Submerged streets: People walking in a flooded area in Hat Yai, Thailand. Travellers are putting their year-end trips to the region on hold, fearing the ongoing floods. — Reuters
JOHOR BARU: As deadly floods and landslides continue to ravage Thailand and Indonesia, travellers here are putting their year-end trips to the region on hold.
Some are also shelving plans to travel domestically, fearing the ongoing floods that have already hit several states, while others are looking into travelling to other parts of the world.
Technician K. Arwind, 32, said he had planned to bring his family to Thailand for the holidays.
“Thankfully, we have not booked anything yet, but I think even if I had, I would still postpone the plan to be safe.
“For now, I think we will not be planning any vacations, including to other states within Malaysia, since floods have also hit the country,” Arwind said.
He said his family usually goes for vacations during the year-end school holidays.
“My children, aged five and 10, were disappointed.
“Every year, except during the Covid-19 pandemic, we go somewhere during the school holidays and they really look forward to the trip.
“However, we will keep a close eye on the situation and may go for a nearby visit,” he said, adding that it was also a good opportunity to explore interesting places here.
Housewife Jade Ann Baculanta, 36, said her recent encounter with typhoon Kalmaegi while travelling to the Philippines prompted her to opt for nearby holiday destinations.
“I was there to attend my friend’s wedding. My flight from Cebu to Singapore was on Nov 4, the same day the typhoon hit the province.
“My flight was cancelled because of the typhoon and I stayed in Cebu longer than I had expected.
“Thankfully, I was staying at an apartment that continued to have water and electricity supply, as that was not the case in some places,” said Baculanta, who is from the Philippines.
The mother of one, who is married to a local, said she had never experienced such an aggressive typhoon before.
“Growing up in the Philippines, I was used to seeing the devastation of typhoons, but after being away for over 15 years, it felt like I was experiencing it for the first time.
“The typhoon this time was also accompanied by downpour and floods, which is very rare.
“I was scared, but thankfully, my parents were with me throughout my trip,” she said.
Baculanta said she and her husband decided to have a short two-day vacation in Singapore for Christmas this year.
“Singapore is just next door and it is also a nice place to visit during Christmas and very child-friendly,” she said.
For Datuk Teoh Booi Fooi, a 40-year-old president of a local lion and dragon dance troupe, travelling to South-East Asia and even to places unaffected by natural disasters, is out of the question.
“Even if it is not affected now, we never know if that will still be the case the next day, week or month. So, I think it is better to stay away for now.
“However, I have planned a trip to China early next year and will stick to it unless there are any changes,” he said.
As of press time, the death toll of the floods and landslides across South Asian and South-East Asia surged past 1,400 and affected millions.
