“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” Heartbreaking news for my sister…

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Our favorite bird, Birdie, sang for us each day to give him nuts.
Please listen to this song all the way through!
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Charles Dickens wrote in The Tale of Two Cities:

“It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom. It was the age of foolishness. It was the epoch of belief. It was the epoch of incredulity. It was the season of light. It was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

Five years ago, this adorable pair of Northern Cardinals visited us several times each day in Kauai, Hawaii.  He’s sharing the nuts we gave him with his mate that we leave on the railing each day.  How sweet is this! For that post on April 10, 2015, please click here.

And here we are, dear readers, in the worst of times as most of us are striving to survive with grace and dignity through this frightening pandemic. No one is exempt. No one is free from the fear, risk, and consequences of a world in lockdown for an indefinite period.

 
My sister, Susan’s situation is indicative of these stressful and unusual times. She’s back at the assisted living facility in much worse shape than she was before she fell. 
He’s so cute.  And he sings as nobody knows! See the above video of him belting out a tune for our attention for more nuts.
Not one nursing home, palliative or hospice care facility, or rehab center in Nevada would accept her as a patient due to COVID-19. Not one. Subsequently, she was sent back to her assisted living facility, which does not provide the type of palliative/hospice care she requires at this time. 
 
She literally cannot get into her wheelchair to get to the bathroom or attend to any of her personal needs. She can barely feed herself. She’s trapped. The assisted living facility has agreed to do what they can to help her, but they have many patients who require attention, especially when no family members can visit.
 
But, these facilities don’t offer the degree of help she requires now and most likely will require for the remainder of her life, which may be shorter thane anticipated under these dire circumstances. It breaks our hearts to know how she is struggling to get through each day.
Birdie, contemplating his day.
I call her every morning, which is nighttime in Nevada, USA, but I’m having trouble keeping the call from cutting off. Thank God, my sister Julie, niece Kely, and Susan’s ex-husband Tom are all also calling her frequently providing considerable emotional support and encouragement.
 

Based on lacunar infarctions, of which she’s had many, her memory is fading by the day. Lacunar infarction is described as follows: “Lacunar stroke or lacunar infarct (LACI) is the most common type of ischemic stroke, resulting from the occlusion of small penetrating arteries that provide blood to the brain’s deep structures.”

No doubt, many of you have experienced a similar diagnosis in your aging parents and family members. On top of this frequently occurring situation in her brain, as mentioned earlier, she has COPD, congestive heart failure, and a chronic pain condition. Also, she was injured in a recent fall. Oh, good grief, this is unbearable for her.
The male Red Crested Cardinal also came to visit each day, but he and Birdie didn’t get along well.
Susan was a brilliant and successful businesswoman for most of her life with an illustrious career. She, too, traveled the world and we often share stories of places we’ve been and the experiences we’ve had, especially while on safari in Africa and India. 
 
To lie in bed for 12 years withering away is unthinkable for any individual, as the quality of life fades away, day after day, as do the memories of a life well-lived. 
 
She asked me is she should “let go” and do what our mother had done at 81 years old in 2003, stopped eating and drinking, refusing all treatment until 17 days later she drifted away with all of us at her side. What could I say? Fight to live under these dreadful circumstances?
A showdown between Birdie and his competition.

I could only offer my love and support for whatever path she so chooses. Only she can make that decision. Many of us can make such a decision when and if the time comes, and if we hopefully still possess a modicum of mental resources to make such a dire decision.

 
The sorrow this virus has bestowed upon all of us worldwide has placed so many in the horrifying position of making life and death decisions for ourselves and for those we love.
 
Thank you to our readers for the love and support you send our way in thoughts, messages, and prayers. We extend the very same to every one of you.

Photo from one year ago today, April 10, 2019:

Mr. Nyala likes it there. It was a delight for Tom to see him again that morning and to be able to take these photos. For more photos, please click here.

Six British hotel guests are flying home today, releasing four hotel rooms…What would be nice at this point?…

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Giraffes visited our yard in January 2014 in Marloth Park, South Africa.
Hanalei Bay from an overlook in Kauai, Hawaii. For more photos from our post on this date, April 9, 2015, please click here.
Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.

Please click here for those who may have missed the post with SW News Media’s article on our story.

Each time a hotel guest checks out, I can’t help but worry that the hotel will close. There are very few hotels open during the lockdown and beyond in Mumbai except those housing suspected COVID-19 cases. As we’ve mentioned, we’ll never stay in one of those hotels.

Tonight at 9:00 pm, five hotel guests who’ve been utilizing four hotel rooms are heading to the airport to board a chartered flight to the UK. The airport here is still closed except for the few flights arranged by various country’s state departments to repatriate citizens to their home countries.

Hanalei Bay on a sunny day, taken from our condo in Princeville in Kauai, Hawaii.

We are happy for these people, some of whom we’ve communicated with (at quite a distance) who’ve been here as long as we have, today at 16 days. They are excited to return to their homes. 

According to today’s news from what appears to be a reliable source, 50,000 US citizens have been returned home who’ve been stranded abroad in 90 countries. It could have been 50,002 (sic) if we’d chosen to head to the US.
Instead, we’re locked down in this lovely hotel, comfortable and feeling safe until we can move on to our next location. But, of course, it would be natural for some concern when the number of rooms occupied in this 334 room hotel diminishes as guests find a way out of India.
A juice bar on wheels in the quaint town of Hanalei.

This morning I spoke to my brother-in-law, Tom, my sister Susan’s ex-husband, who’s been a constant in her life for many years, helping her more than one could imagine. Tom explained how eerie it is in Las Vegas with all the lights off on the strip with all the casinos and hotels closed due to COVID-19.

He said it reminded him of those “end of the world” movies that he, like me, always enjoyed watching, never thinking for a moment that our world would be so similar, in lockdown and that the business world would come to a standstill with every town appearing like a ghost-town.

It’s easy for us to be insulated from these realities other than what we see and hear on the news. We haven’t ventured outdoors in these past 16 days and don’t plan to do so anytime soon.
These handcrafted plates for sale in Hanalei were pricey, many over INR 7615, US $100 each.

This morning at breakfast, we were thrilled to see the restaurant had a shipment. Tom could have strawberry jelly with his toast, and I could have chicken sausages with my omelet. This was a nice change we both appreciate.

As for dinners, no changes will be coming there. Most of the food items they offer are spicy Indian dishes. Tom will stick with his chicken penne pasta with white sauce and a side of potatoes (not healthy, but all that’s available that he’ll eat). 
 
I continue to order the same meal each evening consisting of Paneer Makhani (a spicy tomato-based Indian dish infused with cubes of paneer, a cheese similar to feta but more dense and creamy), with two small pieces of grilled chicken and steamed veggies. 
These quirky glasses were almost INR 7615, US $100 each.

Still, no wine or beer is allowed in India, with all bars and liquor stores closed indefinitely. Gosh, a drink would be nice at this point. Gosh, lounging with friends with a glass of red wine in hand would be nice at this point. 

Gosh, going outdoors would be nice at this point. Gosh, we’ve surprised ourselves as to how well we’ve been holding up without any of these at this point.
 
We’ve been holed up in hotel rooms for almost a month, but like most of you, we’re making the best of it. Continue to hunker down and stay safe.
Photo from one year ago today, April 9, 2019:
Lone elephant crossing the road in Kruger. For more photos, please click here.

Medical concerns mount, worldwide and “at home”…

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Elephants on the Crocodile River in Kruger National Park in 2013. 
Five years ago today, we continued to be wrapped up in the growing albatross chicks nesting in the yards of homes in the neighborhood. This was our favorite Laysan Albatross chick, named “Joy,” who usually sat facing the wall.  She was practicing clacking when we stopped by the previous day, although we were at least 15 feet from her.  On this particular day, she wasn’t facing the wall, as she often does, as did her parents.  For the post from that day five years ago today, please click here.
Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.

For those who may have missed the post with SW News Media’s article on our story, please click here.

My sister’s situation has escalated over the past 24 hours. She now has no choice but to go into a rehabilitation center or, even worse, a nursing home, many of which are dealing with cases of COVID-19. 

She cannot care for herself sufficiently to return to her assisted living facility, which only offers minimal care for its residents, such as dispensing medication, health checks, meals, and cleaning. At this point, Susan is being prescribed “palliative care,” which focuses on improving their quality of life.

This cannot be accomplished while living in an assisted living facility. If the fears of the virus weren’t prevalent at this time, this entire scenario would be much easier.

It’s hard to believe that these fluffy balls will eventually grow into the adults’ beautiful pristine white and gray feathers.

I’m doing what I can from afar, but it’s a difficult situation with several family members involved, each trying their best for a good outcome that doesn’t look promising.

It breaks my heart to think she could be permanently separated from her beloved Yorkie, Chase. This will be the most challenging part for her. Little dogs are often allowed in assisted living facilities but never in rehabilitation centers or nursing homes. In the next few days, we’ll see how this all rolls out.
 

I have no doubt many of our readers have been faced with these types of situations. Both Tom and I experienced it with our aging parents, who now passed away long ago. Overseeing even a part of their care is disheartening and sorrowful for all family members.

Could this chick be any cuter?

On India’s national news, there are considerable speculations on how India will go forward when the lockdown ends on April 14th. Numerous options are being presented; including the extension of the lockdown based on the fact, there has been no reduction in the number of cases in the country of 1.3 billion people.

Today, India has 5356 cases and 160 deaths based on this report which is considerably less than the US with 400,500 cases and 12,857 deaths. South Africa has 1749 cases and 13 deaths. These numbers will not be accurate since reporting is limited in some countries.

It appears we won’t know what India will do for several more days but, even if the lockdown ends and the airport reopens, there isn’t a country with its borders open we’d care to visit. Subsequently, we will stay here until there are possibilities that work for us. This could be months away. We are prepared for this eventuality.

A Brown Gecko is hanging out in this plant with sharp thorns, a safe hiding spot for sure.

The hotel routine continues day after day. We go to breakfast between 8:00, and 9:00 am. While our room is being cleaned, we sit in the lobby with our laptops and return to the room. 

I walk the corridors of the fourth floor once an hour until we go to dinner. We each listen to podcasts, the news, or stream shows on our respective laptops during the daytime.
 

Back in our room after 7:00 pm dinner, together we watched two episodes of Showtime’s TV series: Homeland, The Affair, Ray Donovan and then tried to sleep. Usually, by 11:00 pm, we’re drifting off to awaken the following day to do it all over again.

This peculiar tree was growing in the neighborhood where the nesting albatrosses were located.

As much as we’d like to shake it up a little, there’s no real opportunity for change. Although many of you housebound have similar restrictive activities, you have the added concerns when venturing out to shop. We haven’t left this hotel once in the 15 days since we arrived. 

We could potentially be saying the same thing in one, two, or three months from now. We shall see. Tolerating this situation is a mindset we hope to maintain for as long as we stay ensconced in this (or another) hotel.

Here’s a new tidbit of information we discovered: Close the toilet’s lid when you flush, at home or when out (avoid using a bathroom when out). COVID-19 spores can spread through the air from toilet contents when flushing without the lids closed.

Stay safe.

Photo from one year ago today, April 8, 2019:

Little’s Friend…His tusks are even tinier than Little’s. For more photos, please click here.

Closer to home than we think…A personal story…Five years ago, a little shop in Kauia, Hawaii…

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We could watch and hear the church bells when we lived in Boveglio, Italy, in the summer of 2013. This particular video is viral on our YouTube page. Click here for the post on which we included this video.

As I wrote today’s post, starting with the headline, I smiled. “A personal story?” All of our stories are personal in one way or another. Today is no exception.

At times, people ask, “How do you feel comfortable revealing so much of your personal life online?”

My answer is always the same, “One of the reasons people all over the world read our posts is due to this very fact. If this were just a travel blog with photos of tourist locations, hotels, and restaurant reviews, we wouldn’t have kept the interest of readers for so many years.”

It’s the raw reality of our daily lives that inspires us to keep writing each day, that so quickly comes from the heart, enabling my fingers to fly across the keyboard with barely a moment of concentration or forethought. “Writer’s block” doesn’t dwell herein.

This is the only health food store, Healthy Hut, within a half-hour drive of our holiday home in Kauai, Hawaii. The inventory is ripe with fresh, locally grown organic produce, grass-fed meats, free-range chickens and eggs and food and health supplies one would find in a much larger location in a big city. Pricey? Yep! For the full story from five years ago today, please click here.

Yes, many of our prior posts suggested where to go and what to see in various parts of the world. We love sharing those tidbits of information with associated photos and links.

But, now, in isolation, without being “out there” sightseeing, shopping, socializing and feeling a “part of the world,” an entirely tunnel-vision-type approach has overcome me. It’s all about us and what we’re thinking, feeling and experiencing while locked down in a hotel room in Mumbai, India for an indefinite period.
Certainly, most of our readers can relate to our isolation when you, too, are literally trapped in your homes, facing the complexity of myriad problems, which include emotional, physical and financial concerns.
I was surprised to find many of the products I needed to make my recently posted recipe for Low Carb High Fat Protein Bars, my new favorite recipe. Click this link if you missed the recipe.

In many ways, it’s easier for us. Sure, I’d like to be able to cook a meal, have a glass of wine, do laundry and stay busy around the house. But, we have little responsibility other than staying active, eating two meals a day, and paying for our hotel and dinners (breakfast is included). 

Financially, this lockdown doesn’t impact us one way or another. We’d be paying rent for a holiday home, groceries, supplies and the occasional dinner out. Our hotel bill here is no more than we’d have paid for a holiday home and the dinners, not much more than we’d have paid for groceries and dining out.

But, for those of you out of work as you continue to incur household and living expenses, this dreadful time can only be worrisome and frightening, along with fears about the virus impacting your family and friends. Our hearts go out to all of you.

Of course, we worry about our family and friends, but based on frequent communication it seems everyone is hunkered down to the best of their ability, wearing masks, social distancing and frequently washing their hands.

Although our situation is not dire at this point, we aren’t exempt from worry and concern. My dear sister Susan, who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada who’s been bedridden for many years with various severe medical conditions, took an awful fall a few days ago, one of many she’s experienced over the years.

Seeing pumpkins and squash reminds us of crisp, cool fall in Minnesota as I stood admiring this at a comfortable 82 degrees.

She is now a coronavirus-free hospital after hany tests that determined she has been suffering numerous small strokes, causing her to fall over the years, often incurring brain bleeds and injuries. In addition, she has COPD, congestive heart failure, and severe chronic pain syndrome. (Bad genes in my family).

For the past nine months, she has been living in a lovely assisted living facility in Las Vegas, which, to date, hasn’t had any cases of COVID-19. I spent many delightful afternoons with her when we stayed in Nevada in November 2019. 

I baked a few of her favorite desserts (from our childhood) at son Richard’s house in Henderson and brought them to her when I visited each day. We laughed and told stories while cherishing every moment together. On December 9th, when we left Nevada it was hard to say goodbye, not sure we’d ever be together again.

Based on US Medicare requirements when a patient/senior is hospitalized and still a bit unstable, they require the patient to go to the rehabilitation center before they can return to their former living arrangements.

With all the news of COVID-19 impacting rehab and nursing facilities, my dear sister is terrified of being forced to go to one of these facilities before she can return to her assisted living facility where she’s been content and comfortable.

The shelves were packed with beauty products, snacks, and treat, none of which we purchase.

My sister Julie, my niece Kely, Susan’s adult daughter, both of whom live in California, and I, have been on the phone trying to attend to her care the best way we can. No visitors are allowed in the hospital to avoid the risk of spreading the virus. She was injured during the fall and is in considerable pain along with the chronic discomfort of her other medical conditions. This is heartbreaking.

We are trying to avoid her going to the rehab facility, which emotionally would be devastating for her. Although we are grateful she doesn’t have the virus, ishe wouldn’t survive f she did become infected  

Many of you are experiencing similar situations throughout the world with family members alone in the hospital without the possibility of visitors and other medical conditions that require care and treatment during this difficult time.

These are challenging times for all of us in our own ways. We pray for toursafety and well-being fnd all of our loved ones wherever they may be. May this devastation soon end.

Photo from one year ago today, April 7, 2019:

This morning, this Hornbill stood on the top of the door to let Tom know it was time to eat. Tom came running outdoors to comply with his fervent request. For more photos, please click here.

The kindness of friends with the best intentions.. Can we stop writing about it?

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As mentioned in yesterday’s post, each day we’ll include one of our videos along with the link when we originally posted the video. Here’s the link to the post in which we had the above video with the whole story, from December 29, 2013 with another video and more photos regarding the female’s making the tree frog’s nest, and the mating process. 

Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.
Please click here for those who may have missed the post with SW News Media’s article on our story.

As mentioned in yesterday’s post here, in the future, during the lockdown, we will include one of our past videos as the “main photo” each day with a link to the date the video was initially posted. 

We’re adding videos from the furthest dates, eventually working toward the present day. We may not include every video, but instead, use those we’ve deemed may be of most interest to our worldwide audience.
 
It’s fun for us to add this feature during lockdown which once it’s over and we’re on the move again, we’ll return to posting one of our favorite photos of the day. As you can well imagine, we aren’t taking any photos right now. We’ve already posted hotel and staff photos leaving us no options from there since we cannot go outside.

On another note, many of our friends/readers have been sending us links and information regarding how the US State Department is assisting American citizens in getting out of India via chartered flights from Delhi, Goa, and Mumbai.Gosh, we appreciate everyone’s concern and also, we are well aware of the State Department’s efforts to repatriate US citizens who are in lockdown all over the world. We spend all day, every day, watching local and world news and reading copious amounts of news online. No new facts about the virus pass by us in our heightened state.
Beautiful orchid we spotted in our travels from this post.
This flower baffled me with nothing online similar, making it possible to identify.  How unusual. Any ideas out there?

For us, the fact remains consistent. We have no intention of returning to the US to live while waiting out the virus. There are many other countries we’d head to once the international travel bans are lifted, none of which include the US and its territories.

In many weeks or months away, our goal is to head back to South Africa, a military intervention to prevent its citizens and residents from movement beyond lockdown. Some harsh punishments have been enacted, including imprisonment, impounding vehicles, and being shot at with rubber bullets.

The people of India are also being arrested and jailed for disobeying the lockdown. Of course, this type of punishment is harsh, but the president is determined to keep the virus cases at bay. Only time will tell if these stringent tactics are effective.

We feel safe here. We would not feel safe flying to the US to face the 336,830 cases (as of today) with almost 10,000 deaths. As of today, India has 4314 cases and 118 deaths. India is one-third the size of the US in square miles but has four times the population.

Also, in this scenario, locked down in a hotel, we don’t have to go out to shop or make any purchases. We needed a few toiletries, and yesterday. I placed an order with Amazon India for a May 4th delivery date. We have no doubt we’ll still be here in May.

Suppose the airport opens in Mumbai for international flights and South Africa is not accepting incoming international flights. In that case, we have several other countries in mind that we’d fly to while we wait it out, again, with many fewer cases per capita. 

With the help of the internet, it’s easy to determine which countries continue to keep their borders closed. In the worst-case scenario, if none of the walls open, we’ll stay here in Mumbai until they do. 

Everything is predicated on the fact that we continue to have a place to stay in Mumbai while waiting it out. We’re feeling this hotel won’t “put us on the street” if they close and will find an alternative for all of us remaining here.

It appears that five guests from the UK will be getting out on a UK government-chartered flight sometime in the next few weeks. We appreciate their desire to return to their homes. 

But, with the national healthcare system on dangerous overload in the UK, along with the high number of cases, as eighth-highest in the world with 47,806 points and almost 5000 deaths, we’d undoubtedly stay put here rather than travel to the UK.

Plumeria, found in many tropical locations throughout the world. We took this photo in Hawaii.

For us, the bottom line… One, where are we the safest? And two, where are we the most mentally, physically, and financially most comfortable? For now, it’s Mumbai, India, staying at the Courtyard Mumbai International Airport for as long as we are allowed. 

Each new day I ask myself, “Can I stop writing about COVID-19?” I wish I could. But, like all of you and the rest of the world, it’s hard to get it off our minds and in our lives.

Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, April 6, 2019:

Mongooses pose in cute positions in hopes their adorableness will inspire us to feed them. It always worked. For more photos, please click here.

Overly cautious combined with a touch of paranoia?…More five year ago photos…

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Not quite sunset, sunny views over the Kenomane Bay in Kauai across the street from our condo in Princeville. Photos today from this post on this date five years ago.

Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.
Please click here for those who may have missed the post with SW News Media’s article on our story.

With more guests in the hotel with 35 rooms now occupied, I must admit I’ve become a little paranoid about walking in the halls while passing staff and guests on my ten walks a day. 

Most of the occupied rooms are on the fourth floor along with ours, and I’ll likely pass from one to four people while walking each time. The hallways aren’t wide enough to allow for ample “social distancing.”

As a result, I’ve started wearing a scarf covering my face, leaving only a slit for my eyes. I may look like a fool, but I don’t care. Breathing through the heavy layers of the cotton scarf (one of many we were given while on the Maharajas Express) is tricky while walking fast but, I manage to breathe just fine.

Once an hour, on the hour, until my last walk at 6:30 pm, I put my shoes back on, cover my face, grab the room key and my phone with earbuds, and head out the door for the five minutes it takes to do the circuit of the halls, swinging my arms in the process.

Undoubtedly, doing so is saving my health and sanity more than anything I could be doing while being cooped up in a hotel room. I’m the person who always said I didn’t like spending time in the cruise ship cabin or a hotel room unless it was to shower and dress or head to bed.

Not quite sunset, sunny views over the bay.

Although my total combined walking is less than an hour a day, doing so every hour to avoid sitting for long periods seems to be highly beneficial for me. No timer is needed to remind me, nor do I miss any sessions, having our two meals a day in between.

The biggest motivator is watching the progress I’m making on my FitBit, which recently popped up a message that read, “Your fitness level is excellent for a woman your age.” Whatever that means.

But more than anything, the psychological benefits are even more profound during this confinement in a small space. Dining twice a day is our highlight of the day.This morning, one of the kindly restaurant managers approached us, saying there will be an activity near the pool this afternoon at 4:00 pm for all the guests. I questioned the safety of a group activity. He dismissed it, saying “social distancing” would be in force. We won’t attend. 

Why take the risk when we have been so diligent to avoid contact with other guests other than speaking a few niceties across the room? But, this is the mentality of many… Get together, but stay at a distance. Our belief is “don’t get together!” Nada. Never. Not under any circumstances.

A pair of Nene birds, Hawaii’s state birds, wander around the golf course they seem to love.

Is it paranoia on our part? Perhaps it is. But, the concept of getting the virus and ending up alone in a city hospital in Mumbai is terrifying, even more than it might be if we were in the US, ending up in a set-up auditorium alone and terrified.

If this isn’t enough to inspire people to stay locked down, I don’t know what else we can say. We see over and over on Facebook various “friends” getting together with family and friends, claiming they are “social distancing.” Doing so is nearly impossible even with only two people in one house. Why don’t they get it?
 
Also, I don’t understand why people go out shopping every two to three days. Most people we know have the availability of food being delivered. Yes, there is planning required to order online and, in most cases, a delivery fee. Why take the risk of going out?
 
Yesterday Google posted a report of the whereabouts of everyone with a cell phone with their “location” turned on. This is an option a user can choose if they like. Here is the link to see how your area is doing in reducing its levels of activity. This is fascinating.
 

In reading this report, checking your country and your state, and then cross-referencing this with the number of cases in your state/country at this site, it’s easy to determine that lockdown is vital to control the spread of the virus. It will be more meaningful in the weeks to come since lockdown is relatively new in most areas.

This appears to be a papaya tree. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Many are complaining about their civil rights being spied upon by Google. If that’s how you feel, you can easily turn off this feature in the settings on your phone. I guess at this point. I am not so worried about my civil rights as I am at the end of the spread of this dreadful virus.

Please forgive my preaching, dear readers. If only one of our worldwide readers gets the message from this post and stays at home with only those who live in the house with them, imagine how many lives that one person can save. Remember, the virus started with one person…
 
On a lighter note, starting tomorrow, we will be posting one of our videos from our 7½ years of world travel each day in place of the “main photo.” Some are heartwarming, some are shocking, and many will give you a good chuckle. Most are only seconds long, so take a look and share them if you’d like. 

Please take care.

Photo from one year ago today, April 5, 2019:

We were visiting the hornbill. We hadn’t been able to put up the bird feeder for a few days due to the vervet monkeys monopolizing all the seeds. Finally, they took off, and this regular visitor was thrilled. For more photos, please click here.

COVID-19 stats…Watching the numbers can be good and bad…Nature photos from five years ago…

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While in Kauai, Hawaii on this date, five years ago, we speculated, based on appearance, that there’s some sort of permanent pouch beneath this shedding skin of this Green Anole.  We had difficulty finding details on the shedding process of these lizards. For more on this post from five years ago on this date, please click here.

Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.

Please click here for those who may have missed yesterday’s post with SW News Media’s article on our story.

We’re all functioning in our ways during these stressful times of this pandemic. Some prefer to be glued to their TVs and internet for updates, while others find they can maintain a lower stress level by avoiding news and stats.
Of course, news mediums can send any of us into a tailspin with doomsday scenarios which can play over and over in our minds, as they replay them over and over on TV, while we continually wonder when this will end and if we can ever return to life as we knew it. For us, as world travelers, we can imagine the possibility of our lifestyle changing forever if future international travel becomes dangerous and foolhardy amid the constant risk and fear of becoming ill with the virus or, in the worst-case scenario, other potential viruses.

We don’t dwell on that thought. Instead, we both believe that in time this awful virus will pass, and we’ll embrace a “new normal” of extra precautions, which may include those we’re embracing now: wearing face masks when out and about, frequent hand washing, and social distancing at public venues.
One possible change in the future may ultimately consist of avoiding cruises altogether for perhaps years to come. We’ve often cruised as a means of getting from one country to another. 
The loss of this means of transportation would significantly impact our travels when the only alternative is to fly from country to country, which in itself is highly risky at this juncture and possibly well into the future.

Regardless of how frequently we check the news or online stats, we can’t shelter ourselves from the harsh facts. COVID-19 is escalated in most countries right now, particularly in our own USA.

It’s been impossible for me to avoid checking the stats each day using this site which appears to stay up-to-date for each country, state, and worldwide. Please click here for this site, Worldometer. There is no cost to use this site, nor do you have to enter any personal information.

This is a Brown Anole,

If avoidance is your preference, without direct contact with others than those in your household (which should be the case for everyone worldwide at this point), keeping the TV off and sticking to streaming shows and entertainment could be a reasonable means of keeping it off of your mind to some degree.

Many are suffering emotionally and rightfully so from fears regarding loss of income, possible loss of jobs, paying bills, and in many cases, simply putting food on the table, along with the constant fear of acquiring the virus.

Of course, for most, the most significant concerns are for those who have contracted the virus and facing death in its wake or, in passing the virus on to others with whom they’ve come in contact, including family members in their own homes.

Many free online resources are available for those experiencing extreme stress they feel they cannot manage independently. For the rest of us, reaching out to family and friends via chat programs, free online call apps, and face time resources may be beneficial. We are all in the same boat, one way or another, and staying in touch with those we love can be an instant stress reliever.

For me, knowing the numbers is essential. After all, I am an information junkie to the extreme. On the other hand, Tom kindly asked me to stop quoting figures to him a few days ago. He knows what’s going on from being online but prefers not to be reminded. I complied and now keep the numbers to myself.

Do the numbers make me worry more or less? Neither. From all the reading and listening I’ve done thus far, I’ve accepted the reality that this virus may continue for months to come and that the lockdown scenario may continue well into the summer months.

This morning at breakfast, Tom asked me again, “Are you bored?” 

“Not yet,” I answered, but it’s still early days. 

Discovering this is Green Anole, not a gecko, was quite a thrill.  Perhaps, some of our readers may find us goofy for our enthusiasm when seeing such a creature.  We find all animals and vegetation fascinating in one way or another.

We’ve only been living in self-isolation in hotels (3) since March 12th (minus two trips to the airport) and in government lockdown since March 25th in this hotel, Mumbai Courtyard by Marriott, when we checked in on March 24th. 

Walking once an hour helps. Doing our posts helps. Texting with friends and family members helps. Streaming mindless drivel on my laptop allows while using an earpiece so Tom can listen to his shows simultaneously.
 
And above all, staying away from people, staying inside, washing hands, not sharing the lift, honoring lockdown rules, and staying optimistic all play a vital role in keeping us on track, especially in the event this could last for months to come.
 
There are few times in life we have the opportunity to be “heroes.” Now, at this time in history, we can all choose to be heroes by staying indoors and giving this dreadful virus a chance to dissipate. 
 
Correction from a prior post: I misquoted the number of rooms in this hotel. It’s 334 rooms which as of today, 35 rooms are occupied with guests. More guests have arrived since we checked in. The hotel staff explained that these new guests came from other hotels closed where they’d also been in lockdown.
 
It’s problematic to the original group and us that new guests have been allowed to check-in, which has required us to be diligent until their two to three-week lockdown period passes. However, as more and more hotels close, we expect more guests to check in here, thus increasing the risks.
 

Stay safe, stay indoors. Wash your hands. Wear a mask when grocery shopping. (Preferably order food and prescriptions online, planning well in advance for supplies to replenish). 

Photo from one year ago today, April 4, 2019:

Kudus is in the garden awaiting our return.  Big Daddy is patiently waiting for his turn. For more photos, please click here.

Updated new newspaper article with our story…Lockdown in India…

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The photo of us in the newspaper used our last evening on the Maharajas Express Train journey in early February.

When Unsie Zuege, a journalist with Southwest News Media in the southern suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, contacted us over a week ago, requesting an update on our worldwide travels, we decided it would be a good distraction during COVID-19 lockdown in India to share our story once again.

I should mention we are not paid for these stories but have participated purely for the joy of sharing our lives with readers from all over the area and then sharing it with all of you here.

Many often ask if we do our posts for some form of remuneration, and overall, we do not. We earn very little from our advertisers, but we may occasionally receive special pricing on holiday homes and restaurants when we’ll be writing comprehensive stories about the property and services to appeal to our international audience.

We could head in the direction of writing books and appearing on TV news and talk shows (we’ve had offers), but we aren’t interested in turning our lives into a “job.”

Tom in front of the Taj Mahal.

And, although we spend more than half of each day preparing posts and taking photos (not as much now during lockdown), we’ve never felt as if doing so was a “job,” nor have we had to take direction from anyone telling us what to do.

A considerable aspect of our joy of this lifestyle is the freedom to do it “our way” rather than some medium pushing us to perform to their liking. And now, as we’re hunkered down in lockdown in Mumbai, India, with an opportunity to return to the US via assistance from the US State Department, we continue to do as we choose… Stay in Mumbai until we’re free to travel again.

We appreciate Southwest News Media (SW News Media), including an updated story on us and our peculiar lifestyle, including the fact that we are stranded in a hotel in Mumbai until the airport opens, and we can leave, hopefully, to head to South Africa.

Me, in front of the Taj Mahal.

However, as we’ve mentioned South Africa’s borders are closed (at this point) until May 31st along with the fact that the airports in India are closed, for an indefinite period at this point.

Following is an introduction written by Unsie to today’s story in SW News Media. Please click this link for the balance of the account we prepared, which is too long to include here.

“From the very first, Tom and Jess Lyman agreed they’d stop traveling the world if either one of them said, “Stop.”
In October 2012, the former Chanhassen residents left their suburban lives to wander the world as happy nomads. They sold everything, keeping only what would fit into a few suitcases and an electronics bag. In the last 7-1/2 years, the Lymans have lived on practically every continent in extended-stay home rentals from Morocco, Italy, South Africa to Vietnam, New Zealand, Tasmania, Dubai, England, and Ireland. They have even visited Antarctica.
Life on the road has had its ups and downs. In addition to marveling at fantastic scenery and immersing themselves into each community they’ve lived in, weeks or months at a time, there’s been episodes of cruise cough, visits to local dentists and doctors, and a few injuries requiring rest and patience. But the significant pause in their wandering happened last year when Jess underwent major heart surgery in South Africa. There were severe complications, but Jess healed, and the pair continued on their way.
That is until now.
Thanks to COVID-19 and the world-wide pandemic, the Lymans are sheltering in Mumbai, India, in a Marriott hotel. Their itinerary for 2020 included India, riding the Maharajas Express, and taking an Indian safari. Over the years, the newspaper has kept in touch with the Lymans, following their daily blog detailing observations and daily lives.
They never imagined an international pandemic would bring their life of traveling the world on what is, for now, an indefinite hold.
The newspaper reached out to the Lymans to check on their experience. They responded by email (edited for clarity and length).”

Please see this link for the balance of today’s newspaper article, which, as mentioned above, we prepared, which ultimately was a little too long. Unsie shortened and edited for publication. Thank you, Unsie, for sharing our story once again!

Also, here’s the link to the July 14, 2017, SW News Media article. And, here’s the link to their original story, published January 6, 2013.

And thank you, readers/friends, for traveling and “locking down” with us during this unprecedented period in history.

Photo from one year ago today, April 3, 2019:
There was no post one year ago. Here is a photo from April 3, 2018:

We celebrated Easter at friends Kathy and Don’s beautiful home in Marloth Park. Tom won a few prizes for winning the trivia game, which included this gorgeous giant chocolate Easter egg filled with more chocolate treats (see below). He ate the entire thing! For more photos from that date, please click here.

Reflecting on one year ago today…Five years ago, photos from Kauai…

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Today’s photos are from five years ago while we were in Kauai, Hawaii. This scene made us squeal with delight!  How magical! Click here for the link. See below for more.
Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.

Each day, while preparing a new post, I read the year-ago post when adding the “year-ago photo” at the bottom of the page. When I read the post today, I couldn’t believe what we went through a year ago in South Africa.

I had just come out of the second surgery on both of my legs that had become infected after the triple coronary bypass surgery that transpired on February 12th. The elevator (lift) was stuck, and I couldn’t return to my room to be with Tom and finally eat and drink after no food or water all day.
 
It’s hard to imagine that the infections manifested for so long, but as we treated them with medication and sterile bandages, day after day, it only became worse, not better. 

It wasn’t until this late a date, many weeks later, that the doctors felt I had to be admitted to the hospital for more surgery by a plastic surgeon. It wasn’t for a “cosmetic effect,” as one may assume, hearing the new surgeon was indeed a plastic surgeon. It was to save my legs and possibly my life. 
We thought it would be gone in seconds.

Plastic surgeons are specialists in serious wound management, performing surgery, and then the ongoing treatment, which in my case, lasted for many months after the two surgeries.

For that post, one year ago, please click here.

And here I am now hunkered down in a hotel in Mumbai, India, due to a lockdown due to the virus, and I’m walking the halls to the tune of 6000-8000 steps per day (it’s hard to hit the supposed magic number of 10,000 steps walking the halls of a hotel) without pain, adding strength every day. 

Over this past year, I failed to walk this much daily through building strength and agility, which I should have. I have no excuses other than sheer laziness and, overall, being a person who doesn’t love walking alone due to the boredom factor. 

Now, with the help of my FitBit, my resting heart rate has gone from an average of 65 beats per minute to an average of 58 beats per minute. In this short period walking the halls with vigor, once an hour throughout the day, my heart health has improved to this degree.

We assumed this was its final descent, turning to walk back inside.

Of course, a low resting heart rate can be achieved through medication or exercise. Since I don’t take medication to lower my heart rate, exercise is the best option. An efficient, lower heart rate indicates better heart health. Now, this motivates me more than anything.

We could be sitting in this hotel for the next several months during the COVID-19 lockdown in India. Continuing this walking will only prove to be a benefit for me in the long run. I needed to do this.

Once an hour, I check my watch. I leave my comfortable shoes on all day to quickly head out the door with the room key card in my hand and walk. It takes only four minutes to complete the hallway “course.” 

In time, I may add a second round, ramping it up to eight minutes. But I don’t want to force it at this point when it’s going so well. I’ll continue to monitor my heart rate to stay within limits recommended for my age, a target maximum heart rate of 128 beats per minute. 

As I began to turn off the camera and cover the lens, Tom gently spun me around and said, “Wait, Sweetie! It’s peeking out from the clouds below.”

My goal at this point is to stay within that 128 beats per minute as I walk vigorously, swinging my arms. I’m now listening to podcasts on my phone to fend off boredom, and yes, most of them are news on COVID-19. It’s hard to focus on anything else right now. Today’s photos are from our blissful time spent in Kauai, Hawaii, five years ago. These sunset photos remind us of the beauty we’ve been blessed to experience throughout the world over the past 7½ years of world travel.

And, we’re hopeful that the time to continue our travels is on the horizon with the same blissful joy we experienced when we saw this sunset five years ago today.
Stay safe. Stay indoors—social distance.

Photo from one year ago today, April 2, 2019:

This frequent visitor, a male bushbuck, has the “Got some pellets” look in his eyes. For more photos, please click here.

Watching news is terrifying…Conflicting advice…April Fool’s Day…

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All of today’s photos are from a five-year-old post from this link. Overcast days at the beach still present a pleasant experience.
Note: To all of our readers visiting our site via a smartphone, please click the “View web version” tab under the word “Home” at the bottom of the page to access the web version enabling you to access all of our archives on the right side of the page. We’ll be updating our site in a few months, making these extra steps unnecessary. Thank you.
Watching the news is frustrating and, at times, frightening. We have access to a few English-speaking news stations. Each morning, we watch to get a better idea of what’s happening with the virus worldwide. At this point, the news continues to be disheartening, as most of you are aware.

We can make ourselves crazy during this stressful time, turn off the news, and instead attempt to busy ourselves with projects and distractions. However, each of us needs to know new pertinent information that may provide us with tips and tools that may help us.

A week ago, many countries were telling their citizens not to wear masks, and now, today, it’s all over the news that wearing a mask when going out is an absolute must-do. We’re used to hearing conflicting medical advice!

Many companies in a variety of manufacturing businesses have converted their factories and workshops to mask-making facilities. We commend these businesses for their contribution. Now it’s up to all of us to find a way to acquire masks for ourselves and family members or consider making our masks.

There was always a chicken on the beach in Kauai.

With hundreds of websites suggesting how to make a DIY face mask at home with supplies, you may already have on hand. Please check with the CDC, your state, or the country’s Covid-19 center’s recommendations on making your masks. 

Since we are not experts, we hesitate to make any recommendations on how this should be done. Please do the proper research before you embark on any at-home mask-making process.

As mentioned earlier, we had purchased several masks, including high-quality N95 masks, but not for protection from the virus. We’d purchased these in December 2019 with the intent of protecting us from pollution in India, long before the news about Covid-19.

As it turned out, the pollution wasn’t as bad as we’d expected as we toured India, and never once did we wear them until a few weeks ago when news of the virus became rampant throughout the world.

These pods are less than one inch long.

We see some staff members and a few hotel guests wearing masks, but from the information we have from staff, there are no new staff members here since India’s nationwide lockdown began a week ago. 

Today, we heard a new couple checked into the hotel today, which is worrisome. Since the lockdown, the rest of us have been here and are a little paranoid about the new guests.

Will it change by April 15th, the supposed end of the three weeks? We don’t expect it will.

The number of cases in India as of today is 1397, with 35 total deaths. But, less face it, with 1.3 billion people in this country, statistics may not be accurate nor may not adhere to the lockdown be prevalent in many rural areas or highly congested areas as is the case in many parts of the world.

There’s a website we’ve been using for hourly updates on the virus worldwide. Here’s the link to the site. Scroll down to find your country’s details or other country’s information.

These downed trees are perfect on sunny days for those seeking a respite from the bright sun.

At this point, none of the news is encouraging. But, it seems its yet to reach its peak in most countries throughout the world. We all just have to hang tight and wait it out.

April Fool’s Day is often a time of pranks and humorous quips. But, now, during these circumstances, it’s not appealing to make jokes about this date. Instead, I tend to think of the “fools” who are not self-isolating, not observing social distancing, and are spending time in crowds and driving all over town searching for toilet paper or some other item they feel they must have.

If toilet paper runs out, there are many websites offering suggestions on what to use in its place, with the most straightforward solution being plain warm water. Many countries never use toilet paper, as we’ve experienced in the past many years. Doing so just may save your life and the lives of your loved ones if you can avoid going out looking for it. 

Please keep yourself safe. Although most people in the hotel have been here as long as we have, we continue to social distance and refuse to share the elevator with anyone. We’ll step out when others approach, if necessary. 

Please take care, dear readers. 

Photo from one year ago today, April 1, 2019:

We howled when these young helmeted guinea-fowl became frightened when a warthog entered the garden, and they flew into the tree, each pair facing a different direction. For more details, please click here.