Late March 2021, as the second COVID wave starts in India, I find myself traveling from Ahmedabad to Coimbatore. Coimbatore has amazing Summer weather! While Ahmedabad *ahem* becomes a hot desert land, kind of. However, in these times, the weather considerations are secondary. There were a couple of other reasons to travel.

The second wave had hit the northern belt of Delhi, UP and Gujarat (including Ahmedabad) hard. Mumbai was also in shambles. However, not yet the various Southern states like Tamil Nadu (despite election rallying). So it made a lot of sense to leave Ahmedabad with it’s rising cases (and heat) and head to the cooler Coimbatore, where I still have the apartment.

Moreover, I heard that Coimbatore was allowing vaccination for all age groups. Everywhere else in India vaccination was restricted to the older, vulnerable age groups. Thus, once I landed in Coimbatore, I managed to get my COVID vaccine first dose in 1 hour at a free Gov hospital walk-in. No paying money, no cutting lines, no contacts or anything.

Thus,

As the northern COVID situation went totally bizarre – I was in Coimbatore – the cool zone. Though the cases were increasing here in Coimbatore also and I did hear of a few very healthy people dying within days due to the new COVID variant. But now I had the vaccine shot and a more conducive weather to be healthy (& live?).

As it happens, I also got to spend time at the Isha Yoga Center – they had significantly relaxed their entry restrictions at this time. However, when I left 3 weeks later, the restrictions were back on.

Memories of the first lockdown are kindled because the situation was very similar then. Mumbai and other metro cities went for a tizzy, but the situation with Coimbatore was quite good for many months. Except in the last few months where it increased and things became difficult.

One thing I recall fondly is that the summer months in my Coimbatore apartment were very cool! And right after summer, in June, the rains begin and it is like a hill station. It only gets cooler. Summer heat is left far behind. Unlike places like Mumbai and Surat where June , July are muggy / humid and hot months except the few hours when it rains.

Again, this time when I am in Coimbatore, I see remotely, the Northern scene in shambles – oxygen running out, medicine shortage and finally hospitals get completely over-run. My friends in Delhi can’t get their tests done. One time, searching for a bed for someone who needed help, I called 30 hospital numbers, only two places took the call to say, “no oxygen, no bed”.

And finally well known celebs have started dying. Not even the most privileged can be helped (at times). Cannot believe that we have hit such a bad COVID second wave.

And I wonder, why don’t people leave – the privileged ones (like me) – Delhi and those other metro cities / urban areas which feel like such heartbreaking places during these times.

Then I realised that the reason I found the whole shifting thing so easy and natural was due to my digital nomad lifestyle from earlier days. It’s actually very easy for me to pack my day-to-day stuff in a suitcase. And simply move away to another place for a few months. And as it happens, I have many places where I have already stayed for a few months. I know the internet condition, the weather, a bunch of friendly local people and all that. And now in COVID days, I can quickly think back to what kind of healthcare access those places can provide and choose depending on that.

It’s kind of similar to the old days of digital nomad-ing. Except that I need to keep track of the COVID wave in the region and hop as required. And when I choose the next place to stay – I need to keep healthcare facilities & a support system in mind.

Another matter that plays a role in this is that my parents and other close relatives are okay in their situation. Parents have already taken both vaccine shots. And they are living in an ashram township with good people and a hospital. So all is good. This leaves me free to meander (a little). As long as I am not too far to quickly head back.

As I write this blog, I am in Coimbatore – and I am wondering what next? Will the second wave tsunami come to this city also? Has Ahmedabad flattened a little? Should I head back there? Is there any other option?

After all, I have taken my second COVID vaccination dose by now.

I had earlier written about digital nomad-ing during COVID days – where I highlight a couple of points,

• being close to family, in case they catch COVID. Or we catch COVID. So we can help each other, and don’t have to depend on strangers.
• good healthcare facilities is a major matter. This means, avoiding cities that are over-run, but also means we don’t go to some remote area where nothing is available. Because COVID has reached rural India now. And potentially village situations can turn really awry because the locals may not even trust healthcare facilities even if they have access. So how will they go through this phase? Do we want to be in the midst of that?

Thirdly, how do we contribute to this situation? Another point I am pondering on and have written to a few on-ground NGOs.

Fellow traveller Kaushal (@exoticgringo) has taken a month long work sabbatical to simply help with the COVID situation. That’s awesome.

Thus, this is my digital nomad life finding expression during these COVID times. I have so far skipped 2 high COVID transmission regions. And while I waited it out in other (reasonably safe) places, the waves have abated in a few weeks. I can now go back if I want to.

There could be wave after wave, depending on how much this virus mutates. So, do we lockdown or do we nomad thoughtfully? 🙂

Typically “travelling” is considered irresponsible during the pandemic. But we need to consider, moving to a specific different destination with lower COVID impact for a few months v/s staying in stage 2/3 COVID transmission region for months? What makes more sense? Especially, cause this could be a long term situation now.