What would you do? Is it too early to make a decision?

[wombatrois]

Awful, awful news coming out of Sri Lanka this Easter weekend.

It is really an awful thing to happen when the island is just getting back its tourism after so many years being off limits during the Tamil Tiger years.

We are booked to travel to Sri Lanka in four weeks time. We don't really know whether to keep to our plans or start to look for another destination. Of course there are costs involved changing flights, but nothing too massive.

What would you do? Wait a while or start to make changes?

[HalcyonDaze]

DFAT advice is currently reconsider your need to travel. But that could change again next week.


I don't actually know what I would do - because it was so widespread I feel more cautious than I would with a single attack. I suppose it also depends on what areas of the country I had planned to visit.

Does travel insurance cover changing flights? And will it actually cover you if the advice level is still at 'reconsider need to travel'?

[ozziegiraffe]

Normally, I’d say go anyhow, but in this case, I wouldn’t be sure either. But I’d wait before rebooking.

[wombatrois]

We are usually the same Ozzie, but finding a pipe bomb at the airport really has made us stop and think. We are heading first to Negombo (it's where the airport is), then centre, east and then right up the north. We don't stay at 5 star accom, but we did have dinner at the Cinnamon Grand last year. And of course need to pass through the airport.

We think to change our flight is around $260 per ticket, so not really worth the hassle of insurance (probably doesn't pay the first $200 or thereabouts), but can look at it more closely if we do change.

[sophie]

Doesn’t the airline remove costs to change if there are travel advisories issued? I seem to remember this being the case when there was some sort of natural disaster not too long ago...

[Liiisa]

Could a question also be whether the social media blockade could still be up, which could add some unforeseen communication problem? Don’t know the answer to that.

To be honest I’d probably change to a different location now, not out of fear so much as the idea that heightened security might complicate things in some way that I couldn’t afford, time or money wise. But then I’m a planner type, I don’t like leaving decisions to the last minute.

It’s so sad.

[Phar Lap]

This isn't an easy question to answer, Wombat, because guessing what we think we would decide and actually having to decide isn't the same situation.

That said, if I was undecided but still wanted to go, I'd (possibly) tell myself I would make a decision two weeks prior to departure. In the intervening time, I'd be checking google, Al Jazeera, insurance travel policy, airline or travel agent if I used one.

Have just read security agencies have found a cache of 87 bomb detonators at Colombo's main bus station. This makes me think more is planned.

But, if I used my head, I'd cancel my destination and visit another country. Or, if I had booked flights directly, see if I could get airline credits from the airline.

Tough decision, choose wisely.

[ozziegiraffe]

I think if it was a country I am very familiar with, I’d still go, but if not, I’d be having second thoughts.

[Webs]

I think you should play it and decide the week before. The reason being that things could change dramatically.

[viv]

I'm not sure I would go at present. This is an excerpt from an email I got today from a girl our family have supported in Sri Lanka after we met her family there 13 years ago. She works in Colombo, her family are in Hikkaduwa. It sounds pretty dire from her perspective:


"As you know the situation is not good here. There was another curfew yesterday night at 8am to 4pm today. My most of the friends resigned from jobs and they are feared with bomb cases. That's fair because life is the major thing. 

My mother is worrying that I should go for work soon. As you know I need a job. However we have to face for big problem without having national protection in SL. 

We cannot use social media. We used social media secretly through VPN. I got message from friends that's also prohibited now. So I removed that app. 

Viv sent me a (Facebook) message few days back when hearing these explosions situation. This is top news worldwide now. Now only passenger of the person who have air ticket can enter to the airport If you are traveling out from SL. Any relations or friends are not allowed for inside. 

There are another few bombs and arrested people who engaged in this case. But I didn't see direct action for this. They always do committee and reports. We need clear news about current situation as public. 

The shops are closed in Colombo. We can see foreign reporters. Situation is serious and having fear about country. I saw a notice about recruiting army again but I couldn't read whole notice. Sometimes it is regards to executive level. 

So I will go to another country if I can. I don't need very good job. If there is company job like packing something or any supermarket job that's also ok in this situation. Uncle (this is what she calls my Dad) if you can get me to your country. I cannot keep trust about others.I don't think my qualifications will give good future with current SL situation. 

If not I should start a own business as I said earlier. But I need big money. How can I bear that. At least if I work 2 years in another good country then I can find some money. Otherwise no option actually. 

I'm 25 years on next Jan. I need to build my own path. I'm so angry with all & my country doesn't have national protection now. We need money but we cannot go for places like people visit. I'm worried about my future. 

The school vacation is extended to next week as this is urgent situation. So children have to stay home. This is serious situation and I think about my job opportunities. Somehow I need money. This is very confused environment. We need democratic environment and peace, national protection. Everything become very bad. 

There is a considerable Muslim portion in Galle. There are another closer places like Beruwala, Waligama etc. Most of the villages are Muslims. There were many incidents based on Muslims in Galle. However Those were ok . By the time there is another problem. 

Most of the jobs will lost as many hotels will be closed. All foreigners have travelled back to their homes. "

[wombatrois]

And then there is the reason to go - so the economy doesn't go into free fall.

Although not its main industry, tourism is listed as one of the main industries of Sri Lanka. It has had strong growth over the last 15 years, even before the war ended in 2009.

We are waiting to see how it all pans out. And we can't make a decision on an alternative destination (!)

[Liiisa]

Oh viv - I hope she's going to be ok.

[tucano]

I don't know. This morning received a press release from the Sri Lanka tourist board saying it was safe to visit and extra security measures are in place. But the UK Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel. Such a shame, it's such a wonderful country to visit.

[wombatrois]

Yeah, we still don't know, but heading towards changing our destination after a news report that there are more explosions predicted this weekend.

If we didn't have to go via the airport / Negombo, it might be a different story.

Will need to speak to SQ today to find out the fee to change.

[mei]

yeah, tough decision but indeed the news that they are worried about retaliations coming would make me probably change destinations too :-(

[Phar Lap]

After reading reports, watching videos, I've come to the decision I'd rather be a live coward than a dead hero. So yes, I would cancel my trip to Sri Lanka.

Some airlines will, for a fee, allow flight cancellation, and monies held in a trust for future flights. New flight had to be made within a set time frame, and the airline I was dealing with, said same destination only, couldn't be used for another destination.

For me, it was cheaper to let it go and not board.

[ozziegiraffe]

I heard something on the ABC yesterday about not being able to get travel insurance if the Smarttraveller warning is at level 3

[viv]

Reading the travel advice issued by the Australian government, it points out about the curfew in force.

The main thing I'd consider is that the SL government is and has long been notoriously corrupt. They, in my view, will not want to lose the martial control they have in place very quickly.

When we visited the first time back in 2007 (I think it was), my Dad and I disturbed a very dodgy situation where armed men dressed in black camo jumped out a black truck and made as though to storm a house in Hikkaduwa. They then spotted us walking half cut up the road nearby (sobering up rather rapidly as the sight of military style rifles and handguns) then jumped back into their truck and shot off again. Dad was adamant we prevented a "disappearance" that night. There were a lot of them back then according to Amnesty International. No idea about more recent times actually.

Looking at the number of 'arrests' made since the bombings, I suspect a lot of them are hysterical and not necessarily based on good evidence, but that's only a hunch.

It makes me very worried for the future.

As for the family in Hikkaduwa and Colombo, Suba always asks if we can help her find a way to come to the UK, but she would never qualify for a work or holiday visa, sadly for her.

[sprite]

That is a killer--wanting to help someone with a move to a better place, and not being able to.

[viv]

Yes, and yet she is university educated so seems to capable of making her way in the world in some respects. Yet she's so naive in many others.

The country isn't set up to be in favour of young working women and she has been brought up in a very sheltered way. She shared a bedroom with her parents and older sister, an outdoor shower in the garden without any privacy and limited independence until about 18 months ago. She's not been able to hold down a job - ostensibly for reasons that are not her fault, but we only hear one side of that each time.

Her sister ended up in an arranged marriage as she was nearly 30 and still living at home, hadn't got the grades to go to uni and wasn't working so I think her parents were fed up with her. Happily the marriage appears to have been one side actually wanted rather than anything sinister and she seems to be flourishing.

It's a different world.

[HalcyonDaze]

I was reading something on travel to Sri Lanka in today's paper. One of the people interviewed was the head of a Sri Lankan travel company and he was saying it would take a few weeks for the security situation to become clear. Weeks which you don't really have. I was sort of thinking if it is his job to promote travel to Sri Lanka and he is saying it isn't clear at the moment I would probably go for changing the destination.

[wombatrois]

Yes, we have come to that conclusion too - we changed our booking today. It has cost us a third again of what we paid, so I'm hoping the insurance will pay for at least some it, but if not, that's life.

We are now going to Cambodia and Vietnam - just a little loop down the bottom of both countries - we are only going for two weeks after all.

[sophie]

Good decision I think.

[Liiisa]

Agree with sophie. I hope it turns out to be a wonderful trip!

[Phar Lap]

Good onya Wombat, wise decision and for what it's worth, I think you made the right choice.
Cambodia and Viet Nam are two of my favourite places, and I just know you and MrW will have a ball!
Happy travels.

[wombatrois]

Well now that the trip is imminent I’ve found this excellent article on how to pack.
According to the butler at a luxury resort in Bali most people make the mistake of taking too much stuff.
Consider buying your toiletries when there, apparently, to save space.
However don’t forget to use those shoe trees so your shoes are not misshapen on arrival. And do ensure you pack your suede shoes in separate bags, not in pairs like your other shoes.
This is all relevant stuff for a tropical holiday (not!)

theupsider.com.au/how-to-pack-a-suitcase/12609?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cm&utm_campaign=100008&fbclid=IwAR1G0PGuKNEKgaZ30C7iVyrvoiva0VRZg9OIhPE5lxKPrn5jATJxuuV_tMY

[Liiisa]

Ha ha ha, that advice is basically for people traveling in order to go to the Nobel Prize awards ceremony or something. Tissue paper??!

And other than formalwear advice, everything else seems blindingly obvious: put chargers and such in a separate pouch, etc.

[wombatrois]

Yes, tissue paper indeed!

[ozziegiraffe]

I don’t own the type of jacket that needs ironing, and don’t wear shoes that need trees!

[Liiisa]

Absolutely! "Plan to wear your hiking boots on the plane since they're heavy, but be prepared to pack them after all and bring a plastic bag to pack them in in case they're covered with mud" is more the kind of advice I'd be here for.