Walter Spies’ biography launched in Ubud

by Ni Komang Erviani on 2012-05-29

A biography about German-born artist Walter Spies, who spent around 15 years of his life on the island of Bali and stimulated new developments in Balinese art, was launched on Sunday evening at Puri Lukisan Museum in downtown Ubud, Gianyar. The 326-page book entitled Walter Spies: A Life of Art was written by Australian John Stowell and published by Jakarta-based publisher Afterhours books.

The book was officially launched by the German Ambassador to Indonesia, Dr. Norbert Baas, who praised it as “perfectly written and researched”.

“This book should be made available at every hotel on the island, schools and libraries, and also every house in Germany,” Baas said, adding that he was proud that the legacy of Spies is alive among Balinese artists and scholars.

The launching was hosted by Ubud royal family elder, Tjokorda Putra Sukawati, whose late uncle invited Spies to Ubud and late father was one of Spies’s closest local friends and patrons. Numerous

Bali Emerging Writers Festival

The second Bali Emerging Writers Festival will kicked off its three-day long event on 25th of May  at Serambi Arts Antida in Jl. Waribang, East Denpasar. The festival, the sibling event of the famed Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF), will feature 13 young emerging Indonesian writers, photographers, bloggers, artists,
art creators and activists. The festival’s events range from panel discussions, workshops, movie screening, theatrical performances and musical concerts.

“The participating writers have similar traits; they are young and passionately dedicated to their subjects of interest. We are trying to present a kaleidoscopic view of the island and Indonesian young talent. Some of them create their work in literary forms, some others express their thoughts through pictures and video,” UWRF’s community development manager, Kadek Purnami, said Thursday.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/bali-daily/2012-05-25/emerging-writers-festival-kicks-today.html

Bali Advisor

Bali Advisor has, for the first time, over 10,000 visitors to our website in May 2012. Any ideas out there on how we can monetize the site. www.baliadvisor.com

We have been offering Free Travel advice to Bali for over 30 years and continue to do so. We plan on selling E books soon from our site and increase advertising and create a booking engine. Any ideas out there to help us....Thanks

Bali Arts Festival

An expected 15,000 local and international artists will participate in a one-month Bali Arts Festival from June 11 through July 7.

Ketut Suastika, the head of Bali Cultural Office, told the Bali Daily on Wednesday that the 34th annual Bali Arts Festival, which will be opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will display 300 traditional and contemporary art performances at the Arts Center.

“A number of foreign art troupes from 12 countries have confirmed their participation in the upcoming festival,” said Suastika.

Among the participating countries are the US, the Netherlands, Germany, India, Malaysia and Japan.

This year’s Bali Arts Festival will carry the theme of “Paras Paros”, which means togetherness in Balinese. All performances during the festival will adopt the theme concept.

The Arts Festival will be highlighted by a large variety of Balinese performing arts, including shadow

Bali Traffic

I have been visiting Bali since 1974 and have seen the roads on Bali get busier and busier and finally they are too the point where at certain times of the day the are at a virtual stand still. What are the Balinese going to do about this? When will it reach a tipping point that the horrible traffic especially during June-August just turns tourist off so they will quit coming. My advice for tourist to Bali is plan your outings by avoiding rush hour times. Saturday and Sunday traffic is better. Find a home base in Bali and enjoy the local tourist sites at your home base. The magic of Bali is still there but it's better to plan wisely, not travel too much around the island. Concentrate on the massages, spas, culture and beaches if your at the beach. You will enjoy your holiday more if you stay put mostly in one place....