Steven and I began planning this four-month trip to Asia about eight months ago before we ever embarked on the much shorter trips last fall, first to Ireland and the UK that began in August and then the trip that began in our last continent, Antarctica, and then took us to part of the Chilean portion of Patagonia and finally Paraguay until just before Christmas. Ahh, the plans of mice and men - how things can change when circumstances beyond our control - I'm referring, of course, to the coronavirus - put a damper on the best laid plans! It took us several weeks to face facts and decide the stops in Tibet and mainland China were no longer a realistic option.
We quickly pivoted and decided to return to the Middle East for those three or so weeks in the first half of the trip so we could see parts of Oman we didn't get to explore on our first visit back in 2016, then visit Saudi Arabia as it had just opened up to non-Muslim tourists last October and add in Kuwait and Lebanon for good measure. I found hotels and sights in every place while Steven worked his magic with flights and ground transportation in every locale we wanted to tour.
With that all done and the final post on Paraguay finally written, we flew off into the wild blue yonder from Denver on March 1st, with at least my thinking that our newly revised itinerary would go off like clockwork as our previous seven international trips together all had done in the past. Steven, however, thought that the coronavirus might catch up with us along the way and we might have to come up with a Plan B or even a Plan C. Whether I had blinders on or am inherently more positive of the two of us, I don't know.
But, in the last few days emails have been filling up my inbox from Kuwait's airline indicating we needed a health certificate from a provider approved by the Kuwaiti government; that requirement has since been lifted; from our tour operator in Bhutan informing us that his government closed down the border effective immediately for two weeks as an American traveling from India had the virus; from the US State Department concerning the closure of the Saudi land border and air traffic from most Middle East countries; fortunately for us, that didn't include flights from Oman where we're hoping to travel from; and then today from our first hotel in India saying that five cases of the virus have been detected in the southern state of Kerala and the hotel was closing for the foreseeable future as a precaution.
The upshot is we don't know where we'll be at any given point on this trip beyond the next few days here in glorious, and currently virus-free, Sri Lanka where we began our trip! The unknown for our travel plans doesn't alarm us but it certainly creates challenges for arranging things on the fly going forward. Steven was told by his doctor a month ago that he would be a likely target for the virus because of his, ahem, advanced age, his compromised lungs and breathing issues. He still wanted, and wants now, to continue the trip, wherever it might take us, but is certainly taking far more precautions than he would normally, thank goodness.
Hotels, the airline industry and all tourist-related businesses are being terribly affected. I feel for all the smaller operators whose livelihoods depend on the international traveler and the money that drives their economy. I shudder to think how many businesses will be able to survive in light of the mass cancellations. According to at least one travel blogger we follow, it is Americans only that have decided to stay home in droves rather than continue with their travel plans. Travel bloggers urge tourists to travel but to take precautions like washing our hands more often and longer than ever before, refrain from touching our faces, etc but not give in to the fear and hysteria that seems to be gripping so many people.
How much of that 'onward we go' philosophy may be at least a tad self-serving is open for debate because most travel bloggers support themselves by running ads exhorting people to buy travel insurance, particular clothing or stay in certain hotels. Even if not at all self-serving, Steven and I at least feel we're just as safe traveling as we might be at home given that the virus is also present in our home state of Colorado. We want to continue to see as much as we can while we can on this trip and hopefully on other trips still to come. Since that also means supporting the travel industry, that is a bonus in our minds at this fraught time for so many.
I will keep you posted as to where we continue our travels on this Asia and Middle East trip as many plans will be not of our making. I see that as an opportunity, certainly not a hardship, in the sense of possibly seeing places not yet on our radar. Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun?!
Next post: Our few hours in London between two overnight trips exploring the city's Bankside and East End areas.
Posted on March 8th, 2020, from scorching hot Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Guess it would have been smart to apply sunscreen given the temperature was in the 90s and therefore avoided getting burnt!
We quickly pivoted and decided to return to the Middle East for those three or so weeks in the first half of the trip so we could see parts of Oman we didn't get to explore on our first visit back in 2016, then visit Saudi Arabia as it had just opened up to non-Muslim tourists last October and add in Kuwait and Lebanon for good measure. I found hotels and sights in every place while Steven worked his magic with flights and ground transportation in every locale we wanted to tour.
With that all done and the final post on Paraguay finally written, we flew off into the wild blue yonder from Denver on March 1st, with at least my thinking that our newly revised itinerary would go off like clockwork as our previous seven international trips together all had done in the past. Steven, however, thought that the coronavirus might catch up with us along the way and we might have to come up with a Plan B or even a Plan C. Whether I had blinders on or am inherently more positive of the two of us, I don't know.
But, in the last few days emails have been filling up my inbox from Kuwait's airline indicating we needed a health certificate from a provider approved by the Kuwaiti government; that requirement has since been lifted; from our tour operator in Bhutan informing us that his government closed down the border effective immediately for two weeks as an American traveling from India had the virus; from the US State Department concerning the closure of the Saudi land border and air traffic from most Middle East countries; fortunately for us, that didn't include flights from Oman where we're hoping to travel from; and then today from our first hotel in India saying that five cases of the virus have been detected in the southern state of Kerala and the hotel was closing for the foreseeable future as a precaution.
The upshot is we don't know where we'll be at any given point on this trip beyond the next few days here in glorious, and currently virus-free, Sri Lanka where we began our trip! The unknown for our travel plans doesn't alarm us but it certainly creates challenges for arranging things on the fly going forward. Steven was told by his doctor a month ago that he would be a likely target for the virus because of his, ahem, advanced age, his compromised lungs and breathing issues. He still wanted, and wants now, to continue the trip, wherever it might take us, but is certainly taking far more precautions than he would normally, thank goodness.
Hotels, the airline industry and all tourist-related businesses are being terribly affected. I feel for all the smaller operators whose livelihoods depend on the international traveler and the money that drives their economy. I shudder to think how many businesses will be able to survive in light of the mass cancellations. According to at least one travel blogger we follow, it is Americans only that have decided to stay home in droves rather than continue with their travel plans. Travel bloggers urge tourists to travel but to take precautions like washing our hands more often and longer than ever before, refrain from touching our faces, etc but not give in to the fear and hysteria that seems to be gripping so many people.
How much of that 'onward we go' philosophy may be at least a tad self-serving is open for debate because most travel bloggers support themselves by running ads exhorting people to buy travel insurance, particular clothing or stay in certain hotels. Even if not at all self-serving, Steven and I at least feel we're just as safe traveling as we might be at home given that the virus is also present in our home state of Colorado. We want to continue to see as much as we can while we can on this trip and hopefully on other trips still to come. Since that also means supporting the travel industry, that is a bonus in our minds at this fraught time for so many.
I will keep you posted as to where we continue our travels on this Asia and Middle East trip as many plans will be not of our making. I see that as an opportunity, certainly not a hardship, in the sense of possibly seeing places not yet on our radar. Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun?!
Next post: Our few hours in London between two overnight trips exploring the city's Bankside and East End areas.
Posted on March 8th, 2020, from scorching hot Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Guess it would have been smart to apply sunscreen given the temperature was in the 90s and therefore avoided getting burnt!
After years of traveling on an airline pass, I can say I prefer traveling with no or at least, vague plans. It's quite the adventure. Much more exciting to be open to whatever comes your way or strikes your fancy at the moment. Enjoy this experience, wash your hands, and stay healthy.
ReplyDeleteDear Unknown,
ReplyDeleteI certainly understand your point of view about traveling on the fly but Steven and I have always been the 'plan ahead and enjoy while there' types so we don't have to spend (waste possibly in our opinion?) precious time on the road planning what we want to do. That's worked well for us up until now because I spend most evenings trying to write blog posts or, at the very least, organize the day's photos.
But, we're sure open for a change and I'm intrigued wondering where we'll be in a week or a month or two months for that matter. To me, it's all part of the adventure of traveling! It's hard to think of the financial hit we'll take, though, knowing we may well have to scrap non-refundable flights and some hotel accommodation in addition to those we lost in China.
Annie
As Annie and probably Steve know, I am like "unknown' when traveling, unstructured in my destinations. I am not surprised about the coronavirus.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that the virus is generally highly underreported - including in the US where really checking has only just begun. The US may be worse than many. https://quillette.com/2020/03/06/dont-test-dont-tell-the-bureaucratic-bungling-of-covid-19-tests/
I've found this publication to be more honest and unbiased than most. (That is its niche.)
This thing is moving quickly and I'd like to be in closer contact with you Annie. Take good care for now and let's talk more.
Sri Lanka looks beautiful, reminds me of my time in India in the 70s. Love that butterfly!
Love!
Mum!! You promised me you would be more careful and then you forget your sun screen? Love the pics so far
ReplyDeleteOops - will be more careful and preach what I say to you!
ReplyDeleteLove you!