WWF article on Ecotourism in Borneo, Indonesia

Borneo Ecotourism

Community-based Ecotourism

• Kayan Mentarang National Park
• Malinau
• Nunukan
• About Borneo Ecotourism

Heart of Borneo (HoB)

There is one important place remaining in Southeast Asia where tropical rainforests can still be conserved on a very large scale, a place where endangered species such as orang-utans, elephants and rhinos, and countless other undiscovered species continue to thrive. This is theHeart of Borneo.

The Heart of Borneo is positioned within the borders of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Indoensia Malaysia Philipine, East ASEAN Growth Area), straddling the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Within the Indonesian border lies the mountainous interior mainly inhabited by Dayak communities, and still largely covered with tropical forest and a mosaic of human-shaped agricultural landscapes. This area has already established itself as a new frontier for tourism development, especially ecotourism.


WWF:Our Approach to Ecotourism in the Heart of Borneo

The ecotourism pilot project areas described below have great ecotourism  potential in the long term. The beauty of the landscape, natural attractions, archaeological remains,  rich cultural traditions, and the generous hospitality of local people constitute exceptional conditions   for an unforgettable ecotourism experience.

Working with communities, WWF-Indonesia and the field teams in Betung Kerihun National Park and Kayan Mentarang National Park have gradually built local capacity to manage a community-based ecotourism enterprise. Activities have included: capacity building; marketing/promotion; developing homestay system; arranging cross-visits; and /customer care among others.

An important aspect of our work, especially in Kayan Mentarang, has been to create strategic networks with communities and ecotourism initiatives across the border with Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah), in the Heart of Borneo area. The WWF Kayan Mentarang National Park project has also supported exchanges and cross-training in technical issues and community entrepreneurship in ecotourism.

Fore more info about Borneo ecotourism, visit www.borneo-ecotourism.com/

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.



Help for Bali's Sea Turtles

Quiksilver on board to help Bali's troubled sea turtles

Sea Turtle conservation spot : photo Tim Hain Balifornian supports environmental causes such as... Environment News- Bali Tours, Holidays and Vacations Quiksilver Gives Donations to Support Sea Turtle Preservation  |  Indonesian version below Surfersvillage Global Surf News,  -  Quiksilver gave a donation to support the conservation of Sea Turtles. The donation was given to the Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation (KBSTC),  which will be used to preserve the existence of Sea Turtles in the area of Kuta Beach, Bali. The amount of the donation Rp. 25,014,338,- was handed over to Mr. I Gusti Ngurah Tresna, as representatives from KBSTC, by Simon MacGregor, Quiksilver Marketing Executive SEA and Bruce Waterfield, Business Services Director, Coca Cola Botling Indonesia. The hand over ceremony was done at the office KBSTC in Kuta Beach area. "This is a part of our awareness to support sea turtle conservation in Kuta Beach area. Quiksilver is very proud to have participated for several years, and we will continue the donations in the years to come. "Said Simon MacGregor. After the hand over ceremony, the crowd was doing the Sea Turtle release at Kuta Beach led by Simon MacGregor and Bruce Waterfield, as well as Quiksilver and Coca Cola Balinusa region teams. www.quiksilver.com Bahasa Indonesia Quiksilver Memberikan Donasi untuk Mendukung Pelestarian Penyu Laut Surfersvillage Global Surf News, - Kuta Bali, 26 November 2010. Quiksilver memberikan donasi untuk mendukung pelestarian penyu laut. Donasi diberikan kepada Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation (KBSTC) yang selanjutnya akan digunakan untuk melestarikan keberadaan Penyu Laut di wilayah Pantai Kuta, Bali.   Donasi sebesar Rp. 25.014.338,- itu diserahkan kepada Bapak I Gusti Ngurah Tresna sebagai perwakilan dari KBSTC oleh Simon MacGregor, Marketing Executive SEA Quiksilver dan Bruce Waterfield, Business Service Director Coca Cola Botling Indonesia. Penyerahan dilakukan di kantor KBSTC di kawasan Pantai Kuta. “Ini adalah bentuk kepedulian Quiksilver untuk mendukung pelestarian Penyu Laut di wilayah Pantai Kuta. Kami sangat bangga telah ikut berpartisipasi selama beberapa tahun terakhir ini, dan kami akan terus memberikan donasi di tahun-tahun mendatang.” ungkap Simon  MacGregor. Setelah acara penyerahan donasi, dilakukan juga acara pelepasan Penyu Laut di Pantai Kuta dipimpin oleh Simon MacGregor, Bruce Waterfield, serta team dari  Quiksilver dan Coca Cola wilayah Balinusa. Balifornian Tours offers the best custom holiday experience on Bali and all of Indonesia.  Balifornian Travel Blog is your source for news and fun information on travel, vacationing, upcoming events and much more. What's your take on this? Let us know



More Praise for Bali as the Best Island Paradise...

Bali Baby!

By Bob Schiff

A scenic view in Bali. (Bob Schiff)

Editor's Note: Our roving international correspondent, Bob Schiff, has been traveling throughout Asia, reporting on the obscure and exotic. Here is his fourth of many communiques detailing his travels. Enjoy Shiff's musings on the locals, customs, accommodations, and certainly the visual and descriptive majesty of the sites he is visiting and documenting.

Bali
A three hour van from Ijen to the port on the western tip of Java, a half hour ferry ride across to Bali followed by a three hour bus ride to Denpasar and a half hour taxi ride and I arrived at my hotel in Legian. I think everyone has an image of Bali in their minds - idyllic tropical island with beautiful white sand beaches and an exotic culture unlike anything back home. Wrong - at least in the tourist area of south Bali. South Bali is a heavily overbuilt and crowded tourist scene. Australian is the predominant language spoken here, mate. There are a few areas that range from high-end Seminyak to the young and wild party enclave of Kuta. The beach runs all along the western shore but with all the development it's not very inviting. It does have killer sunsets though. Rip tides claim quite a few tourists; three people drown on Kuta beach the day I took my first surfing lesson.

Padang Padang beach, about 45 minutes south of the Legian/Kuta area.

Surfing is huge throughout south Bali. The breaks off the entire southern peninsula are legendary. Most of the rental motorbikes have u-shaped brackets to hold surf boards. Surfer shacks and guesthouses dot the cliffs of the southern Bukit peninsula.

There is a great beach near the southern end of Bukit called Padang Padang that runs true to my vision of Bali - tiny crescent of white sand surrounded by steep cliffs. Calm turquoise water with a surf break beyond the bay out in the Indian Ocean. Lunch is available from a traditional warang right on the beach. I went there three times during my week stay in south Bali.

Unlike the rest of Indonesia, Bali is primarily Hindu; a beautiful interpretation of Hindu unique to Bali. After weeks of traveling through Java during Ramadan it was refreshing to get to somewhere where there was pork and a vibrant nightlife. The Balinese dishes are a nice change from the rather bland and somewhat limited food choices in Java. My plan is to wait out the rest of Ramadan here in Bali. The holy month ends with the two day festival of Idul Fitri and a nine day holiday of Lebaran when Muslim people go back to their villages to celebrate with their families. It is a crowded time to travel in Indonesia. In Bali many of the workers (mostly from Java) go back home and many of the rich from Jakarta come to Bali with their families for holiday. Many hotels are booked during this period and prices are firm.

Padang Padang beach.

Now this is a magical place. Ubud is in the hills a little over an hour north of the south Bali tourist area. Steeped in the Balinese rendition of Hindu culture it exudes charm. Incredibly green rice fields and tropical mountain jungle everywhere. Many of the vistas are breathtaking. Unfortunately it is deservedly-so a major tourist destination. The roads were never designed to handle the larger vehicles used by the hotels and tour operators to move people around so traffic is a nightmare. Not unlike Rt. 27 in the Hamptons in August. On a motorbike with no visible enforcement of traffic regulations I easily skirt the worst of the congestion.

There are endless performances and religious celebrations and festivals. Every evening just after sunset one can hear a mix of many gamelan musical performances throughout the village. One can't help but feel the spirituality and ancient mysticism in this special place. One evening there is a parade from the main temple in town to another a few kilometers away. Most of the local townspeople, dressed in traditional costume, participate in the procession.

Tough to find good value with accommodations but I did luck into two great places for my week long stay. There are many four and five-star hotels and spas and plenty of great restaurants. Nightlife is limited. As I'm exploring the area by motorbike I'm distracted by the sweet smell of barbeque from a smoking grill on the sidewalk in front of a crowded warang - Naughty Nuri's Place. It's packed with Asian tourists. I strike up a conversation with a table of local expats and am invited to sit down. One of the guys, Brian, is a very funny New Yorker and immediately we hit it off. He and his wife, a local named Nuri own the place. It's the same scene as at Cyril's table in Amagansett - a group of middle-age guys sitting around all afternoon drinking and telling tales while the place just jams with business. I feel right at home and spend about five afternoons there with my new friends. Oh, and easily the best pork ribs for thousands of miles.

The Balinese architecture around Ubud is spectacular. Dozens of temples and traditional family compounds. There is a large artist community and many galleries. Crafts - wood carvings, stone carvings, architectural details, garden features, etc. - from all over Indonesia are presented to the wholesale export trade in the Ubud area. I'm tempted to try my luck at a container of goods but quickly come to the realization that I'd most likely loose my shirt. Plus, I'm not ready to stop traveling yet.

Finally I tear myself away from the beauty of Ubud and my new friends at Naughty Nuri's and head to Sanur to sort out transportation to Gili Trawangan island – my next port of call. 

Tours can be planned through Balifornian Tours- The leader in custom tours to Bali and Indonesia.  make the most out of your holiday vacation.

New 2010 Indonesia Surfing Champion is Crowned

Putra Hermawan is the 2010 Indonesia Surfing Champion - Bali Surfing News and Blog

Written by Editor at SurferToday.com

When a national champion is crowned in the last seconds of surfing contest you're witnessing a breathtaking moment. It happened in Asia. The 2010 Indonesia Pro Surfing Tour reached its climax in the Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival, held at Kuta Beach’s famous "Halfways". Dedi Santosa was trying to beat Marlon Gerber and needed an 8.65-point wave to claim the 2010 Coca-Cola ISC Tour. But Santosa missed the score in the last 30 seconds of the final heat and delivered the championship to Putra Hermawan. 18-year-old Putra Hermawan is the youngest ever ISC Tour Open Division champion. Marlon Gerber, the event winner, dedicated his first ISC tour win to his friend Andy Irons who tragically passed away recently. Husni won the Longboard Division for the second time, Dyah Rahayu Dewi took her second win in a row in the Women’s Division and Jeren Kiring claimed the National GromSearch Final. 2010 Coca-Cola ISC Tour Open Division Results: 1. Putra Hermawan 2. Dedi Santoso 3. Pepen Hendrik Rip Curl Surf and Music Festival results: 1. Marlon Gerber 2. Dedi Santosa 3. Raditya Rondi 4. Wayan Suprayitna

Balifornian is the ultimate custom tour guides in Bali and Indonesia and can get you to all the best surf spots