Perspectives

The reality of the situation is, that our lives will never be the same.

I've been trying to not listening to the long and winding speeches of politicians and certain other policy makers on Covid 19 over the past month. I think I've had to do that for my own sanity.

People have been chatting about reopening economies, and returning to work. In certain parts of the US, some have taken to the streets in protest of prolonged lock downs.

In the Philippines, the government has hinted at imposing a total lock down should people refuse to adhere to pleas to stay home, and practice good hygiene and social distancing.

Once lock downs are eased, and once mass testing becomes commonplace, and once businesses reopen, how will we all end up living our lives? Remember how you used to kill time at your local mall? Or have dimsum at your favorite hawker center? Or share cups of coffee and cronuts with your friends at your nearest Tim Hortons branch? How those things happen may very well be changed- forever.

Staying home all the time. That's a bona fide challenge. It doesn't matter how "social" you were pre-lock down. Staying home all the time can leave some in a constantly hypnagogic state. Sleepy, thoughts and consciousness fluttering. The ideal situation for some would be to try their best to be "productive"- with their schedules being awash with business calls, online certification courses, and reading several books per week.

Truth is, people need not try too hard. So much of modern life shutting down all at once doesn't happen very often. We might as well be responsible and make the best of the situation- whatever "best" means. We need not pressure ourselves to be "perfect" during this quarantine period. You don't need to be a CEO once this is all said and done. You just need to be a better version of yourself.

I am assuming that what I feel now is a new feeling for many people- especially for individuals from my generation and those from younger ones. We live in a world wherein it has become dangerous to go out without a mask and hand sanitizer. Think about that for a while. It's one thing for that to happen in the 1st world. They have better healthcare systems there. In those countries, they probably have wider roads, and are gifted with populations that are not all that dense. In the developing world, its a different story. In the 3rd world, there is a very real possibility that a trip to the grocery could be fatal- simply because a virus that's been set loose thrives in places where systems don't exist or don't matter, and in places where your government is a mess. That's the way the bread bakes, people.

There are so many perspectives one can analyze in the midst of a pandemic. It is worrisome that even after over a month on enhanced community quarantine, there remain certain aspects of life that feel like they haven't moved an inch. Regression. That's the soup of the day.

It's become day-to-day now.

MC

Pandemic- What is Happening?

I haven't posted anything on this blog since the Coronavirus pandemic started. This is one of those "where were you when" moments in history. This isn't the same as countries going into war against one another, nor is it tantamount to the end of civilization as we know it, but it is a cause for worry. The every day Joe worries about what he and his family have to eat, and whether he will still have a job when he wakes up the next day. Most people don't have tons of cash on reserve, so, best to be prepared. It doesn't help that the rendering of services c/o of the government is inconsistent at best.

I never thought that I'd ever experience something like this in my lifetime. In truth, no one thinks he/she will ever witness countries and economies being brought to a standstill anyway. That isn't something on anyone's usual to do list.

To date, there are just a little over 3,000 confirmed Coronavirus cases in the Philippines. My suspicion is that this number will continue to rise as testing becomes more readily available and as things (hopefully) become more organized.

Who knows where this will go. I could go into the nitty gritty of how this government and that government has failed or succeeded in implementing different Covid 19 mitigation programs, but I don't think I want to ruin my Sunday morning. I'll leave the policy making to the policy makers. I won't be aloof, though.

Let's all stick together and win this battle as one.

MC

Another Random London Story- The Oyster Card

What's one thing that nearly every Londoner has in their bags, pockets, purses, and wallets?

Why, the Oyster card, of course!

This revolutionary invention was launched in 2003. The card allows you to save a ton of time. No need to queue for paper tickets. No need to struggle with grabbing coins and bills to pay for your train trip. Just tap, and go.

I think that Londoners would be hard pressed to imagine life without the Tube, and without Oyster cards.

My first Oyster card came from my youngest sister, who had been to London before me. This may sound stupid, but, I always found it exciting to track my trips online. Oyster card trip records are fascinating chronicles of one's story in London. Is the owner of the Oyster card in question a student? A Marketing Manager? A mother of 3? A banker? Trip histories may very well be able to provide insights into these sorts of things.

2 years and change after leaving London, I've found myself reviewing my trip histories. It's interesting how I am able to associate specific emotions and agendas and people with every line in my Oyster Card's "life" chronicle. London life is full of stories that are teeming with stories that serve to answers life's many "hows" and "whys".

Funny how I don't even bother riding trains buses and trains in the Philippines, after relying on such so much in the UK. It's too much of a hassle in my homeland. Will that ever change?

I sure hope so.

MC

Another Random London Story- Space.

I learned pretty quickly that space in London comes at a premium.

It isn't like I hadn't lived in a big city before. Manila, in many ways, is even worse in terms of finding a place to lay your head. It's just that Manila isn't as connected, and isn't as expensive.

House sharing in London is pretty common. In fact, I think it's become the norm. With so many people wanting to head into town to "find fame and fortune", it isn't unusual to see flats packed to the brim- with interesting stories to boot.

I lived in a house with genuinely friendly people. A couple of girls and two guys. Different nationalities. All in all, a good experience. I stayed in a neighborhood where flats were lined up one after the other. In spite of the many living spaces placed close to one another, the place never really felt too cramped. That's what a bit of urban planning can do.

I was lucky enough to have lived somewhere near a Tube station, and the high street. Easy access to everything. It really does make a difference when everything is within walking distance of where you live. That is a luxury that you have to pay through your teeth for in the Philippines.

Speaking of space, London has LOTS of parks. I made it a point to walk and run through quite a number of them. Hyde Park. Alexandra Palace. Victoria Park. Battersea Park. Clapham Common. It was so refreshing to have lived in a city where setting up open public spaces would be prioritized.

During a recent rest day, I couldn't help but look back at old photos from my time in London. I recalled how I'd run through places like the Southbank and Lambeth North, and race through  picturesque roads in Brighton and Hove.

To be honest, I have yet to experience a sense of freedom since having returned from the UK in January 2018.

Lately, space for me has been as elusive as in a bottle of bubbly in the desert.

Space is a catalyst for so many good things- creativity, love, passion.

It isn't a shock, then, that I've been reminiscing.

MC

Another Random London Story- Subway Scenes

I love the London Underground.

There, I said it.

Your city having a more or less efficient train system gives daily life a nice bit of cadence.

Wake up, dress up, eat, leave the house, walk to your nearest Tube station, take lift or escalator down to your designated platform, feel the Tube tunnel wind on your face, notice the rats scurry around the station, look around at your fellow passengers, board carriage, get off at your stop, get on with your day.

There. It's like a nice rap waiting to happen.

Some Tube stations made more of an impression on me than others.

Let's run down my list of what-nots.

*Elephant and Castle- Built in the early 1900s, tne E and C Tube station currently hosts two lines- the Northern and Bakerloo lines. This was my home station for 11 months in London. Crowded, grimy, South London goodness at its finest. Just learned that the adjacent E and C Shopping Centre is finally set for demolition. The landscape of the E and C is ripe for major changes in the next few years. Glad that I managed to be a resident before the gentrification sword's come down.

*Bethnal Green- I only visited Bethnal Green station once or twice during my time in London. Those were enough to make me remember this station, though. Set this against the backdrop of the March 3, 1943 Bethnal Green disaster (173 people died as a result of a stampede) and what you get is a station that has with it a heavy pall of sadness and unrest.

*Westminster- Star Wars fans, rejoice! The ambiance of Westminster Tube station is more akin to that of a theme park ride than an actual train station. Why the Star Wars reference? The interiors look like that of the iconic Death Star which twice suffered unfortunate fates due to the inspiring efforts of "rebel scum".

*Chesham- The Western end of the Met Line. Went here out of a sheer curiosity about far flung termini. This Buckinghamshire-based station isn't all too unique. This made the list because of my memorable trip to the region for, of all things, a countryside run.

*Paddington- Apart from being associated with arguably the most adorable bear in existence, Paddington station is sleek, expansive, and inclusive of cute bear statue and marker. What more could you ask for?

*Waterloo- Crowded ol' Waterloo. My stop for the Southbank and Wasabi (yup, I loved grabbing food at Wasabi during days when sloth would hit my desire to cook). A part of my usual South London running route. This is also where I found myself on the night of the London Bridge terror attacks of June 2017.

*Stratford- A happy place. My stop for all those times when I raced at the Velodrome and her Madge's Olympic Park. My stop for Westfield eats post run. :)

*Wood Green- Nothing extraordinary about this stop, really. Whenever I think of Wood Green station, I think about my neighborhood gym (when I lived in Haringey), Ally Pally, and Wood Green high street where I spent many a day walking. Sad to have heard from a relative that the district's become a lot more crime-riddled since I was last there.

*High Street Kensington- A stone's throw away from the picturesque Kensington Gardens. Part of the "posh side of town". I tend to associate this station and this part of town with happy winter days, as it was then when I used this station the most.

*Clapham Common- Station beside a neat-o park (Clapham Common). Raced once here, and ran there around 1-2 other times (training).

*Leceister Square/Covent Garden- In my mind, this is the heart of touristy London. This is where you'd probably end up as a first timer in the city- wide eyed and all.

*Highgate- More like a gateway to olden times as opposed to a train station. Not very near the highlight of Highgate (the cemetery). Archway station is actually closer. The Highgate area in general is a place that I really liked. Rolling terrain. Big ol' houses. Nice views. Foliage everywhere.

*Hammersmith- This will sound idiotic, but, the name "Hammersmith" makes me think of a literal hammer. Dumb, I know. Seriously, though, this station reminds me of house hunting (almost became a Fulham resident in 2017), James Blunt (his November 2017 London show was staged at the Hammersmith Apollo), and really cool station interiors and divisions (I like how they partitioned the District and Pic lines).

*Victoria- My gateway to wonderful Brighton, and a host of other places. A nice one-stop shop for food and other essentials. Mine and my parents' home station when they visited me in London in March 2017.

There a lots of stories and thoughts I have yet to share. That's the beauty of an open ended blog.

There are no hard and fast rules.

More stories next time.

MC

Another Random London Story - The Gym.

My second day as a London was spent fixing papers, buying supplies (bedsheets and pillow cases, amongst them, which means that I had slept on a naked bed in night one), and yes, enrolling at a nearby gym. I have been following a strict workout routine for 5 plus years now- this after neglecting my body for a wee bit as a corporate worker. I cannot imagine what my life would be like sans exercise. Actually, I can. Life without exercise would likely be MISERABLE. 

The Gym Walworth Road was situated 0.4 miles from my first flat in London. To me, it was a place of solace. To get there, I'd walk down southbound through Walworth, passing through branches of Tesco Express, Mailboxes Etc., Iceland, CeX (I looked through here tons over my time in London, but never ended up buying anything), and Marks and Spencer. Over time, some stores survived, and some didn't. One day, a Chinese takeaway place suddenly popped up where, I believe, a pawnshop once stood. I recall having visited the East Street Market twice during my stay (that's where I bought my first set of sheets), and went to the Walworth Road branch of Argos to get myself a waterproof mp3 player which still functions to this day. 

It amazed me how devoid of BS signing up for a gym membership was in London. You could do everything online sans any fuss, or stalking on mobile from a sales agent or trainer (gyms in Manila tend to subscribe to this practice). I remember spending many a memorable day and night in this gym- sometimes working out at the weirdest of hours, and once, running into some rowdy teenagers on my way home. Those young-ans must have been drunk or something, given that they jeered at me and pretended to block my path back to my flat. It was scary for a second. More irritating than scary, now that I look at the experience in hindsight. 

If you brought me back to The Gym in Walworth Road I'd be able to tell you wish treadmills had loose belts, and which didn't. That's how familiar I was with the place. You had your run-of-the-mill types at the gym on any given day. You have your hard bodies who looked like they could be WWE Superstars (huge fellas who could lift tremendously heavy weights), girls who seemed more interested in showing off certain body parts as opposed to working out, and normal blokes like me who were there to train for specific sports/events, or those who were there merely to de-stress, and/or lose a few kilos. This gym was a cross section of South London folk, a United Nations of people who wanted to break a sweat. Asians, Africans, Brits, Americans, etc. A microcosm of London as a whole, really. 

When I think about my time in London today, I find myself scrambling not to allow the entire experience to become a collection of vague images and anecdotes. I want to remember the smells, tastes, and sensations, too. I don't ever want to forget my time there. 

This is why I need to keep writing about my solo flight there. 

It's a story worth documenting. It's a story worth remembering. 

Offense.

I've heard those from older generations say it all the time.

"Kids today are soft!"

"Kids today get offended by the littlest things!"

Well, they are both wrong and right.

There are those who get offended to the extent that nothing is right or acceptable anymore. That's when "touchiness" gets debilitating.

Then there are those who take offense to things within reasonable bounds, because doing otherwise would mean being insensitive, or downright bad.

It's a fine line over a chasm that knows no end.

MC

London, United Kingdom

I used to live in London. Now, London lives in me.

I am not sure whether I mean that or whether I just wanted to play with words.

Whenever one makes a big move from one city to another, he/she is inevitably brought to list down the pros and cons of places A and B.

Stuff I Miss:

-I miss riding the Tube. This isn't to say that every instance on the Underground was a pleasant one, but the London train system sure beats the one in Manila. Consider the history associated with the Tube and you've got a keeper.

-Surprisingly, I miss shopping in Tesco, Sainsbury, Aldi, Lidl, and Waitrose. Those supermarkets had a fun way of having everything one could possibly want for every occasion. Generally high quality goods available via all merchants (even Aldi and Lidl had some pretty good stuff...good deals and good stuff equal more purchases).

-I miss using a generally efficient bus system. Again, it beats the one we have in Manila- by leaps and bounds.

-This one is about the UK in general. I miss green spaces. I got my fair share of these in London, in Brighton, in Cambridge, in the Lake District, etc, etc, etc. Can't beat it. For someone who's grown old in a country that tends to be so crowded, being somewhere with so much open space was truly refreshing.

-Running in the UK. The weather allowed for a lot of flexibility in terms of when someone could run. In the tropics, running over lunch is practically unheard of. Not in the UK. The sun would be out, yes, but the wind would be cool. The heat would be offset. You'd be able to get a workout in a lot easier than if you lived in Manila or Singapore.

-Culture, culture, everywhere. London, Scotland, the UK- there was always so much history, so much culture, at every turn. A curious bloke's dream come true.

Stuff I Don't Miss:

-The winter sometimes became too inconvenient to deal with. Too cold. Even going to the grocery for five minutes became a huge chore. Layers. I am a tropical country kid. I may never get used to layers.

-The weirdos on London buses. Sometimes whimsical, sometimes, downright scary. Not fun.

-Really drunk people. Same as the weirdos on buses. Sometimes, funny and a hoot to be around. Sometimes, violent and will get you to put Scotland Yard on speed dial.

-The sometimes crappy sandwiches at Tesco. Eat at your own risk.

-Coffee from the big chain coffeehouses. Leagues under the sea from those from Asia. Sorry, but it's true. Costa coffee is...eck.

-As much as I loved taking the London Underground, I did not appreciate the dust and muck in the below ground train stations. Especially those in East London. Hey, this is something one should expect when travelling through a train system in a large city, right? Could've been worse, I'm certain. But still.

-Rowdy teenagers. Again, this is something that one can expect to come across anywhere, but the few run-ins I had with rowdy kids (especially in South East London) were especially annoying.

Stuff I Wish I Had Done

-The London Marathon. Eh. Lottery. Someday, I'll get in.

-I wish I had more time to go to the following places:

*Corrour. For so many scenic reasons.
*Oxford. I can't believe I missed going here.
*Stratford Upon Avon. I always found new reasons not to visit.
*The Isle of Man. I am curious about what there is to see here.
*Berney Arms. Train nerd alert.
*Penzance. Only because Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe began their 2017 "All The Stations" sojourn here.
*More of the Lake District- because why not?
*Northern Scotland. Places like John O' Groats and Thurso. Scotland is beautiful.

-I wish I had gotten to watch a play at the Globe Theatre. Again, I can't believe I missed doing this. I did live in Southwark for 11 months after all.

-I wish I had watched more Charlotte Campbell gigs. Because Charlotte is lovely and a great musician to boot.

-I wish I had joined one of those tours of Parliament.

-I wish I had spent more time with certain people from my graduate school class. It can be tough to maintain friendships when you find yourself half a world away.

-I wish I had joined more London Midnight Runners events.

-I wish I had gone to more of the "Magnificent 7" London cemeteries. I only managed to visit a portion of Highgate, and West Brompton.

Stuff I Want to Do When I Take My Wife to the UK:

-Actually enter Buckingham Palace.

-Stroll around St. James and Hyde Parks.

-Visit Paddington station.

-Visit my old university (UAL LCC).

-Visit my old university friends.

-Be tourist-y around Westminster Abbey and Westminster Bridge.

-Hop on a bus to Brighton. Visit Seven Sisters National Park.

-Spend a night or two in Corrour.

-Watch a play.

-Eat in Roti King. Hahaha.


And there we are.

MC

When I Wake Up.

When I wake up in the morning, I reach out for my mobile phone. I check the time, check my news feeds, check emails. It's become part of my daily routine.

Somewhere, someone is doing the same thing. Somewhere, cars rumble through city streets. Somewhere, wind rustles through forest trees.

These past few days have seen my mind unfold and become receptive to different emotions and thoughts.

Weeks ago, I was in Taiwan. I did a run. A half marathon. My first half Mary in a few months. Travelling is a beautiful thing.

Work is work. When I was young, I assumed that I'd end up working in an office. There are good days, and bad days. I think that people tend to exaggerate the pains associated with work. On the other hand, work pays the bills, ergo, it can only be fitting to raise a fuss about work-related stress.

When you live in a condo, inconsiderate neighbors can be a pain. Is disposing of garbage really that difficult? Is talking in more hushed tones really too much to ask? People will always be people, I guess.

One of the least appreciated decisions we make every day is what to have for breakfast. Breakfast is the most fulfilling meal of the day. So, you're hungry, and then, you shatter your fast. Boom. Nothing feels better.

With all this talk about about the Coronavirus outbreak, who's to say that you or your loved ones won't be infected next? I'd rather not think about it, but hey, it could happen if you aren't careful.

MC