Pandemic Travel

No talking

Just two years ago, the world went to a halt with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Travel came to a stop. Airports were empty and the idea of traveling again seems like a distant dream. Personally I don't know when I get to travel again. And to be honest, 2.5 years was way out of my planned timing haha. I mean I thought we all get to travel again in like end 2020 or at least mid 2021. But life has other plans I guess.

Nevertheless I'm very happy that I finally get to fly on a plane and travel again. Although like mentioned before, I don't really consider going back to Singapore as "traveling". More like "going back home and reuniting with my friends haha. But well I have to say traveling feels very different now. I guess we're still in a pandemic so... It does feel different from normal. Here are some of my thoughts!

The most obvious one is masks. It's just kinda weird to see everyone wearing masks in airports and on the plane. But of course I'm happy that everyone in the plane is following the rules and are donning their masks. And you know what, I think I'm going to continue wearing masks on the plane when traveling even though the pandemic is over. If you think about it don't you think it's rather eww that 200+ people are inside a metal tube flying in the air, and everyone is free to cough and sneeze out haha.

When I was in Singapore most people are also wearing masks, except when outside. Since Singapore allows not wearing one when outdoor. But most people are still donning their masks outside too. And it's quite weird to see signs on the bus and trains about not talking or speaking loudly haha. Also yes seeing everyone wearing masks on the train/bus is something I've never experienced before!

On my way to Singapore I didn't order any food on the plane. To be honest I was just quite scared of taking of my mask when eating. But I did eat on my way back home (I flew with Garuda home). See that's the thing about pandemic travel; I feel like I'm just constantly living in fear hahaha. Although I tell myself I'm boosted, and even got COVID twice. I still have that fear in me hah.

Also the night before my trip I was just feeling super anxious. With the extra steps and documents that I have to prepare before the trip, I was just feeling very restless before the trip. Like what if something went wrong, what if there's something wrong with my document, or even what if I got deported from Singapore (omg my imagination last warning hahaha). Traveling is just so different now.

Well but all in all I'm very happy that I have a smooth trip back to Singapore. I think traveling is bouncing back again and I'm happy to see that. I hope that this is a start to me traveling days again mwahaha. But not sure if I can do this since I'm just so damn mad busy now. Alright that's all for now. Here's to more travel in the future! Whoop whoop.

596 Days (Part II)

So yeah as mentioned previously, it feels rather weird and good to travel again after 596 days. As mentioned in the previous post, the last time that I ever went out of town was on 29 February 2021. It was for Java Jazz. That's like almost 2 years of not going out of town! Haha.

Well normally I didn't go out of town often either. I only go out of town if there's concerts, or if I'm traveling abroad. Or of course the usual weddings and also business trips. After the pandemic hit I have never went out of town. Out of fear of my health and also yeah you know it. 

The COVID situation in Indonesia has improved a lot in the past few weeks. Cases are decreasing a lot. We still have about 1000 cases everyday (sometimes lower than that). I see many people are traveling again. I think Bali was packed last weekend too. And international travel has resumed on the 14th (albeit with not many international tourists visiting us). Things are kinda looking up. Even though news of a possible 3rd wave is coming in December. I hope we are so totally wrong this time haha.

I think the pandemic has taken a toll on many of us. And yes it's sad to think about the huge negative impact that the tourism sector faced in the past (almost) 2 years. So it's great to see things opening up again. Although at the same time I'm wary of the possibility of a new wave with the eased restrictions and traveling of people. But yes, PCR and antigen tests are still a requirement for travel.

The world has changed a lot in the past 1.75 years. And sometimes I wonder if it'll change forever. 

Like I mean... I still feel wary somehow of traveling out. And I wonder when will I stop feeling this way? Or will I feel like this forever haha. Oh gosh I hope not. But yep, I am still looking forward to the day we can all travel freely again. I don't mind wearing masks when on the plane. But I hope I can take it off when I'm out of the plane haha. I can't wait to go back to Singapore again to see my friends. It's been almost 2 years since I last went back! I miss SG so much.

Well, here's to the future of traveling. It's a lot to take in sometimes, when you look forward to that day. The world has changed and it will continue to change. But will our love and thirst for travel be changed too? How will we step inside this whole new world soon? Hmm.