I Am Very Worried

tesuhoha

My daughter who is 25 has told me she is going on holiday to Bali. I googled it and was shocked to see that the New Zealand and Australian government warn against travel there because of the high risk of terrorism. There is also risk of kidnapping, rabies, mosquito borne viruses without cures such as dengue fever, avian flu, HIV, credit card fraud/theft amongst other delights.

I tried to tell her all this and she scoffed at me. However, she is travelling there alone and meeting a friend who will be coming from Australia. She will be travelling home alone. They will be travelling around and not staying in the same place.

I would very much like to talk her out of it but it is her only chance of a holiday this year. I have never been so worried and she has been to Africa, Australia and Thailand. Am I making a fuss about nothing?. I know she is an adult and all that but she is my daughter, will be a woman alone in a strange country and I'm not sure that she realises that governments don't issue these warnings for nothing.

Should I try to talk her out of it or suffer two weeks of anxiety? I mean if there are warnings against travel there how much danger will she be in?

balletshoes

are you in Australia or New Zealand? If not, what does your own country say about the travel risks in Bali? You also need to realise that it may only be parts of the country which are risky, not all of it, and your daughter might not be going anywhere near those risky parts.

Lone women travellers can be perfectly safe (I used to be one of them ). So long as she and her friend stay in touch, have each others phone numbers, don't go off on their own at night into neighbourhoods they are not familiar with etc she'll be fine.

thorsoak

I have been to Bali, and the Balinese are a very gentle people. The majority of them are buddhists, the remainder are muslim. Of course your daughter will have to ensure that her shots are up to date, that she dresses in a manner that the locals do not find offensive, but to me, it is a far safer destination than Thailand!

Let her go - with your love. Of course you will be anxious - I'm anxious for all my children when they are away from me - and my daughter has lived abroad for over 17 years now. It's a fortnight - she has already travelled to Africa and Australia - she must be a sensible person to have coped with that on her own. Just look forward to seeing the pictures on her return.

pinkshoes

tesuhoha wrote: »

MI googled it and was shocked to see that the New Zealand and Australian government warn against travel there because of the high risk of terrorism.

Is this the same Australian government that bans anyone who has been to the UK for more than 6 months to ever give blood again in Australia?!?! (because all our beef is infected, so obviously in a 6 month stay, you must be SO likely to contract mad cow disease...)

My (Australian) cousin has worked out in Bali a lot, and loves it there.

Let her go, and I'm sure she'll love it!

rachbc

there are risks of HIV, terrorism, credit card fraud and theft here....

Plus of course she's an adult and there isn't really anything you can do to stop her going - so send her off with your blessing and be grateful we live in the age of skype, email and for that matter that she is able to go off and do these sorts of things at all - I for one am very grateful my daughter will have the opportunities denied to so many women around the world to be independant.

clearingout

You can get avian flu, HIV and have your credit card stolen here in the Uk, your drink spiked if you don't keep an eye on it and abused in a hundred different ways whilst out with your mates! Oh, and travelling on the London underground is a bit of a worry from a terrorist perspective but it doesn't stop thousands doing it every day! Dengue fever is something that you pick up in the tropics - it's not nice (I've had it) but just like really, really bad flu! I only got it during an epidemic during the third year I lived in a country where it was endemic if that helps put that one in perspective.

I would suggest a wedding ring as a present - it can keep away a certain amount of trouble as many people are respectful of marriage (although it won't always work, obviously) so it offers some protection. People wanting to rip her off will move on to the next person if they think a husband might appear at some point!

Other than that, the usual advice of taking care at night, using licensed taxis where they exist, keeping your wits about you etc. etc. is all that is required. She'll have a great time, I'm sure - I would give anything to be a 20 something and travelling without responsiblities again! Happy days!

KiKi

tesuhoha wrote: »

My daughter who is 25 has told me she is going on holiday to Bali. I googled it and was shocked to see that the New Zealand and Australian government warn against travel there because of the high risk of terrorism. There is also risk of kidnapping, rabies, mosquito borne viruses without cures such as dengue fever, avian flu, HIV, credit card fraud/theft amongst other delights.

I tried to tell her all this and she scoffed at me. However, she is travelling there alone and meeting a friend who will be coming from Australia. She will be travelling home alone. They will be travelling around and not staying in the same place.

I would very much like to talk her out of it but it is her only chance of a holiday this year. I have never been so worried and she has been to Africa, Australia and Thailand. Am I making a fuss about nothing?. I know she is an adult and all that but she is my daughter, will be a woman alone in a strange country and I'm not sure that she realises that governments don't issue these warnings for nothing.

Should I try to talk her out of it or suffer two weeks of anxiety? I mean if there are warnings against travel there how much danger will she be in?

I do think you are worrying unnecessarily - and exaggerating the risk! The risk of terrorism is across the whole of Indonesia, not just Bali. All countries have a responsibility to highlight every risk possible, and Aus does tend to go OTT with these things (partly because they've been pretty immune to terrorism, so they're quite OTT on their warnings about other countries. Not so long ago they had a warning against travel to Europe. Make up your own mind on that. )

Would you like to know what the Aus government says about us?
* We advise you to exercise caution and monitor developments that might affect your safety in the United Kingdom because of the risk of terrorist attack
* On 24 September 2010, UK authorities published for the first time the threat levels for Northern Ireland and Great Britain (the United Kingdom minus Northern Ireland, i.e. England, Scotland and Wales) from Irish-related terrorism only. The threat level for Irish-related terrorism in Northern Ireland is “Severe”, meaning that the risk of a terrorist attack is assessed as “highly likely”. The threat level for Great Britain from Irish-related terrorism was raised from “Moderate” to “Substantial”, meaning that the risk of a terrorist attack is assessed as “a strong possibility”

Now, wouldn't that sound scary to you? And you want her to stay here?! (And if you think Bali's bad, don't look at the page the Aus government have drawn up on India.)

You can get avian flu and HIV in this country. Unless she stabs herself with a dirty needle or has unprotected sex, how high a risk do you *really* think she's at with HIV by travelling to another country? Credit card theft occurs everywhere, as does fraud...you've begun to list things that are worldwide! She will not be at risk if she takes a sensible approach.

You've seen a government webpage that scared you, but the likelihood of any of those things happening is pretty remote unless she's reckless. I think you're overreacting - all countries have risk, all countries have bad people in them, and all countries have fraud, HIV, flu and illness. It's why you don't sleep around and get your jabs.

Tell her to enjoy herself, and take lots of photos to send back to you.
KiKi

Tropez

It probably isn't the best time to head to that area as the trial of an Al-Qaeda leader is due to conclude this week and is likely to lead to violence or reprisal terrorist attacks across the region.

Australia was the target of a terrorist attack in Bali and so will always warn about the area.

It is worth bearing in mind though that terrorism can happen anywhere. New York is statistically the safest major city in the US and we know what has happened there in recent times.

Kidnapping can also happen everywhere. Two men were arrested in Devon on suspicion of plotting robbery and the kidnapping and murder of singer Joss Stone.

HIV really isn't a problem providing your daughter knows not to have unprotected sex or share needles. Most Britons find themselves in trouble for drugs offences out there rather than any problem with the locals.

Doctors will vaccinate against all diseases in the area and will offer advice on how to prevent things like Dengue Fever.

Credit card fraud and ID theft exists in the UK moreso than any other European nation.

2.5million people visit Bali each year, including around 150,000 Britons - most people don't encounter problems - the only thing to worry about now is how the security forces over there deal with the current situation involving the trial I mentioned.

Tiddlywinks

25 years old = adult.

Nuff said...

littlestar1981

This is helpful: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/indonesia1

The UK haven't advised against travel of any sort or to any part. If she's been to Africa I'm sure she'll be fine, my mum was so upset when I told her I was going to Africa and it took months for her to come round. Also her travels mean she'll have learnt a lot about being vigilant, and she'll be better than many others at recognising signs of danger, so...

It's probably more likely that she'll get hurt in some accident here than bombed or kidnapped in Bali. And as long as she follows any advice given by a nurse she should be OK health wise.

If she comes back and says next she wants to sail off the coast of Somalia, or visit Afghanistan, THEN put your foot down!!!

savingmummy

I understand why your worried but to be honest it isn`t safe anywhere.
Wherever you go there is `risks` when you open the daily papers different countys/countries have similar things going on.

She will no doubt have a great holiday, and return safe and sound. You will then need a holiday to recover from being so worried whilst she has gone!