It’s been 2 years ever since the first lockdown started because of the pandemic. These 2 years were definitely eventful and has caused a major shift in our lifestyle.
The government has made a decision to resume our old lifestyle with the new norms this 1st April and we are so excited about it.
Here are some of the things we miss and can finally start looking forward to when the clock strikes 12 on April 1st.
Hang out at the mamak for extended hours
Many of us are looking forward to mamaks staying open after midnight because that’s when the real fun begins.
After a night of drinks, you go to the nearest mamak and order their teh o ais limau, roti telur and maggi goreng ayam tambah telur.
It’s even more amazing when there is a football game going on at that time. That’s the life!
Tapau supper
We know those midnight cravings hit hard so now that curfew for establishments will be lifted, that means we can go tapau supper in the wee hours of the morning.
Craving for McD nuggets and their ice cream? Just grab the keys and go! If you want to save some money, you can even go to KK mart to buy some frozen wedges to put in the air fryer.
Go overseas without VTL
For many of us, our passports may have expired or may be gathering dust. So it might be a good idea to take it out and renew it if needed so that you can go on your trip overseas that has been delayed for 2 years.
Pro-tip: Before booking your flights etc, confirm if the country’s borders have opened up to Malaysians and check for their local rules and regulations. Covid restrictions are still applicable in many countries!
Roadtrip to Thailand or Singapore
Be it a day trip or a weekend trip, driving overseas to either Thailand or Singapore is something that we haven’t done in a long time.
According to BERNAMA, the two border gates of Sadao (Songkhla province)-Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah) and Wang Prachan (Satun)-Wang Kelian (Perlis) will be reopened to fully vaccinated tourists from April 1 and the SOPs for entering Thailand are as follow:
- Apply online for the “Thailand Pass” at least seven days before travel;
- Book a designated hotel in advance;
- Perform an RT-PCR test on the first day of arrival and a self-antigen test on the fifth day; and
- Buy medical insurance with a minimum coverage of US$20,000.
Read more about it here.
As for Singapore, the border will be opening up on 1 April as well and here are the SOPs if you will be crossing the causeway on private vehicles.
- Have valid travel documents, such as their passports, Vehicle Entry Permits (VEP) and a valid Autopass card (SG’s Touch ‘n’ Go) ;
- Submit digital vaccination certificates in advance to the Vaccination Check Portal on the SafeTravel website; &
- Complete SG Arrival Card within three days before arriving at the Checkpoints.
Here’s a guide to applying for VEP, it’s best to apply beforehand as there will be a processing time.
Even though it might not be as spontaneous as last time, at least we can still go on planned road trips!
This shift to endemicity doesn’t mean that Covid-19 doesn’t exist anymore. At the end of the day, we still need to be vigilant when conducting our daily activities!
What are you looking forward to on 1 April? Let us know in the comments.
Also read: 13 SOPs Malaysians Need to Follow During The Endemic Phase Starting 1 April
