Silence in the streets

Today there was silence in the streets, a kind of eery feeling like we are nearing end times. What is normally one of the busiest streets in town, today on election day, was empty. Except for three young kids selling phone cards, no-one was on the road. No cars honking their horns as they drive down the hill, no achabas (guys on motor bikes) swirving in and out of traffic, no pedestrians running in between cars while crossing the streets, no broken down taxis stopping every few streets to pick up passengers, no women selling bananas, carrots or other fruits and vegetables by the side of the road and no guys yelling "baturi" (white person) at me. It was so refreshing to walk outside and breathe in the silence. Today there was a sense of peace, a quietness I have only known on election day. And it may be many years before I ever have this feeling again.