Travel Thoughts

For the most part of my travels previously, I have been alone.  Most of them are business trips, and I am the only one sent by the company.  But as of late, I have had travel companions.  And I have finally started to enjoy the company, the banter, the bonding due to shared experiences, especially during foreign trips.

But yesterday, here in Taipei, I was alone for the first day.  And I got to remember again a lot of the experiences of traveling alone.

Like what seems like endless walking.  I am quite uncomfortable taking cabs, fearing exploitative drivers.  So I would rather walk, with map on hand.  I actually have fun looking for places.  And the best part of walking is the chance to re-trace steps quickly in case you feel lost.

I used to be able to walk for hours, not even stopping for coffee.  I had such limited time since the shopping and sight-seeing were just squeezed in the business meetings.

I also enjoy being able to hear Mass at different Catholic Churches.  I could see the ranges of attendance, from packed churches in Dubai, Toronto to the almost-empty parishes in London, Paris.  Despite the Vatican's enforcement of uniformity across all dioceses, Masses are celebrated in different ways in different countries.  And that makes for some confusing behavior (why are they standing or kneeling at this point in the mass?)

In certain OFW-countries, I get comforted by seeing kababayans around.  After a long time of not hearing Tagalog, listening to sometimes loud and rowdy conversation in Tagalog is music!  And where the Churches are, there will be the small enterprises catering to our unique Pinoy tastes: pirated DVDs, remittance centers, karaoke, polvoron, adobo.  Yet I can't help but feel sad for some of them, for those who felt they had no choice but leave family and friends behind just for higher pay.  I still feel that way every time.

Molestya

Over-dinner conversation:

"Bakit? May itsura naman ako! Malaki rin naman! Bakit di niya ako in-extra?" complains one of them.
"Oh, saan naman nanggagaling yan? asks another. "Kahapon, pinuntahan namin yung ni-recommend ni (points to one of them) na spa. Akala ko ok. Kahihintay ko na may mangyari, nakatulog na ako."
Everybody's chuckling over this.
"Akala ko, ayaw mong inaalok ka ng extra?"
"Ayaw ko nga. Pero kung momolestiyahin niya ako, may magagawa pa ba ako?" More laughter.
"Ganun? Pwede ka naman tumanggi!"
"Eh kung hawak na niya, at aroused na ako... helpless na ako."
"Pero ayaw mo ng extra."
"Ayaw ko pag yun ang pakay.  Yung may negotiation pa.  Turn-off no?  Ang bet ko yung parang na-arouse siya sa pagmasahe sa akin.  At hindi niya mapigilan na molestiyahin ako."
"You don't want to ask for it.  You want it to come from your therapist.  Na type na type ka niya.  So it's an ego thing.  All in the head. Pun intended."
"Yeah.  Yun ang trip ko.  At malaki ako mag-tip kung ganun."

Walang basagan ng trip.




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Taipei Clubbing

I had a whirlwind tour of Gay Taipei last night.  We started with Red House Square (Ximen) on the west side of the city.  I consider this Ground Zero of Gay Taipei.  There were so many little bars and shops catering to the pink Taiwan dollar!  I'm amazed that the gay community here could actually support this 'niche' businesses.  We settled at G2 Paradise to ogle.  (They have such kitschy names for bars)

Then we went to the east side.  And there were more bars there, smaller ones and not clustered as it was in Ximen.  My friend/tour guide was telling me that the bars here were a bit more upscale, popular among models and wannabes.  And they could get jampacked.  True enough, this one bar we went to, La Boca, was really small (though had two levels) and already full with people.  Yet my friend told me that was a slow night.  I didn't see much model types, though.  Maybe according to their tastes. hehe

Then to another bar, a new one, Re-fresh, owned by his friend, and my friend, too.  Not too many people yet, since it is just building its base.  But the place has got potential.  It even has its own dark room (groping room).  And as we were chatting on his roof deck, would you believe that the police came in to verify the age of the patrons?!  Their police is being very strict about this, it turns out.  Their presence did put a certain tension in the air.

Then finally to G-star club, a big dance club very much like Bed (probably just as big, too).  Also with two levels.  At 1230am when we got there, it was already soooo full of gay Taiwanese rocking and rolling (or should I say sashaying) to the beat.  They play a lot of K-pop, including 2n1 (Sandara).  And just like Bed, there is a platform/stage.  It was fun watching them lipsynch and move just like the music videos!  As much as I would have liked to dance and move, I couldn't with all that people cramming the dance floor.

The downside to all of this is... my aging body didn't enjoy all that walking from one place to the next.  And though I enjoyed the alcohol, I realized that if I couldn't dance the effects of alcohol away, I'll become sleepy.

Mental note: I'm really waaay past this.  I'll enjoy dance music only if I could move with it.  Other than that, let's just have wine and cheese and great conversation.

cc quickie: to my new closet raider

hello luke. i have to dedicate a separate post for you! thank you so much for doing a marathon on the blogposts! i'm truly glad and humbled that you found the blog entertaining, enough to even recommend it to another. so many things have happened in my life and this blog is some kind of testament to it (but with alterations! hehe) i hope i could continue to entertain you with the blog in the future. cc


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Carlito 14, Paolo 9

"Maayong buntag, Babe" text ni Lucas ang unang pumasok sa telepono niya pagka-turn on nito. Nangiti si Carlito. Maayos naman ang flight papuntang Cebu. Naghintay muna siya ng makarating na siya sa luggage claim area bago tumawag.

"Hello Babe. Nandito na ako, palabas. Saan kita hihintayin?" tanong ni Carlito.

"Hey Babe! Nakapark lang ako. Dadaan ako mismo sa harap ng exit mo. Di ka na lalayo." excited ang boses ni Lucas.

"Kamusta ang flight, Babe? Maayos naman?" Nasa kotse na sila patungo na ng Cebu City.

"Yeah, ang aga lang. Di ako nakatulog masyado sa plane. Ang ingay
ng katabi ko. Mga OFW."

"Hahaha, kawawa ka naman. Hayaan mo, makakapahinga ka. Diretso na muna tayo sa apartment."

Habang papunta dun, naituro na ni Lucas ang mga ibang landmarks sa Cebu tulad ng bagong tulay, ang reclamation, ang SM.

"What's the plan ba?"

"Dito muna tayo sa city tonight. Dinner tayo sa Ayala..."

"Mall na naman? Eh puro mall na nga tayo sa Manila."

"Maganda ang Ayala dito, Babe. At marami kasing choices."

"Anyway, bukas naman paalis tayo ng Bantayan Island. Mag two nights tayo dun."

"Malayo ba yun?"

"Di ako sure. Pero maganda daw. Di ko pa napuntahan. I wanted to visit it with you." at kinuha niya ang kamay ni Carlito at pinisil.

"Okay. Malayo pa ba house mo? Na-jingle na ako."

Normal na uli ang buhay niya ngayong nasa Cebu si Carlito. Nabuhay na naman ang apoy ng damdamin niya, lalo na nung pinagmamasdan niyang nag-aayos ng gamit si Carlito sa bahay. Mula dun ay nagtungo na sila agad sa mall. Excited siyang ipakita ang tanawin ng Cebu, ang pangalawa niyang tahanan.

"Ma-traffic rin, no?"

"Oo, babe, lalo na dito sa Mango. Masikip pa rin ang mga kalye."

"Huy nandyan na pala ang Fitness?"

"Tagal na niyan! Nandito na tayo. Di ba maganda naman ang Ayala Cebu?"

Lumigid-ligid sila sa loob ng mall. Pareho rin naman ang mga brands na nilalaman, lahat nasa Manila na rin. At habang papasok sila sa Rustan's, bigla niyang nasalubong si Paolo.

Si Paolo!?!?

Bigla siyang nanigas. At kahit si Paolo ay biglang tumalikod. At dali-daling pumasok sa looban muli ng Rustan's.

"Kilala mo ba yun, Babe?"

"Huh? Sino?" dedma na lang.

"Yung bagets. Parang kilala ka niya. Biglang nag-aboutface."

"Talaga? Hmmm. Hindi ko napansin."

"Anong hindi mo napansin, eh, parang natigilan ka rin."

"Hindi no? May iba akong napansin. Ano ka ba?" naiirita na si Lucas. At nararamdaman niyang namumula na siya at pinagpapawisan.

"Babe, I saw him and you. Kilala mo ba siya?" nagbabago na rin ang tono ni Carlito.

Hinarap niya at tinitigan niya si Carlito. "I swear I don't know him. Di ko napansin."

"Kung ikaw may nililihim sa akin, Babe"

"Carl, naman, kararating mo lang, nagseselos ka na! I don't even know the guy!" tumataas na ang boses niya. Ganyan talaga, unahan lang ng sindak.

"Ok, ok. Weird lang, Babe. As in, ang weird."

"Fine. I really don't know him, okay? Tara, let's eat na." at niyaya na niya si Carlito patungong Cafe Laguna.

Hindi na muli binanggit ni Carlito yung enkwentro kay Paolo. Bumalik sa normal ang usapan. Ngunit naramdaman niyang nag-vibrate ang kanyang cellphone. Tumiyempo siya ng nag-CR si Carlito at binasa ang text.

"M sori." text ni Paolo sa kanya. Mas lalo siyang nagalit sa bata at bilis dinelete ang text. 'Tang-ina!' sa loob-loob niya. Sa lahat naman ng places, ngayon pa nagpunta dito.

Bumalik na sa table si Carlito at nagyaya ng umuwi.

"Ok Babe, may biyahe pa tayo bukas. I'm so happy you are finally here, Babe!"



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Delhi Delights

It was my first time to visit New Delhi. (Yes, there is an 'Old' Delhi.) I've been to India twice before, but always visiting Mumbai. A business trip afforded me the chance to see a childhood dream - the Taj Mahal.




It is another 4.5 hours away from New Delhi. Quite a ride but all worth it when I finally came to behold the beauty of the monument/mausoleum in the late afternoon. The temperature was still in the late 30's, but certainly much better than the mid-40's of the mid-afternoon! And there were less people by 530pm (it's summer so sun sets late, past 6pm) and monument closes by 630pm.




The beauty of the Taj Mahal comes from the symmetry and the use of optical illusions in so many ways. For example, this archway makes the edifice seem to actually grow in size as one moves away from it! Amazing!




And those zigzagging columns on the corners look like they are uneven from afar when these are actually smooth surfaces. And none of that floral-Arabic detail is painted on, mind you! These are all etches on the surface, with the different colored semi-precious stones to achieve the color. (Think Lapiz Lazuli, Star of India gemstones!)

Another delightful surprise in New Delhi was my visit to the "Kingdom of Dreams". Ok, so the name of the place is quite kitschy but the entire complex is so impressive, with each and every surface made up of carvings and color and lightbulbs.




It is actually a theater with a restaurant building beside it. And we got to watch this amazing musical which could only be truly Indian in theme and style, "Zangoora". Too bad I couldn't take pictures while the two-hour musical was ongoing. But I assure you, the show is breathtaking.

Production-wise, the show did not spare any expense. Aside from the multi-level LED stage backdrop, even the sides of the theatre had LCD screens that changed with the scenery. And there were hanging cables everywhere, allowing the cast to come from literally everywhere (top, down, side) to dazzle the audiences.

And true to form, the show is the embodiment of the Bollywood style of music and dancing. According to my Indian hosts, the musical incorporated popular Bollywood songs and just a few original numbers. Bollywood came to life on stage, with all of its color, and terpsichorean skill! I certainly appreciate all that is Indian in that show, particularly the Indian male.





But of course, the lead star is a gypsy king, a gorgeous, hunky Indian who could move like Jagger. He was really handsome, chiselled in that particularly Indian way. And the rest of the cast was ABS-olutely impressive, too! All the male dancers had abs on display, something not lost to the pink viewer! They definitely catered to all the sexes there! Whenever in New Delhi, I strongly suggest watching this!

My hosts treated me to a classic Indian icon - the Snake Charmer. This is actually banned in India now, due to the SPCA (animal cruelty guys). But with the right connections in the Delhi ghettoes, you can still find them. The cobra was certainly quite scary but not menacing, since it was quite small in size. Fascinating, nevertheless, for the deaf snakes really just respond to the charmer's movements.





This India trip was incredible and delightful and even nostalgic, as I came face to face with two Indian childhood fantasies - the Taj Mahal and the Snake Charmer.