20-March - Friday - Just trying to stay afloat...

And so the day started with a first hit, receiving a message from a friend, indicating all Air Asia flights out of Bali where cancelled as of 24hours from now... A quick thinking Italo-Australian travelling lad looked and found flights with Jetstar, at very reasonable pricing, swiping that credit card faster than one can sneeze. We felt on top of things, amazing individuals with plenty of resourceful ideas. Off we went for a final breakfast overlooking the stunning bay of Nusa Lembongan and made our way to the speedboat office for our trip back onto Bali. The number of tourists wanting to get off the island grew bigger and bigger by the minute, the tiny speedboat was full to the grim of anxious Westerners cancelling, changing, shortening their trip and making their way home. Our car ride to the hotel in Seminyak to be re-united with family turned out to be a pleasant chat with two like-minded Sydneysiders taking a cool, calm and collected approach to the whole COVID-19 situation. Not panicking about arranging return trips, as our flights were booked and confirmed. One even had been in touch with a mate working at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who indicated they will give plenty of warning if things should change and one should enter "evacuation" mode. Off we went merrily. Arrived at an empty hotel where the waiting family was eager to see us and all of us to be re-united. We exchange hugs, laughs and experiences of the last week over some Bintangs by the side of the empty hotel pool. We were told of the mad escape of the Aussies as the government announced a forced quarantine for all returning citizens. We were told of the pool bar having ceased to operate and one needing to buy their own supply of drinks from the mini-mart opposite. We discussed arrangements for the return trip to Switzerland and agreed a visit to the Qatar office would be the best approach. We calmly got ourselves ready and off we went. The second hit was about to swipe us. Arriving to a closed Qatar office with a hoard of travelers having waited for hours to be served only to miss out, us included. We concluded to return the following morning, early and in the meantime to shop for some warmer clothes for their arrival into cold Zurich (as they left all warmer clothes back in Oz). We gave instructions on what pricing would be reasonable and let them wonder the shopping centre. The third hit came, unexpected and catching us completely unprepared: a simple message from Jetstar indicating the flight we hastily booked in the morning was cancelled, end of, no alternative flight suggestion or a re-book. Flight cancelled, full stop, good luck! Yes, unexpected and completely unprepared. No credit cards on us, no extra money, no passports. All left behind in the hotel safe as we had only contemplated a quick dash to the Qatar office to help the travelling family members, not us who had so proudly and quickly found a replacement flight only 6 hours earlier... Emergency mode kicked in. One travelling lad contacting friends currently n Bali & working for Qantas to know exact details of last flights home, seat availability and anything else that might be useful. The other onto family members back home to borrow credit card details. Right there, on the shopping centre floor, a flight with Qantas was found and paid for, for these 2 travelling lads needing to return downunder, pronto! The flight was confirmed and we started accepting the fact we will be flying to Sydney and needing to make our way home to Perth somehow. Emergency drinks were in order. Off we zoomed to our waiting friends, flying home that very night, to have final Armageddon drinks. We made it, we laughed, we giggled, we drank, we hugged, we bitched, we cursed, we swam, we drank some more. We booked our final leg, Perth-Sydney and fare-welled our departing friends, wishing them and us God speed in these uncertain times ahead. Was this our final re-book? Did we make it? Are sorted? What comes next? Will we get a flight re-booked for our Swiss family? Are shops and restaurants remaining open? It finally sank in, this is f@#*ed! We are healthy and our safety is not compromised, but now we are operating at another level of alertness! Hightened senses have been awakened, we are entering survival mode from here onwards, till everyone is on home soil! Thank goodness for like-minded friends here in Bali, laughter and drinks!

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