I had a nice talk with Gutomo Priyatmono, the headmaster of Ideology Critique in Philosophy Faculty, Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, about Bali nowadays while having tea in Kuta. Well, actually it was not really nice things to hear, quite bitter but I think it was a constructive critique for Bali. He was complaining about Bali’s (the people) attitude that always become an event organizer for events (he stated it as a “worker”) to prepare hotels, transportation and etc. for the United Nation Climate Change Conference (UNCCC). Well, no professors from Universities, no figures from the government who are really have any fine ideas and solutions to solve the climate change problem. Even most hotels and restaurants belong to non Balinese and sorry to say that lots of Balinese only become waiters, waitress, spa’s workers, and so on.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

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Warmest greeting from Novotel Yogyakarta,

Taking this opportunity, we are proudly to inform you that after being renovated Novotel Yogyakarta is ready to welcome you with new modern & dynamic atmosphere.

The 200 rooms and suites of Novotel Yogyakarta have all been renovated and will provide the guests with excellent services and facilities. Wooden floor and new color scheme of interior are part of the new look with an addition of free Wifi connection in all Deluxe and Executive Rooms.

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One of Indonesia’s most famous tourist attractions, the Prambanan Hindu temple complex, is likely to be closed for months after being badly damaged in the earthquake, a conservation expert predicted.

It is unclear what impact the earthquake will have on the tourism industry in a region that was considered to be Indonesia’s second most popular destination after Bali.

Prambanan, which was built between the eighth and 10th centuries and is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, lies 16km east of Yogyakarta.

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YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia May 27, 2006 (AP)— A powerful earthquake flattened homes and buildings in central Indonesia early Saturday, killing nearly 2,000 people and injuring thousands more in the country’s worst disaster since the 2004 tsunami.

The magnitude 6.2 quake struck near the ancient city of Yogyakarta 250 miles east of the capital, Jakarta, around dawn as many people slept, causing death and damage in several nearby towns.

TV footage showed damaged hotels and government buildings, and several collapsed buildings. Roads and bridges were destroyed, hindering efforts to get the wounded to hospitals. Some phone lines also were cut.

“It felt really powerful, and the whole building shook,” said Narman, a receptionist at a hotel in Yogyakarta. “Everyone ran from their rooms.”

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