Mangku Pastika:
Serving Bali

Mangku Pastika, who was born on June 22 1951, left Bali in 1967 as part of a transmigration program to Sumatra following the 1963 eruption of Mount Agung and its disastrous effects on the region where he lived. This meant that Mangku Pastika spent much of his life outside Bali and grew up and studied outside the small island.
Soon after he graduated from Senior High School, he chose The Police Academy in Magelang (Java) as the place to study and improve discipline. This last education, at the same time was the beginning place of Irjen Pol. Drs. Made Mangku Pastika’s career. More than 30 years of duty, he held several important positions such as Chief of Provincial Police of NTT (East Timor), Chief of Provincial Police of Papua, until the Leader of Investigation Team of Bali Bombing.
However, Pastika certainly runs his duties with full responsibility, honesty and loyalty. He is confident that what he has became now is a gift of God’s magnificence, because he has a code, “No matter how small it is, we must be grateful for it”. So, as his great duty of being Chief of Bali Provincial Police, he markes it as the splendor of God. That’s why he’s resolved in serving heartedly to protect Bali from any criminal issues. “Few programs need to be fixed. The security recovery of Bali should be built within the global net, not only restricted on the tourism sector,” he stated.
Within Pastika’s mind, tourism has become the economic main pillar in Bali. Pastika has an opinion that security access to Bali is not optimal yet. Another cultural matter of the Balinese that rent houses to foreigners, need to be more careful in asking for detailed identity of the person who rents their house. “Whereas, such an overlook may provide a chance for those who come with a bad purpose,” Pastika said whilst warning everyone.
Every person, including the outsider, who tends to visit Bali, needs security, and safe sense. Within this alumnus prediction from International Criminal Investigation Study, Tokyo, Japan, there are four significant elements that should be created for security: security, safety, assurance, and peacefulness. “Pedestrians, for example, an assurance must exist where they should walk, on the right or left side,” said Mangku who fluently speaks English, German and Chinese.
If the safety and comfort is guaranteed, surely the guest/tourist will come to visit. Mangku Pastika is glad that nyama Bali (nyama = polite term to call people/person as our relative) were able to control them up till now. No hesitation and grasa-grusu (provocation manner), moreover misleading issues. When the bomb destroyed Kuta, they were still able to control themselves, not executing any harmed and anarchist action, which is intensified to the damaging of entire communities. The people are still aware and conscious of executing their own activities, “This behavior and attitude is surely needed, worthy and to be maintained continuously,” he said again.
Much should be prepared for Bali for the future. Merely, to reach that level, collaboration is certainly needed from all sides. The entire components should walk arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder. If it is materialized, Mangku is convinced that the safety, comfort and peacefulness of Bali will return soon.
(BTN/*)

Ni Made Sutrini, Proud to Sell Jaja Bali

Balinese traditional cake is becoming more popular. The cake that used to be sold in the village or traditional market, now penetrates inside hotels adorning reception events or parties. Because of its popularity, many people want to try their luck as a cake seller.
Ni Made Sutrini is one of the jaja Bali sellers. “Jaja Bali is liked by most people. We do good business every day,” she said.
Made Sutrini sells her cakes at the T-intersection of Denpasar – Singaraja – Alas Kedaton, at Denkayu village, in the Mengwi sub district, Badung. She always busy with customers, not only coming from Denkayu village, but from Kuta, Singaraja, Tabanan, and several villages in the northern Badung regency.
“Beside serving the individual costumers or groups, I also take orders for receptions. A customer from Kuta especially orders cakes for his guests,” she proudly said.
Thus, this explains that her selling spot is very strategic to sell her home made jaja Bali. Besides a transit site for the passenger to Tabanan – Denpasar –Singaraja, her position is closely sited with a gas station, and also a picking-up spot for youngsters. However, after 6 pm until noon the next day, few cars can be seen on route to Tabanan.
“Even though her stand is simple in shape, she feels happy and proud, because its always crowded with buyers. They especially come to my stall just to buy my Jaja Bali,” she said smiling.
According to Sutrini who lives in the Ole sub village, Marga, Tabanan, the customer can choose any of the six different kinds of jaja Bali, namely, jaja lukis, jaja laklak, jaja bendu, jaja sangrai, jaja klepon and jaja gadang/jaja serod/jaja tuding. She also sells coffee to complement her fare.
So, are all of these cakes made by yourself? “Yes, she replied, but if the order over laps, I’m usually helped by another cake maker.” And, how about the selling time? “I start selling my cakes from 2 pm until 10 pm at night. If custumer want to order something, just come to my stall or straight to my house,” she said seriously.
How about the benefit from sales? Sutrini confesses that the sale benefit is enough only to fulfill the family needs. “It is small in amount, because my husband is not working, so this really helps out for meal costs and children’s school fees,” she modestly said.
However, now, Ni Made Sutrini has purchased a motorcycle as the result of selling jaja Bali, and does not need to hitch-hike anymore. (BTN/015)

Teuku Munawarsyah’s: New Hope for Korea

Representatives of the United States of America, Australia and Korea, participating in Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) from the 3rd until the 6th September 2003 in Jakarta, have gained new hope that the event, seen by 103 buyers from 28 countries worldwide, would save tourism industry in Indonesia, especially Bali, immensely, following a complex crisis in most aspects of the business sectors.
According to Teuku Munawarsyah, the Sales Marketing Manager of the Villa de Daun, TIME 2003 has been of great significance for tourism in Bali due to the probability of instigating cooperation and exchange of information with foreign buyers, who have promised to always recommend tourists to visit Bali, in spite of travel warnings issued by the US and Australia.
Prominent Travel Agents from the United States of America and Australia, for example, have promised to help restore the Indonesian tourism image by dispatching tourists to Bali. They argued that the security condition has been conducive, whilst the Balinese culture has strongly influenced motivation to visit the island, Mr. Teuku Munawarsyah told Bali Travel News.
Korea has done the same too. After the closure of TIME 2003, the buyers coming from Korea flew straight to Bali and performed ‘site inspections’ to see facilities and accommodations. They at the time closely observed security conditions and conveniences on the Island of Gods, or Bali.
According Teuku Munawarsyah, a graduate of the Strategic Business School of Malaysia, during the event, stated that foreign TIME buyers were active in gathering information on Bali’s tourism products they were to market. Korean Travel Agents actively gathered information among others pertaining to Rest Life, Island Marketing, Wedding Tours, Resort Tours, the Korean Travel Time and Club Island Center. “This has been in effect a non-paid promotion for Bali’s tourism” he ascertained.
The Presidential Decision No. 18/ 2003 of visa payments from tourists wishing to enter Indonesian territory, the former General Manager of Spa Retreat advised better to postpone the application of the regulation in practice. “On the other hand, it should be abrogated while we are awaiting genuine favorable conditions to return” he claimed. (BTN/013)