Traveling during the COVID-19 Epidemic

When Covid-19 started to spread so did the panic. Responses were “It’s ok, it’s just the flu, I don’t have to worry it will be contained, it won’t effect me” Then the virus started to spread to pretty much every country on the planet causing mass hysteria. So what was it like traveling during the COVID-19 Epidemic?

Cheap Flights

One things Millennials were excited about was the cheap flights that all of a sudden became available. You could fly to your dream destination for cheap but there’s a catch. Once people bought their flights usually they were cancelled because that country went on a lockdown.

With that most people didn’t buy travel insurance and ended up out of money. In the beginning it was laughable but soon became a matter of health and security . The more people were traveling the more potential the virus had to spread.

More Room For Activities

I was traveling during the COVID-19 outbreak in the wave before shit got real and hit the fan. When I left things were still relatively calm, the US only had a few cases and they kept telling us that the infection rate was low. I took precautions but still took off on my trip to Bali.

I have never seen the Houston International Terminal THAT empty. It was so eerie and gave me chills. Everyone was spread out and no one sitting close to one another!

My 16.5 hour flight from Houston to Taipei was not a full flight and I got an ENTIRE ROW to myself!! I got to lay down and sleep which was so good!

The airport in Taipei was the same. Empty. The flight to Bali there were maybe 20 people in my cabin. Everyone all spread out with rows to themselves.

Masks and Margaritas

So many people were wearing masks in the airport, on planes, and on the street. Any airport/airline workers were all wearing them and so were the passengers. The news kept saying that they weren’t effective in keeping you healthy but it almost felt weird if you didn’t have one. Almost as if you were more vulnerable which I know is more mental than anything.

They are uncomfortable, you end up messing with them more than you think. It gets really humid in there and fogs your glasses really easily if you don’t wear it just right. I wore them to give my mom piece of mind. Even though I know it wasn’t rational.

Flight Cancelations and Closers

Flights were being cancelled left and right, travelers stranded in countries for days without ways home. This part was a nightmare! Countries were closing boarders daily, news wasn’t reliable, and it was hard to find trustworthy sources.

On Bali I swear it was like a giant game of telephone. I would hear rumors about Bali shutting the boarders on different days, some people worried and in a panic, some were completely ignoring warnings, some not stressed at all.

Stores, restaurants, and hostels were starting to voluntarily close and I started to see that most everything would be shut down and I didn’t know what that would look like to be on lockdown in Indonesia.

Getting Out and Going Home

Bali finally made the decision to close its boarders to new tourists by the weekend which gave tourists one of two choices. To leave or stay.

With everything closing and witnessing the craziness that I was seeing on tv with people fighting over groceries and toilet paper of all things, I didn’t know if that would start to happen even in peaceful Bali.

I made the decision to bite the bullet, buy a plane ticket home, and pray that it wasn’t cancelled.

It took me over a day to get home and the airports were the same. Empty once in Taipei, LAX had zero screenings which was concerning, and Houston was a ghost town.

Self Quarantine

Because I had been traveling during the COVID-19 Epidemic to Indonesia, through various airports and had exposed myself more than my family at home I didn’t want to take any chances. Even though I was feeling fine I didn’t want to take any risk of exposing my family to anything I might be carrying.

I wasn’t living in an apartment because I planned to travel for four months. So I rented a cabin to stay there for a month and self quarantine.

This was the best choice for everyone and it is actually super cozy and comfortable with all the essentials!

This allowed me to have time to reflect on everything, really get some clarity about moving forward, and have time to myself still.

I hope everyone stays safe, stay indoors, stay healthy, and I can’t wait to go out and have a hug and dance party when this is all over.

Cheers,

Sam