Early History of Bali

Since Adhiraj covered modern history of Bali, I have covered here early history of Bali. Also, did you know that the Balinese calendar system consists of 210 days? I tried to understand how this system works but it is so confusing..

Early History

The early history of Bali can be divided into a prehistoric and an early historic period. The former is marked by the arrival of Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian) migrants beginning perhaps three to four thousand years ago. The Austronesians were hardy seafarers who spread from Taiwan through the islands of Southeast Asia to the Pacific in a series of extensive migrations that spanned several millennia. The Balinese are thus closely related, culturally and linguistically, to the peoples of the Philippines and Oceania as well as the neighboring islands of Indonesia.Though precious little is known about the long, formative stages of Balinese prehistory, artifacts discovered around the island provide intriguing clues about Bali's early inhabitants. Prehistoric grave sites have been found in western Bali, the oldest probably dating from the first several centuries B.C. The people buried here were herders and farmers who used bronze, and in some cases iron, to make implements and jewelry. Prehistoric stone sarcophagi have also been discovered, mainly in the mountains. They often have the shape of huge turtles carved at either end with human and animal heads with bulging eyes, big teeth and protruding tongues.

Stone seats, altars and big stones dating from early times are still to be found today in several Balinese temples. Here, as elsewhere in Indonesia, they seem to be connected with the veneration of ancestral spirits who formed (and in many ways still form) the core of Balinese religious practices.

Also apparently connected with ancestor worship is one of Southeast Asia's greatest prehistoric artifacts - the huge bronze kettledrum known as the "Moon of Pejeng." Still considered to have significant power, it is now enshrined in a temple in the central Balinese village of Pejeng, in Gianyar Regency. More than 1.5 meters in diameter and 1.86 meters high, it is decorated with frogs and geometric motifs in a style that probably originated around Dongson, in what is now northern Vietnam. This is the largest of many such drums discovered in Southeast Asia.

Hindu-Javanese influences

It is assumed (but without proof so far) that the Balinese were in contact with Hindu and Buddhist populations of Java from the early part of the 8th century A.D. onwards, and that Bali was even conquered by a Javanese king in A.D. 732. This contact is responsible for the advent of writing and other important Indian cultural elements that had come to Java along the major trading routes several centuries earlier. Indian writing, dance, religion and architecture were to have a decisive impact, blending with existing Balinese traditions to form a new and highly distinctive culture.Stone and copper plate inscriptions in Old Balinese are known from A.D. 882 onwards, coinciding with finds of Hindu- and Buddhist inspired statues, bronzes, ornamented caves, rock-cut temples and bathing places. These are found especially in areas close to rivers, ravines, springs and volcanic peaks.

Balinese society was pretty sophisticated by about 900 AD. Their marriage portrait of the Balinese King Udayana to East Java's Princess Mahendratta is captured in a stone carving in the Pura Korah Tegipan in the Batur area. Their son, Erlangga, born around 991 AD, later succeeded to the throne of the Javanese kingdom and brought Java and Bali together until his death in 1049.

At the end of the 10th and the beginning of the 11th centuries there were close, peaceful bonds with Indianized kingdoms in east Java, in particular with the realm of Kadiri (10th century A.D. to 1222). Old Javanese was thereafter the prestige language, used in all Balinese inscriptions, evidence of a strong Javanese cultural influence. In 1284, Bali is said to have been conquered by King Krtanagara of the east Javanese Singhasari dynasty (1222-1292). It is not certain whether the island was actually colonized at this time, but many new Javanese elements manifest themselves in the Balinese art of this period.According to a Javanese court chronicle known as the Nagarakrtagama (dated 1365), Bali was conquered and colonized in 1343 by Javanese forces under Gajah Mada, the legendary general or patih of the powerful Majapahit kingdom who established hegemony over east Java and all seaports bordering the Java Sea during the mid-14th century. It is said that Gajah Mada, accompanied by contingents of Javanese nobles, called Aryas, came to Bali to subdue a rapacious Balinese king. A Javanese vassal ruler was installed at a new capital at Samprangan, near present day lUungkung in east Bali, and the nobles were granted apanages in the surrounding areas. A Javanese court and courtly culture were thus introduced to the island.

The separation of Balinese society into four caste groups is ascribed to this period, with the Satriya warrior caste ruling from Samprangan. Those who did not wish to participate in the new system fled to remote mountain areas, where they lived apart from the mainstream. These are the so-called the “original Balinese”, the “Bali Aga” or “Bali Mula”. They still live separately in villages like Tenganan near Dasa Temple and Trunyan on the shores of Batur Lake, and maintain their ancient laws and traditional ways.

When Majapahit in East Java fell in 1515, the many small Islamic kingdoms in the island merged into the Islamic Mataram empire, Majapahit's most dedicated Hindu priests, craftsmen, soldiers, nobles and artists fled east to Bali, and flooded the island with Javanese culture and Hindu practices. Considering the huge influence and power of Islam at the time, it is worth pondering why and how Bali still remained strongly Hindu and Buddhist.

Around 1460, the capital moved to nearby Gelgel, and the powerful "Grand Lord" or Dewa Agung presided over a flowering of the Balinese arts and culture. Bali reached the pinnacle of its Golden Era under the reign of the Batu Renggong, the great god ruler. Bali's decline started when Batu Renggong's grandson, Di Made Bekung, lost Blambangan, Lombok and Sumbawa. Di Made Bekung's chief minister, Gusti Agung Maruti, eventually rebelled and reigned from 1650 till 1686, when he in turn was killed by Di Made Bekung's son, Dewa Agung Jambe, who then moved the court to Klungkung, and named his new palace the Semarapura, Abode of the God of Love.

The Balinese Calendar

The Pawukon calendar system is believed to be indigenous to the Balinese, possibly rooted in the thousand-year-old rice-growing cycle of the island. There are six months to a Pawukon year, and 35 days to a Pawukon month. So a Pawukon year is 210 days. Each Pawukon month is divided into many shorter cycles (weeks) that run concurrently. The calendar consists of 10 different concurrent weeks of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 days. On the first day of the year it is the first day of all the ten weeks. Because 210 is not divisible by 4, 8, or 9 - extra days must be added to the 4, 8, and 9 day weeks.The most important weeks are the 3, 5, and 7 day weeks. Out of 210 days, there are more than 200 days of ceromonies and celebrations!

Ubud!

Researched by Ariel & Molly

Ubud is a town that is sandwiched between the rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. It is located 35 km northeast of Bali's International Airport and only 15 minutes away from the beach (although most travelers do not recommend it as a beach going spot). Because of its location at the base of the mountains temperatures are slightly lower than in the lowlands, and year-round rain showers help to grow lush tropical vegetation. Ubud is the epicenter of art in Bali. It is a place where the most accomplished dancers, musicians, painters, weavers and carvers live and work. As such there are a multitude of museums and art galleries throughout the town. While it was once a haven for cosmic seekers, backpackers, artists and bohemians (sort of like the hippies of Ithaca!), Ubud is now a hot spot for "literati, glitterati, art collectors and connoisseurs."1 Famous names walk its busy sidewalks everyday. The town has a modest population of about 8,000 people, and there are many who claim that the towns rising expansion is making it more difficult to distinguish the town itself from the villages that surround it. This development has come in the form of art, souvenir and handicraft shops that line the road, as well as many restaurants and cafes. Yet, there are others who contend that the culture of Ubud is too strong to be masked under the new additions and expansions. This location will give us a unique opportunity to truly see the art and cultural legacy of Bali in a relaxed and less chaotic atmosphere in comparison to some of the other cities in Bali.

Location in Bali

Map Source: http://en.wikipedia.org

Ubud History

Ubud gets its name from the Balinese word “Ubad”, which is a kind of medicine. Originally, the town was famous for providing medicinal herbs and plants. Legend tells that Ubud’s important religion role originated in 8th century, when a Javanese priest founded the Gunung Lehab temple on the valley floor (where Ubud is now), and it still remains a pilgrim destination. In the late nineteenth century, the lord who owned Ubud supported the village’s increasingly renowned arts scene. Later, Walter Spies and other painters such as Willem Hofker arrived in Ubud, they not only taught painting, music and dance by themselves, but also brought in some of the greatest artists from all over Bali to teach and train the Balinese in arts. After that, Ubud became the cultural centre of Bali and the tourism developed gradually. In 1960s, Butch painter Arie Smit made great contribution to the new development of Ubud’s arts development. In the development of the Young Artists movement, many museums such as Museum Puri Lukisan and the Agung Rai Museum of Art were founded around that time.

Tell me More about Ubud history

Role of Religion & Culture

Balinese Hinduism permeates life throughout the town, even more so than some of the other villages. Ubud is recognized as one the more traditional towns in terms of maintaining the manifold and tenants of Agama Hindu Bali. According to one visitor, “Everywhere you look, every single day, you will see ceremony, ritual and sacred offerings. All of this is carried out in Ubud with a level of devout attention and meticulous care that is rarely exceeded elsewhere.” It is supposed to be a very enlightening experience to be able to witness or participate in one of these ceremonies, so we may want to consider visiting one of the following temples while in Ubud:

Pura Desa Ubud - The main "town temple" in the centre, across from Ary's Warung.

Pura Puseh - The "temple of origin" devoted to Ubud's honoured ancestors.

Pura Dalem Ubud - The temple for the dark side of things. On the north side of Jalan Raya before the road descends to Campuan.

Pura Taman Saraswati - Part of the Puri Saraswati complex, devoted to Dewi Saraswati the goddess of learning, literature and the arts, Features a fine padmasana (lotus throne). Beyond the lotus pond in back of Cafe Lotus.

List of Ubud Temples

Art & Where to Find It!

There will be plenty of opportunities here to purchase the local crafts. Prices are typically extremely flexible, meaning it is acceptable and encouraged to barter and haggle over a price. Each town in Ubud is uniquely known for different types of crafts. Notably, the road from Peliatan to Pujung, which is dotted with woodcarving galleries and other craft shops. In Tegallalang and surrounding villages you will find Bali's best Garuda and Singga carvers, among the cheesy pop-art wooden souvenirs. Small woodcarvings of every sort are widely available in Ubud, Tegallalang, Pujung, Nyuh Kuning, Mas, Teges, and in abundance at the Sukawati art market, about twenty minutes south of Ubud. You can get pieces in naturally-finished woods representing animals, religious figures, people and so forth. Throughout the Ubud area, you can pick up inexpensive small paintings which make excellent decorative accents back home. Other crafts in the towns surrounding Ubud include weaving (Gianyar area), stone carving (Batubulan), basket making (Bona), bamboo and rattan work (Sakah and Bona), jewellery (Celuk), bone and coconut carving (Tampaksiring), batik, furniture making, bronze casting, and, decorative metalwork. The entire Gianyar district is densely populated with craftspeople in every imaginable medium. The majority of them love to create and design a piece specifically for you, so start planning now if you want something personalized made. Simply bring along a sketch, sample, or magazine clipping. Alternatively, if you like what you see in a showroom, but have an idea how it could be improved, explain what variation you have in mind. Don't forget to agree on a price in advance. At the main crossroads we'll find the Ubud market, a conglomerations of stalls and shops that sells everything from paperclips and papayas to saffron and sarongs. Mornings are the best time to catch the market buzz, as locals buy all the components for the daily meal and daily offerings. Afternoons are calmer, but hotter. The "official' market day for Ubud falls on "Pasah" which occurs every three days. I tried looking this up online, but had no luck… so perhaps we can find someone who can tell us when we arrive. On "Pasah" in the morning, there are more local shoppers and heaps of fresh produce and other foodstuffs.

List of Ubud Museums and Galleries

Popular Tourist Destinations:

The Ubud Monkey Forest, which is approximately 27 acres (10 square kilometer), is home of 340 Crab-eating Macaque monkeys and 115 different species of trees. It locates near the southern end of Jalan Monkey forest. The forest is also a temple complex including Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal temple, a "Holy Spring" bathing temple and another temple used for cremation ceremonies.

The Museum Puri Lukisan, opened in 1957, is the oldest art museum in Ubud. It’s the home to the finest collection of modern traditional Balinese paining and wood carving on the island. Its collection includes important examp

les of all the artistic styles in Bali from 1930 and afterwards.

List of Palaces

Below is a shopping walking tour that I found online, which if we have the time could be a lot of fun! I’m posting it here so it doesn’t get lost and so we can decide if it is worth the time to do!2

Tour the Best of Monkey Forest Road - Walking South from the Main Crossroads by the Market

After a random mix of shops, you'll find Toko Lagi on the west side of the street, with no sign, just a cryptic object hanging from its rafters, and pale blue-green stones in front. It sells hand-selected museum-quality antiques and textiles from around Indonesia, as well as custom-designed useful objects made by traditional craftspeople, It's owned by the architect of Ibah Hotel, who also runs Toko, a few paces further down the street. Toko has interesting clothes, carefully chosen ikat fabrics, and a large collection of extremely well designed and made original jewellery. Walk on, to Sakti to see a hand-picked collection of primitive artefacts, clothing, essential oils, bath products and incense by Utama Spice. Next stop is Le Chat, across the street, with very wearable and tasteful men's and women's clothing, charming gifts and decorative objects. Displays feature wittily worded cards by the manager, Oka d'Putra, an alarmingly literate and cultured young man. Great music. Continue on to visit Bead 'n' Bali, with its huge selection of beads of all kinds, and materials to make your own bead jewellery, You can do beads for hours if you like. Also sells pieces already made up. Across the street is Wardani Textiles, Ubud's best textile emporium, with thousands of fabrics for sale by the metre, sarongs, sashes and casualwear. Check out their fine ikat, Balinese cotton chambray in endless colours and patterns, cotton and silk batik, plus silk and linen fashion fabrics. Stroll further to Kamar Sutra, an elegant boutique with original designs in gorgeous double silk. Also handmade silk batik worked in powerful and deeply traditional motifs. Further down, and across the road is Senang-Senang, a stylish little clothing boutique with boldly simple designs for women, which are sexy and at the same time demure. Next is Casa Alam, an exquisitely designed shop in a beautiful building set back a little from the street (which in itself is a relief). Fine goods from natural materials, including baskets, stationery, decorative, and useful objects. Also very fine clothing in natural materials and high quality hand made batik. Gross to the west side again, and continue walking south to Argasoka Gallery. This place is worth walking all the way from the market to visit. A marvellous collection of antique (really) batiks from Java, including fine Pekalongan, Cirebon and (of course) Solo and Yogya pieces, Perhaps even more exciting is the collection of new batiks, handworked in silk and cotton, the clothes made up from their original batiks in clear, natural colours, are works of fine art.

Find more information about Ubud:

The following websites provide a thorough background information of Ubud, and suggestions of where and how to enjoy Ubud’s Palaces, Museums, Spas, Cultural performances, Yoga, Rafting and nightlife…

http://www.ubud.com/

http://www.wikipedia.com

http://wikitravel.org/en/Ubud

http://www.indo.com/active/ubud.html

http://baliwww.com/destination/index/category/1355.html

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[1] http://www.indo.com/active/ubud.htm

[2] excerpted from http://www.indo.com/active/ubud10-1.html#market

Hotels in Bali
Bali is sure to have the right type of hotels, villas and accommodation for you. Whether you are looking for international resort hotels or more modest accommodation there is a great selection from which to choose. Your choice ranges from very reasonably priced hotels providing clean, air-conditioned rooms with private bath to famous luxury resorts in Bali offering "villas" of over 200 square meters (2,200 sq.ft.) with beautiful living and dining pavilions, a pool in your private garden, and all facilities you'd expect at a top resort.
To assist you, we have classified all Bali hotels and accommodation in categories from budget to luxury.
Budget

Budget Category involves Properties offering simple yet clean and comfortable accommodation. There are limited facilities available but is perfect for the traveler wanting to stretch their holiday dollar.
Moderate

Moderate Category involves accommodation offering more amenities and facilities compared to a budget category lodging facility. Many hotels feature a coffee shop, restaurant, bar and 24 hour room service. Moderate hotels and villas offer good value for the money charged
Superior

Well maintained accommodation (hotels & villas) with superior facilities, services and amenities. Properties are normally located on the beachfront or prime location. Most 3-4 star hotels offer spa, fitness and kids club activities.
Deluxe

Deluxe properties offer high quality hotel accommodation with high standards of service. Most 4-5 star hotels have extensive facilities and may offer private villa or suite accommodation. The gardens and pool areas are expansive.
Luxury

Accommodation with tasteful decor, excellent service and quality facilities. Most hotels in this category feature a restaurant, coffee shop, bar, public areas and leisure facilities. Villas in this category offer the best there is.

Areas where hotels could be found in Bali include:
-Nusa Dua & Tj Benoa
-Jimbaran Beach
-Tuban, Kuta
-Kuta & Legian
-Seminyah – Tanah Lot
-Sanur Beach
-Nusa Lembongan
-Ubud Area
-Candidasa & east Bali
-Lovina & north Bali
- Senggigi –Lombok

Classification Of Hotels in Bali

Hotels in Indonesia are rated along guidelines established by the Government. By and large there are 3 categories: Star, Melati and Losmen. Within each of these categories there are various levels.
 Star Category has levels 1-5 with 5 being best.
 Melati Category has 3 levels 1-3 with 3 being best.
 Losmen are not rated.
Star rated hotels are fairly easy to distinguish between - the more stars the more services and facilities you can expect. A one star hotel will not have international direct dial telephones in the room or 24 hour room service - a 5 star hotel will.

Melati hotels are more difficult to define. Some Melati hotels especially the level 3 (many now being marketed as boutique hotels) can sometimes be "nicer" than a 3 star hotel. Some owners of Melati hotels prefer not be star rated for personal reasons.

Other Melati hotels just don't have the facilities to be rated in the star category. However to give an idea in general, Melati l hotels often do not have air-conditioned bedrooms and no hotel facilities to speak of. Melati 2 may or may not have air conditioned rooms and may have a few facilities such as a restaurant but lack services such as room service - direct dial telephones and so on, and Melati 3, usually have air-conditioned rooms, restaurant and sometimes room service but may or not have direct dial telephone service. Again it depends on the room rate.
Losmen are hotels which are not rated by the government but include all features of a basic accommodation providing neat and clean beds and standard in room amenities.






Concepts and Definitions in Hotel and Other Accommodation Statistics in Indonesia
Accommodation establishment is an establishment which uses a building especially prepared to any person to stay, eat and obtain service as well as other facilities against payment.
Star hotel is an establishment which uses a building or part of building especially prepared to any person to stay, eat and obtain service as well as other facilities against payment, and it has fulfilled the requirements as s star hotel which have been stated by the Regional Tourism Agency. The special characterstic of hotel is having restaurant under hotel management.
Jasmine hotel is an establishment which uses a building or part of building especially prepared to any person to stay, eat and obtain service as well as other facilities against payment, and it has not fulfilled the requirements as a star hotel, but it has fulfilled as a jasmine hotel issued by Regional Tourism Agency.
Youth hotel is an accommodation establishment especially for adolescent in the framework of tourism activity and broadening of knowledge or experience.
Home stay is an accommodation establishment for public which is conducted by private by using part or all of his/her house (against payment)
Camping Site is an accommodation establishment in the open-air by using tent or trailer as a place to stay, including caravan.
Other accommodation is an establishment other than mentioned above, such as inn.

Bali Hotels Association
It is a professional group of star rated hotels and resorts in Bali. Members include general managers who join hand and meet together to discuss issues of common interest. They actually accommodate more than 80 hotels and resorts, representing more than 14,000 hotel rooms and nearly 22,000 employees in the Bali hotel sector.
As well as providing destination relevant information; Bali Hotels Association will be able to keep you updated on issues that are relevant to the destination. BHA values the travel industries input on improvements, issues and concerns relating to Bali as a whole.
In addition the association sponsors various programs for the enrichment and progress of the hotel employees such as –
- Up selling, Reservation and Registration program
- Revenue Management Program
- Forecasting and Budgeting Program
- BHA scholarships provided to the members of the association and hotel employees
- Front office development program

Unique scheme by BHA – Bali Bonus Nights (During Recession)
Bali Hotels and Resorts are world renowned for offering outstanding value for the most discerning travelers. The true Balinese hospitality in combination with one of the world's most vibrant traditional cultures caused Bali time and again to be named the world's favorite tropical island destination in prestigious international surveys.
In response to the uncertain global financial situation and to encourage travelers not to delay their Bali holiday plans, more than 40 leading Bali hotels joined forces to offer "Bali Bonus Nights" on new bookings .

An initiative organized under the Bali Hotels Association (BHA), chairman of the group of Bali star-rated hotels, Robert Lagerwey, said, "Bali Bonus Nights" is a world-wide tactical promotion intended to drive further awareness and drive additional business to the island."
Lagerwey explained that the existing promotional platform of "Bali is my Life" will be used as a backdrop of the "Bali Bonus Night" promotion, emphasizing the central role played by the Balinese and their rich culture in Bali's continuing success.
The "Bonus Night" scheme applied to participating properties through selected wholesale, travel agent, and direct-booking channels.

World-wide Offer
"Bali Bonus Nights" are available from participating hotels with the qualifying room night levels to earn a bonus night determined by the guest's nationality or country of residence.
Bali Bonus Nights levels are divided into three groups:
Group A: Stay 3 Nights and Get the 4th Night Free for tourists from Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, People’s Republic of China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand
Group B: Stay 5 Nights and Get the 6th Night Free for tourists from Australia and New Zealand
Group C: Stay 7 Nights and Get the 8th Night Free for tourists from all European Union Members and countries, Russia, Middle East markets, the Americas, South Africa, and all other nations
Bali Hotels,Target for Terrorist Activities
The 2002 Bali bombings occurred on 12 October 2002 in the tourist district of Kuta .The attack was the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia killing 202 people, 152 of whom were foreign nationals and 38 Indonesian citizens. A permanent memorial was built on the site of the destroyed Paddy's Pub in Kuta after the October 12, 2002 Bombings. Hotels have since been a soft target for Bombings and terrorist activities involving planned attacks and weapons of destruction. This calls for a grave need for Hotels to update and keep themselves abreast with rapid changes in technology and major investments in security systems.

Key Statistics
Number of Classified Hotels in Bali: 150
Number of Hotel Rooms in Bali: 20,240
Number of Beds in Hotels in Bali: 33,178
Average Occupancy for 2009: 59.29%
Average Length of Stay for Foreigners: 3.6 Days
Average Length of Stay for Local Tourists: 3.58 Days
Number of Guests staying in classified Hotels per Day: 15,049

Feeder Markets and Tourism Boosters
Though Bali attracts tourists and visitors from all over the world but Major Feeder Markets for Bali are Australia, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Low cost Airlines operating between major South East Asian Cities and relaxed visa regulations are a major factor in promoting tourism and tourist activities in the island.

Number of tourists visiting Bali during first quarter of 2009 (Vis a Vis -Q1 2008).

Total number of tourist arrivals in Bali in the first quarter of 2009 reached 490,454 (+4.28%).
Japan83.470 (-11.63%)
Australia71.970 (+24.85%)
China56.030 (+55.62%)
Malaysia29.971 (+19.85%)
Taiwan28.066 (-24.01%)
France (+19.02%), Russia (+6.33%),
United Kingdom (-16.01%), USA (-7.05%)
Source: Bali Office of the Central Statistics Board (BPS)

Tips for booking villas /resorts in Bali
- Always book through a reputable villa rental specialist or travel agent. If you deal directly with villa owners, they will always try to convince you their own villa is the best choice. They are hardly objective, of course, and their ideas regarding "quality" often don't meet international standards. On the other hand, every established villa rental specialist (good travel agents will not deal with any other) will know most of the available villas in his/her area and will only recommend those which really meet your individual requirements and expectations
- If you book directly with a villa rental company, always check how long the business has been established, and whether they accept all the major credit cards. If the company has been doing business for many years and works with all major credit card companies, you can be sure there have been no serious customer complaints. No credit card issuer would continue to do business with a company if card holders have repeatedly requested refunds because of problems they have experienced.
- If you consider booking on the Internet, search the web site for detailed information on the company. Look for the place and date of incorporation, paid up capital, office address and telephone/fax numbers, names of the management and key staff, and the company history. You should find this on a "About Us" or "Corporate Page".
- Check whether the company and the owner of the domain you are visiting are identical.
- Check the company's Privacy Policy and whether it has been approved by TRUSTe. You can read the Privacy Statement by clicking the "Privacy" link on the company's web site. To verify the validity of the license click the TRUSTe icon on that page. If you cannot find any Privacy Statement with the TRUSTe icon it means no TRUSTe Approval Certificate has been obtained and the company does not take the privacy of its clients and/or web site visitors seriously.
-Check the Site Security Certificate. You do this by clicking the VeriSign icon on the web site which will show you the validity of the Certificate. If you cannot find any VeriSign icon this probably means no security arrangements have been made. In this case be VERY careful submitting any personal data or other confidential information
-Check other credentials of the villa company e.g. membership in trade organizations such as the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA), and so on. To visit and search the ASTA web site click the icon below, select "All Business Types" from the pull-down menu and key in the company/website name .To search the PATA members database you have to select the first letter of the company name and then scroll down the subsequent page.

-If the company is registered with D&B, you can find even more details there. Most companies in international business nowadays have obtained a D-U-N-S number which is required by many global industry and trade associations, including the United Nations, the U.S. Federal Government, the Australian Government and the European Commission.
Make sure the villa rental company has a professionally staffed office at your destination to help with any problems which may arise during your stay. Only companies with an on-site office are in a position to monitor the maintenance of the villas and the performance of house staff, and be on call around the clock to help in emergencies.
-Avoid booking through the growing number of villa rental web sites which list any villa without inspection as long as the owner pays a fee or commission. Advertisers can promise you ANYTHING – because the web site operators/owners have no liability whatsoever.

News in Lime light
Indonesia Targets 7 Million Tourist Arrivals in 2010, up 8%-10% compared to 2009

Tuti Sunario. In 2010 Indonesia targets a total of 7 million international visitors spending on average US$ 1,000 per stay, thus contributing some US$ 7 billion to Indonesia's economy, said Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Hatta Rajasa. This is an increase of between 8%-10% growth compared to 2009 which is above the expected 2010 economic growth of 5.5%-6%.
Tourism may see 1.3 pct growth: Official

Sukadana (ANTARA News) Indonesia`s tourism sector could record a 1.31 percent growth in the midst of economic recovery efforts following the global crisis this year, a tourism ministry official said.
6,4 Million Tourists to Indonesia Target Possibly Surpassed

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik believed that the projected 6.4 million foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2009 would be reached or even surpassed. "Up to the end of last October, the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia had already reached 5.1 million, so that they may reach the projected 6.4 million by the end of this year, especially that year ends are normally a high season for foreign tourists," he said in Yogyakarta Friday.
Moderate Recovery Forecast for 2010

The softening in the rate of decline seen in the last months is expected to continue during the remainder of the year. As this is in line with the UNWTOs initial projection, for the full year the forecast for international tourist arrivals is maintained at between -6% to -4%.
UNWTO Solidarity with Indonesia and Confidence in its Tourism Sector

Madrid, 20 July 2009 " United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) expressed its solidarity with the people of Indonesia in the face of the recent events in Jakarta, targeting some of its tourism facilities.

Terrorism in Bali -- Lissa & Binita

• History of Indonesia
  · 7th century Indians brought Hinduism and Buddhism to Indonesia
  · Muslims arrived in the late 13th century, and by the end of the 16th century it was the most dominant religion in the country
  · Europeans arrived in the 16th century looking for spices
  · Dutch dominated Indonesia until WWII when the Japanese occupation pushed the Dutch out
  · Declared independence 2 days after Japan surrendered in Aug 1945
  · Attempted coup in 1965: 500,000 killed
  · 1997 Asian financial crisis devalued Indonesian Rupiah 80% causing riots; AFC caused most damage to Indonesia
  · 1998 bloody violence and riots in response to leadership
  · Now a democracy – President is Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

• Terrorism in Indonesia
  · 2000 – Jakarta stock exchange
  o Car bomb exploded in underground garage
  · 2000 – Christmas Eve bombings
  o Targeted churches throughout Jakarta & surrounding cities
  · 2002 – Bali bombings
  o October 12th, 2002 in Kuta
  o Used car bomb, suicide bomber and small bomb
  o Two nightclubs in Kuta & US embassy bombed
  o 202 people killed & 209 injured
  o Majority foreigners (especially Australians) killed
  o Members of Jemaah Islamiyah, violent Islamist group, convicted
  (Osama Bin Laden said it was direct retaliation for Indonesia’s support of US War on Terrorism and the East Timor conflict)
  · 2003 – Marriott hotel bombing
  o August 5th, 2003 in Jakarta
  o Suicide bomber and car bomb outside lobby
  o Marriott hotel
  o 12 people killed & 150 injured
  o 8 Indonesians killed, 1 Dutch, 1 Danish, 2 Chinese
  o Hotel was chosen because of its American brand name
  o Al Qaeda claimed responsibility of the attacks and bomber was member of JI – attack came 2 days before verdict in 2002 Bali bombing trials
  · 2004 – Australian embassy
  o September 9, 2004 in Jakarta
  o Suicide bomber & car bomb
  o 9 killed & 200 injured
  o JI claimed responsibility for attacks because Indonesia didn’t release their head
  · 2005 – Bali bombings
  o October 1st, 2005 in Jimbaran & Kuta
  o Coordinated suicide bombers (3) and car bombs
  o Food courts and warungs that foreigners frequent
  o 20 people killed & 129 injured
  o Majority foreigners (Australians)
  o Same day that gas prices rose 675% and 11 days before anniversary of 2002 bombings
  o Believed to be orchestrated by same group as 2002, JI
  · July 2009 – Jakarta hotel bombings @ JW Marriott & Ritz-Carlton
  o July 17th, 2009
  o Suicide bombers who checked into the hotels days earlier
  o Bombs went off 5 minutes apart from each other, first was at JW Marriott
  o 9 killed, including the bombers – 16 injured
  o Thought to be orchestrated by a former member of the JI, Noordin Mohammed Top, who set up his own splinter cell Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad
  · Detachment 88 is the Indonesian government’s anti-terror group which is funded, trained and equipped by the US
  o Formed in 2003 after Bali attacks
  o 400 employees
  o Assisted by Australian and other Western forces
  o Can use US special forces to wiretap and read text messages of Indonesian civilians

• Why Target Bali?
  · Indonesia is the world’s most populated Islamic nation, yet Bali is predominantly HINDU (so an attack there wouldn’t kill as many Muslims)
  · WESTERN tourist destination and can cause financial ripples throughout the economy – also does not have a significant military presence like the rest of Indonesia, making it an easy target
  · One of the wealthiest parts of Indonesia due to the heavy tourism industry, whereas most of Indonesia is dependent upon manufacturing and agriculture
  Results of Bali Attacks
  · Direct international tourist arrivals declined dramatically
  o Compounded by “unsafe” domestic airlines
  · Wide-spread loss of revenues to the tourism industry (hotels, restaurants, bars, retail & other vendors, taxis)
  · More domestic tourists as opposed to foreign, which resulted in lowering of rates
  o The domestic tourists also spent 50-75% less than the foreign tourists per day and stayed for an average of 7 days less
  · Negative impact on Bali’s image amongst Westerners
  · Indonesia placed on Western country’s watch lists
  · BHA formed to standardize procedures with Bali for hotels to cope with various situations such as tsunamis, terrorist attacks, etc.

• Potential Threats
  · Places with high concentrations of Western visitors
  · Brand names associated with Western lifestyles (hotels, fast food, etc.)
  · Western symbols such as embassies and consulates
  · Places which do not conform to the moral standards of strict Muslims (i.e. bars)
  · Airports/Airplanes

• Recovery period for tourism industry
  · Economy started bouncing back as quickly as 2003/2004
  · Just as Bali was recovering from the 2002 bombing, another bombing occurred in 2005 – causing concern amongst tourists
  · However, in 2008 the US took Bali off the terror watch list causing an influx in the number of American tourists
  · 2009 should have been a good year for the island, however due to the global financial crisis, many visitors have postponed their trips
  · The tourism industry of Bali is looking forward to 2010 and 2011
  · Has not fully recovered yet

• What are hotels/restaurants/clubs/bars doing about it?
  · Increased security
  · Must maintain balance between luxury and security
  Metal detectors, pylons, CCTV, security cameras
  · No parking zones in front of hotels and restaurants
  · Contact and flow of information between government agencies and hotels (embassies, local and federal governments)

• How to be safe on our trip
  · Be vigilant and identify risks before they become reality
  · Avoid major Western/tourist hotspots without security

Sources: www.wikipedia.org & Alexander Kespar (BHA)

(sorry about the formatting, tried to fix it -- this was the best)

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Continuing with our earlier posting and responding to Sherri’s comment, Mr. Michael Burchett referred us to Mr. Alex Kespar from Bali Hotels Association who helps coordinate safety and security efforts amongst Bali’s hotels.

Mr. Burchett commented that “today’s travelers expect a high level of security, and for it to be visual, but not intrusive.” Therefore, hotels must maintain this delicate balance and focus on surpassing safety and security standards while respecting the personal space of the guests.

The following provides more insight into managing terrorism and threat countermeasures in Bali:

Most Recent Warnings of Terrorism Attacks

- According to BBC News on 31 December 2009, there is confusion between Bali governor and US Embassy over an alleged warning of an “indication of an attack” on 12/31/2009. Bali governor, Mangku Pastika, denies issuing a warning, both verbal and written. This confusion put authorities on “full alert.” Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8435900.stm

- The methods of attack are becoming increasingly high-tech and difficult to detect. For example, a baby-simulator has been used to smuggle explosives.

What are hotels/restaurants/clubs/bars doing about it?

- Maintaining constant communication with Bali Hotels Association, which corresponds with embassies and other entities, and then distribute regular updates and alerts to BHA members.

- Increasing security and threat countermeasure equipment: secured property entrances with pylons and boom gates, CCTV cameras and recording equipment, under-car detection equipment, bomb detection devices, shatter proof glass on the ground floor, restricted parking in front of entrances, metal detectors, personal screening devices and beach towers.

- Monitoring and improving safety and security standards and threat countermeasure equipment.

- Working with local communities to detect and report suspicious behavior.

- Emphasizing to the communities that professional searching and security must be incorporated into the local culture because of these terrorist events.

- Communicating and posting information via public websites, embassy alerts, and trip registration announcements.

o Bali’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism (BUDPAR) will launch an online security and safety website for tourists to access relevant and up-to-date information.

The Legian @ Seminyak

GHM
GHM (General Hotel Management Ltd) established in 1992, a Singapore based company seeks to conceptualize, develop and operate an exclusive group of hotels and resorts worldwide. Current portfolio of hotels seems to suggest that the company’s core competency is in upper upscale resort development with a strong focus and placement of their properties in Asia’s destination locations. “A style to remember” the company’s brand mantra embodies each of the GHM property and prides to be one of a kind, possessing distinctive concepts and design elements that is blended with the location and the culture.

Seminyak
Seminyak is located within the Kuta district in the north of the area and is a more sophisticated area than its southern counterparts. Here there are no large cheesy clubs but instead you will find smaller more refined clubs, restaurants and wellness establishments. Seminyak is located only 20 minutes form the international airport and has excellent access via the Sunset road and the By-pass road to many of the areas of interest in Southern Bali including Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Sanur and Uluwatu.



The Legian



One of the two collections from GHM in Bali is pride to be one of the best luxury resorts in Bali. Strategically located along the chic Seminyak luxury resorts strip on Bali’s southeast coast, the 66 rooms all suite resort charms its visitors with the unobstructed breathtaking view of the Indian Ocean, its contemporary mod meets traditional Balinese style deco and its uncompromising standards of luxury service.



Views of the pool from the 3rd floor

Resort Configuration

	Size (SQM)	No. of Units	Rates (USD)
Studio Suites	99	15	450-550
One Bedroom Suites	110	36	500-750
Two Bedroom Suites	155	13	750-950
The Seminyak Suites	274	1	1,300-1,700
Two Legian Suites	364	1	1,500-1,900
Two Beach House	800	1	2,300-2,900

Beach facing facade

Most suites are equipped with the same facilities which include a large bathtub, separate shower, enclosed W.C. double vanities and dressing area. The 2 designer suites (Seminyak and Legian) are also entitled to private butler service. Beach house guests will be entitled to a personal chef on request and chauffeur on top of all other benefits enjoyed by The Legian guests.


The Club at The Legian
Housed within The Legian’s compound is The Club at The Legian, an adjacent wing with 11 private villas set majestically among a scented garden. Each villa is equipped with a 10m private pool and an appointed butler for the ultimate personalized service.

	Size (SQM)	No. of Units	Rates (USD)
One Bedroom Villa	450-490	10	900,1,100
Three Bedroom Suites	730	1	2,000-2,300

General reviews
The resort ranked number 2 in Seminyak has received 129 reviews to date with an average of 4 ½ rating and 96% thumbs up.
The only two poor ratings that the resort has received was an alleged discriminative pricing against foreigners in '05 (or perhaps revenue management at best?:) ) and a neglected couple during peak season at ’07. Resort is generally very well received among couples and family travellers.

Quoting tinaWH contribution made on Tripadvisor on Jan 26 2010
“However, if you are interested in the ‘Club’ section, I can say that we had a terrific stay. The butler service was genuinely attentive – we stayed in Amanusa two weeks later and while we are Aman fans, the service there did not measure to Legian Club’s.”

Healthy competition between Liv and Carla!

Potential comp set

1) The Samaya, located just next to The Legian is the number 1 choice on Trip advisor with its 44 all villa resort. Very competitive price point, facilities and product offerings. F&B outlet Breeze in The Samaya is also one of the top rated dining outlet on Trip advisor

2) The Oberoi, located slightly further away on the same beach offers an authentic Balinese experience. A secluded cluster of luxury villas laid among a very well maintained tropical garden


Things to do around while we are in Seminyak
Since there isn’t a specific topic for Seminyak and we will be spending a night there, I’ve included a few option for the evening.

Swanky option


Ku De Ta – Located close to the Legian, This swanky restaurant, bar and lifestyle venue is the perfect location for a pre-dinner drink on a bed day to catch the famous Seminyak sunset. Very extensive selection of bizarre in house mixed like black pepper and grilled pineapple martini. Ask the resident mixologist! Moderately priced.

Cultural option


Beach walk and try to catch a sunset ceremony.
Walk along the beach front (Turn right after stepping into the beach from The Legian). Slightly north west of the Seminyak beach beachfront is the Petitenget beach, an expanse of black sand beach where the Pura Petitenget temple is and where they sometimes practice their sunset beach ritual/ceremony.

Recession proof option


Take 5 in the inhouse infinity pool. You are in one of Bali's finest resorts afterall :)


Reference
www.ghmhotels.com
www.hotels.com
www.tripadvisor.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.kudeta.net
www.thesamayabali.com