First moontrips are always the most difficult even if it was only to Thailand

First moontrips are always the most difficult even if it was only to Thailand! I flew from Cape Town to Bangkok on Aug 20 landing 21 in BKK. The administration to get visas and COE (Certificate of Entry) to your destination country is a nitemare of paperwork, printing, copying, scanning, Emailing, that all countries must insist on to meet the International Covid regulations for entry/ departure. Two Thai ladies in the Thai Embassy in Pretoria were so concerned I wasnt going to meet my deadline to fly that on their normal Thursday off they actually entered on to their website for me all my details for Hotel (you have to apply before you get your Visa, ) Flites (ditto) Addresses in Thailand, Dates of arrival departure, Medical Insurance incl Covid (all 21 pages of the Policy!) Covid Vax forms, Covid Test 3 days before departure. I got all the papers only 4 days before I flew having started the process straight after my 2nd Vaccination on July 28 and I flew Aug 20. Wow what a period of stressful uncer*****y but I made it on to the plane through lengthy customs where you had to have at least 15 different lots of paper to fly. Then I sighed with relief. Its All over ! Oh dear!!!! We land at JNB and have to go through more of the torturous Paperwork where each checkpoint has different papers t wants Have you got them from your piles ! Heck its scary! Then 8hr flite to land in Doha where now its is the Moon. They are all in full spacesuits and leap backwards of you move towards them. Full length boots, Helmets down to the waist, Plastic on top of everything else. And THEY WANT DIFFERENT PAPERS YOU HAVE TO FILL IN…….. Eventually im in one of 6 gigantic waiting areas that are crammed full of passengers at midnite. This is an astonishing sight to realise it is a 24/7 airport incredibly well organised but overwhelming to be there by myself. They call my flite and soon Im on board with a half empty plane this time. Few people are going to Thailand cos of the strict Covid regulations ive yet to encounter. About 8 hrs later we land in Bangkok Airport and go thro echelons or Spacesuiters. At least 3 sets of checks with full new papers to complete after about 30 hrs travel far as I remember. After Im through there is my Hotel cab to meet me . They wont let me ANY CLOSER THAN 100 METRES FROM MY THAI PARTNER WHO HAS BEEN WAITING 3 HRS. We wave in the distance before they whisk me off for over an hours drive to the Hotel. Im led by a spacesuiter treating me as if Ive got leprosy to my room. THERE I MUST REMAIN INSIDE FOR 14 DAYS. Food is brought 3 times a day in plastic bags and i put the empties out afterwards. Twice a day they ask for my temperature with the guage they’ve given me. Every 3 days spacesuit 2 nurses do a covid test all of which have been negative. By now Ive got over what seemed the absurd over caution of all the people throughout the trip. At first hand you start to realise how easy it is to transfer virus from person to person and country to country. And just what incredible organisation is required to keep us travellers safe and free 2 weeks later. Im in my 10th day as I write Aug 29 with 6 days to departure. Its been a journey of immense learning how the world authorities have had to cooperate to restrain Covid. I can only silently offer Apologies to the Airports and hotel for the patience and diligence they have to maintain. Finally I hope this is useful to many wondering about international travel . Do it if you must but ensure youre well prepared to handle not just the stress of the trip but the sheer mental challenges Ive touched on here. Im 84 yrs old and wasn’t sure Id make 85!. But a week later it does prove all the precautions are wise and essential. And ile be a a warm beach in the sun probably by the time you read tis having had the coldest feet of my life while in RSA which isnt about RSA, its about OLD FEET!!!!!! John now in Bangkok. Aug 29 2021,