Fur flies as couple is stranded in Thailand with feline friend
The couple is travelling with their South African born cat, Leah.
South Coasters Nicola and Brendan van der Vyver are currently stranded in Thailand alongside more than 200 other frustrated South Africans who have no idea when they will be able to get home.
The couple is travelling with their 10-year-old South African-born cat named Leah.
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Leah has lived an interesting life thus far.
She has travelled South Africa by car, and then to Thailand by plane, followed by trips by bus, train, car and scooter – in that order.
The seasoned traveller has also enjoyed trips to the busy city of Bangkok and the beautiful beaches of Phuket.
Nicola and Brendan have been working in Thailand for about a year.
Early in March they began to make arrangements for Leah, just in case they needed to get back to South Africa in light of the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus.
Nicola said that since this was not Leah’s first flight and they were aware of the requirements, they took her to the vet for her vaccination.
“Pets need a rabies vaccination 30 days before departure, but not more than a year before,” explained Nicola.
They couple ticked off everything on the list of requirements for Leah, including vaccinations, her microchip with a 10 digit barcode, sterilisation and a crate to fly in cargo as South Africa does not allow pets in the cabin.
Leah needed an import permit from South Africa, which they received on March 26 thanks, said Nicola, to the swift work of Itumeleng Winston Makabanyane – director of the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Nicola said they couldn’t book a ticket until they were 100 percent sure Leah had met all the requirements to travel with them.
As soon as they received the import permit, they desperately began searching for a flight back home.
The first available flight was on April 15, which they immediately booked.
They were delighted when the airline confirmed that Leah would be on the same flight.
But now, Phuket Airport is in lockdown from April 10 to 30, and the couple is stuck in Thailand with Leah, not knowing what the future holds.
Schools in Thailand will only reopen on July 1, so they will have no work for three months.
Nicola explained that the helpful staff at the South African Embassy in Bangkok were trying their best to get them repatriated.
“If we do get the wonderful news that we will be going home, we are just so unbelievably stressed that they won’t allow Leah on the plane. There is no way we’re leaving her behind. No matter how badly we need to get home, that is not an option.”
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