Just watch CNN and the US embassy is closing for 9/11 in Malaysia and Indonesia. Is there a travel advisory for Americans to stay away from these countries? If our embassies are target then I presume all Americans in these countries are also target!

Your presumption is a bit of a leap. There is no new travel advisory for these countries. Just a "be careful." Good advice no matter where you are going.

Just stay away from the embassies today! Them Muslims don't like us much.

I think the local terrorist plus Al Quida in Malaysia and Indonesia had planned to attack US interest in said countries. US intelligence had found out about it and had decided to shut down the embassies since local authorities could not be depended on.<BR><BR>If you're an American do take extreme precaution today!<BR><BR>GOD BLESS AMERICA!

God bless people who remember that this forum is for everyone, not just Americans (and that includes Muslims, whether American Muslims or other nationalities).

I am in Malaysia at the moment and was in Sumatra in June, there is no problem for Americans. In fact in Indonesia particularly ,they are hurting from this perception. Go! Enjoy!<BR> a traveling American

At least 118 confirmed killed (all nationalities) in Bali, Indonesia. I wonder how many people took heed at the early warnings like this one.<BR><BR>

My heart goes out to the loved ones of these latest victims of terror... Americans need to be prepared when traveling overseas - please visit the US State Department's website - be an informed traveler.<BR><BR>http://www.travel.state.gov/

One bomb near a couple of nightclubs frequent by tourist and another near the US Consular office.<BR><BR>Kathie, "Oh for heaven's sake" and Lina are you ok?

The US embassy in Jakarta did warned all US citizens about a possible attack from radical muslim groups 3 days prior. Perhaps that is why not many Americans were hurt in Bali.

God bless people who remember that this forum is for everyone (obviously not Thomas), and not just Americans (and that includes Muslims, whether American Muslims or other nationalities).<BR><BR>Guess I'm still here. And guess you still don't get it. And guess I'm not so ignorant that I can't work out that I'm more likely to die from stepping out of my bath and slipping than from a bomb, even if I live my whole life in Bali. If you think that's a reason to stay away, then I guess you won't be going to work anymore unless you can find a way to do it without traveling by road. Thousands of times more likely to die on the way.

oh for heavens sake<BR>"travelling by road" does not fit with the discussion. People will continue to go on holiday but will avoid known trouble spots. <BR>People in Israel will still travel to work. Many will do anything to avoid travelling on a bus.<BR>Most people will try to limit any known dangers in their lives.<BR>The final death toll is continuing to rise but doesn't bother you apparently.Pretty sad and selfish attitude to have.

"Oh for heaven's sake" who the hell is Thomas? I guess the rooms at all the resorts in Bali are quite cheap right now. Perhaps now is the time to book that specila X mas trip to Bali?

Hey, DOES bother me,<BR><BR>The chances of being killed by a bomb in Bali are infinitesimally small, even if you live there. If you think that that danger warrants avoiding Bali, then you had better not leave the house at all, because the drive to the airport will be many thousands of times more dangerous. <BR><BR>Your last comment was irrelevant, unjustified, and witless.<BR><BR>And, Heaven Can Wait!, you sure as hell hadn't better go to New York--on the death by terrorism scale vastly more dangerous than Bali, even before we start talking about the murder rate or traffic casulties. In Bali security must be very high, and indeed, prices low. A good time to go, just as it is to New York. And guess what? That's what the Balinese and New Yorkers both want.

for heavens sake<BR>do you READ the posts you are trying to reply to? Heaven can wait was actually talking about booking Bali- so why tell him he hadn't better go to NY!!! <BR>Do us all a favour and go to Bali.

Oh for heaven's sake:<BR><BR>I don't think you get the picture youself. Your parallel comparison of New York with Bali is uncalled for.<BR><BR>There are two main reasons that might deter people from visiting a particular country - potential physical harm and/or perceptions of a hostile environment. It is the latter that will at least in the near future devastate Indonesia's tourist industry.<BR><BR>A very simple example. In the past few years, Chinese tourists have flooded SE countries but few if any at all visited Indonesia. Why? The despicable unti-Chinese riots in Indonesia a few years ago effectively stopped most Chinese from ever wanting to be there. Even though the riots were perhaps only the acts of some thugs, it made no difference because the horrendous scenes of robbery, of rape, have planted so vividly in many's mind, I included.<BR><BR>I don't mean to be callous. My heart goes out to the blast victims, being Indonesians or foreigners. But it doesn't change the fact that Bali is no longer viewed as a save haven - some people are out there ready to hurt us. <BR><BR>Do I feel the same way in New York? For heaven's sake, No. I might have a higher chance to die in New york but I still want to die in New York instead of in a remote hostile foreign city, even though it might be unfair to the majority people of that country.<BR><BR>I am very puzzled by what those terrorists were trying to achieve. From any conceivable angles I can think of, they just damned their political goals, whatever that might be, locally or globally.<BR><BR>Hopeful things will get better but I am not optimistic.<BR>

Dear Kang,<BR><BR>I agree with almost everything you say, and particularly that it is perception of harm not actual likely danger which will deter people from travelling. Self-evidently there are people ready to hurt you in New York, however, and your argument is a bit Americano-centric--we'd probably all rather die at home, but for most people NY or even the US is home, so they would be perfectly entitled to avoid it on the same entirely emotional grounds as they might avoid Bali--more so, in fact. But neither is logical.<BR><BR>Many people of Chinese descent still live in Indonesia of course, and it's not particularly easy for other Chinese to get visas to go there, which probably has something to do with it. Even supposing they had much knowledge about this, they'd then be staying away from Malaysia, too, which had the same problems as parts of Indonesia and which discriminates against ethnic Chinese on an ongoing basis, not to mention San Francisco (or is there a statute of limitations on the effects of burning down Chinatown)? Actually they should probably stay away from China since tens of millions have been killed by the government there, not just a few dozens or a few hundreds. But as you say, dying at home is best.

Oh for heaven's sake:<BR><BR>Thanks for the reply. But I have to indicate that if you compare what happened to the local Chinese a few years ago in Indonesia to that in other countries, you probably don't know much the details. Do some research if you are interested.<BR><BR>China's per capita income is now 1/3 higher than Indonesia's and visa shouldn't be a problem. The main reason that the Indonesian tourist industry is not targeting at Chinese market is because of lack of demand, basicly nil. <BR><BR>I am not familiar with the San Francisco thing. I guess it is something in the past. Should we start talking about American slavery system in our next post?<BR><BR>Finally, China. I am not sure if you have been to China, especially in recent years. I know for a fact that today's Chinese, particularly the yonger generation, are very proud of their country, and the stunning progress they have made to catch up with the rest of the developed world. I don't deny that millions of Chinese suffered during those difficult years, but time has changed and China's economy/living standard are the fastest growing in the world. China's prime time is yet to come. You may not like the Chinese government but you shouldn't view China, and Chinese people, with the outdated stereotype either.

Kang<BR>I have been impressed with your knowledgable answers and wonder if you would take the time to read my post "Is Thailand safe?" and give your opinion, if you can.

Kang: I made no statement about the state of China, so I've no idea why you're rabbitting on about it (especially as it's got nothing to do with anything anyone else had said, either). But you're peddling pure propaganda here. <BR><BR>"I know for a fact" that only a tiny percentage of the population own passports or can afford to go anywhere. At least 300 million are below even the Chinese government's lower than usual poverty line, and the place is a miserable stinking mess, except for a few glitzy bits in the big cities. <BR><BR>The overwhelming majority of people know practically nothing at all about the outside world because they are not allowed to, so their views on Indonesia don't really amount to much.<BR><BR>And while the Party has slowed down on the 70 million deaths credited to it in the first 50 years of its existence, China is still a dangerous place to be a Chinese, especially if you have any ideas of your own. And as an ethnically Chinese tourist you are far more likely to get hassled by the authorities and locked up than if you are not, as in the well-publicised cases of several Chinese Americans in the last year or so. Indonesia is comparatively safe.<BR><BR>Oh, and everyone else had better not go to China because a foreign tourist was murdered on the Great Wall last week.<BR><BR>Wasn't an American though, so maybe nobody cares.