Covid-19 feeds child labour in Laos
The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the poverty level of Laotian families and denied the right to education of a growing number of children, pushing them into the arms of those who exploit child labour. Most of them are employed in the fields and farmland by their parents and, in the worst cases, some of the little ones start working before they even go to elementary school.
Injecting pus from a milkmaid
For 200 years vaccines have been developed the same way since 1796 when a patient was injected with pus from the sores of a milkmaid to cure smallpox – until last year in 2020. The past 14 months have been uncertain, rapidly changing and especially in the field of medicine. The COVID-19 vaccines are the […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 12-14
Today is Saturday, the final day of the current week-long NZ lockdown. I have Sunday to go and then leave Monday (day 15). Today is also my day 12 COVID-19 test. This is my 4th test in total. One in Laos on the 18th and 3 in NZ Day 0, 3 and 12. I got […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 11
Today started with a 7.1 earthquake at 2.27am followed by more with another 8.1 at 8.30am. I hadn’t slept well and while I didn’t feel it it is what perhaps woke me. A tsunami warning was issued for numerous areas to evacuate. I was okay in Auckland as were friends and family. Evacuation advice overrides […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 10
Thursday 4 March wow. It’s actually my 11th day today but until the day turns over I guess it’s Day 10 since I started at Day 0. I escaped my room briefly today to take my 7 items of laundry down, my slot was 7.30 to 7.35. Why I \don’t know as it was actually […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 9
I have to think about today as the days are blending into one another. Six books by famed children’s author Dr. Seuss have been pulled from publication by the company that manages the author’s legacy. According to Dr. Seuss Enterprises, titles such as “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 8
I spent some time today listening to music while pottering about. Daft Punk have split and it was announced by them posting an epilogue video. They were so influential in the early 1990s with early house. The best eroa of music!
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 7
The day passed quickly. I heard a rustle at the door, the sound of a brown paper bag and a knock-knock. A delicious roast pork loin came for dinner – perfect.
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 6
When will this be over? Another sleepless night. Went to bed at 11pm feeling tired but then I was wide awake and not comfortable. I had about 203 hours sleep. The nurse knocked at my door “CHECK”, she said. I got out of bed and put some clothes on. “TEST” she shouted again. I put […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 5
I had a terrible sleep, I was wide awake and so got up at 1am and did some work until 6am. I grabbed a few hours kip then. Felt a bit crappy when I rose. The carpark outside seems empty. There are 150 rooms here so would expect to see more people. Maybe it’s to […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 4
The day started with my breakfast pack (a massive service of granola), followed by a nurse taking my temperature with a gun. The phone ran to confirm my menu for tomorrow. With the amount of food, perhaps they think there are two people in my room. I heard the familiar noise of food arriving and […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 3
I woke at 2am and again at 7am. I’m still not sleeping well. I feel a bit down in the evenings, it’s weird being locked up. I did some exercise before eating breakfast, an egg muffin. The NZ Defence Force lady called the phone in my room asking me to come for my day 3 […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 2
I woke at 6am to see tomorrow’s food menu under the door. Enchiladas and Roast Pork Belly are on the menu. My back is sore from not being used to such a soft bed! The Sebel Manukau Hotel is a fine location to be help in Quarantine. The staff are nice, the room is clean […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 1
After feeling to exhausted yesterday it wasn’t until midnight that I got to sleep. This is good though as I get used to the NZ time difference which is 6 hours ahead. It’s day 2 really now isn’t it. I wonder if they call it day 0 so try and make us think we haven’t […]
My COVID Journey: Quarantine-Day 0
I didn’t think I was going to make it out of Laos. I got to the Vientiane airport 3 hours early and after 3 hours I still didn’t have a boarding pass. I was getting anxious. I went to the airport at 7pm with two friends, one has been helping people exit Laos over the […]
My COVID Journey: Prologue
In the future, I may look back on this and remember what is was like to travel during COVID-19. Of course, unless one really had to, you would not choose to travel at such a time. I will summarize my two-week quarantine in New Zealand. In the meantime here is a prologue while I remain […]