The Recent Visit to Bali of Pencils for Kids, Inc.

Education, in whatever country or continent, is deemed very important for a bright future. It is luck for those whose parents can afford to send them to school and provide for more than what they need. However, how about those who do not have enough? What about those who cannot go to school because their parents cannot afford to buy them notebooks, pencils and paper? What happens to them?

The Pencils for Kids, Inc., is an organization based in Los Angeles that aims to help school children of developing countries have access to these materials and thus go to school in order to build their future. Along with organizations and corporate sponsors who believe in the cause, it helps transform a child one at a time.

For the past five years, Retta Jitner and some volunteers from America come to Bali every July to distribute uniforms and backpacks that are filled with school materials. Bill Vogel, Executive Advisor Board of Pencils for Kids, was able to join Jitner last July 1 to the island.

On their stay in the island, they were accommodated in one of the Bali villa rentals which is The Nusa Dua Beach Hotel and Spa. The following day, there were about 30 volunteers, coming from the hotel and from around the island, who helped stuff the backpacks with supplies from the US. The distribution was not limited to the children in the cities and major thoroughfares of the island. They took dirt trails and paved roads to the villages, crossed lakes and mountains, and even came around beaches.

And when the children were reached by the group, they offered the visitors special dances and songs, as well as greetings. There were also the teachers who were as happy as the kids for the privilege and the parents greeted the volunteers as the volunteers passed.

Though the villas in Bali may prove to be among the most beautiful and luxurious in the world, there are small children in far-flung areas that are waiting for help and opportunities. May this story touch the hearts of many and want to come and help the children of Bali instead of just coming for a vacation in one of the Bali villa rentals.

Bali Island to Host 13th Annual Conference of DCVMN

The 13th Annual General Meeting of Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN) is coming up on October 31 to November 2, 2012. And this year, it is the Indonesian vaccine-maker, Bio Farma, that will host the affair to be held in Bali, Indonesia.

The DCVMN is an organization among the developing countries’ vaccine manufacturers which aims to protect people against infectious diseases that affect the different parts of the world, as well as increase the availability and enhance the quality of these vaccines.

There is a total of 14 member countries with 37 vaccine-making organizations that come from these members. These countries include Bangladesh, Brazil, Argentina, India, Egypt, Indonesia, Cuba, China, Mexico, Republic of Korea, Iran, South Africa, Vietnam, and Thailand.

According to Bio Farma President Director Iskandar, it was established in Bandung in 1999, with Indonesia as one of its founding members. It has already contributed quite a number of milestones to the development of quality vaccines.

In the 13th general meeting, the objective is to increase the availability of vaccines and improve their quality wherein Bio Farma is the first president of the group. Furthermore, it is the network’s aim for this meeting to encourage and promote research works toward meeting the need for vaccines. They are also after producing and delivering high quality vaccines on a long-term basis.

Iskandar has also added that among the vaccine manufacturers in Indonesia, it is only Bio Farma that is striving to make itself the center for vaccine manufacturing research and becoming a partner of those companies from developing countries who want to do further research on the matter.

With this affair, it is expected that the Bali villa rentals and villas Bali will again be fully booked. Only this time, it is not only for vacationing but for a more socially relevant purpose.

The New favehotel in Bali Island

Bali’s development and infrastructure can no longer be stopped as more and more hotels and Bali villa rentals are rising in this famed island of the gods. Aston International, a hotel management chain in the Southeast Asia and is considered the second largest in Indonesia, will open its newest budget hotel collection in Indonesia. Aston which has entered the Southeast Asian market in the year 1997 will add to its 100 properties of resorts, hotels, and condos the 4th Aston International favehotel in Bali.

It will be located in the main transport artery of Bali, Jalan. It will be the fifteenth favehotel in Indonesia and will feature 160 rooms complete with TV sets mounted on walls, air conditioning system, Wifi connection, hotel facilities, bar, restaurant, and swimming pool. They also have an in-room massage service for those who want to be relaxed and feel rejuvenated.

“With more and more low-cost carriers offering lift into Bali and a growing Indonesian and regional middle class it makes perfect sense for us to offer several select service faves on the island. These hotels sell out often just days after they opened and are while inexpensive still up to the highest international standards and even outperform some four- and five-star hotels in areas such as beddings and Wi-Fi,” said Norbert Vas, vice president of sales and marketing of Aston International.

Favehotels have already been opened also in Umalas and Seminyak and will also open in Kuta Square, Legian, and Petitienget.

Indeed, such development will again add to the existing number of villas Bali that will cater to the ever-increasing tourist arrivals to the island. It can be said that Bali continues to be a trendsetter not only of hotels and resorts but of Bali villa rentals as well.

Melbourne Water International Kids Teaching Kids Conference 2012

In whatever culture, education is always referred to as the key to success. Moreover, it is considered as the key to a lasting project success especially in the way we manage our environment. With the current threats of climate change, indeed, education is the ultimate tool we have for teaching people the way to value our resources.

For the last twelve years, the International Kids Teaching Kids Conferences have been held around Australia. This, along with the Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids Conference, which has been held since the last five years, is engaging the young ones in how they see and perceive our seas, rivers, and catchments. They are also engaged as to how they see the management of these bodies of water.

The 2012 Melbourne Water Kids Teaching Kids Conference, which is in partnership with Melbourne Water and has been going on for the last 6 years, will bring the International Kids Teaching Kids Conference to Melbourne for the first time.

This event is useful and deemed among the solutions to the threats brought about not only by climate change but also of other environmental problems. It will bring together students in Melbourne, across Australia, as well as of the rest of the world, to discuss catchment issues and ideas. These students will be bringing with them their own local stories of their places on issues of environment. They have been preparing for this for months under the supervision of their expert mentors. Additionally, this will also be a venue for teachers and mentors to develop cross-state and cross-curriculum materials and processes for those who are interested in water education and environment protection.

Such a conference is going to be beneficial especially for those places which have huge bodies of water around them. Among these is Bali which is also a top tourist destination. There is a call for the preservation of these bodies of water especially that more and more tourists come to stay in Bali villa rentals and villas Bali every year. 

Bound Round: Travel Applications designed for children

With children not being consulted much of their opinions for traveling, a new series of travel guide apps have been created specifically for them.

This was the thought of Janeece Keller when she was on board her flight back to Sydney from London. She overheard a conversation between some children and their parents with the former complaining about the things they could do in Australia. This made her think about how to engage children in this type of activity.

Keller says that there are so many materials, books, and websites that guide parents who travel with children with what to do. However, there is barely anything for children. And since children now are growing fonder of playing with mum and dad’s smartphone or iPad, then, she thought about making the app.

Scheduled to be released in December, the first Bound Round destination guide will be released in Sydney to be followed in the Gold Coast, Canberra, Fiji, and Bali.

What’s more interesting about this app is that a board of directors has been created, composed of children, who will help in the creation of the said app.

"The idea is to take some of the pressure off parents by letting the kids discover through guides and games which are produced by local kids," said Keller.

Another feature of the app is that is can be utilized as an electronic travel journal wherein kids can share their adventures. Furthermore, there are information available on tourist destinations, opening hours of restaurants and boutiques, as well as discounts which are only made available for Bound Round customers.

The app has two versions. One is suitable for use of those aged 4-7 while the other is for those aged 8-12.

With this app, children will not only stay in any of the luxury villas in Bali or private villas in Bali as they will already be informed of the things they can enjoy on the island.

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival set to inspire

Writer come together this week as the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival commences in Bali. Writers from across the globe will settle in the Bali luxury villas and private villas in Bali in this mountain area of the island of the gods.

Started by Australian writer and chef, Janet de Neefe, some nine years ago, about 140 writers who come from 30 different countries have started arriving on the island to take part in this 4-day event.

According to de Neefe, the foremost reason she started this writers and readers festival in Ubud was to turn around the impacts of the Bali bombing ten years ago and make something worthwhile for the community.

About 2,000 literature enthusiasts have been attracted to this event. And because of its wide reach, it has even included programs for children not just in Bali but across the whole Indonesia.

Those who are confirmed to attend the said event include John Pilger, an author, journalist, and filmmaker; Nick Cave, a musician, Anna Funder, a novelist, and Jose Ramos Horta, president of East Timor.

It is the fervent hope of de Neefe that such a gathering of writers will also inspire and motivate a new breed of writers who will carry on the task of making inspiring stories and accounts.

"We take some of our authors and they engage with these literary communities, like in Aceh and Sulawesi and Ambon and Papua and all sorts of places,” said de Neefe.

Marcelo Romero conducts classes for children at the said festival. He acknowledges the amazing feeling of meeting children abroad.

He said, "Its amazing how it happens that you can actually help them realize that we are all human beings, that we are all people, that we have dreams and all that."

Bali survivor inspires artist Jana Vodesil-Baruffi

Jana Vodesil-Baruffi

When a person becomes a victim of any atrocity like the bombing in the beautiful island of Bali, he or she would naturally be feeling hopeless and confused as to what would happen next to his life. Such is what happened to Phil Britten, the bombing survivor of Bali.

But when he met with Jana Vodesil-Baruffi, an artist, he fascinated her with his ability to reinvent himself after the incident.

Vodesil-Baruffi thinks that if you become a victim of such a very horrible violence, you tend to become full of anger. For a while then, Britten was indeed confused about what to do with his life, considering all the scars he has on his body. However, after he met with his wife, Rebecca, he finally decided to do something worthwhile with the experience he had.

This realization had led to a fruitful painting with Vodesil-Baruffi with Britten exposing the scars on his back and arms, which he happens to be carrying with him for about 10 years since that fateful day, while carrying his very own son. Vodesil-Baruffi says it is something that reflects having a new life, a new start. She also added that this strength can be passed on to his son, Riley.

As to how the artist and Britten met, it was during the time when Vodesil-Baruffi met with Rebecca so she could paint her as part of her project, the Permanent Impressions, wherein she aims to paint 50 women whose contribution to WA matters.

Bali may have been the target of terrorist attacks ten years ago, but its government and people are doing everything they can to get back up from that bombing. And today, they have taken measures to a more secure island. And so now, they have the nicest Bali luxury villas, Bali villas resort, and private villas in Bali for everyone to experience.

Accor expands in Nusa Dua Bali

Even with the existing and numerous Bali luxury villas and Bali villas resort, more companies are investing in the famed island of the gods, Bali. In fact, Mercure hotel has expanded its properties in Nusa Dua with its stylish 201-room hotel.

Recently opened last September 23, 2012, it is very accessible to the Bali Tourism Development Complex, Bali International Convention Center as well as to the Bali Collection Shopping Mall. This means that guests who love to shop will definitely have the easiest and quickest access to the products and goods. Also, the new addition to the private villas in Bali is just a quick 14 kilometers from the Ngurah Rai Airport and just 25 minutes from Seminyak and Legian which are Bali’s liveliest areas.

This latest Mercure hotel is the latest addition to the unique and character hotels which can also be found in Nusa Dua, Sanur, and Kuta.

The hotel’s accommodation includes 201 well-appointed rooms, of which 150 are superior rooms. There are also 43 deluxe rooms while there 8 junior suites. It has a restaurant which serves delectable international and local cuisines for the guests to enjoy. A bar in the lobby and by the pool will serve the guests cool drinks. A swimming pool and a fitness center will keep the guests fit and busy during their stay.

It is not only for vacationers as conference rooms are also available for use. The capacity of such conference room is 200 which is also best for weddings and other special events for families and business associates. Included also is an internet corner where guests can still stay connected to the rest of the world while on vacation. There is also free wifi access everywhere in the hotel.

“We are very excited to join the network of Mercure hotels in Bali. The right location and contemporary design make this hotel an attractive destination for both business and leisure travelers looking for slice of paradise on Bali,” said Peter Stolk, General Manager of Mercure Bali Nusa Dua.

North Bali Island No Longer Part of Sail Indonesia

A slight change has been made to the itinerary of the Sail Indonesia 2012 Yachting Regatta. This year, Pantai Lovina which is located on Bali’s northern shore in the Buleleng Regency will no longer be included in the abovementioned yachting regatta. This is primarily because the contract to include Lovina had already ended last year.

“In addition to the expiration of the contract with Love Indonesia Foundation (Yayasan Cinta Indonesia) who operate the event, we have also not received an allocation to operate Sail Indonesia from the State Budget (APBN),” said the chief of the Culture and Tourism Office for Buleleng, Jro Ketut Warkadea.

This is after the Lovina Beach in Northern Bali had been a part of the ports-of-call for the Sail Indonesia yachting activity for the past three consecutive years. This is done by those who decide to have an extended visit to Indonesia.

In mid-October of this year, Yayasan Cinta Indonesia had been invited by Buleleng to operate Festival Lovina. This said festival is no ordinary one as it has received support from the Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy. The amount of Rp 100 million, or roughly US$10,500 from the said organization will be given the same amount by the Buleleng Regency’s budget.

The Sail Indonesia, an annual sailing rally, is now on its thirteenth year. It is during every middle of July when the rally begins in Darwin, Australia. It is the commencement of a three-month program that is composed of linked events in Indonesia. The participants will then be able to see the Bali luxury villas, Bali villas resort, and private villas in Bali, among others. The Indonesian Central Government, as well as the Local Government Centers, supports the said activity.