I put this post under Expat Life because this is the norm if you are living in China these days (see Color Code? China’s Way to Measure Contagion Risk). I also included it in the Food and Drink page, so one day I can look back in amazement at either how we used to go to bars without these restrictions or, hopefully, only to remember the extreme measures that were taken during this time.
When I was living in Shanghai last fall, I wrote a post called TPOL’s Guide to Libations in Shanghai. In it, I said that my favorite place to party was Revolucion Cocktail. Since the lock-down, the WeChat Revolucion group has been silent. That changed as the bar has finally reopened. Before you book your flight to Shanghai, take note of two things: 1) You will be quarantined in China upon arrival (see An Expat Quarantine Experience in Shanghai). 2) You may have to abide by the following rules to enter public establishments.
I have no idea if bars are following these guidelines or post them up just to look compliant. I can’t imagine walking to a club and having my temperature checked let alone bringing my passport to a bar. Also, nothing says party like wearing a mask and applying hand sanitizer. Finally, what happens when the person in front of you flashes his QR code and it comes back as red?
Crazy time we’re living in but happy that some semblance of normalcy is returning to China. It gives me hope while I wait in solitude (see Social Distance Yourself from Misinformation).
Getting There: Download TT Rideshare App. Local cabs are far too expensive.
I booked the Hilton Trinidad last minute for carnival (see How to Book Trinidad’s Carnival Last Second for Free*). I am lucky that I did. Without the help of the hotel, I would’ve been on the sidelines instead of partying in the street.
Front Desk Saves My Trip
After stopping for food at the restaurants right outside POS airport (see The Best Airport Food), I arrived at the Hilton Trinidad. I asked the front desk how I could get a costume for the next two days. The woman looked at me in shock when I said I had come without securing one in advance. She passed me to her colleague who instructed me to run downstairs to the conference rooms as there may be vendors still selling some. I went down and found nothing but empty boxes. I felt nauseous and wondered if my last-minute luck had finally run out. I went back to the front desk and said there was nothing. She came around the desk and took me to another part of the hotel. Again, we found nothing. I began to rationalize that I could still have fun even if I didn’t have a costume. Back at the front desk, the woman was on her phone making calls to random people. She found one group that was still selling tickets to Juve, the early morning party. She wrote down the address. She then directed me to a website where people resell costumes and spoke on the phone to multiple prospective sellers. We finally contacted one who would come to the hotel and drop off the ‘costume’ and bracelets. Somehow, someway, everything worked out and I have her to thank for it.
Hotel Itself
The hotel is a vast, secure compound. It hosts a party the Sunday before carnival, but I recommend skipping it and saving your energy for the two days ahead.
I wasn’t supposed to check out late. I was supposed to come back from Juve, take a quick nap, and get back to the festivities. Instead, I slept through my alarm and woke up well past 11AM. I thank the hotel for letting me sleep, but I wish they would’ve woken me up. I had the same sick feeling that I was missing out until I rejoined the revelers in the street.
Overall
If you can find availability, stay at the Hilton Trinidad during carnival. They made the best experience of my life possible.
Relieved that my tour company was not a scam (see How to Book a Trip to Bhutan), I began my journey to find happiness. The first step was to leave Paro, the only city with an international airport, for the capital city of Thimphu. The first sign I saw was ominous and unexpected. It said “We are watching you. Don’t do drugs.” This anti-drug campaign was all over. It is targeted at the growing drug problem among the youth. I was surprised there is a drug problem in a country like Bhutan. I thought of it as a drug-free Disney zone because it is a country that measures wealth based on happiness.
Hotel
We checked into the hotel. It reminded me of a hotel in Vang Vieng, Laos. It looked like it was quickly constructed to meet the growing tourism demand. Outside there was non-stop construction. Luckily, I couldn’t hear it from my room. The room was decent. It had solid Wi-Fi, a hot shower, CNN International, and a comfortable bed.
The dinner was good but lacked the spice that Bhutan is famous for. This would be a trend throughout the trip. After Day 2, I complained to my tour guide about the bland food. He said that most tourists did not like spice so the hotels and the tourist restaurants served what they thought tourists would enjoy.
TPOL’s TIP: Don’t have meals at the hotels or the tourist pit stops. Make this clear to the tour guides as soon as possible.
The beer, on the other hand, was strong and delightful. I highly recommend the red rice lager.
TPOL’s TIP: Beer isn’t on the menu, so make sure you ask for it.
Golf?
After a quick nap, we went to the Tashichoedzong, Fortress of Glorious Religion. I was surprised when I saw a golf course right next to the fortress (see Total Consciousness: Golf in Bhutan). Before going to Bhutan, I thought it was a country largely unaffected by the western world. I didn’t think I would find so many bars, hear so much reggaeton, let alone have a golf course right next to the central temple. The same surprise happened in Dubai where the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is right across the street from Dubai Marine, home to many nightclubs and bars (see The Best Nightclubs in the World). It is interesting that one side of the street is spiritual and the other is spirits.
A little disillusioned by my first impressions, I entered the temple wondering if this Happiness Index was a marketing scam. Then my tour guide explained the Buddhist wheel of life. I’m not going to act as if I have a complete understanding, but what I learned is that humans are all inflicted with a mental disease characterized by three animals: the pig which signifies ignorance, the rooster which signifies desire, and the snake which signifies anger. These three are all connected. One leads to another. As humans, we can only hope to control these. Only the Buddha has conquered these inflictions. Even monks endure to control them.
Wheel of Life
The proclamation that everything is a continuous struggle made the teachings relatable and applicable. Though Buddhism was created centuries ago, the teachings hold true today.
Back to Tourism
The obligatory photos of the fortress and the temple are necessary for me to appreciate how old these structures are. Entering the temple, photos are not allowed.
TPOL’S TIP: It’s a myth that you can’t step on the step in the entrance of the temple. I was once told that it meant I was stepping on the back of Buddha when I did so. My guide said that the step has a functional purpose. When a stranger would come to the temple, he would step onto the step, and inadvertently hit his head. That would announce his presence.
Downtown
Downtown is not what I expected. Again, when I thought of Bhutan, I thought quiet and peaceful. I also didn’t think drinking would be prevalent. I was wrong. There are bars after bars and many karaoke places that stay open until the early morning. I was also told that locals like to party hard. All news to me.
The town square.
No traffic lights so there are traffic cops waving people along.
Overall
Day 1 was full of surprises. Day 1 is in the books.
I read this article on Smart Shanghai. It details a foreigner who was put in a hotel after a flight back to China as a preventative measure against coronavirus. The experience shows the lengths the government has gone to combat an outbreak.
I can’t imagine this happening in the US. First, we are not organized enough to execute such a plan. Second, if someone called me and said that the quarantine ambulance is on the way, I’d be asking for a court order before I gave up my freedom. Third, I’d ask if I could use my points to stay in a nicer hotel. Surely, Titanium Platinum would receive better breakfast than the poor guy in this article.
“Give me liberty, or give me death.” At some point Americans won’t tolerate government intervention even if it means they’re at risk. Self quarantine is reasonable. Packing my bags and being put in lockdown ‘for my own good’, not so much. At least the person in the article was savvy enough to bring a bottle of liquor.
Where this all goes, no one knows. I will continue to advise that people Social Distance Themselves from Misinformation (which now includes ignorant angry ramblings in the comments section).
The President of the United States is a liar. Do not believe anything he says. Those who push his lies are just as awful. Do not listen to anything they say. Social distance yourself from those people. Lies and propaganda are more dangerous than any pandemic. I still have no idea if the world is overreacting to this or not doing enough. I don’t know if I was paranoid or prudent to Lysol my credit card after picking up food from the drive-thru (see Have We Become a Society of Wimps Addicted to Drama?).
The only advice I will heed from the President is the following: “Just remember, what you are seeing and what you are reading is not what’s happening.” I will apply that advice to anything that comes from this administration and to anyone who perpetuates this misinformation by repeating it. This leaves me in a precarious position. How will I know when I can go to the gym again? How will I know when I can stand within six feet of someone again? How will I know when I can travel? A few months ago if someone asked me those questions, I would’ve called them a survivalist nut. Today, like my Lysol inquiry, I don’t know if those are reasonable concerns.
Following September 11th, the government used the fear of its people to pass the Patriot Act. Civil liberties were taken away, and many Americans felt that protecting the American people justified invasions of privacy. It seems inevitable that this pandemic will lead to more government intrusion in the name of public safety. China is already implementing such measures (see Color Code? China’s Way to Measure Contagion Risk). While that might seem sensible, that cannot become the new normal in the United States. Anyone who counters otherwise should be met with skepticism. Social distance yourself from those people.
Natural disasters occur, pandemics spread, and man-made disasters happen. There is no disputing that. Facts should not be disputed because facts cannot be disputed. When you come across people who attempt to twist the truth, social distance yourself from those people. With no audience, they can do no damage.
Until the all-clear is given by Dr. Fauci, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, and leave rum for Jobu. Someone on social media told me that is the only way to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
I know it has been decades since we contacted you, but we wanted to give you an update on what we are doing to keep you safe during this time of uncertainty…
How many more damn emails am I going to get regarding what a company that has nothing to do with my day-to-day activities is doing about corona-bleeping-virus!? It is getting a bit out of hand. My favorite is this disingenuous, piece of shit letter from my student loan provider. It reads:
Dear ALEXANDER,
Thank you for being a valued customer. Firstmark is closely monitoring the latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health organizations about COVID-19, the new coronavirus. The safety of our associates and our customers is our top priority.
We cannot predict the scale and scope of what we will be dealing with in the coming months and have taken many precautionary steps to safeguard our business operations, and to remain ready to serve you, our customer.
Get your IRS Form 1098-E for the amount of student loan interest you paid last year
We’re in this together. We’re here if you need us.
Dear Firstmother-f&!kers
Where do I begin to express my rage? I know, at the beginning. First, I’m not a bloody customer. You pieces of shit are only servicing my loan because the last piece of shit company sold my loan to you after it bought my loan from another piece of shit company. Second, I’m sure my safety is of utmost importance to you. Why? Because if I die, my loans die too. And that means that your piece of shit company doesn’t get to continue to gouge me on interest. Why am I paying 5% when interest rates are 0%? Why is it being compounded? Similar to point two, I am confident that you are taking precautionary steps to safeguard your business operations. Your motivation for doing so has already been explained. Continuing on. You remain ready to serve me? If by “serve me” you mean harass me with 100 calls if I am five minutes late on a payment, then yes I am sure you are ready. If you want to truly serve me, how about charging me the market rate on interest? Sure, I would love for Bernie’s forgiveness of loans to wipe away America’s largest debt and biggest bubble, but that wishful thinking came and went after South Carolina. Rest assured, that doomsday is coming. Also, thank you for letting me know that I can always go on your website to find out how much I have accumulated in interest. However, I purposefully forgot the password and have my payments on auto-pay to keep me from getting depressed. The only reason I pay my loans is because I don’t want you ruining my credit and killing the points hustle. But now that travel is done, maybe I’ll reconsider (supra doomsday). Finally, we aren’t in this together. And you’re not here for me. It’s more like you have your foot on my neck, and you won’t leave me alone unless I am dead.
Disrespectfully,
Alexander
Oh to go back to the innocent days of grade school.
If you thought TPOL was going away, you were wrong. TPOL turned 6exy 6 today. Last year, I showed the #1 posts from when I starting blogging (see Simply The Best: 5 Years of T-P-O-L). This time, I’m showcasing all my trips since birth. Years from now I’ll look back and have to remember why I went nowhere in 2020 (see not including any negative links). Looking back at these Trip Reports, I appreciate the shenanigans, the places I have been, and the places I have lived this past decade (see Happy New Year from TPOL: The Year & Hindsight Is 2020). I also appreciate everyone from the deplorables to the do-nothing Dems who read, comment, love and hate everything and anything about me.
It wasn’t long ago that TPOL was living in Shanghai (see TPOL in Shanghai). That seems like an eternity ago. One strategy the Chinese have developed to contain the outbreak is an app that, “Runs a continuous contagion threat assessment on you, then outputs it as a green, yellow or red QR code. Something that people (mostly in doorways) can easily scan” (see [How To]: Get Your Shanghai Color Code). In Shanghai, this code is not yet mandatory (see In Coronavirus Fight, China Gives Citizens a Color Code, With Red Flags). Beyond using the code to gain access to restaurants or bars, it is unclear how much access the police have to this data.
Disclaimer: For every Peloton Bike or Tread purchased using my referral code MD6KR8, I’ll receive up to $100 off my next purchase at the online Peloton Boutique. You will also receive $100 towards accessories at purchase.
We are inundated with information these days. Sometimes I need a break. One way to get away from it all without leaving my house is to hop on my Peloton. At first, I was skeptical about the bike. Though I have been to spin classes around the world, the thought of spinning at home did not sound appealing. I also wasn’t sold on how motivating an instructor could be through a TV screen.
It’s been almost one year and I am now a believer in Peloton. I know I sound like I’m in a cult, but I can say that the bike has changed the way I think. The motivational sayings from the instructor go beyond the class. Overcoming the mental challenge of working out with such intensity has helped me with my weekly 10.5 mile runs and with my golf game.
During this time of quarantine, I am happy that I have my Peloton to keep me active and to keep me positive. With great music blasting from my Bluetooth connected soundbar, the Peloton also helps me keep my nightlife cravings in check. If you have a Peloton, follow ThePointsOflife and let’s race. If you don’t, then you can get one without leaving your isolation.
Remember those clowns who told me that coronavirus was nothing, that TPOL was killing the economy by not traveling, that the flu kills more people, that this was an invention of the media, and on and on and on? I do (see Thank You Delta: Coronavirus Waiver). As this pandemic spreads, I don’t hear from those idiots anymore. What I do see are jerks going to the bar, drinking coronas, and thinking that getting the virus won’t affect them. While the chances of dying from this virus are very low for most people, especially the young, that doesn’t mean that people should be acting so recklessly.
Why? Because if you contract the virus and you come into contact with an elderly person or someone with a preexisting condition, you could infect that person. And that person may not fare as well as you. It is time to be paranoid about this pandemic. It is time to practice social distancing. It is not time to be a jerk and post photos on Instagram of you in a crowded place yelling lame shit like, “YOLO!”
Worst case is that TPOL is wrong, is overreacting, and we all live.
Puerto Rico is doing it the right way by implementing a curfew.
