Being in Bali is like being in a malfunctioning time machine, where past and present coexist without any hints of contradiction. Bali is 80 per cent Hindu, but their rituals seem to be a world away from those we see in India. For those of us who’ve glimpsed the cavernous, dust-filled and eerie crater of Mt.Vesuvius, Bali’s volcanoes come as a delightful surprise. They are as green as they come, their slopes, once overrun by molten lava, are now robed in cheque red emerald rice paddies swaying gently in the breeze. The green is leavened by blotches of magenta, purple and orange bougainvillea clusters. A serene blue lake with nary a ripple hugs the volcano and goes around it. A plume of mist, not smoke, wafts languidly out of the crown of the volcano that belched pyroclastic fury and swallowed entire villages not too long ago. In fact, Bali’s legendary tropical fecundity is largely due to its volcanic soil. I am standing on the rim of the crater atop Gunung Batur, an active volcano a mere two-hour drive from Bali’s capital Denpasar. Gunung last erupted in 1963 and there are many survivors who still remember that fateful day. Yet, seeing how touristy it has become now, you realise that for Balinese and Javanese, volcanoes form very much a part of their home turf. Continue reading »

National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia in Japan will carry through its plan to open a Nagoya – Bali route despite the fact that the air transportation business has been severely affected by the soaring oil price, a spokesman said. “The air transportation business has been greatly affected by the soaring oil price but our management is predicting that the route will be profitable,” Garuda district manager for Japan, China and the United States Arif Wibowo said on Wednesday. Continue reading »

news by THE JAKARTA POST
When a grammatical mistake was spotted in Indonesia’s tourism slogan, I felt a little forgiving towards the person responsible, given the task of thinking it up. I am not trying to make excuses; I think we must admit English is one of the most complicated languages in the world. Continue reading »

On Tuesday 18 December, Garuda Indonesia in Sydney once again opened its doors for what has become an industry tradition at Christmas time – the annual Garuda “open house”. Each year friends and colleagues are invited to celebrate the holiday season with some excellent food, a few drinks and the opportunity to share the spirit of giving that epitomizes Christmas by entering a raffle to raise funds for a Balinese charity. Continue reading »

news by NEWS.COM.AU
HE won our hearts when he appeared in the first series of Big Brother, now Ben Williams is about to secure the heart he cares for most of all. The nice guy from Epping will marry his long-time love Sunrise producer Jade Robran in a Bali beach wedding on January 15. Continue reading »

news by TIME
One of the surest signs that you’re in a developing country is the trash beneath your feet, which has less to do with bad habits than the fact that arranging garbage pickup and disposal is a low and expensive priority for a poor government. And the Indonesian island of Bali, despite its breathtaking natural beauty, is no exception. Continue reading »

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