10 August 2016 — Together with other members of the Diplomatic Corps, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen B. Isleta, visited the Eka Karya Botanical Gardens in Bedugul, Bali from August 05 to 07 upon the invitation of Madame Megawati Soekarnoputri. The visit, which entailed a two-hour bus trip from the hotel base in Sanur Bali, brought them to the site which rises up to 1,450 meters above sea level and covering an area of 156 hectares.

Founded in July 1959, the gardens are host to more than 2,100 species of plants representing various species from eastern Indonesia.

Director Bayu Adjie brought the group to the different specialized areas of the park that included the Begonia Park, the Orchid Park, the Cactus Park, the Cyathea Park and the Traditional Balinese Ceremonial Plants Park.

Prior to commencing the tour, the Ambassadors were grouped into two groups – those assigned to water existing “country” plants planted by their predecessors and those who were assigned to plant new plants.

Among the members of the diplomatic corps who graced the event were the Ambassadors or Deputies from Lebanon, Laos, Pakistan, Venezuela, Russia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Brazil, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Singapore, Afghanistan, Finland, Iraq, and Sri Lanka, led by the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Zimbabwe Ambassador Alice Mageza. END