Foreigner Family-of-four survive Bali lockdowns with a Story

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To reduce the stress and tension for COVID-19, here we tell you the story about the British Family who survive beautifully during the lockdown phase.

A British family-of-four are isolating in an idyllic bamboo hut in Bali after fleeing the UK amid the coronavirus crisis. Corinne Pruden, 39, and her husband Dave, 49, bought a one-way ticket for them and their twin toddler sons on March 16, flying out that afternoon – eight days before the UK imposed its lockdown. The couple had been living in Budapest for the last five years, where they ran a cafe, but had let their apartment to go backpacking around South America for six months before the virus hit. They were staying with their family in the UK for a few days to say their goodbyes when the US imposed its foreign travel ban – meaning their flights were cancelled.

Speaking to the local news, Dave said they’d planned to go on an ‘adventure’ and felt they were ‘dressed up with nowhere to go’ – so decided to make last minute alternative arrangements and flew to Denpasar. ‘Our flights were cancelled, our cafe The Goat Herder was closed, and we were facing a lockdown, and we thought, we’ve got an adventure planned, we’ve told the boys, we’ve got to do something, we can’t just let this thing beat us, so we booked a ticket that day and flew to Bali later on that afternoon,’ he said.

Corinne added that staying in the UK long term with their parents ‘wasn’t feasible’, and finding a place to rent in Europe would have been expensive – so they decided on Indonesia. ‘Bali was that option that, minus the healthcare – that was a huge concern – but it gave us the opportunity to stay somewhere for a relatively cheap price, surround the boys with nature, isolate ourselves relatively and just make sure that we stayed as far away from society as possible to give ourselves the chance to survive this thing,’ Corinne said, admitting that their travel insurance was void.

The family had to pack up and travel two hours from the south coast to London Heathrow, dropping off their rental car, all in a very tight timeframe. Corinne said it was a ‘really strange feeling’ because they family were doing the opposite of what everyone else was doing, with Brits returning home from all over the world. ‘We felt sort of courageous but perhaps being a little bit stupid or naive – it was quite hard to pigeonhole our actions and emotions and it was quite stressful,’ Corinne admitted. Writing on Instagram, she said: ‘As we took off from London, and arrived in Brunei for our transfer, we sat for six hours watching flight after flight being cancelled. Finally, an empty plane arrived and no more than 20 people, including us, boarded for Denpasar.  ‘Arriving in Bali was such a relief. It had been a stressful decision. We managed to get in with an extendable visa on arrival. Within two days, the visa scheme was cancelled for new arrivals.’

She told how they were offered a ‘really, really good’ price for an Airbnb in Ubud, which is located in the middle of rice fields and means they’re ‘totally isolated’.  Writing on Instagram, Corrine said: ‘There’s very little good news at the moment, so when we were offered to rent this beautiful bamboo house in the middle of rice fields for a fraction of the usual cost, we said yes! Through a small twist of fate, we’ve found ourselves in paradise.’ They had previously been staying near Denpasar, but found it too busy, before moving to Amed on the northeast coast of Bali.  The Prudens travelled to Ubud when the village chief of Amed imposed a total three-day lockdown preventing anyone from leaving their homes. Corinne said their bamboo home is perfect, adding that they’ve bought an inflatable swimming pool for the garden and receive fruit and vegetable deliveries from a Michelin star restaurant. The family spend their days walking among the rice fields, playing in the streams and immersing themselves in nature.

On a recent Instagram post, Corinne said: ‘Although the island is quiet, with next to no tourists, it still seems relaxed. Many of the shops, restaurants and cafés have closed.  ‘But sitting in our open-air house watching rice farmers go about their everyday activities is incredibly soothing. Every evening we are joined by frogs, lizards and even a resident bat.

The boys are more part of nature than we ever thought possible. And we have miles of farmers’ tracks, forest and rice fields to explore!’ Corinne said they have explained to their sons, who have been asking what is happening, that lots of people are getting ill, so they have to be careful what they touch. She said they feel lucky to be removed from the news of the coronavirus, but receive updates from their family. ‘If we didn’t talk to our family and we didn’t watch the news, we really wouldn’t be aware of anything happening here because we’re so isolated with this house,’ Corinne told Sky News.  ‘Whenever we get in contact with the real world, we see it’s pretty scary.’

What a beautiful story when we think of the situation right now. We hope that you have the same experience journey when you are in Bali during the lockdown time. Meanwhile you are in Bali please pay attention to the regulation that we have here, especially about your visa and your health. Contact your embassy whenever it is needed to get the first rescue during the pandemic. Now we will give you some advice when you are stay in Bali to do the prevention during the outbreak.

Wash your hands frequently with soap. This may seem obvious, but it’s about time we all started washing our hands properly. That means thoroughly lathering the backs of your hands, in-between your fingers, and under your nails. Scrub for at least 20 seconds and then dry your hands with a clean towel. Use a hand sanitizer if you can’t wash your hands immediately. Avoid crowded places and contact with people who are unwell.

Down with a fever, cough or the flu? Wear a mask and seek medical attention right away. If you haven’t been able to get your hands on a mask, cover your mouth with tissue paper whenever you cough or sneeze, and dispose of the tissue in a rubbish bin immediately.

Boost your immunity. A good one to practice not only during an outbreak but in everyday life too: boost your health and look after your immune system. Slurp on juices and coconuts (or even try one of Bali’s best juice cleanses), clock in enough exercise with an online class from one of Bali’s best gyms or yoga studios, and treat yourself to some stress-melting pampering with an at-home massage from one of Bali’s best spas. Top tip: try Indonesia’s age-old elixir of Jamu – a potent mixture of turmeric, tamarind, and sometimes ginger, lime and honey too. It’s an immunity-boosting traditional medicine that Indonesians swear by.

If you booked your Bali holiday before the Coronavirus outbreak, chances are, your insurance is still valid. For everyone else, you will need to confirm with your provider to determine whether any COVID-related issues will be covered – that includes medical treatment, flight cancellations, and even accommodation allowances if you happen to be held up anywhere. Luckily, many airlines and hotels are waiving cancellation fees and honoring refunds. Last but not least Listen to WHO & CDC. With so much misinformation and media hype out there, it’s important to listen to reputable sources. For all accurate updates, travel advice and support, check out WHO Indonesia and the Official CDC website.

 

 

 

 

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