Visiting German President Christian Wulff met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on Thursday, as Germany plans to shorten the Schengen visa processing time for Indonesians wanting to visit the country and eurozone countries.
Friendly farewell: German President Christian Wulff (right) waves at Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before leaving the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday. Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf

The German Embassy in Jakarta has announced its plan to cut its visa processing period from 12 to 3 days for Indonesians.

German Ambassador to Indonesia Norbert Baas said the policy to reduce the visa processing period would be implemented before Christmas this year.

The reason behind the policy was inseparable from the security and stability of Indonesia, which in the ambassador’s view had shown positive progress, especially in terms of reduced threats of terrorism.

After attending the meeting between the two leaders at the State Palace, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said that Indonesia had long since asked Germany for a reduced visa processing time.

According to Marty, the meeting between Yudhoyono and Wulff was concentrated on the future of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Germany and Indonesia have had a close relationship for 60 years.

In a joint press conference, Yu-dhoyono told reporters that Indonesia suggested five strategic cooperations with Germany, namely investment and trade, health, education, research and technology.

“In investment and trade cooperation, Indonesia has MP3EI [the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesia’s Economic Development], and Indonesia invites Germany to be a strategic partner,” he said.

According to Yudhoyono, the volume of German trade in Indonesia is US$6 billion, an increase by 22 percent from last year.

Wulff said that Indonesia was a country that was consistent in maintaining its economic system.

“Next year, there will be many people from Germany coming to Indonesia to invest,” Wulff said.

He added that he was impressed with how Indonesia made its democracy and economy grow together.

Indonesia has enjoyed a close relationship with Germany in the past, when B.J. Habibie was a Cabinet minister, vice president and president.

Wulff’s visit was expected to revitalize the relationship between the two countries, although perhaps not to the levels seen during Habibie’s presidency.

“The Habibie era was a combination of what had been built up before. The fact that he studied in Germany and spoke German like a native German was really a boost,” Baas said on Wednesday.

Sourc: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/12/02/germany-shortens-visa-processing-ri.html?

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Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will conclude his three-day working visit in Lombok by starting a ground-breaking development of Mandalika Resort on Friday morning.

Located along the coastal beach of Kuta in Lombok Tengah district, West Nusa Tenggara, and some some 70 km south of Mataram, Mandalika Resort is expected to revive the tourism sector in Lombok.

The resort is a representative area where a number of star-rated hotels have been built for international events and for visiting guests and tourists from other countries.

History has proven that the land in the southern part of Lombok is not good for farming due to the high level of acidity, lack of water and hot weather.

But with beautiful beaches, it makes the area good for tourism resort that was supported by a United Nations Development Program decision in 1987.

The land from Kuta Beach up to Gunung Kelluh Beach was chosen for Mandalika Tourism Resort for it is suitable for recreation on the land and in the sea as it has fascinating scenery both on the ground and underwater.

The policy of the central government of Indonesia is that tourism in the eastern part of the archipelago should be enhanced. In support of this policy, the authority of West Nusa Tenggara decided to develop the southern part of Lombok.

After delivering a short message, President Yudohoyono will press the button of siren to mark the ground-breaking development of Mandalika Tourism Resort in Lombok.

On the occasion the president will be accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Tourism and Creative Economic Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Zainul Majdi, and PT Bali Tourism Development Corporation President Director Ida Bagus Wirajaya.

After dedicating the Mandalika Resort, President Yudhoyono and his entourage will leave for Bali to attend the 7th National Meeting of All Indonesia District Governments Association (APKASI) before returning to Jakarta on October 24, 2011. (*)

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/76801/president-concludes-lombok-visit

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90 years on after its first stage performance,  the ancient Sundanese legend of  Lutung Kasarung will come alive at the Sasana Budaya Ganesha, Bandung, from 27 December 2011 to 7 January 2012 in a spectacular show entitled the  Lutung Kasarung Musical.

Lutung Kasarung or the Lost Ape is an ancient folklore from the people  of West Java,  - known as Sundanese - that tells about the journey of the Sanghyang Guruminda from the realm of Heaven who came down to earth  in the shape ofa Lutung, a kind of ape. In this journey, he falls in love with the beautiful Purbasari Ayuwangi who is heir to the throne of the Pasir Batang Kingdom.The power struggle between Purbasari and her evil sibling Purbararang became the highlight of the story. Purbararang tried almost anything to keep Purbasari from the throne, but to no avail since Lutung Kasarung was always present to save Purbasari. Purbasari eventually overcame every obstacle and she finally ruled over the land together with Lutung Kasarung. The ugly ape eventually turned into a prince charming when he married Purbasari. As a universal value, the essence of the story is that although evil will never cease to suppress good, in the end righteousness will prevail.       

For the Sundanese, Lutung Kasarung as a folklore is considered special and even sacred. Within the story there are values of Sundanese indigenous wisdom that deal with teachings, from cosmology to ethics in society. The story also contains moral values and guidance of life, among which are the wisdom on planting rice in the field, eating sirih (betelnut) leaves, and even to the need of a  decent democratic system in society.  One interesting fact that has occurred in history is that each time the Lutung Kasarung play was performed, changes have occurred the Indonesian society.  

The story was first adapted into a colossal gending karesmen or musical play in 1921 by RA.Wiranatakusumah, who was mayor of Bandung at the time. in 1926, Lutung Kasarung or Loetoeng Kasaroeng also became the first movie ever produced in Indonesia – then the Dutch East Indies - directed by G.Kruger and L.Heuveldrop from the Netherlands. After Indonesia’s Independence in 1945, the play drew the attention of the first President, Ir. Soekarno. It was staged in the town of Ciamis in 1947, but Soekarno had to wait 5 years before the play was finally performed at the IKADA stadium in Jakarta in 1952.

As the story contains such significant values, and considering its contribution to Sundanese and Indonesian culture, the Lutung Kasarung Musical is surely something you should not miss.

Regular tickets are already on sale since 26 November 2011 and can be obtained at http://ticket.plasa.com or other appointed ticket box in Jakarta and Bandung. Admission tickets are IDR150.000 (2^nd Class), IDR250.000(1^st Class), IDR350.000 (VIP), and IDR650.000 (VVIP).

Source: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/event/detail/397/the-lutung-kasarung-musical-legend-performed-in-bandung

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The opening of the new Lombok International Airport has started to boost the tourism industry of Lombok Island with the arrival of around 150 Russian tourists via Nordwind Airline charter flight on Wednesday, November 16^th, 2011.

The arrival is the first of a series of charter flights organized by Pegas Touristik in Russia and handled by Go Vacation Indonesia (GVI) , a travel agent based in Bali, that will bring passengers from Russia directly to Lombok on an Airbus 767-300ER with a capacity of 304 seats, starting November 2011 to May 2012.

Go Vacation Indonesia executive manager, for product and contracting, Marika Gloeckler, said: “These are direct flights from Novosibirsk/Russia to Lombok on a regular basis, with a rotation of 13 nights back to back, to the island up to May 2012.” Gloeckler added that there could be a second charter program from another city in Russia.

Up to May 2012, 4000 Russian tourists are estimated to visit Lombok. This number is expected to increase in years to come. Putu Arya, representative for GVI stated that there will be groups of tourists coming in the 284 seated charter flights each month.”Initialy we introduced the Bali-Lombok package tours, but then many tourists preferred to go straight to Lombok without Bali” he added.

GVI mainly provides accommodation packages for the Russian tourists, while tour packages are optional. A number of tour packages offered to the tourists include a visit to the Gili Islands, the Mandalika resort package, trips to handicrafts centers, and much more.

Meanwhile, the Lombok-Moscow axis is estimated to grow as a blooming economic line. Not only tourists, business developers from Russia are also arriving at tourist destinations in West Nusa Tenggar Province. About 18 Russian investors have visited Lombok earlier this week. The trip was a response to officials of West Nusa Tenggara Province visiting Russia earlier. “The Russian businessmen visited some of the tourism destinations in West Nusa Tenggara, this is a form of introduction to West Nusa Tenggara Tourism potentials” said Bayu Winindiya, head of the West Nusa Tenggara Investment Board (BPM).

Source: http://www.indonesia.travel/en/news/detail/560/regular-charter-flights-carry-russian-tourists-to-lombok-direct

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