Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened on Monday the fourth world’s geothermal congress in Nusa Dua, Bali, local media reported.

The congress, with a theme of”Geothermal: Energy to change the world”, was attended by foreign dignitaries, including Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimson.

The Indonesian government has pledged a commitment to invest 12 million U.S. dollars to build up geothermal power plants with total capacity of 3,977 Mega Watt (MW) that would be part of its second-phase fast-track power plant project with a total capacity of 10,000 MW.

According to Indonesian Economy Coordinating Minister Hatta Radjasa, the congress was very important for Indonesia that has 40 percent of the world’s geothermal deposit.

The congress, which would last till April 30, was participated by 2,500 people from 80 countries, among which 25 have already been operating geothermal power plants.

Indonesia has explored 14 percent of its total geothermal deposit and generates a total capacity of 1,198 MW of electricity, the Antara news agency reported.

Hatta said that the Indonesian government has drafted a plan to increase the use of geothermal energy up to 5 percent from national power plant capacity, or equals to 9,500 MW, by 2025.

AirAsia is to fly twice daily from Perth and Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur and three times daily between Perth and Bali.

The extra Melbourne – KL flights will commence on July 1, making 14 a week between the two cities. The extra Perth – KL services commence on August 1.

It’s a significant leap from one flight a day on each route.

And from June 1, flights between Perth and Bali will increase by an extra seven services from 14 weekly to 21.
To help celebrate, additional services on the Perth and Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur route will go on sale from April to 13 to 18 for travel between August 1, 2010 and February 13, 2011. The sale price to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne starts from *$149 and from Perth from *$99.

Additional services on the Perth to Bali route will also go on sale from April 13 to 18 April for travel between June 1, 2010 and February 13, 2011, with fares starting at *$99.

“AirAsia is pleased to boost frequencies on all three popular routes,” said AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani.

“We’ve been delighted with the response from the travelling public, support from state and national tourism bodies and our airport partners, who have really thrown their weight behind these routes and AirAsia as a whole.

“Bali is a highly desired exotic holiday destination and the Perth-Bali route shows no sign of weakening.

“In addition, Australian guests have been using our Kuala Lumpur hub as a gateway to connect to other exciting holiday destinations including Bangkok, Singapore, Penang, Langkawi, Phuket and Ho Chi Minh.

“New India services from Kuala Lumpur to Mumbai (May 2010) and New Delhi (August 2010) also opens up further low-cost connections to these cities.

“Loads have been consistently strong year-round on all Australian services and this has given us the confidence to increase our capacity particularly on Melbourne and Perth routes and as we grow our network and expand heavily to India.”

As part of the sale, guests will also be able to fly daily from the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur from *$199 for travel between August 1 and November 30. The booking period is from April 13 – 18.

Passengers can also fly daily on to London from Kuala Lumpur from as little as *$320 for travel between August 1 and November 30 (booking period April 13 – 18 April).

AirAsia GM Australia Darren Wright said the low cost, long haul model was proving increasingly popular with travellers.

“Our low fares have stimulated demand on our routes and the new services will boost tourism potential at all ends,” he said. “These additional services also improve our connectivity with the greater AirAsia network.

“AirAsia is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its passengers not only with increased capacity, but with special touches like our new flatbed seats which are truly unique in the long haul, low cost airline model.”

AirAsia is the first low cost carrier in the world to introduce new ‘flatbed Premium seats’, which are standard business class size and fully reclinable.

The seats feature universal power sockets, adjustable headrests and built-in personal utilities such as a tray table, drink holder, reading light and privacy screen.

The seats are available on aircraft flying from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur and will be available on flights between the Gold Coast and Perth to the Malaysian capital from mid-April.

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with over 130 routes covering over 65 destinations.

AirAsia has been named the 2009 World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax and last October AirAsia and AirAsia X were awarded jointly the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Airline of the Year Award for 2009.

For bookings or further information visit www.airasia.com or book on your mobile at mobile.airasia.com. Flights and fares are subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Travellers can also log onto AirAsia’s one-stop travel portal at AirAsiaGo.com which offers a range of more than 80,000 three-star, five-star and boutique hotels to choose from.

* Flights and fares are subject to availability. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights, or peak periods or days. Fares include airport taxes. Convenience fee is applicable for online bookings made by credit, debit or charge card. Other terms and conditions apply.

Booking period for Melbourne and Perth extra services to Kuala Lumpur 13 April, 2010 – 18 April, 2010. Travel period 1 August, 2010 – 13 February, 2011. Booking period for Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur to London 13 April 2010 to 18 April, 2010. Travel period 1 August, 2010 – 30 November, 2010. Booking period for Perth to Bali extra services 13 April, 2010 – 18 April, 2010. Travel period 1 June, 2010 to 13 February, 2011. All fares are one way on the web or $25 more by phone and are in Australian dollars unless stated. Lowest possible sale fares are internet only, next best possible fare available via phone.

All points of entry to the island, including three major ferry harbors and a busy international airport, will be closed down for 24 hours during the Balinese Hindu commemoration of Nyepi, a senior official said Sunday.

“We have coordinated with all relevant authorities, including harbor and airport management, about this closure,” said Bali administration spokesperson Putu Suardhika.

Nyepi is the annual celebration to mark the Hindu New Year. This year, Nyepi will fall on March 16.

Unlike other Hindu celebrations, which are characterized by street parades, colorful offerings, art performances and busy temples, Nyepi is the celebration of silence.

For 24 hours during Nyepi, the Balinese Hindus will follow four main abstinences; Amati Geni (refraining from lighting any fire or light), Amati Karya (refraining from working), Amati Lelungan (refraining from traveling outside the family compound) and Amati Lelanguan (refraining from partaking in any leisure activity). Religious leaders will observe a fifth abstinence of Mona Brata (refraining from talking).

The closure will affect the Ngurah Rai international airport, Padangbai ferry harbor in Karangasem, Gilimanuk ferry harbor in Jembrana, Benoa ferry and shipping port in Denpasar and Celukan Bawang shipping port in Buleleng.

Padangbai connects Bali with West Nusa Tenggara. Gilimanuk connects Bali with Java.

“These points of entry will be closed from 06:00 am on March 16 until 06:00 am on March 17,” Suardhika said.

He asked the island’s residents not to travel outside respective houses during Nyepi.

Roads will be closed and only the Pecalang (traditional guardsmen) will be allowed to patrol the streets.

Only clearly marked ambulances transporting sick people and other emergency responders will be exempted from the rule.

“The ambulance driver has to carry a letter from the leader of the sick person’s village,” Suadhika said.

Only hospitals and hotels will be allowed to turn on their lights during Nyepi’s night.

“We have asked the hotels’ management to reduce the number of electrical lights they would turn on during that night,” Suardhika said.

Hindu scholar Ketut Sumarta said Nyepi was the peak of the Balinese Hindus’ journey to emptiness.

“During Nyepi, *Hindus* do nothing but contemplate the meaning of silence, trying to commune with their true, inner-self.”

indonesia will host the 11th Special Session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Program/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali between Feb. 20 and Feb. 26, says a government official.

Foreign Minister spokesman Soehardjono Sastromihardjo said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will open the forum.

“Around 100 ministers and 1,200 participants of UN members, environmentalists and activists worldwide will take part in the event,” Soehardjono said in a statement as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Indonesia would raise ocean issues in the week-long talks to follow up the results in the World Ocean Conference, which was held in Manado, North Sulawesi last year, he added.

Asia’s number one city this year, Ubud, is home to just over 8,000 inhabitants who, unsurprisingly perhaps, earn the highest score of any destination—city or island—for Friendliness.

in comments cited by the Bali Times, village head I Kadek Alit Wirawan said that everyone in te community of Ubud would be pleased to hear the “encouraging news”.

The Conde Nast Traveler’s overall score is compiled from ratings of several categories, including atmosphere, art and culture, accommodation and the friendliness of local people.

Top 5 Best Asia City
1. Ubud, 82.5
2.Bangkok, 82.2
3.Hong Kong, 81.3
4.Chiang Mai, 80.9
5.Kyoto, 80.2

here i will post a letter from our guest (peter, noel and susan) from England. we are glad that our guest give us a comment like this.

“To all the staff @ the bidadari,

We would like to thank you all for making our stay here in bali, one to remember.

you have all been so kind, friendly and helpfull during our stay, how we wish it could be another week !!.
The food and service from you all is outstanding. we shall be recomending the villas to all our friends bolt in australia and in england.

once again, “thank you”.

with our best wishes

Peter, Noel and Susan ”

Our comment: Thank you for recommending our villas to your friend. hope we meet again next time, our staff will happy to welcome you.

thank you.

after browsing on tripadvisor.com we find that there are some of our guest write an review on our villas.

overall they give our villa  a good rating.  one of the guest (tripadvisor id: gluk0se), write some review like bellow:

“My girlfriend and I stayed in a one bedroom villa at the Bidadari for four nights in May 2009. As there were absolutely no online reviews on this hotel at the time that we made our reservation, we weren’t really sure what to expect. As soon as we arrived, though, we realized that we had made an excellent choice!!”

you can read more review on our villa at tripadvisor. thanks to our guest for your review.

Although Oscar winner Julia Roberts (Pretty Woman) is still filming in rural India, preparations are on in Bali island of Indonesia for the final leg of the shooting for “Eat, Pray, Love”.

after-india-bali-getting-ready-for-julia-roberts

A local production company in Bali’s capital Denpasar reportedly held a casting session to pick about 100 local actors for the movie, which lasted two days. Shooting will reportedly be held in Kuta, Ubud, etc., places in Bali from October 15 to November 11.

Based on Pushcart Prize winner Elizabeth Gilbert’s spirituality/travel memoir (played by Roberts), “Eat, Pray, Love” is about her self-discovery and soul-searching after her nasty divorce, exploring through India, Italy, and Indonesia.

After reveling in cuisine in Italy and exploring spirituality in India ashram (hermitage), she will find a balance between worldly pleasures and divine ascendency in Bali where she will study with a ninth-generation medicine man and immerse in a love affair.

Bali; known for its surf, rice terraces, beaches, temple ceremonies, dances, etc.; is one of the 33 provinces of Indonesia and its largest tourist destination. About 93 percent population is Hindu. Gilbert met Wayan, traditional Balinese healer, and Ketut Liyer, medicine man, in Ubud.

Aimed at a release in 2011 and directed by Ryan Murphy (Nip/Tuck); “Eat, Pray, Love” also stars Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Viola Davis (Doubt), Billy Crudup (Almost Famous), James Franco (Pineapple Express), Luca Argentero (Lezioni di cioccolato), etc.

Threat of global crisis has made many enterprenuer of use new marketing strategy. One of their current planning is doing more promotion to abroad as it’s a strategy to pick the visitor direct, as per Radar Bali interviewed Mr. Ismoyo Soemarlan (Head of Bali Villa Association). Mr. Ismoyo also said that Bali Villa Association will do promotion to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Australia and also will be maximize to explore local market.

As global crisis, Europe market and America market aren’t potential again, therefore they will optimize Asia market and local market where Australian market still favorite to them.  Mr. Ismoyo also said that villa business in Bali is still have good prospect, and many travelers has choice Bali villas as their holiday accommodation as they need more private holiday.

As per Mr. Ismoyo prediction, in 2009 villa business will be decrease , but he hope it will decrease not more than 10 percent. From record of BVA, villas visitor in Bali until 2008 is 90 percent foreign and 10 percent is domestic.  Be sides doing promotion, Bali Villa Association will evaluate and analize this condition for first three months.

as Radar Bali reported

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Badung   |  Tue, 04/14/2009 2:56 PM  |  Bali

The Bali provincial administration has allocated Rp 46.9 billion (US$4.2 million) from the provincial budget to revitalize 2,345 subak traditional agriculture and irrigation associations on the island.

Currently there are 1,546 subak yeh managing rice fields and another 799 subak abian managing farms.

Ida Bagus Sedhawa, head of the Bali Cultural Agency, said each subak would receive Rp 20 million (US$1,800) to revitalize and maintain the subak system.

“This financial assistance is expected to encourage local farmers to maintain its subak organization and to prevent farmers from selling their lands to outsiders.”

Continue reading “Bali allocates Rp.46.9b to revitalize `subak’ system” »