Questions on yet another quiet day…Facing our reality…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 19, 2020 with 0 Comment

Elephants were playing in the Sabie River in Kruger National Park.

Huge boulders were placed on the beach as a breakwater, or were they there all along?

Then, I allow myself to contemplate our situation; locked in a hotel room in Mumbai, India, for two months so far and possibly more months to come, only allowed to walk the corridor, which I do ten times a day.

Of course, it’s during the walks that my mind wanders to the harsh realities. Sure, we’re safe, we have air-con, two meals a day, all the coffee/tea we can drink, a strong WiFi signal, daily cleaning service, a comfortable bed and seating, and an HDMI cord we can use to stream media on a flat-screen TV to keep us entertained.

A lone tree near the shore on the Kauai Path.

The hotel’s power has gone off several times in the past few days, if only for a minute or less. But are we headed toward a power grid shut down due to economic conditions and lack of workers in Mumbai? This is a frightening thought, but a situation that is entirely possible during these times of Covid-19.

I always listen to podcasts or videos while walking, but it takes only a little flash in my brain to send it in to a whirlwind of thoughts often centered around this:

What’s next?

A bushy path to the beach on the Kauai Path.

Will we continue traveling, and if so, how can we protect ourselves from Covid-19 when we continue? Yesterday, our dear friend Louise sent us a news report that Tanzania may be opening its borders soon. As a developing country, they cannot afford to continue to block international tourists from entering.

Tanzania is rife with wildlife and home to a part of the vast Serengeti well-known worldwide for the Great Migration, which often occurs from June to October each year.

While in Kenya in 2013, we had the opportunity to witness the tail-end of the migration, but having the entire experience would be exciting. If we were living in Tanzania, it would be accessible to time it correctly for the best advantage of this unbelievable experience.

The beach in downtown Kapaa.

During this annual event, over five million animals, many of which are wildebeests and zebras, cross the Mara River over and over again as it weaves through Kenya and Tanzania. This may be an excellent opportunity for us down the road once we can leave India.

But, any hopes and dreams for the future continue to be on hold at this point. Another question that looms in my mind is how we will protect ourselves from the virus once we do continue?

A house during construction above the Kauai Path has a magnificent distant view of the sea.

Will a vaccine be available at some point? Will it be safe? Will it work? Will it mean we can be more relaxed in wearing masks, gloves, goggles while social distancing? Will we always need to social distance?

What will the world look like in six months, a year, two years for travelers? Will lengthy delays at airports, baggage restrictions, and increased fares impact our way of life?

The Kauai Path is well maintained and has several restroom buildings and lifeguard vehicles with surfboards for aiding in water rescues.

We don’t know the answers to any of these questions now and may not know for some time to come. At this point, we aren’t considering stopping our world journey, but will circumstances dictate we cannot carry on?

From there, more big questions loom; Where would be live? Where is there such a place that would be affordable for us? And could it be in a place where we’d find the joy and fulfillment we’ve had while traveling? And, above all, would it be safe?

In every direction, a mountain view enhances the exquisite scenery in Kauai. On most days, clouds hover over the mountains. The sky is seldom apparent for more than an hour.

Are we headed to a dystopian society, one I’ve watched in countless sci-fi movies over the years? Dystopian is described at this link. I no longer watch such movies.

No, I don’t mean to be negative. However, we both tend to try to be realistic and face our fears.

This photo makes us smile as we recall how lucky we met Jerry and Vicki in January 2015.

In my wildest nightmare, I would never have imagined the situation we are experiencing now. On the flip side, we are hopeful that the virus will eventually waft away, and all of us can continue with our lives, our plans, and our hopes for the future.

Stay safe. Stay hopeful.

Photo from one year ago today, May 19, 2019:

This morning view from our holiday home in Connemara, Ireland. For more details, please click here.

Please people…stop gathering in crowds!…No hope until people take this seriously…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 18, 2020 with 0 Comment

Mongooses are carnivores. When we gave them a rib bone, it was devoured.

The reporting of Covid-19 cases in India may be highly skewed, with many citizens with symptoms not going to hospitals or seeking medical care. With a population of over 1.3 billion, they can only speculate on the number of cases occurring behind the scenes where many don’t have access to medical care or won’t seek medical care.

As of today, there are 96,169 documented cases with 3029 deaths. This is only the tip of the iceberg of what is yet to come for India. These past 24-hours resulted in the highest number of new cases in a day, with over 5342 in the entire country, with 34% of the cases occurring in Maharastra, where Mumbai is the capital city.

In Nagara, Bali fish are brought in from the various boats at the Negara Harbour to be distributed to many vendors.

These conditions don’t bode well for us getting out of here anytime soon. Why would India open its second busiest airport (next to Dehli) for international flights with these types of numbers? They won’t.

Each time I walk, I look out the window at the end of one of the corridors ten times a day before I turn around to retrace my steps. Invariably, a group of men, many not wearing face masks, commiserating in a parking lot, standing close to one another. This is common in India, and unless this behavior changes, Covid-19 won’t have a chance to level off soon.

This fishing boat with its pink and black sail passed by a few days ago.

A few of our readers have written suggesting that we can fly out when outgoing flights to other countries. But, the reality remains that planes won’t be flying empty into India to transport international passengers “out” of India. International flights won’t be available until India is willing to allow international travelers “in.” We don’t foresee this happening at any time soon.

Today, the lockdown was extended until May 31st, although some businesses have been allowed to open, including trains, buses, tuk-tuk, taxis, and small shops. Liquor and cigarettes sales continue to be banned.

These ducks hang out at the rice paddy fields, awaiting their share of rice the locals provide.

Also, several readers have suggested we order takeaway (carry-out) meals based on the repetitiousness of our meals in the hotel. Most takeaway restaurants offer foods we don’t eat or don’t comply with my way of eating. Plus, we can’t help but consider the safety of foods/meals from outside restaurants.

During our entire time touring India, before the lockdown, we rarely dined in any local restaurants, except for a few high-end facilities while we made stops while on the Maharajas Express Train in late January and early February.

The rice paddies are ready for planting. See this site for more details. “The Balinese system of irrigating their rice terraces is known as Subak. It is such an important part of Balinese culture that in June 2012, it was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status. This method for irrigating the land was inspired by ancient Hindu philosophy, and it has been used since at least the 11th century. Using this method, the rice fields were built around temples, and the allocation of water was the responsibility of priests. For this irrigation management to work successfully, it has required that members of each community cooperate and work in partnership. Each community member takes responsibility for maintaining the system’s integrity, which is why the terraces tend to look so well maintained. The rice farmers work as a unit to create appropriate canals and dams. Another important element of the Subak system is the religious festivals that mark the cycle of the year.”

Even then, a few passengers complained they’d acquired some gastrointestinal distress from dining in those few upscale spots. While in Udaipur, we walked across the street to dine at a lovely restaurant without any issues.

But, “fast food” restaurants may not be as safe and as strict in handling food during the pandemic, making takeaway meals out too risky at this point. This is our reality.

Huge bags of rice, ready for processing, at the side of the road awaiting pickup.

In the realm of things, eating the same two meals twice a day is no big deal. They are tasty, nutritious, made with the utmost care, and served hot even when delivered to our room.

We found out we can now order our dinner at 6:30 instead of 7:00 pm, which helps since my breakfast doesn’t hold me all day. By mid-afternoon, I get ravenous, but it often passes after a few cups of decaf coffee.

The rice begins to grow for eventual harvesting by hand. Rice paddies are a prolific source of revenue in Bali and many other parts of the world.

Life in lockdown continues, day after day, week after week, and now month after month. We have no idea when this will end, where we’ll be able to go when it does, and what life will be like on the other side. Then again, neither do any of YOU.

Please hang in there with us as we pray for good health and safety for us all.

Photo from one year ago today, May 18, 2019:

A cow in a field with her two white calves in Connemara, Ireland. For more, please click here.

Attention wildlife enthusiasts…”Spy in the Wild”…A must see…Ideal for families…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 17, 2020 with 0 Comment

Many animals use tools. Watch this funny video of a mongoose’s creativity in cracking an egg.

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 17, 2019. Please click here for more details.

During the lockdown, most of us are looking for special programs to stream. We stumbled across a show entitled “Spy in the Wild” that requires a subscription to the documentary service on Amazon, “Curiosity Stream.”

They are offering a free one-month trial which, after a month, the credit card on file at Amazon will be charged INR 227, US $2.99 a month until canceled. We’ll finish watching the series “Spy in the Wild” before the free trial ends, never needing to pay the monthly fee.

After reviewing other series they offered on this channel, we didn’t see any others we longed to see and canceled it already. However, when canceling one of these streaming services, you will be allowed to continue streaming until the end of the free trial period.

From this site: “In 1842, a German writer and geographer called Johann Georg Kohl traveled around Ireland, publishing an account of his journey the following year. “Of all the countries in the world,” he observed, “Ireland is the country for ruins. Here you have ruins of every period of history, from the time of the Phoenicians down to the present day… each century has marked its progress by the ruins it has left. Nay, every decade, one might almost say, has set its sign up on Ireland, for in all directions, you see several dilapidated buildings, ruins of yesterday’s erection.”

As for this series, it is absolutely “over the top,” inducing laughter and smiles. Great for kids and adults, it offers a wealth of information from man-made cameras in the form of the actual animals they are spying on, such as Spy Mongoose, Spy Warthog, Spy Meerkat, etc., which looks almost exactly like the animal it’s representing.

This is hysterical, as the automated animal replicas provide an up-close view of animals’ emotions, behaviors, and actions in a way we’ve never seen before. We couldn’t recommend this series more, keeping you and your family entertained for hours.

If you are outside the USA, you’ll have to use a VPN to get into Amazon USA, which you can upload for free at some locations on the web. Once you have the VPN working, it’s necessary to set it at a USA location, or you’ll receive a message stating you cannot stream outside the USA.

A Belted Galloway cow. From this site: “Belted Galloway cattle originated from western Scotland, a region whose weather is strikingly similar to Ireland’s damp climate! This makes Belted Galloways perfectly suitable for the wet, cold winters and the soft boggy terrain of Irish farms. Their long, curly outer coat is ideal for rainy weather, as its coarseness deflects moisture from the animal’s skin. They also have a soft undercoat to keep them warm in colder temperatures. The head of the Belted Galloway has long hair around its ears, preventing frostbite in a case of an extreme Irish freeze. Common nicknames for these cattle are ‘Belties’ or even ‘Oreo Cows’ due to their peculiar resemblance to the popular treat!”

Also, you can sign up for their free trial at Curiosity Stream’s site, for which you won’t need to use Amazon.

We use ExpressVPN, but there is an annual charge which you’ll have to check based on your location and operating system. Their customer service is exemplary, and they will walk you through the easy installation process. Right now, they are offering a free 90-day trial. Click here for the link.

So what’s new in our Covid-19 lockdown world today? I know I promised not to get into much Covid-19 information, but I have a safety suggestion to offer if you plan to fly on an airplane.

We spotted several Belted Galloway cattle in the country. The last time we’d seen this breed of cattle was while living in New Zealand in March 2016. See our link here.

The airlines that are operational in the world claim they are providing social distancing on flights. I am reading this is typically not the case on total flights. Please do your research, and you’ll see this is the case.

Many require masks, but now it’s been discovered that in a confined space such as an airplane, train, bus, or public venue, one may acquire the virus through their eyes. It may not be widespread, but it is happening. How easy it would be to have droplets get into our eyes from coughing, sneezing, or even talking to passengers within proximity.

Also, have you ever noticed how often we might rub or touch our eyes daily, as well as our faces? After reading this on various reputable sites, I decided we need to “up the ante” and wear clear goggles along with masks and gloves when we finally get to fly out of India or on any flights in the future.

As we drove through the countryside in Connemara, we were amazed by the number of ruins.

Yesterday at Amazon India, I purchased a few pairs of re-usable clear goggles for a low price. Also, the fog-free goggles help prevent eyeglasses from steaming up while wearing the masks.

Now, my challenge is getting Tom to agree to wear the goggles during the flights and while at the airport. There’s no point in me taking extra precautions if he, too, doesn’t follow suit since the virus is so easily passed among household family members.

I don’t care one iota how it “looks” to be walking around an airport and on a plane wearing a face mask, goggles, and gloves. Who cares what others may think or say? We’re trying to save our lives. It’s our business.

From this site: “In Ireland, large-scale domestic and industrial peat usage is widespread. In the Republic of Ireland, a state-owned company called Bord na Móna is responsible for managing peat extraction. It processes the extracted peat into milled peat used in power stations and sells processed peat fuel in peat briquettes used for domestic heating. These are oblong bars of densely compressed, dried, and shredded peat. Peat moss is a manufactured product for use in garden cultivation. Turf (dried out peat sods) is also commonly used in rural areas.”

Is this extreme? Possibly. But I urge all of our family members/readers/friends to exercise the same caution while in crowded spaces. Until we have a better handle on the path of this virus in the future, extreme caution makes a lot of sense.

Otherwise, nothing much is new here. As of tomorrow, India’s lockdown is continuing for another two weeks, but we anticipate this will continue for many weeks, if not months, to come. Like many of you, we stay in a holding pattern.

Stay healthy.

Photo from one year ago today, May 17, 2019:

A handsome horse at a pasture with other horses a few doors from our holiday home in Connemara, Ireland. For more photos, please click here.

Disputing charges due to Covid-19…Trouble with new booking in times of Covid-19…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 16, 2020 with 0 Comment

Cape buffalo grazing on the Crocodile River as seen from the fence in Marloth 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 16, 2015. Please click here for more details.

As mentioned in prior posts, on March 20, 2020, when we arrived at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 3:00 am, after waiting in line for over an hour to check our bags and check-in, we were refused an opportunity to board the scheduled flight.

South Africa, our destination, was in the process of closing its borders and began refusing all incoming international flights due to Covid-19. Had we left a few days earlier, we could have been allowed to fly and could have made our way to Marloth Park when the country-wide lockdown didn’t begin until March 27th. Here’s the link with the story about South Africa’s lockdown.

The chicks were born in early February and will fledge in the next month or so. It’s been amazing to watch their fluff fall away as their feathers suitable for flying grow in.

We could kick ourselves for not leaving a few days earlier when we’d already ended our tour of India due to the risks of large crowds at various sightseeing venues. But, who knew? We had no idea how the worldwide lockdown would escalate at that point.

We’d booked the flight with Kenya Air at a ticket price for each of us at INR 32627, US $430 for a total of INR 65254, US $860. We considered this a reasonable fare for the one-way flight that would require almost 16 hours of travel time including layovers for the three legs of the flight.

An un-banded Albatross out for a walk. Its impossible to determine the albatross’ gender without a DNA test. There are no obvious markings or physical definitions. Since both parents equally share in sitting on the nest and the care and feeding of the chick, perhaps nature has made them visibly indistinguishable.

Once we returned to our hotel, the shock left us reeling for a few days. After being turned away, we figured it made sense to wait a few days before applying for a refund with all the cancellations.

As it turned out, we didn’t apply for a refund until several days later once we were situated in this current hotel knowing full well, it would be a time-consuming process.

We began the process by contacting Kenya Airways directly for the credit. This resulted in no less than 12 hours on hold over a period of several days. Finally, we reached a human who instructed us to apply online at their site. Immediately, we used.

All of the chicks now have both fluffy and new feathers, as shown in this napping chick.

Several weeks later, we received an email stating that they would not process a refund. We were required to seek a refund from Expedia.com where we’d originally booked the flight.
The lengthy process at Expedia commenced; hours on hold; chat modules with no results until finally, Expedia sent us a message stating we’d have to get our refund from Kenya Airways. How’s that for shuffling us back and forth.

Our only option, at that point, was to contact the credit card we’d used to dispute the charges. There was no “live” chat module or option to send an email for a dispute… only a phone call would be accepting.

This banded albatross appeared to be a parent when she or he was hovering near a chick.

Again, I spent hours online, only to discover they were closed during the daytime hours during which we could call with the huge time difference. Usually, the number on the back of the card is a 24-hour phone number. But, again, due to Covid-19, they too, were operating with a limited staff.

There hadn’t been a single evening that I felt like spending an hour on the phone working this out. Once, in the past, about a year ago, we disputed a charge with Ethiopia Airlines to get a refund when they, not us, canceled a flight. The credit card company took care of it for us but it still required considerable time on hold.

This morning, much to my delight, I was only on hold for 10-minutes and, they had staff working at night, their time. A pleasant woman came on the line who was more than happy to assist after I explained the circumstances.

This chick has been a favorite of ours, with their nest reasonably close to the road and her/him often checking out the scenery.

The end result? In a few days, we’ll see the full refund on that specific card while they continue to work on it over the next 90-days, during which they may contact us to forward the supporting email messages if they run into any problems. In a few clicks, I’ll send the relevant messages without thinking twice.

With this resolution, we’ll have finally received all the refunds for any future travel plans impacted by Covid-19. Subsequently, we have some credits on credit cards, as opposed to debits, which we can use to pay for this past 28-nights in this hotel, plus our meals, when we’re required to pay on May 20th.

Here are two chicks approximately six feet apart although they look closer in this photo. Here again, they are tucked away napping during the wind and rain. The parents lay one egg and thus these two are not related or, perhaps, they are.

Hotels are often paid after the stay, although some may require full payment in advance during the booking process. That hasn’t been the case here at this Courtyard Mumbai International Airport. They let us pay-as-we-go every 28 days.

When there was a problem with the Hotels.com site, a phone rep was able to get our reservation booked for the first part of our hotel reservation extension from May 20 to June 1, 2020, but not the second portion due to issues on their site.

There is a promotion for double points that we’re trying to take advantage of for the second part of our stay from June 1 to June 17, 2020, which is only applicable for bookings made after June 1, 2020, resulting in our preference to break up the two bookings for a combined 28-night stay into two segments.

By the time we left the area, the sun was shining and we spotted this typical lawn mowing scenario…Cattle Egret hovering near the mower hoping for morsels the process may unsettle. This always makes us laugh. For this story, please click here.

Now, the second part of our booking won’t process. Their tech department will contact us with a resolution in the next few days and hopefully, we’ll be able to get these other dates with the extra points booked.

There go another 90 minutes of my life while in lockdown spent on the phone in a state of utter frustration during these times of Covid-19. Everything is different now.

That’s it for today, folks. Stay safe.

Photo from one year ago today, May 16, 2019:

John, the fish guy with Tom. John will stop by once a week. The prior night I had fresh-caught haddock without a single bone topped with the freshest crabmeat. For more from this date, please click here.

The routine…The routine…The routine…Checking the time..Favorite time of the day…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 15, 2020 with 4 Comments

Warthogs warfare in the garden.

Finally, we got a good shot of this pair of cows, most likely a mom and baby, after waiting patiently.

Never have any of us been so trapped into a routine as we are during the lockdown in most of our lives. I can’t recall ever checking the time as often as I do now.

For me:

Is it time for another walk?

Is it time for another meal?

Is it time to prepare the post?

Is it time to stream a few shows?

Is it the day to hand wash my clothes in the shower?

Is it time for another cup of coffee/tea?

Is it time to do research online as to when borders and international flights will reopen?

Is it the day to pay the credit card bills?

For Tom: (After 42 ½ years of checking the time while working on the railroad, he doesn’t pay much attention to the time):

Is it time to take my vitamin B6, which has prevented me from getting more kidney stones?

Is it time to order dinner?

Is it time to wash my clothes?

The island we encountered during the drive to Clifden.

Tom is less time-concentric than I am. We all have our specific routines, even before Covid-19. But, I’ve always been the type of person to become entrenched in what I should have, could have, would have done next. Benefit, now it seems more apparent when the days drag on.

Fortunately, there is a favorite time of the day, usually around 7:00 pm or shortly after that when our dinner arrives. Although we eat the same foods each meal, I’m hungry and looking forward to the food (less so for breakfast which I could take or leave) by that time.

From African wildlife to barnyard animals, we’ve found a degree of contentment, especially when they are as cute as these two cows, huddled together to stay warm on a chilly morning.

Lately, the decaf coffee with the powdered cream (yeah, I know, it’s not so healthy, but it’s what’s available right now) has turned into a delightful few minutes; the preparation and the sipping on the hot cup of goodness bring me a few minutes of pure joy.

Sheep are marked with paint as described here: “Farmers “paint” their sheep for identification. Frequently, you’ll notice large pastures blanketed in green grass and dotted with sheep. Typically, these pastures are enclosed by stone walls or wire fences and are shared by multiple farmers. When it comes time to claim ownership of the animals roaming around hundreds of acres, a customized painted sheep is easy to identify. Also, during the mating season, the male ram will be fitted with a bag of dye around its neck and chest. When mating, the ram mounts the ewe, and a bit of dye is deposited on the ewe’s upper back. This way, the farmer knows which ewes have been impregnated and moves them on to another field away from the ram.”

After dinner, we settled onto the bed to stream two episodes of the “show of the moment,” all of which we binge-watch.” Variety under these circumstances isn’t necessary. We just finished season eight of Game of Thrones and all episodes of Tiger King and Succession.

We’ve seen these three burros. “The only real difference between a donkey and a burro is their domestication status. A donkey is domesticated. A donkey is wild. Other than that, there is no difference — burro is just the Spanish word for donkey. There is no physical or genetic difference between a mule or a donkey otherwise.”

Now we’re watching Australia’s Jack Irish in the late afternoon and then the last season of Poldark in the evening. During dinner, we just finished season eight of Doc Martin and began working on season two of Australia’s The Heart Guy, both of which don’t require much concentration and are delightfully simple, ideal for watching while dining.

Cows are curious. They often stopped grazing to check out who was driving by.

Yep, this is our lives right now, folks. Bland is always alert as to what’s happening throughout the world during these difficult times of Covid-19. We’ve found a few good news channels on Indian TV that we have on in the early morning. After breakfast, Tom listens to his favorite radio show, Garage Logic from Minnesota.

The Clifden town square.

As I prepare today’s post, NatGeo Wild is on the TV with the sound turned down. Usually, Garage Logic is on in the background for a few hours while I do the post, listening simultaneously. AIt provides us both with a bit of wildlife fix while we’re in lockdown.

St. Joseph Catholic Church is located in downtown Clifden where we shopped for groceries.

It sounds like a lot of mental stimulation during these otherwise dull days and nights, but it works for us, keeping our minds engaged. Neither of us has been interested in reading fiction books right now. It doesn’t seem easy to get out of our heads enough to get wrapped up in a novel.

Plants for sale at a local garden store. The owner came out to greet us. The Irish are very friendly.

I almost feel as if I need to stay alert, pay attention to what we’ll do next, allay boredom or negative thoughts from setting in, doing exactly what, and when it appeals to us the most.

The strips of shops made it easy to get around the downtown area.

How are you coping with staying level-headed during times of Covid-19? We’d love to hear from you! Please comment at the bottom of our page, and indeed we will reply within 24 hours.

Stay safe.

Photo from one year ago today, May 15, 2019:

A ram painted red for identification purposes with curved horns. For more on the year-ago post, please click here.

Reminiscing about this past year…Losing weight during the lockdown…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 14, 2020 with 0 Comment

Hippos on the Sabie River in Kruger National Park.

A small lagoon between Anini Beach and Ke’e Beach while we were in Kauai, Hawaii, on this date in 2015. Please see our link here.

August 2019: Amsterdam for a 12-night Baltic cruise to St. Petersburg and other cities

August – September 2019: Cornwall, UK, where we stayed in two-holiday homes over one month, Falmouth and then on a farm in Witheridge

September – October 2019: Devon, UK, for three weeks on a farm

October 2019: Wales in a holiday home for 11 days

October 2019: Southhampton in a hotel for two nights and then sailed on a 15-night cruise to Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA

The reflections in the water caught our eye as we walked along the beach.

November 2019 – January 2020: USA – Visited family in Minnesota, Nevada, and Arizona

January – February 2020: We flew from the USA to arrive in Mumbai on January 31, 2020, to begin a journey on the Maharajas Express, followed by a scheduled 55-night tour of India, which we ended abruptly.

March 14, 2020: We began self-isolation in hotels in both Chennai and Madurai until March 18, 2020, when we flew from Madurai to Mumbai.

March 18 – March 20, 2020: We stayed in a hotel until our scheduled flight to South Africa prevented us from boarding after arriving at the airport at 3:00 am.

March 20 – March 24, 2020: Stayed in a hotel in Mumbai in self-isolation until they closed when we had to find a place to stay

There’s an expanse on Kuhio Highway a few miles outside of Princeville, where the scenery is breathtaking with many Acacia trees. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single spot for a car to stop to take a photo. I’d tried taking the photo from the moving vehicle, as in this case, unable to capture the expanse of the beauty below this bridge.

March 24 – May 14, 2020: Stayed in the Marriott Hotel in Mumbai until the present day. We may have to stay for months to come until international flights begin to depart Mumbai once again and an airport opens in one of the countries we’d like to visit. We’re keeping our options open.

The time we spent in Ireland is somewhat of a blur. I was still on many heart medications, which caused me to sleep half of each day and could barely move my legs and walk.

Feebly, I attempted to walk each hour, but it was painstaking and left me breathlessDuringng that time in Ireland, I realized the drugs were causing me pain, weakness, and lethargy.

Ke’e Beach in Kapaa.

Slowly I began weaning myself off of pain medication and the three heart drugs, following the guidelines I’d found at various reputable medical sites. By the time we reached Falmouth, UK, I had noticed a marked improvement in my well-being.

Over the next few months, I began to walk without so much pain, stay awake throughout the day, and start feeling like myself again. But, it’s been the walking I’ve done here in this hotel that escalated me to the next level.

Although I’m walking for only 5-minute stints once an hour (10 times a day), I now feel I can handle walks over more extended periods. I prefer to do the hourly walk rather than walks for more extended periods when it gets me up and out of my comfy chair. Each time I walk, I attempt to increase the pace.

It’s not unusual to find free-range cattle in Kauai.

In this one way, being in isolation has been good for me, forcing me to become motivated to get some exercise. It’s now a habit I hope to maintain going forward regardless of where we live in the future.

Also, not having access to food in a cupboard or refrigerator and while eating the limited portions served during breakfast and dinner, I’ve been able to lose 4.5 kg, 10 pounds in the past month since I quit eating the overly fattening Paneer Makhani.

Oddly, many open-heart surgery patients gain 9 to 11 kg, 20 to 25 pounds while healing from the surgery, mainly due to the slowing of one’s metabolism, from the heart medications that slow down activity. With the continued walking and smaller meals (all the while maintaining my usual way of eating), I’ll surely continue to lose weight to get back to my old self once again.

A relatively young calf is in the foreground.

I am hoping by the time we leave here. I can lighten the weight of my suitcase by donating the clothes I can no longer wear. Then, I can toss all the “Heidi” clothes (my sisters and I always called larger-sized clothing as “hide-y” clothes which mask one’s added weight, often loose and in dark colors). In this respect, the lockdown has been good for me.

Again, thanks to our many readers who continue to write the kindest and most supportive email messages. Each message means so much to us.

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

Photo from one year ago today, May 14, 2019:

Due to the high outdoor winds, I took this photo from inside the house in Connemara, Ireland. To the left is organic salmon fishing which is common in IrelandMany more and better quality photos will follow. . For more details, please click here.

How do our prospects look for cruising in the future?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 13, 2020 with 0 Comment

Loving animal family assisting newborns in getting on their feet.

In the past 7½ plus years, we’ve sailed on 27 cruises. For us, cruising has been a substantial part of our worldwide experience. Also, we’ve cruised as a means of getting us to one part of the world to another, often staying for extended periods at the location (or nearby) of disembarkation.

At this point, there are thousands of media sources spewing their opinions on when and how the cruise industry will open, if ever. Thus, I am not selecting a link to review with the same number of varying opinions that we may or may not agree with.

The beach on Mystery Island is a port of call from Sydney to Seattle from this post here on May 12, 2017.

Enthusiastic cruisers each must formulate their own opinions as to when and if we’ll cruise again, once the cruise industry gets back to business. In the interim, this could be many months away or even a year away.

Currently, we have four cruises booked (three in and around Japan), but we’re more interested in the one upcoming in November, a mere six months from now. We’ve heard nothing from Azamara regarding canceling this cruise on their ship, the Journey, with a capacity of 690 passengers.

A thatched hut on the island.

We were looking forward to this cruise that sails from Lisbon to Cape Town. Initially, we planned to return to Marloth Park at the end of the cruise, December 2, 2020, after spending two or three days in Cape Town which we’ve yet to visit.

The appeal of this cruise was not only its ending point, but also the scheduled ports of call which are listed here at this site, the small number of passengers, and a number of included perks such as WiFi and beverages.

The price we paid for both of us for this 22-night cruise was INR 996,146, US $13,251, and is now listed at a much higher price at INR 1672671, US $22,252.We certainly hoped to capitalize on this excellent pricing for this high-end cruise with such exciting ports of call.

Ship passengers were browsing the tropical island.

In all likelihood, this cruise will be canceled. The question for us remains… Will we go ahead with this cruise if it doesn’t cancel? We both feel, at this point, especially if we can’t get to South Africa sooner, we would like to go ahead and keep the booking following whatever Covid-19 precautions they establish for this relatively low number of passengers.

There’s no doubt in our minds that if the cruise isn’t canceled that social distancing and face masks will be a part of the experience. This may mean the single most enjoyable aspect of cruising, table sharing at breakfast and dinner, may become a thing of the past. We can live with this.

Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas.

After all these years of traveling together, we can easily enjoy just the two of us, which has easily been reaffirmed after we’ve spent the past two months in lockdown in a small hotel room in Mumbai.

We may be bored with our situation but, miraculously, we’re not bored with one another. We still laugh, talk, share dreams and hopes and frequently discuss what’s going on in the world and information on Covid-19. This has been our saving grace, keeping us upbeat and emotionally balanced during this trying and unusual situation.

Jetty in the coral reef in Vanuatu.

Cruises or not, we hope to continue, although we accept and realize that many aspects of world travel will change in many ways that we may not even know at this point.

May you continue safely during this challenging time with good health and a hopeful state of mind.

Photo from one year ago today, May 12, 2019:
There was no post on this date one year ago as we made our way to Ireland with a full day of travel.

Where in the world will we go when the Mumbai airport opens to international travel and possibly other airports?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 12, 2020 with 0 Comment

Zebra Day in the garden in Marloth Park.

Today’s photos are from May 12, 2016. Please click here for more details.

Our friends in South Africa continue to send us reports that indicate the possibility of the airport opening are very slim in the foreseeable future. Based on a report out yesterday, it could be as long as a year away from now.

Not only does this prevent us from traveling to SA when the airports open in India, but this destroys tourism in a country that desperately needs the billions of dollars generated by international visitors.

We’re frequently touching base with friends in South Africa who are highly frustrated over the severe restrictions imposed on citizens and the lack of encouragement for the future from a failing government and economy.

This is a Blue Kingfisher we spotted on this date in 2016 in Sumbersari, Bali. Click here for the post.

The likelihood of us making it to South Africa in the next 12 months is relatively slim. Perhaps, I’m ahead of myself here on this topic. There’s no word on airports in India opening for international travel, nor are there many countries we may consider staying while we continue to wait it out.

In any case, we’d like to go somewhere we’d particularly enjoy in the interim. Right now, islands in the Indian Ocean seem to pique our interest the most. The thought of an ocean view, the ability to shop and cook our meals, even if we have to stay away from others, is especially appealing at this point.

We never had an opportunity to socialize in many locations. Yet, we still had beautiful experiences, reveling in our surroundings, mainly when we had an ocean view, a must wherever we go next.

If you watched yesterday’s boring video of my walk in the corridors (click the link here) with the view out the window, it’s easy to understand how vital a view will be to us in the future.

Yes, we have creature comforts while in lockdown in this hotel room in Mumbai; air-con; comfortable bed and seating (we now have two comfy chairs); boring, although repetitious, fresh-tasting meals; cleaning service; courteous staff and above all, relatively good safety from COVID-19 if we stay in our room and our cleaners and room service staff stay free of the virus.

With mountains in Java obstructing the final setting of the sun, we relished every sunset scene.

As we all know, one’s state of mind is the essence of our perceived quality of life regardless of our circumstances. And, being in lockdown for us, for you, isn’t necessarily an upbeat set of circumstances.

Here’s a list of the islands in the Indian Ocean at this link. The majority of the islands are too small to visit with limited services, WiFi, access to shopping, etc.

However, among this list, there are a few possibilities;
1. Madagascar (six-month visa)
2. Maldives (30-day visa, extendable to 90-days)
3. Mauritius (60-day visa)
4. Reunion Island (90-day visa)
5. Seychelles (90-day visa, extendable up to one year)

In checking information for each of these locations, it appears Seychelles is out of the question due to the high cost of holiday homes on the luxury island. We couldn’t find any possibilities within our budget other than hotels. After this extended hotel stay in Mumbai, we are not interested in staying in a hotel for any time.

The Maldives, with its 30-day visa and also highly-priced holiday homes with a few exceptions, maybe a short-term possibility. Mauritius may be a possibility with good holiday home options, but with a 60-day visa.

Tom took this distant photo when he spotted this peculiar boat that appears “sunken” in the middle. At the time, we had no idea what type of boat this was. Later, we discovered it was the design of a typical fishing boat in Bali.

The best option based on the availability of reasonably priced oceanview holiday homes and a lengthy visa allowance leaves us with Madagascar on our minds. Plus, after watching David Attenborough’s story on Madagascar with its abundant and unusual wildlife, the handwriting may be on the wall for this location.

Madagascar is located slightly northeast of South Africa. We could stay there until South Africa reopens their borders, all the while free from crowds, on the beach, and able to prepare our meals in addition to opportunities for a wide array of safaris during our stay.

Well, we can dream, can’t we? We’d love to hear from some of you by commenting at the bottom of any post as to what you are dreaming of at this point. Feel free to comment anonymously if you’d prefer.

May your day be peaceful and filled with dreams for the future.

Photo from two years ago today, May 12, 2018:

There was no photo one year ago as we traveled to Ireland. Instead, we were gifted with a rainbow in the shallow area of Victoria Falls, but this was the first of many we saw throughout the day. Please see here for more photos from that date, two years ago.

Follow me on a walk via video…Favorite photos from our final day in South Africa…”Pig on the porch, pig in the pond, pig in the parlor.”

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 11, 2020 with 0 Comment

Please join me in this video of my hourly walk in the corridors in an attempt to stay fit during the lockdown. Partway through this video is a view from a window of the not-so-appealing surroundings.

Today’s photos are from May 11, 2019. Please click here for more details.

I may have thought a video of me walking the halls wasn’t worth posting on this site in normal times. But, now, in times of Covid-19, everything has changed.

Little, tentatively climbing the steps to the veranda for a few pellets we gave him when we found him kneeling like this from the top step.

A few readers inquired how I’m getting any exercise and how it was possible to walk outdoors when we can’t leave the hotel. With cardiovascular disease, I must get regular exercise.

“Pig in the parlor.” One year ago today, we left South Africa and posted more of our favorite photos. This was the second time Little came up the steps and into the house while sitting on the sofa and didn’t see him right away. We howled.

In several posts I’ve mentioned, I have been walking the corridors once an hour, always keeping a watchful eye on the time. I start around 8:00 am and continue through 6:00 pm, resulting in 10 periods of walking.

Little, “Pig in a Pond.”

In the video, I mentioned that I walk for two to three minutes. That’s good enough for me under these circumstances. Still, after seeing the video lasted for almost five minutes with a few stops along the way, I timed myself this morning, and it’s four minutes for the entire route, resulting in 40 minutes of vigorous walking each day.

“Pig on the porch.” His feet were muddy, and he made a mess, but we didn’t care. It was Little, coming to call.

Each time I go out for the walk, I must prepare. I put my shoes on, place a mask on my face, the key card in my pocket, and get my phone and earpieces set up to continue listening to various podcasts throughout the walk. Doing so makes those four minutes pass quickly.

Since I began the walks almost two months ago, my resting heart rate has gone down from 65 beats per minute to 54 beats per minute (BPM). This is a good indicator of improving heart health.

He was tentative at first, as he wondered if this was acceptable.

Unfortunately, walking doesn’t necessarily improve cardiovascular disease. If it did, I’d certainly up the ante. But, the problem was never with my heart itself. It was always about the arteries, a hereditary condition over which I have no control to change.

Once he realized he was welcome, he settled in for a long nap.

This morning, when we awoke, Tom asked me, “What are your plans today?” We both laughed out loud. In another day and time, I may have had a few exciting prospects on the horizon. Not now.

Today will be like any other day, like all others during this time of Covid-19. Prepare this post. Stream a few shows. Eat a few meals. And walk a few miles in the corridors. We couldn’t help but laugh over today’s year ago photos. Referring to happier times makes all of this a “little” more accessible, no pun intended.

A few days after Little’s first visit inside the house, he brought a friend to show him the goodies. We aptly named his friend “Little’s Friend,” He often visited on his own, and eventually, he, too, responded to his name.

Thanks to my sons, daughter-in-law, and friends, and readers for all the Mother’s Day wishes. If ever, that means a lot to me, as it always does. This year it means all the more.

Little brought us so many laughs and so much joy. When I spoke to him, he’d shake his head in acknowledgment, not unlike a dog or cat would do. Pigs are described as being more intelligent than dogs. Why wouldn’t they relate to us in the way our pets do?

Two months in lockdown have passed. We are facing at least four more months here, possibly six. We’re holding up well, taking each new day as it comes. No, it’s not easy now, nor will it be in the months to come. Our choices are simple… We can stay upbeat and cheerful or not. We choose optimism.

May all of you choose the same.

Photo from one year ago today, May 11, 2019:

Mutton Chops and Scar-Face stopped by many times, but we haven’t seen them in months after Basket chased them and Tusker out of our garden. Now Basket visits with his new girlfriend with whom he shares the pellets. Please click here for the link.

Heartwarming phone call from a local…Reader/friends support and interest…The kindness of our readers…

Posted by worldwide-admin on May 10, 2020 with 0 Comment

One morning we were thrilled to find 20 kudus in our garden. A few days later, we had 26 kudus, but we were so busy feeding them pellets we never made a video. See this post for the day we made the video.

Today’s photos are from May 2019. Please click here for more details.

Yesterday afternoon, our room phone rang, and I paused when I heard the voice of a lovely-sounding woman introducing herself as a “friend of a friend.” Then, it dawned on me that a dear reader, Caro, had sent me an email saying I may hear from a woman also in lockdown in India.

Closeup of our toad peeking out from a hole in a decorative mask.

This intrigued me. Having an opportunity to share our woes about India’s lockdown during the pandemic with a local person in isolation similar to us was fascinating.

In a matter of seconds, we were both engaged in lively and enthusiastic chatter, sharing our worries and concerns, our solutions to problems, and our realities during this time of Covid-19, as restrictions seem to tighten each day.

As it turned out, Kalindi and her husband also live in France and often come to Mumbai for her husband’s business ventures. They own a home here but not close to where we are located. They can cook their meals and enjoy their home here. But, like us, no socialization is possible.

Mesmerizing marking on zebras, each of which is so unique, comparable to a fingerprint.

We laughed when she said how wonderful it would be if they could invite us to dinner. And, I replied how delightful it would be to visit them and bring along a few bottles of wine. Ah, the simple things we so much enjoyed in times past.

After talking to Kalindi, I couldn’t stop smiling, reminded of how precious friendships have been for us in our old lives and now over the years in our world travels.

For now, we rely upon the kindness of so many readers/friends who write to us, some frequently, others less often, including such first names as Pat, Caro, Adele, Billy, Alan, Liz, Chere, Karen, Kari, Joan, Jerry and Vicki, Linda, Kathy, Louise, Louise B, Lea Ann and Chuck, Jodi, Camille, Marie and Bill, Lisa, Joanette, and so many more I could continue listing names for the remainder of this post. (I apologize if I missed you).

“Retired Generals,” cape buffalo males who hang together after being kicked out of the herd when they lost the battle for dominance and the right to mate.

Each time we receive an email message, I make every effort to reply to each one. But, at times, there are so many, it’s impossible to respond to each one, and I may refer to a “thank you” in a post.

We never feel alone with all of you ‘traveling with us,” especially now in lockdown and also as we’ve traveled throughout the world. At any given moment, I can check my email to find several of you “there.”

Never for a moment do I feel overwhelmed by the number of messages and my genuine attempt to reply. If I don’t respond, please don’t feel singled out. I could spend 12 hours a day replying to messages. I do my best.

Eventually, we stopped giving mongooses whole eggs and beat up the eggs in the dish. That way, there would be enough for everyone.

You’d think that now in lockdown, I’d have more time to reply. After all, I don’t cook or clean. We hand wash our clothes and our flatware after each meal, and I spend approximately half of each day preparing a post, conducting research, and going through past photos.
Although I am no longer posting commentaries about Covid-19, I am still busy researching any relevant information that may be useful for us in moving forward. In addition, as an information junkie, I spend the better part of each afternoon, after the post is uploaded, researching topics that appeal to me: science, health, wildlife, nature, culture, and the universe as a whole.

Now that we have NatGeo on the TV, we may keep this in the background throughout the day, continually striving to learn more and more about wildlife and nature. As for Facebook, I don’t spend more than 30-minutes a day checking on posts from family and friends.

Big Daddy, of whom there are many, came to call on a sunny morning.

I haven’t made an effort to add more “friends” to my presence on Facebook to avoid spending more time there, especially after becoming more aware recently of their ramped-up censorship. However, I often post the link and a photo for the current day’s post. Otherwise, I am relatively silent on Facebook other than “liking” posts of friends, family members, wildlife, and nature.

In any case, the days are full. Yesterday, I spent no less than two hours attempting to get a refund from Kenya Airways for the flight we had booked to fly to South Africa on March 20th when we were turned away at the Mumbai Airport.

A leopard tortoise visited our garden.

Between Expedia and Kenya Airways, they are each denying responsibility for the refund. Today, I’ll pursue the credit card we used to see if they can help. This will be another two-hour ordeal.

Tomorrow, would you like to “take a walk” with me? Please check back to see what that is all about.

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

Tom’s favorite, Ms. Bushbuck, is comfortable near him. For more details, please click here.

Tag: India