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Indonesia currently has 16 or more species on the verge of extinction. A further 30 are classified as endangered. On the critically endangered and endangered lists are the Sumatran tiger, the Bali starling, the Javanese wild dog, the orangutans of Kalimantan and Sumatra, the Sumatran gibbon and the Sumatran elephant. Some claim the number of Sumatran elephants remaining in the wild is around 1,500, while the more conservative believe 1,000 is more likely. A further 900 or so are found in Sumatra’s elephant camps; once known as elephant training centers, the camps are now called elephant conservation centers and are designed to save the species. However, these camps have become death camps for far too many elephants, according to elephant conservationist Nigel Mason of the Elephant Safari Park in Taro, Bali.
Like most people in Bali and travellers alike were disgusted with the development years back around Tanah Lot temple. There really is no need for this type of development that encroaches upon sacred ground and sacred places. It is unjustified greed. If any of you have recently visited Tanah Lot then you know what I mean. And now, developers have their eyes on the sacred temple of Pura Uluwatu. There are currently many development projects for new villas in the Bukit area in Jimbaran, including in the sacred area around Uluwatu shrine. This condition has triggered a public uproar with some of Bali’s noted intellectuals declaring the constructions illegal. But some locals and developers argue the constructions are legal because the developers acquired the necessary licenses from the Badung regent. There has to be a cut-off point as far as blatant development is concerned. It seems to me that this desecration of Bali will continue unless it is curbed and fast.
Waking to a glorious sunrise bursting over the ocean is one of those special moments and although reluctant to move on towards Singaraja along the north-east road, it was the adventurous side that took over and it was not long before we found ourselves driving along the road out of Tembok bathed in glorious sunshine and with some stunning mountain views on our left, and, the vast still sea to our right spread out like a rich blue carpet. The ride was a tad rough and having to avoid the potholes in the road and the trucks was no mean feat, however, once past Bondalem we found the smooth bitumen highway much more to our liking, well, at least out butts did!. What impressed me about this stretch of road were the surprising panoramas with each bend we engaged. Rocky outcrops jutted out into the sea, small bays where fishermen trolled for a meal and the constant brilliance of the never ending sea stretching to the horizon dotted with prahu’s coming into shore after a night’s fishing.
Although not a part of Indonesia, the province of Sabah in northern Borneo (Kalimantan) is still one of the most desired destinations for the adventurous traveller. Having only been there once and also to Sarawak, it is one place that I would highly recommend. If you are in Bali or Jakarta and wish to explore the neighbouring islands then good news is at hand. AirAsia has reaffirmed, officially, its direct flights to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah from Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia. Jakarta-Kota Kinabalu’s first flight commenced on 30 March 2008 and Bali-Kota Kinabalu’s had …
The foreign arrivals statistics for Indonesia are out courtesy of the Central Statistics Agency and they are showing a marked increase for the first quarter. Naturally, Bali remains the number one destination for travellers to Indonesia although arrivals from Europe are on the wane and this is probably due to the Indonesian Airlines ban imposed there. The quarterly statistics are great news for the country that is currently in their celebration year of Visit Indonesia, although I would liked to have seen more arrivals in the larger outlying islands like Sulawesi. It seems that most foreign tourists prefer the relative safety of Bali as compared to the larger Muslim dominated islands.
When you talk about pure luxury in a resort then you can’t go past the newly opened boutique property Anantara Resort in Seminyak. This place eclipses most of those flash places in Nusa Dua. Actually the resort was designed by Anthony Liu of the TonTon architectural firm, responsible for the Bale Resort in Nusa Dua. Located on absolute prime beachfront at the end of Jl. Abimanyu, the resort has 59 suites each with plasma screen TVs, contemporary Asian-inspired furniture, broadband internet connection and spacious baths. But it is more than just another resort. The Anantara has everything you would need without even having to leave the place unless of course you wanted to cruise around the area checking out the locals. Heck, you can do that from your balcony overlooking the beach.
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