Bali Lockdown Developments
Fri May 01 2020 13:14:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Greetings from the Bali lock-down day (sigh) 34..
Happy worker's day.. May Day.. is it springtime?.. It's a good time to recognise the workers of the world that are still going to work in the this time of corona.. the front line nurses of course, but also all the unseen people that feed us and keep essential services running.
Here in Bali, as I was telling you last week.. I'm well and truly stranded. All travel in or out of Bali suspended until further notice. You can read about it here. But somehow life goes on.
And even though the advice is #StayHome many people are able to work. Some days Ringo will pick me up and we go to the warehouse - it's only about 15 minutes from here on the edge of Sukawati, an area famous for it's art market and a major centre for artisans. I can see as we drive around plenty of activity, but everyone, everyone is wearing a mask and generally keeping social distance. And there are police everywhere enforcing the rule.
We have been setting up a photo studio so that product shots of new items can be taken, well before they reach us in Europe. Yesterday a guy came from the photo equipment shop (we are good customers now) to give us training.. wearing a mask and keeping 2 meters apart he still managed to impart a huge amount of stuff.. I learned so much, and I thought I knew how to picture things.
Afterwards I suggested to Ringo that what we really need is some natural props to give texture to the pictures.. like some driftwood, or pebbles. Ok lets go to the nearby beach, which I know to be barely used - must be some driftwood knocking around. But the beach was blocked by a large barricade and a security guy wasn't going to let us pass.. no problem says Ringo, there's lots of beaches we can get to.. and we tried, at the next road entrance which was way to a small port area, there was police and army and flashing lights. Some guy - with a machine gun came over to ask us what our business was going to the beach.. "Erm.. to look for driftwood" didn't impress. Mission abandoned.
Turns out the problem is Mudik.. it's the beginning of Ramadan and lots of people from Java and other islands want to be in the home-town for Ramadan.. this is a huge travelling time - called Mudik.. and quite rightly the government is terrified that a mass movement of of millions of people is a bad idea right now. Most people are complying with the rule, but some miss-guided folk are determined to get home even using small boats to travel in.. hence the beach lock-down.
Ringo had a visit from the police at home.. his daughter called and Ringo dashed home to find out what the problem was. Turns out Ringo has been identified as the neighbourhood trusted person and given the task of handing out free food parcels to anyone in need.
It's a major problem in Bali, the population of 4 million, half work in tourism related jobs.. all the tourists have gone, almost all hotels are closed, all restaurants and bars closed. Many of these workers are not rich, living from week to week.. now out of work the local government is actually worried about starvation, hence the food parcels. Also on the main junctions I have seen food banks opening up, with free food for anyone who needs it. Ringo says surprisingly few people are using them.. maybe it's a pride thing. Even on the street near my villa, a lady sits with a pile of packets of rice wrapped in banana leaves.. a big sign says "Makanan Gratis" - Free Food. I didn't see anyone avail themselves - yet..
Another guy handing out food is our man in India Mr Chatterjee.. I speak to him most days. The issues in Bali are nothing compared to India, and there the local government don't seem to be able to do much. I sent some money and Mr Chatterjee and friends turns it into food for his laid-off workers and the poor people of his town.
Feeding the poor in India. Mr Chatterjee - a Hero.
Chatterjee delivered food to the Children's home we support and they sang him a song.. and sent me a personal message - saying they are fine, how are you Mr David?
We live in difficult times.
Meanwhile back in the UK.. things keep happening. A Boris baby boy.. and if they don't name him Tom (after Captain Tom - who turned 100 the same time) then there is no justice in the world.
Talking about the workers on May Day.. I have to give a big hand to the AW Hero's that are keeping the ship afloat.. we have been surprisingly busy - drop-shipping is crazy.. and to keep the orders going whilst staying safe, social distancing and all is no mean feat. So I applaud the AW team.
Take care - stay safe.
Share :