Janet de Neefe
The creator of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is Melbourne artist and restaurateur Janet de Neefe, who has lived in Bali for 20 years. She is the founder of two restaurants in Ubud, Casa Luna and Indus, as well as the Casa Luna Cooking School which is attended by hundreds of visitors each year, all eager to learn the secrets of Bali’s spicy cuisine.
Her memoir/cookbook Fragrant Rice (HarperCollins 2003) is a fascinating account of her personal journey on this most exotic of islands, interspersed with mouth-watering Balinese recipes and insights into Balinese traditions. Janet has been nominated for the Nita B. Kibble Literary Award for women writers, and since the publication of her book has been invited to speak at writers’ festivals in Australia and Hong Kong.

Dewi Anggraeni
Dewi Anggraeni was born in Jakarta, and now a Melbournian at heart. She is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. In her journalistic work, she often explains Australia to Indonesians, and Indonesia to Australians. In her novels and short stories she lets her imagination do the exploring, usually transcending geographical boundaries.
Dewi is the Australian correspondent for Tempo, and regular contributor to The Jakarta Post. She also writes for Femina and Pesona. In Australia she writes opinions and feature articles for The Age, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Canberra Times, Eureka Street, and a number of specialist publications. In Hong Kong she writes for The Far Eastern Economic Review.
She has published 7 books: 4 novels (Snake, Journeys through Shadows, Parallel Forces, and The Root of All Evil); 1 trilogy of novellas (Stories of Indian Pacific); 1 bilingual collection of short stories (Neighbourhood Tales); 1 non-fiction work (Who Did This to Our Bali?)
She has also contributed to various anthologies in Australia, Indonesia, and the UK. Her short stories are published in publications in Australia and Indonesia.
At the Ubud Writers’ & Readers’ Festival, Dewi Anggraeni’s participation highlight is when she shares her concerns in Paradise Lost? and conducts a one-on-one conversation with Inspector General Made Mangku Pastika. (BTN/*)

I Gede Titah Pratyaksa
The “Ajeg Bali” Essay Winner

The Balinese activities in art, especially in dance art and instrumental art, is not just activated in village halls but more dedicated to the wider range of society. No data is available as to the number of art studios in Bali, but it’s predicted in the hundreds. This phenomenon attracted I Gede Titah Pratyaksa to think about the role of art studios in motivating Balinese youth on their culture.
This 2nd level of junior school students of SMP PGRI 2 Denpasar rather choose Lokananta Dance Studio, Singapadu-Sukawati-Gianyar and Tabuh Sekar Mas Studio, Penguyangan Kangin, Denpasar, as their preferred locations. Lokananta Studio has been in operation for the past 3 years, and organized by a young artist named I Wayan Sutirtha. This studio is growing rapidly, seen from the number of pupils that reach about 200 children, many of them often as winners in several dance competitions. They also often perform charity staging at the temple.
Whilst, Tabuh Sekar Mas Studio thats organized by I Made Suartha Wijaya consists only 33 children, which play the Balinese tradition instrument. They are also ready to perform at charity stage during any ceremonial activities at the temple.
According to Titah, the children who learn in the studio do not all come from artist’s families, they are really keen dances and play Balinese music instruments. Children obtain more knowledge about dance and instrumental music in the studio, whilst during ngayah (charity staging) can improve their conviction to God, which automatically ables them to socialize within society. “This studio activity directly leads the youth to love their art and culture, which is appropriate with the concept of Ajeg Bali,” he said whilst addressing the jury of an Essay Competition in social culture, last month.
As the result, the jury gave him a reward as the second winner. Titah was alone in his effort presenting his essay, while other participants carried in-group. For this self-observation, Titah feels much pride as the second winner. This predicate completed his achievement records as a talented dancer who had won many competitions, such as the 1st winner for Jauk Manis Dance in 2004. (BTN/022)

Correction

I Ketut Tusan Aryasa             Muhadir

In Bali Travel News Vol VI/22, we showed the photo’s of Muhadir – HRD Ramada Bintang Bali Resot, and I Ketut Tusan Aryasa – Executive Housekeeper, in the wrong order. We are re-publishing the photo’s and the correct order. We apologize for the error. (Editor)