In the new atmosphere of the new cycle state of authority and government under the President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono for the second round and the vise President Boediono has once again set an experienced Balinese man – Mr Jero Wacik as the Minister of Tourism and Culture.

Under the management of Mr Jero wacik, first part of five years has shown that Indonesia Tourism and Culture has been well managed and run very well. There was a positive growth on the amount of national income from this tourism sector and it is hoped that this second cycle will be better for social life in this country.

Among the achievement in last period there still some note of lack to be corrected or to be build on this new period. In the world of tourism, the most  significant and vibrate issue on the end first period of authority was the worst and complicatedness procedures of Visa on Arrival  (VOA) where it waste the time more than two hours for every visa application in Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport. In responding this bad system and procedures, many tourism activist and practitioners have got complaints direct travelers. We can understand to this complaint, as the travelers have spent long time flight from the country of origin plus additional extra time to wait more than two hours for visa applications upon arrival on the island. The same complaint has also been reported by the chief of Bali Tourism Board to local immigration authority for resetting visa application procedure in order.

The case of bad service on Visa on Arrival application is so serious and urgent to be noted as it is able to destroy the good image of Bali tourism or Indonesia in general which has been built from time to time. Any disappointment upon arrival will be able to set bad prints for the whole holiday in Bali, as the first impression will be the key for the whole. It is not impossible that it will influence the whole image of visitor if the world he or she coming is a world of disappointment. What a bad image for a one mismanaged-thing that should to happened.

On this second period of one hundred days of working the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jero Wacik is challenged with this issue of complicatedness of Immigration procedures at Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport. Does he able to make an effective and efficient shortcut of Bali Immigration procedures to rebuild the image of Bali as the most favorite destination in the world, where visitors will enjoy their holiday from the beginning moment of stepping the island at Ngurah Rai Bali International Airport. Shall the long queues  in front of immigration desk be shorten out where every visa applicant will not waste time in boredom for Visa on Arrival (VOA)?

This will not only rise inconveniences among the visitors but any inconveniences will also mean a step of loss the customers. What we can imagine if thousand of people a day in a long queue before the immigration desk bring the same bad feeling on Bali immigration formalities, then how long we may hope that tourism will steadily support for national and local economic growth? Of course, no body hope Bali tourism fall to a mis-imaging. We all hope to have Bali face on its origin as a tourist destination with smiling helpful people where the word “guest” to be the word refers most to whom is welcomed with smile and served with kind heart.

It is Bali the place where people always dreaming to come to, visit and spend for stay even only a night before die. A place of harmony between the living seen and the unseen, place of smiling people with high arts and the place where every body feel like their home-Place of  peace, Place of truth and honesty. The place where everything can be trusted that it runs in order and regulation of the most origin natural grand design and energy of life as every deed will be reworded with Karma of life – karma of dharma or a-dharma that will manage everyone’s life now and then.

Asp/27/10/09

The demand for private villa and personalized services is vastly and significantly growing in the world of tourism. On this last decade the need for private accommodation and personalized services in holiday on Bali seems to grow greater and greater vast to some customers from so many countries. Private accommodation and villa with personalized services is the way for this need with privacy. In responding this great demand of private accommodation a new movement and style has been growing to build private villas. Hotels and resorts those have run with specific concept did not want to lose the chance; every span hand of land was utilized to set up a private villa in the corner of the resort. And the property then move to be resort and villas.

Some get to build private villa with its pure private concept in the local village, from the slope of mountain, beach or on the top of hill. From the moment there is significant change in land price everywhere on the island even the dry and barren highland of Bukit Jimbaran which was unrated on property business.  So many private villas on almost whole part of the island were being built in this short decade. On the villa, every user is free to stay at their home with all private services available personally and free to wander and explore the island, all included.

It is acknowledged that most of the villas tried to set itself as the most perfect in services at least matching to the demand of privacy and personalize style of holiday.  It is also acknowledged that the style of private holiday accommodation  let the user to feel not just like away from home but feel coming home in Bali or feel like King and Queen on their Palace with so many additional complimentary services of spa or massage or one free tour services for value added.

This type of service is attractive and makes the holiday a most wonder moment for every travelers where someone will just sit back, relaxing and enjoy everything. This type of service has become so popular lately. A promise and guarantee for personalized services in the villas encourage a trend to spend a holiday in private villas and greater demand also need greater wave in development of villas around the island. Good match of traveler’s expectation with the services provided by every private villa is well supported by local government or other related board in stepping on the same path to good image of Bali as the most favorite destination in the world. And on the other side it directly or indirect will be valuable for local economic developments.

This great movement and trends for private villa property has also rise some side impacts and problems just like the problem of sub-ground water, constriction of agricultural land, population increase, Job vacancies with its social trouble and un-managed villa property growth  which is known locally as VILLA BODONG.

It has been real in before the eyes, in hunting for profit, some private villas have been built on the green line and forbidden are or it has been build hundreds of VILLA BODONG or illegally villa property and left a long controversy up to now. Other most important case to be highlighted is private villa with minimum standard service; on this speech we would like to highlight on villas with very poor standard security. Although all other services looked fascinating, it would be in vain if there is no any guarantee on security for every user. It must be openly acknowledge there are some villas on this grade. Some months ago, there were robbery happened onto guests in some villas in particular area on the island. Local police has reminded to the management to fix security system on the villas.

It is greatly suggested to every guest to check the security system of the villa prior to rental. It is one of the serious steps to pass. Travel agent or independent Villa Management will be the most fair in presenting information for guest in relation with some services or facilities of every villa before choosing. Now, Indonesia Travel Planer is standing between the owner of the property and the user, and Indonesia Travel Planer has committed to do up most for the best of every customers and learning from the villa management and the business record from time to time for it. On its widest knowledge and many years of experiences Indonesia Travel Planer has decided to list out only the luxury villa with maximum security system and guards beside other item of services and facilities to guarantee pleasant and comfortable holiday in Bali.

Be sure you are highly secured and safe staying in the villa of under the management of Indonesia Travel Planer.

Asp/27/10/09

Bali island has been so popular among the people in the world even among Indonesia locals as the most dreamt and favorite destination for both adventurers and those in need of a little relaxation. The waters off the coast of Bali’s white beaches are an ideal spot for diving, while the dense jungles, teeming well reserved for the home of the monkeys and carved in typical artistic temples, smiling people with the works of arts in many kinds; those call out and lure the visitors for exploration. Exploring the villages with authentic arts, the rice fields and the irrigation with its specific arts, hiking up the rugged path to the summit of Mount Batur with extra efforts to reach the paramount where you will be crowned with un expressed satisfaction to view wonderful panorama of Batur lakes a basin on a side of the volcano besides most parts of the island. Meet the people and local community of banjar with colorful festivals, cultural and religious celebrations.

When the pathway brings you so far in depths and hearth of the island and all the energies has been used so far, smiling people welcoming you to each point of your visit might deduct your tension and travel pressure. Luxury spas and relaxation massages those spread every where will let your tension.

An empty days of your holidays when you do not plan to go beyond the city, a choice for a relaxation with glasses of beer or other selected liquor to fix your emptiness in some cafes or pubs opened 24 hours for you to set your day with relaxation and enjoyments. Laying down and sun bathing on the white sandy beach of Kuta, Nusa Dua, Seminyak Jimbaran clean fishing beach or the new premier beaches of Dreamland,  Padang-Padang and Labuhan Sait. Dreamland, Padang-Padang and Labuan Sait were known as the most covered beaches for only weave-chasers but now become popular for many people for sunbathing. One thing interests the attention of Bali’s visitors is its amazing cliff and wonderful panorama. No wonder, world’s Oscar Award Winner – Julia Roberts choose these points as one of the ground setting of her new film “Eat, Pray, Love” besides Ubud art Village and Tegalalang rice field and some part of Bali among the grand settings of this cinema.

Without left the principle of Trihita Karana and the originality of Bali’s face the touch of the local government in managing tourism in Bali, it has set this island to be polished with many artificial attractions and improvement of local infrastructure Bali has been more and more attractive. In this last decade it seems to be drove great attention of the local from neighbor islands of Java, Sumatera, Kalimantan and Sulawesi (Celebes) to enjoy holiday in Bali. Domestic traveler has been growing and many hotels, villas and other types of accommodation are greatly filled up lately. In answering the growth of demand and the high tense of competitions among the local vendors, the people and the tourism practitioners realized very well than only best service will win the competition.

With soft influences of the western young style, there is also a change of life style of the local people in spending money for recreation and relaxation every weekend after having bustling days with pressures of works. There is no much distinction between local young in mingling with western traveler in the night clubs or cafes with the similar styles of spending and wasting the weekend night.

The greater demand the more entertainment and excitements choices to be provided in fixing the demands. Tourism business running well with various of services is made available now on the island. Thrive in managing tourism development in Bali, of course always run with the principle of quality and satisfaction above all. Tourism practitioners are struggling to win the competition on this business. Travel agents and tour operator provide more wide and various services, hotels and  villas set efforts to win the chance by providing best services of accommodation with  various additional services to make customers feel more and more easy for a holiday without making the wallet flat too much. Combination of accommodation with one or two complimentary service for special and value added of a choice.  Transportation company or car rental companies are also offers value added with additional or extension time or one or more extra destination to explore.  Villa Management and agents offer special package with additional and extra service to make the package attractive to every travelers. Travel Agents and Tour Operators is trying their best to offer various of promotion package with additional offers just like LUCKY WINNING or a free night in Bali with its special conditions.

Now Bali generally presents itself as more and more attractive destination with more choices of services to select with competitive offer of a holiday. All efforts aimed to fortify her position as the best tourist destination in the world.

Welcome to Bali and try its best!

Asp. 27/10/09

Step into the Paradise and explore its best for your unforgettable memory of life

You are invited to a new atmosphere, stepping onto the largest archipelago that bridging the continents of Asia and Australia. It is Indonesia – a diverse country of more than 17,508 islands and islets spread across a vast blue tropical ocean, inhabited by people with different ethnics, clans, tribe, culture, social style and religious background. The islands and the oceans surroundings are the richest treasure of exoticism, beauty and uniqueness which made up an unparalleled paradise in the world.

Atmasanta Travel & Tours – PT. Bhuwana Atmasanta Travel enthusiastically invites you to feel the atmosphere of this paradise; and proudly organizing land tours and oceanic cruises even sky tours for you to explore the exoticism and beauty of the archipelago. The target is on your hand to choose, we will be on your way to set you to become the member of those who have satisfied in experiencing the unforgettable moment exploring the exotic world.

Welcome to the Archipelago

BALI; THE ISLAND OF GODS

A friendly and remarkably artistic community; living amid breathtaking panoramas, have created a dynamic society with unique art and ceremony making Bali an island almost unreal in today hectic and changing world. Terraced rice fields dominated the landscape, with rivers and small irrigation streams a luscious green landscape filling the air with the enchanting sounds of running water.

Bali is divided by a string of impressive and authoritative volcanoes ruining almost through the center of the island. Mountains and particularly volcanoes are believed to be the home of the gods. Shrouded in mystery and magic, they stretch skywards in majestic splendor. Bali’s main volcano is the still active and sometimes explosive Gunung Agung which is considered sacred among local people as it is believed to be the center of the universe.

On its unique of natural beauties and socio cultural the island has been well developed for tourism where all facilities of accommodation, entertainment and other infra structures match to every tourism needs. Those make Bali be the most favorable place for holiday and leisure.- 4 days 3 night Package include transfer Airport – Hotel – Airport + daily Breakfast from USD 60.00 per person Twin sharing basis

BROMO CRATER & PENANJAKAN FOCUS VIEW OF AMAZING SUN RISE

Atmosfer Adventure Team invites you to have an unimaginable experience!

An overland trip from Bali to East Java; driving through Northern coast of the Island, catch the unforgettable experience and unique feature along the way through tobacco and sugar cane plantations, drive upwards and reaching the highest point of the island on Bromo – an active volcano where the rest of minority Javanese Hindus alive. A real adventure! Get on a 4wheel jeep early in the morning, driving through the mountain range to the highest top of the mountains. Feel your-self just like being ascended up to heaven from where you are viewing the earth on its real. It is Penanjakan, from where we are able to witness the amazing sunrise and the stunning view of the wide sandy ground, grand canyons and craters, group of mounts like Bromo, Batok, Widodaren, Kursi and also Semeru another Volcano on its background. Then, drive down to the ground, riding horse to cross desert over to the main Bromo to see the smoky crater of Bromo from the nearest point reached after having stepped up hundreds stairs. Wonderful Bromo, an unparalleled experience! – Price from USD 390/person 2Days 1Night + Return Transfer Deluxe Air conditioned car, Accommodation + Lunch and Dinner + English Speaking Guide

KOMODO – RINCA LIVE ABOARD

Ever dreamt of living in a Jurassic Park among the prehistoric vivid dragons? Atmosfer Team leads you right to the home of the Giant Prehistoric Komodo Dragon

Atmosfer Indonesia Tours invites you to track back to the almost unreal world on today’s hectic and changing world. Have a moderate height flight from Bali that appealing barren and stark group of islands just like dots of pearls in the tropical blue ocean. Touching down to the secured Flores island and start a discovery journey; have a serene floating night on boat and cruising to the world’s only preserved “Jurassic Park”, a unique biosphere of Rinca and Komodo Islands – the homes of the prehistoric survival dragon.– From USD 350/person 3 Days 2 Night live on Board with full board meals + return Air tickets Bali – Labuan Bajo – Bali

FLORES ISLAND – THREE COLOR LAKES OF KELIMUTU

An adventure to an island known as the island of the Flowers to Portuguese on the 14^th.century; it is Flores Island. An island rich with authentic natural beauties, colorful underwater world those named by the Portuguese traders as flowers, different cultural life among the tribes. The most remarkable is the three craters filled with three different color of water; the colored lakes of Kelimutu in the middle of the island. Good combination with Komodo island on the west tip of Flores Island.- From USD 750/person 6 Days 5 Nights include return tickets, Komodo tour + Full Board Meals.

TORAJA CULTURAL & HUMAN DESTINY

Tanah Toraja is a highland well-known for its panoramic view and the uniqueness of social life which is crystallized on local culture where the people enjoy one of Indonesia’s most confident and vivid cultures. Have a one hour fly from Bali and touching down in Hassanuddin Makassar Domestic Airport, driving through the scenic coast to Pare-Pare and then heading up through the mountainous area which is colored by amazing panorama at the Rantepao. From Rantepao trip can be made to Kete a traditional village where there is unique grave site on a hillside. Two cliff graves easy to reach are Lemo and Londa. Londa is one of the oldest hanging graves belonging to the nobility. A large balcony is filled with effigies of the dead. With kerosene lamp our guide can accompany you to enter and see the skeletons and old coffins. At Lemo burial chambers are out of the rock and several balconies filled with effigies look out while new caves are being dug to serve as family graves.

Although major of the people have now practicing Christianity, the old religion still be an integral part of Torajan life. The Torajan live up a life under a specific culture with strict laws rooted of Aluk Todolo, the way of the ancestors, which, at its most basic, divides the world into opposites associated with directions: north for gods, south for humanity, east for life, and west for death. Everywhere you’ll see extraordinary tongkonan and alang traditional houses and rice-barns, and the Torajan social calendar remains ringed with exuberant ceremonies involving pig and buffalo sacrifices. When your trip is coincided with local events, it will be a value added. ONLY US$ 550/PERSON TWIN SHARING BASIS

SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD – BOROBUDUR

A journey inland to the most secret heart of Java island to find out the ancient glory of Hindu and Buddhist by tracing through its temples and come across the mountain and highland to Dieng plateau, the oldest Hindu relics in Java. Borobudur, one of the Seven Wonders of the World is the most remarkable site to trace Indonesia’s past. Starts from Borobudur Buddhist world’s largest monument, get in touch on the atmosphere of Yogyakarta, to the Sultan palace, Javanese arts and crafts then traveling eastward to Prambanan Hindu temple, Solo (the oldest Javanese culture center) The reality of human life style will present to you a slice of the real Indonesian today. – From USD 275/person Includes Return Air Tickets Bali – Jogyakarta – Bali + Full day Tour + Lunch + Return Transfer in and out  Bali and Jogyakarta.

For further information, please contact

ATMASANTA TRAVEL & TOURS -  PT BHUWANA ATMASANTA TRAVEL
Jalan Tukad Pancoran No 39 Panjer – Denpasar – Bali – Indonesia 80227
Tel +62 361 8558856   |   Fax +62 361 256798  |  Mobile +62 81338999446
E-mail: atmasantatravel@gmail.com | atmosferindonesia@hotmail.com

Live-chat: atmasanta@live.com | atmosferindonesia@hotmail.com
Http://www.atmasantatravel.com

REBA FESTIVAL OF NGADHA TRIBE IN FLORES;
PRACTICES AND PHILOSOPHY

by Andreez Dhenameda- Travel Writer & Tour Organizer

Reba, a greatest day of Ngadha tribe where people express their admiration and gratitude to God through their ancestors for all lucky and successes that had been gained during the past year and on the same time Ngadha Tribes also beg and pray for guidance by which they could live with good fortune on the years to come. Guidance to manage their life for future that can be predicted and seen in signs shown through the hearth of sacrificed animals.

Reba is celebrated at the end of a year cycle and while beginning a new year. Reba is held from December to February in different schedule of every village (nua). But lately in the spirits of “in-culturation” the Catholic Church has found positive values of local teaching on Reba festival and the Catholic Church opens the festival with a holy mass (misa Reba) prior to every cultural stage of Reba. So community of Christian from some villages celebrating Reba together concentrating in one village and turns to other villages on the next Reba season. Bena Village the oldest village usually be the first to celebrate Reba on 27 December every year

GO SOUTHEAST TROPICAL PARADISE-SUMBA ISLAND

Traveling to Sumba is just like a track back to human’s past where you will step over a very traditional milieu and finding plain smile of the local people who inhabit the dry savannah island. To reach this destination we will have to take a 1,45 minutes flight southeastward from Bali. There are regular flight of domestic – state owned flight of Merpati Nusantara Airlines and some other commercial flight of Trans Nusa or Trigana Air or Pelita Air.

Sumba is one of the three main islands in East Nusa Tenggara province i.e Flores, Timor and Sumba itself; lies on the South East of Bali, West of Timor and South of Flores Island….

INDEPENDENT ADVENTURE

BALI – KOMODO – BAJAWA – KELIMUTU – MBAY – RIUNG

This is a record of our trip from Bali to Bajawa – Flores. I recorded this trip as a very special one as I did the trip on my free time of my holidays with Cen Cen. Not as my previous trips where I must took full responsibility on the convenience of the tourists who joining the tours, on this trip I just managed the trip for my own and my mate’s conveniences. We did the trip in our freedom…….

DOTS OF PEARLS FROM THE AIR

Not like many other previous trips those tied up with my strict and tight schedule of tourists traveling to Flores Island, last July 2008 I got a special moment to visit to Bajawa by my own time and program. On a free trip from Bali to Flores with my mate, she and I only made short discussion the decided what or where to go; just followed the nose and mind.

Flight over from Bali to Labuan Bajo on a moderate height of Indonesia Air Transport an airline

BAJAWA – A BOWL CITY OF CULTURE & TRADITIONS

by Andreez Dhenameda – Travel Writer & Tour Organizer

BAJAWA is small and quiet town surrounded by mountains in the middle of the Flores island. This mountain bowl city is the urban centre of Ngadha tribe and the capital of the Ngada regency. It is the highest (6,000 feet elevation from the sea level) and coolest town in Flores with population of 40,000. As Ngada is known as the most cultural town, although there are efforts of the local people to be modern in styles, on the other side Ngadha tribe is still strong grasp in their culture and tradition. There are also something interesting; most of people is strongly influenced by Christianity which was evangelized by Dutch Missionaries from the 18^th.century. Like many other tribes in Flores island, Ngadha tribe still practice their tradition and culture. Bajawa is a place where we can see a perfect match between Christianity and local cultures, a good cooperation between Catholic Church and local tradition and culture. This last decade, Catholic Church has been intensively working to find the roots and the meanings of social life of Ngadha Tribes those match to Christian teaching and “baptize” it. So Ngadha tribe is proud of being Christian in their cultural root. In this spirit of living in cultural atmosphere of Ngadha tribe, there was built duplications of Ngadhu on the gate in entering to the Missionary Centre (Sint Johannes Berkhmans in Mataloko)

KOMODO JURASSIC PARK

AND THE WORLD OF LAST DRAGON

By Atmosfer Indonesia Adventure Team

After having years of experiences in organizing adventures to the Komodo National Park besides daily researches and accompanying the scientists coming in Komodo island; Atmosfer Indonesia Tours caught a slice of knowledge that might be valuable to share to all people who interested to this World Heritage site and……

BALI, PARADISE IN HECTIC AND CHANGING WORLD

A friendly and remarkably artistic community, living amid breathtaking panoramas, have created a dynamic society with unique art and ceremony making Bali an island almost unreal in today hectic and changing world. Terraced rice fields dominated the landscape, with rivers and small irrigation streams a luscious green landscape filling the air with the enchanting sounds of running water.