SBY urges the world to include ocean as part of climate change solution

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the World Ocean Conference (WOC) ministerial meting on Thursday, calling on the world community to include the results of the conference as part of climate talks in Copenhagen in December.

“For it is my hope that the outcome of this conference and the historic document of the Manado Ocean Declaration that we will issue here will form one call that is loud and clear for the world to care for and take care of its oceans,” he told officials from 76 countries attending the conference.

He said the call must be heard by the international community and all other stakeholders to negotiate for a new post-Kyoto climate change regime.

“It must be made clear that what we do here is not produce a new process but indeed strengthen and complement the UN Framework of the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Simply put, the ocean community wants ocean issues to be part of the on-going global climate change solution,” he added.

The UNFCCC is an international treaty on environmental issues, dealing primarily with climate change and reducing global warming.

Currently, nearly 200 countries have ratified the convention, which was first enforced on March 21, 1994.

The Copenhagen meeting will discuss a new regime on climate change to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

The President said the inclusion was critical because ocean issues as of yet have not been adequately represented in overall global climate change discussions.

“We therefore have to ensure that ocean-sensitive policies be incorporated into that new regime so that humankind’s approach to the challenge of climate change will be comprehensive and holistic,” he said.

He said if the climate convention in Copenhagen adopted the approach, and the international community and all stakeholders carried it out faithfully the humankind would have a much brighter outlook.

“The last time the world heard a loud political message [about the oceans] was during the signing of UNCLOS in 1982, which has dramatically changed the global governance of our oceans. Today, it is time for the world to hear yet another important message: That we can only survive the 21st century if we are united in preserving and caring for our oceans,” he said.

by Abdul Khalik , The Jakarta Post

Source: www.thejakartapost.com

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Indonesia still free from H1N1 flu

Indonesia remains free from the H1N1 strain of influenza type A, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said Saturday.

"The results of tests conducted on blood samples of three people suspected to have been infected with flu virus were negative," she told Antara state news agency.

Previously, three people -- an Indonesian worker in East Java who had just returned from Taiwan, a journalist from China covering the annual meeting of the ADB in Bali, and an expatriate from Australia -- were suspected of being infected with the H1N1 flu virus.

"The health conditions of the three people have improved. The Australian national admitted to Sulianti Saroso Hospital has also recovered and has been allowed to return home," the minister said.

Supari added the government would continue to monitor and stay alert for any possible cases of the infectious disease by preparing health services infrastructure and facilities, medication and paramedics.

"We are ready with various anticipatory efforts and vigilant plans to face a possible swine flu pandemic. The H5N1 [bird flu] extraordinary incident alert status has not yet been lifted, so we still have the needed facilities."

She added the government was also reinforcing the capacity of health posts at ports (KKP) to monitor people coming into the country from overseas in an effort to have an early detection of the H1N1 flu.

Supari said the government had set up 80 KKPs, of which 25 were situated at international gateways.

At such KKPs, thermal detectors have been installed and health alert cards have been handed out to foreigners, while clinics, paramedics, isolation rooms, self-protector devices and medicine have also been prepared.

The government has also prepared 100 reference hospitals that previously served as reference hospitals for bird flu patients, as well as laboratories for sample examinations.

Source: The Jakarta Post

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INDONESIA Street Food

Living in a country that has endless variety of food and drinks, Indonesians do eat out, but the majority does not go to restaurants. The local food scene relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Living in a country that has endless variety of food and drinks, Indonesians do eat out, but the majority do not go to restaurants. The local food scene relies heavily on street food. Indonesians savour the delicious meals offered by ubiquitous street vendors day and night for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Street food is a quick meal sold by a vendor with a push cart, basket, at a stall, or possibly at a store where customers can see the preparation of food clearly. It provides a close connection between the customer and the street food, unlike having a plate of food in a restaurant.

The types of food offered vary from a simple fried tofu to a much more complicated dish like gudeg (raw jackfruit cooked in a Javanese traditional way that originated from Yogyakarta). In big cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Semarang and Medan, the street vendors offer many a traditional food from various regions in the archipelago. But in smaller cities, they are usually of the local cuisine.

The most commonly found street food is bakso or meatballs that are usually served in a bowl, like soup, with noodles, bean curds (tofu), eggs, and/or fried meat.

Another popular soup-like street food is soto. It is mainly comprised of broth and vegetables. The meats most commonly used are beef and chicken, but there are also sotos with mutton and pork. It is usually accompanied by rice or compressed rice. Sotos are differentiated by the ingredients in them, such as soto ayam (chicken) and soto kambing (mutton).

There are many sotos in Indonesia, as different regions and ethnicities have their own ways of preparing the cuisine, such as soto Madura (from East Java), soto Betawi (from Jakarta), soto Padang (from West Sumatra), so to Bandung (from West Java), soto Banjar (from South Kalimantan), and coto Makassar (from South Sulawesi).

The other popular delicacy often sold by street vendors is satay. It is a dish consisting of chunks or slices of dice-sized meat (chicken, goat, lamb, beef, pork, or fish) on bamboo skewers, which are grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, then served with various spicy seasonings, mostly made of ground nuts. Satay may have originated in Java or Sumatra, but is very popular outside Indonesia too. Similar to soto bakso and soto, there are many types of satay from sate Madura to Padang, sate Iilit, sate susu, kulit, sate Ponorogo and many more.

Nasi goreng (steamed rice stir-fried with eggs, meatballs, chicken/beef/shrimp, assorted vegetables and often with sweet soy sauce seasoning) is also very popular along with nasi rawon (rice served with dark beef soup) originally from East Java. The dark colour comes from the meaty seeds of kluwak nuts. Usually served with uncooked mung bean sprouts and salty duck eggs, pecel (a mixture of vegetables and traditional crackers with spicy peanut paste). Madiun and Blitar in East Java are popular for their pecel and gado-gado (a mixture of vegetables, crackers and rice with peanut flavoured sauce). The taste is sweet in Eastern Java and salty in Western Java.

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Uluwatu the most famous wave of Bali

Uluwatu is the most famous wave of Bali. There is always some swell here so it's also always crowded. The spot offers several waves which are working with different swells and tides:

The Peak: best at mid and high tide. Closes out at low tide. In front of the cave. it's the most consistant. Short and powerful waves, tubes. The take off is moving. It works from 1ft to 8ft. The most crowded. One of the sections closes more than the others.

Racetracks: 100 meters further. fast wave, a lot of sections with easy tubes. Best at low tide and at 6ft. Can hold bigger swell. On the right tide and the right swell, "The Peak" connects with "Racetraks" (you need to be a good tuberider). Over 10ft, Racetracks breaks until "The Corner".
Photo:www.baliwaves.com

Inside Corner: best at mid and low tide with a 6ft swell. At first, it's a fun wave and the final bowl is a tube. Don't do a cutback just before the bowl! Take plenty of speed, stay high in the face and trim. You will pass the tube.

Outside Corner: the REAL Uluwatu. Works only with big swells (>8ft) and at low tide. The lower is the tide, the better is the wave. Take at least a 7' board. It is a succession of long walls good for carving and, sometimes, a beautiful final tube. The length is around 300 meters.

Temple: less surfed. 2 waves in fact ("Outside temple" and "The Bombies"). Only for experts because the water is very shallow. For thoses,it is a incredible tube when it works.

Spot information for surfing at Uluwatu (globalsurfer.com):

• Type of break: reef break
• Type of wave: hollow barreling wave
• Direction: left hand
  
• Bottom: coral
  
• Average lenght of ride: long
• Suitable for : expert level
  

Detailed information:

• Crowd level: a big crowd
• Best tide: mid
• Ideal board size: 6'8-7'4 Mini gun
• Ideal wind direction: south-east
  

Wavesize & wetsuit:

• Spring - Summer - Autumn - Winter Overhead: 6'- 8' - Ok : 2'- 4' - Overhead: 6'- 8' - Overhead: 6'- 8' Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts - Boardshorts
  

Getting There

To reach Uluwatu from The Ngurah Ray International Airport by using Taxi, rent car/motorcycle or using travel agent. Its about 1 hour drive.

Where to Stay

There are many accommodations from Warung (warung in a traditional caf), motels, hotels until Villa. The range price in $5 until $ 2000 for 1 day. If you stay in warung you just pay for the meals.

Moving Around
Photo:www.baliwaves.com

There are many surfing spot near Uluwatu such as: Padang-padang beach, Dreamland beach, Bingin beach, Impossible beach.

Dining Guide

Various restaurants and cafes throughout Uluwatu, from cheeps price to a luxury restaurant.

Souvenir Tips

Sea-related products, such as items made of seashells, corals and t-shirt, etc.

Other Things to See or Do

There is Temple near the beach, its one of the best temple in Bali called Uluwatu Temple. In the Temple you can see a lot of attractions such as:Watching traditional Bali dace performance, Watching Sunset (very good view from Uluwatu Tample).


Travel Tips

• A good hat and water-proof sun-screen.
• Basic first-aid kit, antiseptic dressing, etc.
• Sand-shoes and thongs.
• Board-shorts, t-shirts, 1 pair light-weight, long-pants and long-sleeve wind cheater.
• Two towels and sun-glasses.
• Personal toiletries, after-sun cream, insect repellent.
• Walkman, camera, handy-cam and books.
• Booties, 2 surf-boards.
• Light-weight wet-suits, rash-vest, gate helmet and spare leg-ropes.

Sources

• Baliwaves- www.baliwaves.com
• Surfing Indonesia, periplus action guide.
• Global Surfer- www.globalsurfers.com

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Saung Angklung Udjo, the real culture of Angklung

Saung Angklung Udjo (SAU) is the place where angklung and others bamboo instrument are made and played. SAU also the place where children are singing, dancing and played the bamboo instrument especially angklung. Saung Angklung Udjo (SAU) was established in January 1967, contributed by Mr. Udjo Ngalagena and his wife Mrs. Uum Sumiati Udjo.

Here you will find the Sudanese traditional bamboo musical concert performed by a small group of children with colorful and beautiful dances. See their dynamic performances and natural expression. You may not believe that the children performing in the concert are less then 12 years old. There's even a two years old child playing kendang, the Indonesian traditional drum!

Saung Angklung Udjo also present choices of bamboo art performances and traditional dances such as Tari Topeng (Mask Dances), Wayang Golek demonstration (puppet show) and many more. You could feel the sophisticated atmosphere when you experience how to play angklung and being part of our performance all at once. You can see, learn and play "The Angklung," one of Sundanese traditional musical instrument, with the colorful performances, the beautiful dances. Dance together for your memorable visit.
SAU is one of the tourism place for all family, it's attractive and adductive. And SAU is one perfectly province tourism object and important in West Java.

Contact
Saung Angklung Udjo Office
Address:
Jl. Padasuka 118 Bandung
Bandung
Jawa Barat
Indonesia
40192

Telephone: (62-22) 7271714
Fax: (62 22) 7201587

www.angklung-udjo.co.id

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