Tears and Flowers at Bali Bombing Memorial
MANGUPURA, NusaBali.com – A somber atmosphere enveloped the Bali Bombing Memorial Monument on Jalan Raya Legian, Kuta, Badung, on Sunday (October 12). Around 3:00 p.m., both foreign tourists and local residents were seen placing flowers and offering prayers at the monument that stands as a global symbol of grief for the 2002 Bali Bombing tragedy.
Fresh flowers adorned the area surrounding the memorial as visitors, both international and local, came and went—bowing their heads, reflecting in silence, and paying respect to the names of the victims engraved on the stone. Some were even seen wiping away tears.
Among them was Paul, an Australian tourist who came with his family to honor the victims. He described the day as deeply emotional and meaningful.
“We came here today to remember them. It’s a very sad day—not only for Australians but also for Indonesians. Seeing all these names here is heartbreaking,” Paul told NusaBali on Sunday afternoon.
Paul said that placing flowers at the memorial is their way of showing respect, a gesture similar to traditions in Australia. His wish was simple: for lasting peace and for such tragedies never to happen again.
“Peace. I don’t ask anything for myself—just peace. Not only here, but all over the world. So we’ll never have to go through something like that again,” he said, holding back tears.
Also among the visitors was Priscilla Kimberley, an Indonesian from Jakarta who recently moved to Bali two months ago. Accompanied by her husband and two children, Priscilla came to pay tribute to the victims—particularly those from the Hong Kong Football Club, where her family once belonged to the community. Although she did not personally know any of the victims, Priscilla shared that every October 12, her community in Hong Kong holds a small remembrance gathering.
“We came here to remember our friends who passed away. We didn’t know them personally, but every October 12 in Hong Kong, we always have a simple lunch together with flowers and small tributes,” she explained, expressing her hope that the tragedy will never be forgotten and will serve as a lasting lesson for future generations.
Amid the crowd, NusaBali also spotted Ni Luh Sariani, a flower seller who has been selling blooms near the memorial every year during the commemoration.
“Every year on October 12, I come here to sell flowers,” said Ni Luh, who lives on Jalan Mataram, Kuta.
She recalled that there used to be no flower sellers at the site until visitors began requesting them, prompting her to start the tradition three years ago. This year, she brought about 50 flower stems to sell. According to Ni Luh, many Australian visitors willingly pay more than the listed price.
“Most of my customers are Australians, since many of the bombing victims were from there. The price is Rp 20,000 per stem, but some give as much as Rp 50,000,” she said, adding that she began selling from 9:00 a.m.
In her daily life, Ni Luh works as a hair braider and masseuse, selling flowers only during the annual Bali Bombing commemoration. She buys her flowers from a supplier in Kuta, near the Supernova area. If any flowers remain unsold by evening, she takes them to the monument herself and offers them in prayer for the victims.
Although the annual commemoration brings her some extra income, Ni Luh said her deepest wish is for Bali to remain peaceful and prosperous.
“I just hope Bali stays safe and busy, so we can all continue to make a living,” she said softly. *ris
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