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Mithun Divakaran

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Kata Karon beaches viewpoint Phuket Thailand

Planning a post-COVID vacation in Thailand

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jul 13, 2021
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Thailand, Travel

As news broke about the ‘Phuket Sandbox‘ experiment starting in July, I couldn’t help but be envious of the privileged few who could fly into the famous Thai island for a vacation. Sure, right now, there’s a quarantine process to follow but if the experiment proves to be successful, the authorities could loosen up the quarantine requirements and open up more destinations in the country (Koh Samui is next) based on increased vaccination coverage and declining cases in each province or island.

Being holed up indoors for what is now going to be two years, with more time spent in front of a laptop than looking away from a screen, I sure could use a Thailand vacation! Not that I wasn’t glad to be with my parents during a crisis, but for someone who enjoys exploring new destinations, trying out new experiences, tasting different kinds of foods… home isn’t where the heart was after having gone through lockdown after lockdown. I wanted to get out there again!

#AmazingThailand

I missed being in cities like Bangkok, which offered the world on your platter, from amazing street food to every international cuisine you could think of.

Fried seafood street vendor Chiang Mai Thailand — From all the deep fried goodies at night market stalls

Tom Yum Goong Bangkok — To sipping on piping hot Tom Yung Goong (one of my favourites!)

Thai Airways flight TG325 inflight chicken meal — Heck, I even miss Thai Airways’ in-flight meals! 🙁

Its amazing night markets… from discovering hip new stores selling fashionable clothing at Chatuchak weekend market…

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Procedure for getting COVID-19 vaccination at Aster MIMS Kannur

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jun 10, 2021
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Blah

Date: 8 June 2021

After trying for over month to get a vaccination slot under the 18-44 age group, I finally managed to get a slot for a paid vaccination at Aster MIMS hospital (I got Covishield which is the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine). The previous day, I kept checking on the CoWIN website at various intervals throughout the day but found checking post-9pm to work best for Aster MIMS’ slot update.

I didn’t really want to pay Rs. 950 for vaccination nor drive all the way to Chala where the hospital was located but the only other options available for 18 and older in Kannur city were at a few government hospitals, and they wouldn’t display availability everyday. Even if they did, the slots would get filled in seconds — making it very difficult to book anything. My cousin who did manage to get a free jab at one such government hospital said checking CoWIN around 3pm-ish worked for him for government hospitals.

None the less, upon successfully getting myself a slot for 3pm to 4pm at Aster MIMS, I got my appointment slip in PDF format. I saved it to my phone as you need to show the four digit ‘secret code’ in the slip at the vaccination center.

Covid vaccination appointment slip — This is what the CoWIN appointment slip looks like. Staff will ask for the secret code that’s unique to your registered profile.

I entered the hospital via the main entrance where the security guards were and they told me parking spaces in front of the hospital was full and that I would have to park all the way in the back. But I saw the security staff handing out numbered tokens. So I got the token first before going to find a parking spot.

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Vietnam: Po Shanu Cham Towers, Hindu temple near Mui Ne

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jun 06, 2021
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Travel, Vietnam

Date: 28 October 2019

I arrived in the coastal town of Mui Ne in the afternoon. Mui Ne is located just outside Phan Thiết city. It’s a sleepy little resort town but Mui Ne is getting more popular on the Vietnam tourism trail, largely thanks to its unique attractions. I had booked a tour to see the sand dunes tomorrow but today, before the sun set, I decided to make the most of my time and visit a the Po Shanu Cham Towers.

I hailed a Grab bike taxi and negotiated with the driver, who agreed to take me there, wait and drive me back to Mui Ne for 70,000 VND (₹220/$3/€2.5).

Mui Ne highway sunset Vietnam — I sat on the back of the bike and did my best to photograph and take videos as we drove

Mui Ne beach sunset drive Vietnam — This looked like a nice spot and I decided to stop by on the way back

Mui Ne drive highway Vietnam — We were on what looked like a brand new highway

Property development Mui Ne Vietnam — A lot of new property developments coming up in Mui Ne

It really looks like Mui Ne only recently developed as a major tourism destination. I saw a lot of construction activity in Mui Ne along the coastline — new hotels, resorts, and housing projects.

The ride to Ba Nai Hill, where the Cham towers are situated, took less than 15 minutes. Once we arrived, I had to pay for parking.

Champa Po Sah Inu tickets Mui Ne — Entry tickets cost 15,000 VND (₹45/$0.65/€0.50). Timings are from 6:45am to 5:30pm.

Champa temple Po Sah Inu Vietnam — A map at the entrance

There are three towers still standing and the place is also referred to as the Champa temple complex because the towers house symbols of Hinduism — Yoni & Lingam in one, a Nandi bull statue in another, and Agni (fire god) in the third.

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