Paddy's Pub is back. more secure than ever<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, Contributor, Kuta, Bali<\/p>\n
Made Sukarya is beaming with hope. After losing his job at the
\npopular Paddy's pub in Legian after it was destroyed by a
\nterrorist bomb in October last year, he is back in his old job.<\/p>\n
When the rebuilt Paddy's Club Reloaded opened on Saturday, the
\n30-year-old Made returned to his job as a waiter.<\/p>\n
\"I'm very happy,\" the father of two said.<\/p>\n
Made has reason to be happy. As thousands of workers in Bali's
\ntourist industry face a bleak future, he has his job back.<\/p>\n
The new club is located only 50 meters from the site of the
\noriginal Paddy's, which along with Sari Club was destroyed in the
\nbombings last October that killed about 202 people, mostly
\nforeigners. The two nightspots were popular with foreign
\ntourists, particularly Australians and Americans.<\/p>\n
Made, who was injured in the attack, expressed hope that the
\nclub's reopening was a sign that the local tourist industry was
\nrebounding.<\/p>\n
Paddy's owner, businessman Gede Wiratha, is also optimistic.<\/p>\n
\"My plan is to hold the grand opening precisely on the night
\nof Oct. 12 this year, to mark the first anniversary of the tragic
\nincident,\" Gede said.<\/p>\n
The 420-square-meter new Paddy's is painted yellow and red,
\noffering a warm atmosphere. Two security guards will greet guests
\noutside the bar with metal detectors. The bar now employs 16
\nsecurity guards to ensure the safety of guests.<\/p>\n
Once guests are cleared by the security guards, they can enter
\nPaddy's and enjoy the warm greeting of waiters.<\/p>\n
\"The workers' sense of solidarity increased following the
\nbombing,\" said Gede, who invested more than Rp 3 billion in the
\nnew club.<\/p>\n
The interior is slightly changed -- the dance floor is more
\nspacious and able to accommodate some 600 dancers, while the
\nlighting is improved, making it easier to watch the action on the
\ndance floor.<\/p>\n
\"It (the better lighting) is also intended to monitor whether
\npeople are involved in drug dealing,\" Gede said.<\/p>\n
Nyoman Sunada, 36, who worked at Paddy's for more than two
\nyears before the bombing, said the reopening had encouraged the
\nemployees to do their best.<\/p>\n
\"We have to start work at 4 p.m, but people are already here
\nat 10 a.m.,\" said Nyoman, adding that everybody was eager to work
\nafter spending more than 10 months doing nothing at home.<\/p>\n
Nyoman said he was fortunate to receive a donation from a
\nlocal foundation that helped victims of the bombings and their
\nfamilies.<\/p>\n
\"I received some money to support my family, including for my
\nchildren's school fees,\" Nyoman said.<\/p>\n
Another employee, Wayan Sudiarta, however, said he still felt
\ninsecure. \"I still feel afraid .... I know security has been
\ntightened, but who knows if a terrorist will come again and
\nattack us.\"<\/p>\n
Gede, who also owns several hotels and restaurants, told The
\nJakarta Post it would have taken too long and been too
\ncomplicated to rebuild Paddy's on the original site.<\/p>\n
\"Balinese believe in asta kosala kosali, which regulates the
\nfunctions of certain plots of land and property,\" Gede said.<\/p>\n
After the bombing, the land where Paddy's stood was considered
\nleteh, or spiritually dirty.<\/p>\n
\"The function of that site must be changed at least four times
\n(before it can be considered spiritually clean). For me, it would
\nhave taken too long because I have 90 employees who have to feed
\ntheir families,\" Gede said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/paddys-pub-is-back-more-secure-than-ever-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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