Globe Aware Executive Director Kimberly Haley-Coleman discusses how as a nation Thailand has mitigated the impact of coronavirus with very simple, inexpensive measures, allowing many businesses to stay open.
As of mid May less than 60 deaths and less than 400 confirmed cases exist in this populous nation.
Coronavirus will change your next volunteer vacation because you may be paying less for travel, and there will be more flexibility. Larger gatherings like festivals and concerts will not be at the forefront of many people’s travel plans.
Christopher Elliott
Special to USA TODAY
Henry Perez’ summer vacation will be a little different this year. In addition to packing his swimsuit and camera for an Eastern Caribbean cruise this August, he’s also planning to bring plenty of masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant.
“I will now personally sanitize my whole stateroom,” says Perez, who works for an extermination company in Boston. “The attendants do a good job, but I want that extra layer of security.”
While the number of tourists on Thai beaches have fallen, the number of rare sea turtle has grown!
Largest number of nests of leatherbacks found in two decades as beaches emptied
Reuters
Thailand has discovered the largest number of nests of rare leatherback sea turtles in two decades on beaches bereft of tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic, environmentalists say.
From wild boars strolling through the Israeli city of Haifa to deer venturing into London suburbs, lockdowns are drawing wildlife into many emptied areas.
By McKinley Corbley
Good News Network
Mar 17, 2020
If you have suddenly found yourself confined to your home during the COVID-19 shutdowns, Google has launched an ingenious new service that allows art lovers to get their culture fix from the comfort of their own home.
Google Arts and Culture has partnered with more than 2,500 museums and galleries around the world in order to offer virtual tours and online displays of their collections to internet surfers.
Dear Travelers & GoAbroad Community,
We are still here. Our employees are working from home, but they are still hard at work to help make meaningful travel possible. We have heard from many of you, and know that some of you are still traveling somewhere in the world, some of you are still planning to travel in the future, some of you have postponed your travels, and regrettably some of you have had to cancel your trips. We understand that there are many challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.
A little Irish cheer on this St. Patrick' s Day thanks to some rescue pups and a coffee shop. Enjoy!
By Morgan Smith
March 16, 2020
People
When' s the last time you skipped the long line at a coffee shop and brewed your own cup of joe at home? Or hit snooze to sneak in a few extra minutes of cuddling with your pet before work?
Grounds & Hounds, a California-based coffee company, is encouraging people to do just that.
A light story about a world-traveler and her pet ferret. Enjoy!
Oliver enjoys camping, kayaking, touring national parks and napping (when he’s not stealing pens and socks).
March 13, 2020
By Jen Reeder
Source: TODAY
When paramedic Lauren Smith "impulse-bought" a baby ferret in 2015, she didn' t know much about ferrets. She just knew she wanted a pet and felt it wouldn' t be fair to keep a dog or cat alone in her apartment while she worked 12-hour shifts.
"Somebody mentioned that ferrets sleep 18-20 hours a day, and I was like, " That' s perfect,' " she told TODAY.
Little did she know that while awake, young ferrets are extremely energetic. Her ferret, Oliver, would run straight into the wall or try to dive under the TV stand and miss and hit his head. He also engaged in his natural instinct to burrow.
Grandparents have little in common with their grandchildren, or so it seems. It may just take a shared experience such as a volunteer vacation in Guatemala to brdge the generational gap.
The gap in relating with grandchildren has grown so much wider in the last couple of decades due to the domination of technology in the younger generations. Some grandparents may struggle to relate to the world their grandchildren now live in. Despite this gap in understanding each other, there are still ways to come together, share experiences and make memories that will bring them closer together.
Largley rural with an agricultural economy, the small South Pacific island nation is a happy nation.
By Bill Code
10 February 2020
BBC Travel
One of the happiest places on Earth sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu, a slingshot-shaped country that comprises more than 80 islands nearly 2,000km east of Australia, ranked among the four happiest nations in the world " and the happiest outside of the Americas " according to the Happy Planet Index. The rankings take into account a nation' s wellbeing, life expectancy and inequality levels, along with its ecological footprint.
India has many wonderful, magical travel destinations. Globe Aware offers volunteer vacations in this diverse, culturally-significant country.
By Clinton Moodle
Feb 27, 2020
Source: IOL
The city in southwest India’s coastal Kerala state saw the biggest spike in reviews and ratings on the travel website. And, judging by its many attractions, there' s plenty to keep you occupied.
TripAdvisor revealed why travellers were enticed by this Indian city:
"A blending of several small villages on the southwestern coast created the current incarnation of Kochi (or Cochin), where sunset strolls, sampling fresh fish from seaside vendors and boat rides through the islands just offshore top visitors’ to-do lists.
