Happy New Year 2011- Making a resolution??

From all of us at Balifornian, may your new year be the best one yet.  Have a safe and fun New Years Eve.

Making a resolution?  Check out our health and wellness retreats.  Learn to eat healthy, stay active and reconnect with yourself all while touring amazing Bali.  We will visit temples and sacred sites while learning about the culture and arts of traditional Bali.  Of course there will be plenty of time just relaxing on the beach, poolside and getting massages and spa treatments.  Other possibilities include yoga, painting classes, shopping excursions, meeting with healers, cooking classes, museums, learning about specific cultural aspects that interest you, etc.  The itinerary is really up to you.  With your input we will help you design a tour that fulfills your passions, interests and sense of adventure, all the while in luxurious setting.  Learn more about our tours at

http://www.balifornian.com

and

http://www.balifornian.com/destinations

All the best to you and your family,

Maryam and Michael

Bali catamaran on Gili Air, Lombok

Balifornian Tours and Travel Blog Photos of the Day 12/30/10

A couple camels from a recent Bali tour that included the island of Java.

Balifornian Tours Bogor-Jakarta, Java, Indonesia 2010.

Want to submit your photo for the Bali Tour Photo of the Day?  Please send your JPEG and description to photo@balifornian.com  Files must be under 500 kb.

Tips for responsible Eco-tourism Travel

10 Tips to Responsible Travel

 by Kathy Gerhardt 

When simple actions – such as recycling, conserving water, and turning off the lights when you leave a room – help in making a difference for our environment, there is no reason one’s eco-friendly ways need to “take a vacation” when an individual or family goes on vacation.

As more Americans seek to incorporate environmentally-conscious practices into their travels the phrase ‘Take only pictures. Leave only footprints,’ certainly applies to eco-tourism and environmentally aware travel.  The following are a few tips from fellow travelers and travel agents that will help you incorporate eco-tourism into your future trip.

5 Eco-Tourism Tips:

1. “Pack bio-degradable toiletries. The ground water you may be contaminating is not your own.”  (L. Mobley, Florence, OR)
2. “Reuse your water bottles while on vacation – wash them out and refill them.  Also, ask hotels not to change towels and sheets while you are there.  Let’s be honest, people do not use a new towel or change their sheets daily while at home.” (K. Beaudoin, Woonsocket, RI) 
3. “Remove all excess packaging on items you are packing as disposing of waste is difficult in remote places and developing countries. Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods or ancient artifacts. Also, use water sparingly – it’s very precious in many countries and tourists tend to use far more than local people.” (D. Michael, High Point, NC) 
4. “The easiest way to be sure that your hotel has ‘gone green’ is to check for LEED certification or Green Seal Certification. Participation in these programs is no longer limited to smaller boutique hotels. Some examples of hotel chains making the commitment to provide greener lodging include Starwood’s Element hotels, which have made a brand-wide commitment, and Marriott, which has promised to have 300 of their 3,300 properties LEED certified within five years. Your travel professional should be able to help you locate a ‘hotel with a conscience.’” (C. DiSaia, Woonsocket, RI) 
5. “Understand that a ‘green’ travel experience may not be a less expensive trip.  Many ‘ecology aware’ experiences are also a bit of an adventure.  In fact, you may pay more to sleep in a pup tent in the snow in Antarctica and carry your waste out with you.  The eco lodge in Australia may not have pretty, individually packaged soaps and the towels and sheets may not be changed every day, but it offers incredible views.  The eco lodge in Tikal had running water two hours a day and I leapt out of the pool when a jaguar came up to drink from that same pool.  You are paying for a memorable and, at times, exclusive experience.  You are not paying for room service and high priced amenities, though on occasion you may find they have that and more.”  (M. West, Marysville, WA) 

A complement to the concept of eco-tourism is the growing acknowledgement of environmentally aware travel or responsible travel as it is better known.   Environmentally aware travel is about more authentic vacation experiences that enable you to get more out of your travels, and it gives more back to the destinations and local people you encounter. This can and often should go hand-in-hand with eco-tourism.

5 Tips for “Environmentally Aware Travel”:

1. Ask your travel professional whether there are local conservation or social projects that you could visit on your trip, and if/how you could help support them.
2. Hire a local guide – you’ll discover more about local culture and lives, and they will earn an income.
3. To support the local economy, buy local products rather than imported goods; for example ask if there is a local cooperative that makes traditional gifts and mementos.
4. Always avoid exploitation. A simple example is to ask permission when taking photographs of local people. Also, as travelers, we are perceived as rich.  Be generous in a constructive way by promoting the local economy.  Avoid and denounce exploitation of local people.
5. Leave a good impression. A positive experience with locals will pave the way for those coming after you. 

Editor’s Note: Do you have a responsible travel tip?  Share it with your fellow travelers in the comment section below.

Kathy Gerhardt is a Sr. Public Relations Specialist at Travel Leaders, one of America’s top ten-ranked travel companies.

• Tags: Eco-tourism, ecotourism, Environmental Aware Travel,Responsible / Sustainable Travel

Topics: Responsible / Sustainable Travel, Travel Tips

Indonesia will be a world leader in clean energy

Nusa Dua, Bali
The Bali Times

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pledged on Monday to make Indonesia the world’s biggest user of clean, renewable geothermal energy, and urged private investors to back him.

The archipelago of 234 million people and more than 200 volcanoes is estimated to possess around 40 percent of the world’s geothermal energy potential, or around 28,000 megawatts.

It already has plans to double its geothermal energy output but analysts say the high costs associated with converting underground heat into electricity is an obstacle to investment.

After the United States with close to 4,000 megawatts and the Philippines utilising approximately 2,000 megawatts, Indonesia is currently only using 1,100 megawatts [of geothermal energy].”, Yudhoyono told a conference here.

This is only some 4.2 percent of our geothermal reserves, which constitutes about 40 percent of the world’s geothermal potential. This is going to change. It is my intention that Indonesia will become the largest user of geothermal energy.

Within five years Indonesia aims to add 4,000 megawatts of geothermal capacity to the existing 1,189 megawatts to help meet national energy needs, he said.

By 2025 the country plans to generate 9,000 megawatts from underground heat sources including volcanoes, with help from the private sector and partners.

Geothermal energy generated from natural heat trapped under the Earth’s surface is far cleaner than the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, one of the main contributors to greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Yudhoyono told the gathering that geothermal and other clean energies would help the country cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent over 2005 levels by 2026.

Coal and oil are by far the biggest sources of Indonesia’s growing energy needs, reportedly accounting for almost 70 percent, followed by natural gas and hydropower on about 18 percent each.

Geothermal contributes only three percent to state-run energy company Perusahaan Listrik Negara’s power capacity.

Indonesia is one of the fastest growing economies in the world but currently only 65 percent of Indonesians have access to electricity. The goal is to reach 90 percent of the population by the end of the decade.

The fourth World Geothermal Congress opened on Sunday in Nusa Dua and is expected to attract some 2,000 people from more than 80 countries over six days.



Top Holiday Destinations for New Years 2011 ~ Bali wins again!

While Bali has much more to offer than just Kuta and Ubud, this poll is certainly correct that Bali is the top destination for holidays and tours, especially over New Years.  Please contact Balifornian Tours for more information on Bali, Indonesia and other treasures found in this region.  For a list of some of the tours offered please check http://www.balifornian.com/destinations  Let Balifornian help make your next vacation the holiday of a lifetime.  Let us do all the work for you.  Jyst tell us your passions and we will design the ultimate Bali experience for you.  We know all the hidden spots and how to avoid tourist traps. ~ ed.

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by Sana

New Year is certainly one of the best times to be with our family and friends. However, do you feel that you are tired of celebrating New Year parties at your home? Many people love to travel different places with their family and friends during New Year because they want to enjoy the best time and therefore people start looking for different destinations and places where they can enjoy New Year in a completely different way. However, you need to make sure that you select the right destinations because New Year is a time when winter is at its peak and you don’t want that to spoil your New Year holiday excitement.

Here are some of the top destinations where you can enjoy your New Year holidays in 2011.

1- Bali, Indonesia

You must be wondering why I chose Bali in the first place. Well, there are certainly better places in Europe that can beat Bali when it comes to tourism but recently the snow factor has really left millions of tourists stranded on the airport so the best way is to go somewhere else where winter does not spoil our plans and Bali is a great destination during winters.

Photo by wikipedia.org

The town of Kuta along with the beach and the island of Ubud is certainly superb. You can enjoy your New Year holidays while watching the sunset on the beach. Bali has many hotels and restaurants and therefore you can find different budget accommodations. If you are ready to spend more money you can stay in 5 star hotels available here.  Another factor why you should visit Bali is currently the currency value has dropped 30% and therefore you can enjoy more if you are from United States. Bali has received various international tourism awards and recently it won the Best Island award in 2010.

2- Goa, India

Another beach destination that you can enjoy in your New Year holidays is Goa which is on the western coast of India. Although, Goa is an Indian city you will find Portuguese landmarks all over the place. You will find that many buildings and places still have the Latin culture embedded on it.

Photo wikipedia.org

There are many churches and others landmarks to visit. The Bom Jesus Basilica is certainly something you should not miss if you are in Goa on a New Year day. Goa has a 125 kilometer coast line which makes it one of the most popular destinations for foreign travelers. During the New Year time, hotels and restaurants are loaded with Indian and foreign travelers who come there to have a blast.

3- Paris, France

You certainly cannot keep this city from your travel list because it is among the top tourism destinations in the world. Currently, the city receives 45 million visitors from all over the places and there is certainly no competition to it during the New Year time.

Photo by wikipedia.org

This time Paris has something more to offer to the world apart from its grand and tall Eiffel Tower. Well, this time you can take your family to Paris to show them the tallest Christmas tree in the world which has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, Paris is also among the costliest cities in the world and therefore make sure you have enough budget before you travel to Paris. The best thing to do is find cheap hotels and accommodation places on the web even before you travel to Paris.

4- Boston, United States of America

This city is certainly the oldest cities in the United States and regarded as the unofficial capital of New England, but Boston certainly has more to offer than historic landmarks.

Photo by wikipedia.org

If you don’t want to travel outside US then Boston is the best place to be during New Year. You can find better accommodations and hotels in Boston and therefore you never need to worry about your budget. If you don’t have too much to spend you can find simple rooms where you can keep your luggage and enjoy your trip in the city even at night time. Boston is also regarded as the Walking City and therefore you can get from one place to another by foot saving your money for other activities rather than spending on transportation.

5- Edinburgh, Scotland

If you are looking for some New Year destination in Europe where you can have an experience for a lifetime then you should head to Edinburgh which is the capital city of Scotland. It’s located on the South-east of Scotland and the place will guarantee you some real excitement.

Photo wikipedia.org/

There is a lot to enjoy here during New Year like museums, libraries, literature, films, music, theatre and visual arts. Since Edinburgh is an ancient city you will find many churches here as well. People love celebrating New Year in Edinburgh in a quiet peaceful way and therefore this is the best place to be with your family.

6- Bay of Islands, New Zealand

The Bay of Islands have always been one of the best destinations for NewYear and if you haven’t been to this place so far than you are really missing something. The Bay of Islands have been nominated and awarded for best tourism place in New Zealand and during New Year you will find more tourists here from different parts of the world. If you love fishing then Bay of Islands should your travel destination right now. You can find many hotels and cheap accommodations there.

Photo by wikipedia.org

The place is on the North Island of New Zealand and you can enjoy different activities here with your family like fishing, dolphin watching and other water activities. In 2006, it was announced that Bay of Islands has the second bluest sky in the world.

7- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio is always loaded with tourists from all over the world as it is the fourth most preferred tourist destination in the world. However, during New Year is certainly takes on a better spot because majority of the people from South America, Europe and Asia flock to Brazil to enjoy their New Year. One of the reasons why families go to Rio during New Year because they can do so much more in Rio apart from just sight watching.

Photo by wikipedia.org

Families can enjoy the sun and the beach, they can enjoy ecotourism if they prefer, and they can enjoy adventure trips like mountain climbing and much more. On the other hand, there are some best landmarks in Rio like the Christ the Redeemer which is considered as the most visited landmark in Rio. Since Rio is a tourism city you will never run out of hotels and restaurants even if you pack your bags at the last moment. If you are a party animal you will surely enjoy the night time during New Year.