Tuesday, October 31, 2006

THE 3rd JAKARTA MOTOR SHOW 11-19 November.

Repeating the success of the 2nd JAKARTA MOTOR SHOW, Dyandra Promosindo - leading professional exhibition organizer- held the 3rd JAKARTA MOTOR SHOW, the standard automotive exhibition in Indonesia as a tool for promoting and selling automotive product. The event held on November 11th " 19th, 2006 at Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta.

This automotive exhibition is an exhibition to open new opportunities of related automotive industries and to exhibit the latest development and either as a promotional event to show the role of automotive industries to the national economic development.

THE 3rd JAKARTA MOTOR SHOW participants are the Indonesian Car Sole agents, automotive industrialists and other supporting industries. This show will become an effective marketing communication for national automotive industry.

More information about this event, please see www.dyandra.com


Maluku holds Ambon Bay Festival 2006

Maluku Governor Karl Albert Ralahalu officially opened the first Ambon Bay Festival 2006 here on Wednesday, aimed at promoting tourism in the former sectarian conflict-torn province.

The festival was organized in the Ambon Bay area, featuring a number of Maluku art and cultural performances as well as traditional food.

"The event is aimed at promoting Maluku tourism to domestic and international tourists. We want also to inform the world that Maluku is now safe following the end of the sectarian conflict in 1999," the governor said.

Maluku whose more than 90 percent of its area is made up of waters is rich in marine ecosystem.

He expressed hope that the first festival ever held in the province could help attract businessmen to invest in marine-related projects, including marine tourist resorts.

Maluku waters is clear-blue, free of pollution and rich in marine flora and fauna, including beautiful and colorful coral reef and fish.

The festival which will last until November 17, will also be highlighted with various activities, such as a decorated boat competition.

Source: www.antara.co.id


Arts festival opens in Yogya

In an effort to revive the tourist sector following the devastating May 27 earthquake, the city will host a four-day international performing arts festival.

The chairman of the festival's organizing committee, Bambang Paningron, said the Asia Tri Festival already made stops in Korea and Japan in September this year.

Now it is making an appearance from Nov. 18-21 at the Kaliurang tourist resort, on the slopes of Mount Merapi. The name of the event is Asian Arts for Yogya's Recovery.

The Asia Tri Festival was started in 2005 by Indonesian, Japanese and Korean artists. The goal of the festival is to develop arts in Asia.

In addition to involving artists from the three countries, local residents will also participate in the event, including Mount Merapi caretaker Mbah Marijan, who is scheduled to open the festival.

On the festival's opening day, Japanese artist Yoko Nomura will present a musical piece, followed by a shadow puppet performance by Ki Dalang Seno Nugroho. A carnival and traditional performances will be featured Sunday, along with screenings of independent films and other performances.

Source: www.thejakartapost.com

Water park to make splash in Serpong

Jakartans may soon be able to plunge into the fun at the Ocean Park Water Adventure in the Bumi Serpong Damai housing complex in Serpong, Tangerang.

The management of the water park, "Southeast Asia's largest", say it will open to the public by the end of the year.

The Rp 80 billion park, which is located on a 3.5-hectare property next to the German Center on Jl. Raya Serpong, can accommodate 4,000 visitors a day.

Dhony Rahajoe, the general manager of corporate communications at PT BSD, said the water park would be far larger than Sunway Lagoon in Hong Kong, Genting Highlands in Malaysia or Wild Wild Wet in Singapore.

He said the park was child-friendly as it included areas for all ages. "Visitors are in for an unforgettable experience," he told The Jakarta Post. They can set off an adventure to explore the wreck of a pirate ship or the 500-meter-long Caribbean River.

But the breathtaking Pacific wave pond, which can generate 1.5-meter-high waves, is the park's main attraction.

Dozens of families from Greater Jakarta visited the park during the Idul Fitri holiday.
However, they were turned away at the gates because it has yet to open.

Workers have been patiently explaining to irate fun-seekers the park is still under construction.
"I was misled by media reports that said the park would be open in time for the Idul Fitri holiday," Adam Muchlis, who took his family to the park from Rangkasbitung in Lebak regency, told the Post.

Source: www.thejakartapost.com


'As, soo desu ka' - All Aboard the Wangnin Train

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

On Stage continues its program of international live performance of dance and music with a one-night presentation of Wangnin Bunmei at The Oriental Theatre in Legian at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2006.

Portrayed as "vibrant, crazy, offbeat and utterly unpredictable" - Wangnin Bunmei is one of Japan's leading contemporary dance troupes.

The dance performance scheduled for Bali will present a style of modern dance rarely seen locally that draws on the dancers' years of training in differing styles of dance ranging from jazz to Butoh. Choosing to either embrace or reject their training, the dancers provide an improvisational and spontaneous performance accompanied by musicians, similarly disinclined to be governed by any rules.

Truth in Advertising

Frankly, it's impossible to predict what the audience might expect in the Bali performance. Be certain that you're in store for a fresh and different performance, promising to be both lighthearted and joyous, as the dancers take their audience aboard the Wangnin Bunmei or Wangnin Train.

Be warned and read the conditions of carriage on your tickets: The Wangnin Train is not a real train. Only the people who believe in it can ride on it and its destination is in another world. Because nobody really ever returns from a journey on this train; nobody really knows where it goes!

All Aboard!

An excellent introduction to Japanese dance and culture on several levels, the program is considered suitable for all ages, celebrating spontaneity on stage.

This train departs ay 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2006 at The Oriental Theatre, just off Jalan Nakula in Legian.

Presented by On Stage

The single evening's performance of Wangnin Bunmei is presented by On Stage - a Bali-based organization that endeavors to celebrate the diversity of the universal human spirit via the regular cultural events in the form of dance, theatre, film and art exhibitions.

Source: www.balidiscovery.com

Blitz Megaplex with nine auditoriums

Bandung has been chosen as the first location for a new network of cinemas called Blitz Megaplex.

Boasting nine screens, Blitz Megaplex, launched its operation in Bandung last month with its first screening at Paris van Java Mall on Jl. Sukajadi.

The network management said that they would screen not only Hollywood box office hits but also non-Hollywood films such as Indonesian and Indian films.

"Let the public decide. We will not offer them only Hollywood films," Wendy Soeweno, Blitz marketing director, said.

The nine auditoriums have a capacity of between 250 to 350 seats each. While waiting for the film to start, the viewers can enjoy other facilities such as billiards, restaurants or the Internet center.

Blitz will expand its network of cinemas at Grand Indonesia in Jakarta with 11 auditoriums, with a total capacity of 3,200 seats.

Source: www.thejakartapost.com

Qatar Airways Set to Start Bali Operations in March 2007.

To celebrate 10 years of continuous operations Qatar Airways used the occasion of the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London this month to announce the addition of seven new destinations in 2007, bringing to 77 the total number of cities served by the Airline.

From Europe and Africa to Asia and, for the first time, North America, Qatar Airways will add seven key cities to its route network over the next 12 months. And the airline also confirmed it will take delivery of the first of 20 Boeing 777s next year to operate long haul routes from the carrier's Doha hub.

New Service to Bali

Nigeria's commercial centre of Lagos joins Qatar Airways' network from January 3, followed six days later by Dar Es Salaam, capital of Tanzania.

Qatar Airways will begin flying to the tropical island of Bali from the start of the Summer 2007 season in March, supporting its existing Indonesian operation where the airline already serves the capital, Jakarta.

And Vietnam is also on the horizon when Ho Chi Minh City is set to become yet another destination in Qatar Airways' Asian portfolio next March.

And, for the first time, a Qatar Airways aircraft will land in the United States with daily scheduled flights from Doha to New York, scheduled to begin in Summer 2007.

The US route will be operated non-stop with Qatar Airways' new state-of-the-art Airbus A340-600 aircraft, featuring a unique onboard First Class lounge. The airline was recently the launch customer of the High Gross Weight version of the aircraft, which is currently operating on the Doha " London Heathrow route.

In addition; Qatar Airways will fly to a new point in Northern Europe and, for the first time, in Eastern Europe, in the second half of 2007. Details of the two new European destinations are being finalized.

Addressing a press conference at World Travel Market in London, Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said 2007 would be a milestone year for the Doha-based airline.

"Back in 1994, Qatar Airways launched operations with just a handful of regional routes with a handful of aircraft," he said.

"The airline was re-launched in 1997 and, almost 10 years on, Qatar Airways now flies an international network covering 70 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian subcontinent and Far East.

Our fleet has grown sharply to 51 aircraft and we have simply gone from strength to strength carrying more than six million passengers a year representing annual growth averaging 35 per cent. We are well on target to more than double our fleet size to 110 aircraft by 2015."

Added Al Baker: "Our fleet, our destinations and our global network have grown with unprecedented proportions, which is simply the envy of our peers in the aviation industry."

Al Baker also announced that the airline planned to acquire 20 Boeing 777s with deliveries beginning at the end of 2007. With options for a further 20 Boeing 777s, these new aircraft " a mix of Extended Range, Long Range and Freighters " will be the backbone of Qatar Airways' long-haul, wide-body fleet and used on new routes across North America and Australasia.

Source: www.balidiscovery.com

Merapi abating on Tuesday morning

Mt. Merapi has been abating after spewing hot clouds to a distance of three kilomerters towards Gendol river on Monday night (Nov 20), it was reported here on Tuesday.

Heru, an official of the Mount Merapi Monitoring Post in Kaliurang area, Yogyakarta, said the volcano which is located between Yogyakarta`s district of Sleman and Central Java`s district of Magelang spewed the hot couds only at night.

"The volcano spewed hot clouds eight times, two of them occurring at 7.27 pm and 7.31 pm reaching a distance of three kilometers," Heru said, adding that Merapi`s peak was not visible on Tuesday morning because it was still covered by thick clouds.

Sleman district head Ibnu Subiyanto had earlier called on people living on the volcano`s slope to increase their awareness of the possibility of more hot clouds and floods of cold lava.

"Merapi is still in the status of alert, and we are still monitoring its development," Ibnu said.(*)

Source: www.antara.co.id

Bogor botanical garden reopened, foreign tourists arrive

Tens of European tourists arrived in Bogor botanical garden on Tuesday morning (11/21/06), one day after US President George W. Bush held talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at presidential palace which is next to the garden.

Some twenty Danish travelers were the first group of foreign holidaymakers who arrived in the botanical garden after the vast park was closed on Saturday.

The closure of the research center was made for the security of Bush`s visit on Monday.

The Danish tourists were clearly seen enjoying panorama of the botanical garden without fear of visiting the 80-hectare park, which is home to some 15,000 rare tropical plants.

Botanical garden`s spokesperson Sugiarti said here Tuesday her office officially reopened it for public on November 21.

Scores of security personnel were still guarding the garden when the European tourists arrived.

Some roads leading to the botanical garden, schools, markets, and kiosks were reopened Tuesday morning after being closed on the previous day.

Bush and his entourage including US First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma military airport on Monday at 3.30 p.m. using Air Force One and proceeded to Bogor aboard Sukorsky Black Hawk Marine One helicopter.

Bush left Indonesia for his country from Halim Perdanakusa military airport, north of Bogor, at 10.30 p.m. Monday

Source: www.antara.co.id

8th Jakarta International Jazz 2006

Jak Jazz 2006 will be carried out on 24-26 November 2006, at Istora Senayan Jakarta.

Many International and local jazz mucisian will joint together, such as: The Rippingtons, Eric Marienthal, Monday Michiru, Smoma, Kazumi Watanabe, Russ Freeman, Ernie Watts, Phill Perry, Shakatak, Tots Tolentino, Coco York, Bubi Chen, Ireng Maulana & Kiboud Maulana, Marina Xavier, Indra Lesmana, Seo Young Do, Trisum, Idang Rasjidi, Elfa's Bossas, Maliq N D'essentials, Jeremy Monteiro, Oele Pattiselanno, Belinda Moody, Buzz Bros, Benny Likumahua, Andien Tompi, Sova and many more ...

Ticket Box:
JakJazz (62-21) 5720417, 5704431;
Disc Tarra (62-21) 5847306, (62-21) 5847861; Duta Suara (62-21) 31925471, 3101011; Beats Music (62-21) 3157845; Aquarius Mahakam (62-21) 7208413; detik.com (62-21) 7944473; Ibu Dibyo (62-21) 31931178; rajakarcis.com (62-21) 8282137; wartajazz.com (62-21) 8310769, (62-274) 512561, Radio CNJ (62-21) 31909192.

Ticket:
Daily Rp 250.000,00
3-Days Multi Pass Rp 525.000,00
Daily Special Show Rp 100.000,00

In cooperation with Heineken, Hotel Sultan, MetroTV, Kompas, Enjoy Jakarta, jakjazz.com, djisamsoe.com and wartajazz.com.

INFO: IMPRO (62-21) 5720417 (4pm Onwards, Istora Senayan Jakarta)