Election Day

 I arrived at this famed archipelago of the orient exactly a week ago- however my ingress into this land was not as I had imagined it. While traveling in on Philippine Airlines, seated in a middle seat -which was really bad- surrounded by two young and attractive Filipina ladies- which was not so bad, little did I know that the previous weekend, while in Singapore and eating out with some office colleagues at one of the food courts in Marina Bay Sands- I had unwittingly contracted Covid. I had managed all this time and space, without being a victim of this infernal virus and now- when the virus was showing signs of some sort of attenuation at last, I managed to embrace it with open arms. I developed symptoms, that is to say, had a sore throat, mild fever and extreme fatigue and dizziness- but this had not been different than my yearly dance with the flu-and so I had not panicked. But two more days made things worse and then someone at work tipped me that the person I had dinner with in Singapore the previous Friday night, had now reached Calgary- where she lived, and had tested positive for Covid.  Obviously this put things in a somewhat different light- and my casual nonchalance took a rapid back seat. Next morning I masked up and walked 20 minutes to the nearest health clinic- amidst a massive pink procession (#kakampink)  campaigning for Leni Robredo. In 15 minutes, I got a +ve result- which meant I remained masked and discreetly walked back to my hotel room keeping safe distance from everyone best I could. And then I had to stay there- and here it is that I still am- two more days later. Today, however, is declared a holiday in Philippines so that people may go and cast their vote. For me, it means nothing more than that I get another  day to rest and recover a bit more so I can somewhat function the rest of the week.  I do feel a bit better today- the fever is no more, the weakness has reduced- BUT I am still coughing a lot and the throat sounds absolutely frightful. Yet I can keep my mind together, and garner enough energy today to do my piled up laundry and a bit of cooking. I tried also to read my book ( Currently in the middle of "Hitch-22"- and enjoying it immensely- my kind racy, edgy , intelligent writing.) which I could manage for a bit longer today than previous days. Having done all of that, I resorted to writing-created a new blog dedicated to my Philippines Sojourn- where I hope to lay down all my experiences big or small-as real time as I may have ever done. When I reflect, I should have done the same for Iraq- which I am now looking to populate from memory. However, it was different in Iraq- I had no chance to travel for fear of getting kidnapped by ISIS. I certainly hope the Philippine experience will lend itself to more interesting experiences outside the workplace. Having said that,  there are still interesting observations from Iraq that are well worth penning down. And it is clear that I am not getting any younger as my memory for incidents, which has served me solidly for a long time, is beginning to fail. I have never been a note-taker- partly because I am lazy but mostly because I think I have it all in my head. And then I do a download of the head when I need to. But recently, I find the download speed to be rather medieval- spurring me to write as regularly as I can while here- lest I lose something of interest to the ether.

All I have done thus far is walk around in the area near my hotel, to get a feel of the place. It is a bustling area of Makati. And within Makati , I think the precinct is further narrowed to San Lorenzo. The residence is at the top of one of several Malls in the area- this one is called Glorietta 4. Across from it is Glorietta 5- which houses the flagship Uniqlo in Manila. That is a boon for sure.

On the morning of the day I started developing symptoms, I went out for a walk by trudging along a google-map trail that led to Assads- an Indian/Pakistani grocery store. I did not need anything from here as such- but I had been completely unable to find red lentils in any of the 3 supermarkets I had been to so far. In most places in the world, this is no longer a "foreign" or exotic item. For Bengalis, particularly traveling Bengalis, it forms the mainstay of "bhaate bhaat" - a Bengali congee relished in particular when there is no other Indian food in sight. I had all the other ingredients ready - except the red lentils ( masoor dal). I reached the store to find it closed for Eid. Bummered, I walked back the twenty odd minutes and returned to the room. I was perspiring and it was about then that I started feeling slightly ill- the pre-flu vibe was all too regnant.

Nevertheless, when I later headed out for walk to yet another supermarket- across the road from the hotel ( the place was LOADED with supermarkets), I noticed this was a fancier one. You can always tell- the aisles are cleaner and well arranged, the retail staff well-dressed and the crowds almost non-existent. This was the Waitrose's of Manila, no doubt.  It was afforded the rather jejune title of " the marketplace"- where I think they could have done better. I don't get this type of naming. Reminds me of " The Band"- a group I listened to a bit many years ago. It was a good band all right- but I never understood what drove them to name themselves that. It is as if all the creativity was in the music and none was left to work the name. Ridiculous, if you ask me

At any rate, in one innocuous aisle, I chanced upon a precariously poised sachet of my beloved red lentils. It was expensive as hell. But I cared not. I made the purchase- and was all set for my bhaate bhaat dinner. Would worry about whatever I was coming down with later. And so ended that fateful day. And so I think I will end this equally fateful day- a day of the Election- always a day of hope in democracies. However light one makes of it, I truly feel this day- in any country- remains pregnant perpetually with hope and optimism- however fleeting.

While walking to the Indian Store I did manage to take some snaps of the area- here they are