Despite what some may think, I take great pleasure in planning. For work, for travel, for day-to-day dealings and for lifetime goals, I make plans and stick to them. So you can imagine my frustration with Hong Kong’s local social distancing measures and international travel policies seeing constant flip-flops.
I should have known better, because for once in my life I decided to make an impromptu trip.
I made a last-minute call to go back to Europe to attend a wedding to surprise an old mate of mine who — despite having invited me — was not really expecting me to show up.
I diligently took an antibody test, got the result the next morning (which, by the way, showed that my antibody levels are through the roof), booked my return tickets at lunchtime, and flew out that same evening.
I had never been as efficient in my life in anything — besides drinking, of course. I made it to Germany on time for the wedding, surprised my mate, hugged his lovely bride, and over-imbibed on German brews. I felt on top of the world.
That is, until I sobered up two days later to see the Hong Kong government’s announcement on tightened quarantine measures for inbound travellers.
This means instead of seven days at a quarantine hotel, I now have to do three weeks. That is certainly depressing but doable, if not for a slight hiccup — all the quarantine hotels in Hong Kong got rapidly booked up while I was still in my drunken stupor. And without that three-week hotel booking, I cannot board my flight back home.
So, dear readers, here I am, stuck in Germany for the moment, unable to return to Tai Tai in Hong Kong. But I’m trying to find some silver linings amid my predicament. I’m writing this from a little brewery in Germany, a pint in hand. I can think of worse places to be stuck in.