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What began as a journey of spirituality and self discovery while traveling abroad, suddenly had turned into a nightmare. Within 48 hours I went from happily exploring India, to being stranded in the midst of a global pandemic. Something I could have never imagined possible, and certainly was not prepared for. However, I am now in fact grateful for this experience. In this post I will highlight the situation of Covid-19 in India, how it is affecting people here, and my rollercoaster of a ride through it all. I will also discuss how even in the worst situations it is possible to find a positive outlook, and to create a sense of community with people who are much different than you.
I first arrived in India in January 2020. Since then, I completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh for one month and was truly one of the most pivotal and liberating experiences of my life. Allowing me to not only deepen my physical practice, but to learn lessons in which I will carry with me always. Such as to understand the importance of discipline, how to become more aware/present in each moment, and how to lead a life fueled less by one’s ego.
After my yoga teacher training, my lovely friend Gina from Germany spontaneously decided to join me on an amazing three week adventure in India. During this time, we had the best time together as we traveled to various cities. Stopping in: Delhi, Agra, all throughout the state of Rajasthan, with our final stop being in Goa. From here, Gina would soon go back home to Germany.and I would continue traveling to Sri Lanka. Little did I know however, that this would soon all change very quickly.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
While Gina and I were having the times of our lives checking out cultural attractions and landmarks in Rajasthan, things started shifting. Coronavirus had spread across the globe. Progressing at a rapid pace, many countries began to close their borders. It was then, that India finally started to become aware of the severity of the situation. By March 18th, we flew from Udiapur to Goa as planned, shocked by how completely empty airports were. Informed two days later that India was closing its borders on March 22nd; followed shortly after by a nationwide lockdown. Leaving us with a mere 48 hours to plan our future. This news obliterated my future travel plans to Sri Lanka, and had to cancel my flight. Left with the decision if I should go back home to the US or try to wait things out in India. I was completely torn. I then received a notification from my travel insurance, stating that they would help cover the cost of return flights home for members under their political evacuation policy. Therefore, I decided to go home as it was the safest and most logical option for me at the time.
Change of Plans
On the contrary, I soon came to find that the universe had other plans in store for me. As my flight was cancelled the day of. Also, India’s borders were closing the following day, so I was out of time to book another flight home. I then came to the realization that I was in fact stuck in India in the midst of a global pandemic. Something I thought I would never say.
I tried to stay calm as I unpacked my bags and prepared for what lied ahead. I extended my stay at my hostel in Palolem, Goa from the 22nd of March until the April 1st. However, the next day, I was informed that my hostel was “forced” by the government to shut down. Requiring all guests to leave the following morning. Luckily, I was to book a cheap double room in Calangute with three other people.
24 Hours From Hell
The problem was that all public transportation was closed, and Calangute was a two hour car ride away. Out of desperation, we turned to Anoop. A man staying at our hostel for a ride as he had previously rented a car. Which was both a big help as well as a big headache, as this man was crazy. However as they say, “desperate times call for desperate measures”. So there we were: two indian men, a man from Germany, a Romainan woman, and myself stuffed into a tiny car. It was a long, bumpy, and scary ride. Encountering two police road blocks along the way, but we finally made it to Calangute 4 hours later.
Upon arriving, the people who owned the building took one look at our group seeing that there were three foreigners. Immediately declining us accomodation past 1 night as it was a risk. I then remembered I had previously spoken with a manager at a hostel in Calangute. He is a friend of a friend, and offered for me to stay if needed. It also happened to be right down the road, so my friend Vanket and I immediately set out to go talk to him in person . We were told that if we were able to get a medical clearance and got an ok from the police; then maybe we could all stay there.
Feeling hopeful Vanket and I were walking back to our temporary accommodation. We then realized we had not eaten all day. Vanket went into a restaurant to ask for food, but then was thrown out. Arguing with a man about entering private property during the lockdown. Things started getting physical, and then suddenly six other men immediately ran outside and all started ganging up on him. For the first time during all of my travels, it was this moment that I felt complete fear. As I stood there frozen in utter shock of what to do. Luckily, it only lasted a minute or so and Vanket was not severely hurt. We spent the rest of our night filing a report with the police. Obvious to us all that at this point we had hit rock bottom.
Safety At Last
The next morning however, things started to look up. We were soon able to find a hospital and get our medical clearances. The only thing left to do was to convince the hostel to let us all stay there. Although extremely hesitant, they finally allowed us to stay there as they saw how desperate we truly were. Finally after a stressful 24 hours, we were able to relax.
After the initial craziness of lockdown, things for me have been much better. I have everything I can ask for right now: good health, basic necessities, and a safe place to stay. These past six weeks during quarantine have given me much needed time to slow down, practice yoga, meditate, read, spend some time by the beach, and work on my blog. I have also created strong bonds with the other people staying at my hostel, who have become like a second family to me.
In addition, I am extremely fortunate to be located within a “green zone” in Goa, India where there are currently zero active cases of Covid-19. Therefore, Goa is now in a state of relaxation where business, public transportation, and travel within the state are open. This is truly a blessing, as things feel somewhat normal again.
Moving Forward
As for most people, it is still difficult to plan for the future at this time. The lockdown is currently still active and there is a high chance of extension. Countless individuals are facing a horrific reality as they have lost their jobs, are struggling to find food, and/or homeless. I will patiently wait in Goa until lockdown is over and from there make travel plans accordingly.
“Two things define you: Your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything.”
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined being in India during a global pandemic, however it has worked out for the best. The experience opened me up to tons of new cultural attractions. Everything we experience has a purpose behind it, and I truly believe that I am exactly where I need to be in this moment. Things in life will happen that are out of our control, but we always have a choice in how we let it affect us. Therefore, I have decided to keep a positive outlook on my situation, and focus on finding gratitude for the simple things in life. I am hopeful that things in the world will start to get better soon, and look forward to traveling again. Until then I will relish in living slowly, and use this time to focus within.
Namaste! I’m Karlie- a certified educator and yoga instructor. In 2018 I left my hometown in the midwest USA to pursue my dream of exploring the world. Where I first spent a year in Saigon, Vietnam teaching kindergarten. Afterwards, I decided to shift my direction in order to continue traveling full time as I follow my passion for yoga and holistic health. I have created my blog- Exploring Educator to share my experiences while traveling. In addition to discussing topics related to holistic health, conservation, and education. My mission is to live/travel mindfully and to help empower others do the same!
Follow Karlie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlieclark5/
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