Fun in the Mud

BALI Zoo does it again with another first in elephant experiences. The new Elephant Mud Fun half-day package allows you to get down and dirty with their friendly Sumatran elephants while also discovering all about their behavior and lifestyle from experienced mahout handlers. 

You’ll learn interesting facts such as, it is very common to find elephants basking in mud during the summer months because their high body temperature generates a great deal of metabolic heat, and with no sweat glands to relieve their internal thermometers they rely on mud to stay cool and protect themselves from the heat of the sun because even though their hide looks tough, elephants can actually get sunburned.

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A City of Change

ONE of the world’s greatest megalopolises, Jakarta was named among the top ten fastest growing tourism cities in the world based on the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) 2017. #Jakarta has a rich, varied history, and is a city of exciting metamorphosis – with its bustling traffic, its strong affiliations to its own historical roots, and a hub of development in #Indonesia.

Now Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts is set to make its first debut in Jakarta. Opening mid of 2019, Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue is located in a mixed-used lifestyle mall complex. The hotel features 412 spacious guest rooms, six dining outlets, an executive lounge, the Pürovel Spa & Sport facility as well as the city’s largest event space of 3,044 square metres that can accommodate up to 3000 guests in its ballroom.

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Hotel news from around the world

THE Ritz-Carlton, Bali has been honored with a prestigious World Luxury Hotel Award. The acclaimed beachfront luxury resort in #Bali was named as the Best Family Resort in the Region at a gala event in Bali on 10th November 2018.

Established in 2006, The World Luxury Hotel Awards are the pinnacle of achievement in the high-end hotel market, offering international recognition to hotels around the globe, as voted for by guests, travelers and industry players. Over 300,000 international travelers make their selection each year.

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Changing the game with Eco-innovation

RAJA AMPAT in Indonesia is a dream destination for all divers thanks to its the rich marine life and Eco system. Raja Ampat is a marine protected area, however, like anywhere else in the world, dive operations and trips are using fuel powered speed boats, polluting and damaging the environment, one dive after another.

MahaRaja Eco Dive Lodge wants to change the game with Eco-innovation and is introducing electric dive boats, equipped with Torqeedo engines, for #diving and #snorkeling trips. Launched in March 2018, MahaRaja Eco Dive Lodge is the newest kid on the block in #RajaAmpat, with the vision of pioneering a new era of eco-tourism.

It offers an exclusive tropical holiday experience to their guests, all with appreciation, respect and care for the ocean, nature, people and life. Created by a group of friends, passionate about the ocean, nature, traveling and people. After falling in love with Raja Ampat, they changed their lives to create a place where they could share their passion with their guests and immerse them in a full eco-lifestyle on a private island.



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Vietjet sends aid

ON the evening of 28 September, a 7.5 magnitude #earthquake hit off the coast of #Sulawesi, triggering dozens of aftershocks and a tsunami that devastated the coastal areas of Palu and Donggala. Authorities estimated at least 1,300 people were killed and the death toll is expected to rise. Around 16,700 people have been displaced and 2.4 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.

In response to the devastating events that hit Indonesia, Vietjet kicked into action to provide aid relief for the earthquake and tsunami affected victims. A special flight VJ2611 themed “Love connection” landed in Jakarta (Indonesia) on the 4th October carrying nearly 7 tons of relief aid which included canned foods, blankets and basic necessities.

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Bali ready to welcome tourists

THE earthquake and aftershocks which recently hit Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara was also felt in some parts of #Bali. To date, the government of Indonesia through its central and regional disaster management agencies are still working on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the aftermath in Lombok. 

Efforts have been made to make sure that all tourists in Lombok and Bali are well taken care of. Lombok and Bali airports and seaports are operating normally as there were many tourists who decided to spend the rest of their vacation in the Island of the Gods. Bali with its unquestioned charms is more than ready to welcome tourists.


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Hotel and Resort News . . .

INTERCONTINENTAL Bali Resort is delighted to announce that it has been ranked number 2 as #FamilyHotel In Asia by Smart Travel Asia 2018. The Best In Travel Poll by smarttravelasia.com is a market research exercise that has run since 2004. Voters indicate their preferences for the best airlines, spa hotels, conference hotels and so on from an unlimited universe. 

The hotel categories cover thousands of options across Asia. InterContinental #Bali Resort was singled out for its extensive stretch of white sand beach overlooking the gentle waters of Jimbaran Bay. Another highlight for families is Planet Trekkers, a dedicated children’s facility, which has a strong environmental theme and offers age-appropriate pastimes and culturally-inspired activities within a nurturing clubhouse setting. 

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Dive, dive, dive

FEATURING dive destinations in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and the Maldives ZuBlu provides an easy-to-use platform allowing guests to discover new and exciting #dive destinations in #Asia. The website marries a powerful search tool with an exciting range of dive destinations, eco-friendly resorts and conservation experiences, putting the power of discovery and choice into the hands of ZuBlu’s guests.

ZuBlu ensures conservation and sustainability are at the heart of its business. Each resort listing displays an ‘at-a-glance’ summary of sustainable practices, as well as information about conservation activities. And as part of its commitment to the environment, ZuBlu donates a percentage of revenue to local conservation organisations.


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Traveller demand keeps animals in captivity

BALI is a popular travel destination, with more than a million Australian tourists visiting the island last year. But far from being an island paradise, a recent report paints a bleak picture of the conditions for captive wild animals. Elephant rides, dolphin swims, orangutan selfies and other attractions, such as circus-style shows, are increasingly popular tourist activities for many travellers to the island.

All tourism entertainment venues with captive elephants, tigers, dolphins or civet cats in #Bali, fail to meet the basic needs of wild animals in captivity, according to a new investigation undertaken by World Animal Protection. The Wildlife Abusement Parks report presents the results of an investigation into 26 wildlife tourism venues in Bali, Lombok and Gili Trawangan, housing 1,500 wild animals including elephants, dolphins and orangutans.
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Surfboards fly free

AIRASIA, Australia’s Official Airline of Surfing, has announced changes to its baggage policy as part of its partnership with Surfing Australia and state surfing bodies. From May 1, surfers from across Australia will be able to travel with their surfboard to and from surfing hot spots such as Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives, Japan and the Philippines, at no additional cost.

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Official recognition for Villa Air Bali

THE Australian-based hotel meta-search company HotelsCombined has started an extensive survey covering different types of accommodations within #Indonesia. The survey is based on gathering data from millions of guest reviews, and translating them to an official Recognition of Excellence.

 

Villa Air Bali boasts a high satisfaction rating among guests and travel industry experts, receiving 296 reviews for an impressive rating of 9.1 out of 10 - Villa Air Boutique Resort & Spa is a privately owned boutique resort situated in the heart of Bali’s fashionable Seminyak area.

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Picture Credit: pintrest

Boutique Bali

ANANTARA Vacation Club Legian Bali is a newly acquired boutique luxury resort featuring a selection of family-friendly accommodations with rooms ranging in size from studios to three-bedroom duplexes. 

Suited to a range of travellers, the spacious one, two and three-bedroom suites offer kitchens, separate living and dining areas and luxuriously appointed baths. The resort currently features a fitness centre, swimming pool, a refreshing spa and a spacious restaurant opposite the beach, making it an ideal destination for couples and families.

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Float down the aisle

WHY walk down the aisle when you can float? In its latest upgrade following completion of a two-year renovation, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay has launched new ocean-view water weddings including Bali’s longest overwater aisle, measuring 57 metres, or 187 feet.

The floating venues – launched as part of a new Ultimate Water Wedding Experience – maximise the Resort’s unrivalled views and exotic ambience. Located in a quiet corner of Jimbaran Bay, the all-villa beach retreat blends traditional Balinese architecture with chic sophistication and 14 hectares (35 acres) of tropical gardens cascading down to the turquoise ocean.

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Picture credit: Four SEasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay

Indonesia's most exotic destination

LOCATED in the furthest reaches of Indonesia's exotic far east, in West Papua, Raja Ampat is a series of islands famed for their remoteness, tropical beauty and unparalleled biological diversity. A big part of these island's allure is also the difficulty in getting there. It has always been just far enough out of reach to ensure that only well-heeled explorers, scientists or divers could go there. But times are changing. After the introduction of the archipelago’s first direct commercial flights in December 2016, it has become more convenient than ever to get there, and for lovers of remote adventures and tropical places, there may be no better place in Asia.

EXO Travel has two tours that streamline the process of getting there while highlighting the island’s incredible wonders. Our Stint in Raja Ampat (4 days, 3 nights) is the perfect add-on to tours in Java or Bali while our Raja Ampat Expedition is an immersive (7 days, 6 nights) journey by luxurious cruise boat through the island’s most spectacular offerings.

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Three Wins for Sheraton Resort in Bali

THE Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort has been named the Country Winner for Best Luxury Rooftop Hotel at the 2017 World Luxury Hotel Awards and also bagged 2 Regional awards : Luxury Ocean View Resort and Luxury Family Resort.

The resort is located right next to Beachwalk – a luxurious shopping destination, presenting over 200 retail outlets in an open-air style and designed architecture inspired by the design of Bali’s rice paddy field. The resort is also centrally located at the heart of Pantai Kuta and just five kilometers away from Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

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Celebrate Indonesian Independence with music

INDONESIAN composer Ananda Sukarlan and Australian Indigenous musician Djakapurra Munyarrun will perform together in Jakarta to celebrate the 72th anniversary of Indonesian Independence.

Taking its name from the Makassar term for Arnhem Land in northern Australia, the Voyage to Marege concert is inspired by the connections between the Yolngu people from North East Arnhem Land and the Bugis traders from Makassar.

The concert is a celebration of the deep bonds between #Australia and #Indonesia. It will be held on 31 August 2017 at Teater Jakarta, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Jakarta.

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International arrivals numbers surge in Indonesia

HEAD of Indonesia's National Statistics Board, Suharyanto, on 1 August confirmed that international arrivals to #Indonesia for Semester I (January through June 2017) has surged 22.4% reaching a total of 6.48 million visitors, up from the 5.29 million in 2016 year on year.

As for arrivals in June, this has jumped 31.6% reaching 1.13 million visitors, compared to 857,650 visitors in June 2016.

This impressive increase in arrivals is in no small measure due to the excellently coordinated and rapid development of new airports in major tourist destinations, expansion of runways, as at Labuan Bajo's Komodo airport and the Silangit airport by Lake Toba in North Sumatra.

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International Flower Festival : Indonesia

FROM August 7-12, the cool hilltown of Tomohon near Manado capital city of North Sulawesi will be covered in flowers with the staging of the annual Tomohon International Flower Festival 2017.

Highlight of the Festival is the Tournament of Flowers or also known as the Flower Parade that will take place along the major roads of Tomohon displaying resplendent decorated floats brought by the various districts of North Sulawesi, large corporations as well as other participating provinces from across #Indonesia, and from other countries. Last year participants included among others, China and Singapore.

For the 7th edition this year, the festival will take on the special theme of: “The 7 Wonders of Tomohon". These 7 Wonders will feature 7 natural wonders around Tomohon comprising 7 Mountains, 7 Lakes, and 7 Waterfalls.

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AccorHotels unveils Ibis Styles Makassar Sam Ratulangi

THE newest offering in Makassar, South Sulawesi is the recent opening of Ibis Styles Makassar Sam Ratulangi. Located in the heart of Makassar City, the hotel is only 20-minute drive to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport and 5-minute drive to the Central Business District and in close proximity to the city’s main tourist attractions.

The most alluring tourist destinations in Makassar rely on its beautiful coastal scenery. However there are many other places with both history and culture which are worth visiting. Here we have listed some popular tourist destinations in Makassar city.

Losari Beach
Rotterdam Fort
Taka Bonerate Marine Park
Tanjung Bira
Bantimurung National Park
Kodingareng Keke Island
Samalona Island
Tempe Lake
Malino highland
Trans Studio Makassar

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Picture Credit: By Davidelit - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36095673

Indonesia voted most popular dive destination

DIVE Magazine, world’s most prominent Scuba digital magazine, recently voted #Indonesia as The Most Popular #Dive #Destination 2017.

Here is their Top Ten Most Popular Dive Destinations 2017

1. Indonesia

2. Papua New Guinea

3. The Philippines

4. Mexico

5. Maldives

6. Australia

7. The Red Sea

8. Thailand

9. The Bahamas

10. Palau

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