Sunny day

Yesterday - crowds in the street

The elections yesterday was swift and the result was equally quick ... the PM's Party won by quite a big margin and the opposition party whom everyone thought would win actually suffered a significant lost. Now we'll see if the PM can form a coalition govt. For sure he will ask the ultra-orthodox parties  for support.

With all the news focussed on the elections, we hear nothing about the war at the northern border. Perhaps ignorance is bliss. Israelis and palestinians are only concerned with what the new govt will look like and what the future holds with such a govt.

And we've seen news of a singaporean student beaten up in London because of coronavirus racism. We know it could also happen to us here. So we're keeping a low profile and avoid going out in public.    https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singaporean-student-in-london-seeks-eyewitnesses-after-coronavirus-related-taunt-and?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=STFB&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR0XVX3d2YdFf1xJIkHXEkZRjNU_q2UJgvZhyXYjQGNpg7oGEJdHRe-f_zU#Echobox=1583199972

Red anemone and pink cyclamen

Meantime the weather has warmed up a lot .... a high of 16 degrees at noon. But forecast is a cold wintry weekend ahead. I went to see some wild flowers in the southern hills of Jerusalem. They were beautiful ... wild cyclamens and anemones everywhere. And yesterday's holiday saw lots of locals taking advantage of the right sunny weather to come out to the wilderness to see this incredible sight as well. The Sea of Galilee has risen unbelievably high ... so high that another week's rain or melting snow from Mt, Hermon will warrant the opening of the dam otherwise flooding will occur. Strange as it may sound ... that's good news for us. We finally have lots of water after decades of drought.

Though I've recovered from my cold, I'm still avoiding crowds at all cost. It's not good to fall sick at this moment. Not for fear of catching the virus ... but from anti-asian attacks.

Recollection and racism

Polling Station today

Up at the Syrian-Israeli border, a syrian terrorist tried to shoot into Israel and was bombed out by Israeli helicopters. Apparently in the last few days Israel had been bombing syrian targets as syrian terrorists tried to set up terror infrastructures at the border. Tensions have definitely risen at that spot and summer might see more violence.

Rolling the dough

It's Election Day and the streets are packed with families and locals taking the day off. In fact the road to Jaffa Gate has been cordoned off by the police so that cars cannot drive through .... and it has turned into a pedestrian mall. Shops are opened and doing brisk business. It looks as if coronavirus is all forgotten. There's been 2 new cases this morning but the holiday spirit has taken over. Still if you see some photos in the newspapers ... there're polling stations for the quarantined with attendants in full medical gear.

Dumplings ready
for boiling

And talking about coronavirus ... several Israelis who have returned from banned countries have not observed the self-quarantine. They go out and wander about .... causing panic in the streets and shopping malls. Police are out searching and arresting these people .... and one guy actually fought back the police by spitting and coughing. How irresponsible is that? Wait till half the population os infected ... but still those selfish individuals won't feel guilty. It's the local arrogance thing. Or just call it the biblical name: stiffed-neck people. And by the way .... it's not China but Italy who's the world's major exporter of coronavirus right now.

Yesterday the chinese religious spent an afternoon in Lenten recollection. It was a good opportunity since all of us are cooped up in our houses .... not daring to go out. We've been harassed, mocked, spat at, cursed even driven out of shops because of racism resulting from coronavirus. We discussed some biblical passages and then celebrated Mass before cooking dinner. There was homemade dumplings ... my favorite. After dinner we went back to our own homes ... in the winter darkness ... to avoid people harassing us. That's what life is like now here in the Holy Land. Never in all my years living here have I felt anti-asian racism as aggressive as these few weeks. We asians here have to watch each other's backs.

Stromata

Empty Palm Plaza

The news is all about coronavirus. Can't tell the difference between fake news and real. Some locals returning from blacklisted countries continue to go out without self-quarantine. Others are panicking because of such irresponsible behavior. And latest is a catholic school had some students return from Italy but did not quarantine the students. Parents are up in arms. Unfortunately it's these religious who think they know more .... and are above the law. It's one thing to be prudent ... another to fear irrationally.

Ultra-orthodox jews praying at
Damascus Gate

The coronavirus news is overshadowing tomorrow's Election Day ... the 3rd in a year. Fearing people will not come to vote because of the virus, groups have been circulating fake news about a vaccine has been discovered so it's safe to come out and vote. Utter irresponsibility! Anyway being election day, our workers with israeli citizenship get a day off. That means I'll have to work double to cover their jobs in both libraries. Mind you the workers get paid nonetheless. And it's the 3rd time in a year. And everyone expects a 4th election as well because the deadlock between the political parties seemingly cannot be broken and no feasible coalition govt can be created.

And there's the fake news that the Pope is infected as well. It's like open season and free for all to post fake news. Some rabbis have composed prayers for the end of the virus or at least a cure for it. I wonder if that was what a group of ultra-orthodox jewish worshipper at Damascus Gate the other night ... praying in very loud voices.

And the war in Idlib up north in Syria is worsening ... with both factions increasing their attacks. Over 1 million refugees are on the move ... some young children dying in the heavy snow. It's terrible. Over here, the weather has also changed drastically with rain and gusty winds lowering the temp to 6 degrees. Even nature seems to be working against us.

So the 1st Sunday of Lent passes .... with bad news.

Rest

Bedouin veggie vendors today

Yesterday's fast was a success. I didn't eat anything from 4am to 8pm but drank lots of water. I managed to rest a bit but I also came to work in the evening. And I didn't feel hungry at all. In fact Main restaurant's Linda boiled chinese soup for me but I gave it to one of my workers instead. I felt fine. But I slept early as the doc advised ... to strengthen my resistance to illness.

This morning I was up at 4am to prepare for a retreat I have to preach. At 4am I had time to do things slowly so I don't forget anything. By 7am I was out of the house .... I don't want to be among crowds in case I catch any illness from them. You can never be too cautious. Better safe than sorry. Our grocery store sent a message saying they have boxes of alcohol gel so I quickly went over to get 2 bottles.  You can never be too sure.

Blooming almond tree

The weather has gone all cold and drizzly again. A huge change from yesterday's sunny warmth. I noticed the bedouin veggie vendors were particularly happy. The cold and drizzle keep their veggies fresh. In summer the sun burns and dries them up so by 1pm they are ruined and cannot be sold.

Finally the almond trees at Damascus Gate are blooming. The beautiful pink blossoms crown the bare branches and the fragrance is very delicately sweet. I might go to the cemetery and pluck a few branches back for our Madonna altar.

I've been thinking about how advanced humanity has come in technology and science ... yet it cannot fight a microscopic half-living thing called a virus. God used such a tiny thing to make the entire world kneel before him. It's awesome ... it's humbling. But if we can't hear God behind it all .... then we've learned nothing.

of fruit and friday

So Lent has rolled in and it's the first lenten Friday. The Way of the Cross just started but the muezzin is also singing the call to prayer. It's always this clash every Friday. Still there's not much of a crowd at the Way of the Cross, mainly because of the virus fear. Locals here believe in any rumour and they're in a mindless state of panic ... unless of course if there's money to make. Yesterday we also got an instruction from the Diocese telling us communion is only by the hand and no Holy Water should be available at the door of churches.

Fruit galore

I was prepared for the Friday fast today. Got up at 2am to study and listen to 2 recorded lectures. Then it was time to work, opening the library, getting the mail and new books registered ... settling the new orders etc. But I didn't want to go to the library and work because I wanted to avoid the Friday crowd. It's really not safe in the Old City because tourists from all over the world are walking through the streets and they could be infected carriers. Doc had told me to stay home as much as possible and avoid crowds so that's what I did today. And I bought Dettol spray to wipe everything. I just need alcohol gel ... but that means having to go to the pharmacy through the crowds.

I'm feeling much better after the bout of cold but I'm not lowering my guard. I'm drinking lots of water and eating lots of fruit ... which is just right because there's lots of Spring fruit on sale in the markets. The colours are amazing. Today however I fasted. Had only a cup of lemon juice at 4am. I'll probably break the fast after sunset ... maybe at 7pm. Tomorrow there'll be the lenten vigil at the Holy Sepulchre at midnight. I might join in.

News just in. There had been scuffles at the Gaza-Israeli border in the south. Some people were injured. That's a sign that the weather has warmed up. For the past few weeks when it rained and was almost zero degrees, there were no violence at the border.

Of corona and chives

Buying garlic chives

... and things are getting serious .... now that Saudi Arabia has banned foreigners from entering the country for the haj. And Israel has advised all Israelis from traveling abroad. I've been thinking alot about this and futile it is because firstly no one knows how many arabs in Palestine are infected. There is no procedure or control over the virus in there. Secondly as long as the palestinians continue to enter and leave Israel for work or whatever, the virus will continue to spread.  So blocking foreigners is not a solution ... it will only slow down and limit contamination from abroad ... but the local contamination will only get worse.

My doc is going to love my lenten regime: total vegetarian diet. He's been telling me that for some time and I kept it for a while but when I have to rely only on leftover kitchen food ... many times I have no choice. Mind you I'm eating only white meat when I have to. No red meat for the past 8 months. But my blood pressure and sugar is very high and my liver or pancreas has been hurting twice this week. But my cold sore is gone and my coughing is over .... it's due to the cumulating phlegm. A good walk in the fresh air clears the throat and lungs and I'm ok. Still doc insists that I'm overworked and have insufficient sleep so my resistance is very low. All I need is rest, sleep and simple fresh veggies and fruit. And keep me far away from problematic people ...... please.

Garlic chive dumplings

Yesterday while at Jaffa, I took the opportunity to go to the wet market to buy garlic chives. Our chinese sisters love it and use it alot in their cooking. But it's never sold here in Jerusalem. In Jaffa they sell lots of it. I bought 5 bunches ... making sure I didn't buy shallots like I did the last time. Today the sisters made garlic chive dumplings. That's in keeping with my vegetarian diet. Good stuff!!

Anyway garlic, onions and their leaves are good to keep away the cold virus. And I'm avoiding crowds at all cost .... especially italians. This morning Israel has barred them from entering the country.   

Ash Wednesday

It's Ash Wednesday ... and we don't have coronavirus lockdowns ... so the Mass went ahead and we all received the ashes. I asked the sisters to lend me an old chalice so I can celebrate Mass with it without having to use the common chalice so I don't spread my cold and cold sore. That's what the doc advised.

Choppy sea at Jaffa

I decided after Mass to leave the Old City and go to Jaffa for a quiet day's recollection. Doc said my sickness is due to lowered resistance resulting from lack of sleep and overwork. Everyone in both y libraries tell me to go and rest. So well ... I did. I brought a book with me to read and no food ... being a fast day ... and was really looking forward to a reflective day. The beach promenade was very quiet with very few people. The sea was choppy and waves smashed into the rocks every few seconds.  It was really a lovely setup for meditation and quiet thinking. Then the messages kept beeping in .... from the workers in the library. No photocopy paper, one wants a holiday tomorrow .... It's all a conspiracy. It's a setup to send me away and then dump more problems from a distance.  

Field of tulips

Well I had to come home earlier than planned. That's Lent at it's best ... forced to do something I had not planned or expected. The long one hour ride was stuffy in the 10 seater minibus. The old man next to me was coughing and sniffling. I got off near the King David's hotel and walked across the park just to get my last breath of fresh air. It was a wonderful sight ... fields of wild clover and tulips in bloom. That was one positive thing for an otherwise ruined retreat.

While in Jaffa, fighter jets were flying overhead towards the south ... probably to bomb Gaza. The unexpected flare up in fighting between Gaza and Israel lasted the past 2 days and we now know its because of a video showing Israeli soldiers using a bulldozer to move a dead gazan's body. Well it's all over and today Israel is reopening the borders and even extending the fishing zone for gazans.

Meantime some rabbis have been publicly calling for an end to anti-asian and racist aggression. It is bad .... really ... here. And the rabbis remind the jews that they too were once strangers in a foreign land, blamed for the ills of their host country and made as scapegoats. They should empathise and not victimise asians.  https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/loving-the-stranger-in-a-time-of-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR0m1bGgDf_UuPo27g3DsTtkN2tbDYX1yZI96LhViVoSneKSEvLwT5XaaZU