Well, we are still here but getting closer to our departure (Wednesday night) which I am really sorry to have to do. The streets have been reasonably empty most evenings, especially Friday and Saturday night. We went to Centro to the Pizza Hut on Friday night for dinner and there were at least 30 police with flack jackets and rather large guns standing around at the top of the stairs. As well as those gentlemen, there was also lots of security guards everywhere. Hard to feel frightened when there is that level of security around.
Saturday night we went to the BCouple restaurant next door to Kuta Paradiso and there was about three other couple there but none of them where Australians.
The Kuta Paradiso is almost empty, which is very sad as it is a lovely hotel and we have received nothing but wonderful service. The staff are all very worried about there jobs and there is a meeting this afernoon to advise them if they will still have one after the end of the week. We hope so for their sake. The security at the hotel is excellent so there is no need to feel that you would be in any danger if you have booked to come and stay here. I wish we were staying longer.
All in all we have felt very safe during our stay. We did get a bit emotional when we visited the bomb site in Kuta Square and I must admit, that the security at Mataharis is not what I would have expected. There is only one guard at the front door and nothing anywhere else. We have gone to Centro Discovery as a preference as it is far more protected. They had originally said that the shop owners in Kuta Square would not be able to open for two weeks but they cleaned up the broken glass and all the shops where opened again on Thursday.
Anyway, I must hit the shops again and see some more of our wonderful balinese friends.
Regards
Maria, Shane & Sean