Bali beautiful beckons a year after tragedy
Bali beautiful beckons a year after tragedy
Merlene Michael, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore
"Thank you for coming to Bali."
That was the greeting I got everywhere during a recent trip. From the artists and woodcarvers in the villages, to the bell boys and masseuses at the spas, the Balinese people welcomed me with such warmth and sincerity that it had me giddy with delight.
It has been a year since the Bali bombing and the island, which relies heavily on tourist trade to stay afloat, is eager to please.
The Oct. 12 bombings have not doused its flames nor tanished its natural beauty. The island of the gods still has everything to make a perfect holiday.
There is a bargain to be found every few steps along Jl. Legian in the Kuta Beach area as vendors call out to you, slashing prices by almost half when you hint at walking away.
At the upscale Seminyak area, new restaurants have sprouted, touting exotic flavours from Greece and Morocco.
More importantly, security has been stepped up. Hotels and resorts have erected several guard posts and metal detectors scan all vehicles that come and go.
A new beach patrol, aptly named Baywatch, lends a sense of security to the golden sands of Kuta and Sanur.
Are travellers taking the bait?
By the looks of it, they are -- small groups of Australians, typically dressed in their surf shorts and singlets, are still flocking to the shed-like bars in the Kuta area to down cans of cheap Bintang beer.
In Ubud, local expats zip around on motorcycles, making stops at small stores and art galleries. And in Seminyak, sleekly- dressed Europeans puff on cigars and sip martinis while the beach in front serves as a playground for the body beautiful.
The attitude of the visitors is still as carefree. British businessman John Duffield and his Danish wife Marianne, who live in Hong Kong, have been frequent visitors to Bali since 1992.
He says candidly: "If my number is up, so be it. But in the meantime, why let a minority group of terrorists rule us? We must rally together as a region to fight them and help the Balinese people rebuild their lives."