New Bali bombings

[JohnK]

Not again... :shock: :?

This is revolting. Don't have too many details yet. Apparently 1 Australian dead and possibly another 8 injured. Only 10 days until the anniversary of 12 Oct 2002

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65478
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65479
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=65481

Someone please explain why western tourists, especially Australians, are still visiting Bali? Surely there must be other "safer" places to visit if you must go overseas for a holiday.

Boycotting the island has got to be the most viable option now!!!!

I will never ever ever go. I have been to Jakarta once for work and my heart was pounding all week that I was there.

I still feel shocked. My heart goes out to all involved as well as the victims of 12 Oct 2002. How many times must they be reminded of this revolting event. :shock: :? :shock: :cry: :cry: :cry:

 

[BlacKnox]

These bombings are sickening .

 

[infoworks]

Another tragedy. What a shameful waste of lives and destruction (of a good part of the world). Our condolences to the families involved and best wishes for full recovery to the injured.

 

[Karen]

Holidaying in Bali

Funnily enough we were considering Bali as a destination for later next year. My thinking was along the lines of "surely it was a one off...lots of people seem to be going and its OK...."

Obviously this has changed my mind. I think it will be a very long time before we venture there is at all. However we have never been to Bali, so we don't know what we would be missing, so its easy to err on the side of caution and pick somewhere else.

I actually used to live in Coogee, now in Randwick, and after the local footy team was decimated in the first bombing the local community was in shock, but adamant it wasn't going to stop them from going to Bali, as they had had lots of positive epxeriences there over many years and didn't feel it was fair to the locals who were all basically nice and gentle people. I wonder whetehr sentiment will now change.

For our family though, its permanently off our list of places to go and see.

 

[ksthommo]

Looks like it's off Qantas places to go list too, global deals to Denpasar/Jakarta are not being advertised today.

 

[QF WP]

The real tregedy are the innocent victims having dinner. My heart goes out to all the injured, dead and the witnesses. May they and their family and friends be able to have recover from yet another tragedy.

As Mercedes Corby said:

"I really feel for the Balinese people. It's so sad. It's really going to hurt them," she said. "They're so caring. They are even coming up and saying to Australians and to us `sorry, are you OK, anything we can do?' ... the way the locals were in there helping, trying to find victims, putting everyone in the ambulances."

The lovely peope of Bali (the majority) are having their livlihood ruined by the minority (the radical fundamenalists). Yes, it is as a result of politics...as has always been said "politics and religion don't mix".

Having been to Bali 4 years ago, I'll admit that the area of Kuta and the bars have never been places I've wanted to go. Being older, that nightlife scene isn't mine. I stayed in Jimbaran Bay with my best friend (admittedly the Ritz Carlton, where my friend knows the General Manager).

Was just watching SkyNews and heard Mercedes Corby and John Howard interviewed and saw it was Raja Steakhouse that was on of the places bombed. What's worse is that it appears most of the deathtoll will be Indonesians (although Koreans, Japanese and Germans were mentioned).

I have a cousin and his wife who live in Jakarta. I'm not concerned for them, they have both lived there amongst the people for a long time and both speak fluent Indonesian. He is in a CEO of an Australian multinational company and she is a doctor (although now caring for their first child). She helped out in the first bombing, along with a schoolfriend who is a doctor there (and he also speaks fluent Indonesian). They were both contacted by he Australian Authorities...I'm sure they will be again this time.

For those considering travelling there, wait for the hysteria to die down. Yes, review where you are staying and be aware that the touristy areas are probably the highest risk areas (bars, clubs, markets) and at night-time. But is Kuta and Jimbaran Bay the places that you would be taking your family at night Karen?? Temper you initial reaction with logic and risk assessment.

 

[Mal]

Qantas has posted a press release regarding travel to Indonesia

http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2005/oct05/3234

"...
"Qantas will send a 230-seat Boeing 767-300 from Sydney later today to help Australians wishing to leave Bali," Mr Dixon.
...
"We are also looking to operate a second special flight from Perth later this evening."
...
"Customers will not pay any penalty if they want to amend, defer or cancel their travel plans to Bali or Indonesia," Mr Dixon said.
..."

 

[markis10]

Qantas has posted a press release regarding travel to Indonesia

http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn/au/publicaffairs/details?ArticleID=2005/oct05/3234

"...
"Qantas will send a 230-seat Boeing 767-300 from Sydney later today to help Australians wishing to leave Bali," Mr Dixon.

"Customers will not pay any penalty if they want to amend, defer or cancel their travel plans to Bali or Indonesia," Mr Dixon said.
..."

Well that should help things for those with QF tickets, their only option was a 734 to Darwin after Midnight and two Australian flights.

 

[JohnK]

The latest news is that at least 32 people are dead mainly Indonesians. There are fears that 3 Australians are included in the death toll.

Truly a vey very sad event. :cry:

 

[Karen]

But is Kuta and Jimbaran Bay the places that you would be taking your family at night Karen??

Having never been there I could not say. it is unlikely we'd be going to a nightclub with a two year old, though we may be tempted to leave her with a baby sitter one night and venture forth ourselves, stranger things have happened. :wink:

For the moment, I think it will not be high on our list of possible places to visit. The hubby would never do anything to place the little princess in any danger, even if it were merely a sniff of it. Maybe we'll go to Lizard Island instead...

 

[straitman]

Not a good day!

Condolences to those affected.

Bali is definately still off my list.

 

[oz_mark]

While I was talked out of going to Bali this year, I haven't actually written it off completely as somewhere I would go. After all, as we have seen, terrorists can strike anywhere.

The thing I find surprising is that they used fairly small bombs this time. Wonder what significance that has?

 

[QF WP]

Exactly. Who's to say they won't attack at the Commonwealth Games 2006.

 

[markis10]

Exactly. Who's to say they won't attack at the Commonwealth Games 2006.

Terrorists dont like events, they seem to prefer hitting everyday people doing everyday things, I think the last big event that was hit was the Munich Olympics, was that 1974?

Todays terrorists are nothing but criminals hiding behind a religion that they feely hurt and punish, especially in Indonesia where the muslim faith has been hit hard in terms of casulties by their actions. Terrorists hate democracy, and in some ways they are winning by the reduction of freedom being experienced by us and the way we are changing our lifestyle, but in the long run if we continue to value our rights and way of life we will prevail.

Todays events have not changed my values or travel plans, I would like to express my sympathy to those affected and my admiration to those that are choosing to continue with their holidays, thats courage in the face of adversity.

 

[oz_mark]

The thing is, after the London Bombings, did anyone seriously question whether Australians should travel there or not? If they did, I certainly never heard it.

The point of my previous comment is that they could just as easily blow up a train or cafe in Sydney (or Melbourne)

 

[straitman]

Exactly. Who's to say they won't attack at the Commonwealth Games 2006.

Agree entirely Lindsay, however I probably won't go to the Commonwealth Games either, although for different reasons.

I'll never get to visit ALL the places that I'd like to visit. This said there are now some places that drop off the bottom of my list for several reasons. Some for practical reasons such as cost and location and some for reasons such as the bombings. :cry:

In my younger days I spent a lot of time in Sumatra and PNG and have no real interest in going back to either. The only time I ever made serious plans to visit Bali was October 2002 and had to cancel at a late stage. Probably fortunate in retrospect:!:

If I could visit everywhere I wanted to I'd possibly think differently although I'm not sure. :? :? :?

 

[oz_mark]

I'll never get to visit ALL the places that I'd like to visit. This said there are now some places that drop off the bottom of my list for several reasons. Some for practical reasons such as cost and location and some for reasons such as the bombings. :cry:

I can't see me ever getting to all the places I want to as well - but its more about cost, and how much time one has on this earth. Aside from being talked out of Bali this year, I have never considered bombing in my thoughts about where I would go. I guess I'm just a fatalist at heart, and when your numbers up....

 

[JohnK]

I can't see me ever getting to all the places I want to as well - but its more about cost, and how much time one has on this earth. Aside from being talked out of Bali this year, I have never considered bombing in my thoughts about where I would go. I guess I'm just a fatalist at heart, and when your numbers up....

I think we are all in the same boat of wishing we could go to all the places we want to go but are constrained by money and the time we have left on this world. And no, I seriously do not consider bombings a factor when going anywhere in SE Asia or even the world.

But..... Bali unfortunately now has a track record that is not very desirable. You know the saying that lightning does not strike twice..... Well it has struck again. :cry:

Bali is definately off limits. I don't think it is anything special. There are far more beautiful places in this world to visit and most are more worthy.

 

[oz_mark]

I think we are all in the same boat of wishing we could go to all the places we want to go but are constrained by money and the time we have left on this worth. And no, I seriously do not consider bombings a factor when going anywhere in SE Asia or even the world.

But..... Bali unfortunately now has a track record that is not very desirable. You know the saying that lightning does not strike twice..... Well it has struck again. :cry:

Bali is definately off limits. I don't think it is anything special. There are far more beautiful places in this world to visit and most are more worthy.

True, I have been to Bali a number of times (last time was for a wedding, I think people looking for overseas wedding may look elsewhere), so going there again is not a pressing issue for me. The main adavntage it had for Australian was that it was close and fairly cheap.

While not somewhere I would choose to go, I do accept that there may be reasons for me to go there, and I will go there.

Certainly there are much better places to go (depending on what you are after), but you know London has been bombed twice too (not counting all the IRA bombings that went on years ago).

 

[JohnK]

Certainly there are much better places to go (depending on what you are after), but you know London has been bombed twice too (not counting all the IRA bombings that went on years ago).

You are absolutely right about London. I was there for a few days in 1994 and to be honest with you as nice a place as it is I have no desire to go there again other than as a transit point into the rest of Europe.

On the other hand places that have constant problems are very low on my priority list. Not sure whether I get into trouble but here are a few to go with Bali. Burma, rest of Indonesia, Cambodia, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Gaza, Chechnya, Kosovo, Nicaragua (generally any Cental American country), Venezuela, Bolivia (goalkeepers get shot for not saving goals). I know this maybe seem like a lot of places (and there are probably others I have left off the list) but there are still a lot of beautiful places in this world which I still don't think I will have time to visit all of them.