According to CNN, there are more than 48,000 cases of COVID-19 in the United States, and at least 600 people have died. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced strict restrictions on the movements of the public across the country. Italy saw its death toll surpass 7,500 while fatalities in Spain rose by over 30 per cent recently. Earlier this week, African saxophone legend Manu Dibango passed away after contracting the virus, becoming one of the first global celebs to die from the novel coronavirus. After Canada and Australia pulled out, the Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a 21-day “total lockdown”, the most extensive stay-at-home order yet in the world’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Malaysia has extended its national lockdown for another two weeks. Singapore has closed its doors to short-term visitors and tourists, and shut down all entertainment centres plus suspended all events till 30th June. China plans to lift the lockdown on Wuhan, on 8th April but Beijing will quarantine and test all international arrivals, regardless of destination.
As the world fights against the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, working remotely and staying at home as much as possible are becoming the new ways of life. The virus is deemed highly contagious and to contain spread through contact, almost the entire world is in self-isolation or quarantine.
Staying at home is difficult but the responsible thing to do
At Travel Wanderlust, most of our team works remotely, and many of us are digital nomads– used to backpacking across Asia and the rest of the world, but in this time of global crisis, we are all staying put and you should too. However, pausing everything “normal” about everyday life and staying home all day takes a bit of an adjustment. While it is difficult for everybody, one can only begin to imagine the life of a wanderlust who is used to exploring new places all year round.
We understand that it can be hard to maintain your sanity with everything going on around the world, and no travel plans in the near future to look forward to. So, to help our fellow travellers distract themselves from all the negativity, we have come up with this survival guide for globetrotters in the time of coronavirus.
If you are bitten by the travel bug in the time of social distancing, this article will tell you how you can satisfy your wanderlust cravings while sitting at home:
Embark on digital journeys while binging travel shows
Who says you cannot explore the world in the age of social distancing? Well, really, you can’t, but digitally – you can! Today, there is no shortage of amazing travel shows available to stream online anytime, anywhere. From vlogs on YouTube to documentaries on Netflix – you can watch fun travel shows while social distancing and explore the world on your TV screen. Some of my personal favourites include ‘Jack Whitehall: Travels With My Father’, ‘The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes’ and ‘Street Food’ — all available on Netflix.
Discover new places with travelogues
There cannot be a better time to read than now, and for a traveller, it is imperative to read travelogues and learn from the experiences of fellow globetrotters. If you haven’t yet read books like Tony Horwitz’s ‘Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Hook Has Gone Before’, ‘Bill Bryson’s African Diary’, and Michael Palin’s ‘Pole to Pole’, this probably is the best time to read these inspiring travelogues.
Take an online photography course
Photography and travel go hand in hand. The joy of documenting your experiences as you explore the world is unmatched. Use this free time to take an online course on photography. From Udemy to Skillshare, many online learning websites offer photography courses that will prepare you for your next trip post-quarantine.
Save up for that dream destination
Since you are not travelling right now, this brings an opportunity to save up on those weekend getaways and short trips that you would’ve taken on otherwise, and plan that one big holiday that you’ve always wanted. Save up all the money and keep it ready for your dream destination. I want to go see the Northern Lights once all of this is over, how about you?
Organise your travel photographs and videos
When was the last time you sat down to look at all your old travel pictures and videos? Use this time to not only browse through those old files and relive those amazing memories but also manage and organise your folders chronologically. Take back-ups and delete those repetitive selfies that you took to get one perfect picture atop that hill!
Start your travel blog
How many times have you thought this before? I travel a lot, spend so much money- maybe I should start a travel blog.
Well, now is the time. Decide what medium you want to explore and start working on it. Do you want to set up an Instagram account dedicated to your travel or do you want to start writing about your experiences– go for it!
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We urge all Travel Wanderlust readers across Asia and the world to abide by the social distancing and lockdown measures implemented by your respective authorities. Stay indoors, and if you have to go out, wash your hands every time you come back. We are all in this together, and we hope these hacks will help you get through this difficult time. Stay safe and stay sane!
