Bali Updates

BALI UPDATE #669 - 06 July 2009

Bali's Suicide Rates Decrease in 2009
Illness and Medical Costs Cited by Police as Main Reason Balinese Choose to End Their Lives.

The Jakarta Globe reports that the suicide rate in Bali, after increasing in 2008, has decreased by 44% during the first six months of 2009. Police report that 70 people committed suicide during the period of January-June 2008, with that the number decreasing to 39 during the same months in 2009.
Police authorities in Bali says that most cases of self-destruction are now linked to illness. A Bali police spokesman said 64% of the total who took their own lives did do because they were suffering from "unbearable illness." Bali's Chief of Police Ashikin Hussein told the press that, "in many cases, they cannot free themselves from illness because they cannot afford the cost of treatment."
In the latest macabre tally, two of the dead were students while the oldest was 80 years-old. The methods of self elimination ranged from hanging, poisoning, intentional drowning and self-inflicted wounds.
Related Article
[Suicides in Bali Increased in 2008]


A Gold Rush East of Bali?
Chinese Gold Mining Operation on Edge of Komodo National Park Brings Protests from Local Community and Catholic Church.

Early exploration work by a joint Indonesian-Chinese mining venture covering a 2,000 hectare site at Batu Gosok, just 5 kilometers north of the West Manggarai district capital of Labuan Bajo, adjoining the World Heritage Site of the Komodo National Park, is generating widespread international protests from those who fear the proposed mining venture will threaten one of the world's few remaining nature spots home to a number of protected water and land species. Another exploration site, at the nearby village of Tedebo, 10 kilometers east of Labuan Bajo, sits in a protected forest area, home to the headwaters of the Waismese River, a major fresh water river that flows through spectacular canyons before emptying into the Komodo Sea near Labuan Bajo.
The Batu Gosok and Tebedo Gold Mining projects have evoked pointed exchanges in the local press and rare street demonstrations from local citizens against the local regent who is accused of surreptitiously issuing licenses for exploration in violation of local zoning plans without first undertaking the environmental impact studies and public hearings, as required by law.
Among those groups vocal in opposing the mining project are members of the West Flores Tourism Forum and leaders of the Catholic Church, representing the predominant religious grouping in Flores.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ruteng and the self-named Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC), headed by Father Max Regus, have drawn firm battle lines with the Regent of West Manggarai, Fidelis Pranda. Citing numerous violations of local law and threats to the local population embodied by the Regent's decision to grant exploration permits, the priests have gone so far as to question the Christian ethics of their fellow Roman Catholic, Fidelis Pranda.
When the Regent vigorously responded by questioning the Church's involvement in temporal affairs, calling the priests "provocateurs" in the mining issue, the protesting priest were joined by Catholic Clergy from across the whole of Flores and a Diaspora of 135 Florenese priests and religious missionaries from more than 35 countries around the world.
The Flores missionaries, citing the danger posed to the island's natural environment and traditional culture, issued an open statement calling for an immediate cessation to all mining activities in Flores and the restoration of any damage caused by mining activities to date.
Flores growing tourism sector has joined the opposition to the Regent's efforts to bring mining to his district. The West Flores Tourism Forum (WFTF), which includes local hotels, tour and dive operators serving Labuan Bajo and the adjacent Komodo National Park, have unanimously condemned the project, labeling mining as incompatible with efforts to create an environmentally sustainable tourism industry in West Flores and Komodo. The Vice Chairman of the WFTF, Marius Sarain, quoted in the Flores Post said: "The stance of the forum is clear and final: we reject mining. This is non-negotiable."
Saridin also pointed to the sad irony of the Indonesian National government's current efforts to have the Komodo National Park named to a list of the seven top natural wonders of the world while, at the same time, a mining project threatening irreparable environmental destruction and pollution of the surrounding seas is being contemplated at the very gateway to the Park.
The general lack of support for the mining project in West Flores, the battle lines now firmly drawn between Regent Pranda and the Catholic Church, and the final disposition of 10 separate pending corruption charges filed against the Regent by district lawmakers with Indonesia's National Anti-Corruption Agency last February may have severely damaged the political fortunes of Fidelis Pranda who must stand for re-election in 2010.


Luxury Redefined at InterContinental Bali Resort
Bali Accommodation for the Pampered Few – The InterContinental Bali's New Jivana Villa.

Representatives of the media and Bali's travel industry were treated to a five-course dinner to mark the opening of the Jivana Villa - the splendid reincarnation of the former Imperial Villa into what is arguably Bali's most sophisticated contemporary-styled residence.
Drawing its inspiration from its name 'Jivana,' a Sanskrit word meaning 'life or existence,' the Jivana Villa aims to luxuriously cater to every need of the Bali visitors seeking personalized hospitality.
Shown on Balidiscovery.com is a gallery of photos from the InterContinental Bali Resort new Jivana Villa.

Secluded from the mainstream resort activity located in a quiet seaside corner of the property, Jivana Villa has its own private access and paved driveway flanked by a modern interpretation of a Candi Bentar.
Disembarking from their limousine, guests pass through an impressive double door, stepping into a inlaid-marbled grad foyer with direct access to either a sumptuous living room or to the 2 bedrooms on the second floor, accessed via a spotless white Italian marble staircase.
A stone water-wall backdrop visually segregates the foyer from the main living area. This entire section has been designed as a platform that seemingly floats upon water and is bathed in natural sunlight. Generous creamy sofas are oriented towards a state-of-the-art 42" plasma television with a Bose surround sound system. A grand piano is strategically placed for subtle background music to be played whilst entertaining. A series of artwork depicting vibrant scenes from a traditional Balinese marketplace have been sourced exclusively by the Tony Raka Gallery adorn the walls.
To the right of the living room is a glass-enclosed retreat known as the Love Nest. This sunroom is a comfortable space to lounge on the plump cushioned sofa. Alternatively it is a spot to enjoy a cosy English-styled afternoon tea with sandwiches and sweet treats.
In the opposite direction is an opulent dining room that faces the pool and an ornamental water-wall. Seating for up to ten guests is available with an adjacent preparation kitchen and separate wine cellar ensures prompt and impeccable service.
The outdoor setting is in a class of its own. Sensor system glass doors open to reveal a charming tropical garden planted with palms and native greenery where the leaves dance under the soft caress of a sea breeze. Here an unassuming garden pathway leads directly to the beach where reclining chairs have been set under a shady umbrella for a relaxed day of sun, sea and surf. This area is suitably distanced from other guests to ensure complete privacy.
An oversized swimming pool has been shaped to follow the structural contour of the villa's entire lower level. A contemporary lounging pavilion provides a shady niche away from the sun's tropical rays where guests can enjoy a spa ritual. A Jacuzzi encrusted with mother of pearl mosaic tiles complements an inviting oasis to soak away travel weariness.
The showpiece of Jivana Villa is the two-storey Windsong Pavilion. It is accessed via a staircase as well as a timber bridge that extends from the upstairs master suite over the width of the swimming pool. This elevated pavilion, with its refreshing ocean views, is an inspiring niche for relaxation and intimate dining.
A lavishly appointed master suite occupies most of the second floor. This open-plan suite features a deluxe bed that has ornamental accents celebrating Bali's indigenous artistry. A spacious corner has been designed as a study, balanced with a sofa to facilitate both business and pleasure. The suite is encompassed by a private terrace.
The en-suite bathroom has been designed in pure white marble and incorporates double vanities, a rain shower, customised egg shaped bathtub and mounted television. There is also a walk-in changing room with ample storage space.
A second, smaller guest bedroom and bathroom facility shares the second floor. This bedroom features twin beds in a setup suitable for older children, a personal assistant or a security entourage for a visiting head of state.
[InterContinental Bali Resort]


Call for a Moratorium on New Bali Projects
Local Forum Wants a Moratorium on New Projects Until Bali's New Zoning Law is Finalized.

The Forum of Concern for the Island of Bali (Forum Peduli Bumi Bali) has called on the government to introduce a moratorium on any new building that will further diminish the island's shrinking land reserve until the current revision of Bali's new Zoning Plan (RTRWP) is completed.
Reported by BeritaBali.com, the Forum's coordinator, Made Suarnatha, said the government should suspend approval on any new projects until the lengthy negotiation between the executive and legislative branches of Bali's government finally manage to hammer out and socialize the long-awaited RTRWP. Suarnatha explained: "If the current process between the House of Representatives and the executive remains uncertain, it's better if we introduce a moratorium. We need to understand and accept a plan for Bali's zoning for the next 20 years."
Suarnatha also called into question the formation of an evaluation team for the RTRWP by the governor, when that task has already been assigned to the provincial House of Representatives (DPRD-Bali)


93 Illegal Bali Tour Guides Brought to Court
Joint Enforcement Team Catch Large Number of Illegal Guides Operating Near Bali's Tanah Lot Temple.

93 unlicensed travel guides were recently brought to trial after being caught operating at various tourism sites around Tabanan, such as Alas Kedaton, Tanah Lot and Ulun Danu.
According to BeritaBali.com, the trials were held at Tabanan's District Court on Tuesday, June 30, 2009. The unlicensed guides, many hailing from outside Bali, were punished by the court with fines of Rp. 150,000 (US$14.70) for violating the provincial law on tourism guiding.
The sole presiding judge, Tavia Rahmawati, said that among the 93 convicted guides were individuals whose guide licenses had expired, others who had no license at all, and others who were apprehended for failing to wear traditional costumes while leading tourist visitors.
The illegal guides were caught in a recent series of joint operations conducted by provincial tourism officials, the courts, tourism police, the manpower department, the Bali Guide Association (HPI) and immigration authorities.
85 of the 93 illegal guides were apprehended working at Tanah Lot, while the remaining 8 were netted at Alas Kedaton and Ulun Danu in Bedugul.


'Resor Seminyak' Bali Closes for Redevelopment
Resort to Open Again in Late 2010 as Premium Luxury Resort.

A tourism landmark in Bali's Kerobokan area - Resor Seminyak Bali, has closed its doors to undergo a 14-month redevelopment in order to re-emerge as a premium luxury resort.
When it reopens for the Winter season of 2010, the resort will offer 68 deluxe rooms of 40 square meters, 28 suites with private Jacuzzis overlooking the ocean, and 12 ocean-view villas each equipped with private swimming pools. All rooms will be supplied with flat-screen televisions and internet connections.
The resort will also offer an ocean-front infinity pool and spa complex open to all guests. A waterside restaurant at the Resort will join a stretch of leading dining outlets that stretch along Kerobokan beach from the La Luciola to the Oberoi.
An open-air and beachfront wedding chapel with reception area for 150 persons is also planned.


Indonesian Tourism Arrivals Up 1.69%
Minister Wacik Predicts Indonesia will Get 6.7 million Tourist Arrivals for 2009.

National tourism arrivals increased 1.69% during the first six months of 2009, totaling 2.41 million.
Bisnis.com quotes Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Jero Wacik, who points to the latest arrival statistics as proof that the world financial crisis is having minimum impact on the national tourism sector. Speaking in Bandung, West Java, Wacik said, "the graph showing this increase is gladdening because it happens in the middle of a crisis while visitors to several other tourism destinations have decreased."
Citing countries that have gained momentum during the January - May period, Minister Wacik counted off increases in arrivals from the following source markets: Australia (26.25%), China (18.96%) and Malaysia (16.81%). "If the current trend continues, I am optimistic that the 2009 target can be achieved, " Wacik added.
Indonesia is targeting 6.7 million foreign visitors for the entire year of 2009. Despite the Ministers stated optimism, a steady growth rate in arrivals of 1.69% would only result in 5.6 million arrivals in 2009.
The modest increase in tourism arrivals for Indonesia has taken place while, in the neighboring destination of Singapore, arrivals decreased 11.8% - a decrease of 401,957 – during the period January-April. Tourism arrivals have also declined by 19.69% to Thailand and 27.2% to Japan.
Related Article [Indonesia's National Tourism Targets Too Ambitious?]


'At Home' in Bali
An Exhibition of Paintings by Pranoto and Kerry Pendergrast in Ubud Until July 27, 2009.

The husband and wife artistic duo, Pranoto and Kerry Pendergrast, are presenting paintings produced over the last year in an exhibition titled "At Home".

The exhibition is taking place at Pranoto's Art Gallery on Jalan Raya, Ubud. An artistic landmark in Ubud since 1996, the gallery hosts a regular series of exhibitions and is the location for twice-weekly life drawing classes [See: The Very Bare Necessities of Life ].
The current exhibition features textural acrylic by Pranoto created during the weekly drawing sessions, each demonstrating his strong command as an artist of the human form. His exploration of color, texture, composition, space and contour causes us to see the human body in new and interesting ways.
Kerry Pendergrast has held numerous exhibitions in Indonesia and Australia in recent years featuring her distinctive landscapes in pastels presented on sandpaper. In the current show, she has works covering a variety of subjects in a range of mediums, including landscapes and human figures.
"At Home" – An Exhibition of Paintings by Pranoto and Kerry Pendergrast
Through July 27, 2009
Pranoto's Art – Gallery – Jalan Raya, Ubud, Bali
For more information telephone ++62-(0)361-970827


Would Somebody Please Listen to Governor Pastika?
Bali's Governor Writes Bold Open Letter Detailing the Many Shortcomings of Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport.

To some degree echoing an article that appeared on Balidiscovery.com in May 2009 [Pak Legowo: Please Listen to the Governor ], Bali's governor Made Mangku Pastika has written an unusual and very public report on the abysmal conditions prevailing at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport. The open letter, dated June 22, 2009, is addressed to the Minister of Transportation, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, the Director General of Immigration and the Director General of Customs and Excise with copies forwarded to The President of Indonesia, the Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board, and the General Manager of the Airport's Management Authority Angkasa Pura.
Beginning his letter by citing numerous complaints from tourists, tourism industry stakeholders and the general public, the governor says that despite a number of coordination meetings with the Bali airport authority in the past, those meetings have failed to yield any improvements in how Bali's main gateway is operated.
The letter, sent with a video illustrating his written complaints, listed the following shortcomings at Bali's only international airport:
• The presence of "too many" porters at the airport who commandeer baggage trolleys, giving the impression that tourists are somehow obliged to use their services and creating complaints later when tips are demanded. According to Pastika, the need for porters at the airport is questionable, given the lack of porters at many international airports and the fact that in Bali the porter's presence serves to make an already crowded airport even more crowded.
• There are only four Visa on Arrival counters to serve the airport at peak operational hours, resulting in long waiting lines.
• The airport has 24 immigration counters, a number actually sufficient to support tourist arrivals, but, in fact, failing to do the job as only a portion of the counters are ever staffed. Once again, the result: long lines and many complaints from tourist visitors.
• Airport Officials engage in predatory behavior, approaching tourists standing in lines offering "express service" through immigration in return for a fee.
• The presence of many brochure racks offering package tours and transportation services at low fees that make "no sense." The services offered in these brochures cause losses to Bali's official tour and travel operators, who provide a guaranteed level of service and realistic pricing.
Despite numerous past complaints to the airport about these brochures and promises by Angkasa Pura that remedial steps would be taken, the brochures continue to be on display at the airport. According to Pastika, a further investigation by his office also reveals that brochure distribution, counters and advertising at the airport are all controlled by a third party appointed by Angkasa Pura.
• Tourist Information Counters at the airport which are supposed to distribute brochures and provide information to incoming tourists are, in fact, selling cut-rate tours that anger legal tour operators.
• There are too many money changers within the airport. In the arrival area, there are 12 money changers all gathered together in a single line of booths near the exit corridor lane of the airport's arrival section. According to the governor, 5 money changers would be a more ideal number and that number should be located outside the arrival hall.
• The accumulation of security staff in certain areas of the airport give the impression that they are "working while socializing with each other."
• The over abundance of commercial space rented out at the airport. As a result, the domestic arrival area is very cramped with no chairs, causing disorder outside the arrival hall where people have no place to sit while waiting for arriving passengers.
• The presence of "special rooms" used by Customs and Immigration to "sort out problems" which, according to the governor, is against the rules of Customs and Immigration.
The unusual move by Governor Pastika of writing an open report on the many problems at Bali's airport brings into sharp focus the anger and frustration felt by Bali's tourism industry and the general public with the poor condition and inferior service provided to the public at Bali's airport. It also underlines what appears to be a growing rift between the Governor and the Airport's Manager, Heru Legowo.


Exceptional Bali
Bali Tourism Reaps Singular Success in a World Plagued by Economic Woes.

The prestigious STR Global - a world leader in benchmarking hotel performance, has singled out Bali's hotel industry as a star performer in a world hotel market currently dominated by under performers.
Year-on-year measurements for May showed Asia-Pacific hotel occupancies dropped between 14.9% to 55.44%, while Bali managed to actually improve occupancies level during the same period.
The average daily rate (ADR) of hotels within the Asia-Pacific regions declined 15.2% to US$117.86 in May. This, however, was not the case in Bali where ADR increased 18.5% to US$127.83.
Revenue per available rooms (RevPar) also took a beating in the Asia-Pacific region, declining 27.9% to US$65.26. While Bali was the only market in the region that managed to increase its RevPar in May, improving 10.8% to a respectable US$88.79.
STR Global identified Bangkok, Beijing, Phuket and Shanghai as registering occupancies below 50% in May with reasons ranging from post-Olympic over supply (Beijing), political uncertainty (Phuket and Bangkok) and a declining economy (Shanghai).
Bright spots in the STR Global report were Brisbane, Melbourne, Seoul and Sydney recording occupancies above 70% for May 2009.


Nothing to Sneeze At
Bali Largely Spared by 'Swine Flue' to Date, But More Cases Almost Certain to Occur in a Disease that May Prove More Manageable than Originally Thought.

New Cases of suspected and confirmed H1N1 infections have become almost a daily occurrence in Bali, with more than 9 people – all foreign visitors – having been treated in the isolation ward of Bali’s Sanglah General Hospital.
Officially acknowledged as a worldwide epidemic and with neighboring Australia reporting more than 1 thousand cases, Bali is virtually certain to see more cases reported before the illness runs its global course.
Free medical care to sufferers, disinfecting and health screening of arriving aircraft and their passengers, a large supply of Tamiflu to treat sufferers and the distribution of protective masks are among the preventative measures now put in place by Bali authorities determined to minimize the spread of the disease. But, despite these measures, Bali's governor was quoted in NusaBali admitting that Bali’s popularity as an international tourism destination makes it difficult to stop the disease from eventually spreading on the island.
Among the most recent new patients admitted to Sanglah are:
• Troels Monk, 84 years, Denmark, admitted on July 2, 2009.
• Michael Aaron, 24 years, Australian
• Ryan Wood, 23 years, Australian
• Ariel S. Brian, 22 years, Australian
• Gerry O'Brian, 43 years, German
• Tayla Mari, 14 years, Australian
• James Antonucciu, 10 years, Australian
•George Coltman, 12 years, Australian
• Bobbie Masoner, 22 years, English resident in Australia.
As of Thursday, July 2, 2009, six of the nine patients were still warded in the Nusa Indah isolation unit at Sanglah Hospital. The remainder have been treated, declared no longer a threat to public health and released.
The governor has instructed all government agencies and the general public in Bali to cooperate in trying to control the spread of the H1N1 virus and prevent its spread to the local population in Bali.
No downturn in business has been linked to a fear of contracting the disease among inbound visitors to Bali. Worldwide, there appears to be a growing acceptance that, recognized and treated in a timely manner, H1N1 infections are seldom fatal, despite a momentary surge in deaths linked to cases in Mexico at the beginning of the current outbreak.
The provincial government of Bali has allocated approximately US$ 1 million from a special emergency fund to be used to combat the disease. This money is being used to pay for health surveillance teams, treating those suffering from the disease, purchasing Tamiflu and protective surgical masks.
Visitors to Bali from infected countries are being asked to consider using free surgical masks during the first three days of their stay in Bali, after which, symptom-free visitors can be considered free of the H1N1 virus.


Islamic Finance – Reality & Outlook Seminar in Bali
Bali to Host Internaitonal Seminar on Islamic Finance September 26-29, 2009.

Alwashem Economic Consulting Services (Kuwait) in coordination with the Malomaty Company (Riyadh) are organizing an Islamic Finance Seminar to be held from September 26 – 30, 2009 in Bali, Indonesia, at the Westin Resort, Nose Dua, Bali and the Bali International Convention Center.
According to the organizers, the prime goals for the Bali seminar are to raise awareness of the diverse global interests of members of the Islamic Finance industry and promote greater participation in international dialogue and exchange of information and, by doing so, strengthening the finance industry systems at both the national levels and globally
The focus of the seminar will be "Islamic Finance – Outlook and Reality." Findings, conclusions and action plans resulting from the seminar – and many others being held across the region -- will hopefully directly contribute to a stronger financial global community. It is the belief that each finance industry professional attending will make a valuable contribution to the discussions at this seminar and the future outlook of Islamic finance.
Program details and on-line registration is available at [www.aecs-kuwait.com].
Participants are urged to add their names to the growing roster of delegates in the region who will be working together to further the advancement and prosperity of the Islamic finance industry.
Some of the topics that will be covered in Bali are:
• Shariah and legal frame work for Islamic financial institutions
• Financial accounting aspects of Islamic Institutions
• The role of the Shariah committees in the development of the Finance Industry
• Marketing strategies for Islamic Products and services.
• Recent development in the regulatory and supervision Issues for Islamic Finance institutions
• Growth and development of the Islamic Finance Industry.
• Financial crisis impacts on the Islamic Financial institutions
Among the distinguished international speakers attending the Islamic Finance seminar in Bali are:
• Sheikh Abdullah Bin Suleiman Al-Manea – Saudi Arabia
• Dr. Muhammad al-Bashir Muhammad al-Amine – The Kingdom of Bahrain
• Dr. Mohamad Nedal Al Chaar – General Secretary , AAOIFI
• Dr. Farid Kourtel – Algeria
• Mudassir Amray*, head of Citigroup Islamic Finance for Asia pacific, Singapore
• Bernardo Vizcaíno – Singapore
• Abdul Rahim Kamil Wan Mohamed Ali – Sr Consultant Malaysia Securities
The Bali seminar is being arranged by a commission comprised of :
• Dr. Sunil Kamar – UAE, Dubai
• Ayad Al-Mutairi – Saudi Arabia
• Azmat Rafique - Qatar
• Lindsey Rogerson – United Kingdom
The organizer promise a program filled with discussion, guidance and up-to-date solutions to financial issues facing the Islamic finance industry as well as strategies for contending with the current world financial crisis.


No Shortage of Fine Wine at the Conrad Bali
Leeuwin Estate Wine Dinner – Fine West Australian Wines Join Outstanding Cuisine Courses on Friday, July 10, 2009 at the Conrad Bali Resort & Spa.

Fine wines and outstanding cuisine join forces at a Leeuwin Estate Wine Dinner to be held on Friday, July 10, 2009, at the Conrad Bali Resort & Spa on Tanjung Benoa.
Presiding over the festivities and introducing each of the paired 6 wines will be the daughter of Leeuwin Estate's founder, Ms Simone Horgan Furlong who also serves as the Company's marketing Director.
Family owned and operated, Leeuwin Estate is located in the picturesque Margaret River district, 360km south of Perth, Western Australia. Since its inception in 1974, Leeuwin Estate's mission has been to produce wines that rank with the best in the world through the pursuit of excellence. Today, Leeuwin Estate exports to over 30 countries and have been recognized with numerous awards for their wines, restaurant, architecture and environmental practice.
Limited Seating is available at a cost of Rp. 1,200,000 plus 21% tax and service per person (US$142). This price cover the elaborate menu and the six carefully pair wines that accompanying the food.
The Menu
Spice Spoons & Sticks
Pork & sage croquette, chilled leek, Grilled watermelon, fried feta, orange, Kingfish crudo, wakame, tobiko
+ + +
Ocean Trout Terrine
Ocean Trout & Shiitake Mushroom Terrine, Daikon - Pickled Shallots, Kaiware
Served with Leeuwin Sibling Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008
+ + +
Chawan Mushi
Foie Gras & Crab Chawan Mushi with Celeriac-Nutmeg Emulsion
Served with Leeuwin Art Series Riesling 2007
+ + +
Kombu Cured Scallop
Kombu Cured Scallop & Silken Tofu - Pressed Shellfish Consommé, Aromatic Herbs
Served with Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2002 and Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2005
+ + +
Intermezzo
Mango & Virgin Olive Oil Sorbet with Yoghurt Foam
+ + +
Wagyu en Crépinette
Twice-Cooked Wagyu Short rib, Lobster Mousseline, Curry Fondue, Porcin
Served with Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 and Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
+ + +
Valrhona Chocolate Chiboust
Chocolate Crème Chiboust, Rosewater, Rhubarb & Sago Salad, Pashmak

Tasting Notes
• Leeuwin Estate Siblings Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2008 - This wine has a lifted floral lychee with strong notes of snow peas, cut grass, and a lemon lime hint. It's fresh and zesty palate has the underlying flavors of spicy cool climate berry fruit and cut grass. It's lingering well balanced and clean finish.
• Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling 2007 - This wine has a brilliant clarity, which has a very pale straw color with lime green and tinges. The nose shows lifted aromas of citrus blossom, musk, green apple, lime and quince mixed with a delicious mineral edge, which are indicators of an excellent wine. The palate finishes with clean crisp succulent acidity.
• Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2002 - The color is vibrant straw with green edges. On the palate the ripe fruit flavors of dried pears are again pronounced with delicate richness from the lees stirring. The wine is long and full flavored yet elegant with great depth and lovely ripe peach aftertaste which is in perfect harmony with the oak.
• Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2005 - The color is a brilliant green straw. The fresh nose are intensely lifted by aromas of ripe yellow pear skins, the petals of citrus blossom, nectarine and ripe peach accompanied by hints of fig and cashews from barrel maturation. The middle palate shows richness from both the fruit and the lees stirring, with a lingering fresh citrus finish.
• Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 - This interesting wine has classic Cabernet flavors of cassis and redcurrants intermingled with plums and chocolate. All the components are well integrated in this complex wine. Sweet fruit of rich, ripe redcurrant greets the taste buds and this is complemented by soft fine grained tannin and creamy French oak.
• Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - This wine palate shows a full bodied wine with intense blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with hints of mocha and chocolate that round off the complex flavors. This wine has great fruit length with smooth and silky tannins that provide a soft but lingering finish
Again, seating is limited and reservations are essential for an evening on fine cuisine, outstanding wine and cozy conviviality.
For bookings and more information telephone ++62-(0)361 -778788 extension 6107.


EU Set to Lif Blacklisting of Four Indonesian Airlines
Ruling Clears Was for Garuda to Resume Flights to Europe in Early 2010.

The Indonesian State News Agency Antara reports that the European Union (EU) blacklisting of all Indonesian airlines in place since 2007 will be lifted, at least for four Indonesian carriers, sometime in the first half of 2010. The four airlines reportedly recommended for getting a "green light" allowing them to enter European airspace are Garuda Indonesia, Mandala, Air Fast and Premi Air.
Other press reports are suggesting that the ban affecting the four airlines would, in fact, be lifted in the coming weeks. This is based on recommendations issued by the EU Safety Commitytee in Belgium than ended on Thursday, July 2, 2009. Decisions by EU commissions must be translated into the 22 official languages of the UN before they can be officially rendered by the EU’s Commission for Transportation Affairs.
Garuda has greeted the EU decision by declaring their intention to resume European service early in 2010 by re-introducing flights between Indonesia and Amsterdam. In delaying the resumption of European flights, Garuda says that 9 months are needed to prepare to resume European services.


One Foot in Heaven, One Foot on Earcth
An Exhibition by Xante Gabriela at Bali's Ganesha Gallery July 9 – August 3, 2009.

A colorful woman hailing from a colorful family, who has led a colorful life; the Irish-English artist Xante Gabriela is a study in mysterious contrasts. Her art is decidedly influenced by classical European painters like Caravaggio and Rembrandt, who excelled in the use of shadow and light to create mystery and pathos. Gabriela's subject matter, also like the old masters, revolves around the human body taking influence from the East and its ancient spiritual traditions.
In her current exhibition her canvasses employ an experimental technique mixing egg tempera and oil paints. The results dazzles her audience with a series of images depicting a young Indonesian man and girl at prayer. In "Man Praying I" subjects seem to float against dark moody backgrounds exuding an inner glow that suggests peace. With outstretched palms the subject holds a white shawl, perhaps a symbol of purity or a sacred gift, before him. There is a sense of peace and surrender, not as in defeat, but as in the gracious acceptance of reality.
In an age when many iconoclasts declare the old arts – literature, painting, sculpture and live music redundant if not irrelevant, Xante stands out as proof of the awesome power of one image and one word to defeat those too lazy or intolerant to realize that some things are timeless, and that as long as humans tread the earth and contemplate their place in the Universe, there will be a yearning and space for art in endless varieties of forms.
One Foot in Heaven, One Foot on Earth
An Exhibition of Paintings by Xante Gabriela
July 9 – August 3, 2009
Ganesha Gallery at the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay
For More Information Contact Ms. Luh Resiki Telephone ++62-(0)361-701010.