It feels like our country is almost back to normal (aka pre-Covid19 crowds), and I’m happy to see businesses recuperating after months of losses. However, this means we have to be extra cautious and be prepared for crowds if we don’t make reservations in advance.
My husband and I used to take advantage of public holidays (and weekends) and go on long trips. It’s the best way to add more days to your trip without worrying about annual leave! Since international travel is still restricted, we decided to spend time out of Klang Valley during the Deepavali holidays. While travelling to Melaka during that period might not have been the best option, it was still a nice getaway! Although many shops had to close its shutters due to the pandemic, it was nice seeing some old favorites still thriving.
Although we’re both fully vaccinated, we still took the necessary precautions. We sanitized our hands, kept our face mask on at ALL times (only removed it when the food arrived), washed our hands thoroughly, and showered whenever we got back to the hotel room (even if we were going out again in a few hours).
I understand that people still have conflicting views about travelling during the pandemic, I respect that! It’s a personal choice. If you are, stay safe and follow the SOPs out there. It’s not difficult (although some people act like it is). If you choose to stay home, that’s fine too! Don’t condemn those who choose to do differently because (almost) everyone is doing their best to stay safe.
Unfortunately, travelling post lockdown is so different. I’m not sure when we’ll be comfortable travelling without all these added precautions but until then, it’s going to be our new “normal”.
It’s up to us to follow the rules.
After more than a year of living with a virus, people still choose to ignore the law. It’s almost second nature to wear a mask properly and check in using MySejahtera. Despite this, I still see people around with masks hanging below their noses. People are still walking into some stores without checking in. Some shops aren’t even checking if customers are fully vaccinated, and that’s frustrating because it should be on them.
My only plea is that everyone should follow the SOPs out there. Restaurants should take the necessary precautions to make sure that customers check-in and have low-risk status. It’s on us to avoid going out if we’re feeling unwell and follow the SOPs.
Google and social media is your best friend
I love visiting new restaurants and touristy spots when I travel. I’ll spend time researching the best places to go and adding them to a list. Although I have a list in mind, I used to show up and wait (depending on the crowd) pre-pandemic. However, I have to add one extra step to this list now.
Check for opening hours and reservations. Trust me, this is crucial. Some shops have closed down, some have changed their operating hours, and many require reservations. Would I have known this without the power of the internet? Probably not. Is it necessary? Yes, yes and yes. It’s a lot more tedious, and it involves more research, messages and calls. However, it allows you to feel more at ease and avoid the crowd. That’s a win!
Will we ever go back to carefree, mask-free travels? Probably not 100%. We have to stay vigilant, wear a mask at all times and do our best to stay safe! Even if you’re fully vaccinated.
Stephanie Aeria is a content writer under Headliner by Newswav, a programme where content creators get to tell their unique stories through articles and at the same time monetize their content within the Newswav app.
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