Coronavirus turns Indonesia holiday island Gili Trawangan into desert of abandoned resorts

Boats anchored along an empty beach at Gili Trawangan resort island on Nov 22, 2021.- AFP

GILI TRAWANGAN (Indonesia), Dec 9 (AFP): Chef Ilhani used to serve up Japanese cuisine to holidaymakers every night, now he makes just $3 a day selling fried snacks on the near empty streets of once bustling Gili Trawangan.

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered almost all the resorts and restaurants across Indonesia's Gili Islands, famed for their turquoise waters, sandy beaches, and diverse marine life.