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Dec 14

It Had Better Not Be Bird Flu

I don’t know what’s going on. Yesterday I forced myself to go to work despite being insanely jetlagged and having a horrible sore throat/head cold. I managed to make it through my office holiday party, met friends for drinks at The Bell House afterward and even ate White Castle at 2am no problem. But this morning I woke up feverish and barely able to speak. And after finally getting a bagel (something New Yorky I had been craving in Asia) and a cup of coffee, instead of feeling better I started puking uncontrollably. I’ve spent my entire Saturday in bed. I’m too dizzy to even look at a computer screen for long, which is frustrating because I have a zillion photos to go through. All I can do is sit still, drink water and watch bad TV. Thank goodness TNT has a new Librarian movie premiering tonight.

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Dec 10

Hong Kong Fluey

I’ve been mum the past few days because the nausea that randomly struck in the cab on the way to the airport on Saturday turned into some sort of full blown stomach flu. I’ve barely been able to keep food down in Hong Kong, which is distressing to someone who travels with the primary intention of eating. I’ve been biting my tongue (or rather, tempering my typing fingers) but now I can honestly declare this the worst vacation ever.

(I also just found out that my freelance review gig for nymag.com has been eliminated, which was no surprise after the recent Gael Greene debacle. I do wonder if it’s bad karma for recently speculating on how the economy hadn’t really fucked me up yet. At least I have a day job and it’s not as if penning a few short reviews a month subsidized SE Asian vacations, anyway. That said, I wouldn’t mind another side deal.)

I spent all Monday night throwing up with those severe kind of stomach cramps where you think a creature is trying to escape. I had to lie mummy-like still on the bed, even moving an inch would trigger another vomit attack. I began to have new empathy for the Zimbabwean cholera victims they keep showing on rows of hospital beds on CNN (and Al Jazeera—I’ve really taken a liking to that station and totally don’t get why Americans are so freaked by it. I learned more about the Hajj in the past few days than I have in a lifetime). At least I’d probably perk up in 36 hours or so. Amd all that hurling has left my ribs in pain, which must mean that my abs have been given a work out. Oh, and I probably didn't digest nearly as many calories as I thought I would. Great vacation diet.

So, today is my last day in Hong Kong and I’m determined to have fun. I’ll eat Sichuan food for lunch, something I’ve had to put off all week, even if it kills me. Tonight it’s schmancy Chinese food at Hutong. HK is obsessed with dress codes, as if the average citizen (or perhaps tourist) is brain damaged. Do not show up at Hutong in shorts, sandals or sleeveless. Our pricy Intercontinental buffet admonished, “no slippers or singlets.” I assume slippers are sandals and flip flops but singlet threw me for a loop. I’m guessing tank top?

I will buck up, keep my meals down and try to refrain from putting on a singlet. And I will be back in NYC Thursday determined to make the rest of 2008 a win.

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Dec 8

Made in Hong Kong

Despite loving SE Asian food more than Chinese (actually, the only Chinese food I've eaten so far is room service beef brisket noodles. Last night it was German beerhall food. Really. And insanely decadent buffet at the Intercontinental. There's something perverse about all you can eat foie gras, champagne and lobster. I'm not sure what happened, flu or food poisoning, but I threw up the entire flight from Sinagapore to Hong Kong, then kept puking in the airport and the subway station. Thankfully, I took barf bags from the plane. They're so obsessed with sweeping and cleaning here to that I'd feel much worse about throwing up on the sidewalk than in NYC. Worse, in that someone would inevitably see what you were up to. Workers are disconcertingly eagle-eyed. I'll never get used to the Asian stand one inch from your shoulder while you sign credit card slips approach. But then, people don't tip at most regular restaurants, primarily becuase of the 10% service charge, so I guess you're just supposed to sign and hand over quickly, no mental tip calculation or you just leave cash) I'm glad to be in Hong Kong if only for the more tolerable weather.

Of course, everyone's bundled up in winter coats despite only being 66 degrees, which isn't all that different from New Yorkers who seem to crack out the gloves, scarves and mittens once it gets into the 50s. Yes, I have issues with seasonally inappropriate behavior.

We only have three days left on vacation, which bums me out because I don't feel relaxed or satisfied in the least. It would take at least one more full week to feel right. Ok, off to find dim sum at a restaurant that may or may not have English menus. We'll see. Oh, and roast goose for dinner. Chinese food all the way today.

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Dec 5

Nebulizers and Cheese Doughnuts

Turns out I was overly concerned. James did have severe bronchitis but not pneumonia. This is Singapore, after all, home of insane efficiency and subsidized healthcare. No need to worry. We were in and out of the hospital in less than two hours and the consultation, nebulizer treatment and three perscriptions were all just over $100. Office visits were only $20 Singaporean (about $13 USD) even for tourists and for $35 Singaporean you can go to the executive clinic on the second floor where you get seen faster and by a more senior doctor. This is what we did. So Asian. They seem to love concepts like premier, executive and so on. Paying for prestige and well, better service.

Thumbs up to Singapore's health services. I can't even imagine how much it would suck for a tourist in NYC having to go to the hospital in an emergency. I've never been to an NYC hospital and loathe the thought.

The thing is that the horrible heat and humidity exacerbated James' condition so we're supposed to stay in air conditioned spaces. Easy to do here, as the city is practically a giant mall. Our last meal in Singapore won't likely be hawker food then, but you'd be surprised at how good even food court cuisine can be (OK, there's no accounting for their Kenny Rogers Roasters). I'm thinking Indonesian for dinner. This afternoon I had a cheese (yes, cheese as in white, parmesan-y and melted) doughnut at J.Co and a pepper crab turnover from Polar Puffs. Oh, and kaya toast and eggs from Ya Kun. No, calories don't count on vacation.

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Dec 5

Sick But Not Homesick

I've been trying to be negative, as is my usual way, but this is devolving into the worst vacation ever. My mild sniffles have turned into an ear and throat ache and James' cold and cough that he left NYC with has turned into something where he can't breathe or walk more than ten feet without hyperventilating. We considered going to the emergency room last night and I think we're going to have to go to the hospital today (Friday morning) because it's getting worse. I think it's severe bronchitis, at least I hope so, because respiratory ailments in Singapore and Hong Kong (where we're supposed to be tomorrow) are very serious post-SARS. If it's pneunonia they will send up back to the US. I'm afraid showing up with breathing problems and a cough is going to fuck up the rest of this vacation. At least I don't think either of us has a fever, which would be the kiss of death. And it's all because of Thailand. If we were there like we were meant to be this week, we could just buy amoxicillin over the counter. You can't just go to a clinic in Singapore and ask for antibiotics, they're going to x-ray, lord knows what else and quarantine you or something.

I had planned on trying the DiFara of rojak today but it appears that I'll be in a hospital waiting room. And if you never hear from me again, I'm stuck in a Singaporean isolation ward.

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