How I survived the 14-day quarantine period

I finally understood how Thomas Edison might have invented the light bulb (and other inventions) after 1000 times of failed attempts. It takes relentless focus and religious-like effort doing a single task over and over again. 

I could inform dad to keep the clothes

For the past 14 days, I was confined inside a 350 square-feet room. It was a unique experience. 

I kept myself focused on work, glad to schedule night meetings, and even conducted some live-witness testing in USA (obviously during their working hours, which is 12 hours difference). I worked and ate on the same table.

However, it was equally important that I manage the screen time. There was a high tendency to get glued to the computer most of the time. This would be highly detrimental to health and mental wellbeing. So, I am thankful that radios are online nowadays. BusinessFM, MoneyFM and FlyFM would take sequential turns to fill the otherwise soulless room. 

I can truly say that this is the longest period in my life staying in a confined room. Even during the Circuit Breaker in Singapore, I had jogs once in 3 days, and busied myself cooking and shopping for groceries at the supermarket. 

Exercise was essential. It was important for stress management and to keep my limps functioning (before they degrade). Everyday, I did stretching in the morning for around 20 minutes before breakfast and work.  After work, I would do around an hour of (amateur) exercise, which include 60 pushups and sit ups, 200 swings of the racket (forehand and backhand), 100 calf raises and aerobic jumps. I increased the sets slowly, and by the end of 2 weeks, I almost doubled the initial workout regime. 

Florence - Where Leonardo da Vinci was based

Previously, we had a pleasant experience in Venice:

https://weesertan.blogspot.com/2020/08/venice-city-of-canals-and-bridges.html

Khokan, the AirBnb host allowed us for a late checkout around 1pm. 

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My first understanding of Florence is via their football club - Florentina, with David Ginola being their star player. Their distinct purple-white jersey was striking. 

Florence is located almost in the middle of Italy, and is suitable as a mid-stop to Rome (in the south).

We took the 2.12pm Italo train from Venice Mestre station to Florence's Santa Maria Novella (SMN) station. The train ride took around 2 hours, with a top speed of 240km/hr. Our AirBnb was around 700m away from the train station, so it was convenient. The only challenge was that the room was on the 4th floor, via a narrow staircase. The facilities was good though, and we spent some time trying to work out the dishwasher. Giacomo was a friendly and helpful host. 

La Bussulo walking tour guide - Nora (was knowledgeable) - Like most Medieval cities, a river strikes through

Florence, like Venice, was the center of Medieval Europe. The city was established by Julius Caeser in 59 BC. To read more, Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence  

In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII said that Aristotle was wrong, the universe was made out of five elements, not four: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Florentines. (Ref: https://wikitravel.org/en/Florence)

This city is believed to have the highest concentration of art pieces. 

Nicollo Machiavelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Michelangelo, Raphael and the Medici family all called Florence home. Unsurprising, the San Croce church contains the tombs of Michelangelo and Galileo, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of their time. 

 

Arno River - The 241km river is the most important in central Italy

Happy Malaysia Day, from Malaysia

When the Prime Minister announced Movement Control Order  (MCO) on 16th March 2020, that Malaysia will shut its borders on 18th March 2020, I scrambled my things and head into Singapore. I had 2 major projects in April and August. Like thousands of Malaysians, there was a mad rush into the Republic on 17th March, and many hadn't come home since. There are still many that are still stuck (including my brother), between a rock and a hard place. 

I consider myself fortunate, and after completing my projects, I decided to come back. The flip-flops in immigration policies did not help. Those who have work permits could do home quarantine (PCA and RGL), while those who lost their jobs / do not have work permits need to serve compulsory 14-day hotel quarantine. Paying RM 2100 (hotel stay) + RM 150 (swap test) + RM 30 (Blood test) was the ticket to go home. 

The barrage of online reviews of not very appetizing meals and not very clean rooms (no housekeeping for 14 days) set the expectations right. I told myself to treat this like a camping trip, and had packed some snacks and food myself. In hindsight, to quarantine is for the benefit of the people around us. The last thing we want is to go home and infect our loved ones. 

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It was a cloudy Saturday morning and I left my place around 9.15am. I quickly cleared Singapore customs. 

Crossing the Causeway for JB, while a crow flies towards Singapore

For the Causeway, which is probably the world's busiest international land-border crossing (some 250,000 people cross daily), it has been a quiet 6 months. Built by British Malaya and opened in 1923, this historical causeway has been the most important travel mode between both countries. 

In 1942, the Japanese Imperial Army had crossed into Singapore in 1942 via the Causeway, after taking Malaya. 

Got shoved into the bus, and took the last seat (only 21 person per bus)

By 9.45am (in just 30 minutes after leaving Jurong West), I was already standing at JB Customs

Little did I know, it would be until 9pm before I check-in my hotel. I wasn't in a hurry, and prepared for the long haul. As usual, the system was not the most efficient, and we had lots of waiting, which was expected. I estimate that there were around 130 people who crossed the border. I was at no. 86.