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Part 3…Solo travel…Safety equipment (for couples and groups, too)…

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A pretty scene in the gardens at the Maui Tropical Plantation.
With considerable information regarding safety equipment and precautions for solo travelers, we’ve decided to extend this topic, including travel precautions and procedures, one more day for Part 4. Today, we’re touching on safety equipment for solo travelers (also applies to couples and groups). Please check back tomorrow for the final post in this series.

When you’re out exploring the world, safety is paramount. Here’s a curated list of essential safety equipment for travelers, covering a range of scenarios from urban adventures to off-the-beaten-path journeys:

1. Personal Safety

  • Travel Locks: A TSA-approved padlock for luggage and a portable door lock for added security in hotel rooms or rentals.
  • Money Belt or Anti-Theft Bag: Keeps your valuables secure with RFID-blocking and slash-resistant materials.
  • Personal Alarm: Compact and easy to use, a loud alarm can draw attention in emergencies.
  • Whistle: A simple, lightweight tool for alerting others if you’re in danger.

2. Navigation and Communication

  • Power Bank: A high-capacity portable charger ensures your phone stays powered for maps and emergency calls.
  • Multi-Band Travel Phone: This phone is compatible with local networks worldwide and equipped with emergency contact apps.
  • Offline Maps App: Preloaded maps help you navigate when connectivity is limited.

3. Health and Emergency Preparedness

  • First Aid Kit: Compact kits include bandages, antiseptics, tweezers, and pain relief. Consider travel-specific options for alleviating altitude sickness or diarrhea.
  • Water Purification System: A portable filter or purification tablets for trips to remote areas.
  • Travel Insurance Details: Keep digital and hard copies of your policy, including emergency assistance numbers.

4. Environmental Safety

  • Travel Flashlight or Headlamp: For poorly lit streets or power outages. A rechargeable option is eco-friendly.
  • Portable Fire Blanket: Useful in hostels or rentals with questionable fire safety.
  • Compact Weather Gear: Windproof, waterproof layers, and thermal blankets for extreme conditions.

5. Specialized Gear for Remote Travel

  • Satellite Phone or Locater Beacon: These are essential for off-grid adventures. Devices like Garmin inReach provide two-way communication and SOS.
  • Multi-Tool: A lightweight, versatile tool with knives, scissors, and screwdrivers for quick fixes.
  • Bug Repellent and Mosquito Net: Crucial for tropical or subtropical destinations.

6. Digital Safety

  • VPN Subscription: Protects your data on public Wi-Fi networks.
  • Backup Drive or Cloud Storage: Safeguard copies of your travel documents and photos.

Pro Tips

  • Do a Safety Check: Research your destination for common risks and prepare accordingly.
  • Learn Basic First Aid: It’s invaluable for yourself and others in emergencies.
  • Blend In: Avoid drawing attention with flashy gear or visible maps; looking like a local is safer.

Are you gearing up to head into the wilds of Africa? Let us know, and we can tailor some recommendations! With only 103 days remaining until we return to Africa, we are considering the precautions we will again make as we have in the past.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, November 20, 2014:

We picked up this star-shaped pod, taken from the ground, from the Autograph Tree at the Maui Tropical Plantation Maui. For more photos, please click here.

Where would we like to travel if circumstances allow?…

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Here’s a familiar spot found in Maui!

As we spend month after month in the US, longing to travel again, we often wonder where we’d like to go once the doctors at Cleveland Clinic give us the go-ahead. In the worst case, we’ll be able to leave by the end of February. In the best case, we can go in mid-December, which isn’t the ideal time to travel.

If we can leave in December, a cruise might be ideal over the Christmas season, especially if the cruise begins by December 15 and ends a few days after New Year’s Day. This way, we’ll be able to avoid the rush at airports, which we attempt to avoid if we can.

Otherwise, if we have to stay until the end of February, with the goal to be in Marloth Park by March in order to be there at the same time as our friends Kathy and Don, who plan to arrive by March 6 and stay for two months, Gee…if all goes well, we could possibly be there the same time as they will. If so, we won’t need to be concerned about where we’ll go between leaving Cleveland and arriving in Marloth Park.

We’ll stay in Marloth Park for three months until our visas expire, then head to another country in Africa for a short visit to get a new visa when we return to South Africa to stay for another 90 days. This could take us through next October. What shall we do afterward?

We are seriously considering returning to Australia, New Zealand, and, most importantly, Tasmania to Penguin, Tom’s favorite place in the world. We continue to return to Marloth Park, my favorite place but have yet to return to Tom’s. He loves the quaint little ocean town, its people, and its ambiance. I loved Penguin as well, but not as much as Marloth Park.

We’d like to visit several other countries, including Japan and many others in Europe, such as Sweden, Austria, Germany, and Poland. We’d consider returning to Spain and Portugal, where we spent a little time but not enough.

Perhaps on the top of my list of new places to explore is Macquarie Island, an island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. Regionally part of Oceania and politically a part of Tasmania, Australia, since 1900, it became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 1978 and was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

For more on Macquarie Island, click here:

Macquarie Island is far enough south that human access is limited and far enough north to allow sub-Antarctic species to thrive. Sir Douglas Mawson described it as a wonder spot of the world. The island is an important site for a proliferation of wildlife, including extensive seal colonies and an array of penguin species. Around 3.5 million seabirds and 80,000 elephant seals arrive on Macquarie Island each year to breed and molt.

Macquarie Island is a site of outstanding geological and natural significance and was awarded World Heritage status in 1997, forming a second Tasmanian World Heritage Area.

Macquarie Island is managed by the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, by the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve and World Heritage Area Management Plan 2006.”

The world is vast. We have yet to visit a blip in the magnitude of exciting places left to see. For more details on where we have been, PLEASE CLICK ON OUR TRAVEL MAP ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF OUR MAIN PHOTO to see how much we have seen thus far. Looking at this map even boggles our minds when it’s hard to believe how many places we’ve been already.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, October 28, 2014:

At a park in Maui, we spotted this bird, a Red-Crested Cardinal. For more photos, please click here.

Is reviewing travel advisories at the US State Department (or state departments in other countries) enough for international travel?

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The wharf was a few blocks from the condo in Maui in 2014.

When we first began traveling the world in 2012, we never failed to read travel advisories from the US State Department, which can be found here. The problem we encountered is that they often didn’t appear updated to date, which required an additional search on their site:” travel advisories 2024.”

Scrolling through the advisories, you will see many started in 2024. However, those listed for earlier dates, such as 2023, can mislead some travelers, who assume these warnings are older and may have expired. All they’d have to do is add another column, “date advisory was first issued.”

After experiencing much confusion recently about the processing of Medicare claims, it’s not surprising that US State Department Travel Advisory information could be equally confusing. When reviewing the warnings for a country you intend to visit, it’s imperative to carefully read the entry to determine if traveling to that country is riskier at this time than visiting other seemingly safer locations.

Much to our dismay, the State Department listings do not include crime-ridden cities in the US. If foreign travelers were to use this US resource to guide their travels, they may end up booking hotels and venues in areas many US citizens wouldn’t consider safe to visit.

No country, including the US, is exempt from crime, including the risks of pickpocketing and violent crime. So, how do travelers reassure themselves that their chosen destination(s) are safe? Research, research, and research! Check police department records and national and local statistics, and search for recent (past 12 months) news stories. Ask other travelers who have traveled to particular cities you plan to visit.

Although not explicitly related to the US State Department, here is a good website with statistics.

Most often, a country may be safe overall, but specific cities should be avoided. Simply because a city or town is a popular tourist attraction doesn’t mean it is entirely safe to visit. Cape Town, South Africa, is listed as the #12 most dangerous (murders) city in the world, but that doesn’t prevent us from going to South Africa to live in the bush. Cleveland, where we are now, is listed at #27, but we don’t feel unsafe here. Please do your research.

However, along with all of your discoveries, it’s imperative to exercise caution wherever you may travel and secure documents such as passports, digital equipment, wallets, and credit cards. Never carry a bag that doesn’t require at least a zipper to access contents, although more complicated access is preferable.

Do not, under any circumstances, get involved in road rage or other conflicts, regardless of how difficult it may be to control your opinions and emotions. Stream the TV series “Road Rage” (Prime, Hulu, and others) to convince you further to avoid road rage and angry public outbursts at all costs. It’s just not worth it.

Reviewing travel advisories from the U.S. State Department is essential in trip planning, especially for international travel. Here’s why it’s so important:

  1. Safety and Security Awareness: Travel advisories provide up-to-date information about potential risks in specific countries, such as political unrest, natural disasters, terrorism, crime, or health risks. This knowledge can help you avoid areas with heightened dangers.
  2. Entry and Exit Requirements: Countries sometimes change their entry rules due to political conditions, public health concerns, or security situations. Advisories often include visa requirements, vaccination needs, and travel restrictions.
  3. Local Laws and Customs: Understanding a destination’s cultural and legal landscape helps prevent misunderstandings or inadvertent legal issues. Travel advisories often outline behaviors that could be frowned upon or illegal.
  4. Insurance and Travel Plans: Some insurance policies may not cover you in countries with high-level travel advisories. Reviewing the advisories allows you to adjust your insurance accordingly and make more informed decisions about going or delaying your trip.
  5. Emergency Preparedness: Travel advisories for emergencies include contacts for U.S. embassies or consulates and steps to take if you are in a crisis.
  6. Understanding the Situation Beyond the Headlines: The media might focus on dramatic events, but travel advisories often provide a more nuanced and localized assessment of the situation.

Ultimately, reviewing these advisories gives you peace of mind, ensuring you’re prepared to handle potential risks. While it might seem like just another item on the travel checklist, it’s a proactive way to safeguard your journey.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today,  October 23, 2014:

The sky at sunset at the condo in Maui, Hawaii. For more photos, please click here.

What to do if you become ill while traveling…

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This goat was chained on a hill by the road. It was sad to see.
Because I have excellent insurance coverage, when my blood pressure went through the roof, I knew I could order an ambulance and go to a hospital with an outstanding reputation, all of which would be covered by my insurance plan. The services provided to me were 100% covered by Medicare A and B, and my Plan G supplement covered any deductibles. I left the hospital without being ill. What a relief!
But, over the years, I had worried about coverage in foreign countries, especially when the travel insurance we had in the past never covered any of my previous expenses for open heart surgery and complications there. We had to pay everything out of pocket, which we did in full before we left the country.
If we hadn’t paid in South Africa, they would have tagged our passports, and we wouldn’t have been allowed to leave the country. That’s a scary thought! The result is that quality insurance is imperative when traveling. We had no idea they wouldn’t pay the enormous bill.
Getting sick in a foreign land is scary enough, let alone wondering if your insurance will ultimately pay. Of course, your first consideration is receiving quality care and getting you through the crises.
I hadn’t mentioned this in yesterday’s post…but while I was in the hospital on Thursday, Friday, and part of Saturday, I encountered issues with not having a primary care physician in Minnesota. The specialists didn’t quite know how to handle my case, which surprised me. But at least I got through the crises, and they were able to stabilize me.
The doctors even suggested I get a primary care doctor, which I had tried to do months after we first arrived, but after contacting about ten, I could not get an appointment. They were booked to as far as September, and by then, we’d be long gone. Plus, after we leave for Cleveland, having a primary care doctor in Minnesota would make no sense since we don’t plan to return for a while.
These are some of the long-term challenges of traveling the world that one must address when one needs medical care. There is nothing we could have done to prepare for such an event. Instead, as often, we figure it out as we go. All I can say is that the best thing I ever did was get signed up for Medicare with a good supplement, which I took care of while we were in Nevada during the open enrollment period.

Getting sick in a foreign country can be challenging, but there are steps you can take to manage the situation effectively. Obviously, if you have a life-threatening situation, your first concern is getting to the closest medical center, wherever you may be. If you anticipate medical issues based on your current health, here are some suggestions as to what you may do:

  1. Stay Calm: Panicking will not help. Stay calm and assess your symptoms.
  2. Rest and Hydrate: Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. Drink bottled water if you’re unsure about the quality of tap water.
  3. Medication: Use any over-the-counter medication you brought with you. Common medications for pain relief, fever, or stomach issues can be helpful.
  4. Contact Your Embassy: Your embassy can provide guidance on medical facilities and assistance.
  5. Local Medical Facilities: Find the nearest hospital or clinic. Many countries have English-speaking doctors in major cities.
  6. Travel Insurance: If you have travel insurance, contact your provider to understand your coverage and get assistance finding medical care.
  7. Local Pharmacy: Visit a local pharmacy for advice and over-the-counter medication. Pharmacists can often provide helpful advice for minor ailments.
  8. Language Barrier: Use translation apps to communicate your symptoms if there’s a language barrier.
  9. Hygiene: Maintain good hygiene practices to avoid worsening your condition or spreading illness to others.
  10. Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts, including local friends, family, and your embassy.
  11. Documentation: Keep all medical documents, prescriptions, and receipts in case you need them for insurance claims or follow-up care.
  12. Follow Up: Once you return home, follow up with your primary care physician to ensure complete recovery.

We are grateful for having the appropriate health insurance and for receiving good care to help me through the crisis. Although I feel weak since leaving the hospital, I am much better, and my blood pressure is normal. I will be very grateful if I avoid another such event until we get to Cleveland Clinic.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 29, 2014:

While on a walk, we spotted this waterfall. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…Pet-friendly travel…Airlines…

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This is not our photo. Although the coloring differs, this dog looks slightly like our beloved former dogs. We didn’t begin to travel the world until after our dogs passed away from old age.

After seeing many pets at our current hotel, Residence by Marriott in Minnesota, USA, we thought it was timely to prepare a few posts on this topic. Today, we’re covering flying with pets; tomorrow, we’ll review staying in hotels with pets, both of which have become prevalent in the past few years.

Of course, we don’t have any pets anymore, and we don’t see ourselves having pets once we travel more frequently in the future. We can enjoy the wildlife in Africa to fulfill our desire to connect with animals, a vital aspect of our worldwide travels.

Flying with pets has evolved significantly in 2024, reflecting broader trends in pet ownership, travel, and technology. As more people regard their pets as family members, airlines and airports have adapted to make air travel more pet-friendly. However, traveling with pets requires careful planning and consideration to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for your furry, feathered, or scaled companions.

Airline Policies and Regulations

Airline policies for pet travel vary widely, so it is essential to research specific airline requirements well in advance. In 2024, most major airlines offer three main options for traveling with pets: in-cabin, as checked baggage, and as cargo.

  1. In-Cabin Travel: Small pets, typically weighing less than 20 pounds, including their carrier, can often travel with their owners in the cabin. Pets must remain in an approved carrier that fits under the seat in front of the owner. Airlines generally require advanced reservations for in-cabin pets, as there are limits on the number of pets per flight. Additionally, there are usually fees associated with in-cabin pet travel, ranging from $75 to $200 each way.
  2. Checked Baggage: Some airlines offer the option to travel as checked baggage for medium-sized pets that cannot fit under the seat. This service is usually available for domestic flights and involves the pet being transported in a pressurized and temperature-controlled cargo hold section. Pet owners should ensure their pet is comfortable with crate travel and verify that the crate meets the airline’s specifications.
  3. Cargo: Larger pets, or those traveling without their owners, can be shipped as cargo. Specialized pet shipping companies can assist with the logistics, including crate requirements, documentation, and ensuring that pets are handled with care. While cargo travel is often more expensive, it is a viable option for relocating pets internationally or when other options are unavailable.

Health and Safety Considerations

Ensuring the health and safety of pets during air travel is paramount. In 2024, there are several key considerations:

  1. Health Certificates and Vaccinations: Most airlines and countries require a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within a specific timeframe before travel, typically ten days. Vaccination records, especially for rabies, are also essential. Pet owners should check the destination country’s regulations; some may require additional vaccinations or treatments.
  2. Comfort and Well-being: Pets should be acclimated to their carriers or crates well before the travel date. This can involve allowing them to spend time in the carrier at home, using it for car trips, and ensuring it is a positive experience. During the flight, it is essential to line the carrier with absorbent material and include a familiar blanket or toy to reduce stress.
  3. Feeding and Hydration: Pets should not be fed right before the flight to prevent motion sickness. Water should be provided until travel and included in a spill-proof water bottle attached to the crate. For longer flights, freeze water in a bowl the night before; it will melt gradually, providing a steady water supply during the journey.

Technological Advancements

Technology has made traveling with pets more convenient and safer in 2024. Here are some notable advancements:

  1. Smart Collars and GPS Trackers: Modern pet collars equipped with GPS trackers allow owners to monitor their pet’s location in real time. Some airlines also offer tracking services for pets traveling in the cargo hold, updating their location and status throughout the journey.
  2. Pet-Friendly Apps: Numerous apps are designed to assist with pet travel, including booking pet-friendly accommodations, locating pet relief areas at airports, and accessing veterinary services. These apps often include user reviews and ratings, helping pet owners make informed decisions.
  3. Airport Amenities: Many major airports now feature pet relief areas, some located post-security for added convenience. These areas have artificial grass, waste disposal bags, and cleaning supplies. Additionally, some airports offer pet daycare and boarding facilities, allowing owners to drop off their pets if they have long layovers or need to travel to a destination where pets are not permitted.

Documentation and Legal Requirements

Traveling with pets involves meticulous attention to documentation. In addition to health certificates and vaccination records, pet owners must know quarantine regulations, especially for international travel. Some countries have strict entry requirements, including mandatory quarantine periods, microchip identification, and import permits.

In 2024, digital documentation has become more common, with many countries accepting electronic health certificates and vaccination records. This shift reduces paperwork and simplifies the process for pet owners. However, it is always advisable to carry physical copies of all necessary documents in case of technical issues or requests from airline staff.

Conclusion

Flying with pets in 2024 has become more accessible and pet-friendly, thanks to evolving airline policies, technological advancements, and improved airport facilities. However, it still requires careful planning and consideration of the pet’s health, comfort, and safety. By staying informed about airline regulations, preparing pets for travel, and utilizing available technology and services, pet owners can ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey for their beloved companions. Whether domestically or internationally, the key to a successful trip is thorough preparation and focus on your pet’s well-being.

In tomorrow’s post, Part 2, Pet-friendly travel…Hotels…we’ll share information we’ve gleaned from various sources about pet-friendly hotels worldwide.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, July 15, 2014:

Usually, a photo doesn’t help find a location. But, in this case, in Madeira, Portugal, we figured out where we’ll board the boat, a giant catamaran. It was at this pier where the cruise ships are shown in this photo. We met Gina on April 28, 2013, when our ship, the Norwegian Epic (big storm at sea), docked for the day. We recall how much we looked forward to finally staying here when Gina took us to the house over a year later. Now, here we are, preparing to leave. Here’s the link from when Gina met us at the pier. For more photos, please click here.

Today is a special one year ago anniversary…Complications with paperwork…Kidding myself about using my phone or camera for scanning documents…

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About three weeks ago, this piglet became separated from her mom and two siblings in our garden. We hope others are feeding her too.

One year ago today, we were finally able to leave the hotel in Mumbai, India, where we spent a few days short of 10 months in lockdown at the Marriott hotel due to Covid-19 to fly to South Africa. Several days earlier, we’d made arrangements but expected the flight to be canceled. It was not, and we made it as far as Dubai on January 11, 2021, as described in this post.

Without a doubt, with Covid-19 in the air; it was scary flying for so long. From the Mumbai airport to Marloth Park, it was 59 hours. We remember that day as if it was yesterday. We were so happy to be here, in this house, with this fantastic garden, backing up to Lionspruit, the exhaustion we felt after 2½ days of travel was incidental.

In a matter of a few days of rest, good food, and sleep, we were feeling great and settled in, thanks to Louise‘s help, dinner at Jabula, and our uncanny ability to adapt to time zone, and long travel days reasonably easily. In no time at all, animals came to visit us. Most exciting was the day that Little appeared, shortly after we arrived, tearing a hole in the screen trying to get into the house.

We hadn’t seen Little in over two years at that point, and the fact he found us so far from the Orange house where we lived in 2018/2019, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled. He visits almost every day, except during this busy now-ending holiday season. Soon, he’ll be back to his old routine of stopping by around 4:00 pm, 1600 hrs, daily.

This poor little piglet is alone. We’ll make a point of feeding her each time she stops by.

At this point, we’re busy getting all the documents the law firm needs, and undoubtedly, it’s been a hassle. We carried a small portable printer and scanner when we first began traveling. But those days are long gone. Both weren’t of the quality of desktop models, and neither lasted more than a few years. Besides, they were bulky, although travel-size, and added a few kilos to our luggage weight.

When we need to prepare documents for visas or other reasons; it is a real pain in the you-know-what. There is a post office here in Marloth Park that does printing and scanning for a fee, but their hours aren’t always convenient, and we could end up waiting for quite a while with other customers in the shop.

Louise has an excellent printer and scanner which we use. But, lately, with the busy holiday season, we haven’t felt comfortable pestering her so much, although she is always happy to oblige.

So I got all the necessary documents together, and some of them weren’t acceptable. Our passport pages couldn’t be adequately scanned on a camera, so we had to run back to Louise to do these. Plus, the immigration department wouldn’t accept airline tickets for our eventual departure without the Expedia (or other vendors) logo on the tickets. It’s impossible to make a PDF of an Expedia ticket for whatever reason.  I ended up having to take a screenshot to comply.

Bushbuck’s hair stands up on their backs when they are around other bushbucks, fearful of having to share their territory.

Then, yesterday, the law firm couldn’t get South Africa’s immigration system to accept any of our credit cards to pay the additional processing fees. I called our credit card companies, spending almost an hour on the phone, to find out nothing was wrong with our cards, which I knew would be the case. It’s a South Africa VSF immigration department issue. Hopefully, today, that will be resolved on their end. Otherwise, I don’t know what they/we will do.

At this point, other than the payments as stated above, we’ve done our part, and they should have everything they need to complete our extension applications. It’s frustrating, to say the least. We’re glad we didn’t attempt to do this ourselves. It would have been even more cumbersome.

On another note, last night, after returning from picking up Rita’s sister, Petra, and her husband Fritz, at the airport in Johannesburg, Gerhard called and said he had a “perishable” treat for Tom. He and Fritz came over to hand Tom two boxes of Krispy Kream glazed donuts. He couldn’t have been more thrilled. With six donuts in total, Tom ate three last night and the remaining three with his coffee this morning.

Soon, we’re heading to Komatipoort to shop.

Have a wonderful day!

Photo from one year ago today, January 11, 2020:

I was wearing my N-99 mask, face shield, and gloves continuously during the entire 2½ days of travel from Mumbai, India, to Nelspruit/Mpumalanga/Kruger Airport. The post may be found here.

Deciding what to do…CDC tagging South Africa travelers into USA…

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Hippos aren’t necessarily the cutest of animals. Hippos cannot breathe underwater.

After spending ten months in lockdown in a hotel in Mumbai, India, in 2020, we may have become particularly cautious and sensitive about spending more time in quarantine, even if it’s in the US. After reading the following article a few days ago, we can’t help but ask ourselves if we’re prepared to travel to the US in 50 days.

United States

Exclusive: U.S. CDC to collect data on southern Africa passengers over COVID variant

By 

WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (Reuters) – U.S. officials ordered airlines to disclose passenger names and other information about those who have recently been in eight southern African countries and will give it to local and state public health agencies, according to documents seen by Reuters.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) told airlines in a letter late Tuesday that they must turn over names and contact information for any travelers who within 14 days have been to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, citing “the emergence of the Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19/

(The CDC) will provide the contact information of these passengers to jurisdictional state and local public health partners for public health follow-up. This follow-up may include recommendations for potential post-arrival viral testing and quarantine and isolation,” the agency told airlines.

Effective Nov. 8, the CDC required all airlines to collect contact tracing information from all international air passengers but had not required them to turn over those names.

The new directive, which took effect late Tuesday and was seen by Reuters, mandates airlines to turn over the information within 24 hours of passengers arriving in the United States who have been in one of the eight African countries.

The collected information includes full name, full address while in the United States, primary contact phone number, secondary or emergency contact phone number, and email address.

The United States effective Monday barred nearly all foreign nationals if they have been in one of the southern African countries.

Separately, the CDC confirmed late Tuesday it is moving to require that all air travelers entering the country show a negative COVID-19 test performed within one day of departure in response to concerns about a new coronavirus variant.

Currently, vaccinated international air travelers can present a negative test result obtained within three days from their point of departure. Nearly all foreign nationals must be vaccinated to enter the United States. The unvaccinated must now get a negative COVID-19 test within one day of arrival.

The new one-day testing requirement would apply equally to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.

The Biden administration is also considering whether to require air travelers to get another COVID-19 test within three to five days after arrival in the United States, officials said.

The administration could require international passengers to submit an “attestation” that would also require them to follow all state and local public health orders.”

Hippos often come up for air. We’re always trying to get that wide-open-mouth shot. No such luck this time. A hippo’s gestation period is 243 days.

So much can change in a day’s time that we may find ourselves feeling ostracized with weird restrictions that we may not know at this point. The day we moved into the hotel in Mumbai, we thought we’d be there for days, not ten months. We didn’t know at that point that we couldn’t have a glass of wine or cocktail for ten months, that the restaurant would close, that we wouldn’t be allowed to leave the fourth floor.

Also, we must ask ourselves if we’re willing to bear the expense of living in a hotel, with high room rates during peak season, expensive car rental rates, and the high cost of quality food, which is tricky for my way of eating. Fast food doesn’t work for me.

There is no way we can avoid spending 18 days in quarantine before the official wedding celebrations begin with fears of infecting the bride and groom and many seniors with precarious health conditions. After the 18 days, we’d move to yet another hotel for three more nights where the wedding is being held.

Hippos can live for 40 to 50 years.

This would be a choice we make, which at this point, is not required by the government. However, so much can change in the next 50 days, with cases of Omicron increasing worldwide. Perhaps, lots of testing and mandatory quarantine will be required, and who knows, what else?

Will those, like us, arriving from South Africa, have to stay in certain hotels? This is entirely possible. In the UK, mandatory quarantine required travelers to stay at specific hotels at exorbitant rates. The hotels were guarded and monitored to ensure no one left the building. How will we purchase clothing for the wedding? We’d anticipated heading out shopping without an issue. This may not be possible. Neither of us has a single wardrobe item appropriate for what we are sure will be an upscale wedding.

You may think we’re over-reacting. But, please, we may be the only people you know who spent ten months in confinement in a hotel during Covid-19 from March 2020 to January 2021. It isn’t easy to convince me we’re over-reacting. We’ve been through it.

Giraffes were munching on treetops.

On top of all of this is the fact that once again, we’ll be traveling for almost two days with massive exposure to other passengers. That fact in itself is concerning. Of course, if we decide against going, we’ll be disappointed to miss this special event for our dear friends.

What would you do if you were us?

Tonight, we’ll speak to our friends, Karen and Rich, and make a definitive decision, which we’ll share here in tomorrow’s post.

Be well. Be safe.

Photo from EIGHT years ago today, December 3, 2013

We decided to post this “eight-year ago photo” from December 3, 2013, when we arrived in Marloth Park for the first time. This giraffe didn’t seem to mind photo-bombing us. Readers wrote that it looked as if I was wearing a giraffe hat. This photo was taken in our neighborhood. Louise explained that the giraffes would soon come to our house, which they did. For more photos, please click here.

Visa documents finally submitted…Hotels booked…Carjackings…

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Female bushbucks are so shy.

Note: Late posting due to power and WiFi outage.

In only 27 days, we’ll be leaving Marloth Park to make our way to Nelspruit where we’ll stay overnight for our early morning flight to Johannesburg from Nelspruit/Mpumalanga/Kruger Airport. Based on the fact our flight is so early, we preferred not to be on the N4 highway in the dark.

Many carjackings occur on highways in South Africa at night (less so during the day) prevents us from ever driving to Nelspruit in the dark. As a matter of fact, there has been a 537% increase in carjackings in Minneapolis, Minnesota (our former home state) as seen in this news article.

Tiny and a friend, getting along well while sharing pellets.

This is alarming in the US and even more alarming in South Africa as described in this article. In this province of Gauteng,where Johannesburg is located, there were 9025 carjackings in 2020. This is sufficient to make road trips of any type during the night, considerably more dangerous.

As a result, whenever we have an early morning flight out of the small Nelspruit/Mpumalanga/Kruger Airport, we prefer to stay overnight in a nearby hotel. Also, when leaving Little Governors Camp in the Maasai Mara on April 13th, we’ll fly out from the Maasai Mara in a small plane landing at Wilson Airport, not too far from the major airport in Johannesburg where we’ll fly out on the next available flight back to Nelspruit the following day. This requires another hotel stay.

Tiny loves to nap in the garden.

Having accumulated so many “free nights” using Hotels.com on our site for those 10 months in Mumbai, India, we were able to use three of those many accumulated “free” nights for the three one-night hotel stays. The dollar value of the free night is based on the price we paid for each of those nights.

At many points during those 10 months, we paid less than US $100, ZAR 1496, per night, requiring us to pay the difference when using our free nights, for hotels priced above that amount. Thus, between the three hotels on all ends of the stay in Little Governors Camp, we had to pay an additional almost US $180.

Ms. Hornbill abandoned her nest in the bushbaby house, but returns often. We wonder where her new nest is located.

Why three hotels for a six-night departure from Marloth Park?

  1. April 8, 2021 – Nelspruit, South Africa overnight awaiting the early morning flight
  2. April 9, 2021 – Nairobi, Kenya overnight awaiting the net morning’s early morning flight from Wilson Airport, a short distance from Jomo Kenyatta International in  Nairobi
  3. April 10, 2021, to April 13, 2021 – Little Governors Camp (3 nights)
  4. April 13, 2021 – One overnight in Nairobi before the early morning flight back to Nelspruit followed by the return drive to Marloth Park upon arrival.

As much as we tried to reduce the number of required overnight stays, in order to avoid driving in the dark, this was our only option. Others may have been able to eliminate some of this “monkey business.” But also, delays due to Covid-19 could result in delays or cancellations of flights. This way we protect ourselves in more than one way, reducing potential travel stress.

Cute bushbuck walks daintily.

No, we don’t like all the additional exposure at three airports (both coming and returning) and three hotels and one camp stay. But, we had to carefully weigh our options and make choices that work for us. As you can see, booking all of this is time-consuming and at times, frustrating.

As of yesterday morning, we hadn’t booked any of the hotels. When we began the e-visa process with yet another company, after the company in Washington, DC, required the e-visa to be snail-mailed which didn’t work for us, through considerable research, Tom found yet another company we could use, that is reputable that will email our e-visa within the next five days.

Tiny and a friend.

While again, while filling out the application, and submitting our documents, their system stated our dates didn’t match up from the dates at Little Governors Camp with our entry and exit dates. This prompted us to realize we’d better get to work booking the two hotels in Nairobi so the dates would match up.

Finally, after hours in the bedroom with the fan on, (load shedding occurred during this period while we used the inverter to run the fan), sweating like pigs in the heat and humidity, our documents were accepted from IVisa and our five-day wait began.

Whew! That was challenging. Now, all we have left to do which we’ll take care of over the weekend is booking a rental car for three more months which we’ll pick-up upon our return to Nelspruit/Mpumalanga on April 14, 2021, for our return drive to Marloth Park.

Little, attempting to get on the veranda. He’s so bossy!

Then, perhaps, we can relax for another 90 days in South Africa until July when the visas will expire once more. Next time, we’re hoping to apply for an extension which will take us to October, at which point we’ll have to leave South Africa for an upcoming cruise (which may or may not happen) in November. That is up in the air, as is so much due to Covid-19 and immigration laws.

Tonight, our friend Alan and his adult niece Kristen will be joining us for sundowners and appetizers. Thank goodness, it’s a little cooler today, although not cool enough for my liking with the high humidity. But soon, we’ll begin to head toward winter and eventual cooler temps.

May you have a pleasant and healthy day! Oh, oh, load shedding just started again! No power for the next 2½ hours. Oh, well.

Photo from one year ago today, March 12, 2020:

Lakshmi was so sweet and welcoming. I patted her thick trunk and looked deep into her eye. More here: “This Ganesh Chaturthi, you can visit the extraordinary Manakula Vinayagar Temple situated approximately 400 metres away from the Bay of Bengal in White Town, Pondicherry. Read on to know why devotees, photo fanatics and experience seekers flock to this special temple of Lord Ganesha.” For more, please click here.

We made the right decision…Documents to handle…Difficult to send on slow WiFi…Three days and counting…

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This pretty barnacle covered coconut, washed ashore.

“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”

We found that beautiful shell on the beach.

We certainly made the right decision when we left the villa on Monday. With Tom’s driver’s licence renewal application and our absenteeism bulletins, we were unable to process the large attachments to be e-mailed. However, as I continued to work on this position, we were eventually able to get online long enough to send out email and attachments.
 
Tom’s license renewal is due to arrive no more than 60 days prior to the expiration date according to Nevada’s laws for those out of the state when the renewal is due. Tom’s birthday is December 23rd.

This out-of-state renewal is only permitted every other time you have to renew. Next time, we’ll need to appear in person. I will go through the same process two months from now when mine renews on my birthday, February 20, 2017. 

The view changes dramatically as the tide rolls in.

We would be in a terrible position if for some reason the renewal did not go through. We would not be able to rent cars and be subject to returning to Nevada in person sooner than planned in order to be able to do so. 

It would be quite a dilemma when we rent a car in Tasmania in December and return to the United States in May for over two months. You can only apply for their state, as we do in Nevada.

After we finally got online, we emailed the completed documents to son Richard in Nevada who will in turn snail mail them to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.Hopefully, in doing so within 60 days, we’ll receive the license on time.

This cute little dog is always with the buffaloes when they’re walking along the shore to the river.

This cute little dog is still with the buffaloes when they walk along the bank to the river.

Thus, we’re having it mailed to daughter, Tammy in Minnesota who will then mail it to our mailing service in NV, who in turn will overnight express mail it to us in Tasmania. Once again, it’s the nature of our lives that makes processing required documents cumbersome. 

We’re unable to avoid asking our kids for help from time to time. They’re usually not tasks that require more than a fax, a copy or placing an item into an envelope and mailing it.  We certainly appreciate the assistance.  How else would we do these things? We wonder how other long term travelers or expats handle such tasks. Any comments would be welcome.

Another interesting crab pattern in the sand.  How artistic!

Tonight, we’ll complete our absentee ballots and have that task out of the way as well. Recently, we used the villa’s old printer to print a few copies of my food list for the upcoming cruise (in 10 days!). The ink is running out and copies aren’t as clear as we’d prefer, but for now it will have to do.

We could wait the 10 days until we board the ship or even print them at the hotel in three or four days.  However, our nature and intent is to have everything done up front in plenty of time to avoid thinking about it more than necessary. By the time we arrive in the hotel in Kuta on Monday, we’ll have nothing specific to process.

As we’ve indicated as our slogan, “Wafting Through Our Worldwide Travels with Ease, Joy and Simplicity” we make every effort to keep our lives as uncomplicated as possible; no drama, low stress and no surprises we could have avoided had we been more diligent. 

The government in Bali stocks this contraption with fish to provide sources of income for the locals.

This isn’t always an easy task and at times, avoiding stress requires spending more money, such as in our leaving the villa five days earlier, losing the rent we paid for the remaining days. Had the cost for the hotel been higher than it was, we may have decided otherwise. 

Also, recently booking the hotel in Lovina for the visa extensions was another example of reducing stress again costing additional unplanned expenses. We often stay in hotels for one night (or more, if necessary) to reduce the exhaustion and stress between long and uncomfortable flights and, to avoid missing a cruise departure when a flight may be delayed for one reason or another.

These types of decisions are usually factored into the budget when we establish new line items in the Excel spreadsheet for estimated expenses for a new location. As for the unexpected items as indicated above, we always maintain a “miscellaneous” category which covers most unanticipated expenses. Without doing so, we could end up with many surprises at the end of our stay.

These young boys arrived by motorbike to play with their boat in the river. It always surprises us how 7 and 8 year olds drive motorbikes and hang out alone at the beach, often for hours at a time.

There’s no doubt that avoiding stress is costly, but in doing so we’re more able to maintain our sense of control over those situations we can control as opposed to those beyond our control such as cancelled flights, delays, unexpected layovers, etc. 

Isn’t it ironic that most of our potentially stressful inducing events revolve around flights? If it were possible and if we could afford it, we’d cruise from location to location when generally the only major, potentially stressful events include embarkation and debarkation, each of which may require hours of waiting. 

The boy’s boat brought them hours of entertainment.

After 14 cruises and traveling to 54 countries we’ve become experienced enough to avoid being stressed when having to wait in long queues for cruises and the often lengthy waiting periods at airports for customs and immigration processes.

Today, slightly cooler and less humid (less flies too), we’ll continue to enjoy every last minute at the villa, write the online reviews for the villa (depending on the signal) as we continue to revel in the loving and kind people surrounding us, along with the exquisite scenery.

May your day find you appreciating loving and kind people surrounding you.

Photo from one year ago today, October 21, 2016:

View of the coral reef in Fiji.  For more photos, please click here.

Paperwork time…A reality and responsibility of traveling the world…

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It’s a well operating out of a local’s house in our neighborhood.
“Sightings on the Beach in Bali”
Buffaloes swimming together in the river alongside the villa.

There are currently three batches of documents to complete and process:
1.  Absentee ballots for the upcoming election on November 8th in the US
2.  Visa extension for Indonesia
3.  Tom’s driver license renewal

In just over two weeks, we’ll have to go to Lovina’s immigration office. The forms we used previously must be redone with the correct dates and information.

We’ll continue to post photos from the harrowing four or five hour drive. This is a glass shop which surely had glasa blowers in a back room making these items for sale.

This time when we apply for the visa extension we’ll be driving to Lovina on our own without Gede with us. He’ll have to create a somewhat complicated letter as our sponsor which is written in Indonesian. He was with us last time we visited the immigration office and processed the sponsorship in person.

This time, since we’re going on our own, Gede will have to sit beside me while I type the information into a document  while he translates the form which we’ll print and bring along when we apply. 

We weren’t near the airport.  This is a display of a jet engine atop a building behind many power lines.

Tom’s driver’s license expires on December 23rd. Nevada DMV doesn’t allow an applicant to submit the paperwork sooner than 60 days prior to the expiration date. The paperwork can be submitted by fax so we’ll prepare it all, email it to son Richard in Nevada and he’ll fax it from his office.

Once the renewal license is issued it can’t be mailed to our address in Nevada per their regulations.  It can only be mailed to an outside Nevada address. Daughter Tammy will handle this for us; receiving the license at her home address and placing the license into another envelope with a stamp. She’ll immediately mail it to our mailing service in Nevada.

Vegetation growing on the roof of a restaurant in Denpasar.

Once the mailing service receives it, they’ll ship it to us wherever we are at the time to arrive within 3 to 5 days by expedited international shipping. If we don’t receive the license in time for the rental car we’ll need in Tasmania, we’ll rent the car in my name since my license doesn’t expire until February 20, 2017.

I’ll have to go through the same process 60 days prior to my license expired.  At least, this one time, we’re allowed to do this by mail and fax. Next time, in four more years, we’ll have to appear in person. We’ll certainly keep this in mind when we begin to plan far into the future for 2020.  Gosh, that sounds like a long time away, but it’s only four years.

This is a modern furniture store in Denpasar.

The next item, the absentee ballots, must be processed by this upcoming Monday in order for us to actually receive the ballots in time for the election. That’s a little tricky as well with regulations varying from US state to state. I won’t bore you with the details.

All of these tasks require a huge amount of printing, scanning, copying and preparation. The printer here isn’t so good, although we can manage to get it to spew out what we need for all three of these transactions.The rest we’ll figure out.

An upscale Italian restaurant, likely visited by tourists in Denpasar.

There’s no doubt that preparing all of these documents is cumbersome and time consuming. To a degree they weigh on our minds. When we work on these types of tasks we do it together, making it a lot easier than doing it solo.

Thank goodness we still have our trusty portable scanner which proves invaluable for many aspects of these types of processes. A camera just doesn’t do a good enough scanning job on letter or legal sized documents.

Colorful display of shop on the main highway.

Once we have these tasks completed, we’ll be relieved and able to spend the remaining days in Bali with our minds free of some big responsibilities other than taking good care of ourselves and continuing to enjoy the balmy breezes, sunshine and exquisite scenery before us.

Take good care of YOURSELF and have a good day!

Photo from one year ago today, September 8, 2015:

We shot this photo from the air on our way to Savusavu. Fiji is comprised of approximately 330 islands, of which one third are inhabited. The two major islands are Viti Levu, the most commonly visited and Vanua Levu where we are staying for the next three months. When boarding this flight we had to be publicly weighed along with our baggage, an experience we’d had in the past.  For more details, please click here.