47- Boracay

There will be no fancy photos here.

Maybe this entry comes on the heels of the summertime in the Philippines slowly descending into the bottom of the sea.

Or maybe not.

Boracay is one of the Philippines' crown jewels for tourism. Granted, it does have pristine beaches and the island does have a 24 by 7 vibe to it.

This brings me to my main point- why am I not interested?

Okay, perhaps I am all about boring and all about ennui. Or maybe, there's something else about it.

People watching can be fun, and heck, there is extra incentive tied in to people-watching especially when the people you watch are pretty, pretty, folk. Partying can  be fun, a lot of fun, but where do we set limits to this? When does partying, being whimsical, become laughable?

Maybe I just tend to eschew "mainstream" in general, that's why I don't consider myself, or ever want to be, fully indoctrinated into the "Boracay" crowd.

Call me old fashioned, but, I'd rather go on cultural treks and go museum hopping rather than partying for 3 days straight.

If Boracay's the best of our tourist spots, then, we've got a lot of work to do. There's so much more to our nation's culture that people shaking wildly to Arman Van Buren.

(In some ways, the Arman Van Buren reference is, in itself, old school)

MC

46- The Singapore MRT

                                                     From my 2013 Singapore sojourn. 

Whenever I think of Singapore, I can't help but gush about the city's train system.

Metro Rails may be a mundane subject to many, but, for a kid who's grown up and lived in a country which is still working to sort out its public transportation system, an engineering and urban planning feat such as the Singapore MRT is something I can't help but marvel at.

Singapore is not a large country, relatively speaking. The fact that the island has MRT stations at what seems to be every corner makes it all the more simple and convenient to navigate.

The Mass Rapid Transit of Singapore opened in 1987. Next to Manila's LRT system, SG's train network is the oldest in Southeast Asia. According to Wikipedia.Org, 2.6 million people ride the Singapore MRT on a daily basis. Manila's trains are also packed on a daily basis- despite being far more unreliable than their Singaporean equivalents.

Before I get too "stat crazy", do allow me to get "experiential" about this subject.

I love the fact that the Singapore trains are usually on time, and that stations are usually packed with signs which help guide commuters as to where to go, to get to what part of town. I also like the fact that there are ushers around (at least in some of the stations I managed to visit) to assist commuters who look (or are) lost.

It is also a plus that Singapore MRT trains and MRT stations are usually immaculately clean and organized. Commuting in a country as warm as Singapore is no joke, so, being able to do so within an environment that is more or less comfortable and easy on the sense is a big motivation for many to just keep going, and not do an about-face and head on home. Believe me, chaotic train stations in Manila turn off many a commuter. They find it more prudent to turn around and take the bus to go to work, or, pack up and go home altogether.

This isn't an advertisement for the Singapore Tourism Board. This isn't a paid advertisement, period. This is merely a statement of truth, and me appreciating the fact that a little organization, and social vigilance, goes a long way.

I know the Philippines is an archipelago, and by virtue of it being so, it then becomes difficult to organize a transportation system which covers the entire country in one go.

This doesn't mean we can't start small, and dream big, though. Not by a mile.

MC

45- Freedom

Death is life, and life is somehow defined by the finality of death. I find myself today at a loss. One of my grandparents has passed on. Having learned of her final days made me think.

Freedom is soul less the burdens of the flesh. In her last few weeks on Earth, my grandmother was not in the best of health. Illness had made it hard to even breathe, much less do anything we who are young, vibrant, full of strength, deem to be part of routine. We take too many things for granted while we patrol this realm. Ironically, life itself, living, is one of those things.

This is supposed to be a travel blog, peppered with the usual stream-of-consciousness stuff that is meant to make observations hold water before the Jury of Meaning. As I have been faced with the reality of death, I have been reminded of the significance of the ultimate journey- of trying to go through life "doing" Carpe Diem, and not just wearing the words on a t-shirt.

My grandmother- and all the others I have had (we are a big family), for that matter- are absolute gems. I use this term to describe them because it is through them that I have recalled the brilliance of living, and living fully. Times were not always easy for these women, no way, but in their own individual ways, they persevered. One was a nurse, a few homemakers, and another, well, could kill sea snakes with her bare hands- or so she told wide-eyed little me when I was very young. They all have managed to weave a brand of magic that I don't think I will ever cease to appreciate.

Whether I find myself in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Los Angeles, Rome, or, well, at the bottom of a well somewhere, I know the spirits, the virtues, of my kin will always be with me, helping me navigate through life. I would be so much less without these amazing guiding lights.

Life is defined by death, and death, by life. True freedom is also defined by the treasures rendered by a life lived, and while life is lost as the journey ends, the life is never, ever, forgotten.

Love knows no death. Love lives free. Love flourishes upon which radiance would normally never be.

MC

Posted via Blogaway

Posted via Blogaway

45- Memory

Have you ever gotten sick and tired of how your coffee tastes like in the morning? How the city traffic gets under your skin? How life's conundrums which ultimately boil down to money and power rape your soul of dignity?

Yes. I thought you'd say yes.

Here's a thought.

People surf the internet for fun. Sometimes, we skim through cyberspace for work, but most of the time, we do so for fun. Some people surf the web and search for pictures, beautiful pictures. Of places. Of things. Of the stuff dreams are made of.

Beautiful scenery like this, for example, is Google-d, and marveled at very, very, much.

           A shot of Singapore's many buildings and thoroughfares from the Marina Bay Sands                                                                                    view deck. 
                              (Take note of the magnificent Singapore Flyer on the left hand side!)


I believe that many times, people tell themselves that they "want to travel" because they "can't stand being idle" or "can't stand being stuck in one place". Perhaps, a slight change in dialogue, would be in order. Maybe we should tell ourselves that we should travel so that we can heal the malaise known as seeing life from a single perspective.

Paste a thousand eyes on me, will you? While you're at it, make those eyes look in a thousand different directions so that I can see things better, so that I can make sure that I am able to take note of every single beautiful detail that makes up the WONDER that is YOU.

                         A picture of a serene Monday afternoon in Camarillo, California.

"Getting away from it all" shouldn't just be a buzzword. It should be a fully comprehensible, tangible, part of one's lifestyle. Explore. Invent. Create. Have vision. Live life with an infallible zest. The value of all this can't be overstated.

I've been fortunate enough to have been able to take the photos above in person. The pictures here came from my own camera. I clicked the darn thing, and it snapped up a memory, forever frozen in time.

I encourage people to make memories during their every waking moment. I encourage them to do so because every memory you create, and subsequently cherish, are things which never really fade or wither. Memories only become more deeply embedded in our spirits with time. They are gifts that go from womb to tomb.

To close, I would like to thank you, the reader, for taking time to read my blog. The thought that a handful of folks take time to read my thoughts is, in itself, a memory I hold dear.

MC

44- Amsterdam

Amsterdam. April 2013.

It was cold, really cold. I am a kid from the tropics, and so, the weather in Amsterdam at that time of year totally gave the expression “shiver me timbers” a whole new meaning.

Within my first 2-3 days in Europe, I felt like I couldn’t- and shouldn’t- ever leave to go back to the life I had left behind.

Of course, I did still ride my KLM and Korean Air flights on April 30^th. I still did go home to my dogs, my sister, my dad, and my warm bed after a few weeks in the clouds. It was inevitable that I did. This life does not look upon spur-of-the-moment choices with much aplomb- even if some spur-of-the-moment choices end up being the best choices one ever makes.

I stayed with my mom and youngest sister in Amphora Bed and Breakfast. The owners of the place, Greet and Niels, provided us with everything we needed for a few intrepid Filipinos to be able to survive the Amsterdam cold- and then some. My sister had all the Nutella she could eat, and I downed some really good apple and cranberry juice on a regular basis. We never opened the television during our stay, maybe because we always felt like we had so many things to talk about and stuff about the city which we had to look up online via our tablets and Smartphones.

Here are a few snapshots of the place. Quite simple, tastefully decorated, and homey. No wonder it has won best B and B in Amsterdam once before. 

The fascade of Amphora. My face looks really pale here. No accident. I was freezing my nose off here. Cryogenic treatments, anyone? 

                          A quaint little dining area. I love the eclectic and whimsical decor. 

                                                             Again, simple elegance.

I initially noticed a number of things about Amsterdam that might surprise the first timer. The city's Red Light District, interestingly enough, was populated at night by tour groups with participants ranging from senior citizens to, gasp, pre-teens. Well, I guys that's just how open and liberal they can be over there. It's a matter of how you regulate and contextualize things, I suppose. 

Speaking of how things are regulated and contextualized, marijuana is legal in Amsterdam. One of the first things a tour guide (Terry) I met over there told me was to be wary about taking coffee in just any coffee shop. The reason? There are apparently a lot of coffee shops that mix in weed with their offerings as a staple practice. I don't mind a caffeine high, but the other kind of high? I think I'll pass. Maybe not on a regular basis at least. 

Apart from having a Sex Museum, a Museum of Modern Art, a Museum of Medieval Art, and a museum for everything else in between, there were, surprisingly, a lot of Medieval Torture museums in Amsterdam (and in other parts of Europe that I managed to visit). Above is a photograph of me at one such place in Damrak 33. Ironically, this place was just a stone's throw away from a coffee shop, a local tourist center, and, a Sex Museum. That kind of layout makes for an interesting exposure trip for Little Johnny. Have some coffee, see Phallic Symbols and Bare Bosoms, and Heads on a Stake, all in one go! How exciting! 

I love being exposed to different kinds of culture. That's why I love travelling. That's why I love being part of a good adventure. 

One of the things I miss most about Europe would probably be the fact that every street corner seemed to talk to me. Every street corner, every building, every home, seemed to have a unique voice that spoke to me about enthralling, bygone eras, I could only marvel at previously through books, movies, and yes, general daydreaming.

Yes, Amsterdam was fantastic. The city, as did Rome, "spoke" to me. It's a shame I only a few days to soak everything in. 

I've said this a lot on this blog, and yes, I will say it again here. I will be back. 

My passport and visas have been in hibernation lately. Best I rev up the traveling man's engine again and strive to get lost- to go far, far, away from all things judgmental and unrelentingly cynical and weak. 

MC

43- Flipped 1

                  A photograph of me and my adopted brother, Stay Puft. Hollywood and Highland,
                                                             Los Angeles. August 2013.


Apart from getting to watch WWE Summerslam 2013, part of my US escapade last from August of last year was a chance to actually "take in" LA.

One thing I love the US in general is shopping. There is a lot of the usual "Made in China' fare, but honestly, there is a lot of stuff you just don't see back home in the Philippines, or in Asia, for that matter. During my last morning/afternoon in the City of Angels, I got around to spending time at Hollywood and Highland, a mecca for tourists in search of the best view of the "HOLLYWOOD" sign, and some overpriced souvenirs to take home to Ma, Pa, and Little Jimmy and Jane. \

First, there was Hot Topic. First impression was that, well, there were a lot of odd looking fellows in there with piercings and all that jazz, but, I was there for something else- WWE T-Shirts. Two days prior to my hot topic visit, I was at the Staples Center for Summerslam 2013. For those who are US-based, this might not seem like a huge deal, but, to this Filipino lad, travelling halfway around the world to witness a pro-wrestling spectacle in person is pretty darn significant. WWE Summerslam Axcess made Miguel's inner kid go bananas too. I got to meet some of the current crop of wrestling stars (Yoshi Tatsu was extra friendly), and got a truckload of shirts. $25-$30 a shirt? Quite steep, yes. But for someone from my neck of the woods, I said, "What the heck, right?". So I whipped out my greenbacks and bought, bought, bought.

Hot Topic sold the shirts for $15-$20 less. Did I lose sleep over the dollar duping? Not really, but here's a note to all tourists- don't think like when when you need to make souvenir purchases. I've usually adhered to this philosophy. So I slipped once. Not the biggest tragedy.

                                         
                                                         Photo Courtesy of Elirose Borja.

Los Angeles where Hollywood is after all, and so, celebrity sightings are not unusual, whether you're strolling around near the Nokia Theater, or, having a Cappuccino in an LA suburb. Broadcaster Larry King has always been known to be Professional Wrestling fan, so, it was no surprise seeing him at WWE Summerslam Axcess 2013. The great thing was that I got to "tail" him for a little bit. As seen in the photo above, I got to snap a few shots of one of the most renowned talk show personalities in the world. I really was on full tourist mode in LA, eh?

                                     Chilling at the Staples Center with my new friend, Phil Reyes.                                      
                                                  Photo courtesy of Tin Franco/Rose Borja

When seen purely from the standpoint of a wide-eyed fan, being at the Staples Center was an amazing experience. I have never been a Clippers nor a Lakers fan, but having been able to go into a building with so much NBA history tied to it, was breathtaking. Put on top of that, the fact that I had gotten to watch some of the best wrestlers ever- upstarts, and vets - go at it on a Pay-Per-View stage/level, and what you get is an awestruck Migi.

Man, Brock Lesnar was HUGE, but cat-quick. Daniel Bryan was a dynamo in the ring, and had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Dolph Ziggler's athleticism did not fail to captivate, and one can only wonder why he hasn't been pushed more as of late. Kane was, well, Kane. Bray Wyatt, in his first Pay-Per-View contest, shone like few others before him.

It always has amazed me how "hardcore" wrestling fans can be. Signs, chants, t-shirts, you name it. Wrestling fans will always think of ways to express their views, negative or positive, much to the delight of those in charge of Marketing for wrestlers and the promotions they represent. At the end of Summerslam, there I sat, voice strained (from all the shouting and chanting), and with a full stomach (the buffet at the VIP suite was quite good). I even got a WWE Action Figure, and a Summerslam Cap, courtesy of one of WWE's PR guys. Indeed, the weekend was any wrestling fan's dream.

As rambling as this entry seems, it does prove something about amazing travel experiences. Sometimes, all that remains after a few months, or a few years, are the salient points, the key events. My trip to Los Angeles in 2013 was one that left me with a choc full of memories, so much so that I can't help but ramble about them in little bits. It's tough to know where to begin when an entire week for you was sensory overload from start to finish.

If tossing fish bits in a bucket is what it will take for me to tell people more about certain travel experiences I've had which are tough to share via a perfectly flowing narrative, then so be it. It's not a knock on the writer as a writer. It's more of, the natural shape of the experience as shared by one who wants to work according to it, and not against it, or with the purpose of reinventing it.

Just the same, you could view it as a cop out and dump a bucket of noodles over my head. Either way, if it makes for good entertainment, I'm all for it.

More stuff soon.

MC