Australia warms citizens about Sulawesi

Australia has warned its citizens to avoid Sulawesi, which it says, could be the target of new terrorist attacks. Australia still has a travel warning out on Bali. I guess you can’t blame them after the Sari Club, but you’ve got to read between the lines.

Manado in NE Sulawesi is the big draw for scuba divers. All the trouble so far has been in Central Sulawesi, with local Christian and Muslim groups clashing. There is a chance of more trouble in Sulawesi. As someone once said to me, ‘Indonesian society is like the geography, you have beautiful countryside, sloping rice terraces, palm trees and elegant people…then you realize we’re on a fault line with volcanos that can erupt at any moment.’

Visitors need not be overly worried about attacks on their personal safety, while in Bali. On a more serious note, a small Bintang now costs 8,500rp from Circle K in Seminyak. Crikey!