Postcards from the past, dreams for the future
One of my favorite memes posted on Facebook, CTTO (credit to the owner), is of a woman daydreaming of walking down the aisle again and hearing these magical words “This is your Captain speaking…”
Oh, never have I longed to walk down that aisle again, all dressed up and swinging my hair left and right, as much as I do now. I’ve always believed that before you reach the top, you have to go places. And am not talking about the boardrooms, the corridors of power and state dining rooms where you rub elbows with the powers-that-be but places where you can feast your eyes on a carpet of tulips, a wall of snow-dusted mountains, a kingdom of fairy tale castles.
Investing in travel has enriched my mind’s vaults with priceless memories.
According to cntraveler.com, some destinations have taken the first steps toward reopening their cities to travelers with international health insurance an entry requirement. Museums including the Louvre and the Prado have welcomed back visitors, albeit with reduced capacities. Even Disney World has reopened “though some Disney fans aren’t ready to return.”
International travel might also be like a trip on a spaceship in sci-fi movies. According to National Geographic, your face will be your passport.
“Instead of handing over your passport or ticket, you may get your face scanned with a biometric device,” it says. Even with a mask on, your face can still be recognized by the sensor.
But what will truly give most of us wings is a vaccine against COVID-19. Without a vaccine, we will be flying on a prayer.
The Washington Post has reported that Russia announced it would begin using its vaccine in people at high risk for the virus in August, before starting its Phase 3 trial. China has authorized a vaccine for use in members of the military. It said that of all the vaccines, the mumps vaccine took the shortest to develop — four years, from 1954 to 1963.
But who knows? In this age of the internet, Waze, GPS, robotic surgery and Zoom, the vaccine may just surprise us sooner than later.
Till then, we can look back with moist eyes at pictures and postcards from the past, and dream. I asked six personalities of different nationalities, occupations and persuasions, where they would go if it were safe enough to travel again, and here are their answers (which all of them gave in the blink of an eye).
Czech Ambassador Jana Sediva-Treybalova: “Bohol is one of the places that I really enjoyed in the Philippines and would be happy to go back to. This was also one of the places I visited in my first domestic travel in the country in spring 2019. I was delighted by the tasty food and the hospitality of the people I met. The fine white sand of the Alona Beach and the exciting boat trip I took — to be able to walk on the beautiful sandbar of the Virgin Islands is something I look forward to doing again… hopefully soon.”
Al Panlilio, Smart president and CEO and PLDT chief revenue officer: “We as a family would love to go back to Japan. Always a nice place to eat, shop goodies. We love their culture, too.”
Raymond Rodriguez, Lexus Manila president: “Never been to the Holy Land. It always has been one of the places on my bucket list. Together with my wife — we are celebrating our 27th anniversary today — I would like to visit historical places and experience some of the holy sites. Time for reflection and renewal of our faith.”
Harold Geronimo, senior assistant vice president, Megaworld Corp.: “I look forward to return to Amanpulo, where serenity with nature and the beach is incomparable. With all the uncertainties we’ve all faced during the past months of the pandemic, having the ‘me’ time to appreciate God’s abundant graces is all I want to do.”
Cielo Villaluna, Philippine Airlines spokesperson: “On top of my wish list once this pandemic is over is to fly to Bali to experience nature. I look forward to fresh sea air, warm breeze, sand on my feet, long walks and of course, a dip in the blue waters of the island. I’d like to relax, meditate, appreciate the beauty of Mother Nature and pray for total healing of this world. (P.S. Bali is part of PAL’s roster of regional flights.)”
Trish Sotto, Shell retailer: “South Korea! Because it’s a country that has the best of both the old and modern world! A country abundant in God-made and manmade wonders and the food is DIVINE! It also helps that it is the home of my favorite celebrities — Hyun Bin and BTS!”
(You may e-mail me at [email protected]. Follow me on Instagram @joanneraeramirez.)
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