Mumbai to Manila (Week 3)

Week 3 and Counting!!

This one's been an overwhelming week in every sense of the word. From natural disasters to personal nightmares, this week was almost a typical Bollywood movie.. action, comedy, thrill, melancholy, plot twists and a happy ending...!

After my noctural misadventure in Burgos last week, I decided to play this one safe. God obviously had other plans. The week started with the oncoming of this season's biggest typhoon so far (Rammasun/Glenda) all the way from Monday evening till Thursday morning. At a Category 3, it took a toll of 20 unfortunate human lives across the Metro Manila area and destroyed several parts of this beautiful city that I have come to love. 

My personal experience with the typhoon was a little disturbing as well. Coming back from office on Monday, I was unable to sleep with strong winds and rainfall lashing down on the windows of my hotel room on the 16th floor. It was almost comic, as if God wanted to play angry birds with me... (Ok, no more jokes I promise).

So I wake up after a groggy night and see the overcast cloud strewn across the Manila skyline as far as I could see. 

Got news that the storm was still 25 km away from the mainland. Yet to read about it and see it are two different things altogether. There was literally no traffic as I looked down while getting ready for office. That was the time the hotel staff called and sounded me off on a severe storm warning and requested that I stay back. I complied of course. Of all the things that I expected would blow my senses away when I landed here, the last thing on my list was a sea-storm! Tuesday and Wednesday went by like a breeze, (literally) working from the hotel amid power cuts and no internet for intermittent periods.

(Disclaimer: I am not a sucker for the internet. So before you judge me on being a spoilt brat, all I wanted was a constant connection with the office)

What surprised and shocked me when I reached office on Thursday was the spirit of the average Filipino. There were in fact 900 team members who stayed back in the office during the storm and not a single soul looked tired, depressed or melancholic. It just goes on to speak a million things about the brevity of the human soul in times of calamity. Some of their houses blown away, families alone and yet they responded to my hello with a cheerful smile. Why would you not want to love this place and the people?

Uprooted tree on a parking lot by the bay

My super team stayed back as well and helped in all that they could to ensure the employees were cared for and motivated. In hindsight, it makes me feel like a coward and I promised myself to never let this happen again!

Once the storm was over outside, some professional calamities were waiting to happen. Without delving into too many details, lets just say the team ensured we achieved our targets before the said deadline and in my mind, they are all stars!! Stayed back all through Friday to lead the team targets and ensure they stayed motivated. Saw a beautiful dawn by the Manila bay for the first time since I came here, sipping coffee and eating a slice of pandesal (local bread) as I saw life go on as usual in this melting pot of several cultures. 

Group of bicycle enthusiasts up and early!

Saturday morning  by the bay (tree still there)  

Speaking of a melting pot, my team tells me Philippines is essentially divided into two different cultures by region. The southern part of the archipelago is a Muslim dominated region with Ramadan celebrated with great fervor. The middle and northern parts comprise mainly of Catholics and native Austroaseans with Christmas and the Feast season being the most widely celebrated holiday. In fact, quite like India, the Philippines is a very tolerant and secular country to be in. In every sense of the word, this place is the "melting pot" of Asia. 

Coming back to the rest of my week, well Saturday was dull considering I slept it out till the last quarter of the day. Woke up and talked to my cousin for a really long time. Its been ages since we connected and I plead guilty on all accounts. I feel really small considering it took me a trip away from my country for me connect with those already there. If you are reading this Tani, I am really sorry and promise to be your brother, cousin and companion always! Thank you for taking the effort to ensure I do not lose touch with my past. 

Wife and me had a long conversation after ages it seemed. We talked about everything as if we hadn't spoked at all in all this time. It feels so good to see you smile and laugh at my silly, stupid jokes that you would avoid like a plague when I am with you. (Revenge! Wicked Laugh) You are in every sense of the word, my partner-in-crime and my friend. Now, when do I expect the cheque you were to deposit, to clear.. :)

Sunday was modest and more introspective this time around. Had a quiet breakfast, sent out my laundry, took stock of my bills (pain-in-the-......) and went for a walk by the neighbourhood. Checked out some malls in the area and came across the Flash!! :)

Almost as fast as him!

Justice League of Manila (Batman seems upset!)

Now the introspective part....I cannot believe its been 3 weeks since I haven't seen a familiar face.... A sense of nostalgia did creep in around the first half of the day. I have this dilemma of dichotomy playing in my head- a sense of adventure of discovering a new place, meeting new people, trying out cuisines I never had.. or a sense of misery of not seeing family, friends, my country, my people around. Is this what the Indian diaspora go through.......?

I will never know!! 

Coz by the time I could conjure these thoughts in my brain, I was hungry and needed some grub. So how do you resolve the dichotomy of nostalgia vs adventure you ask? Simple. Order Indian food delivered by a Hispanic in a Filipino hotel. I'll tell you the biggest conflicts in this world can be resolved with a delicious meal of Bhuna Gosht and Chapatis... After a week of Korean, Japanese, Cantonese and Filipino fillings (they are not "Chinese food "; indeed very different cuisines just for the record), I had my share of India on my plate.

Something magical about onions and green chutney with gosht

That in many ways, sums up Week 3 for moi. Keeping my chin up for the days to come, and hope to continue riding the storm (literally, another typhoon hitting us in 2 days). Its 2 a.m. on a Monday morning and I intend to get to office early today. So stay safe, pray for the people of Philippines and some for myself. See you all next week.

Peace.