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Based on 477,287 ratings  Indonesia ranked 7th in the world.

I’m pleased to say that Murni’s Warung was listed as one of the best traditional restaurants in Indonesia!

1. Greek
2. Italian
3. Mexican
4. Spanish
5. Portuguese
6. Turkish
7. Indonesian
8. French
9. Japanese
10. Chinese

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I am deeply honoured by the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Janet de Neefe at the Ubud Food Festival, 2024.

And I am also very pleased and flattered by the news coverage.

The Nusantara Bulletin reported,

‘Bali’s living legend, Ni Wayan Murni, was honored with the 2024 Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. Her iconic warung, established in 1974, had become a renowned refuge for travelers and a testament to her unwavering commitment to Balinese heritage.

Murni’s vision not only left a lasting impact on Bali’s culinary and hospitality landscape but also deeply touched countless visitors with her warmth and passion for sharing the beauty of her homeland,” Janet DeNeefe remarked with heartfelt admiration.’

Antara (Indonesian News Agency) were kind to say,

‘A living legend from Bali, Ni Wayan Murni, was named the recipient of the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. Murni’s Warung, which was founded in 1974, has become a top destination for travelers, both from within and outside the country.’

Radio Republik Indonesia said,

‘Legenda hidup dari Bali, Ni Wayan Murni, dinobatkan sebagai penerima Lifetime Achievement Award 2024. Warung miliknya, yang didirikan pada tahun 1974, dengan cepat menjadi destinasi bagi para pelancong—baik dari dalam maupun luar negeri. Seiring berjalannya waktu, warisannya juga berkembang dengan pendirian perusahaan-perusahaan yang masing-masing mencerminkan komitmennya terhadap warisan budaya Bali.

Visi Murni tidak hanya memberikan dampak jangka panjang pada lanskap kuliner Bali, tetapi juga menyentuh banyak orang dengan kehangatan dan semangatnya untuk berbagi keindahan tanah airnya,” kata Pendiri & Direktur Ubud Food Festival Janet DeNeefe.’

Tribun Bali said,

‘Janet mengaku tertarik dengan kisah legenda hidup asal Bali, Ni Wayan Murni, peraih Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 yang mana warung yang berdiri sejak tahun 1974, menjadi destinasi para turis domestik dan mancanegara yang warisan cita rasa turun – temurun higga bisa dinikmati masa kini.

Visinya (Murni,-Red) tidak hanya memberikan dampak jangka panjang pada lanskap kuliner Bali, tetapi juga menyentuh banyak orang dengan kehangatan dan semangatnya untuk berbagi keindahan tanah airnya,” beber dia.’

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Bali was nominated as the second-best destination world wide, after Dubai.

London is in third place, followed by Hanoi, Rome, Paris, Cancun, Marrakech, Crete, and Hoi An.

TripAdvisor described Bali as a living postcard, an Indonesian paradise that feels like a fantasy. Soak up the sun on a stretch of fine white sand, or commune with the tropical creatures as you dive along coral ridges or the colorful wreck of a WWII war ship. On shore, the lush jungle shelters stone temples and mischievous monkeys. The “artistic capital” of Ubud is the perfect place to see a cultural dance performance, take a batik or silver-smithing workshop, or invigorate your mind and body in a yoga class.

Bali was also awarded the “world’s favorite honeymoon destination”.

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In April 2022 Forbes Magazine looked at and  published a list of the best cities around the world for solo travellers.

They applied 12 metrics, including the number of hostels, local crime rates and average cost of a meal.

Ubud came out as Number 6 in the world.

This was followed by Travel + Leisure’s research in July 2022 that Ubud was the 1st best city in Asia.

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1. Ubud, Indonesia

With a mix of stunning temples, rain forests, white-sand beaches, and a thriving city center, Ubud truly has something for everyone. “Ubud is a unique destination, particularly when you’re looking for something with a wellness or healthy-living angle,” says one reader. Ubud has some of the most luxurious resorts in the world, which spoil travelers with options. But, says another reader, “the city also has an incredibly rich culture, with exceptional shopping.”

2. Chiang Mai, Thailand

3. Jaipur, India

4. Osaka, Japan

5. Udaipur, India

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Travel + Leisure’s readers have voted Ubud as the 4th Best City in the World, 2021. 

Readers rate cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value.

1. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Score: 93.54)

2. ​​Udaipur, India  (Score: 91.63)

3. Istanbul Score (Score 91.32)

4. Ubud, Indonesia (Score: 91.25)

5. Kyoto, Japan  (Score: 90.94)

It’s interesting that the voting was a close run thing.

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Official: according to Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards of 2021.

It’s based on reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, and things to do over a 12-month period (December 1, 2019 – November 30, 2020) from Tripadvisor travellers.

The awards take into account the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings.

WORLD
1. Bali
2. London
3. Dubai
4. Rome
5. Paris
6. Hanoi
7. Crete
8. Bangkok
9. Barcelona
10. Istanbul
11. Hoi An, Vietnam
12. Siem Reap, Cambodia
13. Marrakech
14. Phuket
15. New Delhi
16. Cancun
17. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
18. Florence
19. Dominican Republic
20. Tenerife
21. Lisbon
22. New York City
23. Edinburgh
24. Jaipur, India
25. Cusco, Peru

EUROPE
1. London
2. Rome
3. Paris
4. Crete
5. Barcelona
6. Istanbul
7. Florence
8. Tenerife
9. Lisbon
10. Edinburgh
11. Amsterdam
12. Corsica
13. Madrid
14. Prague
15. Majorca
16. Budapest
17. Rhodes
18. Krakow
19. Naples
20. Athens
21. Venice
22. Porto
23. Santorini
24. Berlin
25. Madeira
26. Dublin
27. Goreme, Turkey
28. Malta
29. Split, Croatia
30. Dubrovnik
31. Liverpool
32. Vienna
33. Reykjavik
34. Kas, Turkey
35. St Petersburg, Russia

UNITED STATES
1. New York City
2. Maui, Hawaii
3. Las Vegas
4. New Orleans
5. Key West, Florida
6. Oahu, Hawaii
7. Island of Hawaii
8. San Diego
9. Savannah
10. Kauai, Hawaii
11. Nashville
12. Sedona, Arizona
13. Charleston
14. Orlando
15. Chicago
16. Branson, Missouri
17. Asheville, North Carolina
18. Miami Beach
19. Washington DC
20. Austin
21. San Francisco
22. Seattle
23. Los Angeles
24. Denver
25. Boston

SOUTH PACIFIC
1. Sydney
2. Queenstown, New Zealand
3. Auckland, New Zealand
4. Melbourne
5. Gold Coast, Australia
6. Port Douglas, Australia
7. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
8. Christchurch, New Zealand
9. Hobart, Australia
10. Cairns, Australia
11. Rotorua, New Zealand
12. Brisbane, Australia
13. Margaret River, Australia
14. Wanaka, New Zealand
15. Nelson, New Zealand
16. Airlie Beach, Australia
17. Paihia, New Zealand
18. Adelaide, Australia
19. Taupo, New Zealand
20. Noosa, Australia
21. Moorea, French Polynesia
22 Kerikeri, New Zealand
23. Cromwell, Central Otago, New Zealand
24. Byron Bay, Australia
25. Viti Levu, Fiji

ASIA
1. Bali
2. Hanoi
3. Bangkok
4. Hoi An, Vietnam
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia
6. Phuket
7. New Delhi
8. Jaipur, India
9. Kathmandu, Nepal
10. Beijing
11. Ho Chi Minh City
12. Chiang Mai, Thailand
13. Chengdu, China
14. Singapore
15. Shanghai
16. Da Nang, Vietnam
17. Hong Kong
18. Goa, India
19. Udaipur, India
20. Colombo, Sri Lanka
21. Bophut, Thailand
22. Lombok, Indonesia
23. Tokyo
24. Kyoto
25. Pokhara, Nepal

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The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

UNWTO’s membership includes 159 Member States, 6 Associate Members and over 500 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

This landmark instrument was created to ensure global tourism is fair, inclusive, more transparent, and works for everyone.

Member States are looking to UNWTO for firm leadership.

The Convention was hailed as a “big step forward” towards introducing a universal, legally binding ethical code for tourism, one of the world’s most important socio-economic sectors.

Indonesia became the first country to sign, signalling its strong commitment to uphold the highest ethical principles as it expands its tourism sector. Indonesia played an important role in the drafting of the Convention as part of the Committee that converted the Global Code of Ethics in Tourism into an international legally binding instrument.

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This old map of Bali, made in 1760, is at first confusing.  That’s because  north is pointing downwards. Java is to the right and Lombok is to the left, the opposite way we normally think of them. There are two and a half compass roses.

The upper left corner has a banner cartouche, which says Das Eyland Baly oder Klein Java (The Island of Bali or Little Java). The top right hand corner has a drawing of a Balinese Royal Palace. It is unclear what the other drawing is – it does not look Balinese. The map shows detailed villages, mountains, rivers, and trees.

It was made by the celebrated French cartographer Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703 – 1772).

At the age of 18, in 1721, he was appointed chief cartographer to the French Navy, and produced many important maps  featuring Asia,  Canada and the French territories in North America, which were known all over Europe, giving France a leading role in European cartography.  

He was a member of the French intellectual group called the Philosophes and the Royal Society in London. He  was one of the Encyclopédistes, who were part of the Philosophes, who compiled the 35 volume Encyclopédie which was edited by Denis Diderot. Bellin contributed 994 articles.

It’s thought that the map was prepared for the Dutch edition of L’Histoire Générale des Voyages (15 volumes, 1746–1759) initiated by Antoine François Prévost d’Exiles (1697 – 1763), better known as Abbé Prévost, the French author and novelist.  He wrote the famous Manon Lescaut, published in 1731, which was  immediately banned in France, and has been made into seven films, three operas, two ballets and a musical. Abbé Prévost died suddenly, walking in the woods, of a ruptured aneurysm.

How Bali looks now: Maps of Bali are available on Murni’s online Shop here.

An Old Map of Bali – How Bali looked in 1760.

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Ubud was included among the 15 Best Cities in the World to Visit by TRAVEL+LEISURE.

I’m not sure that Ubud is a city, but that’s ok!

Ubud ranked 9^th with a score of 88.16 between Luang Prabang in Laos and Istanbul in Turkey. They were 8^th and 10^th.

The survey for the World’s Best Awards ended in early March 2020 right before the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘The results reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic, but we hope this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come – whenever they may be,’ they wrote.

Mexican city Oaxaca was top.  San Miguel de Allende, also in Mexico, and Hoi An in Vietnam were 2nd and 3rd.

Ubud was also mentioned in TRAVEL+LEISURE’s Top 15 Cities lists in 2017 and 2018. 

15 Best Cities in the World to Visit

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On 5 January 2019 the iconic Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, closed its doors. Dusit Thani means ‘Heavenly City’. These photographs were taken on that sad day.

It was one of the earliest 5-star hotels in the city, known for its famous guest list, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Whitney Houston, Ronald Reagan and Tom Jones, and striking modernist architecture. At that time, Bangkok was full of American GIs, who were fighting the Vietnam War. They were there for rest and recreation. Most Bangkok hotels were emphasising Western modernity, but the Dusit Thai concentrated on Thainess. There were 517 rooms and suites and a funky hexagonal pool.

The hotel was on the corner of Rama IV and Silom roads across from Lumphini Park and opened on 27 February 1970. It was then Bangkok’s tallest hotel, designed by Japanese architect Yozo Shibata and had a golden spire on top of the roof, inspired by Bangkok’s Wat Run, Temple of Dawn, up the river. It was a favourite dining and events location, especially for weddings of the rich and famous. More than 20,000 couples were married in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. At one time there was a white elephant standing outside at the front.

The Dusit Thani was the creation of Chanut Piyaoui. She opened her first Bangkok hotel, the 3 star Princess Hotel, in 1948. Over the next seven decades, her company owned 29 hotels in 18 countries – 9 self-owned and 20 managed. Dusit International also manages 240 luxury villas in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

It will be replaced by a mixed-use 440,000 square metre development on a 60 year lease. Upon completion in 2023/24, the project will comprise the 39 storey, 250 room Dusit Thani Bangkok Hotel, all rooms with a view of Lumphini Park, a 69 storey residences condominium, an 80,000 square metre Central Park Shopping Complex and 40 storey Central Park Offices. The investment is estimated to be 36.7 billion baht (US$1.16 billion). There will be a golden spire on the rooftop and an indoor waterfall.

The Hindu/Buddhist shrine near the junction of Silom and Rama IV roads will be kept. So will the banyan tree planted by Chanut decades ago.

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The Best Countries in the World: 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards

Condé Nast Traveller – The Best Countries in the World

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Travellers have spoken – and they say Bali is Asia’s #1 destination.

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In front of the magnificent Tugu Hotel Malang, and the City Hall, stands the majestic Tugu Monument, landmark of Malang, and symbol of independent Indonesia, in a big colourful garden with a fountain and a pool. Old trembesi trees abound.

The Dutch built the city of Malang and the garden was the former garden of the notorious Governor of East Indies, Jan Pietersen Zoen Coen. It covers 11.923 square metres.

The Mayor planned to build an Independence Monument and construction began on Independence Day, 17 August 1946. The monument was signed by President Sukarno and AG Suroto, head of the Committee of Monument Construction. When it was 95% complete, the Dutch destroyed it on 23 December 1948. They were not willing to give up their colony.

On 9 July 1950 a new committee was formed to rebuild the monument and it was finished on 20 May 1953 and opened by President Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President. It is known as Alun Alun Bunder (Bunder = round shape) or Alun Alun Tugu or Taman Tugu.

Monument Tugu is shaped like a sharpened bamboo, the weapon used by Indonesian freedom fighters against the Dutch to gain independence. The chain stands for unity in Indonesia’s fight for freedom. The sets of stairs have 4 and 5 corners  – 45, the year Indonesia gained Independence, 1945.

The monument is in the middle of a lotus fish pond – white and red symbolise the courage and purity of the heroes. There is an  Indonesian map and the face of Bung Karno and Bung Hatta reading the Independence proclamation text.

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It would be the first in Indonesia, so I was honoured a few days ago, as owner of the first restaurant in Ubud, to be invited to meet the representatives from the WTO and entertain them on the lowest and most romantic level of Murni’s Warung.

They were on a fact finding mission and carrying out interviews with “gastronomy stakeholders, hotels, restaurants, cooks, food festival initiators, local administration, academics, transportation service providers and tourists.” We had a great chat about gastronomy tourism and they stayed more than double their allotted time.

They now have to analyse what they’ve learnt from their visit and make an official recommendation.

If it’s positive, Ubud should receive its title as a Global Gastronomy Destination in 2020.

Ubud is Officially a Foodie Paradise

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Jamu is a traditional, herbal Indonesian medicine, made from fruits, flowers,leaves, seeds, bark,  roots, and other natural substances .  The jamu makers also use eggs, milk, honey and royal jelly.

The Jamu Lady

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