Wayan, Made, Nyoman and Ketut are Balinese Names

via Bali Travel News on 7/15/09

“What is in a name”, said William Shakespeare. However, for the Balinese, a name is very important. We believe it can influence the character of the bearer. Therefore, we avoid using names having a bad connotation or denoting a cruel figure in a story. If you learn a Balinese name etymologically, you may encounter that it has a good meaning.

Giving a name is no by means careless. When a baby is already 42 days, the parent will choose a certain name, but only one is chosen. Those three names are put near the burning wicks. The name given to the baby is the one near the wick, which burns the longest. Usually the name chosen has a meaning of hope, for example: the baby should be healthy or having long life.

Bali Remains Watchful!

via Bali Travel News on 7/24/09

Bali is Secure and in the Phase 1 Alert. Such was the statement of the Chief of Bali Police Department, Inspector General Pol. T. Ashikin Huesein following the bomb tragedy occurred in Jakarta, Friday (17/7). Meanwhile, Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika appealed the community not to be panic.

“Though the bombing incident occurred far away from Bali, Bali should remain alert all the times,” affirmed the Chief of Bali Police. “I assure that Bali is in secure condition. However, we may not be neglectful and should be always attentive.”

After Jakarta Hotels Bombing: Bali Goes on High Alert

from Bali Travel News

As reported by Bali Discovery.Com (Saturday,18/7), distance from the blasts dictate that the people of Bali followed events in Jakarta via TV broadcasts and other electronic media. And despite an intervening distance of 1.5 hours away by plane, Bali has taken a number of steps related to the Jakarta bombings, including:

• Bali's Governor Made Mangku Pastika, the former Police officer credited with resolving the 2002 and 2003 Bali bombings, immediately convened an emergency coordinating meeting with the Udayana IX Military Command, Bali's provincial police, local prosecutors and Bali-based intelligence agencies.

• The island's security status was raise to the highest level of "siaga satu" by the island's Chief of Police, Inspector General T. Ashikin Husein, putting some 12,000 security personal on duty and at the highest state of readiness.

Bali - International 10K

On Sunday 10th August 2008, the 10 kilometer road race run " International Bali 10K" held in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Bali Province , and the commemoration of the 63rd Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia had been well completed in full success. This event is now included on the annual agenda for Bali Provincial Government, and for this in favour of the organizing committee as well as all related parties for this Bali 10K event, we herewith express our gratitude and thanks. For this year's event the 10 kilometres road race will carry its theme "International Bali10K A Run for Unity"

The international scaled-event has become a gathering time for athletes as well as all sports fans coming from all parts of Indonesia and the world. Aside from its main purpose as to make Bali a sport-destination of tourism, this event is one of Bali Provincial Government program to bring forward the success for the national program "Visit Indonesia Year 2009".

Through this very valuable opportunity we invite all parties to provide their contributions towards the success of "International Bali10K" and our program "Visit Indonesia Year 2009".

HIGHLIGHT

Bali - the island is world renowned as a tourist destination. Many desired items for anyone is readily available in Bali: its nature, culture, the people's friendliness and the comfort zone built by its nature and people. In line to commemorate the province's 50 th anniversary on 14 th August 2008, as well as the moment to celebrate Indonesian 63 rd Independence Day - one collosal event taking form of a 10K road race run took place and time in Denpasar, Bali on 10 th August 2008. Bali 10K involved participants from all over Indonesia and as well as international athletes. This event - International Bali 10K - is now scheduled as an annual event for Bali, so as to reach the particular momentum of importance for Bali, Indonesia, its tourism and its general society. As to the same token in order to form a chain of brotherhood between the world's society, International Bali 10K is a form of Sport Tourism , carrying in itself the theme "A Run for Unity".

INTERNATIONAL BALI 10K is an international scale road race run event that will be in its third year, with the theme A Run for Unity embracing the concepts of:

• Road race run is now one of Bali Province's annual agenda in line to commemorate its anniversary and Indonesian Independence Day celebration every month of August

• INTERNATIONAL BALI 10K as a format of sport tourism - tourist and sporting attraction in one, to create a new meaning of many reasons for people worldwide to visit Bali

• Participants to INTERNATIONAL BALI 10K are international elite athletes, national elite athletes, general participants and students, as a media to race the time and set a milestone to national Indonesian athletes for their best time

• This program invites ambassadors/consuls/honorary consuls of countries having its representative office in Bali, as well as other key society personals - in our aim to implement unity and brotherhood of the world's society in Bali

• In line with the road race run, the society will experience a form of entertainment with a performance stage where popular bands & artists perform, with celebrities around the event grounds, food stalls and product sampling stands of event supporters

• The program coverage will be handled by international and national media, in conjunction with the presence of elite international runners

INTERNATIONAL BALI 10K has obtained its recognition by IAAF through PB PASI (Indonesian Athletic Association).

Visit the wbpage

Denpasar

Denpasar is the capital city of the province of Bali, Indonesia.

Some places of interest in Denpasar are

* Kumbasari Traditional Market,
* Jagatnata Temple
* Bali Museum.

Traditional Market

Badung Traditional Market located in the main road, Gajah Mada Street, is the center of the town's economics. This area has become a shopping centre of Bali. This market cannot be discharged from the existing market across Badung's river, called Kumbasari Market because the local society will feel that their shopping experience would be incomplete without going there to the Kumbasari Market, especially for the Balinese who want to buy their ceremonial items.

Jagatnata Temple

Jagatnata Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Denpasar town, which many Hindu people in Denpasar visit to pray, particularly on full moon and new moon. This temple is full of religious and artistic ornaments. In the center of temple area, there is a high temple building encircled by the fertile tropical garden. From the entrance gate to the temple building you will find the Balinese decorations full of meaning to Hindu devotees.

Bali Museum

Bali Museum is located right next door to Jaganata Temple and in this museum you will find a lot of the ancient artifacts of prehistory which have very high artistic value. The collection in this museum provides a different experience.

a night at jimbaran

Evening will always become a great moment for Jimbaran, a small beach village in southern part of Bali, it take around 5 minutes drive from Bali International airport , Ngurah Rai.

Afternoon in Jimbaran beach now become an interesting time for local and international tourist to come and enjoy dinner a-la Jimbaran which provide varieties of seafood as their main dishes.

It seems Jimbaran now identical as a place for dinner for tourist and also to Balinese people. Enjoy dinner while waiting for sunset become a memorable experience. Waves crash sound will always become natural sound to break the situation.

Far on the seaside, tourist and local people walking following the beach path and some children playing with sand. Sometimes airplane landing and take off at Ngurah Rai Airport seen dramatise the situation. Its very clear that its not take a long time to fall in love to this place.When night comes, sound of balinese gamelan following balinese dance will commence, that dance off course will be one of the added values for the tourist.

Legong Dance

My favorite of the Balinese Dances is the Legong. Legong is a palace dance that features the prettiest young girls. The dancers used to be hand picked by the local prince.

Gorgeous costumes and an array of eye, shoulder, hand, head, hip, and foot movements dazzle us. The movement is synchronize with the Gamelan Orchestra.

The beauty and charm of this delicate and feminine dance is indisputable. It's not easy to find any dance in Bali and in other places that comparable to the grace and beauty of the legong. Beside the dance it self, many of musical compositions that accompanying it is among the sweetest and most beautiful on the island. Original music for legong accompaniment is gamelan pelegongan, a kind of percussion instruments with bronze keys, cymbals, and drums, although it can also accompanied by gamelan gong kebyar, the modern gamelan of Bali.

The legong are, lasem, kupu-kupu tarum, jobog, kuntul, legod bawa, smaradhana, andir, condong, and many others.

Some villages in Central and Southern Bali are considered home of the legong. They are, Peliatan, Ubud, Saba, Bedulu, Sukawati in Gianyar area, Binoh in Badung area, Kerambitan in Tabanan area, among others. These villages posses long legong traditions, and most of them still own high quality legong troupes today.

At first legong, as well as other dances at the time, allows only male dancers. Many decades later, female dancers take place, brought legong dance to the new height as we see today.

Uluwatu the most famous wave of Bali

Uluwatu is the most famous wave of Bali. There is always some swell here so it’s also always crowded. The spot offers several waves which are working with different swells and tides:
The Peak: best at mid and high tide. Closes out at low tide. In front of the cave. it’s the most consistant. Short and powerful waves, tubes. The take off is moving. It works from 1ft to 8ft. The most crowded. One of the sections closes more than the others.
Racetracks: 100 meters further. fast wave, a lot of sections with easy tubes. Best at low tide and at 6ft. Can hold bigger swell. On the right tide and the right swell, “The Peak” connects with “Racetraks” (you need to be a good tuberider). Over 10ft, Racetracks breaks until “The Corner”.


Inside Corner: best at mid and low tide with a 6ft swell. At first, it’s a fun wave and the final bowl is a tube. Don’t do a cutback just before the bowl! Take plenty of speed, stay high in the face and trim. You will pass the tube.
Outside Corner: the REAL Uluwatu. Works only with big swells (>8ft) and at low tide. The lower is the tide, the better is the wave. Take at least a 7′ board. It is a succession of long walls good for carving and, sometimes, a beautiful final tube. The length is around 300 meters.
Temple: less surfed. 2 waves in fact (”Outside temple” and “The Bombies”). Only for experts because the water is very shallow. For thoses,it is a incredible tube when it works.

Spot information for surfing at Uluwatu (globalsurfer.com):
· Type of break: reef break
· Type of wave: hollow barreling wave
· Direction: left hand
· Bottom: coral
· Average lenght of ride: long
· Suitable for : expert level

Detailed information:
· Crowd level: a big crowd
· Best tide: mid
· Ideal board size: 6′8-7′4 Mini gun
· Ideal wind direction: south-east

Wavesize & wetsuit:
· Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter

Overhead: 6′- 8′ - Ok : 2′- 4′ - Overhead: 6′- 8′ - Overhead: 6′- 8′
Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts

Getting There
To reach Uluwatu from The Ngurah Ray International Airport by using Taxi, rent car/motorcycle or using travel agent. Its about 1 hour drive.
Where to Stay
There are many accommodations from Warung (warung in a traditional caf), motels, hotels until Villa. The range price in $5 until $ 2000 for 1 day. If you stay in warung you just pay for the meals.

Moving Around
There are many surfing spot near Uluwatu such as: Padang-padang beach, Dreamland beach, Bingin beach, Impossible beach.

Dining Guide
Various restaurants and cafes throughout Uluwatu, from cheeps price to a luxury restaurant.

Souvenir Tips
Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals and t-shirt, etc.

Other Things to See or Do
There is Temple near the beach, its one of the best temple in Bali called Uluwatu Temple. In the Temple you can see a lot of attractions such as:Watching traditional Bali dace performance, Watching Sunset (very good view from Uluwatu Tample).

Travel Tips
· A good hat and water-proof sun-screen.
· Basic first-aid kit, antiseptic dressing, etc.
· Sand-shoes and thongs.
· Board-shorts, t-shirts, 1 pair light-weight, long-pants and long-sleeve wind cheater.
· Two towels and sun-glasses.
· Personal toiletries, after-sun cream, insect repellent.
· Walkman, camera, handy-cam and books.
· Booties, 2 surf-boards.
· Light-weight wet-suits, rash-vest, gate helmet and spare leg-ropes.

Sources
· Baliwaves- www.baliwaves.com
· Surfing Indonesia, periplus action guide.
· Global Surfer- www.globalsurfers.com

Jati Luwih

Jati Luwih in Balinese means very good.
Its name really express the fact that Jati Luwih is a very beautyfull place and produce high quality rice for bali.The most exciting and famous thing here is the Paddy TerraceJatiluwih is a favorite tourist destination in Bali famous with the beautiful rice terrace unfolding from the foot of mountain until the coastal side. It is one of places to visit in Bali with the beautiful view.

The local paddies are planted in this place look typically of the high relative size plant if it is compared with other pre-eminent paddy planted by most farmers in Bali . Despitefully, Jatiluwih also famous with its organic agriculture system due to the location is located in the in the plateau of Watukaru Mount which is suitable for the agriculture development.

Jatiluwih is surrounded by cool atmosphere because it is located in the height of 700 meters above sea level.

The distance from Denpasar to Jatiluwih is about 48 km and it is situated in upstate of Tabanan town .

Jatiluwih is many visited by tourist from local and foreign countries who want to enjoy the cold atmosphere and beautiful panorama of rice terrace. Jatiluwih as a nature tourist destination in Bali which has been recognized since Dutch colonial build the Security Headquarter and until now the local residents conceives with the Dutch Tangs. Indonesian government has assigned the Jatiluwih to be a Tourist Destination Village because of this potency.

Tari Kecak

Of all the dances seen on Bali today, the Kecak dance is perhaps the most dramatic one.

Taken from the Hindu epic Ramayana, the dance tells the story of Prince Rama and his rescue of Princess Sita, who has been kidnapped by the evil King of Lanka. Unlike other dances, there is no gamelan orchestra accompanying it. Instead, a troupe of over 150 bare-chested men serve as the chorus, making a wondrous cacophany of synchronized "chak-achak-achak" clicking sounds while swaying their bodies and waving their hands.

Kecak was originally a trance ritual accompanied by male chorus. German painter and musician Walter Spies became deeply interested in the ritual while living in Bali in the 1930s and worked to recreate it into a drama, based on the Hindu Ramayana and including dance, intended to be presented to Western tourist audiences. This transformation is an example of what James Clifford describes as part of the "modern art-culture system" in which, "the West or the central power adopts, transforms, and consumes non-Western or peripheral cultural elements, while making 'art' which was once embedded in the culture as a whole, into a separate entity."

Spies worked with Wayan Limbak and Limbak popularized the dance by traveling throughout the world with Balinese performance groups. These travels have helped to make the Kecak famous throughout the world.

Bali Airport Declares War on H1N1 Virus

Bali Airport Declares War on H1N1 Virus

Now that Bali has its first confirmed cases of the H1N1 Virus with the confirmation of that illness in the English-born Australian Bobbie Masoner (22) and 12 year-old George Coltman, the island has tightened controls and measures in the hope of curbing a further spread of the disease.
Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport

Angkasa Pura I (PAR I) , the management authority for Bali’s airport, has responded to the confirmed case of H1N1 by declaring an all out effort to prevent more undetected cases from entering Bali.

Working together with the Airport Health Office, PAP I will single out planes from countries confirmed to be infected with the H1N1 Virus for special treatment. Upon landing at Bali’s airport the subject planes will be sequestered briefly at Bravo 18 - a remote aircraft parking area of the airport where the plane and its passengers will be sprayed with disinfectant. Passengers will then be disembarked and subjected to thermal scanners to determine if any are suffering from an elevated body temperature which, if discovered, would earn a more thorough medical examination by the airport’s H1N1 containment team.

Separately, the Chairman of the Bali Tourism Board (BTB), IB Ngurah Wijaya, saluted the open attitude of the government in dealing with the worldwide pandemic represented by H1N1. Explained Wijaya, as quoted in the Bali Post: “Indeed, there’s no need to cover this up. What matters is that we explain is that we tell the public how we are handling the illness, as we did before with Bird Flu.”

Wijaya also called on members of the travel and hotel industry to take a more proactive role in fighting the H1N1 virus by bringing guests to Denpasar’s Sanglah General Hospital whenever symptoms are detected.

Guidelines from Bali Tourism Authority

On June 24, 2009, the Bali Tourism Authority (Diparda) issued a circular memo addressed to all tourism stakeholder suggesting:

• To heighten coordination between clinic operating from hotels and local Health Centers.

• To prepare face masks for Bali visitors.

• Prepare stocks of Tamiflu to treat cases of the H1N1 Virus.

• Guests suspected of being infected with the H1N1 virus should be isolated and reported to the Bali Health Office by calling Dr. Suteja at telephone ++62(0)818550650, Dr. Subrata at telephone ++62(0)0811397568 or the Health Command Post at ++62-(0)361-222412.

Tamiflu supplies are on stand-by at local community health centers and the Sanglah General Hospital.

Source : balidiscovery.com

Ubud

8th century legend tells of a Javanese priest, Rsi Markendya, who meditated at the confluence of two rivers at the Ubud locality of Campuan. Here he founded the Gunung Lebah Temple on the valley floor, the site of which remains a pilgrim destination.

The town was originally important as a source of medicinal herbs and plants; Ubud gets its name from the Balinese word ubad (medicine).

Tourism on the island developed after the arrival of Walter Spies, an ethnic German born in Russia who taught painting and music, and dabbled in dance. Spies and foreign painters Willem Hofker and Rudolf Bonnet entertained celebrities including Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Barbara Hutton, H.G. Wells and Vicki Baum. They brought in some of the greatest artists from all over Bali to teach and train the Balinese in arts, helping Ubud become the cultural centre of Bali.

Ubud tourism focuses on culture, yoga and nature. In contrast to the main tourist area in southern Bali, the Ubud area has forests, rivers, cooler temperatures and less congestion although traffic has increased dramatically in the 21st century. A number of smaller "boutique"-style hotels are located in and around Ubud, which commonly offer spa treatments or treks up Ubud's mountains.

Ubud is famous for it's regularly nightly traditional dance performances, which are part of the traditional culture and are arranged for tourists on a regular schedule. Hindu-Balinese ceremonies take place on a nearly daily basis, especially in the European summer, which is the driest and coolest season here.

Ubud is now a hot spot for literati, glitterati, art collectors and connoisseurs. Famous names walk its busy sidewalks everyday. Elegant five star hotels and sprawling mansions now stand on its outskirts, overlooking the most prized views in Bali. Nonetheless, Ubud is still popular with backpackers, mystics and all the finest fringe elements of global society.

Ubud is arguably the best place to use as a base if you're visiting Bali; if you're looking for culture, comfort, nature and inspiration. Ubud is surrounded by most of the things that bring people to Bali -- scenic rice fields, small villages, art and craft communities, ancient temples, palaces, rivers, cheap accommodation and unique luxury hotels. And it's central location makes it easy to get from Ubud to the mountains, beaches, and major towns.

Bedugul

Bedugul is an area in the central mountains of Bali. Bedugul is Area is composed of Bratan Lake located in Candikuning village. Near to this location there is another 2 Lakes, Tamblingan and Buyan.

Bedugul is at an alitude of 1.150 meters above sea level,When the heat and humidity finally gets to you, the place to escape to is Bedugul, Bali's highland retreat, tucked into the crater of an extinct volcano, 1400 meters above sea level.

Here, three lakes provide everything from recreation to the water for the springs, rivers and rice fields below. Lush pine forest seems to create freshness in the air. Bedugul is known for the quality of its fruit especially strawberies, vegetables and flowers.

Bedugul is surrounded forested hills. A beautiful sight is the “Ulun Danu” temple which seems to out of the lake. The area offers good walks. Boats are available for skiing and parasailing, or just to travel around the lake.

The most interesting places in Bedugul are:

• Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Bratan. Unique Temple on a small island on the lake.
• The Bedugul Botanical Gardens (Kebun Raya Eka Karya) with a wide collection of trees and plants.
• Strawberry Garden

Uluwatu

Bali, an island with thousand of temple. That statement is really true. Wherever you go you will easily find temple. In each Hindu family in Bali they have their own temple. Each village also have their own temple, they call it as "Tri Kahyangan".

Pura Uluwatu situated in Desa Pecatu, - Kuta., about an hour drive from Kuta. This temple usually known as “Pura Luhur Uluwatu” : "Luhur" means "glorious, honorable” while "Uluwatu" can be broken into "ulu" which means "head" and "watu" means "rock".

Pura Uluwatu is the most spectacular temple on the island of Bali besides of Tanah Lot temple.

Pura Uluwatu is regarded as one of the six most important temples in Bali (along with Pura Besakih). Its location on the south westernmost precinct of this magical island guards the Balinese from the evil spirit of the ocean.

Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot is one of the most popular places of interest in Bali, it is located on the coast of west Bali, at the village of Beraban in the Tabanan Regency. It is also called Tanah Let which mean ancient land, and also Tanah Lod, the land to the south.

The temple Pura Tanah Lot is dramatic in its ocean front location and is one of the main temples in the worship of Balinese Gods.Tanah Lot has a long history in the world of tourism. The temple itself is build on a small promontory, which is only accessible at low tide. During high tide, water will separate the temple from mainland.

Poisonous snakes live in the nearby caves to 'guard' the temple and contribute to the temple's dangerous reputation.Sunset is the best time to visit Tanah Lot, when the golden red skies frames the temple and waves crash into the rocks.Tanah Lot is a rock formation off the Indonesian island of Bali. It is home of a pilgrimage temple, the Pura Tanah Lot and a popular motif for tourists photography.

Tanah Lot means "Land in the Middle of the sea" in Balinese language. Located in Tabanan, about 20 km from Denpasar, the temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide.Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 15th century priest Nirartha. During his travels along the south coast he saw the rock-island's beautiful setting and rested there. Some fishermen saw him, and bought him gifts. Nirartha then spent the night on the little island. Later he spoke to the fishermen and told them to build a shrine on the rock for he felt it to be a holy place to worship the Balinese sea gods.

The Tanah Lot temple was built and has been a part of Balinese mythology for centuries. The temple is one of seven sea temples around the Balinese coast. Each of the sea temples were established within eyesight of the next to form a chain along the south-western coast.At the base of the rocky island, poisonous sea snakes are believed to guard the temple from evil spirits and intruders. As well as one giant snake which also protects the temple, which was created from Nirartha’s scarf when he established the island.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most magnificent hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.

Nusa Dua is well known for its high class hotels and restaurants. A lot of top level world class meeting and congress held here. Indonesian government also very often meet their honorable guests in Nusa Dua.

Sanur

The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.

On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions.

There are a lot of accommodations ranging from a small, inexpensive homestay to a luxurious resort will ready accommodate you here. Between the beach and the hotel there is a jogging track line from South no North connecting Mertasari to Sanur.

Between July and August there are 2 events usually held here, Bali Kites Festival and Sanur Festival. The Sanur Festival consists of traditional art performances, sports on the beach , plus rows and rows of culinary displays.

WORDS FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF SANUR VILLAGE FESTIVAL 2009
=====================================================
Sanur Village Festival 2009


We are very happy to announce that Sanur Village Festival 2009 is ON again from 25 - 29 August 2009. This will be the fourth Sanur Village festival, and we assure you that this year, the festival will be bigger and better. The theme ‘Life Marine’ will be the highlight of Sanur Village Festival 2009, which means most of our activities will be inspired from the marine life which also exist as a very important element in the Balinese everyday life. We also share with you the new artwork for Sanur Village Festival 2009, just to give you a glimpse of the most interesting festival in Bali.

Welcome to the fourth installment of Sanur Village Festival 2009!
See you there

Kuta, The international village of bali

Kuta is very short drive away from Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport, and transportation is readily available to take you from and to Kuta to and from anywhere else in Bali.


Kuta is administratively a district (kecamatan) and a village (kelurahan) in southern part of Bali. Formerly this village was a fishing village, it was one of the first towns on Bali to see substantial tourist development, and as a beach resort remains one of Indonesia's major tourist destinations. It is known internationally for its long sandy beach, varied accommodation, many restaurants and bars, and many renowned surfers who visit from Australia.


Kuta in addition to being the Sunset Site Number One, with its daily spectacular sunsets, it is also the centre of night life activities in Southern Bali, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants line up the streets as well as the Beachfront, Hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive homestay to a luxurious resort, will ready accommodate you.


The beach of Kuta is one of the first favorite beaches discovered by tourist. On the south, the beach is fenced by the airport’s runway, which gives you a breathtaking landing experience. The beach stretches as far north as the eyes can see. As short walk away north, waves will invite you to test your surfing


Kuta was the site of the October 12, 2002 1st Bali bombing (202 killed) and the October 1, 2005 2nd Bali bombing (26 killed).


The Balinese Provincial Government have taken the view that the preservation of the Balinese culture, natural resources and wildlife are of primary importance in the development of the island. To this end they have limited tourist development to the peninsula on the extreme southern aspect of the island; Kuta beach is on the western side of this peninsula and Sanur is on the east. To the north of the peninsula no new tourist development is supposedly permitted.

To the south, Kuta Beach extends beyond the airport into Jimbaran.


Kuta is now the center of an extensive tourist-oriented urban area that merges into the neighboring towns. Legian, to the north, is the commercial hub of Kuta and the site of many restaurants and entertainment spots.


Legian and Seminyak are northern extensions of Kuta along Jl. Legian and Jl. Basangkasa. They are somewhat quieter suburbs with cottage-style accommodations, where many of the expat crowd live.


Also to the north are Petitenget, Berawa, Canggu, and Seseh - new and quieter continuations of Kuta's beach. They are easy to reach through Denpasar and Kerobokan.


Several large hotels are located in this area: the Oberoi Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, the Intan Bali Village, the Legian in Petitenget, the Dewata Beach and the Bali Sani Suites in Berawa.


Bali bombing memorial


1st Bali Bombing in 2002 at Kuta: A permanent memorial was built on the site of the destroyed Paddy's Pub on Legian Street. (A new bar, named "Paddy's: Reloaded", was reopened further along Legian Street). The memorial is made of intricately carved stone, set with a large marble plaque, which bears the names and nationalities of each of those killed. It is flanked by the national flags of the victims. The monument is well-maintained and illuminated at night.

The memorial was dedicated on 12 October 2004, the second anniversary of the attack. The dedication included a Balinese Hindu ceremony and the opportunity for mourners to lay flowers and other offerings. The Australian ambassador and Indonesian officials attended the ceremony as most the victims were Australians.


The Balinese mark their commitment in a nine-day long event. After major cleansing ceremonies, establishing a memorial for the lost lives, and paying respect to those who left loved ones behind, the people of Kuta look forward to restoring Bali’s image through an event named "Kuta Karnival - A Celebration of Life”. The community event consists of traditional art performances such as Balinese Sunset Dances, sports on the beach as well as in the water for young and old plus rows and rows of culinary displays along the one kilometre of sandy beach.


In line with the return of tourism to Kuta, Kuta Karnival has grown into a tourism promotional event with major coverage from television and newspapers from across the globe. Companies, embassies, Non-Government Organizations, associations and even individuals come forth to get involved in the various events such as a Balinese dance competition presented by a surf-wear company, an environment exhibition presented by an embassy, a fun cycle presented by a group of individuals, a seminar presented by an association and a parade on the streets presented by an NGO. Tourists and locals alike, more than ninety thousand people participates in the numerous events, year after year.


A repeated tragedy in Bali in 2005 did not reduce the Kuta community’s determination to carry out this annual event. Kuta Karnival is conducted to commemorate and give respect to the victims of human violence and show the world the true spirit of local community survival despite terrorism attacks.