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.

Hanging in there…

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Owl we spotted in Kanha National Park.
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.


This morning at breakfast, we realized we’d been at the lovely Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport for one week. It seems like so much longer in the same manner that lockdown must feel for all of you regardless of where you may be.

In many ways, lockdown is easier for us than many throughout the world who are confined to their homes for an indefinite period. They have to figure out how to get food and supplies while exposing themselves to the dangerous risk of becoming infected while shopping and out and about.

Although the menu options are restricted at the hotel due to reduced or non-existent deliveries and the choices are limited for my way of eating and Tom’s taste buds, we are managing well. Neither of us is starving and our two meals a day are holding hunger at bay.

Yesterday, the hotel had a delivery of some items including white bread (for Tom) and fresh vegetables for me. Last night’s dinner of grilled chicken and vegetables with a side of delicious paneer butter masala was perfect. 

Tom had his usual chicken penne pasta with a white sauce. They were out of bread needed to make garlic toast, which he enjoys with the pasta. This morning at breakfast, I had an omelet with 1½ pieces of bacon and Tom ate the other half of the bacon, fried eggs, and white toast. This will hold us until dinner at 7:00 pm when the restaurant re-opens.

A Sambar Deer and her youngster.

No alcoholic beverages are allowed in India during the lockdown. A glass of red wine for me and a cognac cocktail for Tom would be nice but we’re doing fine without it. 

Also, we don’t have to clean, prepare meals, wash dishes, empty trash or manage any usual household tasks. We’re in air-conditioned comfort and although our room isn’t huge, we only occupy a small space. Tom sits on the bed all day while I sit in a comfortable chair with an ottoman.

We’ve decided to continue to wash our clothes in the room after we estimated the cost of having it done by the laundry service which becomes available tomorrow. 

Having our laundry done would cost no less than INR 7553, US $100, a week. With the cost of our hotel room and dinner each night plus the high tax rate in India, we’ve decided to keep our costs down during this time. We have no idea how long we’ll be living in a hotel or the costs we’ll incur when we can finally leave the country.

Entertaining ourselves is relatively easy, although most TV channels are spoken in Hindi. But this fact is irrelevant to us when we seldom watch local TV while living in any country. We prefer to stream shows, even when we may have to pay for certain programs.

A Black Eagle on the lookout for a meal.

A few days ago, we discovered Nat Geo Wild is available on the TV and each morning, after checking the local and international English speaking news channels, we often keep Nat Geo on the TV with the sound off while Tom listens to his favorite radio podcast from Minnesota, Garage Logic.

The toughest part for us is the concern hovering in our minds as to how long we’ll be able to stay in this hotel and if not, where we’ll go. Sure, the limited space of a standard hotel room is confining, but that’s a small price to pay when we are safe in this environment more than anywhere else we could have gone.

Had we made it to South Africa, we’d have been exposed to the virus to a much greater degree having to go out to shop every few days. With the frequent power outages in South Africa for extended periods (load shedding), keeping food safe in the refrigerator and freezer would have been a constant challenge requiring shopping for perishables every few days.

Let’s face it. It’s not easy for any of us. I haven’t cooked a meal in over two months and the simple act of doing this someday in the future will be quite a pleasure.

I think for all of us, we’ll have a greater appreciation of so much in life we may have taken for granted in the past. There is no time in most of our lives that we ever had to sacrifice so much for our own well-being, our family’s well-being, and the well-being of those throughout the world.

Hang in there, everyone. This, too, shall pass.

Photo from one year ago today, March 31, 2019:

And, here are our girls! Female kudus enjoying pellets. For more photos, please click here.

Please “unfriend me” if…Social media during lock down…

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The excellent staff served us at the Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport. They couldn’t be more attentive and concerned about our needs and those of the other stranded foreign nationals staying at the hotel during this difficult time. Thank you, dear staff members, for taking such good care of us, including taking everyone’s temperature this morning.
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.

Regardless of difficult times, our lives are filled with the love and support of family/readers,/friends from all over the world. In 2019, when I had emergency open-heart surgery in South Africa, there was and continues to be an outpouring of generosity in prayers and warm wishes. 

We can proudly say, we have “no haters” imposing upon the joys and challenges of our daily lives of world travel.

Now, as we wait in a hotel room in Mumbai, India, for the virus to run its course and free us and the rest of the world to be able to continue with our lives, again the kindness and concern expressed by countless readers throughout the world flood our inboxes.

This generosity of spirit not only brings smiles to our faces as we rifle through the messages, trying to respond to each one personally, but it honestly has had an impact on our day-to-day lives.

As I lay on the sofa in our holiday home in the bush in February, March, and April 2019, with mosquitoes buzzing around our heads, temperatures well into the  40C (100F) range, with power going off and on due to load-shedding (utility company turning the power off for hours at a time to conserve resources), nothing beyond the loving attentiveness of my husband, family and local friends brought me more peace and comfort, than hearing from so many of you.

With the impact of this dreadful virus, we’re all locked down in one way or another, and yet our readers continue to reach out to us each day. This feeling of “never being alone” positively impacts both of us as we, like you, muddle our way through this challenge.

The hotel staff, some of whom are shown in the above photo, have embraced each guest with such kindness, extraordinary service, and a high level of concern, far beyond what one would expect during these trying times. 

During the lockdown in India, the Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport has created this heart image as a show of supports using lights in various hotel rooms.

And beyond the communication we so much treasure with our worldwide readers is the opportunity to connect with family and friends via Facebook, which we use more than any other form of social media. 

Over the past 7½ years of world travel, Facebook has been a valuable source for us in seeing photos and reading stories about our loved ones and friends. Few of our blog readers share Facebook with us when they have their friends and family with whom they share the most detailed aspects of their lives.

Unfortunately, if a reader “friends” us, if we don’t know them and there’s no accompanying comment that they are a reader/friend, we may not accept their friend request. We’re not on a mission to have thousands of Facebook friends since doing so would result in too much sorting through posts.

For me, I go to Facebook five or six times a day to see what’s happening. I don’t notice annoying ads or promotions. But, I notice “hate speech” and “toxic vitriol,” which is often politically based. 

I try to breeze by the toxic comments, but like many of us, especially now with “time on our hands,” it’s not easy to do. I find myself reading hateful remarks about our leaders and the leaders of other countries, regardless of theirs or my political affiliation, that is an outright slam against their service and a slam against them as human beings.

I challenge anyone in this world to step into their shoes, now, in the past, or in the uncertain future, to do a better job than they are doing. Sure, we all fantasize about how “we’d do it better,” but none of us, regardless of how well-read or educated we believe we are, can fathom the depth, the magnitude of what is required to be in such a position unless we’ve been there.

No, I am not condoning poor or ruthless leadership. Nor am I expressing a personal political view. I don’t want to see or hear “hate speech” of any type on my Facebook feed. We are each entitled to our opinions, and yes, they can be voiced at appropriate times.

But, now, as we all struggle to stay upbeat, positive, and hopeful for the future, during this particularly challenging period in history, none of this toxicity is doing any of us any good. 

Thus, if you feel compelled to continue posting “hate speech” on Facebook, which as a medium, I consider a valuable source of hopefulness, humor, and optimism, please feel free to “unfriend” me. 

Yes, I can read about your troubles, challenges, joys, thoughts, health, and emotions as I have shared mine. Yes, I love seeing your photos of your family, your friends, scenery, places you’ve been or long to be and, animals, cats, dogs, wildlife, anything that walks, flies, or crawls. Who doesn’t love funny animal videos?

Yes, I can read news about Covid-19 as a reality we all face. But, not for one more day can I read “hate speech.” If you can’t stop, even during this challenging time, please… UNFRIEND ME.

I won’t judge you, nor will I announce “who” unfriended me. I’ll just let you “waft” away.  

May we all stay safe and hopeful during this difficult time.

Photo from one year ago today, March 30, 2019:

Young males gnus (wildebeest) have blondish hair on their heads, so mature males will leave them alone and not fight until they mature when the blond hair changes color.  Due to the blond hair, the older males perceive the young males as females and have little interest in harassing them. For more photos, please click here.

No easy answers…

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The main entrance to the Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport, the hotel which has welcomed us with open arms. We are very grateful.
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.

As we waited in the hotel lobby for our room to be cleaned, we were informed that on April 1st, laundry service would again become available. This morning, I washed a pair of pants, a couple of pajamas, and underwear while in the shower.

There’s nowhere to hang the items to dry except inside the closet on hangers, where they take days to dry. The window ledge here is too narrow to lay out the wet clothing. I have placed a bath towel on the floor of the wood closet under the clothes to catch the drips since wringing them by hand doesn’t do nearly as good a job as a washer’s spin cycle.

Knowing laundry service will be available in a few days is a boost to our morale, as it will be when and if we discover food supplies for the restaurant can be replenished (not yet). My omelet was smaller than usual this morning, and I wondered if they were running low on eggs.

Tom is now eating whole-grain toast as opposed to white bread, his definite preference. We don’t complain or ask for anything we know may be running low. I suppose we prefer to avoid the staff from feeling frustrated over not fulfilling our expectations. 
There are several seating areas in the hotel, but they are rarely occupied.

They are struggling too, away from their families and homes, while sleeping in the hotel, along with the rest of us. We’re all in this together, yet these kindly Indian people never complain or wipe the welcoming smile off their faces. We so appreciate them.

Over the past several days, we have received many email messages from our concerned readers suggesting we contact the US State Department to help get us out of India.

Coffee bar near the casual dining room.

I can’t express how much we appreciate every message we receive and try to reply to each message and comment. However, as we’ve mentioned earlier, we have no intention of returning to the US. 

With the number of cases in the US today at 123,776 and rising rapidly, we feel safer in this locked-down Marriott hotel in Mumbai. Yes, we’re “trapped,” per se, but we’re OK with the lockdown, especially if it saves lives and reducesrisks to others and us in the long run.

The casual dining room where we have breakfast and dinner.

Today, India has 987 cases with 25 deaths as opposed to the 2229 deaths in the US. Sure, we may be deluding ourselves since testing is prevalent in the US as opposed to India. But, a significant factor here is the national lockdown that has yet to transpire in the US. Why? We don’t know.

In South Africa, shoppers are being shot by police with rubber bullets. See this article here, one of many found online. They certainly are serious about keeping people in their homes. 

The concierge desk is still operated,,, but no one is using it since none of us are allowed to leave the premises.

In India, failure to comply with the lockdown may result in huge fines and a jail sentence. We aren’t going out anywhere, regardless of what we may need or want,,,, until such time as going out is deemed safe,,, and the lockdown has ended.

A beautiful long staircase leads to the mezzanine level.

The hardship of the lockdown for the poor in India is devastating to see on the news. But, what other choice did the leaders of this country of 1.3 billion people have at their disposal? See the stats below for the top ten countries with the highest population:

 
TOP TEN COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST POPULATION
# Country 2020
Population		 2050
Expected Pop.		 2000
Population		 Growth Pop %
2000 – 2020
1
 China 1,439,323,776
1,301,627,048
1,268,301,605
 13.4 %
2
 India 1,380,004,385
1,656,553,632
1,006,300,297
 37.1 %
3
 United States
331,002,651
398,328,349
282,162,411
17.3 %
4
 Indonesia
273,523,615
300,183,166
214,090,575
27.7 %
5
 Pakistan 220,892,340
290,847,790
152,429,036
 44.9 %
6
 Brazil
212,559,417
232,304,177
174,315,386
21.9 %
7
 Nigeria
206,139,589
391,296,754
123,945,463
66.3 %
8
 Bangladesh 164,689,383
193,092,763
128,734,672
 27.9 %
9
 Russia
145,934,462
129,908,086
147,053,966
– 0.8 %
10
 Mexico
128,932,753
150,567,503
99,775,434
 29.2 %
TOP TEN Countries
4,503,002,371
5,044,709,268
3,597,108,845
 25.1 %
Rest of the World
3,293,613,339
4,329,774,957
2,547,898,144
29.2 %
TOTAL World Population
7,796,615,710
9,374,484,225
6,145,006,989

There’s no doubt population size is a factor in the number of cases of Covid-19. The measures each country exercises to contain the virus are a vital factor, regardless of economic consequences and inconveniences to daily life.

This is not easy for any of us. But, we two world travelers, stuck in a hotel in Mumbai with no sense of security over how long we’ll have a roof over our heads, are willing to be patient and see what transpires over the next few months.

The seating area is near the reception desk.

Thanks for all the love and prayers for our safety and well-being as we express the same sentiment to every one of you!

Photo from one year ago today, March 29, 2019:
There were no photos posted one year ago today, as I returned to the hospital for two surgeries on my infected legs due to the cardiac bypass surgery.

Living in limbo…The impact of change…

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Rhino mom and baby in Kruger National Park.
An elephant on the Crocodile River.

Living in limbo is an unusual experience for all of us. It’s impossible not to dwell upon what will happen next, the economic consequences, the long-term impact on each of our towns, our villages, our cities, our countries, and our immediate surroundings. For us, the considerations are less long-term and more immediate.

Will the hotel stay open to shelter us until this passes? If not, where will we go? Will the hotel be able to receive deliveries at some point? When will I be able to eat vegetables again, a mainstay of my diet?

I never knew I would long for the crispiness of a bite of romaine lettuce or the crunch of sautéed broccoli cooked al dente. For many, any food at all is a luxury for which I continue to remind myself. We are fortunate during this unusual and trying time in history.

And yes, this period will go down in history as a time of significant loss, sorrow, worry, and fear. None of us are exempt from the impact on our lives.

For those of us who will have avoided the ravages of the virus, we can always remind ourselves how our diligent efforts, along with a stroke of good fortune, kept us safe in the wake of others dying around us.

I would like to believe there’s always a reason for such disasters. Is it Mother Nature’s way of reminding us of who is in control? There’s no smog in Mumbai today. The waters in the canals of Venice are crystal clear, with sea creatures arriving in excited pods to play in her clear blue waters. What does that say?

Sure, endless conspiracy theories are flooding the internet right now, surmising many possible scenarios. Any single perspective may be partially plausible or not.

I prefer to let it lie in the grasps of a higher power deciding this world needed a reset, not just financially but spiritually as well. 

We all could have lived a better life with more compassion, less judgment of others, less toxic vitriol, less consumption, and more tenderness toward each other and our planet.

And, here we are now, with an opportunity to rethink how we function in this world, with each other, with nature, and with wildlife. Everything was askew. 
And now? 

We wait to see if this demon in”flu” enter will leave us when it determines we are ready for change.

More of the world believes in a higher power than not. Maybe it’s time for us to not only pray for “it” to “go away” but also pray for our strength and resolve to build a better world, a healthier planet.

When has each person, each country, been in the throes of the very same fears and reactions in all of history? Not even during world wars. Let’s embrace the worldwide power of this moment and come together in peace and harmony.

Our heartfelt compassion and sympathy for those families impacted by this global devastation. We offer love and hope for all of us to heal, restore and play a unique role in the upcoming impact of change.

Photo from one year ago today, March 28, 2019:

“Don’t get too close to my baby,” says mama mongoose one year ago today. See here for more photos.

Go figure…I did today’s post and it disappeared…Here we go again…Lockdown continues…

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When I originally took this photo of Tom’s dinner a few weeks ago, he said, “Don’t post that. It looks disgusting.” Now, it’s starting to look appetizing to both of us.

As each day passes, we become more and more hopeful that this stunning hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott (see photos) close to the Mumbai Airport, will remain open for the long haul.


Of course, under these difficult circumstances, there is no guaranty. The decision to close will be up to their upper management based on continuing loss of revenue with so few guests on the premises.

This building was shown in a scene from the movie, Life of Pi, filmed in Chennai, India.

As an international conglomerate of hotels, we’re thinking Marriott just may stay open since they are more well-capitalized than the small local hotels where we stayed over the past few weeks. Our fingers are crossed.


And, regardless of how difficult it becomes with limited services offered due to tightening their budget and government Covid-19 restrictions, we’re determined to stay here regardless of the circumstances, as long as we have air-con and WiFi.

The two statues of a revered couple who were highly instrumental in doing good works for the Indian people.

The biggest challenge we’re experiencing as guests is the lack of food inventory which continues to dwindle rapidly when suppliers simply aren’t delivering food to hotels right now. That may change down the road, but for now, the dining options are restricted.


Each night at dinner they hand us a newly printed menu with the number of options shrinking exponentially. Soon, there will be little either of us can or will eat.


In that case, we may just resort to eating one big meal a day, preferably having breakfast-type meals midday to hopefully hold us through the evening. For the sake of maintaining my health and keeping Tom’s sanity, this may end up being our best option.

This woman, on the side of the road, was shaking seeds out of a basket to be used in making vegetable oil.

Last night Tom was able to order a chicken and penne dish made with a white sauce. I ordered a paneer dish (which is a soft cheese, cut into cubes and referred to as “cottage cheese” in India, but doesn’t resemble cottage cheese as we know it, at all) mixed into a spicy starch-free tomato sauce. 


Since the bowl of sauce and paneer was small, I also ordered roasted chicken and received two tiny pieces of pale-looking unseasoned chicken. It wasn’t that appetizing. I have no doubt, this restaurant is wonderful under usual circumstances.


But, we are in difficult times and they are doing the very best they can with the products they have on hand to cook for these 20 rooms of guests. We have no doubt the options will continue to decline over the next many days. Somehow, we’ll manage. If we have to we both can eat eggs, lots of eggs to carry us through.

Tom’s meal from a few weeks ago, also looks appetizing.

We’re grateful we are safe and in air-conditioned comfort with a strong Wi-Fi signal. During the day we can each stream our favorite shows/podcasts without any issues which manage to help us get through the long day.

 
In the evenings, after dinner, we stream a favorite TV series until it’s time to go to sleep. Much to our surprise, both of us are sleeping well, as much as eight hours a night, odd for each of us. Maybe it’s nature’s way of helping us to tune out of this peculiar situation for a while. My nights are filled with wild dreams and convoluted stories.
 
As of today, since we received the cruise cancellation notice from Viking Cruise Lines, we’ve been self-isolating for two full weeks. The only times we’ve been out have been when going to at an ATM, traveling to various hotels, to the airport to fly from Madurai to Mumbai and again to the airport and back last Friday when we were turned away for our flight. 
An artfully designed temple built over 1000 years ago in Chennai.

In each instance, we wore face masks and sanitized/washed our hands obsessively. As each day passes, we continue to hope we haven’t been infected with both of us feeling well and energized. I continue to walk the hallways, never encountering any other guests, although all of us are situated on the fourth floor.


The pool, the bar, the health club, and another restaurant continue to stay closed, due to governmental order. We look forward to the day when all of this can change and all of us can continue on with our lives. When will that day come? No one knows. Except, logic dictates, that total lockdown is the answer.


Stay safe.

_______________________________________

Photo from one year ago today, March 26, 2019:

This is my boy, Little. How does a person fall in love with a pig? For more photos, please click here.