What's for the Coming Year?

For a couple days leave, we will close this year, so what's plan for the coming year? Did one of them will be visiting Indonesia? if not which country will go?

What's your music?

When you in long journey, what's best gadget you bring? what's songs you like to accompany your journey and please mention what's the title of it? Did that songs have meaning to you? Did you have memories on it? if yes, what it is?

Indonesia, why was called the country with a thousand islands?

I read from the book that Indonesia, is an island country, and was reputed as "a country with a thousand islands". That's amazing!

Tourists inaugurated as Bali's `kings, queens'

KING FOR A DAY: Jules and Ritie Toelanie from the Netherland (far left)smile while they wait for their turn to deliver their comments about Bali in the front of judges at the Kuta Carnival, on Wednesday. The couple were among 12 foreign tourists competing to fo the titles of Bali "king" and "queen". (JP/Dicky Christianto) As many as 12 tourists had crowning moments when they were inaugurated as Baliandduring an event organized as part of the Kuta Carnival on Wednesday. Wearing Balinese traditional attire, the tourists were crowned and warmly welcomed as kings and queens after presenting their comments about the resort island on stage at the Kuta Carnival compound. On stage, the tourists were asked to honor the Balinese people before making their speeches. Each of them was given around five minutes to perform. After each performance, a group of judges commented on the candidate's appearance and their speeches. "I just love Bali and the Balinese. That is why I keep coming to this place. For me, you never have a bad day because you always throw your best smile at us," Hans Barkmeijer of the Netherlands said on stage. It was Barkmeijer third visit to Bali and yet he said the island and its people never failed to mesmerize him. Natasha, an Australian tourist, said she admired the island's beautiful scenery and the Balinese's culture. "The rather short distance between here and Australia has made me want to visit this place from time to time," said Natasha, who, with her friends, had stayed for three weeks on the resort island. Before performing, the nominees surrendered to a painstaking process of professional makeup application, which lasted for at least three hours. The tourists actually sacrificed a lot as they dressed in the scorching heat and annoying humidity. Most of the candidates were registered by the hotels they were staying at. Some voluntarily registered a few hours before the contest begun. I Made Supatra Karang, one of the judges, said that contest was a gesture to welcome the tourists choosing to visit the island. "We want to treat them more than just the usual tourists. This is what the festival is all about, to warmly welcome them,"he said. Featuring 33 activities varying from culinary exhibitions to a traditional wrestling competition, this year Kuta Carnival was organized for tourists to enjoy their stay just that little bit more. The carnival, which kicked off last Saturday, will last until Oct. 26, 2008. The judges announced their favorite king and queen. "We make our choice based on the performance and candidates' comments on stage," he told The Jakarta Post. Jules Toelanie from the Netherlands was crowned this year's Carnival king and Ashley Greavef from Auatralia, Carnival queen. "All that matters for me is enjoying the vacation," Jules said. Jules Toelanie, who came to Bali with his wife Ritie, said Bali provided them with a memorable holiday and inspiration. "My wife Ritie is a painter and she is the one who is able to capture the inspiration the most while we stay here," Jules said. "Dozens of paintings about Bali and its sceneries have been created and right now are stored safely in our house,"Ritie added. Ritie said she was never bored on the island because she found new inspiration every visit.

Jakarta When Idul Fitri Came

Indonesia is a world largest muslim country, 90 % people in here are muslim. They live in all over Indonesia, and the biggest muslim populations live in Java Island. Jakarta as a home for over twenty million people, they made Jakarta as the country's overgrown and polluted. Even populations in here not only muslim, there are also substantial populations of Christians, Hindu, Budha and animists whose forms of worship, customs and lifestyles influencing each other. So when Ramadhan finnish, they celebrated Idul Fitri with holiday for one week together. For celebrated Idul Fitri or 'Lebaran', muslim people from other region outside jakarta who live and have work in Jakarta always doing tradition to go to their hometown 'pulang kampung' also for people who came from another religious, they always used Lebaran holiday for vacation. And during they do this tradition made Jakarta so lonely, this city change like silent city. No Traffic jam 'macet',the air in jakarta sky more clean and more peace. Is that mean Jakarta already lost the identity as overweight and polluted capital??? So guys, have you been in Jakarta when Idul Fitri came?? If yes, what you think? Did you like it or you feel something missing in Jakarta?

Nassi Padang...

It was nice having Nassi Padang in those little corner shops! Jakarta is also such a nice place to visit as it has loads of shopping malls and loads of entertaining things to offer.

Indonesia Safe for Tourist

Does anyone there visit Indonesia recently, did you feel safe in everywhere you go there? how about local people, are they help you if you got trouble? Lets tell us your story.