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Home sweet…home? Well, I suppose I am no longer homeless. I have finally found an apartment in the heart of Bangkok’s commercial district at the footsteps of some of the world’s finest shopping centers with shanty towns crammed between. On my 300-meter walk home from the Skytrain I encounter anything from discount portable DVD players for sale, to miniature Buddhist temples, multiple 7-11 shops and five-ton elephants strolling down the sidewalk. It’s the chaotic melting pot of East meets West and old meets news. And it’s home!
No sooner did I move into my new home, however, did I take off for the homeland: the Philippines. It was definitely nice to be somewhere that I know the language. My mom was visiting Thailand before heading to the Philippines again so I decided to hop on over with her for a long overdue trip to spend time with relatives. It had been seven hears since I visited. We spent most of the time in Cebu City and its surrounding islands, a lot less bustling and crowded than Manila and a nice respite from the teeming crowds of Bangkok. The tan is settling in pretty nicely, if I may say so myself.
Mom at the Chocolate Hills
There are about 2000 of these hills formed from Mineral deposits on Bohol. Their mudcovered characteristic gained them the name of Chocolate Hills, though vegetation now growing on some don't make them quite so chocolatey anymore. Eat up while you can! It’s nice to be somewhere small enough that, if not everybody knows your name, at least someone does. Since my mom went on a different flight and arrived a bit earlier than me, she advised security at Cebu’s small airport that I would be arriving so that they could pass on the message of when my aunt would be coming to pick me up. So there I am standing outside of Mactan airport hopelessly searching for my mother and a porter approaches me and asks, “Are you Aurora’s daughter?” With an affirmative response on my part, the guy was off to call my aunt for me after making sure I was seated comfortably. There are fewer and fewer places in the world that one can expect that type of service. It was definitely a welcome experience.
Ohhh, the Philippines. Land of karaoke, ultra-Catholicism and the struggle for the American dream. Either way you turn, there’s either someone trying to get you to sing karaoke, tell you that God will send you the answer to your problems, or ask you how they can get to the States. But a good time was definitely had by all.
Tarsier Monkey
The tarsier is the smallest known primate in the world. Aren't they soooo cute? We ate quite well, as you might be able to tell by the pictures, and at times lived the lifestyle of the rich if not so famous. We had a taste of the high society Hilton condos with private beach and facilities thanks to my cousin’s wealthy partner in Cebu. Paris, you would be proud! On Bohol Island, long-lost relatives who practically own everything in the main city, from department store to highest end resort and movie theatre, entertained us. In Manila, we rubbed elbows with the elite at the exclusive Club Filipino where Cory was sworn in as President.
The best part, of course, was spending quality time with family. After being with family and my mom for a few weeks, upon returning back to Thailand at the end of the trip, I actually had my first bout of homesickness. Yes, I admit it! Friends, I miss you. I’m still in that odd place of not really knowing where home is. I’m one of those new “citizens of the world” perhaps. Anyway, for now, I must return my focus to the work I came to do.
PS-At least I have Internet at home now after much confusion
Beach at Bohol Island
Now that's some clear blue water! through the bureaucracy with my building's management and the Internet provider all the while using my own version of sign language. So, hopefully I'll be in more touch with many of you.
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Maricris
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Great Pics!
Glad that your vacation/journeys are anything, but the norm! Great pics BTW. Oh, the monkey -- what a resemblance -- just joking -- you know Year of the Monkey!! Ahhh, good old Cebu!!! Makes you really homesick. Too bad about the pic of Machut. It is too blurry. Well, enjoy all that Asia has to offer! Live it up!