Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Tourists Stranded in Bali as COVID-19 Cases Rise in Indonesia

Amanda Siddharta

   JAKARTA - Mark Gilbert's plan to backpack around Southeast Asia fell
   apart as borders closed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The British
   national arrived in Bali, Indonesia, on March 16, after a visit to
   Laos.

   Gilbert was supposed to go to Vietnam after a short getaway on the
   Island of God but did not make it because Vietnam banned inbound
   international flights on March 21 and barred entry to all foreigners on
   March 22.
   "So now I'm stuck in Bali," the 34-year-old said.
   Gilbert tried to book a flight to London on Saturday, but it was
   canceled two days before he was scheduled to fly. He contacted the
   British Embassy and was told that the British government would try to
   get him on a flight back to the country.

   Nevertheless, he was skeptical that they can bring him back home soon.
   "From what I've heard there are 4,500 Brits in Bali. That's going to be
   a lot of flights," he told VOA. He managed to find a place to stay on
   the island with some people he met on his trip.

   'I'm stranded here'
   Meanwhile, Kishori Kadve is facing a similar situation. The 29-year-old
   and her husband arrived in Bali from Mumbai, India, on March 14. They
   were supposed to stay on the island for only a week, but their flight
   home was canceled. Kadve booked another flight through Kuala Lumpur,
   Malaysia, on March 21, but received an email saying their flight from
   Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi also had been canceled.
   "I'm stranded here with 50 other Indians who are in the same situation.
   I managed to book the cheapest hotel we could find, but I'm afraid we
   will only be able to survive financially until the end of March," she
   said.

.