In Reply to: Update on Bali posted by MsMaggie on Wednesday, 5. October 2005 at 06:03 Bali Time:
that despite the Australian media giving the impression that there has been a mass exodus from Bali it hasn't happened.
I have spoken to friends in Australia who assure me that tourists are exiting Bali in droves - not that I can see.
I had expected the streets to be deserted just like last time. My first thoughts when I got the news of the bombings was 'this is the end for Bali & Lombok tourism'. But I've been speaking to tourists still here in Bali & Lombok, or newly arrived, and they are not leaving. For whatever reason.
I live in Lombok and over here you wouldn't know anything had happened. Last time all the hotels emptied and the place was deserted for months, longer in fact than Bali.
I have been speaking to other expats who live in Bali, and who own hotels and restaurants. Numbers are still good.
I had plans to fly back to Perth from Bali on Thursday and needed to change my ticket to Sunday. There were PLENTY of seats available.
I'm not saying Bali is safe. I'm not saying anywhere is safe. I'm not giving an official report from any airline. I'm just relating what I see, right here, right now.
FreoGirl