
More than 40 disaster risk reduction practitioners, tsunami experts, government officials, and community facilitators gathered in Bali, Indonesia, from July 12 to 18, 2026, for a UNESCO-IOC training of facilitators. The program aimed to strengthen tsunami preparedness in the North-West Indian Ocean region, including participants from India, Indonesia, Iran, Maldives, Pakistan, Oman, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates. Engin Koncagul, Chief of Natural Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, highlighted the importance of building local capacity. Participants learned to support coastal communities in achieving the 12 UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Indicators through technical sessions and practical exercises. The training included reviewing tsunami hazard maps, practicing facilitation techniques, a tsunami drill, and a visit to Tanjung Benoa, an Indonesian Tsunami Ready community. Elementary school principals in Tanjung Benoa shared how regular drills have made students more confident and less fearful of tsunamis and earthquakes, attributing success to collaboration between government, local Disaster Risk Reduction forums, and the community. Participants developed facilitation plans to implement the program in their countries, contributing to UNESCO-IOC's goal of increasing Tsunami Ready coastal communities worldwide by 2030. The UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System Secretariat, orga
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Vici, a long-term Bali resident, highlights nine hotel restaurants across Bali that offer exceptional dining experiences, suitable for various occasions from fine dining to family meals. These establishments, located in areas such as Uluwatu, Ubud, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Seminyak, and Canggu, are open to non-staying guests. The selection includes Mana Uluwatu for cliffside ocean views and sunset cocktails, Waatu at The Ungasan for fire-cooked local produce, and Tangelo at Cicada Resort Bali Ubud for Indonesian cuisine with valley views. Ayung Terrace at Four Seasons Ubud offers modern Indonesian dishes with jungle views, while Sundara at Four Seasons Jimbaran provides beachfront dining with an infinity pool. Kayuputi at The St. Regis Bali Resort is noted for fine Asian-inspired cuisine and an award-winning wine list, and Seasalt at Alila Seminyak features Japanese-inspired seafood. Dome at Desa Potato Head offers modern Asian fusion and natural wines, and Paparempa at Noema Resort Pererenan celebrates Indonesian heritage flavors. Prices for main courses generally range from IDR 80,000 to IDR 330,000++. Booking in advance is recommended, especially for popular times and special events.
Must readFor travelers seeking a unique experience in Bali, the "quiet hour" before sunrise offers unparalleled scuba diving opportunities. This period, lasting about ninety minutes, provides solitude before the island becomes busy with day boats and beach clubs. The best diving in Bali is not about secret sites but about timing, allowing access to experiences others cannot easily reach. Neptune Scuba Diving is mentioned as an operator that fits within Bali's scuba diving landscape, offering a range of dives from shore entries to wreck dives and blue-water encounters around offshore islands. Discerning divers should look for operators who limit group sizes and offer private dawn departures. An example is the USAT Liberty wreck near Tulamben, which is busy by mid-morning but empty at dawn. Early dives at the wreck offer sightings of bumphead parrotfish, unique sunbeam effects inside the hull, peak visibility, and the chance to share the ship with only a guide. For those new to scuba diving, the wreck provides a gentle introduction. Across the strait, Nusa Penida offers encounters with manta rays year-round and mola mola from July to October. Early morning dives or snorkeling at cleaning stations on Penida allow for more natural animal behavior. Staying on Penida and departing at first light is recommended for the best experience. The east coast villages of Amed and Tulamben offer a retreat-like diving experience, with quiet villas and dive centers acting as private concierges. The ritu
Must readAn Australian traveler experienced a significant financial shock during a New Year's Eve celebration in Bali when a currency mix-up led to a A$10,650 daybed bill. Hayley Rose Davis, from Perth, booked a daybed at Atlas Super Club in Kuta Beach, believing it cost A$1650. Her credit card payment initially failed, and a friend's attempt showed insufficient funds, but Davis completed the transaction over the phone, attributing the issues to banking problems. The group ordered various items, including vodka, shishas, cocktails, burgers, chips, and oysters. Towards the end of the night, Davis offered remaining credit as a tip, which staff converted into bottles of alcohol. She later learned that one bottle of tequila she gave away was worth A$600. The full extent of the mistake became clear three days later when her card was declined, revealing a A$10,650 charge for the daybed. Davis also incurred an A$700 interest payment on her credit card. Her friends eventually paid their shares of the bill.