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.

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)