Manila 10 Hours Before Lockdown, a photo from Manila, NCR

Photographer's Note

Ok, I know this is not a classic Easter photo but I'm posting it, among all, to wish all my TE friends and their families a Happy and HEALTHY Easter. And those who don't celebrate, just a happy and healthy day. I hope you are all staying safe.

I've been a bit quiet recently, because, while many people have lost their jobs, bars and cafes are shut and the opening hours of few remaining shops are reduced, where I work it's business as usual, in fact more busy than that. Lucky me, but not much time for TE.

This image was taken four weeks ago, on the penultimate day of my trip to the Philippines. Manila lockdown had been announced and panic started to set in. I was in Banaue when the transport companies started cancelling routes. I hopped on the first available bus to the capital. I spent the last afternoon before the lockdown wandering, a walking distance from the airport, around Pasay City - a suburban part of Metro Manila. This photo shows a detail of a market stall. Signum temporis, emblematic of the state the world has been since March (in some countries longer than that).

Overall, my trip to the Philippines went almost uninterrupted. Almost. One destination was closed on the morning when I was heading there and I was asked to step off the bus before the departure. Also, I didn't get to see central Manila as I worried that I may get cut off from the airport. All in all, small price to pay. The biggest delay halfway through the trip, at the beginning of March, the cancellation of a domestic flight from the Batanes archipelago back to the main island of Luzon, happened due to bad weather. When I thought about it later, it felt rather ironic.

I'm also lucky, that the lockdown started towards the end of my "travel season" which runs from September to March. So far, I've had to cancel three weekend trips to other European countries. Unfortunately, one of those was to Poland. My biggest problem at the moment is that I can't visit my parents � my severely ill father and my slowly giving up mum. I mean, I can, but with the Polish quarantine rules and all commercial flights and international trains cancelled, it's too complicated and potentially futile.

I know these are all the First World problems. Inability to travel or to see one抯 loved ones... I know a Bangladeshi man who spent 10 best years of his life working in Qatar, rarely able to visit his wife and children. Another one, in Tanzania, who can抰 find work in Dar es Salaam, where his spouse and kids live; he works in Zanzibar and goes back home once a month or even less often in spite of the fact that Zanzibar is a short ferry ride from Dar. At the moment, Nepal is receiving another hit to its tourism industry, only 5 years after the devastating earthquake. When travel is banned in the First World, people spend their holidays at home. In Nepal, if travel gets banned, people don抰 eat. And so on and so forth.

So ours are the First World problems... but they are still a problem.

Two more photos in WS

holmertz, pajaran, PaulVDV, tyro, jemaflor, jhm, COSTANTINO, PiotrF, Royaldevon, macjake has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102636) 2020-04-12 12:18

Hello Kasia,
As usual you present us with the unexpected photos from your latest journey. We can never trust you to show us the nicest beaches or the most beautiful temples, but you record life as it really is, in small fragments. I understand you didn't buy any of those probably useless masks.
We all wish to stay healthy, and although painfully many persons in the rich world have died from this virus, what really scares me if the pandemic hits hard in places like Africa, or Yemen, or the refugee camps in Syria or the Greek islands, or among the Rohingyas. It is almost beyond human understanding what could happen in all these places with little or no health care.
Stay healthy,
Gert

PaulVDV (62846) 2020-04-12 12:38

Hello Kasia,
The good thing is that you were able to arrive safe in the UK. Obviously it's very sad that now you cannot visit your parents. I wish them a speedy recovery.
The corona problem is indeed incredibly bad for the inhabitants of third world countries.
Social distancing is much more difficult or even impossible in the densely populated neighbourhoods of the big cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Moreover, those who stay at home earn nothing while there are no social benefits in these countries.
Not being able to make a journey is unimportant compared to not being able to earn a living.
I wonder how the world is going to overcome this ...
I wish you all the best !
Paul

tyro (30513) 2020-04-12 14:59

Hello Kasia,

For many of us in the rich world, lockdown has become an inconvenience which at best gives us more time at home and the ability to catch up with some of those domestic chores we have been putting off for ages - and at worst might mean losing some business or having to cancel a holiday abroad. But, as you so rightly point out, for people born in less favourable circumstances and places, the consequences are starvation and death. The way and speed at which the pandemic is spreading through Europe and the U.S. is frightening, but I dread to think of the rate of spread and the consequences in the likes of India or Africa where it has already gained a foothold.

I feel desperately sorry for you having been unable to visit your ailing parents - I do hope that they make a recovery soon if that is at all possible.

I think your main photograph is possibly the most pertinent to your excellent and extensive (and also very personal) note - and I rather suspect those masks for sale are probably worse than useless. Two other fine photos too.

Please have as Happy and Easter as you can in the circumstances but do take care of yourself and stay safe.

Kindest Regards,

John.

Nicou (193806) 2020-04-12 21:11

Hello

quelle vue de circonstances cette vent de masques de protection avec cette affiche et la t阾es du personnages g閚iale compo et vue
Bravo et amiti�
Nicou

abmdsudi (95869) 2020-04-12 22:52

Hi Kasia
An unfortunate sign of the times, a sad and frustrating scene for everybody! Thought provoking shot of very unsettling times, hopefully if we all isolate it will come to a good conclusion. However, it remains to be seen if we will have a happy end? Thanks for posting and stay safe as always appreciate your narratives.
Best regards

jemaflor (147046) 2020-04-12 23:41

Hi Kasia,
Interesting photo about the pandemic time ... well presented, original and interesting your note, tfs.

lousat (139198) 2020-04-13 1:53

Hi Kasia,Three beautiful testimonials from your last hours in the Philippines, the mask trade was already starting, which has become the main business in this period all over the world. In fact there are many problems, my bar has been closed for a month but fortunately the government has given us some money, at least to pay the expenses. And like you, I also know many foreign friends who share the same problem due to the inability to move. OK, maybe I've been too long, best wishes for a good week and for your father's health.Luciano.

Silvio1953 (221493) 2020-04-13 1:58

Ciao Kasia, Coronavirus on TE too, stay safe, lovely example of this sad time, excellent clarity and fine details, very well done, my friend, Happy Easter, ciao Silvio

jhm (211736) 2020-04-13 5:29

Hello Kasia,

You show us a perfect daily life picture.
Nice taken before the COVID 19 time.
Today a very difficult life but maybe get we new hope!
Very well done, TFS.

Take care,
John.

mesutilgim (0) 2020-04-13 9:59

Hello Kasia,
Another interesting entry in your gallery, which can be seen as of today in almost every parts of our globus.
Good entry, enriched with many good and usefull notes.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

alvaraalto (42804) 2020-04-13 10:26

Hello Kasia,
Three interesting photos. Two appropriate illustrations of the current bizarre situation and one for smiling.
Strange such a situation in which all mankind is confronted with our insignificance, while we believe ourselves to be the ruler of the earth.
Lots of strength to you and yours in these weird times.
regards Rob

COSTANTINO (116405) 2020-04-13 10:52

Hello dear Kasia and have a nice time
and a happy new day
this Easter is absolutely a different
Easter
for us the Holy Week begun today..
we live difficult days..
I red carefully your useful notes
about your adventure and your biggest
problem you cant visit your parents....
but I give you and idea...
you must write a book with all
your thoughts and you are really
lucky to have a business as usual..
welldone
regards
Costantino

GyurMaster (24818) 2020-04-13 11:21

Hello Kasia,

Its good to hear from you and see your photos, on the other hand I'm sorry to hear that you cannot visit your parents. It is something that we couldn't imagine just one or two months ago in the EU...

I wish you to meet them again in health in the near future!
Stay safe!
Gy.

PiotrF (54572) 2020-04-13 16:13

Czesc Kasiu
Taki czas proby nastal, zmieni pewnie wiele w naszym zyciu, a moze raczej w podejsciu do tego co robimy.
Sytuacja caly czas jest dynamiczna a wrozenia kiedy i jak sie zakonczy jest poki co pozbawione racjonalnosci...
Trzeba przetrwac ten czas, majac swiadomosc ze i tak jest nam latwiej.
Z zyczeniami swiatecznymi raczej nie zdazylem, ae na ten nadchodzacy czas zycze duzo zdrowia: dla Ciebie, dla bliskich - abyscie w lepszych czasach mogli sie jeszcze cieszyc wspolna bliskocia
pozdrawiam
Piotr

emka (158058) 2020-04-13 18:44

Witaj Kasiu,

Widziałam stoiska z maseczkami na lotnisku, chyba w Singapurze, ale były jakieś drogie i nie kupiłam. Większość os骲 z mojej grupy miała maseczki, ja nie, bo czytałam sprzeczne opinie na temat ich skuteczności. Ale od czwartku są już w Polsce obowiązkowe. Zabawne zdjecie i ciekawa notatko o Twoich przygodach, jak zwykle. Tobie udało sie w wiekszości zrealizować plany. Przykro, ze teraz nie możesz odwiedzić rodzic體, żeby im pom骳 w razie potrzeby. Ale ja tez nie spotkałam się z moim starszym synem, chociaż mieszka o p�ł godziny pieszo ode mnie. Jeszcze go (i mojej wnuczki) nie widziałam od powrotu.
Wydawać by się mogło, że w biednych krajach będzie się ten wirus szerzył bardziej, ale statystyki tego nie potwierdzają. Ciekawe dlaczego.

Pozdrawiam serdecznie

MAłgorzata

Royaldevon (85862) 2020-04-14 5:01

Hello Kasia,

I'm so sad for you, that you are unable to reach your parents at this difficult time! Separation has never been so important as it is at the moment!

Your photographs are not beautiful but how they sharply focus us on the world-wide pandemic!

The problems in third world countries, without the knowledge, the organisation or the materials to deal with this horrendous epidemic, are vast!
My sincere hope is that some vaccine can soon be discovered which can be shared. around the globe.

Speaking of suffering, it matters not which country you inhabit. If you loose a friend or family member the suffering is still intense, especially when you feel so helpless.

Thank you for this long, detailed note which is both informative as well as alerting!

Keep safe yourself, at this difficult time,
Bev :-)

rychem (72187) 2020-04-14 7:37

UFF, nienawidze tych masek, dla mnie sa wylegarnia wirusow, tylko medyczne maja jakies dzialanie, ale masz racje, to znak czasu. Zycze dalszych juz bezmaskowych dni
pozdrawiam Ryszard

CLODO (45116) 2020-04-15 1:40

Hi Kasia

Not a spectacular picture, but it says so much of the today's world with a wink. Was this price high? Were the masks from a good matter?
Sorry for your situation with your family in Poland, I am in the same position with my wife being in a rest house because she got the Alzheimer disease, and it's forbidden to go and visit her though she lives only at 4 km from our flat.
Take care.
CLODO

macjake (98408) 2020-04-16 12:19

Hi Kasia
yes, as Gert has mentioned we never know what to expect from you photo wise - yet we do know what to expect in terms of your notes :) I wish your parents well, that must be incredibly frustrating and stressful for you. Glad to hear you're safe.
stay safe and stay positive
cheers
Craig

mkamionka (74329) 2020-04-18 0:29

Czesc Kasiu,
Ciekawie sie czyta takie osobiste relacje. Bardzo fajne zdjecie -zdaje sie ze jest juz kilka serii na TE w tym temacie. Zdjecia z okien w domu itp.
W moim przypadku rowniez praca wre. Chocaz sporo pracuje z domu. To ogromne wyzwanie bo rowniez moja zona i corka pracuja z domu ale jak na razie jakos to dziala. Jak piszesz ludzie sa w przeroznych sytuacjach. Dlatego ciesze sie ze moge pracowac choc to nielatwe. Niestety akurat sporo lotow mi odwolano i nie wiem czy zobacze pieniadze, bo linie lotnicze odkladaja wyplaty i kto wie czy nie splajtuja w koncu. Rowniez firmy ubezpieczeniowe cos kombinuja.
Ale oby zdrowie nam wszystkim dopisalo, a przeciez TE to dosyc starsze towarzystwo...
Pozdrawiam serdecznie,
M