Read the new New York Times piece on Bali: 36 Hours in Bali

The writer’s story, writen almost hourly, on how she spent her time in Bali, one of the island in Indonesia and an internationally famous tourist destination.

SAY Bali and most people think paradise. There are stunning sunsets, sculpted rice terraces and a temple on almost every corner. And for less-spiritual seekers, this steamy Indonesian island also has great surfing and a rollicking nightlife. Sure, it’s gotten pretty touristy, especially on the pub crawl along Kuta Beach, where beer-swilling Australians rule. And while recent terrorist bombings have rattled Bali’s blissful pace (it is a Hindu-majority island in a Muslim-majority nation), they have done little to temper its popularity or discourage super-chic resorts from being built. Paradise, after all, is as close as the nearest temple, finding yourself on your knees with a blue flower pressed between your fingertips, asking for blessings from Brahma or one of the other gods.

Her travelogue in Bali:

Friday
3 p.m. MONKEYING AROUND
4:30 p.m. FOUR HANDS BEATS TWO
7:30 p.m. DANCE, DANCE, DANCE
9 p.m. GO FOR THE GRILL

Saturday
9 a.m. GET DOWN IN THE RIVER
2:30 p.m. MUSEUM MILE
5:30 p.m. BEST SHOW IN TOWN
7 p.m. BUST THAT BIKINI
9:30 p.m BLING IS THE THING

Sunday
10 a.m. ESPRESSO IT
11 a.m. PARADISE WITHIN PARADISE
2 p.m. SARONG AS ART

Complete info: 36 Hours in Bali (NYTimes.com)

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Inbound tourism to Bali is rebounding strongly, with a record-high 472,000 foreign visitors for the first four months of 2007.

Due to several bombings (the last on Sept 2005) in Bali, the Bali’s tourism situation have taken a roller-coaster ride in the past years.

But looking at the current number the it seems that recovery is well underway, with international arrivals for the 12 months to April 2007 growing to 1.39 million, only 10% behind the September 2005 peak.

President of Bali Discovery Tours Mr Jack Daniels:

Bali is benefiting from strong growth from India and Russia due to improved air access and visas on arrival. But, Australia, one of Bali’s biggest source markets, was still down on 2005 levels but recovering slowly.

Info source: PATA Newsletter

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For majority of people, Asia is just a big foreign continent. The Oriental, the Far East, but what exactly to go if you want to visit “Asia”?

Check out this list of 12 Destinations in Asia that make the continent what it is.

1. Guangzhou, China. To the British it was Canton. The city is over 2200 year old. It is littered with temples and pagodas - and with old markets and new shopping malls. If Shanghai is the Whore of the East, this is where she bought her dress.

2. Goa, India. On this former Portuguese colony, 75 miles of its coast line, over 50 miles of it, is beach.

3. Suzhou, China. Perhaps the most beautiful place in China. Suzhou. The city could remind a Westerner of Venice. Canals and street are interlaced.

4. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has become famous in recent years for its seven star hotel, perfect beaches, and relaxed atmosphere.

5. Beijing. Possibly the most visited city in Asia. Places to see in Beijing:

• The Confucius Temple
• The Summer Palaces
• Tiananmen Square
• The Ming Tombs
• The Western Qing Tombs
• The Great Wall

6. Xi’an, China. Six thousand year of history. And perhaps most famous for the Terracotta Warriors discovered there in 1974.

7. Henan Province, China. The cradle of Chinese civilization. The attractions in Henan are numerous. Among them:

• The Shaolin Temple
• Dengfeng and the Songshan Mountains
• The Longmen Grottoes
• Kaifeng: Memorial Temple of Lord Bao, the Iron Pagoda (Tie Ta) and Xiangguo Temple.
• Luoyang: Guanlin Temple, Ancient Tombs, and the White Horse Temple.

8. Tibet. The roof of Asia. Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, is a fascinating city of history and culture.

9. Bangkok, Thailand. Its reputation for fast living combine with traditional values and easy atmosphere has made it an exciting place to visit. The world comes here to wheel and deal, to shop and relax.

10. Angkor, Cambodia. The great temple-city complex of Cambodia is bigger in reality, the complex alone covers some 500 acres of land and is rich enough to spend much more than a single day at without actually wasting your time.

11. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam. Famous for slim young girls walking elegantly down the avenues in the white ao dai suits unique to Vietnam - pants with a knee length shirt that has a slit up to the belt line. Despite all the things to do, it is the people, the hospitality, and the street scenes that make this city an essential Asian experience.

12. Bali, Indonesia. The island is Asia in a capsule in many ways: Idyllic beaches and lofty mountains together in one package. Bali is a Hindu culture left over from the days before Indonesia because the world’s most populous Islamic country.

For more destinations and travel guide of Asia, check out this page from Wikitravel Asia.

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Monday, 17 July 2006, Pangandaran was one of the area hit by Tsunami triggered by 7.7 magnitude earthquake centered in South of Java Island.

Killing at least 262 people and leaving more than 160 missing with at least 23,000 people fled their homes, either because they were destroyed or in fear of another tsunami.

A Pakistani national, a Swedish national and a Dutch national were among the dead. Most of the victims were believed to be Indonesians.

Pangandaran itself known as one of the beach resorts and fishing villages as well as tourist destinations in West Java Provinces, Indonesia.

VirtualTourist provide us with several user written guides and photos about Pangandaran:

Hotels in Pangandaran:

• Our own privat accomodation…
• Our own privat accomodation…parth II
• affordable & clean
• Seaside Resort Stay
• Delta Gecko Village

Things to do in Pangandaran:

• and after the puppets and the sugar , finally.
• Sugar palms…
• Yes , yes , puppets…
• The bridge…
• The green canyon.
• A national park…
• The end of the day…
• We went snorkeling…
• 20 000 people…
• Pananjung Pangandaran & Her Flower

Several pictures of Pangandaran:

More here:

• Pangandaran.com
• Archie’s Pangandaran Photo Gallery

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