Bali Coffee Exports Increase

Good news for the coffee industry of Bali as its coffee exports have risen by 80.93 percent in January to September 2012 alone. All in all, it has reached US$152,601 according to the Public Relations Chief of Bali Administration 1, Ketut Teneng.


Additionally, he said that commodities also were able to rise and reach US$484,344 during the same period in 2011. It even reached 8.02 tonnes.


The best thing about the coffee in Bali is that its natural taste is maintained because the farmers do not use pesticides or other chemical substances that are known to be hazardous to the lives of the consumers.


Right now, farmers only pick the ripe coffee beans which promote the delicious taste of Bali coffee.


"As of now, Bali`s coffee has reached Japan and France. Apart from meeting the international demands, coffee plantations act as a magnet for tourists,” said Ketut Teneng.


Last year alone, 30,029 hectares were covered in coffee plantations. About 10, 486 hectares of this is used for the production of Arabic coffee alone.


Last year, about 3,122 tonnes of coffee were produced last year.


So if you are in Bali and you want to try out something new, then you should try its famous Bali coffee while you sit and watch the sun rise or sun set from your room which is one of the villas Bali. Or you could also share an afternoon of coffee with your love one while basking in the ambiance on a rainy afternoon in any of the villas in Bali for rent.


So what are you waiting for? Book now your Bali accommodation and enjoy a vacation in Bali. Check out Bali Villa Holidays and see the variety of villas Bali that you can choose from.

Bali Mount Batur set to be main tourist destination

Mount Batur, one of the extremely active volcanoes in Indonesia located in Kintamani, will now become a major tourist destination after it was inscribed to the Global Geoparks Network (GNN) by UNESCO just last September 20. The Global Geoparks Network certificate for Mt. Batur was given during the 11th annual GNN meeting held in Arouca Geopark located in Portugal. This makes Mt. Batur the 89th member of the 90 GNN members all over the world.

Both the central and provincial governments have agreed to join their efforts in promoting Mount Btur.

There will be three main targets that the government will take note of, said Mari Elka Pangestu, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister. These are the implementation of conservation, education and income-generating efforts through developing community-based and ecotourism.

“Mt. Batur area could be designated as a destination for historical and cultural tourism, as well as medical and wellness tourism. It has a unique history and culture that could attract tourists. The area also has natural hot springs that are yet to be developed. We can combine natural resources with traditional medicines. That would be great,” Mari added.

Right now, Mount Batur is already a popular destination among tourists while they stay at any of the villas in Bali for rent or villas Bali. There are guided tours that visitors can take, as well as unguided tours.

There is a caldera in Mount Batur that contains a lake. It also has an inner caldera whose diameter measures 7.5 kilometers.

Despite the fact that Mt. Batur is an active volcano and may erupt anytime, tourists still continue to trek to the summit because of the panoramic view that it provides of Bali. They are just advised to be alert for temperature changes before they head for the summit.

300 Japanese Cherry Blossom Trees for Karangasem Regency Bali

The regency of Karangasem in Bali became a recipient of 300 Japanese “Sakura” cherry blossom trees from The Japan Sakura Exchange Association. Such cherry blossom trees will be planted in Rendang Village. It was presented to the regent of Karangasem, I Wayan Geredeg, by Mori Kazusika, chairman of The Japan Sakura Exchange Association.

In order to ensure that the cherry blossom trees will survive and thrive in Rendang Village, Japanese horticulturists made some modification to the trees to suit the soil and climatic conditions of the said place.

Coming from the genus Prunus Serrulata, commonly known as the Sakura, it will make a rich floral display of pink flowers that look more like pink clouds. Such display would last at an average of a week or more.

“The Karangasem people are grateful to receive this precious gift. I hope the relationship between Karangasem and Osaka will start on a strong footing,” said the regent.

When these trees reach their bloom, it would definitely be an added site to Bali for its tourists. Apart from the villas Bali and villas in Bali for rent, tourists may also await and see the beautiful display of pink clouds created by the cherry blossoms.

If you want to personally see these cherry blossoms, then book now your own villa from any of the villas in Bali for rent. By choosing Bali Villa Holidays, you will have access to quite a number of villas in Bali that will provide you that excellent and luxurious stay in Bali. You will be informed of the features and inclusions of your villa of choice. The site has price options and comparisons to make your searching experience fun-filled. You will also be guided with the things you can do while staying in the island of the gods. Plus, you can also get discounts if you book your villa with Bali Villa Holidays. Check out the website, www.balivillaholidays.com

Conrad Bali Appoints Australian Spa Specialist to head up the future development of its Jiwa Spa

Melanie James, Australian Spa and Wellness specialist, has been appointed by Conrad Bali, a luxury beachfront resort in Bali, to head its Jiwa Spa developments in the future. The Jiwa Spa is a 17-room rejuvenation destination in the island.

Ms. James carries with her an extensive experience and knowledge in spa operations, as well as commercial business management. She has also held positions in regional points in many industries.

The skills that Ms. James has may also be attributed partly to her having worked in a general manager position at the Golden Door Group which is the leading operator of health retreats and spas in Australia. Additionally, at Gaia Retreat and Spa, she was also spa operations manager.

Part of the responsibilities that Ms. James will have with her new job is creating a spa concept that is holistic.

According to Jean-Sebastien Kling, General Manager of Conrad Bali, "Melanie has a very good understanding of the Hilton Worldwide spa business and specializes in building businesses up to reach their full potential. This is exactly what Jiwa Spa requires as we continue to deliver individualized experiences to guests at Conrad Bali.”

Ms. James also holds the position of Regional Spa Operations Manager for Hilton Worldwide which will benefit Conrad Bali as it will be provided with an enhanced level of current base practices which comes from a larger and more experienced spa industry.

The pre-opening and launch of the first purpose-built eforea spa at Hilton in Australia was successfully managed by Ms. James.

Now, apart from the villas Bali and villas in Bali for rent that people would want to see while in Bali, the spa at the Conrad Bali will definitely attract clients and wellness enthusiasts. Thanks to the skills and talents of Ms. James, a better and more innovative spa experience awaits the tourists in Bali.

Japanese tourist numbers in Bali gradually increasing again

Villas Bali will surely be experiencing another influx of tourists, particularly Japanese tourists, because of the gradual increase of Japanese tourists to the island.


Though their numbers have gone lower since 2011, it has been reported by the Tourism Bali Agency that Japanese people are slowly but surely returning to Bali.


Lagging behind Australia and China, Japan comprises the third largest group of foreign visitors to come to Bali with a total of 6.61 percent out of more than 2 million people. However, compared to 2010 where about 246,495 Japanese people came, this went down to only 183,284 in 2011.


However, as revealed by Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu, Bali Tourism Agency Head, there has been an increase in the May to September period of 2012 in terms of the number of Japanese people coming to the island of Bali. They attribute the past decrease to the earthquake in Japan in 2011 and the global economic crisis.


They also pinpoint, as another factor of the decrease of Japanese tourist arrivals in Bali, the discontinuing of the direct flights from Japan to Bali. This has forced tourists to take a more expensive route to Jakarta first before heading for Bali.


According to Aswin Pranoto, Bali Hotel Public Relations Association Coordinator, he has indeed noticed a bigger number of Japanese tourists who usually stay for 3 to 4 nights in villas in Bali for rent in the Nusa Dua area.


Furthermore, according to I Nyoman Nuarta of the Bali Chapter of the Indonesian Tour Guide Association, Bali still remains to be a top choice of Japanese honeymooners.


With this, it is expected that the number of Japanese tourists to arrive in Bali will continue to rise and therefore make the villas Bali and villas in Bali for rent busier.

SAMAS stay on pedaling to support bike-to-school preference

Parents and teachers in Bali are keen to understand their role in nurturing and developing the bike-to-school preference of children. This is in the midst of the fact that more and more children in Bali prefer to go to school in motorcycles.

According to a parent-teacher, Made Darwi, the lifestyles of parents contribute to the inclination of a student to use either the bike or motorcycle to school. He said this at the SMP Sunari Loka junior high school in Kuta, during the campaign initiated by the Denpasar-based association of bicycle communities (SAMAS) which was attended by some 300 first grade junior high school students.

According to Made Darwi, there are 200 out of 1,200 students who ride the bicycle to go to school. And the primary reason for this is the influence of their headmaster who is engaged in the Sunari Loka Bicycle Community.

I Gusti Ngurah Wirata, an active member of the Denpasar-based Lelasan Berseri bicycle community, says “Cycling to school is not only for health or to save the environment. As a father, I see it as a way for my children to understand that things in life do not all come in an instant. There’s a process in everything”.

According to Endra Datta, Secretary of SAMAS, it is always a challenging work to continue to promote the bike-to-school campaign among junior high school students. Presently, they are putting efforts at strengthening the campaigns that are already instilled in schools like Sunari Loka. But the work is more difficult when they have to start the campaign in new schools.

In support of their cause, safety riding guidelines are also being disseminated by the police among high school students.

This campaign is a very nice one as it also helps save the environment. And now, Bali is not only just known for its Bali villa rentals and villas in Bali, but also for campaigns which promote safety and healthy environment.

Artists from three nations preparing for joint exhibit in Bali

Artists from Iran, Malaysia, and Indonesia are going to come together to Bali, Indonesia on April next year for a joint exhibition sponsored by the Malaysian-Iranian Art Society (MIAS). It is an organization built by two nations which have been known to have a rich culture since the beginning of time. It is aimed to promote the artists of these two nations through an exchange of art, performing arts, culture, music, dance, drama, poetry, sculpture, photography, and others.

There will be about 30 artists from the three countries who will be showcasing their artwork in the areas of painting, sculpture, calligraphic painting, illumination and photography. The theme for this year’s exhibition is culture and modernism.

Though no date has been announced yet, MIAS said in its website that the selected artworks will be displayed in a Kuala Lumpur gallery.


More about MIAS

MIAS is a budding organization which was established only in 2011 by some 50 Iranian and Malaysian artists who believe in the promotion of the arts. It was in June 25 last year when the organization began its activities particularly a joint exhibition of paintings entitled, Art Connexion.

It is using its influence to connect the audience from both Iran and Malaysia for the appreciation of the arts.

Though it is still in its infant stage, MIAS foresees itself to be publishing art books as well as art educational materials.

Right now, it is working together with ArtMalaysia for the organization of its art exhibits.

Given this upcoming activity, it is expected that the accommodation in Bali, primarily its Bali villa rentals and villas in Bali, will be filled again. So those who are interested to join or become an audience for the exhibited are encouraged to book their chosen villas in Bali to avoid the rush.

The Stones Hotel in Legian Bali

Bali’s wide collection of Bali villa rentals and hotel accommodations have once again been enhanced with the addition of region’s first “autograph collection hotel”, the Stones Hotel.

A 308-room hotel located at the Southern tip of Legian Beach, Bali, The Stones Hotel had finally opened its doors to a limited audience, with Indonesia’s tourism minister welcoming The Stones and expressing hope that with the new accommodations, there would be even more international travelers drawn to the resort island.

Offering you the perfect vantage point to experience all that Bali has to offer, The Stones Hotel showcases an iconic architectural design that is in perfect fusion with eclectic sophistication, resulting in a haven of elegance and style.  The Stones Hotel offers its guests 308 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites, dazzling vertical gardens, oversized pool, entertainment deck, spa, and three innovative restaurants, all of which are conveniently located on one of Bali's most popular beaches, the Kuta Beach which is just across the street.

With a reputation of having the “world’s largest presidential suite” that measures 650 square meters on each of its three levels, the highly exclusive suite showcases four spacious bedrooms, lounge and dining areas, an outdoor balcony, over-sized rainforest showers, Jacuzzis and a well-equipped library. In its outdoor area, there is a lap-sized pool overlooking the ocean, which is rounded out with a helipad.

Addressing the soft opening of the five-star hotel, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Mari Elka Pangestu expresses the government’s welcome, saying that they are thankful to the OSO Group for having the foresight to build a world-class hotel that would further elevate Bali’s image as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.

“I am the happiest person tonight because The Stones is now open as a green hotel, not only because of the trees around here but because this hotel can be a model for energy savings, given that even the lobby is designed so that it does not need an air conditioner,” said the minister.

The minister had also urged other hotels to follow The Stones’ environmentally conscience lead.

According to the founder of the OSO Group, Oesman Sapta, it is hoped by the group that this first autograph-collection hotel in the Asia-Pacific region would contribute significantly to Bali’s economy.

Now, with this newly opened hotel, along with the many villas Bali accommodation that Bali is also famous for, this would surely further boost the island’s economy as Mari had called the Stones Hotel facilities as an assemblage of excellence that would elevate Indonesia’s tourism charm.