This morning I rode to Moka Cafe on Jalan Seminyak at around 9am and bumped into Ebong and Marcel ( Italian / German ) who were enoying their breakfast. They invited me to join them and I realised Marcel in particular was enjoying his breakfast as it was a small Bintang. The 2 of them had been out all night and were on their way home.
Heading to Global Extreme, where I had been till midnight the previous night, I noticed CNN was on the tv with live coverage of the war in Iraq. It was surreal to be sitting in Bali looking out over paddy fields with live camera action from advancing US tanks. Almost like war is entertainment now and the goings on are like the ‘big game’.
I don’t find many people here in Bali, locals and expats, talking about the war at all. Most people are intent on earning a living and enjoying themselves. Locals have said the war won’t be good for tourism. That’s true and it’s a world wide phenomenon.
I get the feeling there isn’t much anti- US / British feeling here and visitors will way less media coverage and pressure from Iraq than they would feel at home.
Today was a quiet day at Internet Outpost and Ika said maybe the war has affected the number of new arrivals coming to Bali.
Stopping off at the house on the way down here I opened the front door to discover water all over the floor and a stream dripping through the ceiling. Investigating, I found our shower had sprung a leak with the 18 inch long metal tube severed at one end and shooting water all over the bathroom. I tried to re-attach it and it came off completely.
Made from Bali Land and Houses came over asap and fixed it with new parts.
I think the rainy season is coming to an end here. The last couple of days have felt very clear and the sun is so powerful. You’ve seriously got to use sunscreen out here. I see dark skinned people from Japan who have been surfing all day come back looking torched. A vanilla bar like me can take it for about 10 minutes.
Aussie surfer Paul was in Internet Outpost today after doing reconnaissance work with friends this morning.
Will check on our plumbing and spend the rest of the evening at I/O or Global.
If anyone has a good idea for a war related interview, I’d like to hear it.
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Barrie,
Yes Arsenal lost, hats off to Valencia they have consistently been a team Arsenal has lost to. Maybe Arsenal can focus more on the League now.
I feel perfectly safe here in Bali and don’t get any bad fedback from locals.
I asked a guy a wek ago if he’d like an independent Bali and he said no. Its amazing to me that Indonesia exsts at all ( 17,000 islands, over 150 ethnic groups, diffrent customs, religions, lack of money and corruption). I think even the US would have a hard time organising Indonesia and ensuring equal access to medicine, education and oportunity for all.
I have heard that bali is full of ghosts. Have you experianced anything or know of any tourist who have?
Although I disagreed with certain factors during the Soeharto dictatorship, he did keep the country together and everybody had jobs, food AND of course corruption was rife. Since his demise, Indonesia has been on a rapid downhill slide. It was bantered in Bali pre 9/11, when the island was flourishing, that autonomy would be a great idea. Unfortunately the then Governor of Bali didn’t get much support.
Interesting you should mention the league Nick cos Aresenal are due to play MU soon!. Hmmm, care for a Bintang wager?.
With a world full of agression, I am reminded of something Mother Theresa once said: “The greatest disease in this world is the lack of love”
Nick,
I just read an article in USA today about terrorists targeting westerners in Surabaya:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-03-22-australia-warning_x.htm
I don’t know what to make of this. I’ve already documented how I feel about the irony of travel warnings (is anywhere totally “safe”?, but this one seems kind of specific.
If you get a chance, give it a read.
Jason
Waikiki, Hawaii
Jason, I rang a friend of mine in Yogyakarta and it seems that these threats are somewhat real. A bomb was found in McDonalds in the Mall there today. I agree with you Jason: ‘Is anywhere totally safe’. Life is for living, so let us all ‘live it’!
Barrie,
I was talking to a friend last night who said she she prefered life under Sunarto as prices were cheap and he ‘got rid of problems’. I guess people dissapeared who didn’t play ball and that helped the economy tick over.
Terrorsists in Surabaya. I hope they stay there and don’t come to Bali. Surabaya is a mosquito pit, I was there in ‘93. I can imagine people getting wound up.
Nick, you have it ’spot on’ regards the Soeharto regime. I can’t see the terrorists returning to Bali but I do know that in Java the Islamic Pembela Front (Protectors of Islam) has vowed to ‘harm’ all infidels. You can interpret that how you want, but I have seen some of these characters in action during the Chinese riots in Java, and they just don’t give a shit.
In the JKT Post today there was an article about the Bali Bombing Trial next month in Denpasar - 3,000 officers, dog squads etc for security. I’d reckon Bali is very safe with that kind of manpower on the streets!.
George,
I haven’t seen any ghosts but the locals have mentioned many ghosts around the Sari Club site. Hope I’ve got a disc in my camera when I see one.
Good to see the Balinese security being ramped up. I reckon the scariest security force would be the local banjar let them deal with outsiders who come to cause trouble.
George, ghosts abound in Bali as in fact anywhere in the world. Like Nick, I haven’t come across any but I did have a hair-raising experience one night in a cemetery in Semarang!. I love exploring cemeteries (historically wise!). In Bali, I haven’t heard of any reports but no doubt they are hanging around. Most Indonesians are wary of the night because of the fact of demons and the like in their beliefs.
George, They said a lots of ghost in Bali even before Bomb Blasting, They called it LEAK, It is came from who practising Black Magic. I heard one of their places is around Nick’s Place. In Peti Tenget, near La Lucciola, so be care full Nick, Peti Tenget means=Covin in Balinese language.
Hengky, I would have regarded Pura Petitenget rather a holy ground than one of black magic considering the Pura was indeed ‘founded’ by Sangyang Niaratha. I know he had a set-to with a Bhuta!.
how do locals view the war
Firstly Nick, my condolences for the match last night. I watched it live on SBSTV and I reckon Aresenal should have thrashed Valencia. The refs were full of shit in their decisions!.
Unfortunately war or acts of aggression tend to have an adverse affect on tourism, and, it will unfortunately affect Bali. Already the govt in Oz has issued more travel warnings. Let’s hope people ignore them because I most certainly intend to!.
In the JKT Post yesterday there was an interesting article ‘Will Indonesia survive until 2050′.A war related interview could be: “Do you consider that Bali stands a better chance of achieving autonomy now in an Islamic Indonesia considering that Iraq is being liberated by the greatest democracy in the world?”