Black Bali II : Great Ramadan Offensive
12.12.03:
Black Bali
The flickering lights Of Singapore welcomed my exhausted irises as I peered through the porthole. My excursion in the Balinese Tropical island has ironically left a much more morbid tone in me. Within my first few steps on to Bali, the first word that clearly stood out was 'dead'. The once bustling congregation of smiles has now been reduced to a quiet ghost in a shell.
The streets has become silent and empty, the once-tourist-filled rivers now only reflect the lonely sun upon its surface. The people's tired smiles could not hide their obvious sense of exasperation. Ironically, the only remaining things that reflects happiness are the mosses covering the worn-down old statues.
Prices of goods dropped from 125 to 35 with almost zero bargaining, many shopkeepers sat in silence watching my family ignoring the prominent shirts that exclaimed ' F**K TERRORISTS'. In vain, I tried many times to seal off myself from this misery by retreating to the cave in between my MP3 player. Sadly, my delusion has failed me once again.
Exclusive *authentic* restaurants has now been pushed to the extent of offering a "free drink, free salad and a free ride home". Thankfully, upon mingling, Balinese still have hope. Watching them pray to their Gods faithfully three times daily soothed my despicable emotion of uncalled for pity. " It has been getting better slowly," This illuminating sense of hope is wonderful, but I do not expect a miracle. Bali has been killed, I pray for its possible rebirth if one may put it. Is this the price of justice?
-me(12th Dec 2003)
"Video of the scene in Kuta showed the glass windows of several upscale stores shattered, with glass littering the street, and the awning of Raja's Bar and Restaurant blown askew.
The blasts also come after recent warnings from several other governments, including the United States, of a high terrorist threat to foreigners in Indonesia as the holy Muslim month of Ramadan arrives early next week.
A report issued in early September warned that bin laden and his top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahiri may be planning a series of attacks in October, dubbed "The Great Ramadan Offensive." "
-CNN (1st Oct 2005)
________________
When Sue told me tonight of a bomb blast in Bali, it took me at least 10 seconds to register. In an instance, I remember all the flashbacks of Bali I had the last time I've been there. The quiet streets, the magnificent seaside temple, the enormous trees that reminded me of childhood fantasies... and the quiet streets.
I walked along the empty pathways and marketplace. Shouts of prices and items filled the air around my ear, a solemn mix of desperation and exasperation. Bali has been killed. I strolled along the beach by myself. Yes, by myself. With all the privacy in the world, I snorkled in the fore shore, stumbled in the sand and climbed the trees. Then I realised it again. Bali has been killed, its heart bombed out.
Despite accepting this reality, I left the island inspired and lifted. I was amazed by how the whole island was lifted by a single thread of hope in the future. It was "getting better, slowly"
As of this very afternoon, that delicate thread has been snapped. Damages and burning wreckages could be rebuilt, bodies could be buried. Hope, is not one of theses things. Bali lost its hope once, and now... its completely crushed.
How I wish I could take a stroll with these planners. Just a pleasant stroll with these lovely bunch. I will hold no grudges, I will hold no contempt and no anger. I wish I may walk with him through the quiet streets, the magnificent seaside temple, the enormous trees that reminds us of our childhood fantasies... and the quiet streets. I wish we could walk along the empty pathways and marketplace and let the cries mingle in our ears. Then perhaps, we may, with all the privacy in the world, snorkle in the fore shore, stumble in the sand and climb the ripe lonely trees.
Then perhaps, they may finally see something more than a blueprinted map of retaliation and see what they crushed in the price of justice.
Black Bali
The flickering lights Of Singapore welcomed my exhausted irises as I peered through the porthole. My excursion in the Balinese Tropical island has ironically left a much more morbid tone in me. Within my first few steps on to Bali, the first word that clearly stood out was 'dead'. The once bustling congregation of smiles has now been reduced to a quiet ghost in a shell.
The streets has become silent and empty, the once-tourist-filled rivers now only reflect the lonely sun upon its surface. The people's tired smiles could not hide their obvious sense of exasperation. Ironically, the only remaining things that reflects happiness are the mosses covering the worn-down old statues.
Prices of goods dropped from 125 to 35 with almost zero bargaining, many shopkeepers sat in silence watching my family ignoring the prominent shirts that exclaimed ' F**K TERRORISTS'. In vain, I tried many times to seal off myself from this misery by retreating to the cave in between my MP3 player. Sadly, my delusion has failed me once again.
Exclusive *authentic* restaurants has now been pushed to the extent of offering a "free drink, free salad and a free ride home". Thankfully, upon mingling, Balinese still have hope. Watching them pray to their Gods faithfully three times daily soothed my despicable emotion of uncalled for pity. " It has been getting better slowly," This illuminating sense of hope is wonderful, but I do not expect a miracle. Bali has been killed, I pray for its possible rebirth if one may put it. Is this the price of justice?
-me(12th Dec 2003)
"Video of the scene in Kuta showed the glass windows of several upscale stores shattered, with glass littering the street, and the awning of Raja's Bar and Restaurant blown askew.
The blasts also come after recent warnings from several other governments, including the United States, of a high terrorist threat to foreigners in Indonesia as the holy Muslim month of Ramadan arrives early next week.
A report issued in early September warned that bin laden and his top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahiri may be planning a series of attacks in October, dubbed "The Great Ramadan Offensive." "
-CNN (1st Oct 2005)
________________
When Sue told me tonight of a bomb blast in Bali, it took me at least 10 seconds to register. In an instance, I remember all the flashbacks of Bali I had the last time I've been there. The quiet streets, the magnificent seaside temple, the enormous trees that reminded me of childhood fantasies... and the quiet streets.
I walked along the empty pathways and marketplace. Shouts of prices and items filled the air around my ear, a solemn mix of desperation and exasperation. Bali has been killed. I strolled along the beach by myself. Yes, by myself. With all the privacy in the world, I snorkled in the fore shore, stumbled in the sand and climbed the trees. Then I realised it again. Bali has been killed, its heart bombed out.
Despite accepting this reality, I left the island inspired and lifted. I was amazed by how the whole island was lifted by a single thread of hope in the future. It was "getting better, slowly"
As of this very afternoon, that delicate thread has been snapped. Damages and burning wreckages could be rebuilt, bodies could be buried. Hope, is not one of theses things. Bali lost its hope once, and now... its completely crushed.
How I wish I could take a stroll with these planners. Just a pleasant stroll with these lovely bunch. I will hold no grudges, I will hold no contempt and no anger. I wish I may walk with him through the quiet streets, the magnificent seaside temple, the enormous trees that reminds us of our childhood fantasies... and the quiet streets. I wish we could walk along the empty pathways and marketplace and let the cries mingle in our ears. Then perhaps, we may, with all the privacy in the world, snorkle in the fore shore, stumble in the sand and climb the ripe lonely trees.
Then perhaps, they may finally see something more than a blueprinted map of retaliation and see what they crushed in the price of justice.
posted by F I S at
1:36 am
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