Afaranwide

NEWSLETTER 45: March 14, 2020

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Dear , thanks for your interest in the Afaranwide travel blog.

Disney Wasteland

Disney is shutting its theme parks in California, Florida and Paris because of the coronavirus pandemic. This means that, from Monday, all Disney parks around the world will be closed. Hong Kong Disneyland was shuttered on Jan. 26. We swung past the park the other day on our way to a walking trail. We knew it was closed, but it was still a shock to see the deserted site with our own eyes.

It was all rather apocalyptic – the approach to the entrance (above), normally so crowded, was empty, as were the car parks. The resort train (top), which has Mickey Mouse-shaped windows and strap handles, is still running, but had only a couple of passengers.

Art Museum Reopens – Again

There’s better news on another front in Hong Kong as the city's museums – which had also closed because of the virus – reopened on Wednesday. They included our favourite, the Museum of Art (above) which opened its doors in November after a major four-year refurbishment, then promptly shut again two months later. A blockbuster show featuring landscapes by Turner, Constable, David Hockney and others from the UK’s Tate has been extended until April 14. The Artnet website reports that this is because Tate does not want to send couriers to collect the paintings in the current circumstances. The reopening comes as museums in Europe are shutting their doors because of the outbreak. READ MORE

Home Thoughts From Abroad

The 13^th anniversary last week of our move abroad has set Sue thinking about what it means to be an expat, and how it affects attitudes to home. Most expats find themselves thinking about such things at some time. We’re pleased that this post, the latest in our Expat Life strand, has attracted considerable interest. READ MORE

Bamboozled Botanist

We’ve been revisiting some of our earlier posts to finesse the design and add some extra photos, videos and other features. The latest update tells the story of a 19th century botanist who became hooked on bamboo while on a silkworm trip to China, and went on to create a unique garden in the South of France. READ MORE

Keep Up-to-Date, Not Obsessed

We’re six or seven weeks ahead of Europe and the U.S. in getting used to the "new normal" of a world with coronavirus and know how important it is to get the best information possible. Tripadvisor has today launched a resource page which issues up-to-date info on cancelled flights, the spread of the virus, travel bans and so on. It seems thorough, but our advice: don’t get hooked. Get yourself well-informed, then get busy with other stuff. It’s the only way to keep your mind healthy and functioning.

Tempted by Cheap Fares

It’s difficult to find anything funny as the coronavirus crisis gets grimmer by the hour, but the folks at the Bored Panda website have done their best. They’ve gathered together 30 memes aimed at people who are taking advantage of the low fares currently available, including the one above. There’s fierce debate about this subject on Twitter, with many boasting about booking trips, while others say this is irresponsible.

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