THUNDER BAY -- Some Thunder Bay residents stuck in Bali because of an active volcano hope to get back to the city this week. There's nothing definite so far, though, for Erika Maki.
Maki is one of ten women, mostly from the city, who travelled to the Indonesian island about ten days ago as part of a women's empowerment program.
She had been scheduled to leave Monday, but remained in her hotel in the town of Kuta on Tuesday, and was still unsure when she would get a return flight.
Maki said the group was safe and was not directly affected by the eruptions of volcanic ash and debris occurring 70 kilometres away.
"We are quite a distance from the volcano. You know, I can't get home, and that's worrisome, but outside of that I haven't been scared," Maki said in an interview.
The volcanic activity has disrupted air transportation. Maki was turned back twice from the international airport after attempting to catch a flight.
But she's keeping her problems in perspective.
"The Bali people have been nothing but just apologetic, which is amazing. Everyone is 'I'm sorry for your delay'. Their country is suffering, and there's lots of people who have been displaced, but we have been treated phenomenally," Maki said.
She said what's going on around the mountain is "pretty intense," with thousands of people likely unable to return to their homes for a long time.
Maki said she has a passion for doing things for underprivileged women, and that was the purpose of the trip.
She added that she and her companions have already discussed reaching out to the Thunder Bay community for assistance for Bali, possibly through a fundraiser.
As for her return home, she says she's been told to plan for a flight Thursday morning. But, based on media reports on the volcanic activity, she's skeptical about the chances of that aircraft actually taking off.
