Hello everyone and greetings from Phuket, Thailand
THAILAND THOUGHTS
Thailand where we have now reopened the country and are ready to welcome international fully vaccinated arrivals without quarantine to our beautiful island.
For all the details check out Phuket Sandbox: Would you, should you, could you?
This month another southern island Koh Samui followed along. There are slightly different arrangements with guests to stay within their arrival hotel for three days before supplying a negative Covid test. This gives freedom to roam the island, after 7 days, visitors can also visit the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
For all the details check out: Welcome back to Thailand via Koh Samui plus
All this as Thailand records the highest Covid numbers and death rates ever recorded and stricter measures have been released across the worst affected Provinces.
There is a plan for more of the country to open and the idea was for Thailand to fully reopen to vaccinated arrivals by October 2021, this is under reconsideration in light of the Delta variant.
UK THOUGHTS
Meanwhile, my family in the UK where there have been over 40,000 Covid cases a day have celebrated Freedom Day, as it was called when all lockdown restrictions were removed. All masks, well there seems to be some backtracking, most masks are off.
Did you see the numbers at the Silverstone British Grand Prix? Where over 140,000 people gathered together to see Lewis Hamilton win (or steal depending on how you viewed that shunt on Copse Corner) the British Grand Prix. Again crowds are exciting, or a worry depending on your view and vaccination status. What do you think? I'm in the we've got to start somewhere camp.
AUSTRALIAN THOUGHTS
Back in Melbourne Australia my daughter with a British Passport and a permanent job transfer was denied travel exemption to leave Australia which meant she was not eligible to receive a vaccine as they are in short supply for her age group. Luckily this has now been resolved...
Across the way, sure as eggs is eggs, the sports-loving nation of Australia had no problems authorising its athlete's permission to travel to compete at the Olympics. Who's enjoying the games? We were looking forward to having something to watch on the TV but unfortunatelty have found zero Olympics on any TV we've seen, even in post hotels!
We were sorry about Ash Barty crashing out of the tennis but glad we watched her Wimbledon Grand Final Win - oh bless go, Ash!
JAPANESE THOUGHTS
I digress back to Japan which I have a real soft spot for as my last big overseas adventure was to the Rugby World Cup in Tokyo in October 2019. We went to see a match that never happened due to Typhoon Hagibis. Thinking about it the world was a bit shaky then...
AMERICAN THOUGHTS
Of course, if you are American and despite your numbers increasing, I'm seeing my beautiful US friends seizing the day and even from Thailand nipping home for a family hug and a vaccine. Or if you are in the Middle East enjoying holidays in Kenya (hello Libby - you Guys are the best at making Covid look easy)
MIDDLE EASTERN FRIENDSHIPS
BACK TO PHUKET
Or you are in Thailand whilst brings me full circle to the lovely American's I'm meeting in Phuket who are pioneers in Thai travel and have been welcomed in our small island and enjoying a brilliant holiday.
If you are planning to come to Phuket check this out: How to find a Phuket Sandbox SHA + Hotel you will love
Loved this island stay here: The carefree days at The Naka Island resort
YOUTUBE: Little Wandering Wren
I have taken the first small steps into the YouTube world and I am trying to grow my followers, so if you have a Youtube account, I'd love you to follow along. If you have time would you check out my video(s) and let me know what you think.
Should I keep going with learning YouTube?
Well, I think that will do for now, this is a bit of a test to see who will find me now I am no longer arriving in your inbox. You can follow along via Blog-lovin' Or even better subscribe to my main Little Wandering Wren blog as long as you don't mind endless photos of gorgeous beaches from here in Thailand.
I hope where ever you are in the world you are having a lovely day.
Bye for now!
Comments
It is good to see places opening, we do need to get back to some kind of normal. It may never be the normal we remember. So many people are refusing to get the vaccine, which is dangerous with this Delta Variant. Your photos of Phuket are beautiful, I would love to visit there some day. Have a great day and week ahead!
LOved each and every photo. I will find your youtube account!
France I believe earlier held onto to the vaccine for their country instead of letting Australia have their share - something like that from my memory.
Countries do have to open up eventually as they all can't stay locked up for a very long time, but time will tell on that.
No Covid cases on this Island for many many days at this point in time, but of course that can change in a flash.
Your video is lovely so keep it up in my opinion.
Take care.
Europe is opening up all over. My daughter who is now living in Germany just flew to Portugal last week, so did my niece from Angola, and my niece from the States will arrive Friday. Then the whole family will go south to the Algarve for a wonderful beach holiday. Sadly I can't join them and who knows when Australia will open up and let us out or let tourists in? So many people still not wanting to be vaccinated. At the clinic where I work a lot of elderly people wanting the Pfizzer instead of the Astra zeneca, not thinking that if we in Perth get a similar outbreak to Sydney they might die before they are eligible for the Pfizzer! Others say "we are not travelling, so it's ok"! Not ok either, as no one else will be allowed to travel in or out if at least 70% aren't vaccinated!! It makes me so mad, grrr. I've just received my second AZ dose today, so ready to go :)
Hope your daughter is able to leave to the UK soon.
I love to see all your beautiful photos of your hotel stays on Instagram. Keep well Wren :)
All the best Jan
I really do think much of the world is reopening far too soon for comfort...the new variants are definitely a large concern. It's a fine balancing act for the governments to try to keep people safe but also to make sure that businesses survive. Luckily I'm happy being a homebody so have no desire to be out in public any more than I absolutely have too. Fully vaccinated but intend to keep wearing masks for a very long time yet. Take care of you!
Enjoyed your lovely photos, as always!
you left me nice December-greetings in my blog - thank you for it! Today I'm here to wish you a wonderful 2022 - hopefully with a Covid-situation which is becoming better and better.
Thailand is a beautiful country, we have been there in 2018, but not in Phuket.
All the best, good luck, joy and health in 2022! 🍀🥂😘
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/01/ein-kurzer-gru-im-neuen-jahr.html
Yoko
Happy MosaicMonday