Rising from the ashes of destruction

Rising from the ashes of destruction

A year on, life has returned to an everyday semblance of
normalcy, but things will never be quite the same as before the
bombs ripped through a Saturday evening's revelry in Kuta.

The official toll is 202 -- perhaps many more were blown to
pieces by the huge force of the blasts -- and the number does
not take into account the shattered lives of all those relatives,
friends, colleagues grieving for the victims.

People were not the only casualties: In a matter of seconds,
Bali's coveted reputation as a peaceful paradise, where people
from all over the world came together, was destroyed.

In the terrible wake of the bombings, there has been some
good.

It emerged in the first hours after the bombing, when communal
groups came together to help protect avert unwarranted reprisals
against minorities.

And it's seen today, as visitors, refusing to let the
terrorists succeed, are returning to sample the island's
delights.

These examples of solidarity and togetherness are the best
message to send that Bali has risen from the ashes of hatred and
fear.

-- Text and photos by Murdani Usman