THIS IS HOW YOU PANDEMIC - DAY 05

I think it goes without saying that I’ve never been in a situation like this before - isolated in an approximately 200 sq ft room and not setting foot outside of said room for 14 days. I recognize that in reality, this situation is really not that bad; I have access to communication with “the outside world”, a 24hr concierge service, meals three times a day, extra snacks and goodies delivered, and most importantly, a “date of release” just around the corner. All that being said, being confined in a room that’s not your own and having limited personal items at your disposal still kind of messes with your brain sometimes, especially when the circumstance under which you’re in this isolation is not a particular happy one, filled with uncertainty, tension, and possible grief. I find myself doing mental gymnastics periodically to make sure I’m in a good head space.

Being here in this room, I 100% feel like I’m living in an alternate reality, especially as I doom-scroll through the news from the U.S. where the other half of my life is. Once I finish my time in this room, I get to head out to a place where I feel safe and confident about the health of myself and the people around me, all the while knowing it’s the exact opposite back in my other home.

It’s only Day 05, you’d think I’d ration out the existential crisis musings a little better. What am I going to be depressed about on Day 12? Let’s get back to the important stuff: Today’s meal game.

We started off the morning strong with traditional Taiwanese breakfast (FINALLY!) and I’m glad I was already up to have it while it was hot.

蘿蔔糕 (radish cakes) with green onion egg “omelette” and a side of 油條, which I think just translates to “fried dough”? Because that’s literally what it is. It’s one of the staples of a Chinese breakfast (and I’m using “Chinese” in the broad cultural term, not geo-political term… let’s not go there just yet.) Since it’s just fried dough, it’s very versatile and there’s a millions ways to eat it - between 燒餅 (flat bread), in rice balls, with congee, by itself…etc

蘿蔔糕 Radish cake with green onion omelette and sweet soy sauce. Yummmm.

蘿蔔糕 Radish cake with green onion omelette and sweet soy sauce. Yummmm.

 
Literally just dough that’s fried. Think of it kind of like a long, thin, crispy…doughnut? That might be wrong.

Literally just dough that’s fried. Think of it kind of like a long, thin, crispy…doughnut? That might be wrong.

 

Or, one of my dad’s FAVORITE way- dunk it in hot soy milk. (Remember, this isn’t Silk soy milk…) I’ve NEVER liked eating it this way, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever tried it. But in honor of my dad, who has a long recovery road ahead, I decided to dunk my 油條 in my soy milk today, and y’all - I HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT. It is delicious. My dad always knows what he’s talking about when it comes to Chinese food. I don’t know why I doubted him.

I’m ashamed to say it took my 30+ years to finally realize this amazing combo. Sorry, dad!

I’m ashamed to say it took my 30+ years to finally realize this amazing combo. Sorry, dad!

 

Two surprises came before lunch today. The first one was from 姑姑Gugu (“gugu” means “aunt”; specifically how you would refer to your father’s older sister(s) who is one of the kindest, most generous, wisest woman I know; an angel on earth. And I’m not just saying this because she dropped off a whole bag of goodies.

My aunt is the queen of snacks. She has all the inside info on what’s the best and newest snacks out there on the market. I do not know who her dealer is.

My aunt is the queen of snacks. She has all the inside info on what’s the best and newest snacks out there on the market. I do not know who her dealer is.

 
Peanut mochi and a snack I have a hard time naming. It’s soda biscuits with a marshmallow/taffy filling.

Peanut mochi and a snack I have a hard time naming. It’s soda biscuits with a marshmallow/taffy filling.

 

The second surprise was from the hotel. Apparently, Sunday is “night market day,” so they’re asking guests to choose from a selection of popular night market food stalls to order dinner from. I’m really hoping it’s stinky tofu.

My #1 choice will ALWAYS AND FOREVER be stinky tofu.

My #1 choice will ALWAYS AND FOREVER be stinky tofu.

 

Lunch was interesting. You can tell the hotel is trying to provide meals that are “healthy”, which really is too bad because all I want is greasy lunchboxes and fried everything. But I get it and appreciate the collective effort in making sure we don’t all head home 10kg heavier after quarantine.

After “Kicking Off a Healthy Life” with Day03’s lunch, it’s time to “Get Power” for today.

After “Kicking Off a Healthy Life” with Day03’s lunch, it’s time to “Get Power” for today.

Braised beef with all sorts of pretty yummy veggies on top of “black rice.”

Braised beef with all sorts of pretty yummy veggies on top of “black rice.”

 
We actually call it “purple rice” which, after googling, is commonly referred to as “black rice” in English; a more nutritious and high-fiber strain of rice.

We actually call it “purple rice” which, after googling, is commonly referred to as “black rice” in English; a more nutritious and high-fiber strain of rice.

 

I did a really good job today of not drifting off to sleep this afternoon and finished watching “How to with John Wilson” on HBO. 10/10 would recommend! It is sometimes cringey as fuck, but ha-ha cringey, not Four-Seasons-Total-Landscape cringey.

So this

 

Not this

badcringe.gif
 

Dinner was actually pretty good, with healthy black sticky rice, stir fried beef, steamed fish, veggies, and wood ear.

 

As I was getting ready for bed and finishing up today’s post, there came a knock on the door, and y’all know what that means! But at 9pm? As I mentioned before, the weather has been cold and rainy all this week and the hotel sent up some late night soup to “warm us up!”

The hotel mascot “Little Orange” is either going to pee his pants, or just excited about soup. It says “It’s getting cold. A warm soup before bed to give you a good night’s sleep.” Thanks, Little Orange, but it will probably make me have to go to th…

The hotel mascot “Little Orange” is either going to pee his pants, or just excited about soup. It says “It’s getting cold. A warm soup before bed to give you a good night’s sleep.” Thanks, Little Orange, but it will probably make me have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, hence disrupting my sleep. But I appreciate the thought, little fruit!

 

That’s so sweet, but I just got done with my 20min cardio workout, took a shower, and am ready to sleep until morning, so I will not be partaking in the soup tonight. But it’s nice to know that in this crazy dumpster fire of a year, there are still people making sure we feel nice and warm when it gets cold and depressing outside.