Pluralism essential to RI future, nation told

Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The future success of Indonesia hinges on the development of a pluralistic society, which will provide the groundwork and act as a vital asset for national improvement, sociologists and political experts say.

"Changing the Indonesian people's mindset to embrace pluralism is important for the nation's improvement. We can start with education, in communities and public domains," said the executive director of the Reform Institute, Yudi Latif, on Tuesday.

At a seminar titled "The Uprising of a New Indonesia", which was co-organized by the University of Indonesia, the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and the Communication and Information Ministry, Yudi said that multiculturalism is a great national asset.

As long as Indonesians remain bound to ethnic and religious frameworks and limitations, the country is slated for decline, he said. Yudi is also deputy rector at Paramadina University.

"A synthesis of all these movements, such as ethnicity and religions, is the key. If we have that, then our success as a nation is only a matter of time," he said, adding that every successful civilization in history constituted a hybrid society.

Sociologist at the University of Indonesia, Meuthia Ganie-Rochman, said preserving multiculturalism would help keep the country's process of democratization on track.

"Ethnic- or religious-based institutions should understand the needs of the public. The functions of those institutions can be altered according to those needs," she said, adding, however, that the ways in which Indonesians should manage such changes remain to be explored.

Director for industry, science and technology and state-owned enterprise affairs at Bappenas, Mesdin Simarmata, told The Jakarta Post that in terms of the diversity of its people and broader community, Indonesia is on par with the U.S. or the former Soviet Union.

Although the creation of a truly pluralistic nation would be difficult, Mesdin said, Indonesians could expedite the process simply by respecting each other.

Political economics and public policy expert Andrinof A. Chaniago said that from an economic perspective, a crucial factor in developing Indonesia would be to negate the nation's Java-centric attitude to development.

"We are experiencing a social imbalance. For example, 90 percent of turnpike investment is on Java," he said.

Andrinof added that turnpike investment in southern Java would trigger the development of upper-class residences there, such as those already in West Java's Bogor and Puncak areas.

"Moreover, these would bring seasonal flood disasters to the area. If this persists, then by about 2025 Indonesia could have another financial crisis just like the one we had in 1998," he said.

Andrinof added that long-term planning in the country should involve striking a balance between growth both on and outside Java and in rural and urban areas. It should also provide economic opportunities to both the haves and have-nots, he said.

He said the long-term vision for Indonesia was initially formulated by the Indonesian Forum Foundation and was announced at the State Palace in March this year.

Bali's Ngurah Rai best airport in RI

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: The Directorate General of Air Transportation at the Transportation Ministry released on Tuesday the results of its audit of the nation's airports, with Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport topping the list as the country's best.

After Ngurah Rai, the runners-up were Soekarno-Hatta in Cengkareng, Banten; Juanda in Surabaya; Polonia in Medan, North Sumatra and Hasanuddin in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The directorate general ranked the airports based on several criteria such as compliance to regulations, security, safety and comfort levels for passengers.

Ngurah Rai received a compliant score of 84, while Soekarno-Hatta received an 82, Juanda a 73, Polonia a 70 and Hasanuddin a 64. -- JP

Tourism Departement preparing 'Visit Indonesia Year'

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government`s culture and tourism department is currently making preparations for the launching of a "Visit Indonesia Year" in the middle of 2007, a spokesman said.

"A `Visit Indonesai Year` (VIY) is now in the final phase of preparation. We will launch it in July or August," Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said here Tuesday.

Speaking after witnessing the signing of a cooperation agreement between the department and PT Garuda Indonesia, the minister said the preparations included the production of brochures, composition and arrangement of programs of events.

Meanwhile, Thamrin B Bachri, the culture and tourism department`s director general of marketing, said VIY 2008 would be declared as soon as its logo was completed.

"So what we are waiting for now is the completion of the logo. As soon as the logo and a guide on its use are finished, we will conduct a soft launching." he said.

He said the most crucial thing in organizing the VIY was coordination between the department in Jakarta and the tourism offices in all of the country`s regions on the time and venues of as many as 100 top touristic events during the year.

"The events must be prepared and executed with high accuracy," he said , adding that the 100 planned events were expected to induce foreign tourists to come to Indonesia.

The department would also publish a booklet listing all the 100 events to be organized in many parts of the country, Thamrin said.

Minister Wacik said his ministry had proposed a budget of Rp153 billion for tourism develoment in 2007. Some 80 percent of the amount was to cover the cost of promoting Indonesia`s tourist destinations through advertisements in international televisions abroad.

Terrorism fears shouldn't prevent Bali visit

By Dan Day, McClatchy Newspapers

KUTA, INDONESIA - Bali beckons.

In the aftermath of deadly terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005, Balinese artisans and merchants are eager for the people of the world to rediscover their enchanting island.

Although the U.S. State Department warns Americans about traveling in Indonesia, I ventured to Bali for a few days in January with my brothers and my older son.

Although worries of a terrorist attack never completely left me, I quickly succumbed to the island's tropical charms.

We split our time between magnificent beaches of the southwest and the enchanting central mountains. Here are some of the highlights.

Bali, a volcanic island in the Indonesian archipelago just south of the equator, is lush and exotic.

Along the coast at a resort in Seminyak, we indulged ourselves by watching the sun set gloriously into the Indian Ocean, the sky turning from blue to orange to crimson.

In the central mountains, we passed spectacular tiered rice paddies.

In Ubud, we saw Balinese children swimming gleefully in the river running through the valley nestling our hotel.

We also toured the Mandala Wisata Wenara Wana, or sacred monkey forest sanctuary. Paved walkways took us through a jungle preserve for long-tailed macaques -- cute monkeys with a hankering for bananas and little tolerance for close-up photography.

Everywhere we went was a shopper's paradise. The exchange rate between the American dollar and the Indonesian rupiah is generous, and the number of stalls and shops was overwhelming. They sell everything from beautiful batik weavings and silver jewelry to flip-flops and other trinkets.

Although prices are fixed at larger stores, bargaining seems to be one of Bali's national pastimes. The street merchants were the most aggressive in Kuta, following us out of their stalls and pestering us to make offers on T-shirts and necklaces.

The style was much more relaxed in Ubud and surrounding villages, where we watchedbasket-makers at work in their shops.

Some of the best time I spent was wandering through the villages around Ubud, where I got a close look at the exotic architecture of public buildings and family compounds. The people are mostly Hindu, and incense offerings were placed at thresholds to most homes and shops.

One morning, I encountered scores of children walking to school, all of them in uniform and the girls seemingly all in pigtails.

We were fortunate to hear a couple of performances by gamelan orchestras, a style of Indonesian music that depends heavily on drums, gongs and other percussion instruments. We saw only part of a traditional Balinese storytelling dance and left wanting to see more.

One of our last stops was at the international memorial to the victims of the Oct. 12, 2002, terrorist bombings in Kuta that killed 202 people from several countries. Attacks in 2005 at Kuta and Jimbaran beach killed 23 people, including three bombers.

It was a sobering experience to see a monument to the victims of despicable violence in such a beautiful place.

The people of Bali are trying to overcome the bombings and bring back tourists. Although security checks at Denpasar airport actually seemed less thorough than what American airports demand, our luggage and our taxi were searched before we could pass through the gate to our resort in Seminyak. At a restaurant in Kuta, security guards ran metal-sensing wands over us before we were escorted to our table.

Many of the merchants and ``taksi'' drivers politely asked where we were from. They were glad and a bit surprised to see Americans back in their shops.

I look forward to the pleasure of returning someday, for their sake and mine.

Indonesia Win Penang International Dragon Boating Race

PENANG, June 10 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian dragon boating team won the international open category race at the 28th Penang International Dragon Boating Festival at the Teluk Bahang Dam here.

The team clocked 2 minutes and 3 seconds to capture the Yang Dipertua Negeri Trophy.

Pacific West A faced a strong challenge from the Putrajaya Youth and Sports Ministry team but succeeded in edging them by a second to emerge as the runners-up in a time of 2'08s.

Indonesia also won the mixed event in 2'41s while Bangkok A and B were second and third respectively in 2'44s and 2'46s.

A total 2,130 participants involving 75 local and 44 foreign teams from Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, Netherlands, Germany, Dubai, Vietnam and China took part in the three-day event, which ended today.

Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas gave away the prizes to the winners.

-- BERNAMA

Locals find Japanese fort

The Jakarta Post

BANGGAI, Central Sulawesi: Residents in Kampangar village, Balantak district in Banggai regency have found a fort and ammunition believed to be remnants from the Japanese occupation period.

The site is 650 km from the provincial capital of Palu and contains several furnaces, a water tank and a large 20-meter deep pit at the foot of the hill.

Residents discovered thousands of rounds of ammunition and explosives.

Banggai community figure Supardi Ibrahim said he assumed the pit was a place locals were tortured during the period.

"The fort was built by Banggai residents during the Romusha Japanese forced-labor system, in which local residents were gathered to build the fort," said Supardi.

The fort is six meters wide and two kilometers long and is in the shape of a tunnel which housed supplies of food and ammunition as well as sleeping quarters for Japanese troops.

Banggai Regent Ma'mun Amir said he could not talk too openly about the finding yet but said Banggai was one of the major kingdoms in Central Sulawesi once occupied by foreign forces. -- JP

RI to open cultural center in Timor Leste

Batugade, Timor Leste (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Embassy in Dili will build an Indonesian Cultural Center in Timor Leste`s capital in cooperation with the central government, a spokesman said.

Kiki T. Kusprabowo, counsellor at the embassy, told ANTARA News via phone on Saturday most Timor Leste people were quite able to converse, write and communicate in the Indonesian language.

Thus, he said, an Indonesian cultural center in Dili would not only serve as a place to introduce the Indonesian language but also Indonesian culture comprehensively.

"At present, we continue to communicate and coordinate with Jakarta on this matter," he added.

Since Timor Leste gained independece on May 20 seven years ago, only one country had opened a cultural center in Dili, namely Portugal.

Within its cultural complex, Portugal was displaying exhibits on its culture, many aspects of which were absorbed by the local people.

Officially, or based on its constitution, Timor Leste uses three languages, namely Tetum, Portuguese and English. In various official documents, it is often found that the texts are written in Tetum and Portuguese.

But in daily activities, members of the old and younger generations use the Tetum and Indonesian languages.

Herman da Silva, 26, a Dili resident who once studied at Diponegoro University in Semarang, said over the phone that it was difficult for Timor Leste people to master Portuguese.

'Level 42' band to perform in three Indonesia cities

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Legendary jazz-funk fusion band "Level 42" will visit Indonesia to give concerts in three big cities next week, a spokesperson of the group`s promotor said.

"The group will hold its first concert in Medan (North Sumatra) on June 11, its second concert in Bandung on June 13 and its third concert in Surabaya (East Java) on June 14," Peter Basuki, chief executive officer (CEO) of Buena Productions, said here Friday night.

The group`s Indonesia visit is part of a world tour that will also take it to the Netherlands and Portugal, he said.

Level 42 was formed in 1980 as a jazz-funk fusion band by the Gould brothers, namely Phil Gould (drum) and Boon Gould (guitar). The group now consists of Mark King (bass and vocal), Mike Lindup (keyboard), Gary Husband (drums) and Nathan King (guitar).

The band gained fame for its high calibre musicianship, especially that of Mark King whose percussive slap bass technique provided the driving groove of many of the band`s hits. Level 42 has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide.

To gain among Muslims, Indonesia Offers to mediate Middle East disputes

Tehran Times - Iran

JAKARTA, Indonesia (NYTimes) -— In April, Indonesia held a gathering of Sunni and Shiite clerics and scholars in an effort to contribute to reconciliation in Iraq, where the death toll is overwhelmingly the result of Muslims killing Muslims.

In August, it hopes to bring the warring Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah together at a conference to which it will also invite political figures and scholars from the United States and Europe.

With these and other recent efforts at playing peacemaker, Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation and at the same time a democracy that promotes moderate Islam, has signaled a desire to take a bigger role in solving problems in the Islamic world.

As a country with about 15 percent of the world’s Muslims and good relations with other Muslim nations and the West, Indonesia hopes to encourage mutual understanding and show how Islamic states can profitably embrace modernity, better government and globalization, Indonesian officials say.

Since it won independence from the Dutch in 1949, Indonesia has largely avoided direct participation in the convulsions of the Muslim world. But President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who won Indonesia’s first direct presidential election in 2004, has indicated that he would like that to change.

“Countries in the Middle East have been so deeply involved in the problems of the region for so long a time that they can get too focused on some specific aspects,” Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said in an interview. “We, who follow events in the Middle East from a distance, can see a larger, clear picture,” Mr. Wirajuda said. “Hence we are able to produce some fresh ideas that might be helpful in the quest for a solution.” The new effort has shown few results, and has prompted a lukewarm reaction. Greg Fealy, a specialist on Islam in Indonesia at the Australian National University, said the government’s initiatives were driven in large part by domestic politics and Mr. Yudhoyono’s desire “to appear to be a Muslim leader.”

Mr. Fealy said in a telephone interview from Canberra that Indonesia faced an uphill battle to influence conflict resolution or social development in the Middle East because many countries there still regarded Indonesia as an “outpost” of Islam, despite the size of its Muslim population. But Indonesia seems undaunted. Last year, during a visit to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Yudhoyono urged Muslims to liberate themselves from isolationism, “to be at the forefront of globalism” and to “embrace technology and modernity.”

He said Islamic countries needed to promote better governance and to build bridges with the West. His message suggested that Islamic countries would be wise to follow Indonesia down the path to liberal democracy. Alwi Shihab, Mr. Yudhoyono’s special adviser on the Middle East and a former foreign minister, has been more emphatic. At a meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in Mecca in December 2005, he said Muslim countries had a “democracy deficit.” “The tradition of Islam has nothing to contradict participatory politics and good governance,” he told an audience that included King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. “Indeed, democracy is fully commensurate with the ethical and legal precepts of this great religion.”

Indonesia is itself a relatively new democracy. After 32 years of authoritarian rule under one leader, Suharto, it held free parliamentary elections in 1999, followed by the direct elections for president in 2004.

Mr. Wirajuda said that in Indonesia’s “more open and democratic” environment, it was necessary for foreign policy to reflect a popular desire for the country to be more engaged in the affairs of the Islamic world. Now, he said, Indonesia has had the experience of contributing to peace efforts in Cambodia and the southern Philippines, as well as solving a Muslim separatist conflict in its own Aceh Province. “We have our own credentials,” he said. “Perhaps from our experience we can contribute something.”

The United States sees Indonesia as a valuable ally among Islamic countries.

When Mr. Yudhoyono met with President Bush in Bogor last November, the Indonesian leader declined at their news conference to call for the immediate withdrawal of American forces from Iraq despite Indonesia’s firm opposition to the invasion in 2003.

Instead, he put forward what American officials refer to as his “three R’s” — reconciliation among factions in Iraq, replacement of American forces by a Muslim-dominated coalition under United Nations auspices, and reconstruction.

Indonesia has not had many takers for its proposals.

The Sunni-Shiite conference in Bogor in April brought together Islamic figures from eight countries, but some major Iraqi and Iranian leaders did not attend. Indonesia faces similar problems in arranging the conference with Hamas and Fatah, now twice delayed. “I think there is a huge gap between Indonesia’s rhetoric and aspirations, and what is achieved,” Mr. Fealy said. “I am not saying it is in vain, but the way Indonesia conducts its diplomacy is likely to end in failure.”

But he said Indonesia and Malaysia had played leading roles in the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the deployment of peacekeepers to southern Lebanon. Indonesia has about 850 peacekeepers with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Last year, Indonesia was elected to a rotating seat on the United Nations Security Council. Mr. Wirajuda said in an interview that Indonesia would use its seat on the Council to present “the views, interests and desires of the developing world, including the Muslim world.” But the difficulty Indonesia faces in navigating those issues was evident in March, when the Security Council decided to impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

On March 24, Indonesia lined up with the major powers and voted for the sanctions — despite consistently supporting Iran’s right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy and boasting of close diplomatic ties to Tehran.

Rizal Sukma, who leads the international relations committee of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim social organization, said the greater engagement in Islamic affairs would have to be carefully managed to avoid causing tensions at home and in relations with other Islamic countries. “We have to be realistic about our ability to promote a moderate Islamic and democratic agenda outside Indonesia,” said Mr. Sukma, who wrote the book “Islam in Indonesian Foreign Policy.”

“It can serve as a double-edged sword if we are not careful to define what kind of Islamic influence we want to project in our foreign policy,” he said. (Source: NYTimes)

Ultimo, Bali: Inexpensive fine dining in Bali

Andrew Charles, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Canggu, Bali

Please excuse the preamble but I cannot write about Ultimo without giving some of the history, and I know that readers living in Jakarta will appreciate this.

Many years ago, I lived in Jakarta and one of my two favorite restaurants there was Toscana, in Kemang, South Jakarta.

After moving to Bali, Toscana was one of the very few things I missed so I was delighted when they opened in Bali in December 2002.

Even more pleasing was the fact that the original manager from Jakarta, Paulus Lachinsky, came with the whole package and he soon attracted a good-quality clientŠle.

Sadly, things then changed, Paulus returned to Jakarta, the restaurant changed its name to Ultimo in May 2004 and suddenly it wasn't quite so popular any more.

However, changes can be reversed: I recently revisited Ultimo with a friend and we were amazed to see that the prices had been slashed, but without any change to the quality of the food.

We had lamb chops (five) for just Rp 60,000 and a fillet mignon for Rp 50,000. Starters come in at around Rp 20,000 or less, but more details later.

I love the idea of a glass of good-quality house wine at Rp 19,000 (as do many others), so it is no surprise to see that Ultimo is now full every night.

The bar is popular and many people just call in for a drink and maybe a small snack so it is becoming a good place to meet new friends.

Readers in Bali will know about Rumours; this popular restaurant is under the same ownership as Ultimo, with even lower prices.

It doesn't have the sophistication of Ultimo or the efficient air-conditioning but it is still a good place for anyone looking for an excellent meal at a very reasonable price in a crowded environment.

What happened to effect these changes? Paulus Lachinsky returned late last year and he has worked miracles!

Reverting to Ultimo, this is fast becoming one of the most popular restaurants in Bali and it is almost certainly due to the dynamism of general manager Lachinsky.

He knows how to make guests feel welcome; everyone dining there is made to feel important.

The restaurant itself is very elegantly designed with an air-conditioned section at the front, an attractive bar and friendly bar staff.

Another section, toward the back, is equally comfortable and there is also the garden area, which is equipped with high-powered fans to keep the air cool.

Live music is a regular option but it isn't intrusive and generally doesn't interfere with conversation. A friend and I sat very close to the band one evening and we had no problems conversing with each other.

This is the way it should be: Music needs to be in the background and not overwhelming, unless you're at a concert!

I mentioned a few menu items above but, just to give a fuller idea of the food on offer: As a starter, there is a lobster salad at Rp 22,000 or tartara di tono con avocado (tuna tartare with avocado) at only Rp 18,000.

These items are listed as chef's suggestions but the standard menu also offers some wonderful dishes such as salmon carpaccio, chicken salad, minestrone alla Milanese and some excellent bruschetta.

Ultimo is an Italian restaurant so of course there is a lot of pasta on the menu. You can start with the very inexpensive spaghetti aglio olio peperoncino at Rp 21,000 or move up to dizzy heights of spaghetti alle vongole, gamberi e capesante at Rp 45,500.

This is spaghetti with clams, shrimps, mussels, scallops and vegetables and although it sounds good, I have not yet tried it.

The home-made spinach ravioli with lamb ragout is excellent and costs just Rp 23,500.

If you fancy a pizza, there are nine varieties on offer from the simple margherita at Rp 18,000 to four stagioni (seasons) or the four formaggi (cheeses) at Rp 30,000.

One of my special favorites is costoletta di maiale con pere, which is a 250-gram grilled pork chop with pears and some very spicy cabbage: At Rp 35,000 this is a great choice.

"Why is he mentioning so many prices?" you may ask. The reason is simple; the prices are so low that this is one of the main reasons for the current success of Ultimo.

From the outside, it looks expensive -- with air-conditioning, valet parking, a smart bar and linen cloth on the tables -- so potential diners could be worried that to venture inside will be a bank-breaking experience.

The other, very important reason for the restaurant's success is Paulus himself. He greets all guests as if they are long-lost friends and he makes a point of checking every table to see if everything is satisfactory.

I once asked him how they could sell food at less than the price of the raw materials in the shops and he said: "We have a farm in Australia!"

It would be a very unusual farm that raises lobsters, scallops, cows, sheep and chickens but let's just enjoy the products without questioning their origins!

Seriously though, the company does have some excellent connections and are the owners of Pronas and Frisian Flag; not to mention the plethora of Circle K outlets.

I have to say that I was a bit reluctant to write this review because I am afraid that the next time I go to Ultimo, it will be too full, but I wanted to share the good news.

Ultimo Italian restaurant
Jl. Laksmana 104X
Seminyak, Bali

tel: (0361) 738720
fax (0361) 733269

Yudhoyono to open one-month Balinese festival

DENPASAR (Antara): President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the Balinese Arts Festival on June 16, a local official says Saturday.

Head of the local cultural office Nyoman Nikanayasaid Saturday that hundreds of dancers would be deployed in the colossal performance to be held in the open stage on Ardha Candra Taman Budaya Denpasar.

"The President and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono will watch the performance," he was quoted as saying.

The one-month festival will put more than 154 performances to the stage, he added.

Bali’s new wave

Terry Blackburn, Property Report

Long one of Asia’s top tourism destinations, Bali has in the last decade also become one of the region’s top two destinations for investing in resort property. Although still someway behind Phuket in volume of sales and the number of developments, the Indonesian island is catching up fast, helped along by a newly proactive government, both at local and national level, which is keen to develop the island’s appeal as a real estate investment destination for foreign buyers.

Bali is set to capitalise on Thailand’s current troubles, which post-coup have muddied the waters on foreign ownership of property and have slowed investment across the real estate sector.

“Indonesia has a legal environment which makes it quite easy for foreigners to buy,” says Dominique Gallmann, Director of Exotiq Real Estate. “They have a government which has consistently worked on improving the investment climate here and has improved the laws which enable foreigners to buy here. Just recently a new investment law was passed, by which foreigners can now hold government titles on property for 70 years with a possibility to extend.”

Unlike a leasehold, this ‘right of use’ law is a way to effectively control the freehold of land. Leaseholds in Indonesia are arranged solely between the buyer and the seller and, with no government record kept, can be difficult to legally enforce.

Non-Indonesians cannot hold freehold in their own name and although nominee agreements are still widespread, most agents believe that Hak Pakai (Right of Use) certificates are the safest way forward for foreign investors. Linked together with a Hak Milik (freehold certificate) as ‘Hak Pakai atas Tanah Hak Milik’ (Right of Use over Freehold Land), the Hak Pakai leaves the foreign investor in effective control of their land. Importantly, the certificate can also be transferred at any time and renewed in advance.

“We’ve got a new Indonesian government that realises it has to catch up with the rest of Asia,” says Matthew Georgeson, Sales Manager at Elite Havens. “The next step is for the Bank of Indonesia to accept that the extended tenures are a medium which banks can lend on. We’re starting to get finance packages out of Jakarta now. The first step is for expatriates with a working visa and hopefully, if that goes well, they’ll roll it out to the general public in due course.”

Indonesia does not currently have a specific condominium law, which has restricted development on Bali to mostly villas. Although developments are becoming increasingly common, many buyers still opt to buy a plot of land and build an individual villa on it.

“The typical foreign investor is going to buy 20-25 are (are = 100 sqm) and build their own villa,” Gallmann says. Land prices vary considerably depending on location but start at less than US$5,000 per are for plots in the interior, to 10 times that for seaview plots in the developed south of the island.

“In northern Bali you would get decent beachfront for US$2000 an are, so US$100,000 would buy you a beautiful beachfront property. In the south, there’s nothing for that price. You’re looking at US$500,000 upwards. A four-bedroom villa, 400-450sqm, would cost around US$500psm to build.”

South is central

Up until now, development on the island has been largely restricted to the south, close to the airport and the capital Denpasar. The cultural capital Ubud, with its small community of artistically inclined expats, is the only major exception to this trend.

Seminyak, close to the tourist hub of Kuta, has long been the most active area, although once-fashionable Sanur, which has had resorts since the 1930s, has recently made a comeback after years of slow decline. However, the most dramatic increase in development in the past few years has been on the Bukit. This almost circular peninsula, which sits on Bali’s southernmost tip, has seen huge growth driven by the arrival of numerous international brands (see graphic).

“It’s the hot spot. There’s just no land available there,” Georgeson says. “I’ve got five international groups looking for land down there and we just can’t get it. There will be individual houses coming on stream in the next few years, but trying to go in there and buy 2,000-3,000sqm on the cliff is next to impossible.”

Bali’s own property ‘golden mile’, Jimbaran Bay, is located at the northwest of the Bukit. A secluded stretch of beach long popular with five-star chains such as The Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton, Jimbaran Bay also benefits from its close proximity to the island’s airport.

One of the most successful recent estate developments, Liv Bali, by Bali Prestigious Properties HK, is located at its northern end and points to the future of high-end development on the island. In an initiative led by the local government and supported by Jimbaran’s neighbourhood associations, a plan for the future sustainable development of the bay has been implemented. The redevelopment plan has led to the removal of over 50 badly constructed restaurants that had encroached on the beach, and a clean-up of the whole area.

Future development has been strictly limited and Bali Prestigious Properties HK has worked closely with the authorities to ensure that the estate fulfils Jimbaran’s new low-density, sustainable development ethos. Just 28 villas, a spa, a restaurant and beach club are being built on 16,300sqm of land. At the time of going to press, 17 of 28 villas had been sold, with the remainder on the market for between US$290,000-$730,000.

Further west in Seminyak, Hanno Soth, CEO of C151 Resorts and Hanno Bali, has been active on the island for over 10 years and has seen brisk business for his ultra-high end beach club developments in the past year.

“The concept of C151 is providing ultra-modern comforts of a hi-tech vacation home in the exotic environment of Bali,” he says. “C151 developments push the envelope of luxury and typically impress its visitors and guests. We’ve sold and built 90% of C151 Seminyak project Phase One and will launch Phase Two in the next few months. The villas are already operational. Our Dreamland cliff-front property is 60% complete, with only two units remaining.”

Northern potential

Given the scarcity of beachfront and seaview land, developers could soon start to move further north in greater numbers. This will also put a premium on southern land and property, which should keep prices rising steadily. Keenly aware of the north/south imbalance, the government has mooted moving the airport further north to encourage development.

Much like Phuket, the majority of buyers in Bali are expatriates based in Asia, mainly in Hong Kong and Singapore. Elite Havens has recently noted a large proportion of French investors and an increase in the amount of Russian buyers.

Proportionally though, Australians, whether based in their home country or expatriates, represent the company’s single biggest buyer group. Tourist arrivals from Australia, long representing Bali’s largest market for foreign visitors due to its close proximity, have been down since a spate of negative press generated in the country about the two bombings and the Chappelle Corby and Bali Nine drug cases. However, this has not necessarily had a negative effect on the real estate market.

“In terms of tourism, the lower and mid-level Australian markets are still not coming, but the wealthy Australians never stopped after the bombs and in fact saw it as a good time to invest,” Georgeson says. “They make up about 30% of our clientele base, although some of them are expatriates.”

Soth similarly saw no drop off. “Ironically we saw a surge in our sales immediately after the terror attack, then a lull for about three months as investors took a wait-and-see attitude,” he says. “Tourist numbers and investment dollars are now pushing towards new highs and the market is more active than ever.”

In fact, rather than dramatic, headline-grabbing news, the main problem Bali faces if it wants to truly compete with Phuket and start attracting more permanent foreign residents and retirees is a lack of decent healthcare facilities. For expat residents and wealthy locals alike, Singapore is the nearest destination for those seeking Western standards of healthcare.

“However, with comparable quality villas being 30-40% cheaper than in Thailand, many investors are happy to live with this inconvenience for now,” Soth says. “Developers and agents alike see the main challenge ahead is helping ensure that Bali keeps pace with the development boom and maintains and improves its infrastructure.

“Our main challenge is that doing things the ‘right’ way in Bali requires time. The business culture in Bali has developed over the decades into a complex system deeply routed in bureaucracy. For most developers in a hurry it can be very frustrating. Fortunately, after a decade in the business, we’ve learned to navigate the system with relative ease. The future of Bali real estate is very bright. The government has set a target for Bali to become the number one tourist destination in the world by the year 2011. I really believe this is achievable since Bali is such a unique destination.”

NZ exploring investment possibilities in E Kalimantan

Samarinda, E Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - New Zealand is looking into the possibility of investing in East Kalimantan`s eco-tourism and micro hydro power plants.

"There are two things in East Kalimantan in which we may be interested to make an investment, namely eco-tourism and micro hydro power plants," Deputy New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Dacid Stachan said here Thursday.

Stachan, who visited East Kalimantan for the first time expressed hope that the local administration could provide his country with information on its investment opportunities and potentials."

I came here to look into possibilities of investment. If such possibilities exist, I will bring the result of my visit to my government for consideration," he said.

Huize Trivelli: A taste of old 'Indische' cuisine

Features - June 03, 2007

Susanna Tjokro, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Are you getting bored with the modern, funky eateries around town?

Looking for a homey restaurant that serves dishes made from the old recipes handed down from generations? Tired of paying expensive restaurant bills?

Then drop by Huize Trivelli (House of Trivelli) where the food is made from scratch, without using any chemical additives -- just like grandma's cooking.

Opened in November 2006, Huize Trivelli Heritage Resto & Patissier serves Indische cuisine at reasonable prices. But, what is Indische cuisine, which was born in Dutch colonial times?

As stated by the owner, Wahyuni Baliningtiyas J. Soe'oed, Indische cuisine is traditional Indonesian dishes that have been adjusted to the Dutch palate.

Croquetttes and risoles are but a few items of popular Indische food. Using her family's old recipes, Wahyuni cooks the dishes herself, to ensure top quality.

However, in addition to offering food, Huize Trivelli also sells an ambience. It feels more like home than a restaurant -- a beautiful one that was built in the early-20th Century.

The pretty stained-glass windows filter sunlight through and provide some natural light.

Situated on Jl. Trivelli, formerly known as Trivelli weg -- a prestigious area in Dutch colonial times -- Huize Trivelli also offers a slice of history.

The owners are a husband and wife who inherited the house and its antiques from the man's parents. An abundance of artwork is scattered throughout the property, from wooden furniture to an old gramophone player to a very beautiful vase from the Ching dynasty -- and they serve some of the dishes on old crockery.

Feast your eyes on old family photos of the owners and get a fascinating glimpse of life in a bygone era.

As for the food, my appetizer was delicious, fresh-from-the-oven Trivelli Insulinde Pastei (a blend of potato puree, vegetables, ear mushrooms, chicken, milk, cheese plus vermicelli). The dish was a bargain at Rp 12,500.

Trivelli Chateaubriand Aux Champignons (Rp 45,000) -- pan-fried beefsteak -- was my main course, served with vegetables and topped with luscious mushroom sauce.

Unlike the steaks at some eateries, mine was perfectly pan-fried with butter and the beef was tender and did not turn out dry and chewy.

Bir Pletok a la crŠme (Rp 12,500) was my drink. "Bir" is "beer" in English, but bir pletok does not contain alcohol at all. Instead, it is made from water, sweet-smelling pandan leaves, cinnamon and cloves, and is spiced up with ginger that warms your body.

My other main course was Trivelli Kerrie Laksa Njonja Molenvliet. It was curry laksa, an aromatic, spicy coconut-based curry soup with Chinese vermicelli.

Warm flavors heady with spices mixed with fresh, succulent prawns, pieces of hard-boiled egg, bean sprouts and slices of steamed chicken were drowned in a creamy, hot curry soup that was simply irresistible.

The dish was perfectly spiced, with no overwhelming flavors. Sambal (chili paste) was also served for those who prefer their laksa spicier.

The restaurant also offers rijsttafel, a Dutch term, which literally translates as "rice table". Rijsttafel, which was created during Dutch colonial times in Indonesia, is a complete rice banquet with a selection of dishes and accompaniments -- a representative sampling of Indonesian cuisine.

The idea is to have a taste of many things rather than a full meal of any single dish, as all five or 10 (or more) dishes arrive at one time and Trivelli Kerrie Laksa is just one of the many dishes in the rijsttafel served at Huize Trivelli.

Instead of serving a full-size rijsttafel, the restaurant offers a mini-rijsttafel, so that guests will not feel too full.

In the past, high society, including top-ranking Dutch government officers and plantation owners, enjoyed eating an array of many dishes in small portions that sometimes covered the whole table.

Although created by the Dutch, rijsttafel has its roots in Indonesian cooking, as most Indonesians traditionally take a meal from a big bowl of rice with other dishes arranged around it.

Due to its complexity, reservations at least two days in advance and a minimum of eight guests are necessary. A set of mini-rijsttafel (seven dishes) including dessert and drink is priced at Rp 60,000 to Rp 70,000.

"Besides home-made dishes, we also offer a slice of history to our patrons. Built in the early-20th Century, this house used to belong to some Dutch families. My husband's family has owned this house since 1953, and now the building serves as a restaurant as well as our home," says Wahyuni who used to live in the Netherlands with her husband.

Wahyuni says that during Japanese colonial times, the Japanese used the houses on Laan Trivelli (known as Kamp Tjideng) to accommodate Dutch women and children.

Today, Huize Trivelli (which was also part of Kamp Tjideng) is the only original old house left on Laan Trivelli (Jl. Tanah Abang 2).

She plans to organize a "Kamp Tjideng Nostalgia Tour" in the near future, so more people, including tourists, can learn about the history of Indonesia.

A homey atmosphere, mouthwatering food and reasonable prices are the things that keep diners coming back. The antique collection is also a bonus, especially if you are keen on old artifacts.

Huize Trivelli Resto & Patissier

Jl. Tanah Abang 2 No. 108
Central Jakarta
tel. and fax: 3865803
website: www.huize-trivelli.com
e-mail: info@huize-trivelli.com

open Mondays to Fridays: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed Sundays)

Tourism Ministry targets 116 mln local tourists

Palembang, South Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The Culture and Tourism Ministry has set a target of 116 million local tourists visiting various tourist objects in the country in 2007.

"This target is higher than that of last year which was set at 114 million," Director for Domestic Tourism Promotion Titien Soekarya said here on Sunday.

She said her office was optimistic that the target would be achieved because the previous year`s target of 114 million was reached.

Titien said that Indonesia had big tourism potentials which had not yet been exploited so far. "Most of local tourists only visited the tourist objects in Java and Bali, or abroad, while Indonesia is really rich in attractive places and cultures," she said.

GKJ to host festival marking Jakarta's birth

Camelia Pasandaran, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Since its dawn, the capital of Indonesia has been known for its blend of culture and diverse lifestyles, both traditional and modern. Hence, a commemoration of the Jakarta's establishment should be in the same taste.

Among the celebrations lined up for the capital's 480th anniversary, one that will give a complete portrayal of Jakarta's journey from its traditional past to its modern present is the Jakarta Anniversary Festival-V, themed Jakartamu, Jakartaku, Jakarta Kita Semua (Your Jakarta, My Jakarta, Our Jakarta).

The annual art and culture festival is to be held by Gedung Kesenian Jakarta from June 8 through 29, and will stage dance, music and theatrical performances.

The spirit of youths will presented through Skolastika Ansambel's concert of contemporary works featuring soprano Linda Sitindjak on the opening day of the festival, under the direction of Marusya Nainggolan. Skolastika consists of students at Yayasan Putra Bahagia, SMP Lab School Kebayoran and SMU 3 Muhammadiyah, who will perform music that sounds messages of love for art, the environment and togetherness.

The festival theme is also the title of the percussion ensemble. Pongki Nuzirman's vocal-piano-guitar composition titled Balada Capung (Ballad of the dragonfly) and Pedagang Asongan (Itinerant traders), a vocal ensemble and chamber music piece composed by Marusya Nainggolan, will be part of the opening performance.

On June 13, Jakarta's international character will be shown by the Sax Appeal Quartet from Italy in the Colonne Sonore In Concerto concert.

Deborah Vivo (saxophone), Giannina Guazzaroni (violin), Gloria Frontini (flute) and Margherita Scafidi (harp) will entertain music lovers with tunes from modern musicals such as Tonight from the well-known Broadway show West Side Story, and covers of movie theme songs such as I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard. Representing their culture of origin, they will perform Romeo e Giulietta, featuring Nino Rota and Henry Mancini's Medley di Colonne Sonore.

A contemporary touch will be presented on June 17 in a jazz concert featuring Tompi and Groovology. Tompi will perform songs from his new album Playful along with several tracks from his previous albums.

Tompi has said he will prepare special arrangements of his songs for this particular occasion, so they will be different from his studio recordings.

Although Jakarta is the focus of the festival, it cannot be separated from other regions in the country that have influenced its culture. On June 19, the festival will take you to the lost lands of Borneo with the Dedy Lutan Dance Company and dancers from East Kutai, East Kalimantan, who will guide audiences into Tanah Yang Hilang.

Dedy is known for his choreography, which finds roots in his anxiety. For Tanah Yang Hilang, he found inspiration in the environmental problem of how woodlands have been turned into wastelands, the jungle silenced without the sound of birds chirping and orangutans calling. The dance will be accompanied by Dayak women singers who will chant an indigenous song about natural beauty, heroism, peace and tranquility that dissolves into grief, pain and sorrow.

From Kalimantan, Jakartans will be taken to Yogyakarta in a dance based on the local metaphor of Mampir Ngombe (Stop for tea), staged on June 21 by The Banjarmili Dance Studio. The dance -- created by M. Miroto has created and incorporating 30 traditional and contemporary masks -- is a reflection on the short journey of human life as mirrored in common behaviors, like stopping along a journey for a glass of tea.

The dance also portrays deep concerns over recent disasters such as the Yogyakarta earthquake, the tsunami in Aceh, the Bali bombings and the Poso conflict.

Javanese cultural performances will also feature in the festival on June 22, with the Wayang Orang Satya Budaya Indonesia troupe bringing the story of Dewi Perjiwati, taken from Javanese folklore. The story starts with Raden Ontoseno -- son of Raden Bima -- who wants to marry Dewi Perjiwati of the Parang Kingdom. On his journey to realize his wish, Ontoseno must face numerous obstacles from his rival, Raden Aswotomo, the son of Betari Wilutomo.

On June 27, the theaterical work Seratus Menit (One hundred minutes), directed by Putu Wijaya and performed by Theater Mandiri, will take a look at daily life in the capital, cover the issues of freedom, equality, human rights, women in modern society, leadership, morality and other social imbalances.

Closing the festival is the more comical show of Ketoprak Guyon Campur, to be performed June 29 by Paguyuban Puspobudoyo. Within the setting of the 15th century Demak kingdom, the group will present the history of Jakarta's founding. The play traces the story of Prince Fadilah (also Fadilah Khan, Tubagus Pasai, Fatahillah) and his journey to become the protectorate of Jayakarta -- later called Jakarta.

The Jakarta Anniversary Festival-V looks set to be a balanced event, reminding of the capital's long history and contemplating the challenges its multicultural citizenry and modern lifestyles have on its society.

All performances will start at 8 p.m., except on opening day when shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

President calls on religious communities to improve environment

Magelang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on religious communities in the country to improve the environment as it would have a valuable investment for the future life of the nation.

There is a demand in every religion to preserve the environment, the head of state said during a commemoration of the Waisak Day or Buddha`s Day of Enlightenment at the Borobudur Temple here on Friday night.

According to the president, religions deal not only with relations among human beings, between human beings and God, but also between human beings and the environment.

He pointed out that environmental conservation became an important agenda because the earth might be angry due to a damaged environment.

The damaged environment which caused natural disasters was among others due to global warming caused by the green house effect

in the world, especially in the big industrialized countries, the president said.

However, he said, the current climate change had caused droughts in several areas while heavy rains also fell in other areas.

"The problem needs a concrete solution and the peoples` actions worldwide to save our children and grandchildren," he said.

On the occasion, the president handed over books entitled "Trial Civilization" to the Borobudur Declarers from six countries -- Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

Bali rebounds minus Aussies

Brisbanetimes

Hoteliers in Bali have blamed Qantas for sluggish bookings out of Australia, as travelers complain about a lack of flights to the increasingly upmarket resort island.

Some passengers have reported waiting months to get suitable flights, with Qantas and Garuda Indonesia slow to reinstate Australian services that were cut following the October 2005 bombings.

That terrorist attack, the second in three years, killed 20 people including four Australians and sparked mass booking cancellations.

Bali's tourism numbers have now bounced back and the island is shedding its reputation as a budget backpackers haunt.

Foreign arrivals rose 38 per cent to 472,082 during the first four months of this year 2007, marking the strongest start to any year on record.

However, Australian visitors dropped 36 per cent over the same period, in stark contrast to firm numbers from Japan, Europe and emerging markets like Russia.

Michael Burchett, chairman of the Bali Hotels Association and general manager of the Conrad Bali Resort & Spa, said the lack of airline capacity was the biggest hurdle to getting Australians back to Bali.

"The demand is there from Australia, but there's no interest or willingness from Qantas to resume flights," said Burchett, originally from Perth.

"You can't get a flight out of Perth for months, and if you're in Brisbane you have to go to Sydney or Melbourne.

"It's just ridiculous. Garuda is doing what it can, but it doesn't have the financial strength, so the Australian recovery has been hamstrung by the lack of support from Qantas.

"Well keep waving the white flag and maybe someone will see it soon."

Georgia Fell-Smith, an Australian spa consultant from Perth who lives in Bali, said the current situation posed problems.

"I always have trouble booking with Qantas," she said.

"The problem is I much prefer to fly with Qantas because of its strong safety record and the opportunity to earn frequent flyer points, but they make it so difficult because they only fly twice a week."

Fell-Smith was booked to fly back to Perth to search for a wedding dress on May 29, but canceled because she could not return to Bali on her desired dates with either Qantas or Garuda.

She will now make the trip in July, using a Qantas flight booked four months ago.

Qantas flies twice a week to Bali from Perth and Darwin, while its budget arm Jetstar flies twice a week from Melbourne and Sydney. Garuda flies every day from Perth, four times a week from Melbourne and Sydney, and twice a week from Darwin.

A Qantas spokesperson said an additional flight would be added to the Perth-Denpasar route between August 5 and October 21 this year, but there were no plans at this stage to expand services from any other cities.

"Qantas will continue to monitor the route and make changes as demand increases," the spokesperson said.

Collapsed Bali airline Air Paradise is reportedly looking at a comeback, while Singapore-based low-budget carrier Tiger Airways has also hinted at possible flights between Bali and Australia.

However, hoteliers said Australia needed a full-service airline to cater for higher-end tourists and business travellers who were finding a new, fashionable edge to the island.

Not far from Kuta's cheap bungalows and rowdy pubs, some hotels - like the exclusive Amandari and recently opened Bulgari Resort - charge thousands of dollars a night per room, and ferry passengers to the airport by helicopter, while restaurants in chic Seminyak do a brisk trade in French champagne and freshly shucked Sydney oysters.

"Rather than treating Bali as a cheap beach destination, the expansion of the luxury hotel and villa market shows it is anything but," said Adrian Forsyth, general manager of Kuta's mid-range Bali Garden Hotel.

"Bali is now a luxury destination and while tourism is returning to normal, the airlines have been slow to respond to that.

"We're grateful for Jetstar's entrance into the market, but Bali really needs Qantas to serve this higher-end clientèle, who are willing to pay Qantas rates and want Qantas-style service."

AAP

Qantas Bali Holidays

Brochure 2007-2008

Japanese monks, Buddhists to pray for peace in Bali

A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As many as 63 Japanese monks will bring thousands of wooden prayer ornaments to Bali and burn the offerings in a ceremony to wish for peace on the island, which is still recovering from the terrorist bombings of 2002 and 2005.

"Thousands of Japanese will write their wishes for peace in Bali and Indonesia on pieces of wood, which will be brought and burned in Bali," I Made Mantra, president director of the Bali Tourism Development Corporation, said at a press conference here May 21.

Led by noted monk Murakami Ryokai from the Koyasan branch of the Shingon sect, the fire ceremony of Saitougoma is set to take place June 12 on the island of Nusa Gede, off the coast of Nusa Dua.

In burning, the wishes are believed to reach Heaven upon the smoke, and to purify people for attaining new birth.

The ceremony will be observed as part of the three-day Mandala Indonesian-Japan Friendship and Culture Festival that will close on June 15.

As part of the Mandala festival, a panel discussion will also be held on June 12 and feature keynote speaker Dr. Keishi Matsunaga, who will present his paper on Esoteric Buddhism: The Red Thread of Cultural Similarity Between Japan and Indonesia.

During the discussion at Ksirarnawa Hall of Denpasar Art Center, Matsunaga Yukei, a monk and lecturer at Koyasan University, will discuss Buddhism with three Indonesian scholars -- Gede Prama, Prof. Timbul Haryono and Dr. I Ketut Widnya.

Prama, who has written many books on business and motivation, will discuss the concept of Mandala and its relevance in today's diverse world.

Gadjah Mada University's Timbul will present his paper on Archeological Examination of the History of Esoteric Buddhism in Indonesia, while the Hindu Dharma Institute's Widnya will discuss The History and Heritage of Shiva-Buddha Synthesis/Syncretism in Indonesia as the Foundation of Balinese Hinduism.

The festival will also present two art performances: Karma Mandala on June 13 and Brem Meme on June 15.

Mandala aims to attract more Japanese tourists to Bali, as the number of tourists plummeted following the Bali bombings.

"The festival is part of the Bali Recovery Program," the director general of tourism marketing at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, Thamrin B. Bachri, told reporters. He added that Mandala was part of a marketing effort to reach the government's target of 600,000 Japanese tourists this year.

Before the bombings, the number of Japanese tourists reached an average of 400,000 people a year.

"We call it 'emotional marketing," Thamrin said. "With the arrival of the elders (Buddhist monks), hopefully others will follow.