2010 Garuda Indonesia will be receiving 23 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation and one A330-200 aircraft.

One of Asia’s most successful carriers through the GFC, Garuda Indonesia was voted by SkyTrax as the ‘World’s Most Improved Airline’.

The airline has also developed a new service concept – including new uniforms and in-flight menus – and it has strengthened its operational safety procedures, which has included an extensive pilot training program.

Siregar concluded, “As travellers hear about these achievements and experience the new Garuda Indonesia we have no doubt that public perceptions will increasingly align with Garuda’s ambition to become one of Asia’s most successful and profitable airlines.”