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Minggu, 23 November 2008

Cultural parade marks the end of Kuta Carnival

Dicky Christanto , The Jakarta Post , Kuta Mon, 10/27/2008 1:02 PM Bali
The week-long Kuta Carnival ended with a bang Sunday, as thousands gathered to witness its final show: a cultural parade showcasing the eclectic variations of Bali's cultural sensibilities.
Forty-five participants, rangeing from musicians to Harley Davidson bikers, paraded around a 4-kilometer circuit from Jl. Kuta to Jl. Legian for a closing performance.
Traditional artists, including bleganjur musicians and traditional dancers, pranced the streets, entertaining the massive crowd.
"As a Balinese, I am proud that this event has attracted a lot of attention from many foreign tourists," Komang Widagda, a spectator, said.
"I hope that this event will receive a place in the heart of many tourists so that they will come and visit this island again soon."
The carnival, the sixth since its inception in 2003, has reportedly become one of the most popular events for tourists on the island. Foreign tourists inundated almost all the events organized during the Kuta Carnival.
The inauguration of foreign tourists as Bali "kings" and "queens", the traditional wrestling competition, the piglet chasing competition and the Kuta food festival were crowd favorites at the carnival.
Komang Graha Wicaksana, Kuta Carnival's organizing committee chairman, said he was happy with the carnival because the number of visitors attending the festival had increased significantly from last year.
"We have done our best this year. I hope that we will come with become something bigger and more attractive next year,"he said at the closing performance.
For the final show, lifeguards threw a flower bouquet from a helicopter as they passed above Kuta Beach as the songa distance", written by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold and made popular by American actress-songstress Bette Midler, echoed in the background.
"The song is a symbol of peace," one committee member said.
Nyoman Puasha Aryana, a spokesman from the city administration who attended the closing ceremony, said the local government appreciated all the effort put in to promote tourism on the island.
"I encourage the committee to continue this carnival next year."
The government welcomes any ideas on how to help them promote Bali in the future, he said.
"We hope that such a festivity will not only happen during high season, but also in the low season so that interesting attractions color Bali all year round."

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