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A Lion Air 737 Goes for an Accidental Swim in Bali (Crash Photos and Details)

Just before 5:10am EST this morning, it was reported that an aircraft had gone into the water off the runway at Bali's Airport at 15:10pm local time. That was a simple newsflash, but additional details have emerged in the minutes since, and here is what we know:*

· Update (12pm EST): It is now confirmed that the plane didn't overshoot the runway, but landed short of it. This would mean that the 737 landed too early (versus too late, with an overshoot) and thus hit the water just before the runway. The number of passengers has also been solidified; there were 101 passengers and 7 crew, all surviving.

· The aircraft, a Lion Air Boeing 737-800 (registration PK-LKS), was operating a flight from Bandung, Indonesia to Denpasar/Bali, Indonesia when it landed in the ocean.

· Both ends of the runway at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) are bordered by the ocean. The 737 was unable to stop before continuing off the edge and into the water on the runway's western end [See Update above]. The force of the landing caused the rear area of the fuselage to break, just behind the trailing edge of the wing.

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Inside Garuda Indonesia's Executive Lounge at Bali-Denpasar Airport

Saying good-bye to a tropical island like Bali is not easy, but if you are flying on Garuda Indonesia the trip to the airport can be a bit more bearable if you have access to the airline's Executive Lounge.

The Executive Lounge is reserved for travelers flying in business class (Executive Class) on a Garuda flight or those flyers holding gold and platinum status. As we'd bought our own Executive Class tickets, we escaped the chaos of the airport and bid fond adieu to our Bali island getaway. And believe us, the airport is pretty chaotic with limited places to sit and very few food outlets.

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Bali Boosts Its Airport But Skips New Shops

Not many would recognize the name "Ngurah Rai International Airport," but many have flown into it: It's the arrival point for anyone visiting Bali and it's more commonly referred to as Denpasar. Whatever you call it, it's in for quite a few changes, judging by the announcements made this week by Indonesian VP Jusuf Kalla.

The problem right now is that the airport's capacity is really only 2 million passengers a year--yet 4 million people are arriving in Bali annually. Quite rightly, authorities have decided that a $110 million expansion is needed, and so the terminal that currently services domestic air traffic will be enlarged. Once it's done, it'll become the international terminal.

An interesting part of the planning is that no commercial shops will be built in the new terminal. Officials say that since Bali is known for its "traditional art markets" in the tourist areas, there shouldn't be a bunch of new airport shops to compete with them. And here we were thinking airport shops were meant to be tear-the-last-foreign-currency-out-of-you pit stops.

Shops or not, the new Bali airport is meant to be finished during 2010. But let us be the first to say that we think "island time" will make that 2012.

Related Stories:
· Bali Airport to be Renovated [Jakarta Globe]
· Bali Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: zhaffsky]

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Don't Play With Chickens in Bali

Last year we were urging you to get to Bali quick smart, but looks like we might have to change our tune. Headlines today are telling the world that there's been a confirmed death from bird flu on the island. Given that Indonesia is the location of almost half of the world's known deaths from bird flu, it's hardly surprising that Bali's becoming a risk too.

Tourists traveling to Bali are now being strictly warned to avoid contact with poultry, as the disease is contracted directly from birds. At the moment the virus isn't contagious between humans, although scientists are worried that could change. For now, be careful and don't play with chickens, no matter how much you love animals.

Related Stories:
· Bali Tourism Hit Again [Independent]
· Get To Bloody Bali Now [Jaunted]
· Hotels in Bali [HotelChatter]

[Photo: sillydog]