When a Singapore Holiday Turns Into a 12‑Day Road Test
Vivian Balakrishnan promised that Singaporeans abroad wouldn’t be left in the lurch, but for Madam Jasbir Kaur it turned into a dramatic saga that earned her a spot on the news that’s half heartbreak, half laugh‑out‑at‑the‑situation.
The Great India Lock‑down Gig
- Her “chill‑the‑world‑away‑holiday” that started on March 12 now spans nearly a month.
- While her friends hit the road to Moga (N Punjab) to hitch a flight, she had to trek 400 km to New Delhi straight‑away.
- Along the journey her car had a “break‑down drama”‑level issue and the police made the trip “not‑so‑smooth.”
- All of this happened while 699 Singapore tech‑savvy castaways were racing to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai airports for the only chartered flights that survived the lockdown.
Case Closed: The Flight that Never Lived
She booked a return plane for March 23, just before India groaned under the weight of its Covid‑19 clamp‑down. But it was a when‑the‑world‑goes‑boom‑and‑the‑airplanes‑go‑on‑the‑side story.
- On March 21, her daughter Hardip informed her that “the last flight’s on the launchpad” – so they sprinted to the airport.
- They were told the flight had actually departed March 22 – ship, not a ship.
- The “March 23” flight was canceled, leaving her sitting on the curb, waiting for a new plan.
Where Everyone Bundles Up
After the dropped flight, Kaur and her traveling squad — daughter Harinder (38), sister‑in‑law Spal (70), and niece Navinder (45) — all of whom live happily on the other side of the Malaysian ocean, dragged themselves back to Moga where their relatives were hosting.
The Self‑Isolation Do‑It‑Yourself Drill
Now she’s stuck 14 days of “stay‑home‑like” in a Pan Pacific hotel – a regular‑vacay‑enjoyer but never a confinement‑conductor.
Closing Scoop
So, when the world tried to lock down and block travel, Madam Kaur turned what should’ve been a quick photographer‑in‑paradise trip into a (mostly) misadventure‑road‑trip photo‑journal. And as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs remembers, she’s part of a big “no one left behind” crew that’s left a little of the Singaporean spirit on the bustling lands of India.
EXTRA WEEK’S MEDICINE
Madam Kaur’s Surprise Trip Back to Singapore
After two years of battling cancer and keeping an eye on her high blood pressure, Madam Kaur was hit with a nasty curveball: flight cancellations and a sudden ban on travel to Malaysia. The result? A medical‑urgency story that kept her on the edge of her seat.
Run‑Out of Medicine?
- Her extra week’s supply of meds vanished when her stay got extended.
- “I was terrified – what if I ran out?” she confided.
Thankfully, her daughter’s quick call to a Singapore‑based doctor in Chandigarh got the job done. He shipped the drugs right through the white‑zones.
The Hassle of Returning Home
- While their Singapore team tried to get her back, the plan was to escort them to Kuala Lumpur on 30 March.
- Her partner Harinder’s family in Malaysia couldn’t move her because the Malaysian lockdown was still in effect.
She felt stuck for what felt like an eternity:
“I cried when they left. It seemed I might stay forever,” she admitted. But she kept her cool, telling herself she was “strong enough to wait” because arrangements were still being made.
Finally, Another Big Day
On 10 April, after a long wait, she boarded the 9 pm flight back home.
- Pickup at 8:40 am by a vehicle that later broke down.
- Two honest hours of waiting for a spare car.
- Delhi police stopped them because the vehicle wasn’t on their list.
- MFA intervened, police let them through after half an hour.
- They missed the gate, but the flight was delayed for a 40‑minute wait.
Finally admitted on the day after, Madam Kaur was relieved and ready to get back to normal life.
Life Under Quarantine — But Still Fun
Now that she’s safely back in Singapore, she’s kicking back and making the most of a 14‑day stay:
- Two daily temperature checks (plus superheroly good nursing).
- Daily calls from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
- She’s treating ‘boredom’ like a black‑hole, devouring TV shows, YouTube vids, chatting with loved ones, and practising faith-based resilience.
“I’m happy and safe here,” she said, adding, “they leave food outside every day and timing lists make me feel all cared‑for.” Now she is doing a countdown, hoping to set foot back at home soon.
Original story by The New Paper. Please seek permission for republishing. For up‑to‑date coronavirus coverage, visit here.
