Hi ,
FUCK COVID!
Pardon my language, but I have had it!
So when we all thought we'd be able to start living normally and travel the world again, this variant strikes and also infects the people who are already vaccinated. WTF!
No. I am not becoming an anti-vaxer, but I am sick of hearing that this relatively mild form of the COVID virus can make people stop doing the things they love.
No, I am not saying that we should trash the masks and start living like there is no COVID. We still have to do social distancing, and we still have to wear masks. I am OK with that.
It is all the uncertainty with travel that concerns me the most, the over-reaction of countries and the policies that are in place.
I am not sure what should be done, but it seems to be overkill to have tourists quarantine, if they don't even have symptoms.
They could probably travel with any other contagious disease, but we would know about it, because we are not testing for such.
My Finnish client who was supposed to come at the end of January, just cancelled. Perhaps not so much of fear what will happen in Peru (I'll get back to that), but a fear that there may be a lockdown in Finland and that Finnair flights will be canceled.
Fortunately, two Danish clients are still on for the end of January. And for February, the birding in Northern Peru and the Hummingbird watching trip in Ecuador are both confirmed. (I am particularly excited about the Ecuador trip because there are reports of a Banded Ground-Cuckoo coming to a feeder!! Wow! That is a dream bird for me). Still vacancies if you want to join.
I mentioned about the February trips in the last newsletter in case you did not see it.
My family and I are still doing the Disney Cruise to Bahamas for my daughter's 15th birthday, that I also mentioned in that newsletter.
What does all this mean in practice? How are we to protect ourselves not getting COVID while on tour and before flying home? What measures are being taken in Peru and Ecuador?
- Face masks are obligatory in the vehicles and all public places in Peru and Ecuador. This will have to be enforced more now than ever.
- Frequent sterilization of interior of the vehicles.
- Plenty of alcogel and alcohol available.
- Testing of all personnel prior to the trip.
- All indoor public places require that you are fully vaccinated and that you carry double mask.
- In effect we also require that you are fully vaccinated to take part in our trips
- Entering Peru. For the time being only full vaccination and Health declaration. My gut feeling is that PCR or antigen test will be asked for soon, but we shall see.
Entering Ecuador is the same but you also need a PCR test taken less than 72 hours before the departure.
At arrival you will also have to take a fast antigen test.
- To go back to the US for example, you will need to take an antigen test within 24 hours before departure. Results in 1h.
Other countries have different rules so you need to check what is required in your country. Regardless, it is very easy to get both PCR tests and antigen tests in Peru and Ecuador.
Make sure you have a darn good insurance so you are covered if you are unlucky to show positive at either end of the flight and consequently be forced to quarantine.
I know that a lot of people feel that they would not want to take that risk. This I understand!
But why not look at it this way. You can get infected anywhere, even at home and the consequences would be the same. Wouldn't you rather be birding.
While you are birding in the field, the chance of getting infected is less than at the supermarket back home. And on most flights everyone is tested.
Not so much, at the supermarket, you know!
So, if you are OK that the mere being alive comes with a certain amount of risk, you could get yourself mentally prepared to travel again. Just have a little think about it all.
Let me help you. Here are a few points to help you clear your mind.
- If you get infected and have to quarantine, you won't die if you are fully vaccinated and have no other underlying health issues.
- You will not lose money if you have a good insurance.
- You will perhaps be criticized at your work if you are stuck in Peru, but if you argue that you could have gotten infected at home, without symptoms, and come to work like you normally do and then bring COVID to all your coworkers. You could tell them if that was the case, that you are actually doing them a favor. They should thank you for doing the quarantine thing in Peru rather then at home.
- You can still work remotely of course. We all learnt how to do that during the pandemic, right?
- It is likely that quarantine will be reduced to just 5 days soon enough, like in many other countries. If you show negative on day 5 you'd be clear... That's not too bad.
- You only live once! I think that is the key why I started this email with a four letter word. Live the life given to you. Que será, será! Life is too short, not to be birding.
Or if you believe in some sort of re-incarnation, remember that you can not bring your life-list with you. Just sayin!
- Life per se is a risky endeavor. You can get a lot of different diseases, not only COVD - both while traveling and at home. You can get hit by a car, or you can fall on the icy streets in the winter.
- Flight shame vs international birding is a myth. You are not doing the planet a favor by not taking a birding trip.
See my blogpost about flight shame and birding from a couple of years ago and the podcast with James Wolstencroft below.
Will there be a lock down in Peru? Will Peru close its borders?
No No No. It is very unlikely. The Omicron variant is only like a cold for those fully vaccinated, and 80% of the adult population are already vaccinated. There may be additional testing done, for arrivals, and perhaps requirement of showing COVID test apart from being fully vaccinated to enter Peru. There may also be some limited circulation restrictions like a nightly curfew and on Sundays like they did last year.
It did not really affect our birding tours much.
Peru and Ecuador are so much better prepared for this third wave.
Also, many countries have already reached peaks of Omicron and daily numbers are going down. It seems to be a fast passing epidemic.
So free your mind from the fear, give COVID the finger and come and watch some birds with me in Peru and/or Ecuador in January and February. OK?
Africa-Peru-Spain: New Podcast episode with James Wolstencroft
I have published the third episode of the Bucket List Birding podcast a couple of days ago. If you did not see it, you probably
don't subscribe to the podcast in your podcast app yet. DO IT! NOW!
Seriously, with my irregular schedule, and balancing things that need to be done (in order to survive financially) and doing things that are fun (podcast, running, singing), one can never be sure when the next episode comes out. Therefor, subscribe!
You find the pod on practically all podcast platforms
I am happy that over 200 people have listened to the podcast so far.
In the last episode I talked to James Wolstencroft who guides for Wings and Eagle Eye Tours in Tanzania.
It was a very wide-ranging conversation. One of the principal topics we covered, was how the lack of eco-tourism during COVID is affecting conservation and local eco-tourism projects that have brought sustainable development to a lot of people.
The broken system is forcing a lot of people into less sustainable ways of making a living and that is increasing the threat to birds and wildlife. James is collecting testimonials from around the world to publish it widely. It is important for the world to learn the negative effects for conservation that COVID is bringing.
We also talk about Southern Spain and James's trip to Peru (now concluded).
Check out episode 3 of Bucket List Birding where you get your podcasts. Also check the extensive show notes with lots of videos and links on the webpage. Sorry! But it does not seem that Japan will open this year. I am rescheduling for next year again. 100s of Steller's Eagle are waiting
for you!
Regarding other 7 Wonders Birding trips, I shall go through the remainder of the 2022 calendar the rest of this week and the beginning of the next. Do check out the website regardless to get some ideas. And hit me back with a reply to this email, which tours you are thinking of next.
Also remember that we have several new tours in the pipeline, as I have mentioned before. These include Madagascar, Namibia, Serengeti/Ngorongoro Safari, Mongolia Snow Leopards, Papua New Guinea and Mexico with Monarchs and Gray Whale mentioned by Nigel Marven in the first podcast episode. This is the Kolibri News - newsletter. I also produce another newsletter called Bucket List Birding, where I stay on topic and just present news about the 7 Wonders Birding Tours.
I also don't swear in that newsletter!
(This newsletter goes to both lists though, as it contains relevant general Peru COVID info).
Kolibri News tends to be somewhat more frequent and much more personal and emotional. It has a long history. I often included personal ideas, rants, etc in previous editions.
Let me surprise you with things you don't expect from the newsletters of the other birding tour operators.
I want you to read my newsletter, even if you are not planning to do a trip right now or in the near future.
Sometimes I give tips of things I have read or videos I have seen. Or I may give you ideas on diet, marathon training and such.
A bit of personal touch, really!
I am sure that you and everyone reading this newsletter have made some New Years resolution already.
Me?
I haven't really made many this year, but there are few habits I keep on doing - and a one thing that I will try to prioritize more than anything else this year - as it will affect a lot of other important stuff.
What if there was some sort magic pill or remedy one could take to be able to almost become a Superman.
Well there is. I read about it in this book. Check out this quote!
AMAZING BREAKTHROUGH!
Scientists have discovered a revolutionary new treatment that makes you live longer. It enhances your memory and makes you more creative. It makes you look more attractive. It keeps you slim and lowers food cravings. It protects you from cancer and dementia. It wards off colds and the flu. It lowers your risk of heart attacks and stroke, not to mention diabetes. You’ll even feel happier, less depressed, and less anxious. Are you interested?
While it may sound hyperbolic, nothing about this fictitious advertisement would be inaccurate. If it were for a new drug, many people would be disbelieving. Those who were convinced would pay large sums of money for even the smallest dose. Should clinical trials back up the claims, share prices of the pharmaceutical company that invented the drug would skyrocket.
Did you guess it yet?
It is SLEEP! And it is FREE!
The book is Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. The text had a profound impact on me.
It will be a game-changer to apply the strategies of this book
Prioritizing better sleeping habits and better quality sleep, will mean go to bed earlier, drink less or no alcohol at night, don't snack at night, and get up earlier in the morning.
All good things. I will probably also get more things done this way.
And my marathon training will get a boost!
Other habits I am cultivating and plans for 2022.
- Some vegan meals every day and eating less fish and dairy - for the planet and the animals! I think I have not have had fish for about month now. Eggs I've eaten, and some dairy.
After all, it is summer and an ice cream once in a while slips in easily. Meat, I gave up long ago.
About veganism, I think it is a great tool for minimizing the carbon footprint, but I also think habits are well ingrained, and it is not realistic for most people to go cold turkey never eating meat or dairy ever again. What is more realistic is to be mindful about it. One can just limit the consumption. A couple of totally vegan meals per week. Eat chicken or pork instead of beef.
And you don't have be vegan to order a Starbucks Latte with coconut milk instead of ordinary milk. In fact, I have gotten so used to it, so I prefer Coconut milk to ordinary milk when I have milk in my coffee.
- Running - this is who I am today, so it is not really a habit I need to cultivate. I am doing it anyway.
- Chinese lesson everyday. I am using an app called Hello Chinese. I am on a 18 day streak right now.
- Duolingo everyday. I am doing several languages at once here, but the ones I want to advance are German, French and Japanese. I had a streak of over 500 days. I am now on a new streak of 40 days.
- I also have as a goal to read 52 books during 2022. One per week. Last year I did 50 books. Most of the audiobooks I listen to when I am doing my runs, or the dishes.
- I would like to run 3650 km this year - or on average 10 km per day. Last year I got just over 2000 miles - some 3218km and a bit. That is the longest I have ever run in year
- Run at least two marathons. I am waiting to win the ballot to run London Marathon in September. I will know in February.
Also, I have the dream of someday running Comrades Marathon in South Africa - an Ultra Marathon of some 90 kms. It is supposed to be in August, but there is no inscription date set yet.
- Make music recording in the studio again with my band Guran Guran in Sweden in April.
- Continue producing podcasts on a regular basis.
- Continue promoting 7 Wonders Birding and run several tours this year.
You shall be hearing more about these things in due course via my Social Media accounts or in this newsletter.
What are your New Years Resolutions? What will be life changing for you this year?
I have made a new video. The music is a punk version of the Swedish National Anthem with modified lyrics. The English translation of the lyrics can be activated with the settings for captions.
The tune was recorded in 1991.
There is even some footage of me from 1988 when I was singing this song in Stockholm subway.
Now ain't that a throwback! You'll see a much younger me!
I have made the video with the context of Sweden today. Much of the social safety net that was in place in the 80s has been been demolished and privatized (and the private enterprises still get the state subsidies - tax money). It has just become worse of course.
Enjoy!
That's all, folks.
The next newsletter about 7 Wonders Birding Tours program for 2022 will only go to the Bucket List Birding newsletter.
No swearing and no personal revelations. I promise!
Until then!
Saludos!
Gunnar
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Guide/Owner
Kolibri Expeditions
7 Wonders Birding
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