The Ubud Readers & Writers Festival (URWF) 2011 updates

The Ubud Readers & Writers Festival (URWF) 2011 is beginning to take shape with this years’ theme  Nandurin Karang Awak (Cultivate The Land Within). Up to 100 writers will fill Ubud’s majestic pavilions, cafés and temples. The festival will bring together guests, writers and readers to exchange ideas.

This years’ festival will present the 1st Bali emerging Writers Festival (BEWF). Held from 27-29 May at Serambi Arts Antida, Denpasar, the BEWF will spotlight the island’s most promising emerging talents. Vast form of writing will be featured during the day and the nighttime will showcase spoken word and music performances.

The URWF 2011 will also feature renowned author such as Jill Dawson, DBC Pierre and Albert Wendt.

Stone believed to be from Majapahit kingdom found

Residents of Modangan village in the East Java town of Blitar were surprised on Wednesday April 20 2011, to learn that an inscribed stone they found is believed to be an artifact from the ancient Javanese Majapahit Kingdom.

The stone was found by Sapuan, 45, and Mupit, 50, who were excavating a site to build a septic tank near Mupit's house. Sapuan's hoe hit a solid object at a depth of 3 meters below ground level, after which the two discovered a stone shaped like a statue with an ancient Javanese inscription on it.

The stone is currently being kept at Mupit's house. Blitar administration spokesman Wiyakto said he had heard reports of the finding, and was planning to invite a team from the Prehistoric Heritage Preservation Agency in the East Java town of Trowulan to inspect the stone.

Bali Gets Bigger and Newer Convention Space

The new Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center(BNDCC), which till triple the island’s MICE capability from May, intends to compete head-on with counterparts in neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia for International events.

Indonesia Sites Apply for Geopark Status

Indonesia is waiting on decision from Unesco as to whether two sites in the country will be designated as official geoparks. The Jakarta Post reported that the country’s culture & tourism ministry submitted a proposal to unesco to create geoparks in Batus Lake, Bali, and Pacitan, East Java. If the applications are accepted, the sites will be the first Unesco-listed geoparks Indonesia.

A geopark is a protected area containing a number of geological heritage sites, designed to encourage conservation, education and ecotourism. A Unesco team will visit the Indonesia locations later this year, before announcing their final decision in September.

New Airport for East Kalimantan

Authorities in the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan are planning to develop a new airport on Maratua Island- a remote spot located just off the east coast of Borneo, famous for its diving sites. Currently visitors wanting to travel to Maratua need to take a boat from mainland Borneo ofter flying to Kalimarau airport, which was recently connected with a direct  Sriwijaya Air flight fom Surabaya. Construction of the airport is scheduled to commence by the end of next year. Meanwhile Kalimarau airport is also due to be expanded later this year.

New Bali Travel Guide Book available: "Bali with Kids"

A new guide book about Bali is available, namely "Bali with Kids". As the title already states it is a guide book for families planning a trip to Bali with their kids (babies to teenagers). It is packed with up-to-date information on kid friendly places and activities to help parents plan their stay in Bali. All entries come with age appropriateness, price range, highlights, contacts and websites. New new easy to use guide book compiles useful tips and over 300 listings of Bali's all time favorites and new venues for families. The retail price is USD 18.--. For further information, please feel free to contact us on info@asiaworldindonesia.com

Strong quake hits off southern Indonesia

The Jakarta Post reports that a strong earthquake hit off Indonesia's main island of Java Monday, prompting authorities to briefly issue a tsunami warning and sending thousands of residents fleeing their homes in panic.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the 6.7-magnitude quake, which struck shortly after 3 a.m. Monday (2000 GMT, 4 p.m. EDT). The U.S. Geological Survey said the temblor was centered 318 kilometers (nearly 200 miles) off southern Java, just 24 kilometers (15 miles) beneath the ocean floor.

Thousands of people in the town of Cilacap poured into the streets and ran to high ground, many gathering in mosques, witnesses told El Shinta radio. Ninety minutes later, when the threat of a tsunami had passed, they were told to go home

Asia World Indonesia currently doesn't operate tours to Cilacap.