Last days of paradise<\/p>\n
For centuries, the tourist island of Bali has attracted
\nvisitors from all over the world mainly due to the fact that it
\nhas been a teeming center of cultural activities in which all
\npeople of the island take part in endless dance parties,
\npainting, sculpture exhibitions and religious festivities
\nthroughout the year. In short, the island has been bulging with
\ncultural activities and international conventions of all kinds
\nalmost daily.<\/p>\n
Any world traveler will not rest unless he or she has visited
\nBali. It has become the single most popular tourist destination
\namong Europeans, Japanese and most of all, Australians. It seems
\nthat almost every Australian has been to Bali for a couple of
\ndays to enjoy their vacation on the small paradise island. Well
\nknown statesmen, poets, artists, journalist and sportsmen have
\nvisited Bali and returned home as if inspired by the island
\ndemons and the dynamism of its musical rhythm.<\/p>\n
However on black Oct. 12, Saturday evening, tragedy struck on
\nthe island and almost made Bali disappear from the international
\ntourist map. The bomb blast has sent shock waves, political and
\ncultural, to all corners of the world. It has been described as
\nthe worst terrorist incident to hit Australia since World War II.
\nIn one night the peaceful island of Bali seemed to have stopped
\nits breath and was declared to have vanished and with it the
\nfuture of the island tourism industry. The people of Indonesia
\nand of the world saw in disbelief the vast destruction caused by
\nthe bomb blast.<\/p>\n
The motive of the blast seems to be politically to destabilize
\nthe economy and to discredit the government of Indonesia. The
\ntarget was clearly the hundreds of Australian tourists who were
\nholidaying nearby.<\/p>\n
It is not an exaggeration to say that Bali is now dead and has
\nspent its last days as a tourist island. And Indonesia has lost
\nits most precious jewel.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/last-days-of-paradise-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }