Balinese holiday

Bali Island

This Balinese holiday is designed to pamper you in all levels of the mind, body and spirit. With the mixture of beauty and harmony of nature and culture of ancient healing arts, selected features are guaranteed to restore and rejuvenate your senses.  

A portion of this holiday in places where pampering luxury accommodations with a pristine beach suburb, to ensure the maximum imprisonment for all customers, those 78 free-standing, luxury villas on the cliff top are fixed in Bali traditional compounds Bali, with private pool surrounded by tropical gardens. You'll feel like the only person on Earth. If you do decide to venture out, you can enjoy convenient access to all facilities of the property, including the Bali Spa, restaurants, cafes and lounges. More information: www.luxworldtravel.com

Te second  go to  requires for you to transfer across the island to the north shore, where you will experience the simplicity of a personal Zen Retreat, your own personal beach side villa, at an allinclusive, holistic center.

Vacation Tips in Bali

Bali has become a major tourist destination in this country. Almost all over Bali, including the small islands around it, has been touched by tourists. But you know what to do and not to do while in Bali?

Watch  valuables you. Crime continues to increase, some tourists have also become victims. Goods and important documents you should be left alone in the hotel. If you have taken, do not be careless, purse or backpack should always be within reach of your attention.

Respect party that was doing a religious procession walked slowly. Never honk.

Do bargaining when shopping, unless the merchandise was listed price.

Do Not pay attention or try to offer to those who offer goods or services (such as foot massage service at the beach) if you are not interested or do not have plans to buy or use their services.

When swimming at the beach, do not swim in prohibited areas marked, because the ocean currents can be very hard. Swim between the red and yellow flags.

Do not take drugs.

Special  for women, do not enter the temple if you are experiencing menstruating.

IF you attend religious rituals, wear gloves and tape, do not walk in front of people who are praying, do not use flash when taking pictures with the camera, and never sit higher than the priest who officiated at the ceremony.

When across the street, do not forget to look left-right, the car might have stopped but the motorcycle might not. So, be careful. Happy holidays!

Jakarta needs love

Street smart: Jakarta needs love

If everyone's entitled to have little melancholic moments every once in a while, I need to use my melancholy pass right now 

I met a young man tonight, and I haven't been able to get his face out of my head for days. It was Tuesday night, my friends and I were eating out. As we were laughing off the extra calories, chatting away, with our iPhones and Blackberries scattered around the table, someone tapped on my shoulder. 

I turned to look and saw a man in his late twenties, looking really shaken. I looked closer and saw the man was literally crying. Tears running down his swollen face. 

He opened his bag and asked me if there was anything in there I could buy from him because he needed money to get out of the city. He was running away from an employer who beat him up. 

There was an old radio, crumpled clothes and a battered cell phone in the bag. Nothing I could use. So instead I gave him Rp 10,000 and asked him to keep his stuff. "Please, I'll sell you my handphone for Rp 30,000." he said. "I just need to get out of here." 

Thirty thousand was not going to put me out of business but it was a lot to give to a stranger. I looked to see if anyone on my table cared to chip in, but all 6 of them pretended the man was not there. *Maybe I could offer him food,' I thought. But instead I said "no thanks" and watched him hesitantly walk away. I keep saying to myself that it could have been a con. But what if it wasn't? 

You don't need to tell me. It's an old overplayed song and you know every chorus as if you wrote it yourself. The irony of Jakarta, the poverty, the unemployment, the social gap, bla bla bla. You've heard it, seen it, lived it for so long that you've gotten too numb to feel it. 

Having lived in this city all your life, breathing the air that foreign environmental researchers deem to be hazardous, yet you have no choice but to inhale the fumes 13 times a minute. 

Every morning, on your way to drop off your kids at school, which costs you a fortune, with the risk of a stroke by the age of 35, you go through a scenic drive of the vibrant city: people falling out of crammed buses, an assortment of beggars in every intersection; blind ones, amputees, infants, you name it. 

You buy a newspaper off a little boy and read about a celebrity robbed and killed by their own housekeepers You think of how you wanted to teach your kids love and kindness, but you love them too much to put them in harms way. So instead, they learn from you that giving is foolish, because there will always be bad people out there trying a scam on you. 

I don't blame you for trying to protect your loved ones, this city contains too many con artists. Everyone from the pickpockets, to the multimillion-dollar mobile phone providers is trying to rip you off. 

At first you were just being cautious, but after a while it seems that everybody out there is a bad person trying to exploit your sympathy. So you tell your kids, when anyone asks for change, walk away. You tell them about the dodgy hobo-pimps who organize all the beggars in Jakarta. 

You warn them about robbers who can put you in a state of hypnosis and make you do anything they say. "So, never talk to strangers, especially when they ask for your help" you tell your kids. Years after year of living like this will make you a hard, cold bitch. It will scrape away whatever little compassion you have left in you layer by layer. 

But I believe, in these jaded hearts of ours, a little thing named compassion is still alive. It's there slumbering sleepily in our somnolent urban souls. It's the reason why you don't want to look the old beggar in the eye as you raise a hand to shoo her off. 

It's that little voice that asks "Should I stop and help?" when you see a motor accident on your way home, and a bloody woman is on the sidewalk while people just stood watching, and some go through her purse for valuables. 

I have gotten to a point where I couldn't stand to stay another day in hard cold Jakarta. But why am I still here? Simple answer. No place else to go. Move out of the country? 

Even though Australian developers claim that Indonesians are a significant market for their property business, believe it or not, most of us can't even afford a plane ticket to get us there. Move to another city? 

While my travels have taken me to many enchanting places in the country, living there permanently is another thing. I'm sure the competition for musicians is less fierce in, let's say, the Mentawai Islands. But the only gigs I'll land is to sing covers of *the Eagles' in seafood restaurants. 

So I guess I'll stay in town. But I have made a pact, with all you readers as my witness, to make my existence in Jakarta worth something for this city. I have made it my mission to be compassionate in Jakarta. Do my part to help as much as I can. Because if anything is scarce in this city, it's certainly compassion. 

As cheesy as it sounds, I think if you stop to think about it, you'll see how important it is. I hope you can do the same. 

- By: KARTIKA JAHJA from http://www.thejakartapost.coml

Natural beauty of the scenic all West Sumatra

West Sumatra's natural beauty has long had regional cachet, even dating back to the early 1900s during the Dutch Colonial era. It abounds with mountains, valleys, rivers, springs, caves and forests. One regency in the province, Solok Selatan, or South Solok, has them all. Recently we traveled through Solok Selatan for five days to see for ourselves how the natural beauty was standing up. 

Our rental car set off on smooth asphalt roads from the Minangkabau International Airport leaving West Sumatra's capital Padang behind us. Just past the Bung Hatta Nature Park, we began the first real adventure: twisting and turning roads with plenty of rocky roadbed. But we had no excuse to worry: The lush vegetation and clean, fast-running streams caught our attention from both sides of the car. 

The rain caught up with us when we made a stop at Kayo Aro Lubuk Selasih restaurant for lunch. It was still a long way to Solok Selatan. Another stop we made was at Di Atas Lake before reaching the border between Solok Selatan and Solok. Before dusk we arrived at Wisma Umi Kalsum lodging in Muaro Labuh where we stayed the night. We fell on a happy coincidence for we got the chance to enjoy rarely seen traditional performances like Rahab and Saluang Panjang after dinner, staged for some well-heeled guests staying at the modest inn.
Our first full day was devoted to exploring the awe and fun of the region's fast waters. Our first destination was the 15-meter-high Imbulun Sangir waterfall on the Batang Liki river located at the village of Lubuak Gadang, 161 kilometers from Padang. Then we ventured on to another waterfall 10 kilometers further upland, the Tansi Ampek in Sungai Lambai village. This waterfall is unique because it sits smack-dab in the middle of a tea plantation. To reach it, we had to walk single file along a narrow 100-meter path. Its waters feed at least 10 rivers in Solok Selatan, three of which have top-notch rafting spots. Tempted by the currents, we eventually tried this sport at the most famous of the three, Batang Liki. Lunch was served riverside once we finished rafting that watercourse. We continued on to Batang Sangir which had stronger currents. Generally speaking, Batang Sangir is rated five out of six for difficulty, six being most challenging. The last stage of the rafting session put us on the famous Batang Hari river, 79 kilometers from Padang Aro, the capital of Solok Selatan. This river marks the border between the West Sumatra and Jambi provinces. 

The next day we shifted our attention from rafting to hiking. The Mitra Kerinci tea plantation was our starting point as we set out to climb Mt. Kerinci (3,805 m) the highest mountain in Sumatra. Most climbers ascend via the Kresik Tuo (old route) starting from Kerinci Regency in Jambi, but we had heard about a new approach. Upon arriving at the tea plantation, we spent half an hour just admiring the breathtaking scenery of the sea of tea bushes against the backdrop of Mt. Kerinci. Then it was time to drive to the base camp to start our climb. We met Hedi who recently led an 18-member team to open up the new route. "We've opened this new route called the North Route. Water supplies are more accessible from this route compared to the old way up from Jambi."  

"Just 100 meters before reaching the peak we will cross the conventional route, the Kresik Tuo."
We returned to our lodge before gearing up for the next adventure; going inside the Earth, or caving. Our destination this time was Bukit Sungai Mintan cave in Sangir Batanghari district. We drove close to the cave, then pulled off to the side of the road. Inside the cave we found underground rivers with moderate currents and many stalagmites and stalactites. There were even columns where the two formations had joined, in the cave's depths. Except for villagers, few people have explored this cave, apparently, which may account for its pristine condition. 

Having roamed the cave, we returned to our lodgings and rested up. Our plan was to visit the hot springs Panas Sapan Maluluang in Nagari Alam Pauh Duo, 23 kilometers from Solok Selatan's capital. The spring, deep inside a rubber tree plantation, was accessible by car or motorcycle. 

Legend has it Sapan Maluluang and its small pond about five by 10 meters square formed after a volcanic eruption. Billowing steam and the pungent smell of sulphur welcomed us as we approached. Too hot for a dip, the waters are said to be 100* Celsius. To test this, we took some eggs, put them in a plastic bag and placed it in the pond. Voila! In less than 10 minute, our boiled eggs were ready to eat. Our next treat was a walk to Ngalau Indah and a rubber tree and coffee plantation. Several smaller caves in this village were worth the visit. Though as not as pretty as the first caves, these were interesting because residents were using them to breed swallows and sell their highly prized nests. 

Over so soon? On our way back to Padang, we did the math. Five days were too few. Along the way we got the feeling we had glimpsed only a small sampling of Solok Selatan's beauty. 

If You Go... 

Solok Selatan is the youngest regency in West Sumatra. Home to more than 130,000 people, it is accessible with ground transportation from the Minangkabau International Airport in Padang. You can take a public minibus or rent a car at the airport. The minibus usually charges Rp 50,000 (about US$5) and a rental car will cost you Rp 450,000 per day. It takes 3 hours to get to Solok Selatan from Padang. If practicality and security matters, most travel agents in Padang can set you up with a tour package.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/01/getting-away-it-all-west-sumatra.html

Nokia discontinues WiMax tablet computer

Just as Clearwire Corp. has fired up its long-awaited WiMax wireless data network in two cities, Nokia Corp. has stopped selling the only portable gadget that can use the network without accessories. 

Nokia spokeswoman Laurie Armstrong confirmed Wednesday that the company has discontinued the N810 Internet Tablet WiMax Edition on its Web site. 

Armstrong did not say why the tablet was withdrawn. But she said Nokia is still interested in WiMax, and by the time WiMax networks are more widely deployed, "refreshed products with even better performance will be required." 

Nokia's portable computer, which has a 4.1-inch touch-sensitive screen and a slide-out keyboard, is still for sale for $438 in a version without a WiMax modem. 

WiMax, sometimes described as a long-range version of Wi-Fi, is a competitor to traditional cellular broadband technologies. It offers relatively fast data speeds, and its proponents hope that WiMax antennas will be built into a variety of gadgets, from small computers to GPS devices. 

Leading computer manufacturers have announced their intention to make their laptops WiMax-capable, but for now the only way to use Clearwire's "Clear" network is with plug-in modems. 

"We have a robust pipeline of devices slated throughout 2009 and will be providing more details in the coming weeks," said Susan Johnston, spokeswoman for Clearwire. 

The network is live in Baltimore and Portland, Ore. 

Clearwire was formed last year by the union of a smaller company of the same name with Sprint Nextel Corp.'s WiMax division.

Source: Peter Svensson , The Associated Press , New York | Thu, 01/22/2009 8:29 AM | Sci-Tech 

A globetrotter uber lifestyle in Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey, has been acknowledged for centuries as one of the most important cities in the world, dating back to the Roman and Ottoman Empires. 

Known in the history books as Constantinople, it is truly a melting pot between the cultures of the east and the west, resulting in today’s Istanbul being a city rich with cultural heritage. 

These days Istanbul’s beautiful landscape is no longer dotted with just historical heritage, as new and modern establishments have appeared and have become a part of Istanbul. 

Some establishments have renovated their historical buildings and given them a new facade and some have decided to build entirely new buildings. If you are one of the world’s globetrotters and are eager to enjoy the luxury of an ubër lifestyle, then you will find Istanbul your new playground haven. 

Sumahan on the Water is the jewel of Bosporus. An establishment that dates back to 1875, Sumahan began as a liquor factory —that is until four years ago when architects transformed this site into a beautiful boutique hotel. But Sumahan owes its true beauty to its spectacular location— on the banks of the great Bosporus strait.

It is a priceless experience to wake up in the morning and be welcomed by this incredibly beautiful view. Every room is like a little villa with its own living room and fireplace. No matter which room you stay in, the morning will greet you with that glorious view.

Staying in Sumahan is like staying in a friend’s villa —one that is equipped with personalized services. Start your perfect day by having a delicious homemade breakfast with its delicacies— Turkish style. Don’t forget to try Turkish traditional bread simit (sesame bread) with butter —you are guaranteed to have a great start to your day.

One way to enjoy Istanbul is by cruising around the Bosporus strait by boat. You can cross to Istanbul’s European side by boat provided by Sumahan and visit majestic sites such as Aya Sophia Mosque and The Topkapi Palace. Or you can forget all the tourist attractions and instead enjoy a traditional bath and massage in Sumahan’s hammam. It is the perfect way to release all your stress and feel rejuvenated.

After a long day adventuring in Istanbul, there is only one perfect way to end it and that is by sipping a glass of Turkish red wine while relaxing in your room, gazing out through its wide window, You can hear the Bosporus’ flowing water while enjoying the lights on Ortakoy’s bridge which change color every few minutes. It is just the way Istanbul was meant to be seen. 


The Sunset Restaurant.

The Sunset restaurant on Ulus Hill is one of the most renowned spots for Istanbul’s crème de la crème to be seen —as well as the world’s jetsetter. They have all the required elements to be at the top of the competition. With its breath-taking views, The Sunset has a modern yet sophisticated ambiance and décor that is perfected with top-notch cuisine guaranteed to please everyone —even hard-core gastronomes. 

In addition to fine, authentic local selections you will also find Japanese cuisine. To prepare the Japanese menu The Sunset has brought a highly experienced Japanese chef from London, Hiroki Takemura. Chef Hiroki’s talent can be enjoyed through his custom-made menu or fusion. 

During our last visit we enjoyed his creation of steamed sea bass with black bean sauce with a touch of truffle oil. 

As for the Turkish cuisine, selections such as the Mediterranean plate and lamb shank guarantee total satisfaction. Add a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and you will surely have an unforgettable memory. Without a doubt, The Sunset is a must-visit restaurant when you are in Istanbul!

To increase the well-being between your body and soul in a holistic manner is what The LifeCo offers. Located in Akatlar district where most of Istanbul’s high society reside, The LifeCo is simply one of the city’s hottest institutions when it comes to treating your entire being.

With its wide selection, The LifeCo offers options from a detoxification program —which includes a custom-made program for your body and even a mind detox program —to self-pampering such as through massage and its traditional hammam. They have created a concept that enables you to experience this entire program without disturbing your daily routine.

It is The LifeCo’s goal to balance and achieve harmony among body, mind and soul for every client. This is achieved through various means, such as colon cleansing, yoga ashtangi, a custom-made organic menu and dietary supplements. They balance this with pampering through a solar sauna, mint steam bath and of course the traditional hammam treatment for exfoliation.

If this is your first time at The LifeCo, their friendly attendants will assist and give you all the required information. In a city such as Istanbul, where English is not its major language, it’s a delight to visit an establishment where English is spoken fluently. 

If you are planning to visit Istanbul, then we highly recommend that you increase your well-being by obtaining a healthier lifestyle through The LifeCo. It is an experience that ensures you will feel rejuvenated with complete satisfaction. 

The LifeCO

Abdi Ipekci Cad 26/8
Nisantasi 34367
Istanbul, Turkiye
Tel: +902122196826
Website: www.thelifeco.com

The Sunset Restaurant

Adnan Saygun Cad. Yol Sok.
Ulus Parki No. 2
Ulus, Turkiye
Tel: +902122870357
Email: info@sunsetgrillbar.com

Sumahan on the Water

Kuleli Caddesi No. 51
Cengelkoy
34684 Istanbul, Turkey
Tel: +90 216 422 8000
Email: info@sumahan.com
Website: www.epoquehotels.com

Source: Erza S.T. , Contributor , Istanbul, Turkey | Sun, 01/18/2009 11:10 AM | Travel 

Music Republicain: A sanctuary for professionalism and fun

The busy street outside is in stark contrast to the serenity inside the offices of Music Republicain, a new school for music and image. 

Located on the crowded Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta, the music school has just resumed its classes after taking a Christmas and New Year break. 


The building of Music Republicain poses a unique facade for passerby in the crowded Fatmawati street. courtesy Music Republicain. (JP/Kurniawan Hari)

The office may be quiet, but any time a class begins, "the sound of music" can be heard coming from the 10 classrooms where students are practicing piano, voice or ensemble playing. 

"This is a new institution which combines instruction in both music and personal image. We are offering someting different from other music schools," director Ivonne Atmojo told The Jakarta Post Thursday. 

The school was designed with a philosophy that everyone has a particular interest and skill in music. With a customized approach, every student can develop his or her abilities. 

Their open approach has attracted a broad range of music students of different backgrounds and ages. One student is barely four years old, another is 67. 

"The idea is to make a place where everyone speaks the same language -- music -- regardless of their age," Ivonne said. 

The director explained the school is flexible because she understood people choose to learn music for different reasons. Some people are aiming to become professionals while others want to play just for fun. 

With each student's interest and goal in mind, the school also provides each student with a well-suited teacher or mentor from their staff. For this reason, the school also requires teachers to audition and pass through a detailed evaluation before joining the school. 

The evaluation helps Ivonne and her team understand the strengths, weaknesses and general profile of their teachers. 

"We also require our teachers to customize lesson plans so each student will get what they want from their experience," said Ivonne who holds a Master's degree from the US San Francisco Conservatory of Music. 

The artful thing in this process, she said, is to match up the right teacher with the right student. Some foreign students want to learn in English so the school also employs teachers who can speak English. 

At this school, students can learn music either just for fun or for a serious motive of becoming professional musician. For those who want to become professional, it is recommended they take a certified international test, the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). 

But if they want to learn music for fun, they need not take this test. 

Because many students take music classes after school, classes are scheduled at Music Republicain generally in the afternoons and evenings. Busy professionals have signed up for the evening choir class. 

Music Republicain general manager Ivana stated she wanted the school to become a place for people to learn music as well as to further their interests. 

"This is a place that offers more than just music education but also music as a means of self-expression, a means to have fun and a means for socializing," she said. 

At semester's end, each student will perform in a musical project at the school's concert hall. The hall, fully equipped for lighting and sound, can accommodate 140 people and is available for rent. 

Music Republicain
Jl. Fatmawati 8, Pondok Labu
South Jakarta
Phone: (021) 7511374

Source: Kurniawan Hari , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 01/11/2009 10:03 AM | Lifestyle 

Golf resorts being upscaled in Puerto Rico

Source: Mercedes M. Cardona , The Associated Press , Rio Grande, Puerto Rico | Mon, 01/05/2009 3:04 PM | Travel 

This seaside stretch, a half-hour's drive east of the airport in San Juan, is not placid in midday. Construction equipment rumbles through the beachfront while workers sweat out installing the marble floors and granite countertops in developer Donald Trump's latest Caribbean venture.

The 700-villa Trump International Golf Club and Residences is among several golf resorts on this Caribbean island that are either under construction or being upscaled. Some have famous course designers like Robert Trent Jones, and many are attached to luxury resorts with well-known hotel brand names like St. Regis and Mandarin Oriental.

Golf is one of three tourism niches being targeted for promotion here, along with water sports and food, said Mari Jo Laborde, deputy executive director of marketing and promotions of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. Golf is a big part of the island's "Explore Beyond the Shore" campaign highlighting activities outside beaches, she said. And although Puerto Rico has long been a golf destination, the combination of a growing local golf market and a drive to attract more affluent tourists is putting an emphasis on luxury.

This might seem like a risky approach given the current economic downturn. Puerto Rico, like many tourism destinations, is experiencing a drop in visitors, with a 3 to 5 percent decline projected for the near future.

But hoteliers and course owners are hoping that a more affluent crowd will be less vulnerable to the economy's swings than the package-tour-and-cruise market concentrated around the port of San Juan.

High-end projects can also take years to come to fruition after they are planned and financed. "They are definitely an investment in the future," said Peter Finch, senior editor at Golf Digest magazine. "It takes years and in some cases decades to get everything lined up for these courses to open. These golf courses are major undertakings across hundreds and hundreds of acres, if not thousands of acres. You can't just snap your fingers and they appear."

Not far from the Trump villas, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts in 2007 opened the Bahia Beach golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones; a luxury hotel and spa are scheduled to open in 2010. Diaz noted a 369-room J.W. Marriott hotel is expected to open in early 2011 next to the Trump property. In October, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Regent Hotels & Resorts both announced they will open new luxury hotels in 2011 in Palmas del Mar, a resort southeast of San Juan with championship golf courses designed by Reese Jones and Gary Player. Existing hotels are also raising their game with renovations and additions.

The number of residential units at the Trump resort in Puerto Rico, a $600-million project, was halved from an initial plan of 1,400 villas, while other aspects of the project were upgraded, said Jorge L. Diaz, partner of Empresas Diaz, the developer of the project. The first 56 units are up for sale with prices starting at just under $1 million.

Next door to the Trump course, the Gran Melia Puerto Rico Golf Resort and Villas recently upgraded from Melia's Paradisus all-inclusive brand to a more upscale Gran Melia hotel. All rooms in the 486-suite hotel were redecorated, restaurants upgraded to focus on fine dining and staff retrained. The upgrades were coincidental, but the Trump project, "goes on a par with the Gran Melia brand," said Evy Garcia, director of sales and marketing. "We get many golfers, especially now, with the PGA (tournament)."

The Trump course last March hosted the inaugural Puerto Rico Open, a PGA tournament it will host again in 2009. The clubhouse and course underwent a $4.5 million renovation and the course, designed by Tom Kite, was updated to meet PGA standards.

"Some of the hotels just needed an upgrade," said Lydia Feliciano, internal communications manager at the El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa in Las Croabas, in the northeast coast. The 750-room resort just completed a $120 million renovation that added 237 rooms, new restaurants and a new convention center. LXR Luxury Resorts, the hotel's new corporate parent, also renovated the existing facilities, including the guestrooms and casino. The latest addition is a seaside water park with slides, an infinity pool and activities.

The hotel also has plans to expand its golf facilities by adding a second course to the hilly 18 holes designed by Arthur Hills. Construction on the new nine-hole course is not scheduled yet, but the plans have been drawn, said golf director Trent Bluemel.

"They're trying to make the hotels a bit more upscale to attract another kind of tourist," said Veronica Taveira, a spokeswoman of the 600-room Wyndham Rio Mar Beach Resort resort, in Rio Grande.

The Wyndham, formerly a Westin hotel, is now in the midst of a $40 million renovation. Westin had already spent $16 million renovating the pool and beach areas before the brand switch a year ago, and Wyndham plans to spend another $15 million this year, including nearly $4 million in improvements to the clubhouse and two 18-hole golf courses, designed by pros Tom and George Fazio and Greg Norman.

While most golf resorts have traditionally been located in the greener northern coast, the last couple of years have seen new courses appear in the more arid south. In Guayama, on the southeast coast, veteran golf pro Chi Chi Rodriguez designed the course in El Legado, his 200-villa resort, and the Hilton Ponce Resort in the southern coast recently opened a country club with 27 holes of PGA championship play.

Hotels hold on despite global financial crisis

Hotels in Bali are yet to experience any significant downturn in occupancy or room-booking rates, as the island's tourism leaders watch nervously for signs the global financial crisis is starting to hit the industry. 

Several hotels in Bali have reported only slightly lower occupancy and booking rates than last year, with the drops attributed to the global crisis and the Australian government's travel warning. 

Meutia Mahardhika, public relations manager of the Bali Hyatt in Sanur, said the hotel's occupancy rate was at about 50 to 60 percent in the first few weeks of December, similar to that experienced in the same period last year. 

She said the Hyatt had not noticed any significant reduction in booking rates for New Year celebrations, as it was already about 80 percent booked until early January. 

"So far we're still doing well, but we are worried about the financial crisis because our base market is Europeans, who might feel less inclined to travel all the way to Bali for their holidays and could opt for closer destinations instead," she said. 

Ani, a reservations officer at the Mercure Hotel in Sanur, reported a downturn of about 10 percent in bookings over the December-January period, to an average occupancy rate of 70 percent this year from 80 percent last year. 

Nevertheless, the hotel is about 90 percent booked for the end of December. 

"So I can say that we're still getting guests despite the financial crisis," she said. 

In Kuta's Seminyak and Legian areas, hotels are experiencing less than encouraging numbers. 

Sukaesih Winjarini, Sales Manager of Oberoi Hotel, said bookings had been slow in December, with occupancy averaging about 60 percent. 

Bali hotels tend to experience 70 to 90 percent occupancy during December to January, a period known as the local tourism industry's traditional peak season. 

"In our case, we've just been having a slow month, whether it's because of the financial crisis or something else," she said. 

With the numbers heading south, Robin Deb, manager of an Accor operated hotel chain, warned another problem for Bali's tourism industry could be coming from the south too -- the Australian government's travel warning issued last month concerning the recent execution of the three Bali bombers. 

"I can say that, at least for Accor hotels in the Seminyak and Legian areas, cancellations have come mainly from Australian tourists, which I suspect is due to the travel warning," he said. 

Head of the Bali Tourism Board, Ngurah Wijaya, confirmed that Bali had experienced lower occupancy rates in the first couple of weeks of December, a sign that tourists were waiting for the financial crisis to subside before going on holidays. 

"Booking rates may remain the same or only slightly lower, but that's still not a telltale sign of what's going to happen in the days to come except that it will not be as high as last year," he said. 

"The deciding point will arrive in January and February, and I hope we'll continue to have guests." 

He urged hotels and tour operators against engaging in price wars, as witnessed after the first Bali bombing in 2002, which nearly destroyed the island's tourism industry. 

"Businesses in the tourism industry must work together by helping each other in promoting the island because it will be in the island's best interests to survive as a whole," he said.

Source: Andra Wisnu , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Fri, 12/26/2008 11:21 AM | Bali 

Letter: Bali needs serious attention

I have just returned from beautiful Bali after my second holiday this year to the Island. 

On this trip, I began to notice a few things that require the Indonesian government's attention if the tourist industry on Bali is to carry on prospering and earning large amounts of income for the country: 

- Streamline the chaotic arrivals and visa situation at Denpasar airport. 

- Repair all the sidewalks in tourist areas 

- Remove all garbage and litter from the streets and beaches 

- Put in place a rodent (mainly rat) eradication program 

- And ban all non-registered unscrupulous (criminal) money changers. 

I believe the taxes and entry fees paid by tourists should more than adequately cover the cost of implementing the points mentioned above, and then future tourists will return to their prospective country's with a very high regard of Bali as a premier holiday destination. 

BRIAN GUNN 

For weeks now the beaches of Kuta and Legian -- about a 7-kilometer stretch -- have been covered in rubbish. 

I heard that Indonesia will extend its "Visit Indonesia Year" to 2009. 

Do you really think this is attractive to foreign visitors? Besides the fact that they could be arrested for wearing a bikini, they now have to worry about health risks there too!!!) 

You have reporters in Denpasar, but they obviously do not regard this as newsworthy -- which I honestly think is a shame considering your newspaper calls itself independent. 

MICHAEL BEER

Culburra Beach, Australia

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/12/27/letter-bali-needs-serious-attention.html

one of the seven Al-Bait Towers Complex: Zamzam Tower

Zamzam Tower is one of the seven Al-Bait Towers Complex. It stands on the same piece of land on which the historical Ajyad Castle once stood, providing a close view of the Holy Mosque of Mecca.

Property Developer
Munshaat Real Estate Projects Company

Project Features
Zamzam Tower provides a range of unique services and advantages that distinguishes it as the best residential project in the Gulf Region:
• Residential suites elegantly furnished according to international 5-star hotels standards.
• Engineered with an architectural concept matching the religious environment of Mecca.
• Direct connection to the Holy Mosque open space.
• Close view to the Holy Mosque of Mecca.
• 36 elevators to serve both residents and visitors efficiently.
• High-tech heating and air-conditioning systems.
• Grand shopping centre on 70,000 square meters, including a wide range of brand restaurants and shops.
• Customized audio system transmitting Azan and prayers from the Holy Mosque direct to residential suites.
• Praying space inside the complex and neighboring areas accommodating 50,000 worshippers.
• Parking lots with a capacity of 1,400 cars.
• Ring roads easily linking the complex to the rest of the Mecca area.
• Flexible interior design dividing the tower suites into five different types.
• Round-the-clock security system.
• Zamzam Tower is managed and maintained by Accord Sofitel, an international renowned hotel chain.  
 
Facilities
With four easily accessible floors, the shopping centre is characterized by an open design allowing visitors to have easy visual access to all showrooms, facilitated shopping and Walk Around. The fourth floor houses a chain of different restaurants, able to simultaneously accommodate 5,000 people.

Source and Other Info : www.oasis-properties.com

Acer starts multibrand strategy with eMachines

Already a market leader in Indonesia's computer market, Acer has further expanded its operations here with the introduction of its new eMachines brand last week. 

After acquiring Packard Bell, Gateway and eMachines, Acer introduced the eMachines desktops and notebooks to the Indonesian market to expand its 37 percent market share here, Acer Group Indonesia president director Jason Lim said. 

Worldwide, the Taiwan-based company is third in terms of sales after Hewlett Packard and Dell. 

"Next, the Gateway brand will be introduced to the Indonesian market in the first quarter of next year," Lim said. 

Gateway computers are aimed mostly at younger users. 

"Students who prefer functionality over frills are our main target." 

Indonesians bought 1.2 million units of notebooks in the first three quarters of 2008, with Acer brands making up 37.7 percent of the total, he said. 

In 2007 full year sales, Acer accounted for 35 percent of the total 750,000 notebooks sold across all brands. 

"We estimate eMachines will expand our market share by 7 percent," he said. 

The figure could be much higher if the next year's projected slowdown in economic growth, which is translated into lower demand, is limited. 

The global economic downturn, which has now tipped many countries into recession, is projected to derail Indonesia's economic growth. Having initially assumed an economic growth of 6 percent for next year, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said the government would settle for a growth of "above 5 percent". 

"While our average annual sales growth is around 100 percent, we forecast next year's sales growth will be 50 percent due to a decrease in consumers' purchasing power," Lim said. 

Data from consultancy firm Gartner for the third quarter of this year show that Acer Indonesia will maintain its top position with a 23.1 percent market share for computers overall, and shares of 37.7 percent and 9.2 percent for notebooks and desktops, respectively. 

eMachines was acquired by Acer at the end of 2007 through its acquisition of Gateway. Gateway bought former rival eMachines in 2004. 

Since its establishment in 1998, eMachines has sold five million PCs. It was the second largest vendor of desktop PCs sold through U.S. retailers and remains a stand-alone brand. 

Acer spent US$710 million for the acquisition of Gateway, completed last December. Acer also bought another PC company, Packard Bell, with its acquisition completed in February this year. 

Source: The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 12/01/2008 10:55 AM | Business 

LPG shortage slows conversion plan

Source: Mustaqim Adamrah,  The Jakarta Post, ,Jakarta | Sat, 12/06/2008 11:45 AM | Business 
The government may be able to procure no more than 35 million liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders next year, only half of the number it had initially planned for its LPG-to-kerosene conversion program. 

Ansari Bukhari, the Industry Ministry's director general for metal, machinery, textile and miscellaneous industries, said Friday the projected shortfall was due to the domestic industry's capacity to supply only 35 million in the two years since the program was launched. 

"It will take a miracle for us to realize our plan to accelerate the program by distributing 100 million three-kilogram LPG cylinders by 2009," he said. 

The government and state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina -- which is responsible for implementing the program -- have therefore revised down their target from 100 million cylinders to 84 million cylinders, he said. 

With the estimated 35 million to be produced next year, plus the 35 million already in the market, Ansari said the government would not rule out importing more cylinders to meet the revised target. 

"We'll import the remainder if the numbers are insufficient," he said. 

According to Ansari, 42 million cylinders will be for households, with the other 42 million for retail stock. 

The government rolled out the conversion program in December 2006. The aim of the program, which is expected to be completed in 2010, is to slash spending on kerosene subsidies. 

Although the program has been moving slowly because of the shortage of cylinders and refilling stations, the government is accelerating the program. 

The program's target is to replace the use of up to 2.1 million kiloliters of kerosene by the end of 2008. As of November, the replacement level had reached 1.8 million kiloliters. 

Pertamina earlier set a target for 20 million recipients of LPG cylinders and gas stoves nationwide by the end this year and 42 million by next year.

See Other info about mining, coal, others

Facing the global crisis: The labor and The company must help each other

Employers and labor must help each other people can not gladly welcomed the policy, Bank Indonesia (BI) reference BI lower interest rate. Yesterday, BI lower the BI rate of 0.25 percent or 25 basis points to 9.25 percent .. become Now, let's have urged the bankers want to lower the interest credit. Thus, it should, be done decrease interest and the interest of savings deposits, interest loans, such as the Home Ownership Loan (KPR) or working capital. Many bankers are still estimated to be reductions in interest rates. The reason, banks still need time to make adjustments. 

The impact of the global crisis has been felt. Industry compact product exceptionally paper consumption began to run out because of hot demand. Order export abundant in the normal end of the year is now deserted. Labour and employers also are in the same ravine lips. Working with a solid now required to rebut the impact of the crisis. 

Global crisis has begun to undermine us. If not solid, prospective employers and workers alike affected global crisis, which started Fall of the financial sector in the United States and Europe. 

U.S. experiencing the worst levels of unemployment during the last 14 years. Some 600,000 people lost their jobs in the last three months and become a part of the 1.2 million new unemployed people in the U.S. this year. 

Workers manufacturing, property, metal, and financial services sector is the most to be unemployed. Goldman Sachs economist, U.S. research bureau, estimates, the level of unemployment reached 8.5 percent 2009. 

They do not work, which will reduce spending, driving two-thirds of national economic activity. This condition is a pressing demand and take market to U.S. products of other countries. 

Textile producers, textile products, and electronic components or vehicles with Indonesia began to interview. 

The export-oriented producers lose market now. Sluggish market, coincides with the end of the year routine determination of the new minimum wage 2009. 

Industry moving distraught. They begin to reduce the production of at least 30 percent. No less a labor termination of employment while. Labor contracts and suppliers of raw materials also forced unemployed. 

Soliditas laborers and entrepreneurs are needed now to prevent massive lay if the crisis more severe. International donors also should not use the terms again that burden when the country provide loans outstanding debtors. Even if the shift starts from the discussion of working hours, termination of employment while, until finally there is a termination of employment, not all of sudden. Thus, workers can better prepare for manages 

If workers need jobs, so employers must maintain with the company. Investment new may not have expected at this time. So, there is no way other than maintaining existing. Employers need only the tranquillity that 

The worst to come in H1 of 2009: Mulyani

The impact of the global economic slowdown will likely peak in the first half of 2009, with exports and investments the hardest hit, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Tuesday.
“In 2009, the government sees the risk to growth as very real. Exports and investments will be hit hard due to the (poor) performance of the financial sector,” Mulyani said at a hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission XI, which oversees financial affairs.
“The impact will mainly materialize in the first half (of 2009).” 
However, she said that because private consumption growth could be maintained at 5 percent next year, the economy would likely grow between 5 and 5.5 percent.
“The threat of high inflation is not real, so the level of household consumption can be held at 5 percent,” she said.
In the worst case scenario, she warned, Indonesia’s economy could slow to 4.5 percent next year.
The central bank predicts inflation in 2009 will hover between 6.5 and 7.5 percent, down from the 11.5-12.5 percent range it straddled this year. Inflation in November rose 11.68 percent from a year earlier, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
Private consumption usually makes up about 70 percent of Indonesia’s economy, with exports and investments contributing the rest.
In the third quarter of 2008, the country’s economy grew by 6.1 percent from a year earlier, the BPS reported.
Indonesia began feeling the impact of the global economic slowdown in October, when exports dropped by about 12 percent from the previous month as importing countries slashed demand.
Top global research and advisory firm, the Economist Intelligence Unit, predicted Indonesia’s economy would grow by 3.7 percent in 2009, while Swiss-based financial firm UBS projected 2.5 percent growth.
However, local economists remain upbeat the economy can grow more. Danareksa Research Institute chief researcher Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the economy could grow by 5.9 percent in 2009, supported by domestic demand, while renowned economist Faisal Basri forecast 5.8 percent growth.
Mulyani said the government was providing a trade financing facility to help exporters and importers. Imports of unessential consumer goods will be reduced to help local industries compete with cheap imported goods, while support for market diversification for exports will be maintained.
To support the real sector, the government will inject Rp 120 trillion (US$9.68 billion) this month and spend another Rp 90 trillion as early as next year to build infrastructure, including roads, bridges, ports, railways and telecommunications infrastructure, Mulyani said.
Rural areas will be given Rp 10.3 trillion to develop infrastructure. Agriculture subsidies have been raised from Rp 27.9 trillion this year to Rp 33.4 trillion in 2009, including Rp 17.1 trillion for fertilizer. 
The government is also offering Rp 12.5 trillion in the form of waived income and value added taxes, as well as import duties, to help industries cope with the economic downturn.

Source: Aditya Suharmoko , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 12/03/2008 6:55 AM | Headlines 

Obama: bank execs shouldn't get bonuses this year

President-elect Barack Obama thinks bank executives should forgo their bonuses this year to show they are taking responsibility amid difficult economic times. 

In an interview with Barbara Walters to air Wednesday, Obama also said he is trying to keep his BlackBerry or find another way to "break through the isolation and the bubble that exists around the president." 

Obama talked about a range of topics in Tuesday's interview, including troop deployments in Afghanistan and Thanksgiving holiday plans with his family, ABC News said. He also discussed the adjustment of moving into the White House with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters. 

According to excerpts of the interview released by ABC, Obama said bank executives should make sacrifices because so many other people are struggling as the U.S. economy slips further. Some financial firms, including Goldman Sachs, the Swiss bank UBS and the British bank Barclays, have said they are not handing out annual bonuses to top executives, and Obama encouraged more to follow. 

"I think that if you are already worth tens of millions of dollars, and you are having to lay off workers," Obama said, "the least you can do is say, 'I'm willing to make some sacrifice as well, because I recognize that there are people who are a lot less well off, who are going through some pretty tough times."' 

Obama also said the heads of the three auto companies who came to Washington asking for a bailout are a "little tone deaf" to what's going on in the country. It was the second time this week he has had harsh words for Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. The struggling companies are pressing Congress for $25 billion in government loans. 

During a news conference Monday, Obama said the Big Three may deserve some assistance, but taxpayers cannot be expected to blindly support an auto industry "that has been resistant to change." 

As for his new life in the White House, Obama said one change he is resisting is having to give up his beloved BlackBerry. 

A president's e-mail may be subject to public records laws and can be subpoenaed by Congress and the courts. It may also be a security risk for him to carry a traceable cell phone. 

Giving it up, Obama said, "is a problem." During the campaign, he was often spotted thumbing the device and was known as a bit of a BlackBerry addict. 

He said he is working with the Secret Service, lawyers and White House staff to find a solution. 

"I'm negotiating to figure out how can I get information from outside of the ten or 12 people who surround my office in the White House," he said. "Because one of the worst things I think that could happen to a president is losing touch with what people are going through day to day."

Source: Sara Kugler , The Associated Press , Chicago | Wed, 11/26/2008 12:03 PM | World 

1,000 protesters storm Chinese government building

A crowd of 1,000 people stormed a local Communist Party headquarters in northwest China, smashing cars and clashing with police following a land dispute, government officials said Tuesday.

At least 60 people - officials, police, and protesters - were injured in the riots, according to a statement on the government Web site of Longnan city, where the unrest occurred.

The protest initially began with just a small group of people complaining about the demolition of teir homes to make way for a new road in Longnan in Gansu province, according to an official from the local Communist Party surnamed Wang.

But by nightfall, the crowd swelled to a many as 1,000 as more people joined the demonstration, the city's statement said.

"Instigated by a small number of people with ulterior motives, some unlawful people started to storm the city government building and attacked government officials from the petitioning office," it said.

Protesters attcked police and officials with stones, steel pipes and bricks. They also set fire to motorcycles, bicycles and buildings, according to the statement.

After attempting to calm the crowd, police "had no option but to disperse the unlawful elements with force," it said.

By early Tuesday morning, the sitation was "under control," said Wang, who like many Chinese officials would give only his surname.

Protests are common in China over land seizures and corrupt officials. Local government officials often confiscate land for infrastructure and housing projects, with little or no compensation.
The Associated Press , Beijing | Tue, 11/18/2008 3:30 PM | World

Baku: An exciting place to explore

Are you looking for a new exotic place to explore? Do you want to see features of both Asian and European cultures in one city? Do you want to see a city where Muslims, Jews and Christians live in harmony? Then Azerbaijan's capital Baku -- the pearl of the Caspian Sea -- is the place for you.

Azerbaijan, a small but oil-rich country in the South Caucasus, is the new kid on the block of the world tourism industry.

More than 90 percent of its population is Shiite Muslim. It is not, however, an orthodox country. It has one of the most modern, secular, liberal, tolerant and open societies in the Islamic world.

"We had a very difficult period of being unknown in the world tourism market due to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh," Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Abulfas Qarayev, told The Jakarta Post recently.

Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijan territory, was seized by Armenian troops in a 1990s war.

Azerbaijan's beauty, richness, culture and ultimately its geostrategic position -- a juncture on the Great Silk Road, between the Mediterranean, Caspian, Black and Azov seas -- has attracted various tribes, travelers, invaders, traders and missionaries throughout history. More recent patrons include oil companies and even film director Michael Apted, who shot parts of the 1999 Bond film The World is not Enough here.

In this former Soviet Union state of 8.7 million people, Baku has everything.

"It was a surprise for me. Baku looks like more an European city than an Asian one," Laura Shuurmans, a Jakarta-based free-lance writer, said recently.

A city rich in culture and history, Baku has unique and varied architecture -- ranging from grand mansions with Roman and Gothic themes to a walled old city complete with cobbled streets, narrow alleys, ancient buildings and interesting historical places.

As in any other ancient city, the best and easiest way is to explore Baku is on foot. While in Baku, there is one place you will go to, more than once. In Baku all roads lead to Fountain Square. If it is dining and shopping you're after, or simply looking to meet up with friends and enjoy the night life, head to Fountain Square. It's the most popular place in the city for locals and visitors alike.

Built in the 1860s by the famous Azerbaijani architect Hajibababeyov (1811-1874), Fountain Square is home to numerous Western-style shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Here you can find street hawkers and a playground for children: It's the spot to hang out. It's on Sunday evenings however, that the square really comes alive. A parade of beautiful Azeri girls hit the town and everybody wants to be there.

Baku or Baki (which means a city of winds in the Azeri language) is in fact comprised of three cities -- the old town (Cheri Shekher), the boom town and the Soviet-built town.

Tourists will find the walled old town, a world heritage site, the most interesting as all the major attractions of Baku are found here.
Every city has its landmark and for Baku it's Maiden's Tower, a medieval tower with a strange keyhole shape. Built as a guard tower and observatory in 12th century, Maiden's Tower or Kiz Kulesi is worth seeing. There are many stories to explain how it was named, the most accepted being that a maiden committed suicide by jumping from the top. Local people told us that distressed people still sometimes repeat maiden's act.

A set of stairs will take you to the top of the tower, which, at a height of more than 30 meters will provide good exercise. From the top you will find the best view of Baku and the Caspian Sea.

But beware of the biting wind, which comes rolling off the rough Caspian Sea and sweeps through the city's streets.

Another of Baku's historical attractions is the Shirvanshah's Palace, a 15th century royal palace with a mosque, minaret and mausoleum.

On our way to Shirvanshah's Palace, there were numerous tempting artisan and carpet shops. But prices of these items are as high as the Maiden's Tower. Don't worry thought, if you have a local guide or bargaining skills developed from years of shopping at Tanah Abang market, the prices will come down by more than half.

It is easy to loose your way in the labyrinthine old city. But not to worry, just hail a cab and ask to go to the usual place: Fountain Square. The most surprising thing was that even the locals sometimes get lost. This is because Baku is changing very fast, due to the oil boom. Many Azeris, however, point out that they are not part of the boom.

The rapid influx of oil dollars means that the whole city looks as if it is in a beauty parlor. Multistory buildings are being constructed, old buildings and roads are undergoing renovations -- all over the city.

In the evening, one should not miss beautiful Boulevard. Running parallel to Baku's sea front, Azeri people enjoy leisurely strolls here. The 100-year-old Boulevard, now a national park, is also a popular spot for young lovers. The streets, decorated with lights, add to the ambiance.

Baku is also home to numerous museums. My favorite was the State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Decorative Applied Arts (formerly the Lenin Museum), which has a very rich collection of centuries-old colorful carpets. The Azerbaijan State Museum of Art, State History Museum, Museum of Independence and the Museum of Musical Culture of Azerbaijan are also worth a visit.

The city also has a vibrant nightlife -- you can find music ranging from disco and jazz to operas and classical Azeri dances. One can even enjoy belly dancing at one of the caravansarai's (ancient inn) in the old town.
On the outskirts of the city, you can explore not only numerous beaches, but also places like Gobustan, where 12,000-year-old rock carvings are preserved, and Ateshgah -- a Zoroastrian fire temple built in the 18th century.

Near Baku, the most interesting place in Azerbaijan is Oil Rocks, a town on the Caspian Sea. Built during the Soviet era, Oil Rocks has 200 kilometers of streets built on a former landfill. It is here that several scenes of The World is not Enough were shot. Further away from Baku you will find tourist places like Sheki, Ganja and Guba.

The most interesting part of the experience is the great Azeri cuisine, which is similar to Turkish food. Lamb kebabs, dolmas, caviar, yogurt soups, salads, bread, pillav and tomatoes, as well as many fresh fruits, will make your mouth water.

Baku and Azerbaijan in general are blessed with so many qualities that will provide fond memories for tourists. But it is above all, their warmness, generosity and hospitality that Azeri people are well known for. Last year around 1.3 million tourists visited Azerbaijan, a veritable leap from the 44,934 who came in 1995.

Baku has all the ingredients, and has invested billions of oil dollars, to ensure its spot as a popular international destination in the years to come. It might just be that one has to hurry up to see the original Baku, before it turns into a new star in global tourism industry.

Travel tips

Getting there: The United Arab Emirates' Emirates airlines flies daily from Jakarta to Dubai. From Dubai Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) flies to Baku six times in a week and from Baku to Dubai seven times a week. A two-way ticket may cost approximately US$1,800.

What to see

Fountain Square, Maiden's Tower, Shirvanshah's Palace, Old town (Cheri Shekher), Gobustan, Ateshgah fire temple, State Art Gallery, State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Decorative Applied Arts, Boulevard, Oil Rocks in Baku and surrounding areas

Where to stay

Hyatt Regency, Holiday Inn, Absheron Hotel, Caspian Palace, and Radisson SAS Plaza and numerous budget hotels

Where to eat and what to eat

Karavanserai: An underground restaurant in the midst of walled city. The food is traditional Azeri with lots of lamb and Caspian fish. There are also regular Azeri music, magic shows and belly dance.
Yacht Restaurant: This yacht-shaped expensive restaurant on Caspian Sea offers delicious Azeri food and drinks.

Currency

One can bring in unlimited foreign currency to Baku with proper declaration. But you can't take Azeri currency manats out of the country. Azeri manat might be stronger than U.S. dollar but it is not accepted outside Azerbaijan. All manats must be exchanged before we leave Baku.

Source: Veeramalla Anjaiah , The Jakarta Post ,

Jakarta Hotel Market First Half 2007 and jan-August 2008

Jakarta Hotel Market First Half 2007
A similar trend to the final semester of 2006 continued in the 1 semester of 2007, with a number of hotels reducing their room supply. Early in the year, over 50% of rooms in The Sultan Hotel were temporarily closed , leaving approximately 505 rooms available. There is no definite plan as to the size and type of development for the above premises, as the management is still considering few options available. Hotel
Raddin Ancol was closed down in May 2007. With no new hotels opening during the review period, the total supply for 3, 4 and 5-star hotels in Jakarta declined by 3.7% to 21,200 rooms from 92 hotels. Based on the number of hotel rooms, 5-star hotels contributed the largest share of supply at 41%. Based on the number of hotels, 3-star hotels were the largest contributor to at 50%. Approximately 34.1% of the existing supply was located in the CBD.

Jakarta hotel market will see no new hotels completed during 2007. New supply is projected to enter the market in 2008-2010, totaling 2,422 rooms from 11 hotels. The 5-star hotels will contribute almost 60% or 1,344 rooms.
By 2009, the Jakarta hotel market will see a larger involvement of Aston in managing new hotels and serviced apartments in Jakarta, including Grand Aston Albergo di Bellezza (Permata Hijau, South Jakarta),
Aston Marina Ancol, Hotel & Residence (Ancol, North Jakarta), Aston SoHo, Hotel & Residence (Slipi, West
Jakarta) and Aston Mangga Dua, Hotel & Residence, (Mangga Dua, North Jakarta). Meanwhile Accor, as the major hotel operator in Jakarta, will manage 2 new hotels by 2009, adding to the 9 existing hotels managed by Accor.
During the first semester of 2007, total passenger arrivals at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were recorded at 7,170,879 people, slightly increased by 1.12% from the level achieved at the same period last year. International arrivals grew by 3.1%,whilst domestic arrivals plunged by 9.7%.
The overall occupancy rate continued to improve over the review period, from 62.21% during the last semester of 2006 to 64.53%. All hotel categories enjoyed occupancy rate increment, led by 3 and 4 star hotels at 70.48% and 68.76%, respectively. Occupancy for 5 star hotels slightly increased to 57.29%.



Jakarta Hotel Market jan-August 2008
Property Market Overview: http://www.colliers.com
In 3Q2008, no new hotel developments were introduced to the market, a situation similar to other quarters. The hotel market remained at 21,521 rooms, comprising 5,001 in 3-star hotels, 8,213 in 4-star hotels and 8,307 in 5-star properties. New 3-star hotels are ex¬pected to enter the market by the end of this year, among them the Harris Hotel, the Aston Marina Ancol and the Kempinski Hotel In¬donesia
Over the next three years, several interna¬tional hotel operators have committed to entering the Jakarta hotel market, as indicated in the table below. Between 2008 and 2011, the hotel stock is projected to grow by 4.79% per annum.
Between January and August 2008, Indonesia welcomed 4,069,474 visitors, an increase of 36.91% over the same period in 2007, which saw 2,972,394 visitors. Likewise, foreign visi¬tors to Jakarta also increased to 979,053, up from 754,023, or an increase of 29.84% year-on-year.
The five top markets for visitors to Jakarta were Asian countries, including Malay¬sia (15.94%), Singapore (9.12%), China (7.33%), Japan (7.18%) and the Republic of Korea (4.78%).
In general, the average occupancy rate (AOR) of star-rated hotels in Jakarta experienced a rise of 0.82% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ), with the 5-star category recording a positive growth of 14.94%. By contrast, the 3- and 4-star hotel categories registered a downturn in AOR of 6.07% and 3.59%, respectively, due mainly to the Moslem fasting seasons and school holidays.
Only 3-star hotels registered a negative growth in this quarter, falling by 15.76% from Rp336,746 to Rp283,684. By contrast, 4- and 5-star hotels recorded an ARR of Rp443,486 and Rp794,464, respectively, an increase of 0.70% and 9.24%, respectively.
Generally, since early 2008, the RevPAR has shown an upward trend. On average, the RevPAR grew by around 3.04% Q0Q, which indicates that the hotel market has stepped up steadily.
With growing confidence in the security issues in the country, Indonesia has plenty of poten¬tial to become one of the big five destinations for MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition) activity within the Asia Pacific region over the next five years. This should encourage the government to provide better infrastructure to welcome inbound tourists and train more human resources in the tourism industry. This action is necessary since Indonesia currently ranks 10 in the list of primary destinations for MICE activities in the Asia Pacific region.

Agar Istri Makin Bergairah

KETIKA menerima rangsangan seksual yang cukup, perempuan, seperti juga pria, akan mengalami suatu reaksi seksual. Reaksi seksual yang sempurna berlangsung dalam empat fase yang disebut siklus reaksi seksual, yaitu fase terangsang (excitement phase), fase datar (plateau phase), fase orgasme (orgasm phase), dan fase resolusi (resolution phase).

Pada setiap fase terjadi perubahan yang bersifat fisik dan psikis. Perubahan fisik dapat dirasakan, baik pada kelamin maupun pada bagian tubuh lain, tidak hanya oleh yang bersangkutan melainkan juga pasangannya. Demikian juga dengan perubahan yang bersifat psikis.

Perubahan yang terjadi selama siklus reaksi seksual ini dapat menjadi petunjuk pada fase mana pasangan berada, agar hubungan seksual dapat berlangsung dengan harmonis. Siklus reaksi seksual perempuan dan pria pada dasarnya sama, yaitu dimulai dengan adanya dorongan seksual yang semakin meningkat karena adanya rangsangan seksual dari luar. Maka terjadilah reaksi seksual dengan fase orgasme sebagai puncaknya.

Kalau kenyataannya hubungan suami-istri tidak berlangsung seperti itu, menurut Prof. Dr. Wimpi Pangkahila, Sp.And, dari Pusat Studi Andrologi dan Seksologi Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Udayana, bisa jadi mitos tentang seks dan perbedaan peran jenis kelamin yang menjadi penyebabnya. Dikatakan, sampai saat ini masih banyak orang yang beranggapan bahwa urusan seksual adalah urusan pria.

Masih banyak juga yang beranggapan bahwa perempuan atau istri hanyalah pihak yang pasif, yang menerima saja, dalam hal hubungan seksual. Bahkan banyak pria yang menganggap dan memperlakukan perempuan hanya sebagai objek seks.

“Mitos itu sangat berpengaruh negatif bagi fungsi seksual perempuan. Banyak perempuan yang menjadi lebih tertutup dalam menghadapi masalah seksual,” papar Prof. Wimpie.

Ditambahkan pula, setiap gangguan pada setiap fase siklus reaksi seksual dapat menimbulkan disfungsi seksual. Dari pengalaman di klinik menghadapi pasangan dengan masalah seksual, Prof. Wimpie melihat, tidak sedikit yang kemudian terungkap adanya masalah seksual pada pihak perempuan, walaupun semula pasangan itu datang karena masalah seksual pada pihak pria. Lebih dari itu, tidak jarang terjadi suami baru tahu kalau istrinya ternyata mengalami gangguan fungsi seksual karena mitos sesat yang diyakininya selama ini.
Makanya, buang jauh-jauh mitos sesat itu, dan nikmati semua fase dalam berhubungan suami-istri. Tisak perlu bangga kalau hanya bisa menikmati kepuasan sendiri.
Sumber: Lalang Ken Handita dari Harian umum Kompas