Around the Globe, Hungary, IndonesiaOctober 2, 2006 12:39 pm

• Since I’m a computer illiterate, you would have to read the piece yourself. But anyways, it has something to do with the next update to AMD’s Opteron Rev H “Barcelona” processors, which is called as “Budapest”.

• Despite the city’s potholes on the road, the state of public transport and lack of cleanliness, Budapest has voted for its same old brand new Mayor, Gábor Demszky—for his fifth term! I thought you guys have had enough of him?

• Inspired by his coalition’s victory in Budapest, Mr. Gyurcsány has vowed to stay in office. Well, let’s admit it—who wouldn’t? Meanwhile, President László Sólyom took the unusual step to condemn the prime ministers’ behavior in a speech on national television.

• I don’t know if it still has anything to do with Mayor Demszky, but Bali is also ranked no.1 for the fifth time as the world’s best island by Travel & Leisure magazine.

• A new poll says most Australians view Indonesia as a threat but only about a third know it is not ruled by the military and fewer still can name its president, and vice versa (yawn).

• Indonesia has again tainted the air of the dream land that is Singapore.

• The mudslide we encountered during our visit to East Java is still going on and on and on. Scientist say that it could last for 100 years.

Around the Globe, Indonesia, Miscellaneous 10:58 am

Yesterday marked the first anniversary of the second Bali bombing. Terrorists have actually succeeded in killing the Indonesia’s tourism industry with deadly blasts which claimed lives of 225 victims since the first bombing. Just in case you didn’t know, Bali is a part of Indonesia, “the haven for terrorists“.

I must admit I’m not happy with the tag. Despite the varied judgments, I don’t think there is any man in his right man who would agree with the attacks—regardless his religion. That makes those who have committed the crime certainly should not be freed without punishment.

Here is how I still remember the island of Gods during my visit over ten years ago.


Click on the picture for the full-color version

I am against plagiarism so click here for the original painting. No doubt it has changed since then. The harm was done and the pain will linger, but hopefully Bali and Indonesia for the whole will revive. My thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost their loved ones.