Bali News / Bali Travel and Holiday Updates

The two wheels horse carriage locally known as dokar which has been traditional transportation mode for centuries deserves to get special attention. Whilst it may not as effective as modern vehicles like motorcycle or car, dokar is perfect vehicle to enjoy sightseeing trip. Correspond to City Tour campaign initiated by the Mayor office of Denpasar, dokar has to be preserved.

These days dokars are still in use as both passengers and merchandise transport especially around Badung Market, the main traditional market of Denpasar. Occasionally tourists hire them for sightseeing around Denpasar old town. Open and slow speed may be the main reasons for being favorite sightseeing ride in addition to complement the views, looking around Denpasar old town on old traditional carriage.

Unfortunately number of dokar which are still operating has been continuously decreasing. More and more visitor to the market prefer speedy cars or motorbike, whilst the number of tourists usage for sightseeing is rather limited.

The new City Tour campaign in effort to bring more tourists into the city may help to bring more business. In addition to dressing up the city including pedestrian restoration and building better parking area, special space for dokar close to parking areas is also essential. Tourist transporters can park at the parking area where tourists will change into dokar to look around and possibly stop at interesting places like Kumbasari Market, fabric market of Jalan Sulawesi, Puputan Square, Temple, Puri Satria palace, bird market, and the Museum.

Paul Francis Callahan who has been an Interpol target for the last six years was recently captured by Criminal Regiment of Bali Police. The Melbourne-born man was accused for sexual abuse to children in Canberra back in 2002. The Deputy Director of Criminal Regiment of Bali Police Erwin Chahara explained that the suspect has been captured in his leased resident in Kuta.

The suspect who owned surfboard business on Kuta Beach has been captured in joint operation between Australian and Bali police. Bali police has previously informed by Australian police that the suspect has escaped Australia towards Bali. Our investigation shown us his location and we swept the area including Paul’s residence where he cooperatively captured.

Chahara said that back in 2002 the suspect has been proven guilty for sexual abuse to a little girl in Canberra. He has been captured and questioned in Canberra where he escaped the country. Australian police then put him in Interpol search list. Years of investigation resulted in locating his position in Bali and therefore Australian police contacted Bali police for cooperation. During his stay in Bali he married Balinese woman and had a child. He also formed a company in surfboard manufacture PT Indoglass.

Asked on his planned follow up, Chahara said that most likely the suspect will be returned to Australia.

Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha finally took a firm action with regard to development of a new five star hotel in Padang Bai. His 188-34/4518/Hk. letter instructed the Regent of Karangasem to withdraw regency regulation no. 1/2008. The regulation in subject was actually alteration to existing regulations in attempt to let development of a five star hotel in Padangbai to commence. In the letter dated June 30th 2008 the Governor declared that the regency regulation in subject violated national regulation UU No. 26/2007 and the regency’s own regulation No. 11/2000.

The Head of Public Relation of The Regent’s Office Komang Agus Sukasena informed that the Regent has so far never brought the issue into account as so far he was spending most of his time in Jakarta. On the other hand in the construction field the main house of the new resort hotel has been constructed and some tens of bungalows will soon to follow.

Vice Chairman of related commission in the regency’s House of Representatives IB Mahadewa told that the Regent’s action has been criticized for quite a while and he was thankful that the Governor finally took the right action.

In attempt to give a way for South Korean investor to build a new five star resort hotel located in Mimba Hill, south of Padang Bai harbor, the Regent of Karangasem has issued a special alteration to existing regulation on master plan of Candidasa tourism area. The Regent changed Mimba Hill which previously plotted as protected green farming area into exclusive tourism development area. The construction flatten the hill, cut down a lot of soaring trees, and moved the material to neighboring village.

Extensive operation to capture one of the top terrorist operative Mas Slamet Kastari has now expanded to Banyuwangi and Bali, especially the ferry port of Ketapang. Hundred copies of the previously escaped Singapore’s top security jail were placed in strategic locations yesterday - Saturday July 5th. The operation is actually an expansion of the previous operation when anti-terror squad busted nine terrorist operative along with ready-to-install explosives.

The pictures show face of Kastari when he was prisoned in Singapore. Additionally thirteen sketches of different possible camouflages of the suspected Singapore leader of Jamaah Islamiyah were also included, from the face without hair, with mustache, as well as with one eye covered like the ancient Norway pirates. “Upon instruction of the State Police Commander, the pictures have to be handed to every passengers of the inter-island ferry”, said the Head of Security Squad of Ketapang Ferry Port, Police Commissioner Pariyadi Sayat.

A number of large size of Kastari’s posters were glued to the wall of the waiting area of the port whilst more were handed to each passenger. The operation was intended to detect his possible movement to Bali. Thorough briefing has been given to all police officers on duty. “This guy has curly hair, oval shape, and brown skin. Slightly un-balanced legs visible when he walks, and has Malay accent. Everybody were required to keep their eyes open to any figures close to the such description. We have to anticipate possibility that he may move to Bali”, said Commissioner Pariyadi. The ticket box area was the place with highest number of posters as all passengers should by a ticket anyway.

All cars and passengers were also directed to multi-layered checking procedure before allowed to embark. With mirror detectors on hand, polices were thoroughly check vehicles especially small passenger carriers and small trucks. The same measure of security was also implemented at the LCT dock where extra-large trucks embarked into special transporter.

Two CCTV accessible directly from the State Police Headquarter in Jakarta are located in strategic location. “Everything related to security issue here is directly monitored from Jakata headquarter”, said Pariyadi who previously was the deputy-chief of Banyuwangi police cluster.

On the other hand Densus 88 (special anti-terror squad) Bali yesterday informed that so far there was no evidence whatsoever of the suspect presence in Bali. The Chief of Public Relation of Bali Police headquarter Police Superintendent AS Reineban to prevent and detect possible movement of Mas Slamet to Bali, all ports are now in maximum security alert. In addition to ports, all coastlines potential for landing are also monitored.

To extend detection capability, local fishermen were required to assist police by keeping their eyes open to unusual activities.

An unusual activity took place at Pantai Matahari Terbit Sanur on Friday July 4th 2008. Thousands of employees of Denpasar Mayor office held clean campaign along the beach on the area. The action was led by the Vice Mayor of Denpasar I.B. Rai Dharma Wijaya Mantra and the Mayor Secretary Nyoman Aryana.

Rai Mantra said that the activity was intended as in initiative to keep Pantai Matahari Terbit - which lately gain popularity as an alternative to Sanur - clean and pleasant place to relax and enjoy the legendary charm of Sanur beach, especially during the school holiday season where visiting domestic tourist significantly increase. He insisted that to endorse Visit Indonesia Year 2008 cleanliness of tourist attractions needs special attention.

“We may need to make clean campaign as a routine activity,” said Rai Dharma on his briefing prior to the activity. He also reminded that all participating employees to go back to work after completion of the campaign to sustain routine public services. Aryana continued that in addition to endorse tourism as the islands main income, the activity was also expected to increase interpersonal communication among employees to improve their productivity at work.

To ensure effectiveness, all participants were separated into three groups, each were responsible for Padang Galak area around Taman Festival, Pantai Matahari Terbit, and southern part of Pantai Matahari Terbit through Sanur beach.

Being the main gate connecting Bali to the mainland of Java, Gilimanuk ferry port is one of the most strategic place requiring special security attention. Most of visitors to Bali including those carrying security threats along enters the island through this gate. Bali police commander General Ashikin Hussein explained the fact during his inspection to ensure enforcement of security surveillance to prevent infiltration of terrorist operatives to the island.

So far there are no detected evidences for new bomb or other terrorist attacks in Bali, however the commander reminded that all stakeholders of security in Bali especially all member of police force to remain in full alert. Being one of the most popular holiday destinations visited by many Western tourists, Bali remains a perfect target for terrorist actions. He called for close coordination among related government institutions to prevent weakening alertness.

On the other hand the General also admitted that despite of its strategic position, availability of security equipments is rather insufficient. “The airport has modern security equipment regardless the fact that arriving passengers have passed through similar check in their origin. However equipment availability should never be used as a reason on weakening alertness”, said the General. The General also reminded his inferiors to prioritize public services. “Indonesian citizens pay our salary and therefore entitled to better service. We do not deserve for special privilege. I do not want to see roads close just because I am coming”, he continued.

With regard to plan in implementing International security standard, the General confirmed his intention to do his best to get it implemented. However he also reminded that procurement of state of the art security equipments which comply International standard are very expensive. We have to implement it gradually by wise priority setting. “I think coordination among involved institutions is excellent”, he commented. He also added that so far physical check on vehicles, passengers, and luggages is  considered sufficient.

Padang Bai

After Gilimanuk, the Police Commander also inspected Padang Bai, the ferry port connecting Bali and Lombok. During his visit, in addition to security issue he also paid attention to weather which lately became quite dangerous. Whilst so far there are no effects on transportation activities bot to Lombok on the East as well as Nusa Penida on the South, strong wind needs careful attention.

Finally the General inspected functionality of CCTV surveillance system allowing the police headquarter to have direct visual access.

Indonesian national flag carrier Garuda Indonesaia has just taken a strategic decision. Starting Monday June 2nd 2008 it restarted direct flight flying Denpasar - Nagoya which has been previously suspended since January 2007. The three weekly flights are flown by an Airbus A330-300.

As the sun went down on Monday June 2nd 2008 the landing wheels of Garuda Indonesia’s GA-888 touched down the runway of Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali. As the doors opened, 236 passengers from Nagoya, most of them came in farm trip group of top travel agents, business executives, and journalists. Among the passengers is Indonesian Ambassador in Japan Dr. Jusuf Anwar who previously served the country as The Minister of Finance and Garuda Indonesia’s Director of Commerce Agus Priyanto. Welcoming the group were representatives from the Governor’s office and Garuda Indonesia’s GM of Denpasar Office Bagus Y. Siregar. The aircraft was to return back to Nagoya the next day on 01.25 Bali time.

Known as the third largest cities in Japan after Tokyo and Osaka, the 326.5 square kilometers Nagoya is home to 23 millions residents. Grew in combination of traditional and modern industry, Nagoya has quite strong economic character. From the cultural side, Nagoya Castle built by Shogun Takukawa back in 1612 serves a the city’s landmark. Apart from those facts Nagoya offers modern and elegant living. The city has a Guinness recorded railway station located under skyscrapers.

Japan and Indonesia shared unique heritage led the Ambassador Dr. Jusuf Anwar to think that Nagoya - Denpasar has historical value in addition to economical one. The flight was considered as a symbol of strengthening the 50 years diplomatic relationship between the two countries. “The flight served a historical symbol as it happened at the golden anniversary of diplomatic relationship between Indonesia and Japan”, said the Ambassador.

The ambassador repeated his message on stressing the importance of Indonesia-Japan relationship during official dinner hosted by the Governor of Bali, Dewa Beratha at Dharma Sabha the next day on June 3rd 2008. From national perspective, Indonesia and Japan have equal and mutually beneficial relationship. From local point of view, reading the speech of The Governor of Bali, the provincial secretary Nyoman Yasa openly expressed his gratitude to Japanese contribution to tourism and economic growth of Bali along with its multiplying effect. Furthermore Berata recognized three main contributions of tourism industry, which respectively are residents’ income, government’s income, and job creation. So far Japan is among the most important market of Bali tourism.

The Governor specifically suggested tourism industry players in Bali as well as all the residents of Bali to maintain conducive climate for better growth of tourism industry in Bali.  “Internally we have to continuously improve security, comfortability, service orientation, human resource, infrastructure, and tourism attractions of Bali”, said The Governor.

The Representative of Japanese Consulate in Bali Susaku Hirasima express his expectation for continuous improvement of Bali as one of the main tourist destinations for Japanese holiday makers. “Japanese like Bali, some of them even decided to reside in Bali”, said Susaku.

A couple of excellent shows by foreign artists were performed at Ksirarwana Building of Bali Arts Center on Tuesday (July 1st) night. The performance titled “International Puppet Festival” gave a new color for the lover of puppet performance as well as all Balinese in general.

First part of the show perform a story tited “Cukup-cukup”. Unusual combination leather shadow puppet and human puppet offers quite an an appealing performance. Brought by artists from five different continents, “Cukup-cukup” is basically a composition of theatrical art, dance, and music. Held like shadow puppet, the show used two screens and light reflection. However, instead of leather puppets, the artists themselves performed. Unique musical composition combines modern and traditional musical instruments like guitar, tabuhan gender, and electronic special effects.

The second session was performed by a story conducted by an Italian traditional puppet master and mask player Pino Confessa titled “Pulcinella E Il Diavolo”. Audiences have been fouled by the title at first thinking that it would be a pure Italian tradition. They were wrong, the show was performed mostly in Balinese language. Children enthusiastically got closer to the stage and follow the story with laughter.

Positive Appreciation

A number of audiences told Bali Post their positive appreciation. New version of puppet show by foreign performance offer a different color to long well-known traditional mainstream. Story performed by Pino Confessa got enormous respond from young audience. It was proven that properly conducted, educational messages could be passed along seamlessly. “Well, it makes sense that kids liked the performance as nowadays parents telling their children educative story are rather rare”, said Darmawan, an audience interviewed by Bali Post.

Regardless the fact that it is officially part of Klungkung regency, its off-shore location - separated from the mainland by the sea - affected in deficiency of budget allocation for building construction and reconstruction of elementary schools funded from DAK (specially allocated fund). The problem comes from the fact that allocated budget for Nusa Penida is equal to allocated budget for the mainland part of the regency, whilst price of materials used for construction in Nusa Penida is significantly higher as it includes transportation cost to cross the strait. Consequently construction could not be completed through the finishing process.

Local government is forced to spend an additional 800 millions to finalize the projects on the island, otherwise they would be wasted out as all of constructed schools are not 100% completed and ready for utilization. Furthermore the funding framework does allow them to get DAK allocation for the second time. Head of Klungkung Office for The Minstry of Education, Nengah Wijana, explained that funding for the additional 800 millions is actually provided by the national government which previously was allocated to build his office, which lately has been canceled as the construction plan deviated the technical guideline of the Ministry of Finance.

Actually construction of Klungung Office of The Ministry for Education was about to commence. However deviation from the technical guideline brought a high risk, and therefore has been canceled. On the other hand, reallocation to completion of school building wis expected to improve quality of basic education. The technical guideline from The Minstry of Finance clearly directed that national funding could not be allocated for construction or reconstruction of buildings and supporting facilities of offices of regional government, it can only be allocated to increase education quality.

Cancellation of reconstruction forced the office to remain in the rotten old building. Broken roof and ceiling frighten the employees. When rain falls, the employees refuge to office of the village administration, which is located just across the street.

Dry season has just started and part of Bali especially in Karangasem regency started to get into fresh water crisis. Areas where residents have difficulties in getting fresh water include Besakih, hillside of Abang, Kubu, and Seraya village. People demanded the regent of Karangasem to implement his promise to find a sustainable solution to the such problem. The promise pronounced already back in 2006 and so far has never been fulfilled.

A resident of Tigoran village in Kubu, Made Keji told Bali Post that he is keen to deem the regent for his promise. The regent promised that starting from 2006 onward every part of Kubu and Seraya should have got sufficient fresh water supply. “Now where is his promise”, Keji demanded. Villager of Juntal, a rural hillside of Kubu, Budiasa, said that the the resident of hillside area of Kubu such has his village has been suffering for the problem for decades, and so far no attempts have been made by local government to solve. He expects government executive to do more than spreading false promises during their electoral campaign.

Chairman of House of Representative of Karangasem regency, Wayan Sukadana, S.Sos. said that the reps have been struggling to push government executives to build a more reservoirs to buffer needs for fresh water during dry season, especially in Abang, Rendang, Kubu, and Seraya. The problem is that residents of rural hillsides are scattered. Distance from one house to another is quite far away. Therefore effectiveness of clustered assistance by building one water reservoir for number of households so far was not an effective approach. Furthermore construction of reservoir in a rural area which mostly are not reachable four wheel vehicle significantly increases cost.

However, government actually have done significant efforts. A number of reserviors were built in Kedampal, Datah, Batudawa, and the border of Baturinggit costing more than 4.6 billions Rupiah. Another 3 billions Rupiah was spent at Batudawa and Kubu for similar project, which now are awaiting for piping network to each house.