Jongar is not in Bali
 

wow, 23 emails asking if I was ok. I am on my way to Bali, but not planning to arrive until the end of october, i need to get to Oz first. Anyway, I need to ring the fancy Starwood properties and see if i can get a good rate - i think they may just have had a lot of cancelations. Comone Alqueada, IRA and ETA. Youve all had a pop at me, but your lousy shots. I am not even the smallest target to hit.

I will not give in to these morons. Its about time they reread the Koran, and understood the true meaning of Jihad

Again, thanks to all for your concern. I simply ont have time to respond to every mail. Perhaps when I have a little more time in Rotura next week I shall

Jon

Jon - You should try the Oberoi. It is north of Kuta and away from the "falseness" of Nusa Dua. It is probably the best hotel I have ever stayed in.

I agree with you continuing your trip. I would do the same.

Is that really the first or next thing on your mind?

Good to hear from u mate...

It is so sad what some people find important in times like this. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

William

no the first thing, what a tradgedy. The secon and more important - am I going to let these cowards dictate my life. Third, is there a bargain to be had. You can bet your bottom dollar, that ALL amercians will have canceled thier autum trip to the Island. Heck, it took 3 minutes from Tony Blair going on ABC saying every thing is ok with hoof and moof, before all americans had called and cancelled at our hotel. Glad to see so many of you return. but we still wont be refunding you - thats why you buy travel insurance

w o w .

well...

I for one have not cancelled my trip to Bali... yet.

I did call AA today to protect myself on CX inter-Asia flights to another destination just in case the situation stays bad.

I did not, however, touch my hotel reservations or look for any type of deals... I think the island has enough to worry about right now.

Amazes me what some people write during a true tragedy. . .tasteless is the word that comes to my mind first. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

What can I say
From an Australian point of view, this is really a tasteless thing to say Jon. There are people from countries throughout the world including YOUR OWN who have lost loved ones who will never come back, children without parents, parents without children you name it. Yet some of us see this as a commercial act in which to cash in on. I think some of us forget that 200 is infact NOT a number but rather human lives that have been lost. What are you trying to achieve Jon, as we speak thousands are tying to leave Bali yet you seem to see different, this world would be a better place if some of us thought before we acted.


[This message has been edited by MRSTARALLIANCE (edited 10-14-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MRSTARALLIANCE (edited 10-14-2002).]

What I am trying to point out is that the worst thing that could happen to the people of Bali is the rise of unemployment and the lack of foriegn currency. I have seen first hand what happens when tourists turn thier back on a country. I had to make 13 people I considered friends redundant with NO pay, as we faced a 80% slump in bookings. Then the people who new the problems werent as dramatic as fircribed rang up and asked for a discount. Money aside, it is a tradegdy, but will be worse if we turn our economic backs on the balinises

Is the only proper response a silent contemplation of the tragedy? How long of a mourning period is required? Who gets to decide?

I respect the mournful reaction but I think the "I won't be intimidated" reaction is just as good. The stock market reopened several days after 9-11. Is it disrepectful or is it an act of defiance?

When some of us spoke up about booking extra trips post-9/11, is that disrespectul or an act of defiance?

If jongar wants to continue his trip to Bali, why is it wrong to want to upgrade to a better hotel because of cancellations? Too judgmental, in my opinion.

I tend to agree with Plato. I think too much is being assumed from a simple post intended to let friends know that he was OK.

italics added

Couldn't have said it better. You know what they say, "Every Preacher needs a Sinner."

I travelled extensively after 911, having been in Thailand while it happened and, are you ready, because there were so many deals to be had afterwards. Flame me if you want for taking advantage of such deals, but all I saw when I travelled was grateful, grateful eyes of appreciation, and I was glad I didn't hold back and "took advantage" of the situation - NOT because of the deals I got, but because of the great feeling I received over and over that I was helping so many.

I'm glad I had such a forthright attitude and I recognize this same attitude in Jon. I'm sure he will be as appreciated as I was, even travelling at a discount.

I agree with plato regarding jongar's comments as well.

On 9/11 several folks had the "nerve" to post regular questions about miles and upgrades and other "normal" subjects in the United forum, and were attacked by many as being heartless and insensitive.

I came to their defense as continuing on with the normal way of life is the most important thing you can do to make sure "they" don't get what they are after, with these horrible acts.

FlyerTalk is about traveling, programs and getting the best deal.

If the terrorists acts were meant to stop tourism and the supplier wants to counter that with lower prices to entice folks back or welcome newcomers that might never have been able to afford to go in the first place, but now consider it due to even more affordable prices, what's wrong with that?

If lower prices and taking advantage of those lower prices helps the Bali ecomomy and people, what's wrong with that?

Anything anyone can do to get the word out and new reasons to visit Bali is, IMHO, doing a great service to Bali. And I think jongar should be commended rather than questioned about motives.

The sooner folks get back to Bali, the sooner things will get back to normal and hopefully prices can start to return more to normal for the travel suppliers.

And whatever money can come into the economy, even if reduced, will just help bridge the gap between the immediate tough times and the return to a more "business as usual" phase...that much sooner.

Back after 9/11/01, I posted here in FlyerTalk that I've never been more proud to be an American than the day after 9/11 when I went to the Los Angeles County Fair.

It was open, it was packed, and folks were having a normal fun time.

They weren't being insensitive to the events of the previous day! They were being strong Americans in not letting the terrorists get what was the ultimate goal for them: The disruption of our normal everyday lives.

Our everyday lives here on FlyerTalk have to do with getting and taking advantage of "the best deal." I say, let's do it.

Almost every place I travel nowadays, I'm "taking advantage" of lower prices that are directly attributable to the economic downturn created by the tragic events of 9/11/01.

Am I a horrible person? I'd like to think not.

I just don't look to FlyerTalk as being my "mourning" place. That is an entirely different and personal place than here on this web site.

And though I've never met jongar, don't know or care if they are a he or a she, what country they are from, or any other personal info about them...I'm glad they are safe and sound and willing to get back in the game and perhaps do so saving a bit of money in the process. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by PremEx (edited 10-14-2002).]