Betty Blogger

Going to Indonesia

And not letting the terrorists stop me

-Megan Mulcahy

Due to its proximity, Indonesia is a popular destination for Australians. Aussie backpackers, ex-pats and honeymooners abound on the island chain. Thus, the recent bombings at the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott in Jakarta, the country's capital, have been prominently featured in the news here. A number of Australians were among the victims.

I also have reason to pay particular attention to the coverage: I recently booked a trip to Bali, one of Indonesia's islands, for the last week of August.

Eerily, it wasn't unlike the timing of the horrific attacks in Mumbai last November. One of the targeted hotels there is a client at the PR firm where I worked back home. I was due to stay at that very hotel only two months later for a business trip before I decided to quit my job.

That autumn day, as we were readying for our Thanksgiving weekends, as yet unaware of the ensuing chaos, my coworker answered a phone call from our Indian client and transferred her to our company's president. She didn't know until afterwards that the person on the other end was inside the attacked building, hiding beneath her desk and fearing for her life and the lives of colleagues and hotel guests. Hearing firsthand of what happened over those days was horrifying, scary and sad.

But here's the thing: I still would have gone to India this past January. And I'm still going to Bali next month.

If the goal of terrorists is to instill terror and alter our lifestyles, I'm going to do everything I can to keep either from happening, at least in me. Sure, there are times my imagination gets away from me and I feel fear. And I'll certainly exercise caution next month in Bali. But I'm not going to let these people affect my decisions and actions.