Shivam H
I am not gonna lie, it is hard to stay optimistic during this trying time. I have been switching between keeping myself busy with this blog and doing absolutely nothing for days on end for the past 2 months now and as the world is starting to move on from this COVID-19 pandemic, however long this might be, it is time for us all to take our lives back into our own hands and start planning for our future travel.
And so, instead of Throwback Thursday, I proposed to you a Throw Forward Thursday, a campaign coiled by Turkish Airlines where we all come together and share where we will be visiting after the pandemic is over, instead of longing for the old days. I’ll start off with my plan:
Beirut
Lebanon is one of the countries I have always wanted to visit for the longest time. I had the opportunity to travel with a Lebanese (shout out to my friend, Moni!) when I was backpacking in Jordan in 2015 and she painted quite a beautiful picture of Beirut and Lebanon for me.
She told me how progressive Beirut is, so much so that the city is considered to be one of the best places for nightlife goers in the Middle East. Combining that with the number of historically significant tourist attractions one can visit in and around Beirut, it is hard not to get excited for a trip to Beirut.
United Kingdom
Depending on the season, I would like to visit the United Kingdom in the Fall and Summer when the international travel ban is lifted in Europe, especially the untouched north where one can go off into the wilderness and go wild camping wherever one wants. Not to mention, the beautiful castles of Edinburgh and the nature of the Lake District which is a place my UK friends often recommend.
Initially, I planned to visit the UK in April 2020 but that trip got thrown out the window real fast when the COVID-19 befall upon us all, but I am still determined to visit the isles again when all of this is over.
Not many know this but I was in London back in my teen years during an exchange program with the school I was attending and the experience had left me with nothing but great memories and I expect nothing less from this future trip I’ll be making again.
East Africa After COVID-19
I know, I know, Africa is a huge continent and since flying there won’t be cheap or easy, I will do what I did with my South America trip, and make the best out of my long flight there. I will be combining several countries into one trip so that I can explore the region thoroughly and cost-effectively.
My East Africa trip will likely begin in Ethiopia and end in South Africa through Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique. I am really looking forward to summiting Kilimanjaro and finally tracking down the elusive leopards, one of the last Big Five animals I have yet to see, in the famous Serengeti National Park.
I also didn’t make it to Cape Town last time I was in South Africa and so I am determined to go there this time and visit some of my good old friends down there. Let’s just say, it is going to be a long trip that can take upward to 6 months of backpacking, a perfect way to let loose after being under lockdown for so long.
What Will The Future Of Travel Look Like
What will the future of travel look like? Only time will tell, but I for one is looking forward to traveling again when all of this is over. It will take some time before people will feel confident to fly again but as we settle into the “new normal”, airlines will surely adapt to the new norm for the safety of their customers.
As some of you may know, being in Asia, the best way to travel anywhere is to go through the Middle East. I have nothing but praise for Middle Eastern Airlines, especially Turkish Airlines, a carrier that I can always rely on even when I am traveling in the most precarious places.
I remember trying to get out of Turkmenistan after I spent all my VISA days in the Turkmen desert, and as you know, Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated and closed countries in the world, and I was able to get out of the country in time thanks to Turkish Airlines, one of the few airlines that fly out of Ashgabat International Airport daily.
To get to Beirut, the first destination on this list, I will likely have to fly via Turkish Airlines, and even though, confidence in flying is at a record low, I am actually quite excited to be flying with them again, especially on their new spacious 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which I have yet to experience.
Let’s help lift each other’s spirits up and share your dream destinations together so that we can all look forward to a future full of hope and adventure.
