Lindy Rama-Ellis reveals glimpse of Bali life during COVID pandemic
The ex-wife of Olympian Michael Klim, model Lindy Rama-Ellis, has shared a glimpse of life without tourists in Bali.
Confidential
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Australian-Indonesian model Lindy Rama-Ellis has revealed the “devastating” impact of the coronavirus pandemic in Bali.
With more than 1.6 million confirmed cases and over 45,000 deaths, Indonesia has been hard hit by COVID-19 and subsequently, borders remain closed to foreign tourists.
Rama-Ellis, the ex-wife of Olympian Michael Klim, moved to the Indonesian island of Bali nearly a decade ago. In a series of social media posts she has revealed that the once bustling tourist hot spots Kuta and Legian are now “ghost towns” and many locals are out of work as their economy is heavily reliant on tourism.
“It’s devastating for the local people … without tourism to support this island. Unfortunately so many people lost jobs and there is no government assistance,” she wrote on Instagram.
“There are a lot [of restaurants] still open … Kuta and Legian are like a ghost town.
“There are some amazing hotel deals etc, so we have been trying to support businesses as much as we can.”
The Balinese princess lives in a lavish bungalow which sits among rice fields in Canguu with her British property developer husband Adam Ellis and their children.
The couple are parents to a three-year-old daughter Goldie, as well as her three children with Olympic swimming gold medallist Michael Klim – Stella, 15, Rocco, 13, and Frankie, 10.
Rama-Ellis, 43, who was raised in Tasmania, was born into Balinese royalty as her late father was a prince in the Denpasar Royal Family while her mother is Australian.
She said the best thing about living in Bali has been “the sense of freedom” although at times she struggles with “island fever”.
The mother-of-four added that there are many misconceptions about the cost of living in Bali.
“It’s not as cheap as people might think, especially if you have children,” she wrote.
“International school is extremely expensive and we pay up to $60,000 a year for school.
“Things like electricity is also expensive. Eating out is much cheaper but depends where you go.”
Rama-Ellis split from ex-husband Michael in 2016 after 10 years of marriage but the pair continue to amicably co-parent their three children.
She went on to marry Ellis two years later in Italy.
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