Holiday amidst the pandemic...is it safe?

[Deepak_DS]

Months of lockdown and self isolations with addition of work related stress was driving me nuts and literally draining me out. Covid19 seems here to stay, at least until the vaccines arrive. We all might have made several plans which had to be cancelled with a heavy heart and disappointment. I needed a break badly but where could I go? The cases in Bangalore were rising by day and there was a surge in the whole of South India. Mounting work pressure, financial stress and lack of success was adding up to my frustrations. I had to do something about it before i crumble to these heavyweights.

Then few of my friends were planning a short trip and zeroed in on Goa as it was the only destination which was safe to travel. They managed to convince me and roped me in their plan. We anyways had a long weekend and an upcoming holiday on the occasion of Dushera. Hence the plan was made, travel and hotel bookings were decided and thus started the much awaited holiday trip to my favorite destination - Goa. (PS: Goa is like a second home to me and i have visited the place for 18 times before and this was the 19th trip).

We started on Friday night, got into the bus and before occupying our berths (it was a sleeper bus), we sprayed a surface disinfectant all over, wiped the handles, windows, put our own sheets and avoided contact with other fellow passengers. The journey was overall peaceful except for the bumpy ride in Ghat section just before Karwar. I was literally flung above the berth and narrowly missed hitting my head :P. Anyways we reached Panjim the next day morning around 8 and made our way to Calangute in North Goa which was where we had booked our resort in a hired cab. Again we sprayed the disinfectant in the cab seats before sitting and reached the resort in roughly 20 mins. The resort was just 5 mins walkable distance from the beach and which is why we chose this one. Once inside the resort, we were checked for temperature and other symptoms, were asked to wear mask all the time and they sprayed disinfectants on our luggage before guiding us to our rooms which was already sanitized and safe to occupy.

Thereafter everywhere we went, we ensured to maintain social distancing from the rest of the crowd, always wore masks, carried our own sanitizers and kept to ourselves, while enjoying the sprawling beauty of the sun, sea and sand. We spent 3 days and 2 nights and continued following the Covid rules. Even while enjoying to the core, safety was our first priority. It was sad, the holiday lasted only for couple of days, however I was grateful that I could get this opportunity to take the much deserved and awaited break.

When we arrived back in Bangalore, as soon as we got down the bus, there were a team of BBMP workers who were enforcing the RT PCR test for all passengers. We took it as a blessing and the swab was collected from the nose and throat and were told results to be declared in 24 hours which was not the case. We finally received the result after 72 hours and were informed test was negative.

Lessons learnt: It should be a practice to maintain hygiene and safe practices to be healthy and safe. Had we not followed and abided strictly by these, I am sure the holiday would have been a curse. But here I am, rejuvenated and excited for the new phase...Holiday amidst the pandemic is safe and safety is in your hands!!!

[The Chief Dreamer]

Covid has come to stay like any other virus earlier. But human beings adapt better than most other species to such drastic changes.

Over the next few months, our species will go through several adaptations to ensure that life and living runs smoothly. New Trends are already emerging, new fashions are being seen, new laws are in effect.

Soon, we will find safer norms to travel, to socialize. The Tourism/Travel industry has already suffered in immensity and are researching solutions that will be applicable even if a vaccine is successfully found.

Of course, it becomes essential that we take precautions like how you and your friends have done and keep moving forward.