Still Battling the Bug
July 11th. My condition? Well, I've recovered slightly. Like, barely.
I'm definitely still nowhere near 100%. I basically spent the entire day—from morning until late afternoon—glued to my bed.
I have to check out of this guesthouse and move to my next spot the day after tomorrow, July 13th, so I really need to get my act together. But man, my body just felt like lead.
Still, you can't fight a cold on an empty stomach, right? Without any energy left, I finally dragged myself out into the evening heat just to grab some food.
An Unexpected Friday Night Street Party
On my way back from dinner, passing through my usual street, I noticed a group of local uncles hanging out.
Since it was Friday night, they were throwing a makeshift street party, grilling up some fish right there on the sidewalk. They casually invited me in, generously offering me some of their catch.
And then, out came the Tanduay—the legendary Philippine rum.
The "Shock Treatment"
Honestly, I was so torn. Drinking hard liquor while nursing a nasty cold? Probably the worst idea ever.
But... something in me just couldn't turn down the local hospitality.
"Let's try some shock treatment," I thought.
I figured it would either cure me instantly or completely knock me out. It was a massive gamble—either my health would shoot up to +100 or crash down to -2. Embracing that chaotic mindset, I knocked back the rum.
Connection is the Best Medicine
Surprisingly, taking that gamble turned out to be exactly what I needed.
I had been cooped up in my room, not speaking to a single soul all day. Just hanging out, chatting, and laughing with those guys lifted my spirits immensely.
It reminded me of how powerful simple human interaction can be. The cold isn't totally gone, but my energy is definitely coming back.
Fingers crossed this momentum carries me to a full recovery before moving day!