Denpasar, In the City

Canoe and Rafting on Badung River

Badung River that was previously polluted has changed because of a canoe and rafting competition. Three times a competition was held on the river that splits Denpasar City, and these took place in 2001, 2002, and the last was on 22 February 2003. These competitions took place to celebrate the Anniversary of Denpasar City. “Even the competitions are enough, however we did not decide yet to change Badung River into a place ferom which to operate Denpasar’s water tourism. We just want to remind the Denpasar citizens to keep participating to keep Badung River clean,” said Head of Tourism Office of Denpasar, Drs. Putu Budiasa.

This said, it needed a long period  to sell the Badung River to the tourist. “By plenty of people coming here and playing canoe and rafting, they automatically participated in cleaning the river. This rafting and canoe competition surely will stimulate and raise the people’s aware of environmental cleanness, especially Badung River,” he said recently to Bali Travel News.
He explains if this competition activity is successful, the Badung River will organize it more seriously. The effort is that the city administrative will create a garden along the river stream, and prepared the project of dike construction along the river, which is used as the track. “I t planned to build a resting-spot at a certain distance while enjoy food and drink,” he said.
Putu Budiasa confesses there are many difficulties in transforming Badung River as tourism object. The cleanness dilemma is sort of serious and the river water slope is not challenging enough. On the other hand, the rainy season influences  and  affects the water overflow and causes flooding. “Nowadays, there are many citizens who come for fishing on that river,” he said.
Before it was promoted as a water tourism attraction, Denpasar Tourism Office coorporated with Public Works Office and Living Environment Office of Denpasar
in handling for several projects relates to the river. The purpose is to create a clean Denpasar City, especially around of Badung River channel.
Few illustration about the rafting and canoe competition on Badung River that held related with 11th Anniversary of Denpasar 2003. The competition last 22 February opened by Head of Tourism Office of Denpasar, Drs. I Putu Budiasa, with 40 canoe’s participants and 22 rafting group. Each group consisted of five persons from many public group such as Rafting company of entire Bali, Sekaa Teruna Teruni (youth group), natural lover collage student, water police, and public society.
The race was over a 5 km distance, starting from Jero Kuta harbor (Karna Street) Denpasar and finishing at Buagan Dam, Pedungan village. Even tough the river water is narrow and died down and contains  small obstacles, the participants kept enthusiastic and enjoyed the fun in competition.
The canoe competition rule was untied, as long as they can reach the finish line with short time and intact condition. This competition was just for fun. The winner of Canoe competition is N Subagia (1st winner), Kemdak Suta (2nd winner), W. Sudarta (3rd winner) and N Rener (4th winner). Each of the winner won a prize money of Rp 400.000, Rp 350.000, Rp 250.000, and Rp 150.000,-. Whereas the winner of the Rafting competition is MB Lehek (1st winner) deserve for Rp 900.000, Bali Adventure Team
(2nd winner) received Rp 750.000, Sobek Telaga Waja (3rd winner) deserved Rp 650.000, and Sobek Tim (4th winner) deserved  a price money of Rp 500.000.
(BTN/015)