atomi x lifestyle | the new travel toolkit 2022

Traveling will always be essential for businesses and leisure travellers. And especially for families with bi-cultural-inter-nation marriage. For me, Japan is a natural destination for me, be it for work (atomi is the epitome of Japanese Designs x Comfortable Lifestyle), family (my wife is a Japanese and our kids are Singaporean-Japanese) and personal interest (since graduation, my corporate life has always involved Japan and my first consulting project overseas was in Tokyo, Japan).

That said, many things have changed since Covid19. Global pandemic has resulted in global disruptions, especially travelling. Fast forward two years later, there are early signs of travelling resuming, with countries opening up their borders. Personally, my first trip after the circuit breaker in Singapore was to Japan in Dec 2021.

There are many things to look out for as the ever-changing, fluid and shifting regulations of the Japan Government, with rules changing faster before its enforced. Likewise, the worsening situation in Singapore, incredibly high number of cases even as of now in 21.02.2022, are not going to be convincing for other countries to roll out the carpet for us to visit. The Japan Government has been tightening the rules in late November but my entry visa was approved in October. Despite the fact that I wrote in to verify the validity in late November, I was almost denied entry simply because the rules changed further a couple of days prior to my arrival.?Luckily I was about to apply visa on the spot. The back story was I had taken my departure PCR and received my clearance for flight. The ability to fly after almost 2 years was a touching moment.

Upon arrival, I managed to clear the on-arrival PCR testing (which was another worry as I might have to quarantine at government facilities in the event that I tested positive or someone in the same flight seated nearby got Covid). However, as I strolled over to the foreigner lane as the sole traveller, I was told by the customs that the visa I received in October was not valid anymore because of the changes. But I have anticipated such a possibility with the stacks of printed documentations, including my marriage certification in Singapore & Japan, my wife’s photocopied Japanese passport to prove that I have a family in Japan. Thus, I was able to receive special visa approval on site.?

With two young daughters in Japan without vaccination (cos they are below age of 5, and my senior parents-in-law in the late 70s, and early 80s, I was extremely careful not to bring any virus into Japan. So, despite the visa scare at Narita Airport, I was about to exit the airport within 90 minutes, including the hour long wait for the negative test results. It was ahead of schedule as my designated driver was not even there to pick me up. However, I was able to enjoy the clear blue sky in Narita International Airport.

Here are the 3 pro-tips for those who are considering traveling in the near future to ensure a relatively stress-free experience??

The three pro-tips to ensure a relatively stress-free experience are:?

1. Be very well prepared by bringing along your own ART kits, arranged in advance by making appointments for PCR tests in Singapore and country of visit. Ensure you have printed copies of your vaccination reports (especially those notarised documents with QR codes), PCR test certifications, and extra photocopies of your passport.
2. A good data plan for your mobile phone, with sufficient battery packs to survive the potential long waiting time at the airport, for the on-arrival PCR entry tests and to pull out any potential documentations if necessary.?
3. Do not try to pack a busy schedule. Leave plenty of time for any unexpected situation, especially on the day of arrival and two days prior to departure. Try not to take morning flight as you might need to check into the airport 3 hours in advance instead of the pre-covid era. We need to recode our travelling habits as things are never gonna be the same again.??

Many things have changed during the past two years and we must re-code ourselves as we travel and live with Covid-19 at the same time. First, the business class lounge in Terminal 3 for Singapore Airlines has been renovated, with the buffet lines taken out. In place, the self-ordering system via QR codes. There was also a bartender to prepare drinks for us, instead of the usual self-service. However, given the openness of Singapore, the lounge was still relatively packed, as VTL flights were still allowed (early Dec 2021).?

The moment I stepped into the aircraft, I noticed the flight was extremely empty, with only 4 other fellow passengers in the business class and possibly less than 10 in the economy class, due to the Japan Government's ban on foreigners entering Japan.?

Likewise, on my return flight, I was greeted with empty train, being the only one in the entire Narita Express from Tokyo Station to Narita International Airport. The lounge in Narita had more staffs with less than a handful of passengers using the facilities. Many of the shops in Narita airport were closed permanently, and the only two that were opened, the products noticeably much lessor due to the few international flights a day.?

I could feel that from now on, travelling is going to be changed drastically. It’s no longer like the good old days, whereby I can jet in and out of Japan for a couple of days, for business meetings. In fact, there was once I only stayed for barely 48 hours, with two red-eye flights in-and-out of Japan, only to spend a night in Tokyo to attend a business meeting. This trip, I must spend the first 14+1 days (the day of arrival is not counted as day 1 of the 14 days quarantine requirements) in home quarantine upon arrival, with private car arrangement to send me directly to my Tokyo house. Together with the 7 days SHN in Singapore, I have to spend a good ? of a month at home, along with 5 PCR tests that cost almost a thousand dollars out of my own pocket. Not forgetting the much higher insurance cost in the Covid-era.?

Unless you are on a VTL flights, one got to be prepared for quarantine both ways. And looking at the situation, with a high number of local cases, it’s only fair that we got to quarantine when we go overseas. Maybe the length of the quarantine don't have to be that lengthy or we should get an on-arrival clearance and we are good to go. No matter what, given the nature of Covid19, be it delta, omicron, plus we want to also protect our family, our friends, we must take all the necessary precautions for the greater good of the society.? Travellers are very resilient, and we will do what’s necessary to get onto the plane.

Some of the essentials must have in the hand carry for the travellers include laptop, iPad and all the relevant chargers plus lots of wet wipes, hand sanitiser and several spare masks to last thru the entire flight, from pre-check in to post arrival to your accommodation. A spare PPE is necessary in case you are caught in the airport with many other passengers queuing up for PCR test. Another pro-tip, you got to travel with sufficient clothing just in case something happened and you got to extend your trip.

As always, this is merely my personal view and do not represent the company or any associated institutions. Please drop me a note about?atomi, share your view or recommendations / suggestions, by sending an email to me at [email protected] - #andrewtanatomisingapore