As the world continues battling massive outbreaks and new COVID 19 waves, Vietnam has had its first real struggle on containing the disease.  They have put up an enormous fight to keep the numbers low, but it has been challenging, sending most parts of the country into total lockdown.

Sigh, thanks to the new lockdown rules, I was forced to cancel our upcoming social distance holiday.  What do I mean by a social distance holiday? I rented a private villa with a private pool situated on the riverfront for hubby to fish away from others.  We planned to take our food and drink, ensuring we did not have to go near other people or leave the villa for the duration of our stay.  I even booked a private car from our ‘Eco Bubble’ where we haven’t had a Covid case.  It seemed like a responsible holiday plan.  Anyway, now we can’t travel between provinces and districts, resulting in another holiday cancellation. I am going to call it #covidholidaycancellationisthenewnorm.  No point fighting it. All we need to do is buckle down and wait it out patiently.

I can’t say life has been any more interesting when we weren’t in total lockdown. Daily life has remained irritatingly dull and tedious, but at least comfortably safe in our little ‘Eco Bubble’ since the start of the pandemic. We always had the option to venture out if and when we chose. This new wave has been very different in that we are forced to stay indoors.  Unfortunately, this time we can’t go anywhere due to stringent rules, blockades, permit paper requirements, and negative covid tests that make it virtually impossible to move between towns, cities and provinces.

Usually, I would rely on online shopping to acquire everything I could not source in my 1km radius. Quick instant online order and prompt delivery from Hanoi was undoubtedly a fast, efficient and painless way to shop. This option certainly made my life easier, having everything at my fingertips.  It seems pointless driving around to the different shops and malls. If I can order online within a second, saving time and energy not having to rush between shops. Unfortunately, this time I can’t order anything due to the blockades, making it virtually impossible for the delivery companies to enter Eco Park.

Now, with nothing to do, I have to wait for my vaccine patiently. You can agree or agree to disagree and have your opinion on the jab, and perhaps the pandemic is a hoax or a conspiracy theory. Still, whatever you believe it is, Covid is not going anywhere.  I can only hope the majority of the community complies and accepts the injection for the world to finally reach herd immunity and grasp back the lives we seem to have lost, no matter where we are in the world.  Everyone is still feeling the effects and frustrations.   I have placed my name on the waiting list, but it just doesn’t seem like I’m any closer to getting my injection.  I guess I have a fairytale notion of what worldwide vaccination could mean for all of us. I hope it would mean we can finally be free again? Free to travel any which way, free to walk in the fresh air maskless, and freedom to have our lives return to normal. I know it seems like an unattainable dream at the moment, as many people are refusing the vaccine. It is a silly idea believing a vaccine could eventually lead us back to our beloved way of life!

I guess only time will tell how long it will take to reach normality. Perhaps we must accept and ultimately evolve and embrace the new normal with all the restrictions, partial or complete lockdowns that intermittently happen during the new #covid-19era for a few more years.

Stay safe, till next time, take care!