Dr. Somvir
Yoga for Harmonious Life

The name of Dr. Somvir probably has been no more bizarre in the ears of Balinese community, primarily to those who are fond of learning about Sanskrit and yoga. The man of Jakhalan-born in 1970 is indeed a yoga instructor and Sanskrit teacher. He is frequently seen on TV to present the dharma wacana preaching to Balinese community. Ever calm and fresh looking are the typical characteristics of this founder of yoga centres in Bali.
"Yoga has played a great role within every single pace of my life. I was grown up within a family highly appreciating the traditional values. Numerous religious ceremonies and customs inspired by Hinduism have come in a part of routines of my family, including yoga," said one of the founders of Bali-India Foundation.
According to him, he has an extraordinary interest in yoga since he was five years old. At that time, he learned to practise some asana (a posture adopted in hatha yoga) movements though he did not understand its meaning at all. When he was nine, he studied at a gurukula (an educational institution implementing traditional educational system) for 12 years. "I am a graduate of a gurukula located at the Ganges riverside. This gurukula adopted the Vedic tradition where self-discipline and good mental attitude become its main objective and yoga and meditation turns to be some of its activities," he explained.
Also added, the yoga teaching has evolved his self-confidence and made him the winner of an asana competition. Even, when he was 16 years old he has been awarded "the Best Yogi". His outstanding achievement in such competition encouraged his intention to brush up the knowledge and understanding on yoga at the level of philosophy.
Having graduated his education at gurukula, he eventually continued to the New Delhi University, India. It was at this university he initiated an idea to open a yoga programme under the name of modernization," he explained.
By the mission to create harmonious life of the individual and society, wherever he went, he always introduced this yoga teaching. "In Bali, supported by its community, I founded a yoga centre at Saraswati University (1998). Then, it was followed by another centre at the Indian Cultural Centre (2005) and Bali-India Foundation (2006)," uttered the writer and author of 8 books on yoga.
To him, yoga exercise is the best way to maintain our health. "I often encounter aged and sick people who have been unable to be cured or those who get misled to bad habit intending to learn yoga. In my mind, this perception is really fallacious as the yoga indeed is good for the young and children in order they will not fall sick. It is them that should practise yoga in compliance with the slogan "yoga for happy and healthy people".
Similarly, yoga is universal not belonging to particular religion or faith but its teaching more focuses on the development of spirituality and universalism. Yoga is not merely intended to certain circle intending to look for supernatural power or the highest freedom (moksha). Yoga can be undertaken by everyone without discriminating their age, sex, ethnic, religion, race and faith. Yoga provides maximal benefits and touches the life to create harmonious relationship, affection within the self, family, community and the universe. (BTN/rai)

Arthur Katz
Professional Business in Bali

Indonesia is a potential place to do business. It is based on the consideration of the abundant natural resources it has. However, there are some obstacles that need paying attention such as the costly raw materials and shortage of assurance extended by government, primarily to foreign investors," reveals Arthur Katz, an enterpriser from Las Vegas Nevada, USA.
According to the man who has commenced his investment in Indonesia since 1990, Indonesia is a profitable place for investment. "I started my investment on the soap business where my merchandise exported to America got very delightful response. Nearly 90% of the soap product of Indonesia sold well in the circle of hotel business in America and Mexico," he says while adding that this fact is inseparable from its raw materials that are made from plants growing in Indonesia with strong fragrance.
Nevertheless, he comments that if compared to other countries like China, the raw materials in Indonesia are too expensive. Whereas, according to him, the products made in Indonesia is no inferior in terms of its quality than the product of other countries. "The commonest example is leather shoes. Products of Indonesia are actually best favoured abroad, but its costly price makes them difficult to be marketed. Government should get involved and provide subsidy to enterpriser so the production cost will not be too high," explains this white-skinned man.
In the tourism sector, investment activity is also potential to be performed considering Indonesia and Bali in particular has culture and amazing charm of nature. Unfortunately, there are not many investors knowing this potential. "In my opinion, one of the ways to do is making promotion through media. The mass media should be distributed abroad and carry travel section in it. This travel section contains complete information on the culture along with this local potential. Later, this can drive the investors to come," explains Arthur who is also good at conjuring.
Other than tourism, Bali also has wooden handicrafts that can be categorized into large company and has great prospect to make cooperation with the entrepreneurs from America. "It can be done by inviting the association of entrepreneurs running the business at handicraft and organize a meeting and expo. In the future, the craftsmen of Bali can meet together with their counterparts, the entrepreneurs from America. As a consequence, they can share information. It’s one of the effective methods that have been well proven to succeed in developing the marketing in the United States," he describes.
In addition, the pricing strategy should also be put into consideration. "Do not be greedy to set up expensive prices when marketing a product for the first time. This should be well determined by the entrepreneurs that consumers will not learn their lesson to purchase such products. Do not think about too high profit at the beginning of the marketing," reminds Arthur again and again.
It is just like selling a cake, about how to set up an affordable price by maintaining the quality persistently. When consumers have known about the flavour and quality of the cake, they will gradually get interested and dependant on our product.
Except for the power of attraction, potential of nature, marketing strategy, investor safeguarding and subsidy from government, security also comes in an important aspect to be considered. Security is a crucial requirement that should be complied with by a country to bring home investors to its country. "Security is an absolute requisite that should be owned by a country in order the investors get interested to invest their capital. If the security is not well maintained, it can be ensured that investors are reluctant to put their money into the business. (BTN/rai)

Made Mandra
Bali Needs More Champions

If Bali keeps on creating more champions in years to come, this Island of the Gods will have aspirants of reliable leaders. That’s the reason why the Managing Director of PT BTDC, Ir. Made Mandra, M.Sc. allocated some budget for scholarship to students of elementary, secondary and senior high schools, having outstanding achievement in the territory of Benoa Municipality on the commemoration of its 33rd anniversary.
According to him, there were three momentous matters expected from such scholarship presentation. Firstly, attitude, if they had good attitude they would become a good leader. Secondly, they should master science and knowledge in their own discipline in conformity with necessity. And the third one was skill or competence. It was the three matters that should be produced. "Though BTDC has just done it in little, it has a clear format to create the champions in Bali," he observed proudly.
Other than delivering scholarships, Mandra also passed the knowledge on tourism to the community at its surroundings such as training for gardeners, taxi cooperative and street hawkers. Observed, having received such scholarship the students were not obliged to work in tourism sector. It would depend very much on their aspiration.
To manage the area of Nusa Dua, his party will redesign the amphitheatre into a single theatre with international nuance. It stages are going to be made differently, customized upwards and downwards, the background designed in such a way that could be replaceable and it enabled to bring in horses. It is carried out by considering the fact that there have been many traditional theatres in Bali. The large number of visitors having spare time at night also becomes an important consideration. "In addition, all hotels have already presented traditional art performance. And the guests surely would like to enjoy something different or collaboration art," he described.
The second programme is to change partially the area of BTDC as recreation and entertainment spot. This office will be made into entertainment and recreation spot for family, either domestic or international. "Hopefully, it would become a reality within this year," he assured. (BTN/015)