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monsoondiaries

🩺NYC ER doc, COVID-19 frontliner
🌎190 countries in 10yrs even as a student➡️doctor
🗺Self-care, ethical reopening & adventure travel amidst COVID

What Wuhan did for Asia, Italy for Europe, and NYC

What Wuhan did for Asia, Italy for Europe, and NYC for the Americas, small pockets of humanity that had tried to contain the worst of the pandemic also became inadvertent lighthouses for the world and warned them of imminent dangers to come.Today on our country’s birthday, those of us in NYC emerging from the trenches now wonder at what has transpired beyond our borders this entire time: we’re getting a sense of déjà vu reading reports of overcrowded ERs, maxed out ICU beds, hospitals put on diversion, systems collapsing, shortage of ventilators, and patients not getting the care they need. Have our efforts been in vain?Lighthouses still serve the purpose of warning approaching ships of danger. NYC tried to do the same for the rest of the country for 3 months. Don’t let us down.===Full blogpost: https://monsoondiaries.com/2020/07/03/maine/Phrase of the month: “pent-up demand.” If one of the side effects of quarantine is overeating, I’m a victim. Thanks for feeding me and breaking my 3 months of intermittent fasting, Portland.Not as many taking strict precautions (face coverings, indoor dining restrictions, physical distancing) here as there were in Rhode Island, but the there was a “certificate of compliance” all travelers had to sign at check-in (I would find out, however, that New Yorkers would be exempt from signing after ME’s gov determined we controlled the virus well enough). But that certificate was on the honor code too...🤷‍♂️#maine #portland #lighthouse #lobster #me #coronavirus #covid19 #love #travel #covidtravel #pandemic #coronavirustravel #coronatravel #covid19travel #monsoondiaries #love #gf #guardiantravelsnaps #trip #roadtrip #wonderful_places #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travels #newengland #livetravelchannel

Batty Batu. Malaysia 🇲🇾 monsoondiaries.com .

Batty Batu. Malaysia 🇲🇾 monsoondiaries.com...............#cave #batucaves #malaysia #spelunking #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

A sunrise at the end of the world. Gunung Bromo, I

A sunrise at the end of the world. Gunung Bromo, Indonesia 🇮🇩 monsoondiaries.com...............#gunungbromo #surabaya #indonesia #moonscape #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #sunriseporn #sunrise #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

A morning in Manila, The Philippines 🇵🇭 mons

A morning in Manila, The Philippines 🇵🇭 monsoondiaries.com...........#manila #thephilippines #philippines #humanity_shots #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

Tarzan finds the Blue Lagoon. Luang Prabang, Laos

Tarzan finds the Blue Lagoon. Luang Prabang, Laos 🇱🇦. monsoondiaries.com...............#luangprabang #nightmarket #nature #laos #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

A sunrise at Borobudur, Indonesia 🇮🇩 monsoon

A sunrise at Borobudur, Indonesia 🇮🇩 monsoondiaries.com...............#borobudur #yogyakarta #indonesia #iamatraveler #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #sunrise #travelbloggerlife #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #jungle #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

“Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not

“Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for.” After 78 days of a lockdown and 100 days since our first confirmed case of COVID-19, NYC begins Phase I of reopening today. What felt like a COVID tornado outside our harbor in April has gone and instead a sun seems to be shining in its place in June. Whatever we’ve been doing is working.Furthermore even amidst a lockdown, 6 weeks have passed since I saw hundreds of picnickers casually gathered en masse in all the parks outside without face coverings in multiple neighborhoods, and 2 weeks since our first protest for #BlackLivesMatter (where nearly everyone wore face coverings and stayed mobile). And if we know that 98% of patients develop symptoms within 11 days of exposure (w/ median time of incubation — or time from exposure to symptoms — being 5 days), there still remains no evidence of a 2nd wave. This correlates with the studies from Wuhan that suggest that if we confine COVID only to the outdoors (air flow dispersing viral spread) or homes (nobody new to infect), and deny it opportunities that a lockdown would bar anyway (eg. public indoor spaces with no air flow that COVID would love to spread in), a virus has nowhere else to go. So whether it’s outdoor picnickers or protestors, whatever we’ve been doing is working.Nevertheless with a Phase I reopening the threat of a COVID tornado may still be around the corner — whether the 2nd wave returns with a pent up demand for indoor public spaces or the notorious annual flu season. But I’ll carry on as I always have been: watch the numbers, work my ERs, take more steps outside that fit within my personal risk tolerance based on those numbers and ER shifts, and be ready to run back towards any tornado when it returns. But evidence is evidence, and right now it’s telling me that actions that would not have been wise amidst tornados in April may now be okay in a sunny day in June (caveat — this is based on NYC data only and may not apply to where you are?). Either way with our harbors clear, you can feel a little safer choosing your next move: Just know whatever we’ve been doing is working. 📸 credit: @kareemblack

Swipe ➡️ for more! These specific species of B

Swipe ➡️ for more! These specific species of Baobab trees are unique only to Madagascar’s ecosystem, where these millennia old trees look like they’ve been uprooted and have been growing upside down ever since. Madagascar 🇲🇬 Looking forward to continue the tree fetish with the unique Dragon Blood trees of Socotra Island in Yemen 🇾🇪 tomorrow!monsoondiaries.com.....#madagascar #baobabs #beautifulnature #visitmadagascar #baobabtree #baobab #sunsets #naturenerd #roamtheearth #sunset #sunsetlover #sunrise #sunrisephotography #monsoondiaries #beautifuldestinations #doyoutravel #bbctravel #travelphotography #instatravel #natgeotravel #doyoutravel #livetravelchannel #wonderful_places #naturephotography #nature #places_wow #travelblogger #travelgram #sunrise_sunsets #wanderlust

“Is it always this empty or is it COVID?” “I

“Is it always this empty or is it COVID?”“It’s always this empty.”Thank you Rhode Island for being the first new, safe bed to sleep in after 3 months sheltering in place in NYC. It’s a great start. How I’ve missed you, travel.Full blogpost: https://monsoondiaries.com/2020/06/30/rhodeisland/Meanwhile back home in NYC, despite continually declining infection rates of COVID-19 to <1% positive and well under the threshold of our circuit breakers, we nevertheless STILL preemptively rolling back our reopening due to what’s happening around the rest of the country outside the northeast (where we’re mainly traveling now). This is what we call “preventive action” and I think we need a little more of that these days. I think I’ll be safe traveling locally and coming back home under these conditions. 🤙#rhodeisland #providence #newport #brownuniversity #ri #coronavirus #covid19 #love #travel #covidtravel #pandemic #coronavirustravel #coronatravel #covid19travel #monsoondiaries #love #gf #guardiantravelsnaps #trip #roadtrip #wonderful_places #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travels #newengland #livetravelchannel

Back in 1970s the Soviets went drilling for gas un

Back in 1970s the Soviets went drilling for gas until the ground here completely collapsed. Initially abandoning it, they returned after 2 shepherds camping out here asphyxiated and died due to the odorless gas emanating from the crater. So they set it on fire thinking it would burn out in a few days. 45 years later and it’s still burning.I waited 5 years for this moment. Worth all the failed attempts and the gargantuan international efforts in getting me off the banned list this one week just to witness this.Darvaza, Turkmenistan 🇹🇲 ____________________________________...............#turkmenistan #darvazagascrater #darvaza #love #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #amazing #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travels

Victoria's Secret happened to make a surprise visi

Victoria's Secret happened to make a surprise visit to Barbuda 🇦🇬: https://monsoondiaries.com/2019/05/17/buns-out-in-barbuda/monsoondiaries.com#beach #antiguaandbarbuda #barbuda #love #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #nature #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory

📸: @kareemblack Stepped outside in the middle o

📸: @kareemblackStepped outside in the middle of my ER shift on Monday, April 13th to take a moment to myself when a passerby (@kareemblack) with a camera happened to be at the right place at the right time.I needed to breathe. I needed to know if I was still alive.A few weeks later and through several degrees of mutual friends, serendipity would have him find me again and send me this photo; a moment which barely encapsulates 8 weeks of COVID-19 related care since my first case in March 8th in Brooklyn. Since then and within 50 days I’ve worked 35 shifts (all 10-12 hours long) across numerous ERs in mostly The Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn (and a few in Manhattan), added 3 new ERs to my roster, met so many supporters, while also losing colleagues, friends, and my grandfather to COVID-19. As patient volumes are now decreasing and I have much fewer shifts needing to be filled, I take pause to reflect on the souls and the innocence we’ve lost. And as bury our dead, tend to the injured, and process all the emotions we had held off during the first surge, we also brace ourselves for the possible next wave. ...And yet even if there would be no next wave, life is life, and there always will be ‘a next wave.’ Whether it’s more COVID-19 patients, the patients that waited too long for care, the rising mental health toll, the livelihoods lost, the next pandemic, or the next disaster, those of us remaining will keep holding the line so we can all see to another tomorrow.Until then, channel gratitude for the precious opportunities you still have and don’t forget to take a moment to yourselves right now. Don’t forget to breathe. Don’t forget to live: All you got is right now. This world doesn’t wait for anyone.#covid #covid19 #covid_19 #coronavirus #hcw #frontlineworkers #frontline #frontliners #healthcare #pandemic2020 #pandemiclife #emergencymedicine #emergency room #er #residencylife #medschoollife #residency #medschool #pandemic #socialdistancing #stayhome #staysafe #stayathome #staythefuckhome #fuckcorona #fuckcovid19 #doctorlife #doctor #doctors #frontlinehealthcareworkers

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other st

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls.” — Anaïs NinInn Tulun Mosque, Cairo, Egypt 🇪🇬 monsoondiaries.com...........#cairo #egypt #ibntulun #sunset #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

Only Duzdag, a massive salt mine-turned-sanitarium

Only Duzdag, a massive salt mine-turned-sanitarium claims to have found the cure for asthma. Spend a few days and you might be inclined to believe it.Duzdag, Nakhchivan — an autonomous exclave and “unrecognized nation” that’s part of the Republic of Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 monsoondiaries.com...............#azerbaijan🇦🇿 #azerbaijan #nakhchivan #duzdag #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #naxcivan #amazing #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travels

Try to keep your eyes on the road.Armenia 🇦🇲. monsoondiaries.com...............#armenia #landscapephotography #landscape #love #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #nature #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory

Secrets of the night.Ha Long Bay, Vietnam 🇻🇳monsoondiaries.com...........#halongbay #vietnam #sunset #iamatraveler #cave #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #caves #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #skyporn #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

Our budget Greenland Cruise spots just dropped in

Our budget Greenland Cruise spots just dropped in price ($900+ discount!) to its lowest ever in history and there are only 12 spots left -- book now to secure yours! (Prices go back up in 3 weeks!) - monsoondiaries.com/headliner-trips/#greenland....................#upcomingtrips #travel #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #saudiarabia #afghanistan #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

Country no. 165 — I conquer the ruins of a Japan

Country no. 165 — I conquer the ruins of a Japanese naval gun on top of the 1st least visited, 1st smallest independent republic. 2nd least populated, and 3rd smallest country in the world: Nauru 🇳🇷. This was the world’s richest country per capita before it became the poorest in a matter of years. Unfortunately it suffers from a devastating mental health crisis unparalleled anywhere else and became notorious for becoming the de-facto dumping ground for Australia’s refugees (although a huge shift just happened this very week) and tax shelter for mafias around the world.Our group of 20 this week increased the country’s visitor rate by 10% alone this year — we sat with Rohingya Muslims who just fled the genocide in Myanmar, walked around an entire country in 4 hours, scoured for remnants of the Japanese Imperial Navy from WW2, ate at nearly every restaurant and drank at every bar in the country, celebrated New Year’s Eve with locals and expats, and generally did our best to unplug as much as possible while getting to interact with a group of people who have been pleasantly surprised that their country would be on anyone’s itinerary.It’s been a surreal, thoughtful, and meaningful 6 days here and it’s only made more real by the knowledge it may very well be many of our first, last, and only time we’d ever visit this country for the rest of our lives. Featured on @thisamerlife in Episode 253 “Middle of Nowhere”, Nauru has been my on my radar for so many years, and now I’m finally here. There is no better way to begin 2019 and I'm not going to have another experience like this in a very long time 🤙. Next up: Kiribati 🇰🇮. https://monsoondiaries.com/2019/01/03/nauru/ 📸: Mikhael Chai.....#nauru #landscapephotography #landscape #love #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #nature #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory

Some miracles do still exist. Batad, The Philippin

Some miracles do still exist. Batad, The Philippines 🇵🇭 monsoondiaries.com...........#batadriceterraces #banauericeterraces #batad #banaue #beautifuldestinations #philippines #instatravel #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

A fire burns in the sky. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam 🇻

A fire burns in the sky.Ha Long Bay, Vietnam 🇻🇳monsoondiaries.com...........#halongbay #vietnam #sunset #iamatraveler #travelbloggerlife #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #skyporn #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

Traveling can be a good workout. Mele Cascades, Va

Traveling can be a good workout. Mele Cascades, Vanuatu 🇻🇺 monsoondiaries.com......#vanuatu #waterfalls #nature #love #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #nature #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory

Yerevan is your land, this land is my land. Armeni

Yerevan is your land, this land is my land. Armenia 🇦🇲.monsoondiaries.com......#armenia #soviet #war #love #yerevan #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #nature #tank #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory

Fire in the sky. Angkor Wat, Cambodia 🇰🇭 mon

Fire in the sky. Angkor Wat, Cambodia 🇰🇭 monsoondiaries.com...........#angkorwat #cambodia #siemreap #sunriseporn #beautifuldestinations #sunrise_sunsets_aroundworld #travelgram #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

Today marks the end of my 4 years of residency, 8

Today marks the end of my 4 years of residency, 8 years of formal medical training, and reaching country no. 159 ever since I first started traveling 8 years ago. I am an attending physician now.I look back with so much gratitude, knowing I could have cut this journey short prematurely too many times. I wasn’t supposed to make this far. But I saw it through, for the biggest risk is to take none at all; or rather "strive to fail" -- If you're not one step away from failure then you might not be doing enough with your life.But many have asked *how*? And so I spent the past month working on this retrospective blogpost that acknowledges my many failures and close calls, while tipping a hat to all those who doubted me. Because I did too -- I lived 8 years unsure about gambling and relying on a counter-intuitive theory/philosophy that nevertheless kept me (and so many others) in this fight: If it weren't for travel I wouldn't have been able to become a doctor, and if it weren't for medicine, I wouldn't have the impetus to travel.Bizarrely, it worked. Paradoxes exist.Therefore, I've also included in this blogpost a simple list of 20 rules and life hacks that hopefully helps you free yourself from these moments of doubt. Although what worked for me might or might not work for you, whatever you take away from this, I just hope you *do it your own way*. Finally, I hope this blogpost serves also to give hope to and inspire those of you who are either thinking of going into medicine, are in the middle of it, or know someone who's pursuing medicine: You are never alone.As my brother told me 8 years ago when I low-keyed once cried to myself on my first day of med school: This tunnel is long, at the end of which is a very very faint light. But there is a light. And today as I'm about to come out of this proverbial tunnel, I look forward to my next journey.Cheers y'all. Thanks for all the support, all the detours, and all the memories. ✌️🤙 #jacobi https://monsoondiaries.com/2018/06/30/how-i-survived-med-school-and-residency-by-visiting-150-countries/

A PSA on what "Plateau'ing" really means for us. (

A PSA on what "Plateau'ing" really means for us. (TLDR: things may seem calmer this week in the ER, but #dontfuckitup and #keepstayingthefuckhome)That things are "better" is a relative statement: You put sugar on poop, it's still poop -- Forgive me if I've developed some trust issues nowadays when people claim any "future projections." 1) "Plateau'ing" means if 100 new patients came in yesterday, another 100 patients comes in today (instead of 100 on day one, 120 on day two, 140 on day three, etc,).Think about that among ERs that were originally built to safely fit 30-40 patients at a time, and that having up to 100 patients a day consecutively could still mean patients can no longer fit inside an ER and go into cardiac arrest in the waiting rooms (which I actually had last weekend)2) It takes about 7-12 days -- and sometimes up to 20 days -- for a COVID-19 patient (who was sick enough to be admitted to the hospital) to eventually recover. That means hospitals can keep getting fuller and fuller, even with a "plateau" of X patients coming to the ER everyday (of which an even higher than average % will still be admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19 being unusually associated with complications/sequelae such as embolic strokes and viral myocarditis)3) What we need is a dip -- not a plateau -- that lasts long enough will allow us enough time to discharge enough patients (aka DECOMPRESS) from the ER and hospital, and accommodate the next wave of patients that come when we all break quarantine (whether it's because we have a false sense of confidence, when the weather gets better, etc.). Otherwise next month patients are not only going to die in the waiting room, but also on the street!4) In other words, a cup pouring out at a steady plateau/rate will eventually run out of liquid, unless we slow the pour (aka a dip of patients coming to the ER) or we add to the cup (aka building new giant hospitals overnight, which still seems unlikely to happen). 5) "You can't pour from an empty cup." 6) #5 This applies to our mental health too -- I worry this is just the beginning: (This post continued below in my comments ⬇️👇🏼)

This is my BBC news clip, aired live Wed June 20,

This is my BBC news clip, aired live Wed June 20, 12:20pm London time. Full segment on my Facebook: facebook.com/calvindsun#news #live #onairnow #onair #bbcnewsday #instatravel #bbc #northkorea #dprk #korea #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #interviewready #liveontv #oncamera #bbcstories #travelbloggerlife #theglobewanderer #yanggakdo #newsstudio #travelblogger #cnn #cnntravel #wanderfolk #iamatraveler #passionpassport #instapassport #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

We walked into a painting. Or another world. Gegha

We walked into a painting. Or another world.Geghard, Armenia 🇦🇲 monsoondiaries.com...............#armenia #geghardmonastery #geghard #love #beautifuldestinations #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #gf #amazing #wonderful_places #trip #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory

Day 3: The Valima. Could you imagine? The Austrian

Day 3: The Valima. Could you imagine? The Austrian Crown Princess and repeat monsooner @zarza_z asked to take a photo with me. Islamabad, Pakistan 🇵🇰 _________________________#pakistan #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #islamabad #fashion #desi #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #humans #wonderful_places #trip #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelstory #kulsoomwedsali #dresses #guardiantravelsnaps #bbctravel #natgeo #natgeotravel #kashmir

As we memorialize today all those that we've lost,

As we memorialize today all those that we've lost, so must we look forward without dishonoring the sacrifices made. The world does not wait.It’s been nearly 2 weeks since I wrote about deciding when it would be prudent to begin heading outside more regularly: It’s not about what we do but how we do it. Because the numbers in my part of NYC have remained low since, I take responsible steps forward for the sake of my own mental health.I also first-handedly can correlate my on-the-ground experience this week in my ERs with what I have gathered from the city’s numbers: A respite has held; with every breath humanity holds in, a catharsis must soon follow.And yet this promise I made to myself a fortnight ago may have been lost in my talk on silent hypoxia so here it is again:Watch the numbers in your area when things start opening up — if overall infection rates stay low after 2-3 weeks (avg time from exposure to symptoms), then that might be a cue to take the next step; keep in mind this “threshold” would differ depending on your risk tolerance, living situation, and life circumstances. And if you do take that step outside, still proceed with caution: Maintain elevated hygiene standards (wash hands with soap & water, cover your mouth, etc.), be aware touching others, keep clear of crowds, and avoid tightly packed interiors with minimal air flow. In other words: look out for the safety of yourself and others. Don't be a dick.However, if infection rates in your area have surged up during or after those 2-3 weeks, then you know you're not yet in the clear, the virus doesn’t care about the weather, and you had a fortnight of a head start with staying inside and safe from exposure.I continue to hold myself accountable: With the % positive for COVID-19 ⬇️ despite an ⬆️ number of testing in NYC (you would instead expect to see more infections with more testing, UNLESS we’re improving the Rø, aka decreasing the virus’ contagiousness), I take a deep breath of my own and take one step out into a new unknown. This is how my life goes on. 📸: Joel Gordon

He’s famous ‘round these parts. Batad, The Phi

He’s famous ‘round these parts. Batad, The Philippines 🇵🇭 monsoondiaries.com...........#batadriceterraces #humanity_shots #batad #closeup #portraitphotography #philippines #instatravel #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #portrait #humans #candid #iamatraveler #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgramm

TLDR PSA (look how serious I am); Get the flu shot

TLDR PSA (look how serious I am); Get the flu shot. While it may not entirely prevent you from catching flu, it’ll still dramatically decrease your chances of accidentally infecting or killing others (like grandma), or dying from flu yourself.Before COVID-19, patients with flu symptoms would overwhelm ERs every year, all infecting one another (and us) in tight indoor spaces. While NYC’s current behavior of ubiquitous face coverings could ironically obviate a bad flu season🤞(calling it!), why take the chance in a year like 2020? We may still expect no different or worse as we now know you can be co-infected with BOTH COVID-19 and FLU at the same time (similar symptoms!). “FLUVID” is real; fail to prepare, prepare to fail.Bottom line: While the flu shot isn’t as good at preventing flu, it is remarkably effective at decreasing the SEVERITY of symptoms and preventing DEATH if or when you get flu. This means while you can still get flu despite a shot, you’ll LESS likely feel so gross that you’d leave home, overwhelm ERs, exchange a greater viral load of COVID-19/flu/countless other hospital diseases, and then infecting your loved ones back home.Worried about a shot ruining your life? Allergic? Egg-free or preservative-free formulations exist or you can arrange to be monitored and treated for potential reactions that are still mild at worst (FYI you have greater chances of winning lotteries, being hit by a car, or dying from the flu than dying from the flu shot itself). So if worried, talk to your PERSONAL doctor (docs on social media DO NOT COUNT, nice try 😉) about your risk tolerance because there are ALWAYS other options if you simply ask for them.As for myself: I’ve timed getting a flu shot every late Sept/early Oct since 2006 either from local pharmacies or at work (and sometimes 2x in a year just because I was too lazy to find the proof of paperwork 😐), and in that time I’ve traveled 190+ countries, graduated college, med school and Emergency Medicine residency, and can do 30+ one-arm pushups on each side. Maybe those flu shots did or didn’t do all that for me but regardless ...must be something good going for me here? #justsayin

Hanoi, Vietnam 🇻🇳. monsoondiaries.com . . .

Hanoi, Vietnam 🇻🇳. monsoondiaries.com...........#hanoi #vietnam #humanity_shots #iamatraveler #travelbloggerlife #instatravel #instapassport #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #closeup #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

“It’s an irritating reality that many places a

“It’s an irritating reality that many places and events defy description. Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu, for instance, seem to demand silence, like a love affair you can never talk about. For a while after you fumble for words, trying vainly to assemble a private narrative, an explanation, a comfortable way to frame where you’ve been and what’s happened. In the end, you’re just happy you were there — with your eyes open — and lived to see it.” — Anthony Bourdain. We will miss you....Batad, The Philippines 🇵🇭 monsoondiaries.com...........#batadriceterraces #banauericeterraces #batad #banaue #beautifuldestinations #philippines #anthonybourdain #mytravelgram #travelgram #travelingram #monsoondiaries #doyoutravel #bbctravel #guardiantravelsnaps #natgeo #natgeotravelpic #lonelyplanet #livetravelchannel #theglobewanderer #natgeolandscape #destinationearth #wonderful_places #earthpix #travelawesome #wanderfolk #places_wow #passionpassport #BPMag #mybudgettravel #huffpostgram

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