Marja Kihlström got stuck in Sri Lanka because of the Iran war. Kihlström tells Iltalehti what his situation is in the country at the moment.
Special level sex therapist known from TV Marja Kihlström40, heard on Sunday morning that his return flight from Sri Lanka to Finland has been cancelled. The reason is the closure of air traffic in the Middle East due to the Iran war.
Kihlström tells Iltalehti that so far there is no information on when he will be able to return to Finland. Kihlström, who was on a trip for two weeks, is now stuck in Sri Lanka.
– I have Qatar Airlines plane tickets, which were notified a day earlier that they had been cancelled. Finnair is there as a partner airline from Doha to Helsinki. I haven’t been able to reach either customer service. The insurance company hasn’t called back either, even though I’ve left a callback request there. So all the lines seem to be blocked.
– Currently, the information is that there will be no flights to Doha at least until Friday. And Finnair announced that there will be no flights to Dubai for a month, he says.
Marja Kihlström is known from the Naked Attraction Suomi program. Matti Matikainen
According to Kihlström, Qatar Airlines has an obligation to reroute his flight, but so far the airline has not offered one.
Kihlström noticed one phenomenon in the country when news of the war came.
– There were terrible queues at gas stations. My friends told me that apparently there is a fear here of running out of gas. I also noticed that tourists were hoarding sunscreen. In grocery stores, it was a bit like during the corona virus: everyone was in a hurry to go to the grocery store.
– Yes, it can somehow be seen in the way people are, that the holiday here took on a slightly different tone.
Homesick
Kihlström bumped into his acquaintances on the ground by chance, some of whom are currently stuck at airports. Kihlström decided not to go to the airport and got his hotel stay extended until Saturday.
– I’ve already had to cancel work matters, client meetings and one lecture. I was supposed to start recording the audiobook on Wednesday. All of this week’s tasks have been canceled and I have given a warning in advance about next week’s tasks as well, that I might have to cancel them.
Kihlström states that the situation is also a financial loss for him, but that is currently the least of his worries.
– I am really grateful that I am safe. It’s crazy to hear that, as far as I know, there have also been missile strikes on stopovers in the Middle East.
Marja Kihlström tries to stay calm in the midst of a wild situation. Inka Soveri
The first thing Kihlström has in mind is family. Kihlström has become even more homesick and crying has been a daily occurrence.
– After all, that’s what it’s like to be a mother, having three children and a husband waiting at home. The biggest thing here is when I see them.
Uncertainty makes Kihlström’s homesickness deeper. He has been in daily contact with his family.
– Fortunately, the children are already a bit older, so you can tell them why this happens, and they understand it.
– Matti (husband) has talked more about this issue at home. Yes, that’s where you can hear the miss and confusion.
Is the money enough?
Kihlström has no worries about having enough money, at least for now. However, he is prepared to change his budget and live more affordably.
– I found out that if you have to stay here longer, the hotel is not necessarily the best possible place to stay. However, you can rent weekly or monthly accommodation here. And yes, I have acquaintances here, says Kihlström.
– Of course, the money could run out if it takes months. I have people from whom I can ask for a loan if necessary, he adds.
Kihlström laughs and says that he also came up with a business idea in case he has to stay in the country for a longer period of time.
– At the beach, everyone wants to take sunset photos. I’ve already asked some couples if they need help because I know how to take Instagram photos. Those wives and girlfriends have been satisfied when marital disputes have ended when I’ve taken a couple of Instagram photos for them, he says.
Marja Kihlström follows the news and the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and airlines to keep herself up to date on the current situation. Jenni Gästgivar
Peace
Kihlström tries to stay calm in the middle of a wild situation. Kihlström feels that world politics suddenly came very close.
– It often feels like those wars are somewhere else. Suddenly, the war affects this moment and being here. You really have to think that if you try to leave here, is it safe.
Kihlström even discussed with one of his flight attendant acquaintances, which way he should leave Sri Lanka, if he couldn’t do it by flying. However, they came to the conclusion that it is worth just staying on the ground.
– Sure, ships move, but they don’t go through the Middle East either. So there would be quite long journeys.
When Kihlström gets back to Finland one day, he plans to talk about his experience with his therapist and work supervisor.
– Yes, I usually have a habit of dealing with everything and this is a new situation. I’ve never been in a situation like this.
Kihlström said earlier Instagram– in his publication that he arrived in Sri Lanka with his friend for the Wild Feminine retreat, after which he has spent a week-long self-vacation in Sri Lanka’s Ahangama.
Marja Kihlström does not yet know when she will be able to return to Finland. Matti Matikainen
