Travel bubbles - 3

Days 4-18

Thursday 2nd July - Tuesday 14th July

Quarantine Days

Ammu

Wow that took a long time! There were lines to get on the bus to Expo, and then another line for testing! OMG! I was super hungry, tired and sleepy and I’m sure Ichu was too. At Expo, there were a few big screens showing how to collect the sample. You had to make a ‘kruaaaw’ sound with your throat and collect saliva in your mouth first and then spit it into a tube through a paper funnel. I started getting a bit nervous as we got to the head of the line. Would I be able to do this correctly? What if I mess up? What if I test positive because I mess up? Will they take me away to some different place away from Amma Acha and Ichu? Thankfully Amma and I went to the same cubicle and she helped me. I learned that the results won’t be available until tomorrow so all there was left to do was to go to the quarantine center. Finally!

There was a long drive to get to the quarantine center and then yet another long line once we got there. Seriously? It was around 4AM when we got our rooms. I don’t remember staying awake this late. What a day! The rooms were quite small and bare except for the three beds, a couple of tables and chairs and a tiny TV. And it was H O T. There was no AC and only a small fan for the four of us. I thought wow, is this where we will spend the next two weeks, and that too with Ichu? She is not going to like this! 

Things were a bit crazy the first two days. We were still tired from the long trip and getting used to staying inside the tiny room all day and waiting for our food boxes to be delivered to our rooms. And the temperature checks in the mornings and evenings. And the doorbell ringing every now and then with people bringing food, water, toiletries, fruits, masks and even pampers for Ichu! Felt like we were living in a bad hotel where everything is room service and you can’t even go out! 

But then we started getting used to it a little bit. Before I knew it, it was day 4 or 5 already! Amma made a bit of a routine for us and that somehow made the days seem to go by a bit faster. We would get up and check our temperatures and have breakfast by around 9 and then feed Ichu by showing her favorite cartoons on YouTube, Acha and I would play for a while with Ichu and then it would be her nap time during which Amma would take rest Acha would do some exercise and I would watch something on Netflix on my laptop. Thank goodness for Netflix! Lunch boxes arrived usually around 12:30 and by the time we finished lunch Ichu would have woken up and then it’s feeding time again! We would all rest for a while until it’s time to check our temperatures again around 4. After that,  around 5, I would make tea for Amma and Acha and then it was play time again! We all took showers around 7 and by then voila! the dinner boxes would have arrived! After dinner is Ichu feeding time again and then family movie on Netflix or YouTube. We went to bed late around 10:30. Hmm, this is turning out like a vacation. Just that everything happens within a room. 

Amma

So far, so good! Jittery, but good. All of us tested negative upon arrival. The relief was palpable but short lived, after news came in about 8 positive cases in our flight. Among them, a lady who sat across the aisle from Ammu on the final leg, 4 hours from KL to HK! Nothing much to do except hope that the masks and the hand sanitizers did their job. Ammu was careful, we were all careful and whatever comes next we face together. We felt good, healthy and we all tested negative. So far, so good! 

It took us a couple of days to fall into some kind of a routine and stop worrying all the time about the virus and frustrated about being confined to this modest and meager room. Surprisingly, the kids adapted to the cramped space much better than I had thought. For the first few days, Ichu kept bringing her shoes to Acha asking him to help her put them on so she could go ‘bubbye’. But very soon she realized there won’t be any ‘bubbye’. Poor thing, she must have started thinking that this would be life from now on! 

It helped a great deal that we could talk to our friends who went through quarantine before us. That gave us a sense of what to expect and prepared us for the ups and downs throughout the two weeks. It was no doubt an emotional roller coaster, one that could have taken a much bigger toll on us was it not for the support we received. I hope I can pay it forward somehow. 

As we got closer to the end of week 2, once forgotten apprehensions and misgivings roared back. What is this strange dryness and itchiness in my throat? Why was Ammu’s temperature above 37 degrees this afternoon? I heard her cough last night in her sleep a couple of times. Was it the juice she drank after dinner? Or something else? Could we all be asymptomatic carriers? What if the 12th day test came back positive? We almost lost it when an entire family of four tested positive after their second test, a day before we were due to take ours. Can this get any worse?

Acha

Pure, unabated joy. And a huge wave of relief. I almost wanted to hug the lady, dressed in full PPE kit, when she handed over our COVID 19 negative certificates. Amma and Ammu were happy to finally go home. Ichu was happy that we were all dancing around her. I was ecstatic, almost like in a trance. 

We will likely never forget the last 17 days. It was a crash course in endurance, something we had to ride out hour by hour, day by day. And we prevailed! Cliche goes what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Amen! I will drink to that. More challenges lie ahead, cases are on the rise here in Hong Kong as well, the last week saw a steady rise in local and untraced cases. We are probably going back to the very scenario that we ran away from, back in January. But that’s for another day. 

Was it worth it? Air travel during this wretched time, with kids one too young to even wear a mask? What could have gone wrong wins by an overwhelming margin against what went right on this trip. In the end, we can count ourselves extremely lucky to have come out of this relatively unscathed. At least we are home now. It just feels right.

Travel bubbles - 2

Days 2 - 3

Tuesday 30th of Jun

Wednesday 1st of Jul

Ammu

This trip was super weird. I’d never seen anyone traveling in medical suits before and on this trip, most of them were covered in what seemed to me like plastic raincoats. Apparently they are called PPE kits. I wonder how they go pee pee wearing all that! Ha! I’m happy now that I can just go with a mask. And what’s with the long lines? Acha told me that there would be a lot of wait times and forms to fill up due to the travel restrictions, but he didn’t say the lines would be this long! Ugh! 

One thing I did enjoy was the stay at Kuala Lumpur airport. The transit hotel room had an amazing view of parked airplanes right outside our window! Wow, so cool! We ordered a lot of food for dinner. I was super hungry. I heard Acha say that the beef burger he ate was the best ever. I’m sure he was super hungry too! But it was good to see him relax a bit and play with Ichu. He seemed so tense throughout the flight. 

This is definitely the most times I have had to clean my hands in a single day. I must have finished half a bottle of sanitizer myself on the flight! And Ichu of course was touching everything so it was my job to help Amma keep her hands clean as well. Thankfully she slept a lot and I was able to watch movies until we landed in Hong Kong. Amma let me watch as much as I wanted. Woohoo! 

More lines! As we stood in the first long line after landing, I was thinking about the Anniversary gift I made for Acha & Amma. Tomorrow is their 14th anniversary and our first day in quarantine! But I do have a surprise for them, I just hope they like it! When will this line end though? Amma said there will be more lines after this, first immigration and then another one to go to expo for testing and then to submit the sample too. Fingers crossed we don’t test positive! 

Amma

We made it to Hong Kong! The last leg has been brutal though. We landed around 9:50 PM and are still waiting in the immigration line close to midnight. It will be at least 3, maybe even 4 AM  by the time we get into the room at the quarantine center based on the recounts from previous travelers. Poor kids, they've had one long day. So far so good though, I was worried that Ichu might run a temperature by the time we reached here, but she seemed to be doing fine! The transit pit stops really helped her. 

The arrival process was quite organized, a far cry from the check in and emigration chaos we went through in the past couple of days. I was impressed by the sheer number of workers from health, airport, police, security etc. that were around. We arrived in the same area of the terminal that we took off from back in January. Just that the entire place has been converted into a receiving area where health officials were performing temperature checks. going through documents, self declarations etc. I guess this is where we would get our quarantine instructions as well. 

The line was moving super slow. Ammu was entertaining Ichu and all of a sudden there was nothing else to do except wait for our turn. As the mind started easing a bit, after all we are here now, a menacing thought that was muzzled for a while slowly and irritatingly resurfaced. Could we have gotten infected on the way? What if we test positive? 

We’ve been as careful as practically possible on the flights. PPE kits and gloves were out of the question because of Ichu, but our masks were on throughout and we also had the face shields that the airlines provided in the first two legs. Super uncomfortable and difficult to manage especially with Ichu around. We also did a thorough wipe down of our seats, arm rests, tray tables, screens, seat belts whatnot whenever we sat down. And not to mention the frequent hand sanitizing. One more time and my bones might just start showing! 

What was a bit worrying though is the relatively careless attitude of some fellow travelers. What is the point of a PPE kit if you wear your mask around the chin or on the neck? And even if you wear it right, what good is it if you keep touching the outside of the mask often with your hands? Moreover, the lack of any social distancing during boarding, luggage storage and exit was definitely distressing too. I felt that the crew could have done a much better job at this. So yes, there is a bit of a risk, I guess we knew this all throughout as we planned the trip, but it’s all real now. I hope Acha doesn’t freak out.

Acha

This is by far the most nerve racking travel ever. And we’ve been on three flights in three days. Stress levels have been insanely high each time we boarded, compounded by people that displayed absolutely no concern for social distancing or the safety of others. The feeling that the decision to travel may have put the entire family at risk kept coming back incessantly. But I knew that the moment we boarded the first flight was the point of no return. From then on, it was just a matter of being alert, staying positive and hoping to not test positive! So far, the virus is calling the shots. 

The past few months have been extraordinary. The time spent back home was invaluable, both in terms of memories made and perspectives gained. Perspectives on lifestyles, needs & wants, relationships, responsibilities, priorities, the list goes on. Leaving has been tougher than ever, and some lingering emotion, could be helplessness or ambivalence or even a hint of guilt, made it even more arduous. It’s difficult, not knowing when this ordeal will end but until it doesn’t, life has to go on. For everyone. 

Hindsight is a beautiful thing. But sometimes you just need to trust your choices. Something that I read this week makes perfect sense for what is needed now - serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference!

Travel bubbles - 1

Day 1:

Monday, 29th of Jun

Ammu

As we started to pack our bags into the trunk of the Anna Taxi, something felt off. Different. Maybe I was stressing a bit too much about the trip. Maybe it was Achan’s visible stress rubbing off me. But I was definitely excited about going back to Hong Kong after all these days. I missed my room, my school, my friends and the yummy salmon from Frites! Corona or no Corona, I wanted to get back fast.

Ichu was excited too. Like me, she has been stuck inside the house for many days now. And she loves to go bye-bye! She even said “bubbye” to everyone as we got into the car. Sho shweet!

I noticed that Achacha and Ammamma were sad. We spent a lot of time this time with them and they were getting used to Ichu and me being at home all the time. I’m sure they will feel quite sad after we leave. I wonder when we will see them next. I heard Acha and Amma say that it will not be very safe to travel for a while due to the virus. I just hope we can come back sometime and stay with them again! 

As we drove to the airport, I was thinking about the rainbows we saw on our way back from Kozhikode the other day. That was the first time I saw three rainbows one after the other. And one was even a double rainbow! How come I’ve never seen such a beautiful rainbow in Hong Kong? 

The mask was bothering me. I didn’t like it, I didn’t want to wear it and it fogged up my glasses. Ugh! And it definitely doesn’t go with my outfit either. I mean, what’s the point of wearing lip balm if no one’s gonna notice it? Duh! But these days I don’t see anyone without a mask, which is just sad. Poor Ichu though, she’s too small to wear one. She would just tear it off or play with it all the time. I just hope she doesn’t touch anywhere dirty and then touches her mouth. Amma said it was my job to watch her too! She thinks Ichu will listen to me. Right!!

Amma

This is happening! Living out of a suitcase for five months without an end in sight had started to take its toll on us. I think we all just want to get back home, our home, in Hong Kong as soon as possible, given everything that’s going on. There’s definitely an element of risk involved with travel but given there is no indication of when things would get back to normal, some risk is worth taking. We just need to be super careful on the flight. I think we are already very careful. Just worried about Acha though, he has been quite stressed about the whole thing. And I hope he stops stressing.

Ammu is really excited, I can sense it. She loves Hong Kong as much as I do. She has her space, her friends and her activities there and while she’s enjoyed her time in Kerala, she’s been missing Hong Kong quite a bit. And I’m not very worried about her, she knows she has to be careful and understands the risks. Only thing is she can be careless at times, especially when distracted. I’ll have to keep a close eye.

I’m worried about Ichu and Acha. Ichu can get quite restless on the flight and it’s gonna be quite a task to keep her hands clean always. She has immensely enjoyed her time with both grand parents and this extended stay has helped a lot in her development too. Just hope she eats well and not have stomach issues like yesterday. Can’t wait to see her run around in the play area next to our apartment!

Acha as usual is the most stressed about the virus and the chances of catching the infection. He has probably gone through the pros and cons a thousand times in his mind already and imagined everything that could possibly go wrong! But I know he’s just about had it too, with the terrible network connections and this forced sedentary lifestyle. The lack of any physical exercise has been bothering him quite a bit. I saw it every time his Taikoo friends posted a hiking picture or a badminton court reservation. But his health anxiety is going to be a constant issue throughout the trip. Will need to somehow keep it in check.

I saw Amma fighting back tears through a smile as Ichu said ‘bubbye’. I do feel for her, she’s going to miss the little ones terribly. The constant cackles and playful noises, nonstop jingling from Ichu’s anklets and the fun during feeding time are all going to be missed. With no distractions and no end to the stay at home orders, it’s going to be tough for her for a while. But I’m super happy that we got to spend some quality time with them. Wonder when we can come back. 

Acha

These N95 masks are impossible. How do people breathe in this? And it’s definitely bruising my nose as well. Darn, I’m gonna have to get used to this fast. Why didn’t I think of trying at least one on in the past week? 

This is a risky trip. No doubt. As we got to the airport, I could feel my heart rate picking up. The deserted terminals, heightened security, travelers in PPE kits all adding to the anxiety. There are just way too many unknowns and I just hate that. I wonder how Amma can stay so calm!

What a year it has been. A lovely first birthday for Ichu, an incredible couple of months at work and then this virus that just turned the world on its head. True that there were positives during the lockdown. Good memories were made. We spent a lot of time together as a family and it was a blessing in disguise for both grand parents and kids. Ichu really hit the lottery. She has been pampered to the hilt, her every move cheered and every step encouraged.

How did it get to this point where we’re ready to take this risk and leave the relatively safer confines of home? The head starts spinning as I think about everything that unfolded in the last 6 months. One thing’s clear, we need to get back to our home in Hong Kong to have some semblance of normalcy return to our lives, lives interrupted so badly. Even if it’s a new normal. Or whatever you wanna call it. I hope we’re not rushing it.

inbox-2-blog part-17

Not guilty!

A guy, sitting outside his home about to be evicted from his house, was contemplating how the future would be after he had divorced his wife, lost his children and lost his job.

He notices a crate of empty beer bottles and walks up to it. He takes out an empty bottle , smashing it into the concrete wall swearing, "You are the reason I don' t have a wife", second bottle, "You are the reason I don't have my children", third bottle "You are the reason I lost my job".

He notices the fourth bottle is sealed and still full of beer. He takes the bottle, puts it aside and says....

"Stand aside my dear friend, I know you were Not Involved...."

Status Quo

With each passing day, my confidence in you is dwindling. It does not take a lot to unsettle me within, but this - this has gone just too far. And while my mind wanders uselessly, staring into the stupid monitor and cursing my incessant inertia more than everything, you continue your torture – hitting where it hurts worst. Why do I suffer from this humiliation? What does it take to wake up from this stupor, spit on your face and walk out?

I read yesterday that it is only when you start taking steps towards what you have always wanted to do that you really start to trust in God. That was quite an interesting observation for want of a better word.

inbox-2-blog part-16

Here's one for the SHITTY times... ;)

Dear Employees,

Due to the current financial situation caused by the slowdown of economy, Management has decided to implement a scheme to put workers of 40 years of age and above on early retirement. This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early).
Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to management to be eligible for the SHAFT scheme (Special Help After Forced Termination). Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW programme (Scheme Covering Retired Early Workers). A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as Management deems appropriate.
Persons who have been RAPED can only get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependants & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance). Obviously persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by Management.
Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. Management has always prided itself on the amount of SHIT it gives to employees. Should you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring to the attention of your Supervisor. They have been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.

Sincerely,
The Management

Yay!

Godspeed Barack!