traveller

Is anywhere safe anymore?

anon

30 people confirmed dead so far. <BR>There were 2 bombs. Anybody over there just now must be terrified. It's dreadful isn't it and so sad.

anon

were there any official travel warnings for Bali? The news report says that there were threats recently and the US embassy had been preparing to send staff home.

timothy

The US State Department placed Indonesia on its travel warning list Nov. 23, 2001. The link to the warning is below. We Americans need to take these warnings seriously - why put your life or the lives of your loved ones at risk???? Be safe out there.<BR><BR>http://travel.state.gov/indonesia_warning.html

dsf

CNN.com says 118 dead.

Joe

There were several warnings by several posters on this board about travel to Muslim countries with prejudice against Americans. No body took the warning seriously so R.I.P.

MichaelfromNY

US doesn't have a consulate in Bali. Nearest is in Jakarta. Primary visitor demographic for Bali is Australian and Western European, not American.<BR><BR>It's not a matter of heeding warnings and staying home, instead it is simply that terrorism, does not know or care about borders. Sadly, aside from the victims hurt in these explosions, the major victim will be the Balinese themselves, who will have to deal with a probable fall-off in tourism.<BR><BR>I was in Bali in November 2000, which was the period when Westerners were being threatend in some Indonesian locales. I read in the Bali newspapers how this was occuring elsewhere in Indonesia, and that Bali was safe. And for the two weeks that I spent in Bali, there wasn't any indications of trouble brewing. <BR><BR>Of course that was almost two years ago. <BR><BR>

MichaelfromNY

Sorry, this report from CNN says there is a consular office there:<BR><BR>"Another explosion occurred around the same time near the U.S. consular office on the island. It resulted in no immediate reports of casualties. Police believe it was a coordinated attack."<BR><BR>The US Embassy is in Jakarta.<BR><BR>m<BR><BR>

Sad

Many people do not realize that Bali, with its unique culture, is part of Indonesia, which is largely Moslem.<BR><BR>It's up to almost 160 dead and the same amount injured. I know most of them must be young people. How awful.

Timothy

to Michaelfromny - true, true, true terrorism knows no borders. I experienced that first hand on 9/11/01, along with my fellow NY'ers as I watched two planes crash into the WTC from my office across the street. <BR><BR>However, I will err on the side of caution as an American, as a Westerner, when traveling abroad. I will avoid predominantly Muslim countries that have extremist groups targeting Americans. That would include Bali, Indonesia. I cannot avoid the fact that I work in NYC but I can avoid vacationing in countries that cannot/will not control these Muslim extremist groups.

fiona

timothy<BR>Michael witnessed Sept 11th as well. <BR>Unfortunately you are both right in that the Balinese are going to suffer in the long term. Many people will not go there. I'm one for a start. I have been researching hotels and now will no longer be going - at least in the medium term future. I will also have to rethink Penang which I was intending to revisit. I found the people there to be of all mixes and all co-existing happily. The terrorists probably have different ideas though.

jj

Bali is going to suffer a lot. It's a top destination for Australians, but also and above for Europeans. <BR>Feel so sorry about this.

Vicki

I feel so horrbile for all of the innocent people that were killed - as of right now, CNN.com says at least 183 people are dead, and more than 100 seriously wounded. The majority of the victims are Australians, but also Indonesians, French, Brits, Americans, and Germans. My prayers go out to all of them.<BR><BR>I also feel very bad for the innocent Indonesians who will suffer from the inevitable economic fallout. These terrorist groups neglect to realize that they will only make their own lives worse that they already perceive them to be, as their countries become isolated and the people fall deeper into poverty.<BR><BR>I had just started researching a trip to Thailand and Bali for our first wedding anniversary, but that is obviously out now.<BR><BR>I just wish that these terrorist groups will figure out that they will never really achieve their goals, and will only hurt themselves and their people much more in the long run. <BR><BR>My how the world is changing - it's sad.<BR>

bob

we were supposed to leave on our honeymoon for bali in ten days. while i am sure the government will increase security and make it safer, there is no way we could selfishly put our families through the stree of going there.<BR><BR> i am very sad for the people who will be most harmed by this, the innocent working people of bali, who depend on the tourist trade.

Dan

It seems that all will come to realise that while Americans have been the most obvious first preferance target for these folks, they will kill anyone/everyone when they get bored enough. They have such a narrow focus that the world at large must feel threatened. Very sad for the Aussie and other victims, including the people at home who must now find the travel world limited to them.

Michael From New York

As Fiona stated - Indeed I witnessed the WTC events of 9-11-01. My ferry was crossing the Hudson River as the 2nd plane flew directly into the tower, and from ou ofices, we watched all day through our windows. Following that I still visited Asia from Oct 20 - Nov 6th last year, Hong Kong and 4 locations in Thailand.<BR><BR>I've a similar vacation planned for this year as well, again returning to Phuket. I've read that Kamala Bay has a large Muslim Community. Can anyone comment on that?<BR><BR>Michael In New York

Kathie

The bombing in Bali is tragic. Of all the locations in Indonesia, Bali has always been considered "safe." The Hindu population has guarded the peace of the island well... until now. It's a reminder that "safe" is a relative term. It's also worth remembering that we really don't know who the bombing was aimed at. If it was Americans they were aiminmg for, they didn't choose their target very well. (The majority of tourists in Kuta are Australians.) It might have been aimed at Australia, given the issues between Indonesia and Australia, or it might have been aimed at the current Indonesian government in an effort to destabilize it and make it more likely that a fundamentalist Muslim takeover of the government could occur.<BR><BR>We each have to make our individual determinations of what feels "safe" to us. Michael, I have traveled many times to SE Asia, and have a trip planned to Thailand and Laos in November - December. I am not changing my plans.<BR><BR>I'd also note that there are wide diferences between the vast majority of Muslims and the terrorists. I have visited a number of predominately Muslim countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, and was always treated very well there. It is true that if my planned trip was into Indonesia, I'm not sure I'd go right now. But these are decisions we all have to make for ourselves based on the best information we can find.

sue

While Australians are struggling with what has happened in Bali, many are still planning their trips now and in the near future, as a way of helping & supporting the lovely balinese people. The aussie spirit is alive & well and we wont be beaten. We are very protective of our fellow aussie mates when it comes to the crunch and everyone will pull together & help each other in any way possible. There are so many stories of courage, along with the sad stories, condolences to every nation who has lost a loved one and thank god for all the people who helped to save lives. So much sadness in this world today. God bless everyone

Get Tuff...

Indonesia was in denial for the last year. They have one of the most organized Islamic Extremist groups in the world training right in their country, but they didn't want to admit it. Maybe now these fools will wake up. God knows I wouldn't take my honeymoon over there.