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Today’s photos are from May 19, 2015. Please click here for more details.
A few times each day, I allow my mind to “go there,” to the place where I try to grasp the magnitude of the circumstances in the world during this unprecedented pandemic.
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| Huge boulders were placed on the beach as a breakwater, or were they there all along? |
Then, I allow myself to contemplate our situation; locked in a hotel room in Mumbai, India, for two months so far and possibly more months to come, only allowed to walk the corridor, which I do ten times a day.
Of course, it’s during the walks that my mind wanders to the harsh realities. Sure, we’re safe, we have air-con, two meals a day, all the coffee/tea we can drink, a strong WiFi signal, daily cleaning service, a comfortable bed and seating, and an HDMI cord we can use to stream media on a flat-screen TV to keep us entertained.
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| A lone tree near the shore on the Kauai Path. |
The hotel’s power has gone off several times in the past few days, if only for a minute or less. But are we headed toward a power grid shut down due to economic conditions and lack of workers in Mumbai? This is a frightening thought, but a situation that is entirely possible during these times of Covid-19.
I always listen to podcasts or videos while walking, but it takes only a little flash in my brain to send it in to a whirlwind of thoughts often centered around this:
What’s next?
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| A bushy path to the beach on the Kauai Path. |
Will we continue traveling, and if so, how can we protect ourselves from Covid-19 when we continue? Yesterday, our dear friend Louise sent us a news report that Tanzania may be opening its borders soon. As a developing country, they cannot afford to continue to block international tourists from entering.
Tanzania is rife with wildlife and home to a part of the vast Serengeti well-known worldwide for the Great Migration, which often occurs from June to October each year.
While in Kenya in 2013, we had the opportunity to witness the tail-end of the migration, but having the entire experience would be exciting. If we were living in Tanzania, it would be accessible to time it correctly for the best advantage of this unbelievable experience.
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| The beach in downtown Kapaa. |
During this annual event, over five million animals, many of which are wildebeests and zebras, cross the Mara River over and over again as it weaves through Kenya and Tanzania. This may be an excellent opportunity for us down the road once we can leave India.
But, any hopes and dreams for the future continue to be on hold at this point. Another question that looms in my mind is how we will protect ourselves from the virus once we do continue?
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| A house during construction above the Kauai Path has a magnificent distant view of the sea. |
Will a vaccine be available at some point? Will it be safe? Will it work? Will it mean we can be more relaxed in wearing masks, gloves, goggles while social distancing? Will we always need to social distance?
What will the world look like in six months, a year, two years for travelers? Will lengthy delays at airports, baggage restrictions, and increased fares impact our way of life?
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| The Kauai Path is well maintained and has several restroom buildings and lifeguard vehicles with surfboards for aiding in water rescues. |
We don’t know the answers to any of these questions now and may not know for some time to come. At this point, we aren’t considering stopping our world journey, but will circumstances dictate we cannot carry on?
From there, more big questions loom; Where would be live? Where is there such a place that would be affordable for us? And could it be in a place where we’d find the joy and fulfillment we’ve had while traveling? And, above all, would it be safe?
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| In every direction, a mountain view enhances the exquisite scenery in Kauai. On most days, clouds hover over the mountains. The sky is seldom apparent for more than an hour. |
Are we headed to a dystopian society, one I’ve watched in countless sci-fi movies over the years? Dystopian is described at this link. I no longer watch such movies.
No, I don’t mean to be negative. However, we both tend to try to be realistic and face our fears.
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| This photo makes us smile as we recall how lucky we met Jerry and Vicki in January 2015. |
In my wildest nightmare, I would never have imagined the situation we are experiencing now. On the flip side, we are hopeful that the virus will eventually waft away, and all of us can continue with our lives, our plans, and our hopes for the future.
Stay safe. Stay hopeful.
Photo from one year ago today, May 19, 2019:
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| This morning view from our holiday home in Connemara, Ireland. For more details, please click here. |