Jimbaran Puri Bali Hotel

From April 2008 until the end of March 2009 I will be in Bali Island. Right now I am running a project called Jimbaran Puri Bali 2. The project is an extension of the existing Jimbaran Puri Bali Hotel. That's why we call it Jimbaran Puri Bali 2. It's located at Jalan Yoga Perkanthi, next to the football field at Jimbaran, not far from the famous Four Season Hotel & Bali Intercontinental Jimbaran.

We are now building 22 villas with gym, staff room, house keeping units, and the infrastructure. The land is around 13.000 m2. Right now we already finished built the mock up room that inspected by the owner at the end of September 2008. You can see the mock up at our photo gallery at the project website www.freewebs.com/jimbaranpuribali2. Formerly its called Pansea Hotel. Now its owned by Orient Express. An International Company which runs many hotels in the world today.

This new hotel will offer a nice and private villas to tourists who want to visit Bali Island. It has a private beach. The General Affair manager told me that the big star & singer Mick Jagger spend the night here during the late 20th century. Many of the guest talked to him & took picture together.

Back to Bali Again

I was in Bali during mid 1997 until early 2000. At that time I was single. I went around with my friends and staffs at every corner of Bali Island. Its a beautiful island, who will deny that. Here is still one of the best place to have vacation with friends or family. Domestic or international tourist love it. Especially because the culture, the scenery, the balinese custom that preserved well until today. The beaches are very well known in the world. Such as Kuta beach, Sanur beach, Legian & Seminyak Beach, etc. There are also beautiful lake & mountains here. Kintamani Lake, Bedugul Lake are two of many scenery that everybody like.

I was lucky that when there was Bali Bombing in Oct, 2002 I was not there. After that there was also Bali Bombing II that made the tourism was not good at that time. Let's not talk about the bad times. After went back to my hometown in Surabaya in early 2000, now I'm back again here in March 2008. But now I'm not alone. I'm in Bali with my charming and sweet lady. She is my wife Henny. We were married in Des, 2003. I went back to Bali to run a project here. It's sad to leave my hometown, my families especially my dad. He was sick of cancer at that time. But let's have positive thinking O.K. Just do what we are gonna do. So here we are in Bali to meet lovely people, beautiful scenery, beautiful culture and new friends.

Global Economic Crisis

Three days ago I saw a news in Metro TV-an Indonesian local TV. Indonesian government that day announce to the public that guarantee for the savings at banks account are increased. Before its only Rp 100 million, now become Rp 2 billion the amount of saving that guaranteed by the government.

The government of Indonesia change the policy to anticipate the global economic crisis. As we know recently there is economic crisis in US and many other countries. To prevent the money in Indonesia goes out of Indonesia the interest rate were increased too. The slowing down of economic growth in China also will have effected other countries. China growth in 2007 was only 12%, this year 2008 will be around 9%.

Indonesia economic growth this year today is 6,9%. Many economic experts forecast that next year the economic growth will decrease around 2% up to 3%. We must be aware and prepare the bad things that will occur next year. How about you? If you have any comment, please leave it here.

Ubud Writers & Reader Festival

Last week there was a festival in Ubud. Many writers and readers from all over the world gathering here to attend The 5th Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. This festival was held on October, 14 until October, 19, 2008. Many Indonesian writers also invited.

Why the festival held in Ubud? It's because Ubud is well known as the centre of arts in Bali. Many arts products are available here and the village is very tranquil. Accomodatian are very easy to get here. The climate also very friendly. It's goes with the Balinese concept of life called "Tri Hita Karana". It's how to keep the balance of three factors that will read the balance of life.

In the ongoing battle between tradition and modernity, globalization and localization, the radicals and the moderates, and tourism against agriculture, Bali is an island that struggles to stay in the middle. "Achieving modern progress without abandoning the traditional roots" is the ever-present mantra.

How did the Festival start?

The international Ubud Writers & Readers Festival began as a healing and economic development project after the Bali bombings in 2002. The Festival is an annual-ongoing event, held each October, in a month that commemorates the first Bali bombing. Now in its fifth year, the Festival promises to become the largest and most prestigious literary gathering in the South-East Asian region.

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is a respected international event, attracting authors, publishers, festival directors and academics from all over the world. In previous years our headlining guests were Michael Ondaatje [Canada], Amitav Ghosh [India] and the President of East Timor Xanana Gusmao, who each participated alongside over 100 other writers from New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, India Canada, the United States, France, the UK, Germany and Indonesia.

It's a world class festival and has a noble goal, so we all should support them. After all, how can we know about history, culture, etc. if there were no writers in the world.

The 1st Bali Asean Beach Games 2008

Sport game in Indonesia has just reach a new level today. We proudly present The 1st Bali Asean Beach Games 2008. These occasions will be held from October, 18 until October, 26, 2008. This games already held by Asean Beach Games Organizing Committe, followed by 45 participan countries with 17 sport branches..

The matches will centered in four cluster namely: Nusa Dua, Kuta, Sanur, and Pulau Serangan. The official opening already held on 18 October 2008 in Garuda Wisnu Kencana by President of the Republic Indonesia, Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Below is one report from our Journalists:

SANUR (10/21/08) - Kaori Kitai (42), The Daily Jakarta Shimbun journalist says how she really enjoys her job as one of the reporters in Asian Beach Games (ABG). At Main Press Center (MPC), Inna Grand Beach Hotel, Sanur, Kaori said ABG is not only a sporting event to be covered but also a chance for her to enjoy herself.

“For me, Asian Beach Games is not only a sporting event but also more of a festive as journalists can also enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Bali, one of the greatest places in the world. It is an experience I can not find in any other places as a reporter,” she said. The Daily Jakarta Shimbun is a Japanese daily published in Jakarta to cater the Japanese in Indonesia, mostly residing in Jakarta and Bali.

“Indonesia must show the world that they have all recovered from the Bali bomb incident. I’m sure everything will be running as planned with the support from many parties,” Kaori said in smile. (bali2008)

If you need more information just visit the official website of this even at http://www.bali2008.com/

MEN SANA IN CORPORE SANO, GO INDONESIA !!

Indonesia Reach New History In Writing Books

I had just read a book. The title is "ANDA LUAR BIASA", it means "YOU ARE EXTRAORDINARY". What make this work differs from other books is its written by Eni Kusuma. She was working as a maid in Hongkong for six years. But she is willing to learn more & more. During her work she was still able to learn something through the net. How come she managed her time while working all day & night? The answer: its because she has enthusiasm for improvement. Eni Kusuma learn how to write in the net community. Jenni S.Bev. who was her mentor in writing gives comment, It is the 1st book in Indonesia that written by a maid. Indonesian history of writing books had reach a new history.

The book itself contain motivations to everybody. I found this book interesting. It will cheer you up and keep your mind to improve. My wife, father in law, and sister in law also agree with me. The first who found this book is my wife. In the end of September, 2008 she found this book while shopping at Bali Galeria, Kuta-Bali. She read and found the idea in this book is interesting.

This book was published in April, 2007. Now the writer already went home to Indonesia and working as a writer and public speaker. Her story and writing can be found at http://www.pembelajar.com/ (in bahasa Indonesia)

Barrack Obama for USA President

Barrack Obama, a name which raise to hot topic in the world today. He defeated Hilary Clinton & now move forward challenging McCain for the next US President. My self has no big interest for politics. Especially I'm not US citizen. But this news will have effect to my country, Indonesia.

The final debate on October, 16, 2008 was broadcasted in Indonesia. Many people in Indonesia watch it. And there was discussion about it in Metro TV a local Indonesian TV station. The show was "Anak Menteng, ....". Yes, Obama was here in Indonesia during his childhood. He lived in Menteng, Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. The show presented one of his friend when he was studying here in Indonesia. His friend said little Obama was a shy person in the first 4 months in school. We can understand it. He had not spoken Indonesian language at that time. But he was showing curiosity in everything.

After 4 months he could mingle with everybody and learnt about diversity in the society. Especially in Indonesia, there are hundreds of tribes, hundreds of local languages, many religions. Maybe he had learnt about it in Indonesia. Many Indonesians pray for Barrack Obama to be the next US president. It will give positive influences to both Countries. What's your opinion?

Lake Toba, Mega Volcano from Sumatra Ind. & Homo Erectus

Which volcano eruption is the biggest eruption happened until today? Mount Tambora, Mount Vesuvius, or another volcano? The scientist discovered that one mega eruption was happened on earth 75.000 years ago. It even created short ice age for 1000 years. We can watch the animated movie & the facts taken by the scientist in Discovery Channel. The movie title is Mega Volcano.

And just now July, 2008 the scientist found the skeleton of ancient human in Hannover from Homo Erectus species. Alfred Czarnetzki, a proffesor at Universitas Tuebingen said it's age approximately 70.000 years old at least.

In Trinil, Mojokerto, Indonesia we have skeleton of ancient human from Pitechantropus Erectus species. Discovered by Eugene Dubois. There are close resemblance to those two skeletons. Is it possible that due to the ice age period these ancient man walk from Indonesia to German? We don't know yet, but it will be revealed soon by the scientist. What's your opinion?