Covid-19 fear sees travelling Russian family call orchard ‘home’ during MCO
MIRI: A Russian family from Sochi has been holed up in a village in Lawas for almost two weeks due to fears of flying back to their country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The couple and their fouryear-old daughter, whose visas are due to expire on April 16, had arrived in the state after the nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced on March 18.
Ivan Kudriashov, 41, told The Borneo Post via WhatsApp that his family had been travelling around Borneo since November last year and had arrived in Kuching via Labuan before making their way to Lawas.
“Just after we crossed the border from Brunei, the country imposed the MCO and we have been stuck here since,” he said.
According to him, they had initially planned on going to Kota Kinabalu but called it off due to the spread of Covid-19.
At the same time, they decided not to head back to Russia as they felt it was unsafe to fly during this current pandemic.
Kudriashov said that if the MCO is lifted on April 14, the family intends to extend their visas.
“Staying here is safer,” he said.
The family is currently staying at an orchard in Kampung Pengalih belonging to the manager of Penawan Waterfall Eco Park homestay, who only wanted to be known as Joseph.
Joseph told The Borneo Post that he saw the family outside the entrance of the homestay on March 19.
“We were closed that day following the MCO on March 18. However, after seeing the two with their young daughter, I felt compelled to help and offered them drinks.
“I allowed them to take a shower as well before they left the homestay as we were closed.”
Joseph said prior to the family showing up at the homestay, they had been staying at a local church, adding they have been staying at his durian orchard since then.
“It was their request to stay there (orchard) because they too are afraid of Covid19. So they wanted to isolate themselves there since the family loves nature.”
Joseph also said he is not charging them anything for staying at his orchard, before revealing the family only ate fruits and drank plain water.
“We offered them food such as rice but they refused. They only want fruits and plain water, which is why they want to live in my orchard. Luckily my orchard has plenty of fruits.
“According to Health Department personnel who came to check on them, the family is in good health,” he said.