Paradise Lost?

About the hour we landed in the Bali International Airport, on Sept 9, the bombs shattered the morning hustle and bustle in Jakarta in front of the Australian embassy. 9 people were killed, all Indonesians, and hundreds injured. The Indonesian TV channels in the hotel room were all on the scene the whole afternoon. It brought back sharp memories of the Oct 2002 bombings in the Kuta nightclubs in Bali. Asta, our tour guide, did not take us to see the bombed out site.

Everyone tried not to think too much of the bombings everywhere and somehow managed to have a pretty good holiday. We enjoyed the clear skies and seas, the abundant flora and fauna, the handmade artistic products, the spicy and fingerlickin' seafood, and the cheerful and gentle but tough and resilient islanders.

Read Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen)'s Anecdotes of Destiny, which includes the story Babette's Feast. The movie of the same title is beautifully made and received the Academy Award in 1986 for Best Foreign Film. I have watched it more than once, each time savouring even more the art and the message. It is quite faithful to the written story, one of hope and redemption, of seeing beyond life here on earth, beyond a life of missed opportunities, unfulfilled dreams and ambitions.

Achille Papin writes to his love, Philippa, who is gifted with an angelic voice but misses the chance to become a famous opera singer: "... As I write this, I feel that the grave is not the end. In Paradise I shall hear your voice again. There you will sing without fears or scruples, as God meant you to sing. There you will be the great artist that God meant you to be. Ah! how you will enchant the angels. ... Babette can cook. "
And later, Philippa echoes his words to Babette: " Yet this is not the end! I feel, Babette, that this is not the end. In Paradise you will be the great artist that God meant you to be! Ah!" she added, the tears streaming down her cheeks. " Ah, how you will enchant the angels!"