The island of Bali is blessed with the line of beaches surrounding it.
Sanur.
On the southeastern side of Bali, Sanur beach is easily reachable from Denpasar, about a 5 to 10 minute drive. Sanur is an excellent site to watch the sun rises, as you jog along the white sandy beach. Being one of the first resort developed in Bali, Sanur maintains its traditions. Only a stone thrown away from the beach, ancient temples stand as solemn as they have been in centuries past.
Kuta and Legian
Practically on the opposite side of Sanur, the beaches of Kuta and Legian stretch on the southwestern side of Bali, again only about 5 to 10 minute drive from Denpasar or the airport. Surfing is a major activity in these beaches. Shops, Kecak dance performances, pubs, and other facilities make Kuta a tourist mecca.
Jimbaran
Jimbaran is directly south of the airport, on the way from Denpasar towards Nusa Dua. The village of Jimbaran is the narrow neck of the island of Bali, and thus it has two remarkably different beaches. On the west, Jimbaran Beach faces the Jimbaran Bay, recently lined by new luxurious resorts. On the east, the beach faces the body of water sheltered by Benoa Harbor.
Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is a new luxurious resort area where the world's most sumptuous hotels gracefully integrate into the beautiful white beaches. Crystal clear water provides excellent snorkeling and diving site, and the waves on the northern and the southern part of Nusa Dua allow for great surfing opportunity.
Soka Beach
Further northwest from Denpasar, on the way to Gilimanuk, the ferry port town that connects Bali and Java, there is a small quiet beach called Soka Beach.
Medewi Beach
Continuing along the path towards Gilimanuk, near the village of Pulukan, the beach of Medewi is another beautiful beach.
Lovina Beach
Near the northern tip of the island of Bali lies a stretch of villages by the Bali Sea. Lovina Beach is the name. It is well known as an excellent site for sunset watching, snorkeling, and diving. Night life activities are also abound, as well as chartered boats to go out into the sea. If you like what Kuta offers but do not like the crowd, Lovina Beach is for you.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
My Bollywood Bride Honeymoons in Houston
HOUSTON — My Bollywood Bride, starring Jason Lewis, Kashmera Shah, Gulshan Grover, Sanjay Suri and Neha Dubey with music by Anu Malik, opens at Bollywood Cinema 6 on Friday, June 8.
A familiar romantic comedy with an Indian twist, My Bollywood Bride revisits the age-old romantic formula: Boy meets, loses, and hopes to find girl. In this case, he’s a hunky blond Californian (Jason Lewis); she’s India’s top movie star (Kashmera Shah). With Lewis popular with Sex and the City, and Brothers and Sisters fans, and Shah wellknown in India, this upbeat movie with plenty of desi humor in situation and dialogue, will keep the audiences entertained from the very start and throughout its 94 minute playing time.
“A rollicking entertaining ride” says Variety.
My Bollywood Bride is the story of adventure novelist Alex’s (Lewis) whirlwind romance with comely Indian tourist Reena (Shah) that is suddenly and inexplicably cut short. After having spent several glorious days with Alex, Reena must return to India to look after her ailing father. She also must submit to an arranged marriage with the powerful, intimidating Bollywood movie producer Shekhar (Gulshan Grover), although she left her heart in California.
Desperate for an explanation at least, Alex heads for Mumbai, where, despite knowing only Reena’s fist name, he discovers her face on a billboard and tracks her to a film set. When he confronts her, she insists there are things he can’t understand concerning her Indian background. Reena asks her close friend and fellow actor Bobby (Sanjay Suri) to look after Alex and keep him away from her nosy parents and possessive fiance. There are predictably entertaining moments involving Alex, Reena’s parents and Shekhar, and some fine screwball riffs when Reena tries to hide Alex in her hotel suite. This genial, spirited comedy has enough going for it to make it well worth seeing.
My Bollywood Bride was directed by Rajeev Manoj Virani and co-produced by Houston’s own charismatic businessman Ashok Rao (his first movie venture). More recently, this award winning duo premiered their latest movie, The Whisperers, at the WorldFest Houston — 2007 International Film Festival. The Whisperers bagged prestigious prizes, including those for Best Editing and Best Suspense Thriller, at this festival.
A familiar romantic comedy with an Indian twist, My Bollywood Bride revisits the age-old romantic formula: Boy meets, loses, and hopes to find girl. In this case, he’s a hunky blond Californian (Jason Lewis); she’s India’s top movie star (Kashmera Shah). With Lewis popular with Sex and the City, and Brothers and Sisters fans, and Shah wellknown in India, this upbeat movie with plenty of desi humor in situation and dialogue, will keep the audiences entertained from the very start and throughout its 94 minute playing time.
“A rollicking entertaining ride” says Variety.
My Bollywood Bride is the story of adventure novelist Alex’s (Lewis) whirlwind romance with comely Indian tourist Reena (Shah) that is suddenly and inexplicably cut short. After having spent several glorious days with Alex, Reena must return to India to look after her ailing father. She also must submit to an arranged marriage with the powerful, intimidating Bollywood movie producer Shekhar (Gulshan Grover), although she left her heart in California.
Desperate for an explanation at least, Alex heads for Mumbai, where, despite knowing only Reena’s fist name, he discovers her face on a billboard and tracks her to a film set. When he confronts her, she insists there are things he can’t understand concerning her Indian background. Reena asks her close friend and fellow actor Bobby (Sanjay Suri) to look after Alex and keep him away from her nosy parents and possessive fiance. There are predictably entertaining moments involving Alex, Reena’s parents and Shekhar, and some fine screwball riffs when Reena tries to hide Alex in her hotel suite. This genial, spirited comedy has enough going for it to make it well worth seeing.
My Bollywood Bride was directed by Rajeev Manoj Virani and co-produced by Houston’s own charismatic businessman Ashok Rao (his first movie venture). More recently, this award winning duo premiered their latest movie, The Whisperers, at the WorldFest Houston — 2007 International Film Festival. The Whisperers bagged prestigious prizes, including those for Best Editing and Best Suspense Thriller, at this festival.
The Winners THK Tourism Awards Dikompetisikan ke Asia Pasifik
Bali Travel News, Media Pariwisata Grup Bali Post, sebagai penyelenggara kompetisi tahunan hotel ramah lingkungan dalam perspektif Tri Hita Karana (THK Tourism Awards) diberi kepercayaan oleh Departemen Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata RI memilih 10 hotel di Bali untuk diikutkan dalam kompetisi ASEAN Green Hotel Awards.
Salah satu persyaratan dan kriteria bagi Indonesia yang merupakan peserta aktif dalam ASEAN Task Force of Tourism Standards adalah hotel berwawasan lingkungan (green hotel standards). Dalam kaitan ini, setiap negera lingkup ASEAN maksimal bisa mengajukan 10 hotel untuk ikut kompetisi guna mendapatkan ASEAN Green Hotel Award.
Ketua Tim Penyelenggara THK Tourism Awards Berata Ashrama mengatakan bahwa pihaknya telah mengirim 10 hotel peserta aktif dan peraih THK Awards untuk ikut dalam kompetisi di tingkat ASEAN itu.
Untuk menentukan hotel-hotel di Bali yang layak diikutkan dalam kompetisi ASEAN Green Hotel Awards, menurut Pemimpin Umum Bali Travel News ini, adalah hotel yang secara berkesinambungan ikut dalam program THK Tourism Awards dan berhasil meraih penghargaan THK Awards.
Dengan diberikannya kepercayaan memilih 10 hotel di Bali untuk diikutkan dalam kompetisi di tingkat ASEAN menunjukkan semakin mantapnya pengakuan Pemerintah Pusat terhadap program Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards & Accreditations yang digelar tiap tahun di Bali sejak tahun 2000. Pengakuan serupa telah diterima juga dari Menteri Lingkungan Hidup RI, Ir, Rahmat Witoelar dan tokoh-tokoh nasional lainnya seperti Prof. Dr. Emil Salim. Bahkan pengakuan dari United Nation World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) dan PATA jauh sebelum itu sudah diberikan kepada THK Tourism Awards. Ini terbukti dengan kehadiran langsung Direktur UN-WTO Asia Pasifik Mr. Xu Jing dalam acara puncak penganugerahan THK Tourism Awards 2004 di Bali. “Kenyataan ini membuktikan bahwa kompetisi dan akreditasi tahunan THK Tourism Awards sudah mendunia”, kata Berata Ashrama, yang alumni pascasarjana Universitas Udayana dan Lemhanas RI itu.
Ketika ditanya pengakuan dan kontribusi Pemerintah Propinsi dan Kabupaten/Kota se-Bali, Berata Ashrama dengan nada kecewa berkata, “Pengakauan, kepercayaan, dan kontribusi itulah yang terus-menerus kami perjuangakan. Hasilnya ya, terus-terang masih jauh dari harapan. Apa boleh buat karena orang Bali memang agak meboyo (cenderung kurang mengagumi miliknya ketimbang milik orang lain)”, ujarnya.
Hotel-hotel mana saja yang diusulkan oleh tim THK ke ASEAN Green Hotel Awards? Mantan Redaktur Pelaksana Bali Post ini kelihatannya enggan membeberkannya. “Pokoknya hotel-hotel berbintang dan boutique resort yang memenuhi standardisasi Tri Hita Karana”, jawabnya singkat. (BTN/013)
Salah satu persyaratan dan kriteria bagi Indonesia yang merupakan peserta aktif dalam ASEAN Task Force of Tourism Standards adalah hotel berwawasan lingkungan (green hotel standards). Dalam kaitan ini, setiap negera lingkup ASEAN maksimal bisa mengajukan 10 hotel untuk ikut kompetisi guna mendapatkan ASEAN Green Hotel Award.
Ketua Tim Penyelenggara THK Tourism Awards Berata Ashrama mengatakan bahwa pihaknya telah mengirim 10 hotel peserta aktif dan peraih THK Awards untuk ikut dalam kompetisi di tingkat ASEAN itu.
Untuk menentukan hotel-hotel di Bali yang layak diikutkan dalam kompetisi ASEAN Green Hotel Awards, menurut Pemimpin Umum Bali Travel News ini, adalah hotel yang secara berkesinambungan ikut dalam program THK Tourism Awards dan berhasil meraih penghargaan THK Awards.
Dengan diberikannya kepercayaan memilih 10 hotel di Bali untuk diikutkan dalam kompetisi di tingkat ASEAN menunjukkan semakin mantapnya pengakuan Pemerintah Pusat terhadap program Tri Hita Karana Tourism Awards & Accreditations yang digelar tiap tahun di Bali sejak tahun 2000. Pengakuan serupa telah diterima juga dari Menteri Lingkungan Hidup RI, Ir, Rahmat Witoelar dan tokoh-tokoh nasional lainnya seperti Prof. Dr. Emil Salim. Bahkan pengakuan dari United Nation World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) dan PATA jauh sebelum itu sudah diberikan kepada THK Tourism Awards. Ini terbukti dengan kehadiran langsung Direktur UN-WTO Asia Pasifik Mr. Xu Jing dalam acara puncak penganugerahan THK Tourism Awards 2004 di Bali. “Kenyataan ini membuktikan bahwa kompetisi dan akreditasi tahunan THK Tourism Awards sudah mendunia”, kata Berata Ashrama, yang alumni pascasarjana Universitas Udayana dan Lemhanas RI itu.
Ketika ditanya pengakuan dan kontribusi Pemerintah Propinsi dan Kabupaten/Kota se-Bali, Berata Ashrama dengan nada kecewa berkata, “Pengakauan, kepercayaan, dan kontribusi itulah yang terus-menerus kami perjuangakan. Hasilnya ya, terus-terang masih jauh dari harapan. Apa boleh buat karena orang Bali memang agak meboyo (cenderung kurang mengagumi miliknya ketimbang milik orang lain)”, ujarnya.
Hotel-hotel mana saja yang diusulkan oleh tim THK ke ASEAN Green Hotel Awards? Mantan Redaktur Pelaksana Bali Post ini kelihatannya enggan membeberkannya. “Pokoknya hotel-hotel berbintang dan boutique resort yang memenuhi standardisasi Tri Hita Karana”, jawabnya singkat. (BTN/013)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Amadeus appoints VP for Corporate Marketing & Communications for Asia Pacific Region
Amadeus has appointed Mr Karun Budhraja as Vice President, Corporate Marketing & Communications for Asia Pacific.
Karun will be based in Bangkok and will take up this appointment in mid August 2007. He will be responsible for all communication and marketing activities for the region, including media and public relations activities, events, internal communications, advertising, and marketing programs.
With more than 17 years experience in marketing and corporate communications, Karun started his career in the travel industry with the GSA of Thai Airways in India. He subsequently worked for Air France (India) for 10 years in various positions, including that of Marketing & Corporate Communications Manager.
Karun joined Amadeus India in 2001 as the Senior Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager Indian Subcontinent, based in Delhi. During this period, Karun successfully established the company as a market leader in media and public relations circles. His efforts received further recognition when he was awarded the Excellence Award in Marketing from Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in 2003.
Concurrently, Karun was also Head of Marketing Communication for all the business verticals of the Bird Group – parent company of Amadeus India. He was responsible for communications activities involving aviation, hospitality, education, IT enabled services and consulting, and for building the Bird Group brand in India.
David Brett, President, Amadeus Asia Pacific said, “Karun’s achievements in India and the subcontinent comprising Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been outstanding. Through his efforts, Karun successfully established Amadeus as an Industry leader with the media and key industry stakeholders. The marketing communication initiatives he introduced helped Amadeus to grow into a very successful brand in India, and we are confident that he will be able to further expand Amadeus’ presence in Asia Pacific.”
Hyatt International To Operate Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Hyatt International (EAME) LLC and Sozidanije LLC have announced that Hyatt has signed a preliminary agreement to operate the new 221-room Hyatt Regency Dushanbe. The hotel will be Hyatt's first property in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan.
Located in the city centre, on the grounds of City Park and adjacent to Lake Komsomol, Hyatt Regency Dushanbe has been designed by renowned architects NBBJ of Seattle in conjunction with HAS Architects Ltd. of Istanbul. In keeping with the Hyatt Regency concept and together with the internationally acclaimed Interior Designer BBGM (Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors), the hotel will reflect the city's flavour in the design of the 221 generously sized rooms and suites. In addition, all rooms will offer the latest contemporary requirements of modern business and leisure travellers. For added privacy the hotel will offer Regency Club accommodation, providing the executive traveller with private access to a boardroom and the Regency Club lounge.
Hyatt Regency Dushanbe will include over 1,400 square metres of conference and banqueting space, suitable for accommodating a large variety of meeting requirements, from discrete board meetings to large banquets and State functions. The hotel will also feature a variety of food & beverage outlets including one restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar. Other facilities will include an extensive Spa, Health and Fitness Centre, pool and car parking space.
Located in the city centre, on the grounds of City Park and adjacent to Lake Komsomol, Hyatt Regency Dushanbe has been designed by renowned architects NBBJ of Seattle in conjunction with HAS Architects Ltd. of Istanbul. In keeping with the Hyatt Regency concept and together with the internationally acclaimed Interior Designer BBGM (Brennan Beer Gorman Monk Interiors), the hotel will reflect the city's flavour in the design of the 221 generously sized rooms and suites. In addition, all rooms will offer the latest contemporary requirements of modern business and leisure travellers. For added privacy the hotel will offer Regency Club accommodation, providing the executive traveller with private access to a boardroom and the Regency Club lounge.
Hyatt Regency Dushanbe will include over 1,400 square metres of conference and banqueting space, suitable for accommodating a large variety of meeting requirements, from discrete board meetings to large banquets and State functions. The hotel will also feature a variety of food & beverage outlets including one restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar. Other facilities will include an extensive Spa, Health and Fitness Centre, pool and car parking space.
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