Widespread concerns may prove unfounded that Bali will suffer scheduled blackouts due to the continuing supply problems within the Java-Bali power grid. Despite power shortfalls caused by breakdowns at major power generating stations on Java, Bali's current power deficit stands only 9 megawatts.

According to a spokesman for the State Power Board (PLN) in Bali, Agung Mastika, the current shortfall in power is still within manageable limits and will remain so if consumers will assist PLN by practicing conservation in their use of electrical power.

The situation is much more dire on Bali's near neighbor of Java. Consumers across that island Java are experiencing "electrical rationing" with scheduled blackouts between July 11-25 and major industrial users compelled to shift a part of their production schedules to weekend periods.

Bali is currently being supplied with 562 megawatts of power by PLN.

To help increase power supplies in Bali and reduce dependence on energy sources from Java, a large coal-powered generating station is being constructed in North Bali.

The Executive Director of the Bali Consumers Association, Ketut Udi Prayudi, has called on PLN to do all possible to maintain a reliable source of electricity to Bali and its tourism industry. At the same time, Prayudi, is urging consumers to practice conservation at every opportunity to save money and reduce the burden placed on PLN.

Wayan Kayun, a satay vendor from Jimbaran is facing the prospect of serious jail time for selling turtle meat satay.

In a case now being heard before the courts in Denpasar, the public prosecutor argues that on March 13, 2008, Kayun was caught by police at his home in Jimbaran preparing satay and lawar using turtle meat. In the subsequent police interrogation Kayun admitted that he had purchased 15 kilograms of turtle meat for Rp. 600,000 (US$65).

The prosecutor told the Court that the meat was derived from green turtles, placing Kayun in criminal violation of protected species laws and making the man subject to fines and a maximum prison term of 5 years.

The satay seller has begged the Court for a light sentence, claiming he did not know his actions were against the law and that his family has been selling turtle meat stay for generations.

The prosecutor will submit his sentence demands in the week starting July 20, 2009.

In his first Bali exhibition, "Footprints in Two Worlds." Central Javanese artist, Suratmin Bagus Priyo, startles and delights his audience with three distinctly different groups of 33 drawings and paintings along with an enigmatic installation "I am not a Fish."

The danger, of course, of too much diversity in one exhibition is that the artist can quickly lose balance and careen out of control. In Bagus Priyo's case, however, the artist rushes to the precipice to stimulate our excitement but stops before it's too late. Although different, all three groups of art are also tied together by the artist's imitable edgy style. With long experience in commercial art, the creation of logos (he has won several prizes in this regard) and caricatures, Bagus Priyo also challenges our understanding of the boundaries between these false categories.

As their name implies, 'Black and White' paintings, are monochromatic studies of various themes including a dynamic image of Garuda (the mythological bird of Java's Hindu past), street and water scenes, Hindu-Buddhist temples and glimpses of daily life. The "Naturalist" group has the same edginess but launches into blues and browns. Again the images are realistic scenes but not from Indonesia but Europe, including two paintings of dark brooding forests, that leads to the question if he is referring to the East and West in this title.

While most of us have two feet, Bagus Priyo, passes a third portal with his 'Post-Modern' series, an eclectic blend of abstract, semi-abstract and cartoon characters including the Biblical (and Koranic) King Solomon who appears with catfish swimming around his head. Others feature chess boards, numbers, letters and calligraphy arousing a sense of mystery.

Indeed Suratmin Bagus Priyo has also left his footprints in another world, as he seeks to explore the magical roots of art with refreshing self-effacing humor. His extensive writings allow us to label him as a quirky latter day shaman and philosopher. Although he offers no immediate revelations or immediate solutions to life's mysteries, the artist assuages us with intriguing, oftentimes beautiful imagery. It would seem his biggest message is that we should be adventurous and not afraid to explore and enjoy our lives. He is also a penultimate humanist urging one and all to respect if not celebrate our differences in good humor and faith. As his "I am not a Fish," manifesto reads, "Don't treat ME, HIM, HER, or THEM, like FISH! We are HUMAN!"

He is serious, of course, but also smiling.

Footprints in Two Worlds

– a Solo Exhibition by Suratim Bagus Priyo

August 18 – September 18, 2008

Ganesha Gallery at the Four Seasons Resort at Jimbaran Bay

For more information, call the Ms. Luh Resiki at the Gallery at ++62-(0)361-701010.

Four Seasons Pictures

click image to enlarge

The Government in a joint decree issued on June 9, 2008 by the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower and Transmigrations and the Minister, and the State Minister for Administrative Reform declared the following official holidays for 2009:

● 01 January 2009 – New Year's Day

● 02 January 2009 – Shared Holiday by Government Decree

● 26 January 2009 – Chinese New Year (Imlek) 2560

● 09 March 2009 - Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad

● 26 March 2009 – Hari Raya Nyepi Tahun Baru 1931 (Bali’s Official day of Silence – Hindu New Years Day)

● 10 April 2009 – Good Friday

● 09 May 2009 – Hari Raya Waisak

● 21 May 2009 – The Ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven

● 20 July 2009 - Isra Mi'raj Prophet Mohammad SAW - Celebrating the Ascension of The Prophet Muhammad

● 17 August 2009 – Indonesian National Independence Day

● 21-22 September 2009 - Hari Raya Idul Fitri 1430 H

● 23 September 2009 - Shared Holiday by Government Decree

● 27 November 2009 - Idul Adha 1430H

● 18 December 2009 - Islamic New Year 1431H

● 24 December 2009 - Shared Holiday by Government Decree

● 25 December 2009 – Christmas Day

With controversy brewing regarding villa projects built in violation of zoning and environmental rules on Uluwatu and Kerambitan Beach, a separate imbroglio is now underway on Bukit Mimba near the east coast port of Padang Bai.

In the latest development, Bali's outgoing Governor Made Beratha has ordered the Regent of Karangasem, Geredeg, to revoke his own regulation that is allowing the construction of a 5-star luxury resort Chateau de Bali on a 75.9 hectare site.

In the view of Bali's Governor, the enabling legislation issued by the Regent is invalid because it is at variance with pre-imminent provincial zoning regulations which must take legal precedence.

Reports published in Bali Post contend that the project approved by the Regent enjoys widespread public support in Karangasem, despite alleged infringements on sacred grounds surrounding a local Hindu temple and overbuilding of an area formerly protected as a "green zone." The newspaper reports that the hotels project's developer has pledged to source 80% of the jobs generated by the hotels from local residents.

The situation in Karangasem has arrived at something of an "executive impasse." Will the Regent of Karangasem accede to the Governor's order, effectively outlawing a major investment project well into its construction phase? If the Regent refuses to revoke his ruling what, if any, action will Governor Beratha take with less than 2 weeks left in office? What legal recourse do the developers have if they suddenly find their project is suddenly illegal?

The polemic is only likely to intensify further was signaled by additional coverage in the Bali Post on Saturday, July 19th, where the Regent of Karangasem stated his regulation "pre-dated" the provincial law and was therefore, exempt from having to accede to the Governor's request. Geredeg's defiance has been greeted on the provincial and national level with suggestions that the Regent is leaving himself exposed to criminal prosecution and a possible prison term of up to 5 years.

A heavy schedule of Balinese sacrificial ceremonies or mecaru over the coming few months have placed the lives of dogs of certain colors in extreme jeopardy. Ritual dictates that blang bungkem, bang bungkem and selem bungkem or brown, red or black dogs, respectively, be sacrificed as part of these ceremonies intended to create harmony and balance in the cosmos.

According to Bisnis Bali, dogs of any of these three colors are now in very high demand, fetching top dollar during the current dewasa ayu period of ritual offerings. Demand for the dogs is also being fed by the high number of cremations traditionally held at this time of year and the requirement to hold a mecaru soon after a ngaben or cremation ceremony.

According to a "dog dealer" interviewed by Bisnis Bali - the brown, red or black dogs are currently fetching a price of between Rp. 250,000 (US$27) to Rp. 300,000 (US$32.50).

The dog supplier said past efforts to breed dogs of the specified color have met with mixed success due to the constant demand for the dogs and "must have" attitude of the locals which tends to thwart efforts to establish a viable pool of breeding stock.

Meanwhile, dog grooming parlor across the island are reporting a brisk business in handling requests for dye jobs to tranform brown, red and black dogs into less dangerous colors. In the words of one dog groomer, "it's a matter of dye or die."

New Zealander and President of Skål International, Phillip Sims will be the guest of honor at a luncheon on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, to be held at the Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort.

The Bali Chapter was singled out for recognition at the last international Skål Congress in Antalya, Turkey where the large and fast-growing Bali chapter was termed a ”Super Hero Club. The Bali chapter of Skål is the fastest growing chapter in Asia and 5th fastest growing in the world. There are currently 109 members of the Bali Club.

The special luncheon is open to members and guest alike. Reservations are available by calling Gede at the Skal Secretariat at ++62-(0)361-7840212.

Skål International, founded in 1934, is the largest organization of travel and tourism professionals in the world with 23,000 members in 500 clubs in 87 countries. Members are derived from every sector of the travel and tourism industry. Skål aims to promote global tourism by giving members access to its worldwide network, and also works to benefit the community at large.

Skål Club of Bali was launched in 1991 and is currently the only club in Indonesia.

Bali needs to develop productive sectors of its economy outside of tourism in order to prepare for an increasing uncertain world situation in the future. A failure to meet this challenge or a delay in developing Bali's local economy may have the undesired effect of increasing rates of poverty and human suffering on the island.

This dire warning was sounded by the Vice-Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Young Entrepreneurs (HIPMI), Gde Wirajaya Wisna on Friday, July 11, 2008, when he considered the prediction of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) that the growth of the national economy is stuck at 5.8% against a targeted 6.3% rate of growth.

Covered in the Bali Post, the Balinese economist Wirajaya Misna warned that the island's well-being was at risk due to an overdependence on tourism. He admonished that over-reliance on the service sector will prove costly for Bali if untoward future events come to pass. Because of this, Bali must take urgent steps to develop non-tourism sectors of its economy in order to help the Balinese weather any economic storm and upheaval ahead.

Misna said that sooner or later, national and global economic conditions would be felt in Bali. This is especially the case since much of Bali's economic policy is dictated by decisions made in Jakarta.

The German educated economist called for the development of agriculture, fishing and other sectors of Bali's economy on an urgent basis. The experience of the Bali's recent bombing demonstrates the dangers of over-dependence on tourism as the main pillar of the island's economy. A failure to diversify the local economy now can spell poverty ahead if another crisis befalls the people of Bali.

With wages more or less frozen in Bali at the moment, Misna said, the people's economic condition is on a steady decline as the price of basic commodities increase. A failure to actualize the productive sectors of the economy will leave the Balinese as the victims of their own consumerism.

Garuda's fleet of new Boeing 737-800 New Generation aircraft have begun to arrive in Indonesia from their production plant in Seattle, Washington (U.S.A.).

Quoted by Tempo Interaktif, the CEO of the Airline, Emirsyah Satar said on Thursday, July 17th, "one unit arrives on Friday and another one next month."

The new aircraft is being provided to the Indonesian flag carrier under a "dry lease" agreement worth a total of US$40 million per aircraft. Under the terms of a "dry lease" Garuda rents only the airplanes providing their own pilots, crew, maintenance, fuel and insurance coverage. Despite the high rental rates, Emirsyah insisted "the main point is that we will profit because these new aircraft are 20% more fuel efficient than their predecessors."

Emir said the new Boeing 737-800NG will be used initially to increase flight frequencies to Perth and Hong Kong. On longer routes Garuda will employ Boeing 777-300 Extended Range aircraft.

Garuda presently operates a fleet of 49 aircraft, targeting to soon have 50 Boeing 737-800NG and 10 Boeing 777-300ER operating under its colors.

Appeals of Indonesian Supreme Court decisions are rare and, with the exception of the recent third petition filed by "the Bali Bombers," tertiary appeals are completely unheard of.

The anouncement on Friday, July 18, 2008, that the unusual "third appeal" to the Supreme Court by Amrozi Nurhasyim, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron of their death sentence for their role in the October 2002 Bali bombing has been rejected, now suggests that the three's final appointment before a firing squad on a beach in Cilacacp, Central Java is now only a matter of time.





A letter from the Supreme Court in Jakarta has been sent to the Bali's prosecutor's office, according to the Head of the Denpasar District Court, Nyoman Gede Wirya.

Wirya explained while the execution of the three will be carried out near their place of imprisonment at Nusa Kembangan, the "official" administration of the firing squad rests with the Bali's prosecutors whose job it is to implement the final ruling of the court.

Not without its irony, the three terrorists, defiant and unrepentant for taking the lives of 202 people, feel no allegiance to the Indonesian Republic or its laws, can now only seek a delay of their death sentences by formally seeking clemency from Indonesia's President. The three have, however, steadfastly insisted they will not seek a presidential pardon, preferring instead to die as religious martyrs.

With all course of appeal now exhausted and requests for clemency a remote possibility, the National News Agency Antara quoted Indonesia's Attorney General Hendarmin Supandji as saying, "according to the law, the punishment can already be carried out."

A chorus of national and international voices opposed in principle to capital punishment are expected to begin lobbying the Indonesian government to revoke the death sentence of the three. But, barring any new unforeseen legal hurdles, the "Bali Bombers" may soon achieve the martyrdom they so strongly profess to crave.

While no formal date for the execution has been set, many belive the task must be completed before mid-September, the start of the Islamic fasting month.

An international surfing championship in Bali was disrupted when an illegal fishing boat washed onto the reefs at Bali's Padang-Padang bay on Saturday, July 12, 2008. The "mystery boat" scuttled on the reef with its freezers full of fish but without any crew to be found anywhere on board.

Locals have climbed aboard the boat to help themselves to the ship's catch and nautical equipment. Meanwhile, police are treating the ship as a crime scene, fearing the ship's Captain, presumed to be a Taiwanese, and his crew may have come to a bad end.

The presence of the ship on the reef compelled organizers of the Rip Curl Cup Surfing Competition to postpone their event while local fishing boats tried in vain to refloat the boat back into the open water.

Environmentalist are concerned that should the ship break up on the reef it would expell large quantities of fuels and lubricants onto the fragile shore environment at Padang-Padang.

Press reports say the Taiwanese boat owner, accompanied by a Taiwanese Interpol officer, have arrived in Bali to try to gain insights into the whereabouts of the Taiwanese Captain and his 12 Indonesian crew.

Local members of the Balawista or Balinese Lifeguard Association have told the press that pollution from the ship is beginning to show itself at Uluwatu and other beaches up and down Bali’s west coast.

The arrest of a 48-year-old Australian living in the Kuta area of Bali on an outstanding warrant from Interpol has revived community fears that Bali and Lombok remain preferred haunts for criminal pedophiles. Paul Francis Callahan, 48, has lived in Bali since 2003 where he has established a surfboard manufacturing company, married a local Balinese woman and fathered a daughter. The Byron Bay, New South Wales man is now being held by Balinese police pending extradition proceedings in connection with an open sexual molestation charge involving a 10-year-old boy in Australia in 2002. Press reports say that Callahan fled Australia while still under investigation and on bail for the criminal sexual behavior charge.

Prior to his arrest, Balinese police and Interpol officers reportedly had Callahan under surveillance for 21 days. Local police authorities were quoted by the local press as saying they had no information to suggest Callahan's involvement in any crimes during his stay in Bali.

Sexual Abuse of Children in Indonesia

Meanwhile the Bali Post quotes a workshop on the Elimination of Sexual Exploitation of Children organized in Jakarta by Child Wise Tourism Australia on July 15, 2008, as affirming the fact that Bali and Lombok remain destinations experiencing high levels of sexual abuse of children. The experts discussing the problem in Jakarta also pointed out that the majority of cases of sexual exploitation of children are still committed by local residents or visiting domestic tourists; not by international tourists.

In the workshop opened by the Director General of Destination Development for the Department of Culture and Tourism, Firmansyah Rahim, it was revealed that UNICEF estimates that 30% of Indonesia's commercial sex workers are under the age of 18-years, with some documented cases showing children as young as 10-years old being commercial exploited. The UN estimates that between 40,000-70,000 Indonesian children have fallen prey to sexual predators with the numbers of cases on the increase nation-wide.

Firman told the Jakarta gathering that Indonesia rejects every form of sexual impropriety in the development of its national tourism products.