Latest tourism figures show July 2007 was the best month on record for Bali, based simply on the number of foreign arrivals. From my unscientific point of view, I’d second that opinion. Walking and riding around Kuta / Seminyak the numbers are significantly up from last year. No more sad looking street vendors and restaurants [...] Read more…
Bali has many options for home internet connection these days. The old dial up has pretty much gone out of the window, for most people with Telkom introducing DSL several months ago. Today I visited XL located on the Sunset Rd in Kuta. While Telkom require you to have a phone line installed in your house, [...] Read more…
Balinese authorities have taken the bull by the horns in an effort to tackle the recent outbreak of bird flu. International media often blows things out of proportion when it comes to bad things happening in developing countries, so this latest episode suggests Bali might be a place to avoid. Those of us who live [...] Read more…
Fiji's suspended Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki has filed court proceedings against 13 individuals amongst whom include the President Ratu Josefa Iloilo and interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama Read more…
Prominent Fiji chiefs Ratu Tu'uakitau Cokanauto, Ratu Talemo Ratakele, Ro Epeli Mataitini, Ratu Jone Nakautoga, Ratu Josefa Basulu and Ratu Josateki Nawalowalo have been chosen to review the Great Council of Chiefs Read more…
Fiji's interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama says for good results and better impact, the Forestry and Fisheries Ministry needed a new minister Read more…
Fiji's former Home Affairs Minister in the ousted SDL Government Joketani Cokanasiga was sworn-in as the interim Minister for Fisheries and Forest at Government House this morning Read more…
A co-architect of Fiji's Constitution has questioned the powers of the President to grant immunity to those involved in the 2006 coup Read more…
Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Ltd says it is hoping to partner with local and overseas investors to set up a technology park in Fiji Read more…
Interim Fijian Affairs Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau says he will spend this week consulting with chiefs as part of the review of the Great Council of Chiefs Read more…
Hundreds of people continue to pour onto Albert Park in Suva for the 2007 Hibiscus Festival Read more…
Sunday evening in Bali and here is what this expat did today. Ika wants to learn to drive a car, so I spent an hour trying to locate a cheap rental, that we could take down to Serangan Island (plenty of open space) and get her started. Seminyak car rental places were all sold out, [...] Read more…
Fiji's Methodist Church general secretary Ame Tugawe concedes that the church can afford to pay its dues owed to the interim administration for the running of the Ba Mission Hospital but wants the debt written off Read more…
Methodist Church leaders will discuss the church's debt to the State in its annual conference in Macuata Province next week Read more…
Police have arrested two youths over the alleged murder of a musician in Lautoka yesterday Read more…
A report outlining the resources required for Fiji to hold elections in March, 2009 is expected to be received by the Fiji Cabinet before the end of this month Read more…
Local Balinese surfers are reaping the benefits of the well organized and well marketed ISC (Indonesian Surfing Championship). Local surfer Pepen Hendrik has just won the Quiksilver event at Lakey Peak in Sumbawa. Here’s more from Tim Hain of ISC. Bali’s Pepen Hendrik takes the win at the Dompu Indonesian Open presented by Quiksilver at Lakey [...] Read more…
Thousands of people braved the traditional Hibiscus drizzle to witness the float procession that marked the official opening day of the 2007 Hibiscus festival Read more…
The downsizing of Fiji's civil service is likely to take place as part of reforms proposed in the People's Charter for Change and Progress, says the permanent secretary in the Prime Minister's Office Parmesh Chand Read more…
Fiji's interim regime says it is determined to try and cut down on red tape to ensure approval time for investments can be reduced to less than six months Read more…
Civil servants who were forced to take early retirement due to the interim regime's reduction of the retirement age have been recalled Read more…
The High Court has ordered a demarcation of roles between the newly established Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Read more…
Teenager Jasmine Duxbury took out top honours at the "Kaila" Star Quest competition finals held at Albert Park in Suva this evening Read more…
AP - A strengthening Hurricane Dean tore through the eastern Caribbean islands of St. Lucia and Martinique on Friday, ripping the roofs from a hospital and homes, knocking out power, and flooding roads with rain and seawater. A 62-year-old man drowned, in the storm's first death. Read more…
AP - The State Department expects half of all Americans will have passports or an equivalent in four years — a huge boost caused by post-9/11 security rules that swamped government offices this summer and infuriated would-be travelers. Read more…