Part 2…British Day…Language, slang and expressions as we’ve traveled the world…

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A female lion who’s not looking well, seen at the Verhami Dam in Kruger 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.

Today’s photos are from May 29, 2019, from Connemara, Ireland.  Please click here for more details.

After a positive response from yesterday’s post about Australia’s use of the English language, including slang expressions, we looked forward to posting more of these commonly used by British people, not necessarily including those in other parts of the UK, such as Ireland, Wales and Scotland each of which has their languages.

Tom had to duck his head to enter the house at the Connemara Heritage and History Center.
English people, on the other hand, speak English and as we know, don’t necessarily use another standard language in their repertoire. However, like many other countries, England has had an influx of immigrants from all over the world, resulting in a melting pot of languages spoken.
Today, like yesterday, we are focusing on England’s English speaking language which consists of many slang expressions we’ve found endearing and humorous, especially over the past several years as we’ve traveled the world.
This twin-size daybed is located in the main living area, although there is a bedroom as shown in the photo below.
Overall, we’ve probably communicated more frequently with Australians and British folks we’ve met along the way, many on cruises and some in other areas in which we lived for a month or more.
Many, including Afrikaans/English speaking South Africans, seem to use the English language in a way similar to the slang expressions used by Australia and England, although most are of Dutch descent. We’ll save their distinct slang expressions for a post, hopefully sometime down the road when we’re back in South Africa.
The one-bedroom in the house was most likely where Dan and his wife slept.
Our close British friends, Linda and Ken, and many more, who live in South Africa but, are from England, possess an adorable mix of both English and South African expressions that always make us smile.
There’s no doubt, we’ve picked up some of this lingo along the way but as mentioned yesterday, we avoid going overboard in using such expressions when years ago, the singer Madonna, was bashed by fans for suddenly speaking with a British accent after living in England for a few years.
Spinning wheel in the corner of the bedroom.
Many immigrants retain their origin-based accent as many as 40 or 50 years since they left their homeland. We won’t be such presumptions about acquiring dialect or accent other than that we learned growing up.
So here are some expressions used by the British, many of which are used with their special tongue-in-cheek sense of humor which we adore for this site:
 
1. Ace
‘Ace’ – a British slang term that means something that is brilliant or excellent. It can also mean passing something with flying colors.
For example, ‘Jenny is ace at the lab experiments’, or, for the latter definition, ‘I think I aced that exam’.
2. All To Pot
Slightly more of an outdated version, this British slang term is still used, and its meaning remains relevant today. ‘All to pot’ refers to a situation going out of your control and failing miserably.
For example, ‘The birthday party went all to pot when the clown turned up drunk and everyone was sick from that cheap barbecue stuff.’
3. Blimey
‘Blimey’ is used as a way of expressing surprise at something, often used when seeing or looking at something surprising or impressive instead of shocking or upsetting.
For example, you might say, ‘Blimey! Look at that!’
4. Blinding
‘Blinding’ – a slang term that is far from something that physically causes someone to lose their sight. ‘Blinding’ is a positive term meaning excellent, great, or superb.  For example, ‘That tackle from the Spanish player was blinding.’
The Dutch door to the barn next to the house.
5. Bloke
Bloke is an extremely common term denoting a man, usually, it is used in reference to an ordinary man, akin to the US ‘average joe’, but it is not uncommon to hear it used to describe a man generally. As such, you can use it like this, ‘That bob is a good bloke.
6. Bloody
You probably don’t need me to describe this, out of all British slang, this is by far the most popular and most commonly used. In the past, it was regarded as a swearword but now, due to its common usage, it is generally acceptable. It is often used as an expression of anger or is used to emphasize a comment.  In anger, you might say, “Oh bloody hell!” Or to use it as emphasis, ‘That’s bloody cool!’
7. Bob’s your uncle/Fanny’s your aunt
The first form of this is far more common and is sometimes used internationally. For those unaware, the expression essentially used at the end of a series of basic instructions. The origin of the expression is unknown, and is quite old, but is still in general use. In context, ‘Get the food, put in the microwave, heat it up, then bob’s your uncle, ready to eat.’
8. Bollocks
Perhaps one of the most internationally famous British slang terms, ‘bollocks’ has a multitude of uses, although its top ones including being a curse word used to indicate dismay, e.g. ‘Oh bollocks’; it can also be used to express derision and mocking disbelief, e.g. ‘You slept with Kate Upton last night? Bollocks…’; and, of course, it also refers to the scrotum and testicles. For example, ‘I kicked him right in the bollocks when he wouldn’t let me go past.
9. Bollocking
Very different from the ‘bollocks’ of the previous suggestion, a ‘bollocking’ is a telling-off or a severe or enthusiastic reprimand from a boss, co-worker, partner, or anyone you like, for a misdemeanor.  For example, ‘My wife gave me a real bollocking for forgetting to pick up the dry cleaning on my way home from work.
10. Brass Monkeys
A more obscure British term, ‘brass monkeys’ is used to refer to extremely cold weather. The phrase comes from the expression, ‘it’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.” For example, ‘You need to wear a coat today, it’s brass monkeys outside.
Note the small size of the barn.
11. Brilliant
‘Brilliant’ is not a word exclusively in the British lexicon, but has a very British usage. Specifically, when something is exciting or extraordinary, particularly when something is good news, ‘brilliant’ can mean as such. For example, ‘You got the job? Oh, mate, that’s brilliant.’ Sometimes brilliant can be shortened to just “brill” to give it a more casual feel.
12. Bugger All
‘Bugger all’ – a British slang term used to be a more vulgar synonym for ‘nothing at all’. For example, ‘I’ve had bugger all to do all day.’
13. Butchers hook
This is the cockney rhyming slang version of having a gander, to look at something. Though it may seem strange at first, it’s pretty simple. It is constructed out of the expression’s second word, in this case, the way ‘hook’ rhymes directly with ‘look’; however, perhaps contrary to expectations, the word ‘hook’ is often removed, so you may hear someone say ‘have butchers at this.’ But like most things cockney, it’s becoming less popular.
14. Car Park
One of the more boring and technical terms on this list, a ‘car park’ is in effect, the place outside or attached to a building where people park their cars. The British equivalent to the American ‘parking lot’ or ‘parking garage’. For example, ‘I left my car in the car park this morning.’
15. Cheers
‘Cheers’ doesn’t quite have the same meaning that it does in other counties – of course, it still means ‘celebrations’ when toasting a drink with some friends, but in British slang, it also means ‘thanks’ or ‘thank you’. For example, ‘Cheers for getting me that drink, Steve’.
This breed of white horses is indigenous to Connemara.
16. Chuffed
Chuffed is used more or less all over the UK, it seems to be decreasing in popularity, but is still in relatively common usage. Essentially, it is an expression of pride in your own actions or achievements. For example, you could say ‘I’m feeling properly chuffed I won that.’ If you’re talking to someone else you can use it as such, ‘I bet you’re pretty chuffed you won!’
17. Chunder
Not a wonderfully melodic word, ‘chunder’ is part and parcel of British slang terms. Meaning ‘to vomit’ or ‘to be sick’, ‘chunder’ is almost always used in correlation with drunken nights, or being hugely ill and sick.  For example, ‘I ate a bad pizza last night after too many drinks and chundered in the street.’
18. Cock-Up
‘Cock up’ – a British slang term that is far from the lewdness its name suggests. A ‘cock-up’ is a mistake, a failure of large or epic proportions. For example, ‘The papers sent out to the students were all in the wrong language – it’s a real cock-up.’ Also, ‘I cocked up the orders for table number four.’
19. Damp Squib
More of a usual term, a ‘damp squib’ in British slang terms refers to something which fails on all accounts, coming from the ‘squib’ (an explosive), and the propensity for them to fail when wet. For example, ‘The party was a bit of a damp squib because only Richard turned up.
20. Do
A “do” is essentially a party, to my knowledge, it doesn’t refer to a particular form of party, so feel free to use it as you like. For example, you might say ‘I’m going to Steve’s birthday do tonight.’
A shed used to store peat moss which may often be used for heating as well as: “Gardeners use peat moss mainly as a soil amendment or ingredient in potting soil. It has an acid pH, so it’s ideal for acid-loving plants, such as blueberries and camellias. For plants that with more alkaline soil, compost may be a better choice.”
21. Dodgy
In British slang terms, ‘dodgy’ refers to something wrong, illegal, or just plain ‘off’, in one way or another. For example, it can be used to mean unlawful – ‘He got my dad a dodgy watch for Christmas’; it can be used to mean something food-related that is nauseous or nauseating – ‘I had a dodgy kebab last night, and I don’t feel right.; and it can also be used as a pejorative – ‘He just seems dodgy to me.
22. Fortnight
‘Fortnight’ – a British slang term more commonly used by virtually everyone in the UK to mean ‘a group of two weeks’. For example, ‘I’m going away for a fortnight to Egypt for my summer holiday.’
23. Gobsmacked
‘Gobsmacked’ – a truly British expression meaning to be shocked and surprised beyond belief. The expression is believed by some to come literally from ‘gob’ (a British expression for mouth), and the look of shock that comes from someone hitting it. For example. ‘I was gobsmacked when she told me she was pregnant with triplets.’
24. Grockel
This is cheating, it is almost exclusively used in the English county Devonshire, but I’m including it as its fun to say. It is used as a derogatory word for tourists. For example, ‘I don’t go over there anymore, it’s full of jokes these days.’
25. Gutted
‘Gutted’ – a British slang term that is one of the saddest on the lists in terms of pure contextual emotion. To be ‘gutted’ about a situation means to be devastated and saddened. For example, ‘His girlfriend broke up with him. He’s absolutely gutted.’
View of the creek running through the history centre’s grounds.
For another 25 of these fun British slang expressions, please click here.

On another note, we’re saddened and devastated by the police brutality in our home state of Minnesota and the subsequent riots causing further injury and loss of lives, loss of businesses, and following other loss of jobs. We live in challenging times and pray for the well-being of the citizens of Minnesota and all over the world.

 
Stay safe wherever you may be.
Photo from one year ago today, May 29, 2019:
This is the tiny house Dan O’Hara, his wife, and seven children lived until they were forced to vacate when they couldn’t pay the rent during the potato famine. For more details, please click here.

Part 1…Aussie Day…Language, slang and expressions as we’ve traveled the world…

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Elephants are so intelligent. Watch this wonderful animal digging a hole to reach water in the heat of summer in South Africa.

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.

Today’s photos are from May 28, 2019, from Connemara, Ireland.  Please click here for more details.
Pansies at the Connemara Heritage and History Centre appear to have little faces.
As we’ve traveled the world during the past 7½ plus years, we’ve somehow managed to pick up language nuances from many countries we’ve visited. Surprisingly, the majority of citizens of most countries speak English except in select European countries.

During our stays in non-English speaking countries, we’ve somehow managed to learn a few words, sufficient enough to get us by. Also, when we’ve chosen to live in more remote locations, English most certainly wasn’t the first language of choice.

Here in India, it’s a mix. Many speak excellent English while again, in more remote locations, Hindi and one of 22 other languages are expressed as follows:

“India has 22 official languages, namely Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.”
Tom has been wearing the flannel shirt he purchased in Penguin, Tasmania, in 2016/2017.  It comes in handy in cooler weather in Ireland.

Unfortunately, with few interactions with locals during our now four months in India, we’ve had little opportunity to learn much of the Hindi language. Many drivers, hotel staff, and other service professionals speak good English, although, at times, it’s been tricky to decipher their English due to their very rich Indian accent.

But, like most countries, there are nuances used in speaking English, whether it’s the native language or the second most common language. Many of those nuances have been endearing to us. Invariably, we’ve picked up some along the way.

The most prevalent in our minds is in Australia, The UK, and South Africa, all of which were British colonies that share many common nuances and slang usage of the English language, which over centuries have become commonplace.

Tom stands in the doorway of an old building located on the grounds of the centre.

Let’s start with Australia. Here is a list of some of their most slang expressions which we always found the most humorous from this site:

1. Arvo: afternoon
 
2. Barbie: barbeque
 
3. Bogan: redneck, an uncultured person. According to the Australian show Bogan Hunters, a real bogan sports a flanno (flannel shirt), a mullet, missing teeth, homemade tattoos (preferably of the Australian Flag or the Southern Cross), and has an excess of Australian paraphernalia. This “species of local wildlife” can be found by following their easily distinguishable tracks from burnouts or the smell of marijuana.
It’s easy to see how tiny this lamb is standing next to Tom.
4. Bottle-O: bottle shop, liquor store
 
5. Chockers: very full
 
6. Esky: cooler, insulated food, and drink container
 
7. Fair Dinkum: true, real, genuine
 
8. Grommet: young surfer
 
9. Mozzie: mosquito
 
10. Pash: a long passionate kiss. A pash rash is red, irritated skin due to a heavy make-out session with someone with a beard.
 
11. Ripper: great
Me, in the doorway of the old fieldstone building on the ground of the center.
12. Roo: kangaroo. A baby roo, still in the pouch, is known as a Joey
 
13. Root: sexual intercourse. This one can get foreigners in trouble. There are numerous stories about Americans coming to Australia telling people how they love to “root for their team.” If you come to Australia, you would want to use the word “barrack” instead. On the same note, a “wombat” is someone who eats roots and leaves.
 
14. Servo: gas station. In Australia, a gas station is called a petrol station. 
 
15. She’ll be right: everything will be all right
 
16. Sickie: sick day. If you take a day off work when you are not sick, it’s called chucking a sickie.
Pretty flowers were blooming on the shore of the lake in the garden.  Thanks to reader Laurie for identifying these flowers as rhododendron!
17. Slab: 24-pack of beer
 
18. Sook: to sulk. If someone calls you a sook, it is because they think you are whinging
 
19. Stubbie holder: koozie or cooler. A stubbie holder is a polystyrene insulated holder for a stubbie, a 375ml bottle of beer.
 
20. Sweet as: sweet, awesome. Aussies will often put ‘as’ at the end of adjectives to give it emphasis. Other examples include lazy as lovely as, fast as, and common as.
 
21. Ta: thank you
 
22. Togs: swimsuit
These two buildings were homes at one time.
23. Tradie: a tradesman. Most of the tradies have nicknames, too, including brickie (bricklayer), truckie (truck driver), sparky (electrician), garbo (garbage collector), and chippie (carpenter).
 
24. Ute: Utility vehicle, pickup truck
 
25. Whinge: whine
 
26. Good onya, mate! Understanding the Aussies should be easy as now.
 
No doubt, we didn’t pick up all of these while we were in and out of Australia for 22 months, from June 2015 to April 2017. But, we certainly can know what Aussies are talking about in general “convo” (conversation) when these expressions are used.
Bridge across the lake to an old home.
We have often wondered when in the company of Australians if we should use their expressions or if we’d be too presumptuous to attempt to mimic them. An occasional word was thrown out here and there that seems to pass with flying colors when they, too, often chuckle over our attempts to fit in.
 
Tomorrow, we’ll be back with the same for British expressions for which, most likely, we’ve experienced more frequently.
These beautiful flowers are often found in Ireland.
Not much is happening today. As usual, we’re hanging out, doing the usual. Our cable box quit working. Within minutes, a hotel staff member stopped by (we were all wearing masks) and had it working in no time. I’m still waiting to hear back from the dentist for my upcoming appointment. Status quo.
 
May your day be safe.
Photo from one year ago today, May 28, 2019:
Note the little horns were growing on this lamb. Too cute! For more photos, please click here.

What am I doing about an abscess tooth during times of Covid-19?…Mating season in the bush…

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Elephants were digging into a dirt wall in Kruger National Park. We’ll never know why.

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.

Today’s photos are from May 27, 2018, from Kruger National Park, South Africa.  Please click here for more details.
When posting past photos and videos, we’re reminded of all the fantastic experiences we’ve had in the past barring the three months of my confinement in 2019 and no over two months in lockdown in India.
During this peculiar lengthy period in lockdown, our past stories, photos, and videos have put a smile on our faces. No doubt, the question remains…will we ever be able to return to our lives of world travel, or will this current pandemic put a damper on travel into the future for us and the world?
 

As we’ve mentioned many times, we don’t know. The world doesn’t know. Only time will tell when and if it may be possible for us to continue. In the interim, we find ourselves often reading past posts, looking at photos, and watching videos, often chuckling over our past experiences.

Four “Big Daddy” kudus stopped by with one female, all vying for her attention.  They were more interested in her than pellets.

But, the present is what we have to deal with and face full-on, which right now means an abscessed tooth that is quite bothersome. Before we left South Africa one year ago, in May 2019, and three months after I’d had triple coronary bypass surgery, I went to our excellent dentist in Komatipoort to see if she could work on a tooth that was bothering me a little.

Trusting Luzanne as much as I do, I took her advice to heart (literally and figuratively) to wait at least a year for any invasive dental work that most likely would require a root canal and crown. 

Since it wasn’t bothering me much, other than an occasional twinge when I chewed down on it, I didn’t give it another thought until about a few weeks ago when my face, particularly my right cheek, was feeling funny, more of a dull ache than a sharp pain, coming and going throughout the day.

Kudus sniff the female to ensure she’s ready to mate.

With no doctor’s offices open or safe to visit during the lockdown, I had no choice but to treat this myself, as mentioned in a prior post. After two rounds of antibiotics, which I received from a local pharmacy that delivered them to the hotel, I became concerned. What’s the problem? Why wasn’t it getting better

I only needed relief to last long enough to get us to our dentist in South Africa or another dentist in any other country we may visit while waiting for the SA’s borders to open.

By the way, I wrote about this in a prior post. Click the link here.  Anyway, on day 5 of the new antibiotics and the situation not improving, I knew I had no choice but to find a dentist who was allowed and willing to help me during Covid-19. That was a daunting task in itself. They were all closed during the lockdown, leaving suggestions for suffering dental patients to go to the local hospital with a dental emergency.
This male was the “kingpin” and kept the three other mature males away. Check out the size of his neck, which enlarges during mating season.
There was no way that I’d be willing to walk into a local hospital, jammed packed with Covid-19 patience. I persisted in contacting several dentists to no avail when finally, a five-star rated dentist, Dr. Kavita Kumar, only 10 minutes from here, was willing to help.
 
After taking photos of my face and tooth (tricky to accomplish) and sending them via WhatsApp and after talking to her at length, she’s agreed to see me on Friday or Saturday. She’s waiting for her supply of PPE (personal protective equipment) to arrive in the next day or so and hopes to see me by Friday or Saturday.
She stated that she would not perform a root canal or crown due to my recent heart surgery, feeling it is too invasive and under these particularly delicate times. 
Even Frank and The Mrs. were busy working at building a nest in the bush in our yard.

However, she’ll take a full head x-ray and perform a comprehensive exam, after which she’ll come up with an alternate plan of attack that should see me through the next several months. She explained that in some cases, an abscess could be treated without invasive treatment. We shall see.

I informed the hotel reception desk that I would need a ride to the dentist while the driver waited for me during the appointment. No problem. Am I worried about going out? Not really. I will be well prepared with a face mask and gloves on for the drive and ask for goggles during the exam.

Based on the dentist’s office photos online, I can only hope this highly professional dental practice has taken and will take every precaution. I have no choice. I have to proceed.

Warthogs testicles become engorged during the mating season.

Yes, I am sick and tired of having medical issues. If we were like “normal people,” we’d live in a retirement community in a warm climate with a regular doctor and dentist at our disposal as needed requiring no mention here whatsoever.

Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, I’ll have an action plan in place and continue to go back to worrying about when we’ll get out of here!

Stay safe. Stay healthy.

Photo from one year ago today, May 27, 2019:
Connemara marble is described as follows from this site: “Connemara is bounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean and encompasses a wide variety of natural and semi-natural habitats, reflecting its great geomorphologic and geological complexity. It also has diverse economic resources. Among the more unusual are extensive deposits of soapstone and veins of green marble and vivid white quartz. In Neolithic times, the green marble was traded as far away as Lough Gur, County Limerick, and possibly to the Boyne Valley. ‘Connemara Marble’ is a serpentine-rich rock, popular since ancient times as a decorative facing stone. It is forty shades of green,’ and its wild patterns perfectly represent the Emerald Isle’s landscapes. Connemara Marble inspired artists, architects, and artisans throughout the world. Jewelry and other small objects such as key rings, coasters, and crosses are also made with this unique stone.” For more information about our tour of the Connemara Heritage and History Centre, please click here.

I gave up…

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Rough seas on a ship while sailing through the Chilean Fjords in December 2017.

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.

Today’s photos are from May 26, 2019, from Connemara, Ireland.  Please click here for more details.

I’ve had it. I am done listening to all the conspiracy theories in regard to Covid-19 now realizing I had glommed onto this pursuit as a feeble attempt to distract myself when a modicum of fear entered my psyche.

Being in lockdown in a hotel room sent me into a frenzy of looking for answers when the reality remained…Whatever I learned would serve no bigger purpose. I gave up.

The patio at Tigh Mheaic.  We commented that we doubt diners would sit outdoors in such cool weather even when the weather warms up by a few degrees during the slightly warmer summer months. 

That’s not to say I’ve stopped listening to podcasts and news on TV with medical updates, in each case, having to decipher what is fact and what is speculation, not always easy to do, especially when the medical professionals are all over the place in their perspectives.

Also, I prefer to stay well informed to handle when we may be able to get out of here. Each day I checked the news for any potential changes on which countries may be opening their borders in the next few months.
 
Tom kept referring to my information gathering as an obsession. When he’d mention this, I’d become defensive and dismiss his observation saying I was merely seeking knowledge. But, perhaps to some degree, he was right. 
Note the vines growing on the outside of their building.  Quite impressive.

That’s hard for a person like me to admit, as one who strives for balance in life in every possible way. And, what inspired me to “give it up?”

The answers are very simple such as; Conflicting opinions; The politicizing of every aspect of the pandemic; The lack of good science backing medical opinions and suggestions; The intent of Big Pharma to turn Covid-19 into billions of dollars in their coffers, charging the outrageous public prices for upcoming drugs and vaccines that may or may not work; The ridiculousness of Walmart and Costco staying open and yet the “mom and pop” stores remaining closed to be forced out of business eventually. All of this and more. 

Until such time as there is definitive, reliable, truthful science-based information, I am done, done, done. Who are these people who claim to know so much when no one had had any previous experience with this type of bug, the differential being: symptom-free carriers passing on the virus, even when they speak, let alone cough or sneeze?

Hummm…we’ve seen this sign at locations throughout the world.

This one fact alone is what I believe attributed to the lockdown. If symptom-free people can pass this on the virus, only lockdown would be beneficial in putting an end to its continuation. But, even this premise is not definitive. 

At this point, my focus is on legitimate science, when the borders will open, allowing us to leave India, and how we will keep ourselves safe n the interim and in the future 

The design and decor of the bar depict exactly what one would envision for a small-town pub in Ireland.

Good grief. I have a raging toothache which most surely is an abscess that needs an in-person dental appointment which is entirely impossible at this time. All dental offices in Mumbai are closed. Besides, who’d dare risk going to a dentist if they were available? Gross.

Oh, dear, listen to me carry on. But, each in our own way has multitudes of worries and concerns during this pandemic, many with much bigger concerns than us. 

Eventually, we moved into the dining room.

Duh, feeding their families. Earning a living. Having a job when this is over. Living without a loved one who has passed from this devastation. Bearing lifelong physical disabilities as a result of having had and survived the virus. 

What about those currently in ICU on a ventilator, alone with no loved ones at their side, fearful each time they awaken from their induced coma if they will survive. The challenges facing medical professionals, from doctors to maintenance, were risking their own lives each day.

We don’t care for taxidermy in general due to our love of animals. But, this reminded us of the antelope heads at Jabula Lodge, our favorite restaurant in Marloth Park.

However, as we all know, “everything is relative,” so well described here:
“The saying “Everything is relative” means that how YOU (yes you, me, and everyone else) perceive the world is by way of an “Individual Experience” and the only way for each of us to comprehend or make sense of that “Individual Experience” is by comparing one thing to another.”

As much as most of us feel compassion for others, we all stay stuck in our own situation and rarely does the greater suffering of others place us in a better state of mind. or let alone, put a smile on our faces.

We assumed there would be entertainment on this small stage but none started while we were there. A handcrafted sailboat replica occupies the space between stage performances.

No, I am not “down in the dumps.” I am attempting to allow reality to maintain a hold on me knowing we, (none of us), will be in this situation forever. And, whenever we can leave we will do so with the utmost of caution, enthusiasm, and hope for times to come.

Thank you to many of our readers who have graciously offered us kindness and support which we extend to every one of you and, all the citizens of the world that in time, “this too shall pass.”

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

On the way to the pub, we stopped for a photo of a pheasant. For more photos, please click here.

Coffee, tea or me…

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A kudu dancing in Chobe National Park in Botswana.
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.
Today’s photos are from May 25, 2015, from Negara, Bali.  Please click here for more details.
One of the highlights of our day, along with our two meals, is preparing and drinking coffee which we both enjoy along with the two or three mugs of green tea I may consume each day.

Buffalos, escorted by pre-teens, wandering along the beach on their way to a nearby river.
We’ve found the complimentary instant coffee provided in our hotel room is acceptable in flavor. Tom enjoys “regular” while I drink “decaf.” In normal times, decaf wouldn’t be my first choice. 
As we drove past this decorative wall, I asked Gede, our houseman, to stop for a close-up photo as shown below.
But, when I stopped caffeinated coffee after heart surgery 15 months ago, I’ve never returned to “regular,” figuring I’d get jittery now that so much time has passed. Green tea or other teas may have caffeine but they don’t seem to elicit the typical caffeine response when consumed in moderation.
So beautiful.

Here are the variances of the two products:

“Coffee has between 95 and 200 milligrams of caffeine. black tea has between 14 and 70 milligrams of caffeine. green tea has between 24 and 45 milligrams of caffeine. white tea has between 6 and 60 milligrams of caffeine.”
 
These figures may vary substantially based on any particular product, how long the tea steeps, or how the coffee is prepared. Throughout the world, we’ve experienced a wide array of coffees. Over these past years of world travel, we’ve made an effort to try the local coffee as well as varying methods of preparation.
A room was offered for rent at this property for INR 834, US $10.97!
When we visited Australia off and on in 2015/2017, we were surprised to find that traditional coffee-making products were very different from what we’ve been used to drinking in other parts of the world which included on-the-stove coffee pots, drip coffee makers, pod coffee makers, and our favorite French press coffee maker (Tom is masterful with the French press).
We’d never seen a flower-only farmer’s market. Flowers are commonly used as offerings to the Hindu temples and at many of the resorts and villas.

Instead, in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand the islands in the South Pacific, instant or dried coffee was most commonly consumed. Here in India, in all the hotels, we observed large coffee makers in the restaurants and instant coffee in the rooms.

Simply lovely. I could smell them from across the street where I stood taking these few photos.
In this hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport, the coffee that was served in the restaurant, before it closed weeks ago, was the barista-type coffee machines capable of frothing milk, making espresso, and cappuccino.
We stopped at the curb on the outskirts of the village so I could take a photo of the flower market. Instantly, we were approached by a “traffic cop” asking for money for parking and two others asking for money, unrelated to the traffic.
Although we could order the specialty coffees at breakfast, we’ve opted to make coffee/tea in the room. If we were to request specialty coffees, it would delay the time in receiving our breakfast, which we call and request each morning, based on when we’re up, showered, and dressed for the day. (We request dinner at the same time each evening, placing the same orders each evening by 6:00 pm for a 6:30 delivery).
We crossed this bridge on our way to Lovina where it took five days to renew our 30-day via.
Two or three times during the day, we each make coffee. With no snacks available, the ritual of preparing and drinking the coffee is a pleasant break from our otherwise relatively dull days.
While shopping at the Carrefour market, I couldn’t resist stopping to admire these colorful Dragon Fruit.
I read today that alcohol purchases for home consumption will be allowed in South Africa beginning on June 1st. This is great for all of our friends there. Oh, that I wish we could be there with our friends, even with social distancing, sipping a cup of coffee, or perhaps even a glass of wine.
 
Stay safe, dear readers!

Photo from one year ago today, May 25, 2019:

The entrance to the Connemara Heritage and History Centre located near Clifden. For more photos, please click here.

Trying to sleep when our minds won’t shut off…Fitbit stats from last night…

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Watch this astounding situation we encountered in Kruger National Park, with horns of two buffaloes entangled, another video the park asked to post on their site.

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.

Today’s photos are from May 24, 2018, from Kruger National Park in South Africa.  Please click here for more details.

As we all know, sleep can be elusive for many in the best of times. Add the concerns over our own, our country’s and the world’s current situation falling into the mix of worries, and concerns making sleep elusive, short, and disruptive.
Wearing my Fitbit has given me a better perspective of how much I am able to sleep. Below are the stats from last night’s sleep, indicating overall that I had a reasonably good night’s sleep of 8 hours 45 minutes, but the red portion indicates how often I awoke.



It’s no wonder I may feel sleepy during the day today when I awoke so often during the night. I remember the middle of the night awakenings but hadn’t realized how much difficulty I had in falling asleep. 

As shown above, the four stages of sleep are “awake, REM, light, and deep.” It’s during the REM sleep that we dream and as indicated above 20% of my night’s sleep included REM during which time we dream. Last night, I dreamed about the lions; a male and a females with cubs that are currently in Marloth Park.

These two cape buffaloes, close to the dirt road, with their horns stuck together made it easy for us to get these photos.

During usual, not Covid-19 times, I may have slept a total of 7 hours but awakened very few times. Also, in normal times, I’m often excited to get up and begin to enjoy the day. Here and now, the later I sleep the quicker the day flies by.

Most certainly, I’m not trying to “wish my life away” but instead shorten the periods of boredom often encountered during daylight hours. Thank goodness for my hourly walks. Paying attention to the time and when I have to walk again, helps the day pass more quickly.
 
However, what happens to most of us when we awaken during the night when we may be particularly stressed or worried? We put our brains into action and the added activity can make it more difficult to fall back to sleep.
The anguished look on the faces was disheartening.

As shown in the above chart I managed to go back to sleep after all those middle-of-the-night awakenings. I know it sounds silly, but I do count backward from 100 after ensuring I am in the most possible comfortable position. Then, breathing deeply and steadily, somehow I manage to fall back to sleep.

The trick for me is clearing my mind. Some people listen to music or sleep apps. But, I am trying to avoid using my phone for anything during the night unless I haven’t been able to go back to sleep after being awake for 30 minutes or more.

In that case, I may play a boring game of solitaire but avoid playing scrabble which, in its competitive nature in playing with other players online, can get my brain engaged to a point, I’ll never go back to sleep.

They tried desperately to become un-entangled to no avail.

One trick I’ve also found that helps, especially during this lockdown period, is not to “worry” about not sleeping. So what if I only sleep three hours? I can always nap the next day if necessary (which I rarely do). Worrying about it only exacerbates the problem. Worrying about anything exacerbates the problem.

It’s not easy to free our minds during these difficult times. But, restful sleep is as important for one’s health as is exercise, a good diet and a low level of stress. 

It has been during this time of Covid-19, locked away in a hotel in Mumbai, India that I have preoccupied myself with my health through healthy, although repetitive diet, losing a few pounds I’d gained from all the heart medications; hourly exercise; good sleep and above all attempting to keep my mind as free as possible from negative thoughts.

Another buffalo approached wondering what was going on. Check the above video as to what the other buffalo did to help. See the above video to see how the buffalo in the background saved the day.

It’s a big challenge which essentially has been made easier by our odd circumstances. There’s no access to snacks, alcoholic beverages and the meals served are consistent with the same macro-nutrients each day. Sure at times, I’m hungry and don’t feel like walking but I know all these efforts may serve me well in times to come.

Good sleep falls right in line with these other choices during this potentially stressful and often trying times.

May all of you get plenty of quality rest and maintain good health during this outrageous period in all of our lives.

Photo from one year ago today, May 24, 2019:

Chaiseal describes a “stone fort” in the Irish language, in Connemara, Ireland. Please click here for details.

We don’t know…Unsettling times..

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Tom shepherded sheep while I took this video in Devon, England.

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.

Today’s photos are from May 23, 2014, from Connemara, Ireland.  Please click here for more details.

With our combined innate ability and concomitant enthusiasm during over seven years of world travel, there were few, if any, occasions for which we could say, “We don’t know” about our plans.

We were surprised by the excellent roads in Madeira.

As is the case for embarking on any holiday/vacation, part of the joy of traveling the world is the anticipation of what is yet to come. For the first time since October 2012, when we began our journey, we can only say, “We don’t know” what the future holds.

At the beginning of our travels, we’d often book locations, holiday homes, and cruises, as much as two years in advance. We discovered that these distant bookings provided us with a sense of comfort by not having a home, knowing where we’d be short.

More one-way double lane tunnels in our area.

Now, during times of Covid-19, we don’t know anything beyond the next 24-hours. Within a matter of a week, international airports could open both in India and another possible location. Within hours, we could be packed and out the door on our way to the airport.

No doubt, this is unsettling. But, our situation is not so unusual when workers worldwide don’t know when and if they’ll return to work or when they’ll be able to pay their bills and put food on the table. However, speculation by their country’s leaders may provide a modicum of information leading to speculation as to when this will transpire.

What story would this abandoned house tell?

Does the world need to get moving again? The loss of life and well-being may far exceed the number of potential deaths from this virus. People here in India are out of work, starving while watching their modest way of life dissipating before their eyes.

But, as much as opinionated people like to espouse that the lockdown should end, the delay in doing so lies within this same premise, “We don’t know” what will happen if it ends. If “they” knew, more consistent and positive action would be taken.

Many of the tunnels on the island are one way to reduce the risks of accidents.

Blaming our leaders is pointless. “They” don’t know. Scientists don’t know, although many claim to have the answers, which vary from “open everything up” to “keep the lockdown in force for the next year or more.”

In many ways, lockdown is easy for us. We don’t have to purchase food and supplies and expose ourselves to the potential carriers who aren’t wearing a mask or exhibiting symptoms.

Driving around Madeira was challenging, although the roads are newer and well maintained.

Our only exposure is to the staff here, which has been changing recently to take over for staff members who’ve been living here for months, like us. Their temperature is taken daily, but most carriers don’t have a temperature and silently expose those in their surroundings each time they talk, let alone cough or sneeze.

Have you ever been in a conversation in a sunlight-filled space to observe the droplets spewed from a person’s mouth while talking with passion? It’s no different than the dust we see under those same conditions.

The nutrient-rich hills of Madeira were being prepared for summer produce.

So, now as the days turn into nights, weeks into months, we still don’t know, nor can we realistically speculate on what the future holds for us, for you, for the world.

This hill is considerably steeper than it appears. When sitting at the top, one can’t see the upcoming road due to the steep drop-off. 

As for us world travelers, still unwilling to give up the definition of who we are, we have no idea if and when we’ll be able to continue. This virus has a life of its own, and no one, at this point, on this planet, can definitively say anything more than, “I don’t know.”

The old stone tunnel in the area was used until the newer longer tunnel was built in recent years.

This uncertainty monopolizes many of our thoughts and feeds into our fears. We all pray for the time when we can say, “I do know,” and we can continue with our lives, albeit in a newly defined state of existence with whatever those guidelines may be.

For now, may we all find some peace taking bite-sized pieces out of each day as we all strive to make it through this trying time.

Photo from one year ago today, May 23, 2019:

A gate to a private drive or boat launch in Connemara, Ireland. Please click here for more.

Self-diagnosing in times of Covid-19…People not seeking care due to fears….

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Mongoose is trying to crack an egg. Hilarious!

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.
Today’s photos are from May 22, 2019, from Connemara, Ireland.  Please click here for more details.

At every turn, the scenery is breathtaking.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned I was suffering from chronic pain in my face, particularly the right cheek. Knowing there was no way I could see a doctor with a high risk of Covid-19, doctors’ offices closed, and emergency rooms and hospitals packed with virus-sick patients, my only alternative was to self-diagnose.

No doubt doing so carries several risks, but my options were non-existent. After hours of research at reliable websites, I determined I had either a sinus infection or an abscessed tooth. 

Neither condition was glaringly obvious other than the dull ache in my cheekbone and the side of my face. At that point, I began a Z-pack, a five-day course of Azithromycin diligently following dosing instructions.

An abandoned boat in part covered in vegetation creates this classic scene.

Much to my delight, after about three days, I began to experience some results. By day 5, the pain was gone and stayed gone until another five days passed, and then the pain started again. I was devastated. What now?

I used ice packs, heat packs and took Paracetamol (Tylenol) to no avail. There was no improvement whatsoever. As the days passed, it became worse than it was initially. I was at a loss as to what to do. Not wanting to worry Tom, I kept it to myself, only mentioning once the discomfort had returned.

Yesterday, feeling frustrated, only exasperated by our lockdown-in-Mumbai situation, a breakthrough happened… I had a toothache in a tooth in an upper molar, one I had wanted to have repaired before we left South Africa last May by our all-time favorite dentist in Komatipoort, Dr. Luzaan Du Preez.

Ireland consists of many boggy areas that are prevalent here in Connemara, Ireland.

However, only three months after open-heart surgery, she suggested I wait a year to fix the tooth since I wasn’t experiencing any pain. Well, yesterday, one week and one year after we left, the tooth started hurting. I realized I had an abscessed tooth which was causing the facial pain.

In a sense, after a month of dealing with this, tI was relieved o finally know what it is. But, the concern was…how do I deal with it? After several hours online, I couldn’t find a dentist that was opened in Mumbai. Nor did I relish the idea of sitting in a dentist’s chair during times of Covid-19 with a dentist’s hand in my mouth.
 

Instead, we both easily recalled Tom having this same problem while living in Savusavu, Fiji, and visiting a local dentist when Tom was experiencing the same pain I am feeling now. We recalled taking photos of the two antibiotics he took, which we posted on our site on November 10, 2015. See photo below:

Tom’s free prescriptions for an abscessed tooth;  two antibiotics and one packet of non-prescription ibuprofen. See the post here.

With a bit of effort, by enlarging the photo, we read the names and doses of the medications. I realized taking this medication wasn’t a permanent solution, but it might hold me long enough until we can get to a dentist, hopefully in South Africa. 

Online again, I verified the medications and dosages for this purpose and set about to order them from a Mumbai online pharmacy. The pharmacy requires a local cell number, the outstanding staff member, Samira, allowed me to use her number at the hotel’s reception desk. After a few hours of attempting to place the order when my phone number isn’t local to India.

Getting the medication online without a local doctor’s consultation requires a phone appointment with one of the pharmacy’s doctors. Samira let me use her cell to make all of this work. At 5:30 sharp, the call came in on Samira’s phone by a doctor who reviewed my symptoms and confirmed the meds I had ordered were appropriate. 

Rocks are seen everywhere in Ireland.  From this site:  “The geological map of Ireland displays a wide variety of rock types which have originated at different periods of geological time. The oldest rocks are metamorphic gneisses which are to be found on Inishtrahull, several miles off Malin Head in Co. Donegal, and elsewhere in the north-west. They originally formed as igneous rocks 1750-1780 million years ago.”

Unfortunately, once I ordered the medications, I discovered they wouldn’t be delivered until May 25th. That date was too far away. My situation was worsening by the hour. Although I proceeded with the order, a three-day wait was unthinkable, not knowing there was any other option.

Samira suggested she’d call local pharmacies to search for the drugs to be delivered right away. Around 7:30 pm, Samira called to inform me the medication had arrived at the reception desk. The cost for both antibiotics was INR 360, US $4.75, which included delivery. Oh, good grief. What a deal! I wonder how much these would have been in the USA.

Immediately, I started the medications, which I’ll continue to take every eight hours and will continue to do so for one week. I’ll still accept the other order in the interim since while we’re in lockdown, the problem could return as it did for Tom a few months later. 

The plural word for a group of sheep is flock, dove, or herd.  An extensive group of sheep is a band or mob.

Regardless of the risks of taking antibiotics, the chances of letting this infection continue to rage, especially with a heart condition such as mine, makes no sense at all.

The first round of antibiotics I took, the Z-Pack, may work for a mild tooth abscess, but not nearly as well as this combination of two types of antibiotics. That’s why I experienced some relief for a few days.

My situation during times of Covid-19 is not unusual. Doctors and dentist’s offices are closed worldwide, and the risk of going to an urgent care facility or emergency room is too risky at this time. 

Wildflowers are often found blooming on the side of the road, especially this time of year as summer nears.

Sadly, many patients needing emergency treatment, cancer care, and heart attacks and strokes fail to seek medical care due to a lack of availability and justifiable fear. 

Covid-19 impacts people’s lives, health, and well-being throughout the world and those who have other medical conditions that may require immediate care. The fall-out is alarming.

May we all be healthy and feeling well during these times of Covid-19, as many of us struggle to find solutions for self-care in the interim. Call your family doctor immediately if situations arise. Don’t choose self-care over professional care when it’s available. In my case, I had no other options.

Photo from one year ago today, May 22, 2019:

Clouds are reflecting on a lake while on a drive while in Connemara, Ireland. Click here for details.

A step in the right direction…Domestic flights in India beginning on May 25…

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Playful elephants on the Sabie River in Kruger 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.
Today’s photos are from May 21, 2019, from Connemara, Ireland. Please click here for more details.

This morning’s news announced the reopening of some airports in India for domestic flights. This is a step in the direction for the same for international flights sometime down the road.

We love the reflection of clouds in the water as we drive through the countryside.

However, it’s impossible to predict when this may occur based on the original transmission of Covid-19 traced to passengers entering the country from other countries.

The US has allowed some domestic flights from the onset of the lockdown, but here again, it could be many months before international flights will begin. As for South Africa, our preferred next destination, there is no indication of its borders opening anytime soon.

As for Madagascar, it appears they may reopen their borders in the next 60 days. Tanzania will be opening its borders for international travelers within a week. This leaves us with a good option for staying in one of these countries, enjoying its vast array of wildlife while we await the reopening of borders in South Africa.

Yellow irises were growing wild in the countryside.  Please click here for information on the wild yellow irises in Ireland that often grow along the road. 

Madagascar and Tanzania allow a 90-day visa on arrival. Suppose South Africa’s borders aren’t open after 90-days or 180-days in these two countries (and others). In that case, we can visit other islands near Africa’s eastern border or other countries within Africa such as Namibia, Botswana, and Uganda, depending upon the degree of outbreaks in those countries.

In the interim, liquor shops have reopened in some areas in India for “home delivery” only. No pubs will be open, nor will bars available in hotels. Since we’ve gone so long without a drink, at this point, we won’t bother. 

Besides, having beer and wine delivered to the hotel in lockdown with a guard at a distant gate would be cumbersome. We’ve decided we’ll wait until we get to our following location, which could be many months from now. 

A little sheep family was resting near the road.

It’s interesting to read the comments our readers have sent. As we’ve mentioned in past posts, the most common word we receive is, “Why don’t you seek repatriation to the US and get out of this odd situation?”
We appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Another question we received yesterday was, “Can you fly to another city in India” while you wait?”

There would be no point in us considering either of these scenarios. No city in India would offer a safer, more comfortable environment than where we are staying now in this quality hotel. It would make no sense to fly any more than necessary to leave India when it’s allowed ultimately.

We anticipate the flight out of here with a certain sense of dread, as grateful as we’ll be to be on the move. The required five or six-hour early arrival at the airport, wearing a mask and gloves for such an extended period, the medical checks, the luggage fees, and of course, the long and laborious flight.

As we approached the town of Clifden, we noticed several apartments and townhouses on the inlet.  Clifden, our area to shop, only has a population of 1,597. “Clifden is a coastal town in County Galway, Ireland, in the region of Connemara, located on the Owenglin River where it flows into Clifden Bay. As the largest town in the region, it is often referred to as “the Capital of Connemara.” Frequented by tourists, Clifden is linked to Galway city by the N59.”

But, there doesn’t appear there will be any other options. We’ve got into the possibility of an upcoming cruise on a small ship sailing out of Mumbai at some point, but only if it brings us closer to a destination we prefer. This is highly unlikely.

It’s not as if we are overly picky about where we choose to go from here. The country has to have open borders, adequate incoming international flights, and not be a hotbed of Covid-19 at the time. 

We accept the reality that we may be required to be quarantined for 14-days (or more) once we arrive in any country significantly since India’s number of cases is rising rapidly and…we are US citizens, the biggest hotbed in the world.

Ah, by no means is this situation manageable, nor will it be when we have some serious decisions to make. But, the one thing we know for sure, it would have made no sense for us to return to the US when flights were offered for stranded citizens.

This precious photo was my favorite of the day.

Where would we have gone? We have no home. Many holiday homeowners are refusing to rent their properties during the times of Covid-19. Hotels and meals are twice as expensive as we’re paying here or will pay in other parts of the world.

I’m high risk. We have no insurance in the US except Part A Medicare, which isn’t nearly enough to cover costs if either of us were to become infected. Our international insurance covers everything with only a $250 deductible.

The reasons are apparent. But, we thank everyone who has taken the time to write and offer suggestions and will continue to respond to your requests.

Yesterday, we crossed this single-lane bridge on the way to Clifden. We can take a few different routes from here to Clifden and will change it up each week.

The weeks seem to fly by quickly, especially from weekend to weekend. Often, when we comment on what day of the week it is, we’re both surprised it’s Friday or Saturday once again.

Regardless of all of this, we continue to have hope for the world, India, our own country, fur readers/family/friends, and for ourselves that eventually this too shall pass and a new world will begin to emerge.

Stay safe. Stay hopeful.

Photo from one year ago today, May 21, 2019:

Donkeys are highly regarded in Ireland to the point there are special programs available to adopt and a specialized Donkey Sanctuary in Cork, Ireland. For more photos, please click here.

Cases rising in Mumbai as the country’s hot spot…How much is it costing us to live in this hotel?…

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This was our favorite videos we’d made in Africa. Kruger National Park requested to 
use this on their site, to which we agreed at no cost to them.


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.

Today’s photos are from May 20, 2018, from Chobe National Park in Botswana. Please click here for more details.

Albert, our guide in Chobe National Park and on the Chobe River, had pulled the safari vehicle close to the river to take photos of the elephants easily.

It’s all over the news. Cases and deaths from Covid-19 are increasing rapidly, particularly in Maharashtra, where we are located, mainly due to circumstances increasing in Mumbai.

Three baby elephants were off at a distance, and the moms were angry they’d wandered off.  They started calling for them, and they came running. This happened so quickly we had no time to react and take a video. When the babies returned, it appeared the moms were scolding them as they kicked up sand while bellowing.

Local news as of May 18th from this site:
Coronavirus Lockdown Extension 4.0 Guidelines News (State Wise): With nearly 90,000 cases, the number of COVID-19 patients in India grows rapidly. India has already overtaken China in terms of the number of people affected by the Coronavirus. The number of positive cases in the country is now at 90,927, including 53,946 active cases, 34,109 cured/discharged/migrated cases, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said today. The death toll stands at 2,872. India has been under lockdown since March 25. The Modi government has extended the lockdown further till May 31 and released Lockdown 4.0 Guidelines today. The delineation of red, green, and orange zones will be decided by the respective State/Union Territory governments, after taking into consideration the parameters shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Home Ministry said.”

Approximately one-third of the nation’s cases have been in Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai. 

They were so close to us we didn’t need to use any zoom on the camera. See below for stats from this site:

“COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, India 2020 by type
Published by Sanika Diwanji, May 18, 2020

Maharashtra confirmed around 33,000 cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as of May 18, 2020, with 1,198 fatalities and 7,688 recoveries. India reported about 96,000 cases, including this state, that same day. The country went into lockdown on March 25, the largest globally, restricting 1.3 billion people and extended until May 3, 2020. The lockdown was extended for another two weeks from May 4, 2020 (now until May 31). As per the new guidelines, the country was divided into red, orange, and green zones. Red zones are designated as the hot spots and will not see any relaxations in comparison to the areas considered less prone to the spread of the virus.”
A few stragglers who’d been grazing followed suit.
These stats don’t bode well for our hopes of the airport opening for international travel anytime soon. And, once it does open, the activity and crowds at the airport could be in excessive numbers. In any case, it will be a watch and see the scenario for us. 
 One baby insisted on suckling after all of the action.
Most likely, we won’t leave until: a). Flights are available for our next destination and, b). Crowds at the airport have diminished.
 
This may result in staying in this hotel for an extra week or more after the airport reopens for international travel. 
Things started to settle down.
On another note, with great difficulty, we were finally able to book extra nights at this hotel from today until July 1, 2020. Hotels.com was having some booking issues, and we couldn’t book more than eight nights in a row. 
 
This prevented us from taking full advantage of the double rewards points when only one booking per person would allow the double points. At this point, we’ve prepaid and booked nights in both of our names until July 1, 2020. 
Finally, they decided to wander off.
Who knows? Maybe by then, we’ll be able to leave. If we go earlier than July 1st, the hotel won’t charge us for the nights we haven’t used and will credit us accordingly. This gives us peace of mind.
 
Today, when the cleaners arrived, we headed downstairs for the first time in many days to pay our bill for the past 28 nights plus the dinners, which we hadn’t prepaid and was due today. Our bill for 28 nights plus meals was INR 260713, $3445.40, which averages at INR 9307, US $123 per night including dinner and taxes.
The worry exhibited by the moms was heartwarming to witness.  We were grateful to have seen such an event.
We’re appreciative and fortunate for this reasonable cost per day. It could have been twice as much in another hotel. It would have been tough to pay a more significant sum when this isn’t about “having a good experience” as we’ve had when staying in hotels in the past while traveling. This is hardly a “fun” time.
 
This is all so weird. We never imagined we’d be living in a hotel for three months or more, unable to go outdoors or enjoy any of the facilities, have a drink or a glass of wine, dine in a restaurant while handwashing all of our clothes in the shower.
 One baby insisted on suckling after all of the action.
Nor did we ever anticipate we’d be wearing face masks each time we left our room while it was being cleaned, to walk the corridors or stop by the reception desk. 
 
Many times, in our 2840 posts (as of today), we mentioned the peculiarity of our lives of long-term world travel without a place to call home, no storage, and only a few possessions in our bags. But, never once did we consider this added layer of peculiarity.
Another calf suckling.
These are indeed strange and frightening times, none of us ever anticipated would transpire during our lifetimes. In years to come, if and when this is ever over, we’ll look back and shake our heads in astonishment as to how we managed to come out on the other side.
 
Keep the faith, dear readers. It’s all we have to hang onto during these times.

Photo from one year ago today, May 20, 2019:

Appealing view of clouds reflecting into the body of water in Connemara, Ireland. For more photos, please click here.