Indonesia Traveling - Indonesia Traveling Sea and Land Guide

Bedugul Geothermal Project still in Limbo

The Bedugul Geothermal Project was launched in 1995, with an investment of US$46.7 million, and was to be jointly run by state power company PLN and Bali Energy Ltd, a firm established by a group of foreign investors.

However, with the crippling onset of the pan-Asian financial crisis that brought Indonesia?s economy to its knees, it was put on hold and has been in limbo ever since.

But three wells have been constructed at the site, with associated, basic equipment in place to make use of the geothermal energy in the cool, mountainous region of the island.

Since then the companies have been waiting for approval from the Bali government.

The project had also caused disquiet among the local population, some of whom objected to it being located on sacred ground.

Lawmaker I Made Arjaya, head of Bali parliament?s Commission I on governmental affairs, said there was widespread disapproval of the geothermal plant.

?One hundred percent of Balinese people disagree with this project,? he told The Bali Times.

?All members of parliament have not approved of the project, and that means all Balinese people are against it,? he said.

Members of parliament were concerned that the plant would endanger the island?s water supply and also damage the sacredness of the area, considered holy by the majority Hindu population.

?Bedugul stores the water supply for people living in southern Bali, and therefore we cannot tolerate any destruction if the project went ahead,? said Arjaya.

Bali Governor Dewa Beratha had green-lighted the project, however, via a decree issued in October 2005, saying it does not pose any environmental or planning difficulties, based on studies carried out by relevant government bodies.

And officials from six villages surrounding the project area - Kembang Merta, Candikuning I, Candikuning II, Bukitcatu, Pemuteran and Batusesa - have given their support to the development, saying the project would be of benefit to the people and did not violate the religious values in the area, according to a combined statement sent to the governor?s office.An official of Bali Energy Ltd told The Times that if the plant were allowed to proceed, it would provide 175 megawatts (MW) of electricity per day, or 43.8 percent of its total potential.
?This area holds the potential of 400MW of power, but we planned to only exploit 175 MW,? area representative Ni Made Widiasari said.

Over the years, as the company awaited official permits and licenses to construct the plant, the only work at the site had been maintaining the wells and equipment, she said.

Widiasari said that if the project was given the go-ahead, a fully functioning plant could be constructed within two years.

?It would only take 23 months to build it, and Bali would have its own green energy,? she said.

Separately, PLN has launched its own environmentally friendly power plant in Bali, albeit on a small scale.

Earlier this month, it started operations at a micro-hydro power plant in a river in the village of Susuan in Karangasem, proving providing 25KW of power per day.

Wayan Redika, head of public relation at PLN Bali, told a media briefing it was the fist such plant of its kind in Indonesia, and came about following research into renewable energy sources in Bali.

?Before this, we have built power plants on Nusa Penida that are powered by the wind and jatropha oil,? he said.

The micro-hydro plant was being run in cooperation with local enterprises and others would be encouraged to utilize such green power sources in the figure, in order to build up sustainable electricity supply in Bali, which is frequently hit by power outages, he said.

?We are cooperating with these enterprises and PLN will buy electricity from them,? he said.

Source : The Bali Times Newspaper

Bedugul Botanical Gardens

This is a nice site in the highlands with some montane forest on the hills. There is a good trail up through good forest around the crater rim above Lake Bratan. At weekends the place is crowded with tourists.
Blue-eared Barbet: fairly common. Rainbow Lorikeet: has not been seeen since the mid 80's and has probably been trapped out. Yellow-throated Hanging-Parrot: very rare due to trapping. Grey-cheeked Green-Pigeon: common. Black-backed Fruit-Dove: a few. Black Eagle: one. Indonesian Honeyeater: very common. Golden Whistler: a few around Lake Bratan. Sunda Whistling-Thrush: a few. Orange-headed Thrush a few. Mountain White-eye: a few. Javan Grey-throated White-eye: common. Sunda Bush-Warbler: a few. Russet Bush-Warbler: recently found to be common on Bali. Sunda Warbler: a few. Horsfield's Babbler: a few near Lake Bratan. Chestnut-backed Scimitar-Babbler: a few. Crescent-chested Babbler: common. Blood-breasted Flowerpecker: common. Javan Munia: a few.
For the pictures from the birds go to my site Indonesia National Parks

Resorts

Saranam Eco Resort

http://directrooms.com/indonesia/hotels/saranam-eco-resort-bali-8418.htm

Sarinbuana Eco-Lodge

www.baliecolodge.com

Puri Lumbung Cottages

http://www.purilumbung.com/aboutus.htm

Puri Lumbung Cottages is a unique tourism project. It combines the efforts of the people of Munduk Village with the Bali Tourism Institute to assist in community development and environmental and cultural preservation within the context of 'sensitive' tourism.
Puri Lumbung Cottages Mission:
To develop a small scale model of rural tourism development as a core of economic activities in which both human being and natural components will get a sustainable direct and indirect benefits. It is also to confirm that if tourism is planned and developed ethically will drive economic and non economic proportionally.
Munduk?s history
Munduk is a small mountain village, located between 500 to 1200 meters above sea level and with average temperatures of 20 to 30°C.
With a population of 6,200 people, the village of Munduk has a rich history. Legend tells that it was settled by people from the mountains who were escaping an invasion of ants. Several clans then moved from Klungkung to resettle in Munduk Village 200 to 300 years ago. This was the portal through which the vizier of the Majapahit Kingdom in East Java penetrated to South Bali.
History repeated itself when the Dutch expanded their colonial empire from Java to Bali. They too reached South Bali through the Village of Munduk, and subsequently used it as a mountain retreat from the administrative capital of Singaraja. The first guest house for Dutch officers was opened at Munduk in 1908. The Dutch brought colonial architecture to Munduk Village, along with traditional export commodities such as coffee, cocoa, cloves and vanilla.
Munduk Village remains a foundation of traditional folk arts and crafts unique to North Bali
Cook traditional Balinese specialties
Balinese dance
Making and playing traditional Balinese musical instruments
Weaving,
Wood carving
Traditional Balinese herbal medicine
Healing massage
Traditional games
Meditation
Yoga
Understand Balinese spiritual life
Tours can be organized by Puri Lumbung Cottages to attractive sites such as:
* Bali Aga Villages of Pedawa and Sidatapa dating from pre - Hindu times (± 15 km)
* Tigawasa, an animistic village and bird watching centre
* Candikuning Spice Market, Ulun Danu Temple at Beratan
Lake and Bedugul Botanical Garden (±20 km)
* Banjar Hot Spring and Buddhist Monastery (±25 km),
* Lovina Beach Resort (±28 km)
* West Bali National Park and Menjangan Island for diving and Snorkeling
(about 60 km)
Guests may also choose to visit isolated settlements and meet farmers, fishermen, traditional healers, fortune-tellers, and traditional palm wine makers.

Golf

http://www.balihandarakosaido.com/

Reptile and Crocdile Park

Bali Butterfly Park