It’s a place for dreaming. Maria Garcon, 58 Vancouver, Canada

LOS ANGELES ~ Folk/rock supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash said this week they will celebrate 40 years of fame since they made it big in Woodstock with a tour starting in June in the US Midwest and continuing in Europe in July. The composers and recorders of Suite: Judy blue eyes, Our House and Marrakesh [...]

Made Kami, 60, mother of three and grandmother of six, sells fabrics and souvenirs in Ubud What’s the greatest lesson life has taught you? You must be strong and work for your family. What’s most important? Family. What advice would you give the younger generations? Try not to worry about things but get an education [...]

JODHPUR ~ Australian star Nicole Kidman flew in to the northern Indian town of Udaipur this week to shoot parts of Hollywood action-adventure film The Eighth Wonder. Local officials said the Hollywood actress will be staying at the Lake Palace, the luxury hotel featured in the James Bond film Octopussy. Showbiz websites say the new [...]

NAME: Ketut Pasquale AGE: 37 Occupation: Cruise-ship staff LOCATION: Ubud How do you think the country is doing now? I think everyone is struggling because of the financial crisis. It’s a difficult time but the president is on the right track; he just needs time to do more. Is the central government in Jakarta doing [...]

HONG KONG ~ Japan dominated the Asian Film Awards this year, grabbing top prizes including best picture, best director and best actor, event organizers announced. Tokyo Sonata, a portrait of the breakdown of a seemingly normal Japanese family, won the award for best film. Its director, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, known for his thrillers and suspense movies, [...]

LOS ANGELES ~ Knowing, a sci-fi action thriller starring Nicolas Cage, made its debut over the weekend at the top of the box office with US$24.6 million in ticket sales, final industry figures showed. Directed and written by Alex Proyas, maker of I, Robot, the film tracks astrophysicist John Koestler (Cage) in his race to [...]

From the perspective of Wayan Jun, 30, an internet café employee from Amed What are we here for? To continue on culture and traditions, especially here in Bali. Do you believe in the Big Bang theory that the circa-13.7-billion-year-old universe and all that’s in it was created by a massive explosion of enormously dense matter [...]

AMLAPURA ~ A total of 151 people involved with preparations for a 10-yearly ceremony at Bali’s mother temple, Besakih, were treated free of charge for various ailments last Friday, an official said. Head of the organization of Indonesian internists (PAPDI) Bali Dr. Made Bakta said the event was a joint effort between the PAPDI and [...]

BULELENG ~ The body of a fisherman was found in his boat in Les, Buleleng, last Saturday, an official said. Fellow fishermen who discovered the body, Made Merta, 45, and Wayan Redana, 50, said they found the man after investigating what they thought was an empty boat floating in the water. “We went straight to [...]

CANGGU ~ A 5-year-old boy was rushed to Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar, after a gate he was climbing at a catholic nunnery in Canggu fell on him, an official said. According to resident sister Elfrida, a spike from the top of the two-meter-high gate pierced through Indra Supatra’s head when it fell on him. Sister Elfrida [...]

GIANYAR ~ A former policemen and patient at Bangli Mental Hospital was arrested after stealing two motorbikes on the night of March 19, police said. Gianyar Police chief Nyoman Suarnata said Nyoman Suar, who previously was an officer in Bangli, stole the first motorbike from Jl. Brigjen Ngurah Rai, Bangli, and the second when he [...]