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Vol. IX August 2014 Bali, still the best destination

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Paradiso Magazine

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Vol. IX August 2014

Bali,still the best destination

DIREKTUR Igo Kleden [email protected]

EDITOR

Tri Wibowo

[email protected]

MARKETING MANAGER

Dewi Antini

[email protected]

PHOTOCONTRIBUTOR Sonny Tumbelaka

REPORTER Erwin Gumilar (Jakarta) Komang Wahyuni, Wiss Kedang, Dona Trihapsari FINANCE & Yuni ArianiACCOUNTING

TRANSLATOR Indira Sari Paputungan

GRAPHIC DESIGN Yudick Ariant

DISTRIBUTOR Donny Sakura

CONTRIBUTOR Christovao Vinhas Cok Dewi

www.paradiso.co.id

www.paradiso.co.id

PT. Travindo JayaJl. Batas Dukuh Sari Gg Curik no. 11 Denpasar - Bali - Indonesia 80222

Phone : 0361 - 8959507 Fax: +62 361 8474102Hp. 081338306900 w up : 081238711251

email : [email protected]

Bank Account : 097001023164531Bank BRI Cab. Sesetan - Denpasar

Eastern Indonesia, Future Tourism OfferThere is no doubt that Eastern Indonesia offers stunning nature panorama and unique culture that can be great tourism potentials. However, this does not mean that those potentials can en-courage areas in Eastern Indonesia to develop their tourism sector.A number of areas have captured this opportunity beforehand, such as West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi and Raja Ampat Papua. Considering the promising opportunity, some areas have ac-tively promoted their tourism potentials.Idonesian Tourism Promotional Board (BPPI) has also seen this potential and focuses on promotion on potentials in Eastern Indonesia. Chairperson

of BPPI, Yanti Sukamdani said that currently, there are many areas categorized as disadvantaged areas that have amazing tourism potentials and can be developed to boost the local economy.Unfortunately, most of this type of areas are still lacking in infrastructure to support tourism sector.Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sapta Nirwandar agreed that eastern Indonesia has great tourism potentials. The potentials in disadvantaged and border areas should be managed and designed into special-interest tourism. “This is perfect to be developed considering the great prospects,” said Sapta.Sapta expects that special interest tourism like adventure tourism targeting on young people can encourage them to love their country more. Thus, eastern Indo-nesia is suitable to be offered as future tourist destination if we can work together to develop the region. Let’s introduce and promote eastern Indonesia as beautiful region and worth a visit.

Igo Kleden

Editor’s Note

Thanks To :

DISTRIBUTIONDOMESTIC: BALI - Kuta, Ngurah Rai Airport, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Denpasar and Ubud Area. JAKARTA - Tri Wibowo Hp. 081236044326. SURABAYA - Jl.Jend.Basuki Rahmat 129-137, Surabaya 60271. YoGYAKARTA - Jl.Rumah Makan Gudeg 60 Citro, Laksda Adisucipto Km 9, Yogyakarta 55281, LoMBoK - Jl. Adi Sucipto No. 43, Ampenan - Lombok 83234 KUPANG - Jl. Walikota Kupang 13 SUMBA BARAT - Jl. Sudirman No. 5 Waikabubak - Sumba Barat. SUMBA TIMUR - Jl. Eltari No. 41 Matawai - Sumba Timur, LABUAN BAJo - Martin Meotoda, Ph. 081338151744

OvERSEAS: MALAYSIA - maxiINFo, 32-3-1, Jalan Medan Putra 4 Medan Putra Business Centre. off Jalan Damansara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur. AUSTRALIA - 262 Wardel rd, Dulwich Hill-Sydney – NSW – 2203. Australia. THAILAND - 94/23 Wichitsongkram Rd. Kathu, Phuket 83120, WASHINGToN DC - 19233 - Wheat-field Terrace - Gaitthersburg, MD 20879. CANADA - 152, rue Notre-Dame est, 8 etage, Montreal, Qc, Canada H2Y 3p6. NETHERLAND - Vrijburglaan 72051 LA overveen +31 235253619. ITALY - Viale Regina Margherita 270 - 00198, Rome, FRANCE - Europasia Commercial Agency, 15, rue Vallete 75005, Paris. GER-MANY - Hattersheimerstr, 19, Frankfurt 60326. CZECH REPUBLIC - Na Zamecke 6/409 140 000 Prague Czech Republic, CUBA - Hotel Sevilla, Trocadero y Zuleta y Prado, 55, La Habana, Ph./Fax. +53 07 8669767. SLoVENIA - Kompas D.D, Prazakova 4, 1514, Ljubyana, Slovenia. CZECH REPUBLIC - Mr. Miroslav Rada-kovic, Na Zamecke 6/409 140 000 Prague Czech Republic, Ph. +420 261219316 - 19, Fax. +261 219320. CUBA - Viaggi del mappamondo - Cuba, c/o Hotel Sevilla, Trocadero y Zuleta y Prado, 55, La Habana, Ph./Fax. +53 07 8669767. SLoVENIA - Miss. Polona Pirnat, c/o Kompas D.D, Prazakova 4, 1514, Ljubyana, Slovenia.

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22 |Ende

The Charming Three-Color Lake Kelimutu

12 | News

I Love Belitung, Promoting Natural Beuty of Belitung Island

conten8 |

Focus

Halmahera island

13 | News

Bali Tourism Not to Disturb Environment and Culture

23 |Ende

Ende, the rich in marine products

45 | BaliBest of Java and Bali’

46 | BaliA’gowes’tusan Bersama Keluarga Hotel ibis Bali

33 | Event and Destination

Introducing Lombok

25 | Sumba

BIJALUNGU HIU PAANANew year procession of Wanokakans

30 | Event and Destination

Promoting The Amazing Paradise in West Papua

34 | Event and Destination

Perang Topat (Rice Cake War)

39 | Event and Destination

Ora Beach, Hidden Par-adise of Central Maluku

47 | Bali

INTERCONTINENTAL BALI RESORT WINS SEVEN STAR GLOBAL LUXURY AWARD

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Halmahera island

10 | Paradiso August, 2014

The remote Halmahera island, also called Gilolo or Jailolo, is the largest island in Maluku (the

Moluccas), K-shaped almost like a miniature Sulawesi. With white sandy beaches, unspoiled forests and the spectacular Mt Mamuya in the distance, this island offers stunning scenery. This is a rugged and mountainous landscape and much of the island is still covered in forest.

While the island covers an enormous area of over 17,000 square kilometers, it is sparsely populated. This island is the core of a larger region, called Moro that includes the island and the coast-line of Halmahera, and is closest to Mo-rotai to the north.

During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, Halmahera was largely under the dominion of the powerful sultanate of Ternate. In the mid-sixteenth century, the island was the site of a Portuguese Jesuit mission, most noted of whom was St. Francis Xavier (known here as St. Franciscus Xaverius). The Mus-lim states on Ternate and Halmahera

rejected Christianity, and managed to drive the mission away from the island in 1571. However its influence remains evident as today half the population is Muslim and half are Christian.

In the seventeenth century, Ternate further exerted its power over Morotai by repeatedly forcing major parts of the population to migrate from the island.

Halmahera had an important role during World War II. It was here that the Americans started their allied invasions against the occupied Philippines and South Pacific Islands. General McAr-thur resided on a small island close to Daruba where he planned and coordi-nated countless air strikes, sea inva-sions and counter-attacks against the Japanese. The American Daruba Air-lfield has seven runways and can still be sighted today. Due to the enormous amount of explosives, ammunition and guns still found in the shallow waters, the island remains out of bounds for divers. only designated surveyors dive here.

To Do

Just south of Morotai, several Sec-ond World War wrecks can be explored in Tobello Bay. These sites are really off the beaten track, so you’ll need to come here with a spirit for adventure. The unchartered territory here creates a “Robinson Crusoe” atmosphere, as there are absolutely no signs of hu-mans, just beautiful coral islands and natural forests.

The most popular activities on the island involve exploring its beautiful waters.

Surf at Dorume Beach, known for its huge waves, especially in Decem-ber; which is the best time for surfers to visit. Along with it’s massive surf, the attraction here is the very fine sands of the beach that seem to glitter in the sun as they contain metallic grains.

Take in the scenery at the peaceful Talaga Biru, which literally means Blue Lake. This is a small natural pond with crystal-clear water, located near Ma-muya village in Galela district. Accord-

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ing to local legend, a long time ago fair-ies would descend from heaven to bathe here. Intriguingly, every single leaf fall-ing into this pond from the surrounding trees always drifts to its shores, leaving the waters clear and translucent.

Dodola Island is surrounded by exten-sive white sandy beaches, which actu-ally connect the neighboring islands of Dodola Besar and Dodola Kecil (Besar is Indonesian for large, and Kecil means small). The beautiful natural surrounds and clear waters make it a great spot for swimming, diving, snorkeling, and just simply relaxing. Dodola is also of some historical interest. During World War II, General McArthur and his forces often visited here for recreation.

Kupakupa beach is ideal for canoe-ing, swimming and fishing.

Batu Kopi, literally meaning Cof-fee Rock, is situated at Posiposi-Rao Beach in the South-West Morotai dis-trict. The name comes from local folk-lore, as it’s claimed that an aroma of coffee comes from this rock. Usually this aroma can be smelled towards the late afternoon. Here you can also swim, surf, dive, and take ride on a boat. For those who are interested in surfing, No-vember and December are the ideal months to visit.

Kakara Island has the oldest Hibuala-mo (the big house or the village hall) around Tobelo, and is considered the cradle of Tobelorese culture.

Go back in time and explore history with a visit to the World War II Japa-nese Tunnels. Located in the villages of Samuda and Duma in West Galela Dis-trict, these tunnels were used as hid-ing places by the Japanese Military in World War II. The one in Samuda is 20 meters long and has several chambers that are thought to have been used as meeting halls.

Visit the Kao bunkers and cannons and learn about the Japanese occupa-tion of Kao during World War II. There are many relics of the war around the city, notably around Kuabang Airport. Here there are several bunkers and four cannons, which are still in good

condition. The biggest bunker, with two halls and 15 meters long corridor, can be found near the runway. The runway itself was built by the Japanese military, and is now one of the most important airport facilities in North Halmahera.

For a combination of natural and his-torical attractions visit Sosol Beach and Tosimaru Shipwreck. The long black-sandy beach is free from strong currents so it’s a great place to relax and cool off with a swim. While you are here, look at the wreck of Tosimaru, a World War II Japanese cargo ship, which is visible from far away.

Stare into the rim of one of Indone-sia’s most active volcano’s. The awe inspiring Mount Dukono is one of three active volcanoes on Halmahera Island and one of the most active ones in all of Indonesia. Test your endurance and climb this mountain which still spews with smoke. The climb up the mountain is usually begun from Mamuya village. There you will find a volcano post, which can provide up-to-date information about the current state of the volcano. It is also possible to ride a motorbike to the slopes of the mountain. From there, you will have to walk for about 2 hours through primary forest and cross sever-al ravines until finally reaching the lahar (cold lava) fields surrounding the crater of Dukono. Here you will fid a camping spot for those who want to spend the night on the volcano. From the camping spot, the crater is only one-hour walk away.

Diving in the pristine waters amongst

the tropical fish here is a remarkable experience. Some of the most popular dive sites include:

Somola Bay is where you will find small islands, which offer blue seawa-ters and mangrove trees growing on stones. In this area, tourists can go canoeing while enjoying the beautiful Somola landscape. This beautiful area can be reached with the ship from Pune Beach, Galela District.

Tagalaya Island is one of the islands located up front from Tobelo Town. The water is calm and crystal clear, and a white-sand beach surrounds the entire island. Coral reefs rich with marine life are found at a depth of 2-10 meters off the coast of Tagalaya. Mangroves grow out of white sand and surrounded by the corals, make diving here a unique experience. You can also watch the lo-cals fishing here.

Tobotobo Sea Garden is located in Toboto village, Loloda District and is an ideal place for both snorkeling or div-ing. Tobotobo also has thousands of bats thanging from mangroves trees and also white and blue pigeon’s bath place.

Rorangane Island is one of the un-inhabited islands of North Halmahera, located just 15 minutes from Tobelo harbor. Similar to Tagalaya, the water is calm and crystal clear. White sand beaches surround the entire island. Be-sides offering good swimming spots, the coral reefs, at a depth of 10-30 meters, make it an ideal location for diving.

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Currently, Belitung becomes one of favorite tourist destination in Indonesia. Domestic and foreign

tourist arrival to the island continues increasing.

In order to promote natural beauties and invite more people to come to the island, Belitung Highland Resort as the first resortainment developer in the world supports Belitung as international

tourist destination in the program titled “Wow I Love Belitung” held in The Hall Senayan City, Jakarta, recently.

Wow I Love Belitung is an integrated program designed to make Belitung Island as a world class tourist destina-tion. “The launching of the program is expected to promote Belitung domesti-cally and internationally,” said Head of Belitung Regency Cultural and Tourism

Office, Jasagung Hariyadi.Jasagung said that in the program

‘Wow I Love Belitung’ once every two months, Belitung Island will be enliv-ened by various events. The series of events in this promotion was started by Ducati Isle of Belitung TT held last May.

The events held in the promotional program include Belitung Fun Bike that will be followed by bikers from a number of motor clubs such as Harley, Yamaha and Kawasaki. There will be Cycling Fanatic “Gowes” Belitung in october and will be followed by cycling clubs from various regions.

As the biggest archipelago, Indone-sia has abundant natural potentials. Therefore, this program is one of pro-motional events for Indonesia’s tourism to be more well-known internationally. The integrated program held once ev-ery two months is also supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

“In addition to its outstanding natural beauty, Belitung is also supported by strategic location. It is the meeting point between Jakarta and the neighbouring countries like Singapore and Malaysia,” he sai. (Erwin)

I Love Belitung, Promoting Natural Beuty of Belitung Island

Minister of Transportation EE Mangindaan said that the ministry has prepared flight

routes of Davao, Manado and Raja Ampat and airport improvement to support tourism sector in Manado.

“Preparation is going on for the sup-porting routes are already available, all we need to do is to prepare it,” Mang-indaan said in Manado.

He said that the route of Manado – Manokwari is already available we well as the route of Raja Ampat. Garuda Airline is soon open those flight routes, including to Davao.

“It’s not only Garuda, Sriwijaya Air has confirmed its readiness to serve the routes and I’m going to sign the li-

cense in the next few days,” he said.Related to the improvement of Sam-

ratulangi Airport, Mangindaan said that the ministry has asked for the permis-sion of North Sulawesi Governor to ex-tend the airport. He asks the runway to be extended for another 250meter. The provincial government even offers the runway to be extended for 500 meters, but Mangindaan thinks that this requires further discussion and coordination considering that there are some conse-quences that should be dealt with.

The runaway expansion is also re-lated to land acquisition and it still can-not be guaranteed that the local people will agree. Thus, the 250m expansion is expected to get permission for a starter.

If it is approved, then the centralization of Lion Air in Manado will be able to be implemented so that it can bring wider economic impact. (*)

Davao-Manado-Raja Ampat Flight to Discuss------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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13 | Paradiso August, 2014

Chinese tourists still become promising market for tourism industry in Jakarta. The high

number of tourist arrival from China has made Jakarta Tourism and Cultural Office to hold Jakarta Roadshow on 20 – 21 August in Xiamen, China.

This event did not only serve as meeting place for tourism practitio-ners in Jakarta with hundred of tourism stakeholder in China, but also served as place to inform that Jakarta is still conducive for foreign tourist visit after the Presidential election in 2014.

“Big cities in China are potential mar-ket for Jakarta tourism. Through this activity, we expect to boost the number

of tourist visit from China to Jakarta,” said Arie Budhiman, head of Jakarta Tourism and Cultural Office.

He further explained that Jakarta actually has great potentials to attract more tourists from China. In the past five years (2008 – 2012), tourist visit from China continued to increase. In 2013, from the total of 8.8 million for-eign tourist visits to Jakarta, 800 of them were from China.

“With the potentials owned by Jakarta and support from transport infrastruc-ture, we’re optimistic that Chinese tourist arrival to Jakarta is going up,” Arie said.

Head of Promotional Division for Ja-karta Tourism and Cultural Office, Cucu

Ahmad Kurnia added that he is opti-mistic that more Chinese tourists will come to Jakarta. It is considering the frequency of direct flight and the aver-age number of passenger from some big cities in China to Indonesia every week that shows positive trend.

Currently, frequency of direct flight from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Xiamen to Indonesia reaches 90 flights per week with the total passengers of almost 15,000 peo-ple. From that figure, more than 50% visit Jakarta with an average number of passenger reaches 8,300 people. “This indicates that Chinese market is prom-ising,” he said. (*)

Governor of Bali Made Mangku Pastika said that the local gov-ernment of the province has

agreed with the issue mentioned by the chosen President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) that development, especially in tourism sector, should not ignore the environment and culture.

“What Jokowi has said is true. We can’t develop tourism by destroying the environment and exploiting the nature of Bali. We have culture and nature and if they are destroyed, what are we going to offer in Bali?” said Pastika in Denpasar, Bali.

Moreover, Pastika said that he agrees with Jokowi saying that Bali has been sold way too cheap and now it is time to sell Bali expensively.

“It’s useless if Bali attracts many tour-ists but achieves small income. It would be better to attract fewer tourists, but the expensive one, with bigger income,” he said.

Pastika has also promised to follow instructions given by Jokowi once he is inaugurated as the new president of Indonesia.

Moreover, he said that totally agrees with Jokowi that Bali should not destroy the environment in developing its tour-ism sector and the same thing also

applied to the culture. He will support if Jokowi cancels the Presidential De-cree (Perpres) No. 51 about Sarbagita, which is going to do reclamation on the area of Tanjung Benoa. This is not part of the attempt to destroy the environ-ment, but reclamation aims to conserve the environment of Tanjung Benoa.

Pastika admitted that he is ready with all input regarding tourism and environ-

mental development if one day Jokowi asks for his opinion. “If being asked to give any input, I’m ready for it for I’m the one who knows well about Bali and how to handle it,” Pastika said.

Bali has already had a road map of its tourism development by referring to things that are permitted, allowed and when the license should be issued and many more. (*)

Chinese Tourists, Promising Market for Jakarta------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bali Tourism Not to Disturb Environment and Culture

News

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ENDEKelimutu Lake

Photo by Spc

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Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has a number of interesting tourist destinations

and one of them is situated on the top of Mount Kelimutu, Lake Kelimutu. Lake Kelimutu is also known as the Three-Color Lake for it has three different colors. Uniquely, the colors of the lake change over time.

The unique colors of the lake have at-tracted many tourists to visit this place. Kelimutu itself is the combination of the words keli that means a mountain and mutu that means boiling. The lake is located in the village of Pemo, Ke-limutu district, Ende Regency, NTT. To reach this lake, visitors have to travel for about 45 kilometers from Ende or 13 kilometers from Moni Village.

To enjoy the beauty of Lake Kelimu-tu, visitors have to pay retribution of Rp 2,000. The track to the lake consists of stairs and stony path that can be trav-eled on foot. The best time to visit the three-color lake is in the morning.

In addition to nature beauty that will ab-solutely amaze anyone who see it, Lake Kelimutu is has known for the legend, which is believed by the local people. According to local people’s belief, each color of the lake has different meaning and also has great power of nature.

Lake Kelimutu offers the beauty of color-changing lake, which colors are changing in certain time. The first col-or is blue or known in local language as Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai, which is believed by the locals as the gather-ing place for the spirit of people who died at young age. The second color is red or known as Tiwu Ata Polo, which is believed as the gathering place for the spirit of people who did bad things when they were still alive. The third color is white or Tiwu Ata Mbupu, which is believed as the gathering place for the spirit of the ancestors who died at old age.

The local people also believe it is a sacred lake and gives fertility to the sur-

rounding areas. Therefore, traditional ceremonies are often held in the lake, where people give offerings such as crops for the spirits reside in the lake.

In addition to the natural beauty of the lake, Mount Kelimutu also offers interesting flora and fauna. In the sur-rounding area of the mountain, visitors can find plants that rarely found in other areas in Flores such as pine trees, fir trees, redwood tree and edelweiss. Va-riety of fauna that can be found here are deer, boar, jungle rooster, eagle and many more.

Currently, Mount Kelimutu is quite well-known for trekking tourism. The activity is usually started from Moni Vil-lage. The lake is about 13 kilometers from the village.

Around the lake, there are huts where visitors can sit and relax, toilet, restaurants and a number of small inns for tourists who want to stay. The best time to visit Lake Kelimutu is in July and August. ***

The Charming Three-Color Lake Kelimutu

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Ende, where founding president Sukarno was exiled by the Dutch, is known for its central

role in propagating Christianity and Catholicism in the country’s eastern region, especially Nusa Tenggara. Its strategic position in the middle part of Flores Island, has made it a center for evangelization since the Portuguese occupation during the 15th Century and home to Catholic schools, a seminary and a large printing house serving Christians nationwide.

Geographically, half its total area is made up of steep rocky hills with the north part facing the Flores Sea and the south overlooking the Sawu Sea. With almost 244,000 inhabitants the regency is densely populated. Most people are of Lio or Ende extraction. As a predomi-nantly Catholic area, religious tolerance in Ende is worthy of praise.

The local government has played a central role in giving equal treatment to all religions and the local administration has encouraged people to seek finan-cial independence in the agricultural, farming and tourism sectors.” Besides agricultural products that contribute significantly to local income, the fishery and tourism sectors play a key role in improving people’s economic liveli-hood.

“our territory is surrounded by seas

which are rich in diverse marine prod-ucts. The fishery sector has not been exploited optimally and therefore needs more attention in years to come,” said the regent. The tourism sector, initially expected to become a key source of income for the regency, hasn’t done as well as expected. Tri-color Kelimutu Lake and the Bung Karno historical site, where the country’s first president was sent by the Dutch colonial regime in 1938, are judged to have good po-tential but appear to lack adequate management and promotion.

Soekarno is said to have drafted the Pancasila state ideology during his ex-ile here. The area is also home to a hot water spring in Detusoko, 10 kilometers away from East Ende, which is believed able to cure various kinds of illnesses. The local government was optimistic it would be able to increase local-source income by 15 percent annually.

Moni

A stopover strategically situated on the foot of Mt. Kelimutu along the main road Ende – Maumere. Moni is 53 km from Ende and accessible by land transport. There are lodges and home stays with very low standard facilities. The are lodges named as hotel but the facilities are poor indeed. They are built

with no plan and no guidance from the expert or local government.

The Exile House of Mr. Sukarno

Mr. Sukarno – the world famous In-donesian founding Father - was exiled to Ende by the Dutch administration in 1934 -1938. It was in Ende Mr. Sukarno realized that all the modern religion in the country are imported, not native. Mr. Sukarno is a thinker, artist and of course politician. The idea of Pancasila – the five principles of Indonesian phi-losophy – was first come to Mr. Su-karno’s mind when he spent his spare time under the breadfruit tree in Ende. The exile house is now considered as historical site and protected under the National law. In the house one still can find paintwork of Mr. Sukarno together with some original furniture once used by him. Behind the Museum there is a well 12 m in depth. Some says that the water is good for health.

Ende, the rich in marine products

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WEST SUMBA

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BIJALUNGU HIU PAANANew year procession of Wanokakans

Bijalungu Hiu Paana that is centered in the village of Wei Galli, Wanokaka District (22km

from Waikabubak) is a traditional ritual welcoming the new season. Bijal means putting while Hiupaana is the name of a small forest. The name is related to the peak of the ritual, which is held by placing offerings in the forest, precisely in a small sacred cave. on the night before the ceremony, many sacred objects are taken out for cleansing. The villagers are lining up for the blessing from the Rato and then taking turns to dance all night.

Because it is a ceremony welcom-ing the new season, it has many ritu-als related to prediction, including the ritual of slaughtering chickens by Rato

(priest) Marapu in which the condition of chicken intestine indicates whether the incoming harvest is good or bad. There is also a ritual of watching Wulla Manu Manu Laddu, a philosopher’s stone which according to legend is a gift of heaven to earth man who married his daughter. If the position of the stone in the cave in the woods Hiupaana is per-fectly attached, then the harvest will be plentiful, otherwise it will likely come in a variety of disease.

Interested in fortune telling? You cab participate in the ritual of Kabena Ke-bbo (throwing the buffalo). In this ritual, a young buffalo was chosen specifically as animal offering and will be driven into the ceremony area. At the same time, everyone is welcome to throw the

buffalo with betel nuts that have been distributed. If someone could hit the bufallo’s forehead, it is believed that person will get big profit. Hitting the neck is also a good sign, while stomach and feet are believed to be not-so-good parts and much more.

WEST SUMBA

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Promoting The Amazing Paradise in West Papua

Raja Ampat’s natural splendor presented to the world through a magnificent event titled Raja

Ampat Festival 2013. This regular event has entered its fourth year and was held at Waisai Torang Cinta Beach (WTC) on 18 to 21 october 2013.

Raja Ampat Festival 2013 is one of the programs organized by the Local Government of Raja Ampat, West Papua and supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy ( Kemenparekraf

). This event aims to promote Raja Ampat as one of the leading destinations Indone-sia. Implementation of Raja Ampat Festi-val 2013 with the theme of “Explore the Cultural Wonder of Raja Ampat” has been included in the National Tourism Calendar and gets support from Kemenparekraf since 2010.

Raja Ampat has been known world-wide for its world class dive sites and has been repeatedly chosen as a filming loca-tion by world film producers and an inter-national broadcasting company.

Raja Ampat Festival 2013 is also a means to promote cultural diversity of Raja Ampat to the public in an attempt to boost tourist arrivals to Indonesia in Wonderful Indonesia program and to encourage tour-ists domestic tourists to visit Papua and West Papua, and Raja Ampat in particular

as well as to love tourist destinations in In-donesia in the program “Know your loved your country.”

I Gede Pitana, Head of Resources De-velopment Kemenparekraf representing Menparekraf said, Raja Ampat Festival 2013 is interesting to watch and be one of the activities in an attempt to increase tourist visits not only to Raja Ampat, but also to the city of Sorong as hub and sur-rounding areas such as Western Sorong Regency, South Sorong, and Tambraw and Maibrat Regency.

“Raja Ampat Festival, which takes place every year in Waisai becomes one of the attractions for tourists to come to Raja Ampat Island primarily to visit Wayag Island known as a world-class as geopark, “said Pitana in Waisai, Raja Ampat, West Papua, on Friday ( 17.10.2013 ).

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on the same occasion, the Regent of Raja Ampat Marcus Wanma said that Raja Ampat Festival 2013 was followed by 17 districts around the island of Waisai. They enlivened the festival in the art and cul-tural event through Cakalele dance com-petition, Wor Dance, and Lalayon dance, craft exhibitions, culinary, travel and tour events.

“ I look forward to the implementation of Raja Ampat Festival next year. Hope-fully, it will be increased by involving par-ticipants from all over the county and city in the province of West Papua, “said Mar-cus.

The festival featured a variety of events such as exhibition of Marine Tour-ism, Culinary Festival, Arts, and Cultural Performances, Photo Contest and differ-ent traditional art performances including Yospan Dance Contest, Tambur Flute, and Wayase.

one of the highlights of this festival is a demonstration of the traditional boating skills that have been passed down from generation to generation, which is the tra-ditional way of Papua Seafarers.

The organizer also provided tour pack-ages for visitors such as bird-watching to

see bald bird of paradise and cassowary, diving tours, snorkeling tours, and tourist village exploration. Raja Ampat includes a series of islands and the main islands are Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, and Misool. Raja Ampat also offers unforgettable div-ing experience in its most beautiful under-water.

Targeting 12 Thousand Foreign Tourists

Through Raja Ampat Festival, the local government is targeting 12 thousand tour-

ists to come this year. “one of the goals of the Raja Ampat Festival is to promote tourism, “said Marcus Wanma.

In 2012, nearly 8 thousand foreign tourists came. While domestic tourists came was lower as many as two thousand domestic tourists. “This means that Raja Ampat is known more by foreigners, “said Marcus.

Through Raja Ampat Festival 2013, the number of tourist arrival is expected to increase. Target of foreign tourist arrivals this year has also been established. “This year’s target is 9-12 thousand visitors, “he said.

on the same occasion, Head of Cul-ture and Tourism Office of Raja Ampat, Yusdi N Lamatenggo, said that there are about 500-600 foreign tourists coming. “It could even be more than one thousand people per month, “said Yusdi.

Tourists who come to Raja Ampat will be given a special pin. By wearing the pin, you are free to go to Raja Ampat for one year. “Visitors need to pay once and they will get free admission for a year as long as they put the pin on, “said Yusdi.

The pin costs Rp 500,000/person for foreign tourists and Rp 250,000/person for domestic tourists.

To reach Raja Ampat, for those who depart from Jakarta can take a six -hour flight to Sorong with transit in Makassar or Manado. Some airlines that serve flights to Raja Ampat are Merpati, Express Air, Lion Air, Wings Air, Garuda Indonesia and Pelita Air.

After arriving in Sorong, you could take a ferry or rent a boat to the island of Wa-isai / Waigeo, after arriving on the island you can explore the spectacular beauty of the marine park or even see the splendor of the composition of atoll islands that are widely scattered around Waisai. (bowo)

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Scuba Diving in the Komodo marine reserve is possible all year round. Best diving conditions run from March to octo-ber (March, April, May, June, July, August, September, october).

Best season to see a lot of Manta rays is during the rainy season from December to February (December, January, Febru-ary). Enquire to dive clubs about avail-ability as not all clubs go out at sea during the rainy season.

Visibility is best from November to January. From January to March the sea can be a bit choppy but nothing bad.

Currents are usually very strong on every dive site and diving in Komodo is mostly reserved to experienced div-ers with confidence in drift diving! There are however some quieter dive spots for those beginners but you may miss the incredible action of big fishes swimming into the current.

The current can sometimes reach 8 knots in some places. It is driven by tides so choose your dive site carefully which

you can plan depending on the condi-tions. This current is due to the Komodo and Rinca island acting like a bottleneck between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific ocean. This current is why Komodo wa-ters are so full of fishes and so clear.

Never question the decision of your guide if they decide to cancel a trip for safety reasons; these waters can be a real roller coaster with the risk of being washed away in the open sea and these guys are professionals.

one of the best things about diving Komodo is that you will often feel as you are the only ones underwater as there are just so many dive sites. Also the local dive centres agree on not diving the same site at the same time.

Best dive centers in Labuan Bajo

You can pick from the following dive centers in Labuan bajo to dive around the Komodo Islands.

Reefseekers, Dive Komodo, orca Dive Club, and Wicked Diving Center

Fishes and Coral

The Komodo waters are incredibly rich in marine life. Pelagic fishes: Dog-tooth Tuna, Giant trevally, Barracuda, Manta rays. Sharks: Blacktip, Whitetip, Grey, Hammerhead sharks. Macro: All kinds and rare nudibranchs, pygmy sea horse, frog fish. The best place for macro diving is Cannibal Rock located in the south of the marine reserve. There is also a teeming reef life with myriads of fishes. Be careful not to lose your buddy because of the “walls of fishes”

Best Diving sites in Komodo Island

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Introducing Lombok

Lombok is the most popular destination in Nusa Tenggara, with the fabled Gili Islands drawing visitors for action both in and out of

the water, mighty Gunung Rinjani luring trekkers, and the big breaks on the south coast a magnet for surfers. Matram, Lombok’s capital, is a good spot for day trips to the surrounding areas, and nearby Senggigi is superbly positioned along a stretch or sweeping bays. In east Lombok, the very scenic Sumbawa offers low key tourism and some good surf breaks.

The island of Lombok shapes up at about 80km from east to west and about the same from north to south, with lush evergreen landscapes and parts which are chronically dry. Droughts,

particularly in the south and east, can last for months, causing crop failure and famine – though recent improvements in water management have made life in Lombok less precarious.

Rice is an important crop, though yields are lower here than on neighbouring islands. Tobac-co, coconuts, coffee, kapok and cotton are also important crops, while cloves, vanilla, pineapple and pepper have also been introduced.

The indigenous Sasak (around 90% of the population) are Muslims but have a culture and language unique to Lombok. There’s also a sig-nificant Hindu Balinese minority – a legacy of the time when Bali controlled Lombok.

Ready to go?

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At this quirky harvest festival, the Hindu and Muslim residents of Lombok, east of Bali, unite to pelt each other with boiled rice.

The food fight takes a week of preparation. On the big day, the Sasak Wektu Telu community joins its Hindu neighbours at a singularly appropriately location, the Pura Lingsar. This 18th-century temple was built by Hindus, but the temple compound also contains the Kemaliq, a Muslim shrine.

on different sides of the temple, separated by a courtyard, the two groups perform a Pujawali ritual, which commemorates the temple’s anniversary and gives thanks for the harvest. The next stage of the day is Rorok Kembang Waru: the wilting of the Waru

flowers, which bloom and die in a day. When the first flower falls, at about 4pm, the groups begin to shower each other with ketupat (sticky rice wrapped in coconut leaves).

After the good-natured fight, some of the left-over ammo is distributed among the participants and spectators. The rest is buried in the fields, to ensure another season of healthy crops.

Essentials: Bring an umbrella, in case there are any really poor marksmen.

Local attractions: Swot up on Lombok and neighbouring Sumbawa among the masks, dag-gers, basketware and cloth in Museum Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat.

Perang Topat (Rice Cake War): tips for Lombok’s multicultural food fight

At 3,726 m, Rinjani is the second highest volcano in Indonesia after Sumatra’s Gunung Kerinci. It is very

climbable by visitors with a high level of physical fitness. Critical is to understand and respect this great mountain: sadly, visitors have died here through failing to follow sensible procedures and make all necessary preparations.

Few actually make the very strenuous effort required to reach the actual summit but instead stop at the crater rim (approx 2,700 m) where the views of the crater lake are mind blowing. To make the extra 1,000 m ascent to the very top requires a considerably higher level of fitness, not to mention strength of spirit and sense of adventure.

Typically, a trek to the crater rim in-volves two days and one night on the mountain. The longer ascent to the sum-mit can be done with just one night’s camping but is often part of a longer trek of 3-4 days and two or three nights.

The current park entrance fee is Rp 150,000. Of this 13% is allocated to the Gunung Rinjani National Park, 62% to the Rinjani Trek Ecotourism Program and 25% to support the Rinjani Trek operation and maintenance program.

Don’t try to go it alone

An organised trek is by far the easi-est, safest and most popular option but it is also quite possible to make all of your

own arrangements and just hire a guide and equipment from one of the trekking centres on the mountain. Rinjani Park regulations stipulate the use of a certified guide so even the most experienced and well prepared mountaineers will still need to climb Rinjani with the services of a pro-fessional guide. The mountains Licensed Guide Association (HPI) issues certifica-tion to the Rinjani guides and porters but it should be understood that the certifica-tion standards and required training are no where near as rigorous as would be expected in many other countries. Serious accidents including fatalities do occur on Rinjani treks when led by these accredited guides.

Proper sturdy climbing/hiking boots are an absolute necessity as is a sub-stantial waterproof, windproof jacket, and a head lamp. If you are going to the top, use of poles (walking sticks) for getting through the scree (loose rock) at the top are also highly recommended. By 2,000 m, you will feel like you are not in the trop-ics any more as rising wet, hot air loses its temperature and may fall as rain. If inap-propriate clothing becomes wet difficulties will set in as air temperatures towards the summit are as low as 4⁰C, often with a significant extra wind chill factor. You must prepare accordingly.

At times it seems that everyone in Lombok is a trekking guide for Mount Rinjani, especially on the main tourist strip in Senggigi.

Take most of what you are told with a pinch of salt and you will find the most experienced and reputable guides at the main trekking centres at Senaru and Sem-balun Lawang. It does happen that tour-ists who are highly experienced hikers or climbers may find themselves far better prepared and skilled for mountain condi-tions than the local guides. Codes of con-duct have been developed for the local trekking support community that include climbing safety, environmental awareness and responsible use. Some of the guides and trekking organisations are better than others at respecting these agreements and guidelines. It is also a good idea to in-dependently check for any volcanic alerts that may have been issued for Mount Rinjani.

Many visitors have found it is prefer-able to avoid package deals purchased away from Senaru, and instead negotiate either with one of the trekking providers listed below or with the guides themselves to ensure that they are actually compe-tent. If there is a problem, you can then find a different guide company in Senaru or Sembalun.

Climbing Mount Rinjani

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Indonesia is a huge country, in both population and land area, with significant cultural and geological diversity. With 18,110 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited, it is the largest archipelago in the world. The population of around 240 million people is derived from 300 ethnic groups who speak over 250 different languages. While Bali is usually the destination most familiar to foreign visitors, there

is a wealth of other top tourist attractions in Indonesia to discover in this vast and varied country.

Top Tourist Attractions in Indonesia10

Lake Toba

Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra is an immense volcanic lake about 100 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is the larg-est resurgent caldera on Earth. Genetic estimates suggests that there were only a few thousand humans that sur-vived the catastrophe. The island in the middle – Pulau Samosir – is the largest island within an island and contains two lakes. Besides visiting “a lake on an is-land within a lake on an island” tourist

also come here to kick back and relax and swim in the volcanically warmed waters.

Tanjung Puting

The Tanjung Puting National Park is located on the island of Borneo in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. The park is a popular ecotourism destination, with many local tour companies offering multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research centers. Wildlife include gibbons, macaques, cloud-ed leopards, sun bears, pythons, crocodiles and – most famously – orangutans. Unfortunately the park is heavily threatened by illegal log-ging and forest clearing for agricul-tural uses.

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Baliem valley The Baliem Valley in the highlands of

Western New Guinea offers a glimpse into what was recently a stone-age world. The valley was not known to the outside world until 1938 when an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) discovered a large agricultural population. Wamena is the starting point for most visitors who come nowadays to marvel at the moun-tain views, roaring rivers, tribal villages and at the tough but sweet spirit of the warm Dani people.

Mount Bromo Gunung Bromo is an active volcano

and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters (7,641 feet) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the vol-cano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke. It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly.

Bunaken Located at the north of the island of

Sulawesi, Bunaken is one of Indone-sia’s most famous dive and snorkeling areas. The island is part of the Bunaken Marine Park where you can see more than 70% of all fish species that live in the western Pacific ocean. The best time for diving in Bunaken is between the months of April and November.

Torajaland Torajaland (Tana Toraja) is a high-

land region of South Sulawesi, home of the Toraja people. Torajans are famous for their massive peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan and spectacular but gruesome funeral rites. After a per-son’s death, the body is kept – often for several years – until the actual funeral ceremony which can last for several days. The deceased is then finally bur-ied in a small cave or in a hollow tree.

Gili Islands

Lombok’s most popular tourist des-tination, the Gili Islands are an ar-chipelago of three small islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and no cars or mo-torbikes to disturb the peace. Note that the name “Gili Islands” is rather redun-dant as gili simply means “small island” in Sasak and there are many other is-lands around the coast of Lombok with

Gili in their names.

Komodo National Park The Komodo National Park is a na-

tional park located within the Lesser Sunda Islands that includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones. The park is named after the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest living reptile that can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carcass of dead animals, they are formidable predators and will also hunt prey including birds,

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and mammals. Attacks against humans are very rare.

Borobudur Located 40 km (25 miles) northwest

of Yogyakarta on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the most famous Bud-dhist temple in the world. The Borobu-

dur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an es-timated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for rea-sons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia.

Bali Bali is one of the world’s most popular

island destinations and one which con-sistently wins travel awards. The varied landscape, rugged coastlines, tropical beaches, lush rice terraces and volca-nic hillsides all provide a picturesque

backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual and unique Hindu culture. The combi-nation of friendly people, a magnificent-ly visual culture infused with spiritual-ity and spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali the unrivaled number one tourist attraction in Indonesia.

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Ora Beach,Hidden Paradise of Central Maluku

As the country with the second longest coastline in the world, Indonesia is home to

countless beautiful beaches, and has won numerous awards for such. one of these beaches is ora Beach, carefully hidden away on the North Coast of Seram Island. An exotic and extremely remote destination, ora beach is perfect for Eco-travellers and honeymooners alike. A row of cozy, wooden cottages line the sandy, white beaches, overlooking the crystal clear waters of Sawai Bay, and with a backdrop of limestone cliffs and majestic mountains, covered in lush, tropical

greenery. Seram island is most famous for its abundant bird life. of 117 species found on the island, 14 are endemic to Seram.

Seram is the largest island in the Maluku province, measuring ap-proximately 16,000 square kilome-ters, yet is home to a population of only about 170,000. It lies just north of the smaller and more historically renowned island of Ambon. Maluku Province is located between Indo-nesia’s larger islands of Sulawesi and Papua. Seram’s geographic location amidst several tectonic plates, gives the island a remark-ably complex terrain. A central

mountain range runs across the is-land, its highest mountain, Gunung Binaya, peaking at just over 3,000 meters. The island is covered most-ly in dense, tropical rain forests, bordered on one side by towering cliffs and the other by sandy white beaches, and finally encircled by a crystal blue sea.

As a mountainous and heav-ily forested island, Seram offers many an opportunity for lovers of the great outdoors to go trekking, hiking, and the like. For those who have the patience, and a good eye, see how many of Seram’s unique birdlife you can spot!

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The surrounding sea is crystal clear, and home to a stupendous display of colorful coral reefs, with a multitude of fish and other ocean creatures living therein; much of which is visible even before you submerse yourself beneath the glassy surface. Sawai Bay, facing ora Beach, is the most popular spot on the island for diving and snorkeling, for a closer look at the magnificent underwater gardens and their inhabitants. There are no dive shops on Seram island, so visitors are advised to bring their own gear, or rent it from Ambon before embarking on the journey to Seram.

Many a visitor to ora have stated that the day was not long enough to explore the ocean’s sights, re-surfacing only at the day’s end to

bask in the evening glow of the orange sun sinking beneath the horizon. Even once the last linger-ing lights have disappeared, the brilliant starlight is enough to keep you mesmerized until the sun re-visits once again.

Get There

The first step is to catch a flight to Ambon Pattimura Airport. Ambon is a domestic only airport, with avail-able flights from the nation’s capital of Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and other cities around Indonesia.

From the airport, hire a car and make your way to Tulehu Port, which will take you about 30 min-utes. From there, catch a Ferry to Masohi, on Seram Island. Tickets

cost between 50,000 – 150,000 Rupiah, and the trip will take be-tween 1.5 - 2 hours, depending on the type of vessel you choose. After that, it’s another 2 hours by car along steep and winding for-ested roads until you arrive at the tiny fishing village of Saleman. At last, the final leg of the journey will be yet another boat ride from the village to ora Beach Resort, which thankfully, will only take about 10 minutes.

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Pandawa Beach

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Represented by “Best of Java and Bali”, Indonesia was recently included in WEXAS ToP

50 Worldwide Journeys, published by WEXAS Travel, one of the most respected travel companies in the United Kingdom.

WEXAS ToP 50 Worldwide Jour-neys are the result of the collective knowledge from WEXAS Travel spe-cialists who over the last few decades have arranged thousands of trips worldwide. The list guides readers and tourists over the most favorite destina-tions around the world with complete itineraries.

The Best of Java and Bali is depicted as: “A perfect balance of exploration and relaxation combining vast reli-gious monuments, culturally rich cities and steaming volcanoes of Java with a week relaxing on the magical island of Bali”. The 14-Day Tailor Made Journey -including flights and deluxe accommo-dation- is recommended for those who enjoy History and Culture, the Natural World, and Relaxation.

Pandawa Bali

WEXAS Travel illustrates Java as a land of enchanting beauty at the heart of Indonesia, dotted with mysterious an-cient temples, fascinating cultures and sprawling megacities. While its east, the beautiful island of Bali is blessed with beautiful beaches, terraced rice fields and forested foothills, leading towards towering volcanic peaks that dominate the landscape of this ever-popular holi-day destination.

on the 14-day tailor-made holiday you will experience the best of Java's spectacular scenery and centuries of history and culture as you journey through the island's interior, taking in the ancient temple of Borobudur and Prambanan, the historic cities of Yog-yakarta and Solo, the relaxing city of Malang, and the breathtaking beauty of Mount Bromo. From here, the trip continues to Bali to spend a relaxing week at one of the island's premier boutique hotels - the gorgeous Pavil-ion Sanur.

bromo

Founded in 1970 by current Chair-man, Dr Ian Wilson, WEXAS specializ-es in tailor-made travel across all seven continents. Committed to providing the highest level of personal service, WEX-AS is endorsed by Honorary Presidents as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, John Simpson and Michael Palin.

Best of Java and Bali’ among WEXAS Top 50 Worldwide Journeys

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HUT ke-69 Kemerdekaan RI tahun ini dimeriahkan dengan kegiatan bersepeda santai

oleh manajemen dan para karyawan keluarga hotel ibis Bali.

Keluarga hotel ibis di Bali termasuk hotel all seasons yang meliputi; ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle, ibis Bali Kuta, ibis Styles Bali Benoa, ibis Styles Bali Kuta Dewi Sri dan all seasons Bali Denpasar, mengadakan acara “A’gowes’tusan bersama keluarga ho-tel ibis” pada hari Sabtu, 16 Agustus 2014.

Acara yang diikuti oleh manajemen dan para karyawan hotel-hotel ini dike-mas dalam bentuk kegiatan bersepeda santai dengan titik awal dari ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle menuju Patung Rama-yana Tuban lalu menuju Pantai Kuta dan Legian dan berakhir kembali ke ibis Styles Bali Kuta Circle. Aneka per-lombaan khas 17 Agustus’an pun dige-lar seperti; makan kerupuk, tarik tam-bang, balap karung, pukul bola dengan terong.

Tantiarini Hidayati selaku General Manager ibis Style Bali Kuta Dewi Sri

menyampaikan “Acara ini kami ada-kan dalam rangka menyemarakkan HUT Republik Indonesia setiap tang-gal 17 Agustus yang pada tahun 2014 ini berusia 69 tahun selain dari upaya menumbuhkan rasa cinta dan bangga dari para karyawan hotel sebagai war-ga negara Indonesia. Niat kami acara ini dapat menjadi acara rutin tahunan

Tak ketinggalan, panitia acara juga menyiapkan berbagai door prize bagi mereka yang beruntung selain dari hadiah-hadiah perlombaan.***

A’gowes’tusan Bersama Keluarga Hotel ibis Bali

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InterContinental Bali Resort is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the Signum Virtutis –

the seal of excellence by THE SEVEN STAR GLoBAL LUXURY AWARDS 2014. Known as “The award for the pinnacle in hospitality and lifestyle,” the Signum Virtutis honours the finest in the industry. This is a very exclusive club and it will remain this way as only the most prestigious are awarded. With the voting done by both guests and industry professionals, the award ceremony took place on 14th June 2014 in Malaysia.

InterContinental Bali’s exceptional standard of luxury and excellence is showcased in its 417 splendid rooms, suites and villas, crowned with the elite Club InterContinental. Club guests benefit from anexclusive array of privi-leges and entitlements including a 24-hour bespoke butler service, exclusive access to the private Club Pool, use of the Inspiration Space, plus round the clock access to Club InterContinental Lounge.

More top ofthe line family facilities at InterContinental Bali Resort include six pools, Spa Uluwatu, a fitness cen-tre and Planet Trekkers – a dedicated

mini resort for young guests aged 4-12 years, as well as a wide and exciting range of activities. Additionally, the sheer size of the Resort lends itself as an outstanding venue for meetings, events and weddings, while culinary distinction abounds with superb

choice of restaurants, bars and din-ing experiences. The Resort rests in 14 hectares of tropical gardens and is blessed with a spectacular stretch of white sand beach overlooking the tran-quil waters of Jimbaran Bay. Designed with sensitivity towards the surround-ing environment, Intercontinental Bali Resort pays respect to the island’s rich culture, fine artistry and Hindu heri-tage.

General Manager, Mr. Michel Cher-touh said, “Winning such a prestigious award is a great testament to our repu-tation of being one of Bali’s most luxuri-ous family resort.

About InterContinental Bali Resort

Blessed by an endless stretch of white sand beach overlooking the tran-quil waters of Jimbaran Bay, InterCon-

tinental Bali Resort features 417 guest rooms in three unique levels of accom-modation. The property embraces a 14 hectare tropical landscape that is a blend of indigenous flora, gentle wa-terways and stone statues reflecting the island’s artistic heritage. There are six swimming pools, Planet Trekkers children’s resort, a fitness centre and plenty of recreational activities to keep guests occupied throughout the day. Spa Uluwatu is a dedicated healing and beauty facility for individual ses-sions, while the exclusive Villa Retreats promises indulging spa packages for couples. A superb choice of restaurant venues makes every dining experience an adventure in culinary excellence.

About InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts: The InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand has 174 hotels located in more than 60 countries with local insight that comes from over 65 years of experience. As a brand, we believe that superior, understated service and outstanding facilities are important, but what makes us truly different is the genuine interest we show in our guests. our desire is to help guests make the most of their time. We connect our well-travelled guests to what’s special about a destination, by sharing our knowledge so they enjoy authentic experiences that will enrich their lives and broaden their outlook. For more information, visit www.intercontinental.com, https://twit-ter.com/InterConHotels or http://www.facebook.com/intercontinental.

INTERCONTINENTAL BALI RESORT WINS SEvEN STAR GLOBAL LUXURY AWARD

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